David’s Top 5 of 2025 (so far)
Now that we are well into July, I’ve had the chance to think about my favorite films from the first half of 2025 (as well as catch up on some titles I missed in theaters or upon their initial streaming release… one of which ended up making this list).
Before we dive into my Top 5, overall I’d give 2025 a grade of C thus far when it comes to movies. While the horror genre has been delivering the goods, a lot of other Hollywood offerings are falling flat for me. There have been almost zero comedies released; a lot of the dramas have been boring and self-indulgent; and a few of the big tent poles (such as Captain America: Brave New World and A Minecraft Movie) left much to be desired.
However, this is pretty standard for the first half of each calendar year. My grade for Hollywood’s output almost always improves from July to December because we get awards season, holiday blockbusters, and a smattering of original releases that studios aren’t sure where to slate on the calendar (so they put them out in the doldrums of August/September). Plus this year, I’m getting a Jennifer Lopez movie-musical on the big screen (Kiss of the Spider Woman)!!!
Without further ado, here are my favorite flicks of January through June 2025:
5. Nonnas
This is one of those streaming releases I put off watching because I thought it would be as bad as almost every other Netflix catastrophe from the last few years. Nonetheless, Nonnas was an unexpected delight that actually made me shed a few tears.
Vince Vaughn is charming as a down-on-his-luck man who decides to open a restaurant with the money his mother left to him following her passing. The twist is that his restaurant employs real life Nonnas (or grandmas) to be the chefs.
As someone who grew up on delicious home-cooked meals, this celebration of food and family cut right to my heartstrings. This is the heartwarming type of story that is sorely missing at the movies today, and Nonnas earns extra points because it’s based on a true one.
4. Presence
Filmed from the perspective of a ghost haunting a family that just moved into their suburban home, Presence has technical flare and a gut-punch of a finale.
While it was marketed as a straight-up horror movie, Presence plays more like a supernatural family drama. If you can let go of expectations created by the trailer, you will be pleasantly surprised by this captivating slow burn. The last 10 minutes make the whole experience worth it!
Lucy Liu and the rest of the cast are phenomenal, keeping the drama grounded and compelling, despite the ghostly happenings around them.
3. Final Destination Bloodlines
It’s not often that a series reaches its peak with installment number 6, but Bloodlines understood its assignment and absolutely rips.
Check out my full review here!
2. F1
Matt/Tacco and I caught F1 over the 4th of July holiday weekend, and it is a MUST-SEE on the big screen. It’s like Top Gun: Maverick meets Days of Thunder dialed up to 11.
Brad Pitt plays a former F1 driver who returns to the sport for one last shot at glory after retiring 30 years earlier due to a life-threatening accident. The plot is simple, but not dumb, and even non-F1 fans (like yours truly) will understand what’s going on. Most importantly, the story leaves plenty of room for numerous breathtaking race sequences, expertly filmed by director Joseph Kosinski and crew.
Everyone in the movie looks smoking hot, and even at two and a half hours, it never drags. F1 is the near-perfect summer movie if you ask me. The best part… it’s not a sequel (and it’s making money)!
Matt/Tacco’s thoughts: “Racing movies are not my cup of tea, but F1 had me entertained the entire time. It did a great job of inviting everyone into the Formula One world (not just the rich sports bros), and I loved the theme of teamwork throughout. The music by Hans Zimmer and banging soundtrack also elevate the experience.”
Sinners
The Drive Home can’t say enough good things about Sinners! Ryan Coogler knocked it out of the park with his original film about the deep South, race, family, music, and vampires. An instant classic!
Watch our full review here!
We’ll see how many of these movies make my year-end list, but until then, keep enjoying our reviews on YouTube, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and sometimes (almost never) on Facebook.