The only thing hotter than the SoCal sun this past summer was its film slate. The superhero giants Superman and the Fantastic Four returned to the big screen in their own solo outings for the first time in about a decade. Original films such as “Weapons” and “F1: The Movie” were massive box office and critical successes, while Ethan Coen still struggled to make a satisfying venture to the cinema. Summer 2025 was a great season for the silver screen, but which movie was the hottest?
“Honey Don’t!” — Focus Features
Writer-director Coen proved it takes a certain level of artistic talent to deliver a film this bad. To give credit where it’s due, the movie’s lead three performers, Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza and Chris Evans tried their hardest to turn these one-note, by-the-books character types into living, breathing individuals. And while they succeeded for the most part, they could not revive this dead husk of a film. Right as “Honey Don’t!” was about to kick the plot into high gear, Coen decided to abruptly roll the credits, leaving almost every plot thread and bit of intrigue left out to dry in the film’s desert landscape. Since “Honey Don’t!” decidedly failed to deliver a complete story, it was easily the worst thing I watched this summer.
Review: “Honey, don’t watch “Honey Don’t!”
“The Roses” – Searchlight Pictures
“The Roses” was an oddly paced rom-com carried by some entertaining moments and great lead performances. While the film kicked off with a banger of a laugh from a marriage in disaster, it took almost the entire runtime to get back to this fiery humor and hijinks. So much of the movie was a slow burn about the little moments that destroy a marriage as opposed to the theatrical fallout promised in the trailers. However, the jokes did land well enough, in no small part due to the amusing performances from Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman. Their chemistry was on fire — their snarky remarks and witty comebacks all hit with that distinct vitriol from across the pond, but more importantly than all of that, was the fact that they made a believable married couple, which allowed the audience to buy into their relationship troubles all the more. Even though the pacing of “The Roses” felt a bit like driving on the right side of the road, as opposed to the left, the street itself was an enjoyable ride.
“How to Train Your Dragon” – Universal Pictures
A near-flawless adaptation that captured the magic of the original material. The animated “How to Train Your Dragon” film is a masterclass of storytelling, world-building and character development. The emotional moments were palpable, the visuals of Vikings on dragon-back were awe-inspiring and everyone in this universe came alive with their own set of unique quirks and flaws. “How to Train Your Dragon” (2010) is a flawless film, so remaking it beat-for-beat only 15 years later offered nothing new. Despite all the same compliments applying to the 2025 adaptation, this dragon has already been trained and doesn’t add anything new to the world of Berk or its characters.
Review: “How to Train Your Dragon” delivers a conflicting adaptation of a beloved classic
“Stans” — Shady Films
“Stans” was a beautiful love letter from Marshall Mathers to the real Slim Shady. Where “Eight Mile” was the origin of the rapper, this documentary was the lasting impact of those who created his legacy — his overzealous fans or “stans.” Eminem’s story is only the background to provide context for the fan interviews about what his journey from relapse to recovery means to them. Mathers’ discography had become the soundtrack to these individuals’ lives and hearing their personal struggles as they related to his music not only highlighted the lasting impact of these incredible songs but also made these strangers more relatable since viewers shared a similar passion for the artist. Overall, “Stans” was a very good documentary that put its focus on the inspiration behind some of Eminem’s best work — his loyal fan base.
Honorable Mention — “Old School” (2003)
The summer isn’t only a great time to see the newest theatrical release, but also to discover older films you’ve never heard of. Streaming on Netflix, “Old School” was a laugh-out-loud, dark comedy about the toils and troubles of Greek life. Will Ferrell and Vince Vaughn’s hilarious side characters were balanced out by Luke Wilson’s sincere performance. This movie was also directed by Todd Phillips, and his twisted sense of humor pushed comedy to its limits with jokes that ranged from hard-to-watch to hard-to-look-away. Additionally, what made this satirical view of college even funnier was the fact that it was filmed right here on UCLA’s campus! With jokes that hit close to home and a filming location that aimed even closer, there truly was no school like “Old School.”
“Eenie Meanie” — 20th Century Studios
“Eenie Meanie” was a lean and mean heist film that, while losing some time in the straight away, nailed every turn. This movie was a seven and a half out of 10 — I wish I could put it higher, but it doesn’t push the genre in the same way the films higher up on the list do to warrant a spot on the podium. That is to say, if you have Hulu, watch this movie. Samara Weaving gave a captivating lead performance that balanced spunk with genuine tragedy. The driving sequences, while not on the level of “Baby Driver,” were very good, and the finale took a swing that I think absolutely paid off. My only gripe with the film was the boyfriend, John, played by Karl Glusman. The character wasn’t written as any sort of competent, charming or charismatic, so it was hard to buy into the love story between Weaving’s Edie and Glusman’s John because the audience had no idea what she could possibly see in him, though Weaving pulls off all of their emotional beats expertly. “Eenie Meanie” was a surprise hit that does everything you’d want from this genre and a little bit more.
“Weapons” – New Line Cinema
Gripping from beginning to end and legitimately terrifying, Zach Cregger delivered. “Weapons” was shot with precision, only showing exactly what it needs to, allowing audiences to fill in the negative space with their worst nightmares. While the slow-burning story can feel dramatically longer than its two-hour and eight-minute run time, the mysteries of the plot got revealed at a clip that never dragged — there was always some break in the case or jump scare to keep viewers locked on the screen. And while there were a few well-earned flash-in-the-pan moments of fright, most of the horror elements came from its unsettling atmosphere and looming supernatural presence to keep a spine-chilling aura going throughout the entire film. Whether you like low-brow jump scares or arthouse thrillers, “Weapons” was a horrific ride that never let you go.
“Superman” – Warner Bros. Pictures
Director and writer, James Gunn, gave audiences one of the best adaptations of the big blue boy scout ever put to screen. David Corenswet embodied the emotional vulnerability, campiness and hope that defined the Man of Steel. Rachel Brosnahan perfectly captured the plucky intensity of Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult was bloody diabolical as the conniving Lex Luther. Even the side characters were standout, with Edi Gathegi’s Mr. Terrific being a surprise highlight of the film due to his brilliantly understated comedic moments. However, while the characters were great, their dialogue often wasn’t. The film all too often had people monologue their motives, back stories and beliefs in clunky chunks of expository dialogue. In spite of this flaw, between “Superman’s” lively characters, action-packed pacing and enjoyable comic book antics, it was hardly the kryptonite bullet to bring down the Man of Tomorrow.
Review: “Superman” is a smart movie that says too much
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” – Walt Disney Studios
Marvel’s first family finally received an adaptation worthy of their name. First off, the world-building was — dare I say — fantastic. Set in an alternate 1960s, New York was a visually distinct retro-futuristic metropolis packed to the brim with nods to the super team’s 60-plus years of comic history. Every member of The Four was expertly cast and truly embodied the spirit of these iconic characters. The film put their family dynamic first, and its authenticity came alive on screen not only in the amusing ways they messed with each other, but also in how their personal quirks and flaws created unique dynamics between each of the team members. “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” felt ripped right off the comic page in the best ways possible and was absolutely terrific.
Review: “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is a comic book romp
“F1: The Movie” – Apple Original Films
Fast cars, romance, bro-mance and Brad Pitt – what more could you want? Director Joseph Kosinski found a way to put audiences in the driver’s seat to pull off some of the greatest racing sequences ever put to film. Every scene on the track was invigorating, tense and will have viewers on the edge of their seats. Brad Pitt was just playing Brad Pitt, but who doesn’t love Brad Pitt? His cocky, lone-cowboy demeanor was as entertaining as ever while also incorporating a surprising amount of dramatic, emotional elements. The love story between Pitt’s Sonny Hayes and Kerry Condon’s Kate McKenna was miles better than your traditional “sports movie” romance as they fell in love — not because she’s Kerry Condon and he’s Brad Pitt, though that reasoning would be completely understandable — but because they helped the other achieve their dreams. Even the bro-mance between Hayes and Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris, was chock-full of high-speed banter and compelling heartfelt connection. “F1: The Movie” fired on all cylinders and might just be one of the best movies of the entire year.
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Featured Image via Adobe Stock
