The Summer of 2025 had plenty of great cinematic offerings, but here were my five personal favorites:

1. “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”: The fourth time’s the charm! Between this and “Thunderbolts*”, Marvel seems to be finding their stride once more, delivering one fantastic experience with this movie. Director Matt Shakman (of “WandaVision” acclaim) brings a vibrant and retro-futuristic vision to Marvel’s first family, eschewing the much-belabored origin story, which was a wise decision. The movie also proves that constant action is not a prerequisite for a compelling story. But with that being said, the birth/chase scene with the Silver Surfer and the third-act battle with Galactus, who was thankfully not a dark cloud, were both extremely thrilling in their own right. Fortunately, the titular quad, composed of Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn, commanded the material well.
2. “The Naked Gun”: Words cannot properly express how shocked I was to have this movie as the runner-up. In an age where theatrical comedies are, by most accounts, dead, 2025’s “The Naked Gun”, starring Liam Neeson and Pamela Andersen, was a refreshing diamond in the rough. While not having the breakneck, laugh-a-minute pace of the original trilogy, this cop comedy still had plenty of laughs, including an infrared vision scene and various one liners. Liam Neeson (who, like Leslie Nielsen before him, previously worked in drama), proved to be quite entertaining. It’s not a bad way to kill an hour and a half.
3. “F1”: It’s “Top Gun: Maverick” but with Brad Pitt and racing! That tagline may seem reductive, but it has some truth, as “Top Gun: Maverick” director Joseph Kosinski takes the helm for this story. It sees “old dog” Formula 1 racer Sonny Hayes (Pitt), who struggles to work with a new hotshot, played by Damson Idris. It has all the cliches of the genre, including but not limited to a corny romance, but they do it well. Adding to that, Brad Pitt is as charismatic as ever, rendering this a great blockbuster!
4. “Superman”: My most anticipated movie of the year thankfully did not disappoint! While no Superman film will ever top the original two with Christopher Reeve, “Superman” was a comic book film at its finest, with James Gunn doing his thing. Moreover, the eponymous protagonist was vividly brought to life by David Corenswet. Likewise, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor was a menacing (if at times, a little goofy) counterpart.
5. “From The World Of John Wick: Ballerina”: This “John Wick” spinoff sees assassin Eve Macarro, trained in the ways of the Ruska Roma, take on an army of killers in an effort to avenge her father’s death. Certainly not a groundbreaking, new story here, but Ana de Armas in the lead role provides enough enjoyment for all. A departure from her dramatic work in movies such as “Knives Out”, the actress is extremely compelling as an action heroine. “Ballerina” actually plays into the character’s vulnerability, putting her cunning front and center in some scenes. Also, audiences are treated to a pretty neat Keanu Reeves cameo!