As the calendar ticks into September, it marks the end of the summer movie season for another year. 2025 has offered us the usual slew of returning blockbuster franchises, from “Mission: Impossible” to “Jurassic World,” alongside a trio of comicbook movies, and a pair of live-action remakes of animated classics. There were even a few original flicks in the mix.
I caught all the biggest movies of the summer in my local theater (I’m currently at 60 movies seen in cinemas so far in 2025), and after a little bit of reflection, I've now created my final ranking, from best to worst. Fortunately, there weren’t too many of the latter because while it was far from a legendary summer at the multiplex, the average quality level was acceptable. And don’t worry if you missed any of these movies in theaters, I’ve included details on where you can stream them right now as well.
One final piece of housekeeping, because “biggest” is such a subjective term, the movies selected for this list are the 10 highest-grossing movies worldwide released during the summer movie season (running May to August). Now, let’s dive in, and if you disagree with my ranking, be sure to leave a comment with your own thoughts.
Biggest summer movies of 2025, from worst to best
10. ‘Lilo & Stitch’
“Lilo & Stitch” is the only summer blockbuster on this list to have grossed more than a billion dollars at the global box office (and one of only two movies to achieve the milestone this year so far). Still, it’s yet another soulless live-action remake of a Disney classic. Sure, it hits many of the same comforting narrative beats as the fan-favorite 2002 original, but much of the charm is lost in the transition away from traditional animation, and the longer runtime is wasted on pacing-sapping filler.
Perhaps most unforgivable are the numerous changes made to the source material. Some, like the removal of the poorly-aged drag scene, make complete sense, but the mischaracterization of Jumba, the alien scientist who created Stitch, didn’t sit well with fans, and the reworked ending is baffling. Nevertheless, getting “Lilo & Stitch” back in the public eye has likely done wonders for Disney’s bottom line. Stitch was already a merchandising monster, and now the alien pest has even more fans.
Watch on Disney Plus now
9. ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’
If I were trying to be kind to “Jurassic World Rebirth,” I’d note that it’s a huge step-up over the previous two “Jurassic World” movies, but considering the quality of “Fallen Kingdom” and “Dominion,” that’s not exactly a compliment any studio would be rushing to put on a movie poster. “Rebirth” has the benefit of the bar being set so low by its two predecessors that even a passable installment in the prehistoric franchise would be a major improvement.
“Passable” is very much an apt word here. Gareth Edwards, who helmed “Star Wars: Rogue One” and the overlooked sci-fi gem “The Creator,” goes back to basics, and at least the results aren’t a disaster. “Rebirth” returns the franchise to an island setting, and Scarlett Johansson makes for a capable lead. But there’s nothing here that hasn’t been done better in the glory “Jurassic Park” days, and by now, the magic of dinosaurs brought back to life on the big screen is waning.
Buy or rent on Amazon now
8. ‘How to Train Your Dragon’
Another crowd-pleasing animated movie turned into a mostly drab live-action adventure, but at least this time it’s not Disney recycling their previous work, but DreamWorks Animation. “How to Train Your Dragon”falls into all the same pitfalls as "Lilo & Stitch." Namely, an extended runtime compared to the original that adds little beyond bloat, and an inescapable sense that much of the joy has been lost in the transition.
If you’re a huge “How to Train Your Dragon” fan and want to experience the first chapter in a new way, then you might find this remake an enjoyable ride, but anybody who got their fill of the franchise's dragon-fueled adventure in the 2010s can safely skip.
Buy or rent on Amazon now
7. ‘Superman’
I have an inkling that if the majority of my colleagues were determining this ranking, “Superman” would be a whole lot higher. In fact, I’d wager positioning it at seventh will be viewed as something of a "controversial take,” considering the passionate fanbase that has already sprung up around this first step into James Gunn’s new DC Universe. For the record, I certainly don’t dislike “Superman,” but I had too many issues with the superhero romp to rank it any higher.
I’ve fully detailed my complaints already, but if you want the cliffnotes version, “Superman” is overstuffed with too many characters competing for your attention, and Gunn made the odd decision to portray the Man of Steel as kind of puny. Nevertheless, David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan are well-cast as Clark Kent and Lois Lane, respectively, and I see plenty of untapped potential in this new DC franchise. It’s certainly a big leap from the final days of the much-maligned DCEU.
Buy or rent on Amazon now
6. ‘F1: The Movie’
“Top Gun: Maverick” director Joseph Kosinski is a master at crafting high-speed vehicular action, so he seemed a perfect fit to helm the official movie of Forulma One. So it proved. Every moment that “F1: The Movie” spends behind the wheel of a lightning-fast race car is an edge-of-your-seat blast. The big finale is a real highlight, bringing the movie to a satisfying close that combines feel-good character beats and thrilling racing sequences.
Unfortunately, it’s everything outside of the car that doesn’t quite claim a podium position. Naturally, Brad Pitt is a predictably charismatic lead, and I enjoyed Damson Idris’s role as a cocky rookie (even if the narrative redeems him way too fast). However, you can pretty much map out how this sports drama is going to play out before watching, and the level of product placement verges on shameful. F1 diehards should also be warned that it takes a lot of liberties with the rules of the motorsport.
Buy or rent on Amazon now
5. ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’
It’s been far from a banner year for the declining Marvel Cinematic Universe. “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” was supposed to be the launching point for its revival, and while $500 million grossed worldwide might seem impressive, given the reported budget that totals north of $200 million, it’s unlikely to have reached the financial heights Marvel was hoping for. Of course, the financial side is less important for us mere viewers (unless you happen to own Disney stock, I suppose), and on a quality level, “Fantastic Four” is decently enjoyable.
It’s the MCU on autopilot, to a degree, but it’s the best big-screen interpretation of Marvel’s First Family yet, and I greatly enjoyed its depiction of the planet-chomping baddie Galactus. Plus, its 60s-era aesthetic at least gives it a look that feels distinct compared to the cookie-cutter comicbook movies Marvel has been churning out post “Avengers: Endgame.” Is “Fantastic Four: First Steps” a much-needed sign that the MCU has course-corrected? Perhaps not, but it’s certainly watchable.
Watch in movie theatres now
4. 'Thunderbolts’
Back in May, Marvel kicked off the summer movie season with “Thunderbolts,” and it remains the best slice of the MCU we’ve had in 2025 (but perhaps the nifty-looking “Marvel: Zombies” will change that later this month). It’s a team-up movie that brings together various (anti) heroes, including Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova, Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes and David Harbour’s Red Guardian. It’s an unconventional squad, but there’s great chemistry between its leading members, and Lewis Pullman's Bob has a fantastic character arc (Which I won't spoil!).
It may be a team-up flick, but Pugh’s Yelena is the clear star, and the exploration of the assassin's headspace following plenty of past trauma gives “Thunderbolts” a deeper hook than just a bunch of C-Tier Marvel characters appearing on screen together. It’s perhaps the closest Marvel has come to recapturing its glory days this side of “Avengers: Endgame,” and the post-credits tease for the upcoming “Doomsday” is great at building the bubbling hype.
Watch on Disney Plus now
3. ‘Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning’
If “Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning” is indeed to be the final entry in the spy action franchise, then it’s a very solid note for the series to bow out on. Of course, this is Hollywood, so I expect a reboot to arrive in the not-too-distant future if Tom Cruise can’t be convinced to return to his iconic role as Ethan Hunt. The eighth installment in the series has to pay for the narrative sins of its predecessor, but it’s hard to get too hung up on that when the set-piece action is darn thrilling.
Considering how highly I regard some of the previous “Mission: Impossible” movies, it’s a huge compliment to say “The Final Reckoning” contains some of the series very best action moments. The sequence set on a sunken submarine is appropriately breathtaking, and the grand finale had me grinning in my cinema seat. I do wish the movie were a bit tighter, with the first act in particular dragged down by endless exposition, but once things get going, “Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning” is a joyful summer blockbuster.
Buy or rent on Amazon now
2. 'Final Destination: Bloodlines’
Way back in the early 2010s, I can recall being so desperate for another “Final Destination” movie that I would desperately scour the internet for any hints of a follow-up to “Final Destination 5.” Well, it certainly took longer than I was hoping for one to materialize, but “Bloodlines” was worth the wait. This semi-reboot of the supernatural horror franchise doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it adds some shiny new rims that gleam.
It offers the longest, and I’d maybe even say, most intense, premonition sequence in “Final Destination” history. Plus, its slight spin on the series formula — seeing the grandchildren of somebody who cheated death hunted down by the unseen entity — is just different enough for “Bloodlines” to not feel like a total retread. It also marks the final appearance of franchise stalwart Tony Todd (who passed away in 2024), and his last scene is genuinely emotional.
Watch on HBO Max now
1. ‘Weapons’
“Weapons” isn’t just the best movie of the summer, in my opinion, but my favorite movie of 2025 to date. And trust me, it’s going to take something special to knock it off that perch. I didn’t quite buy into the hype for director Zach Cregger’s previous breakout horror “Barbarian,” but I’m fully on board the wagon when it comes to hyping up “Weapons.” It’s a movie I can only describe as epic, blending mystery and chills beautifully.
What impressed me most about “Weapons” is its clever narrative structure, which delivers its gripping yarn in several interconnected chapters, each from a different character's point of view. This keeps the intrigue burning across the entire two-hour runtime and leads to several satisfying moments where a shocking cliffhanger from one chapter pays off in another. It’s storytelling genius. The fact that the central hook of a classroom of children running into the night, never to be seen again, is instantly compelling also helps “Weapons” get its hooks into you from the drop. Plus, the cast is all excellent, none more so than Julia Garner.
Watch in movie theatres now
More from Tom's Guide
- Best Netflix original movies you (probably) haven't seen
- 4 new to Prime Video movies with 90% or higher on RT
- Top new movies to stream this week
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
