Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome to the second and last part of countdown of movies of the year.
Last time, I did the countdown of the WORST movies in 2025 from disappointment to absolute unwatchable to be stay away. But if you guys missed it, here’s the link and il be waiting for you.
You’re good? Okay, lets carrying on. So in today’s countdown, lets looking at the movies with positive notes, ranging from okay, all the way to the best or even my new favorite for rewatching(?). But as always, these are MY picks that I’ve watched, so don’t get too disappointed if I miss some.
For this list, I’ve gathered 15 movies in my experience. Like WOW, that might be the biggest number in my experience of Countdown. Not as big as some of my shelved countdown plans, but still, damn…! However, even when I looking back, some movies that I may have changed my feeling to either put higher or lower, but again, its only my pick for my past experience til today (as im writing this).
So, lets looking back in positive way, because this is my “Top 15 Movies in 2025”
Lets go, shall we?
Number 15: Elio
Lets start off with Disney/Pixar’s original film that they would hoped to be a big deal, but it didn’t go that wall as a disappointing result at the box-office that many people believe “Sequel = Hits”, which I disagree, its because I find this movie to be… Underwhelming.
At first when I posted my review of Elio, I thought its an above average film at best for Pixar. But looking back now, my feeling has been changed that I find it to be not that good from my view.
Sure, they did the best for the message about social isolation from struggling childhood, a well-credited voice acting and even well crafted, creative, beautiful and colorful animation they’ve done, I like how that made aliens to be look unique and somewhat fascinating, especially most of them are inspired from sea creatures, and even a shapeshifting computer.
But the reason why its lower on this list, is that, while it looks good, but the writing is the weakest part for being either unoriginal or forgettable writing, some jokes are bellow, while some characters are also okay, but could’ve been better how to execute to give some character development more than just curious to see a human like Elio. And not to mention, the third act is also suffered from cliché for being yet another plot twist, though not gonna spoil. It feels just like another film about a kid interacting non-human entity, but in space. I mean, it looks like it could’ve been potential, but didn’t do well what I was expecting, even Disney themselves didn’t seem to care about it either.
I know lot of you are upset that I put on lower list, but again, its just my own though to looking back. I mean I love Pixar since my childhood, but between Inside Out 2 and then this, it feels like Pixar are having a roller coaster from good to bad. Il cross my fingers for upcoming Hoppers (as im writing this).
Number 14: The Bad Guys 2
Aka: Copy-Paste The Bad Guys… Sort of…
I know its a weird way to start to calling it as a copy-paste from the first movie, cause it play like the first movie, they have a promising story about our titular group, but they both suffered the same problematic writing for clichés and lenient towards action and comedy. But the difference is that its all about our group trying to turning themselves around, but uneasy due to their criminal records, leaving a choice to either clear their names or going back as baddies, along with having an unusual rivalry with “The Phantom Bandits”, but for the latter, it feels like we forgot about them, let along with cheap plot twist.
Though, while I like the concept about The Bad Guys trying to turning their lives around with not-so good execution, at least it has a fun action scenes in fast-paste and of course, got crazier than before, though I enjoy some characters and some humors are mixed with chuckle worthy, but some not really.
It may not be a greater sequel, but at least il give credit that its a slightly improvement over the first one, even if its on my 14th spot.
Number 13: KPop Demon Hunters
Fun fact: Its the last Netflix movie I’ve ever watched before I unsubscribing it based on Netflix’s corruption setup on WB’s bidding war, but its a long story.
Anyway, after months that I missed, I’ve heard KPop Demon Hunters became the most talked about animated film on Netflix thanks for the setting of KPop and Korean mythology, which I will admitted, its a nice combination what they pulled. The animation looks pretty good in Sony’s animated film’s current standard, some characters are enjoyable, some jokes are funny, the writing and message is good and the songs, while im not a fan of KPop, they’re actually pretty nice too.
Even though its the most talked about film on Netflix, but the movie is suffered by numerous flaws and kind of ruined the potential like pacing problems, the direction is a mess, the animation where the characters are singing just didn’t match the emotion and of course, the plothole with a twist just completely ruined the story and even the third act that left me a lot of questions. And not to mention, what was the point to be released on Netflix when it looks like a big budget film? What’s Sony’s excuses??
Aw well, even though this movie is good to looking back, but it only it would’ve been so higher if the hype could’ve gone better.
Number 12: The Running Man 2025
Its quite surprising that we have a new version based on Stephen King’s story that its actually… Better than the 1987 version.
Its a straight forward life-threatening survival challenge from reality show in order to win a big money in dystopian world with high tech, rich authoritarian city bigger than the low life and class citizens to either live or die. Even though it feels like we’ve or its been done before, but keep in mind, its based on the novel from 1982. Which I will say, its a pretty good presentation and its certainly improvement for a second take on King’s 11th novel, especially with better effects and the setting. Especially with a harsh debate whether or if its just a show or is it a setup.
Though while its an improvement over the 87 version, but its nowhere perfect with couple of flaws like some lackluster development that we like to see some innocent people helping out our main protagonist for shortcut or stopping the security hunters. Plus, even when the action scenes are great, im disappointed we never get some good shoot’em ups, because most of which are missing bullets or even Ben Richards never uses a gun til the third act. But of course, the plot twist isn’t helping either when it comes to the dark truth.
Even its an improvement over the 87 that il give a credit what they’re trying something, but its rather flawed from various executions (no pun intended).
Number 11: The Toxic Avenger 2023(25)
Okay, I might be cheating to putting it on the list that it came out two years, but it was premiered in festival, and their wide-release wouldn’t be til two years later, which I always called the wide-release films like this as part of movies in 2025, but I digress.
Its quite unusual to do a remake based on B movies from the 80s, which I think we like to see some of these unlike Disney’s sorry ass live action remake over animated classic films, but im getting ahead of myself.
When it comes this one like The Toxic Avenger, its pretty unlikely, but considering we have plenty of superhero films out there, they’re jumping on a bandwagon. But this time, its to bring it back to the old root, because back then after the original one from 1984, Toxie had been treated as a family friendly superhero, which is pretty bizarre after the first one is bloody and messy in B movie fashion, kinda like Robocop, but less budget.
Its a pretty nice, fun, and good’ol low budget trash with blood and gore fashion with practical effects, it has a very surprising casting choice to have Peter Dinklage, Kevin Bacon, Elijah Wood and couple other actors and ridiculous plot about corruption in the town and businesses for taking our main protagonist in revenge.
While its crazily enjoyable film, but the reason why its not on Top 10, is that, despite the crazy stuff they brought it it would’ve been better with jokes can be good, but without some immature ones like pissing joke, some lackluster development that it focused too much on Toxie and while it has an insane setting, but it kind of feels like s standard unlikely hero story.
Its not greater remake, but at least il give credit what they’re trying to bringing trashy movie back to modern viewers, even if I put it outside of Top 10.
Number 10: The Naked Gun
After decades, it seems that somebody decided to make a long waited sequel from what we’ve heard, but turning it into a legacy sequel.
Its pretty surprising for what we’ve seen a comedy movie with veteran actors like Liam Neeson and even Pamela Anderson, which I think they have a fun work of their performance, ranging from Liam’s Frank Jr being kind of similar to his late father, but bumbling and troublemaking moments, and Pam’s Beth is being plays like a mix of damsel in distress and femme fatal based on her vengeance of her brother’s death, and then pulled some humorous moment that il give credit. Like Toxie, the movie has a ridiculous plot about the villain trying to brainwash people into chaos to becoming a “Founding Father” like a sense of God Complex, but at least it has a very nice writing what they’re bringing, especially with the humors ad the actions
However, the reason why its in lower spot of Top 10, is that, while its a welcome return for nostalgia fans of OG The Naked Gun (like me), I just wish if they could’ve give us a proper familiar like humors to pay homage from three Naked Gun movies, though some jokes, while they’re fun, but there are some just didn’t work, and the writing aren’t greater due to being predictable and cliché.
Its nowhere perfect as the vert first The Naked Gun, but at least il give credit what they’re trying to bring back that we all know and love.
Number 9: The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie
Its been a VERY long time we’ve never have a Looney Tunes movie on the big screen, but more specifically, a fully animated movie than a hybrid film like Space Jam or Back in Action.
It plays more of a parody of classic alien invasion movies about our unlikely heroes like Porky Pig and Daffy Duck trying to save the world from menacing alien (so we think) with gums to turning people into mindless zombies, basically a mix of “The Day the Earth Stood Still”, “The Invasion of Body Snatcher”, which while it a nice homage, but I just wish if the writing could’ve gone better, which it probably explains why the humors are the main focus, which I will admit, I have good laugh to watching, kind of feel like I have a nostalgia when I remember back when I watched Looney Tunes/Marry Melodies when I was a kid. Along with a nice heart warming moments for a movie, even the animation is pretty nice, though its mainly on “Looney Tunes’ Cartoons” (2020 – 2024).
While its a pretty fun film, but like I said, the writing isn’t great, since the story is kind of out of focus, due to being lenient on humors, but like before, some jokes can work or not, and some of the use of CG just didn’t go that well fitting. Though its a shame that I just wish WB should’ve treating this one like a big deal, which im guessing they treated this as an appetizer compares to some other films out there like Weapons and others will be on my list.
Although, at least WB were opened and gave appreciation to Ketchup Entertainment for this movie, and now we have an upcoming “Coyote vs ACME” for second chance after being canned, lets go…!
Number 8: Thunderbolts (aka The New Avengers)
After James Gunn bowed out into DC Studios as co-CEO, it seems that Marvel Studio are trying to keep this Marvel version of Suicide Squad on the flow and its… Fine for say the least for looking back.
Its rather a pretty nice take on anti-heroes or former villains working together about the secret weapon that has been hidden for so long from O.X.E., according to the CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, even if its about to get fishy about CIA’s setup. Though il give credit to have a new guys for working together like Ghost, Yelena Belova and U.S. Agent. Even the veterans joining in like Red Guardian and everyone’s favorite old Cap’s pal, Winter Soldier (aka Bucky Barnes). Even the action scenes are pretty cool that some shots are done with real stunts, like when Yelena does a leap of faith from Merdeka 118 from Malaysia, which is pretty impressive that they pulled life risking stunt like Tom Cruise. But of course, it has a very nice message about isolation problem as either a new hero or anti-hero.
However, the reason why its lower in Top 10, is that, while its pretty good, but im pretty sure this movie has been treated like an appetizer before we have one film (which we’ll get to), while the writing is good, but it might have some flaws like not-so great writing, dark problem from cinematography, some characters could’ve come back a little more before this movie like Ghost for example, there are some elements are cliché and the third act is flipping all over the place that left me confused, at as if they’re trying to be complex, but poorly executed.
Even though they tried, but again, they treated it as an appetizer and that leads us to the next entry.
Number 7: The Fantastic Four: First Steps
After years that we had an okay F4 movie in 2005 and the embarrassing reboot in 2015, we finally got a long-waited MCU take on this group and they did not disappoint us (for the most part).
The movie treats as a family journey, but as superheroes in Earth-828, which is pretty good to take a break from MCU version of Earth-616, giving us a journey to a whole new universe, which I really like for their change, especially for this world in retrofuture style compare to Earth-616 (or should I say, OUR world?). Like I said before it wasn’t just about the heroes, it plays more like a family journey as a group 4 years after their space mission and got contacted by cosmic rays, since its sort of focus on Reed Richards and Sue Storm for their potential son, and at the same time, save the Earth from menacing giant being Galactus from female Silver Surfer’s warning. But even outside of Earth, the space journey is fascinating and colorful for its presentation and the action scenes are cool, even if its rather… Minimal for either montage, outside of Earth or the battle with Galactus.
Which brings the reason why its not on top 5, the movie is rather short less than 2 hours long, which I wish they could’ve extend that we like to hear more developments like Earth-828’s world building and even more actions. Not to mention, while the designs are look good, but there are some just didn’t mesh, like they added female Silver Surfer named Shalla-Bal instead of the original one named Norrin Radd, and the writing maybe good, but predictable at best.
It may not be perfect, but in fairness, at least we have a BETTER Fantastic 4 movie.
Number 6: Deathstalker 2025
While the remake of The Toxic Avenger is a good one to give it a shot to modern viewers, but I think this one is a better remake that I actually liked.
After their Kickstarter Campaign was success, it seems that would be a good opportunity to be another one of those B Movie remakes, and while its completely different compared to four previous Deathstalker movies, but its actually pretty nice than being a copy-paste or shot-for-shot. Rather than being a typical sword and sorcery of barbarian hero killing monsters for the sake of saving ladies, this one is more about lone former knight on his journey before getting cursed by an amulet from the evil necromancer that he’s forced to teaming up with wizard and a thief for not just stop the evil threat and learning deep from the rabbit hole. But even with low budget film, it looks pretty good what they’ve accomplished with beautiful view, well done practical designs and effects, nice characters and even fun action scenes with blood and gore.
While its probably the best B movie I’ve watched, but its nowhere perfect for couple of reasons why its not on Top 5, such as some hit or miss jokes that it has some chuckle moments, but some just didn’t work, some developments can be a bit lacking, and its kind of cheesy, but more like a good kind of cheese, even if some part of writing is flawed.
It may not be talked about, but I think this one deserves attention as my underrated pick to be in the list.
Number 5: Karate Kid: Legends
Even though I never watched every Karate Kid movies, I did watched the first film and the first few episodes of Cobra Kai, but out of movies for my limited experience, I think this one is underrated.
The reason why im calling it underrated, is that this one of the rare idea if you combine the original and the remake together for this movie, its pretty unheard, but I like that idea, which is pretty fun as a form of crossover where two martial art styles, even though the remake from what I’ve heard, its very loose that it feels more of a Kung fu than Karate like the original. For the story, it feels almost like the original where the main kid gets bullied and learned martial arts as a self-defense, funny enough, the main kid has already trained before flew to New York, rather than California. The martial arts in action scenes are pretty good how they pulled in training and learning both Kung Fu and Karate, especially its nice to see Daniel LaRusso meets Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han.
However, even though its a fun movie, but its not as fresh as the original, which even if it feels like a copy-paste plot from the original (but with a twist, which il give credit what they’re trying), but it feels pretty cliché, some cheesy effects, and the main villain felt like he’s absent compared when Cobra Kai used to be the baddies before the changing heart in the show.
It maybe felt like its been overdone, at least they tried their best for wax off wax on.
Number 4: F1 the movie
As a fan of F1, I was hoping this could be a HUGE gamble to be something original in the world of F1, even since I love Rush (2013), though the latter is based on F1’s iconic rivalry.
At first, it would be ridiculous making a movie in F1 would be a challenge to learning about F1, since when Sly Stallone tried to make a movie about F1 in the 90s, he got rejected and switched to CART, but lets just say, F1 dodged the bullets for good reason, but this one, we finally got it. Rather than focusing on the underdog story who wants to entering F1 for the dreams, this one focuses on veteran nomad racer who’s tasked to coming back to F1 for the help of fictional team APX GP, which I find it unexpected what I was wishing for, but understandable. However, despite the plot, since this is about F1, its pretty nice to see actors like Brad Pitt and Damson Idris sit in open-wheel cars for their training and doing the racing each others with real F1 drivers, which is pretty impressive how they pulled, learning and some of the amount of risk without screwing up at any F1 cars, especially the racing are being scripted, because hey, its the movie, since they filmed in Friday practice sessions, not filmed in feature racing in Sunday. Even the placements of cameras are pretty good from various angles and the perspective from helmet cam.
Despite their best effort for their film productions, training and actions, the reason why it didn’t make in the podium, is that, despite the story is good, but the writing is rather dumb on various moments like when Sonny Hayes’s origin from being captivating driver to chaotic man for finding jobs, gambling and now “racer for hire”, some crashes are over the top and exaggerated (despite some crashes are referenced), some rules are violated that they either fined or got away with it, and some parts are very cliché like a driver in relationship with non-driver and bitter relationship with teammates.
Its not the best take on F1, but at least il give credit what they’re trying for marketing, not just F1 fans, but for American audiences, ever since Liberty Media owned F1. And now all the sudden they’re about to developing a sequel…?!
Number 3: Novocaine
As a reviewer, im always have a support to one of my favorite actors, Jack Quaid, ever since risen up from The Boys, Star Trek: Lower Deck and my favorite, My Adventures with Superman. When it comes to movies, he’s mostly being cast as a minor or secondary, but this one, its worth of giving him a shot as a main role.
Its a fun action movie with humors, along with unique and creative ways from the camera angles, the setups, some good jokes and of course an appreciation performance like the aforementioned Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Ray Nicholson and Jacob Batalon. And course, having a main character with a rare condition without feel the pain in action scenes are pretty rare idea, but pretty fun, kind of like a real life superhero, but risky and bloody.
While I enjoy this movie, its nowhere perfect when it comes to the writing. While I enjoy the character developments with chemistry, some jokes and creative actions, but th writing could’ve gone better with some of lackluster developments and the plot feels more Jack Quaid in Die Hard due to somewhat similar plot, a bank robber who steal goods and kidnapping love interest in hostage.
Even though its flawed, but I enjoy this movie, not just for the creativity, but also for the support to Jack Quaid to be on the 3rd spot on my list.
Number 2: Zootopia 2
Wow, that’s coincidence to put number 2 within number 2, eh?
Its safe to say that 2025 was an uneasy year for Disney, such as release their live-action remakes are pissing off their own childhood fans (myself included), the aforementioned disappointment of Elio, the MCU films had one bellow film, an okay film and F4 is their saving grace, and Bob Iger seems to be desperate to keep Disney in glory, which he should’ve known that this is 2025 not 2005. But the Only Saving grace for their animated films, is without a doubt, Zootopia 2.
After decade for giving us their best movie of anthropomorphic animals in the city with the risky use of social commentary, Disney finally gave us the sequel to bringing Judy and Nick back in business for their police journey for the first time since the ending. This time, its about figuring out what happened to the missing species like reptiles, while at the same time, in the most obvious cliché, being falsely framed by their cops. Whereas the first Zootopia is all about prejudice against predators, this one is about oligarchy and systemic racism, where mobs are using money and power to corrupt the cops and wiping out other races like reptiles as the so-called “menace to the society”, until we found out the secrets. Which is is pretty interesting idea for their messages in their social commentary, and it feels like its predicting to what we have in USA. The animation is very good as always to make it brighter, colorful and action impact, along with enjoyable characters with enjoyable voice acting.
Even though its a pretty good film, but that doesn’t mean its a perfect film, cause it suffered with quick pace from the first act (I understand they wanna go out with a Bang, but still), the false fugitive plot is been overdone like we’ve seen that before, and we just wish we want more characters on-screen, rather than overly focus on Judy and Nick, despite the chemistry between of two are pretty good for the writing, still, we just wish we want more characters to develop what we like, let along with a long list of familiar voice actors.
While its fun to have a welcome return to Zootopia, but its not as perfect as the first tone. In fairness, its more Disney’s only best film they ever had, and, im my own experience, the best animated film of the year. No offense to either Ne Zha 2, a new Wallace and Gromit film and couple others if I forgot.
And now for my Number 1 Movie of the year 2025 goes to…
Number 1: Superman 2025
Sure, I know some say that its pretty good to bring Superman back to the old root, but not perfect, which I understand that, but then again, this is my experience of which movies that I like, no better yet, for which one is my new favorite, and this one happens to be the latter.
After DCEU (or Snyderverse) came out like a crap storm with flops, after flops, after flops, it became very clear that DC in cinema needs a wake-up call for not just shake-up, but also going with a reboot-ish due to borrow some elements from DCEU, let along with new bosses like James Gunn and Peter Safran in DC Studios to shaking up in the reboot-ish cinematic universe. And after brought us Creature Commandos, we finally got a long waited new Superman movie and its actually an enjoyable film.
Rather do the same plot of Superman’s origin to learning who he is to helping the people of Earth, here its about Superman tries to connect humanity for his motto to “fight for truth and justice”, even if he’s nowhere perfect to dealing with like reception and corruption from arch-nemesis, Lex Luthor. Though odd, but pretty nice to having humans like Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen trying to helping Superman to clear his name, let along with meeting the group of heroes “Justice Gang”, which again, even though Superman is a powerful being from Krypton thanks to yellow sun, he’s nowhere perfect to dealing with, cause anyone always said, “nobody’s perfect”. Of course the action scenes are pretty good to watch what we like to see, gone those Superman busy fighting baddies while watching people suffering in DCEU, or killing villains.
While I enjoy this movie, but like Zootopia 2, its nowhere 100% perfect from flaws like Superman’s costume, while it looks good to be old school, but could’ve gone perfect to be retro then mix between classic and New 52, the story is good, but predictable, and some plotholes are nitpicky with so many questions for how did they do that.
It may not has a successful box-office, its more like a moderate performance at best, but im sure im not the only one that I enjoy this movie for, again, bringing Superman back where he used to, compared to DCEU. Which is more likely that we gotta get used to be with DCU and wish for the best for more contents they’re giving us, like the upcoming Supergirl, and of course, they’re developing the sequel “Superman: Man of Tomorrow”.
Even though as I mentioned the beginning of Top 5 worst movies from last week, I mentioned before that, even though I support Superman 2025, but its nowhere safe when we have to dealing with the godawful tribalism, especially for DCEU/Snyderverse fans out there that they’re constantly attacking both this movie and the current state of DC Studios with conspiracies, predicting flops, harassment campaigns and the death threats…! Like, this is probably explained why I have a sympathy for the people who took the their time and effort to make a new one, while these “fans” just refuse to change that they’re constantly attacking them for “DCEU needs to going back and DCU can go to F(bleep)ing hell!”. Like im so sick and tired of these adult fans are acting like a bunch of crybabies, even DCU loyalists would rather telling them to shut up and move on. Im sick and tired of those tribalism BS…!
Sorry for my outburst, I just need to get off my chest everytime I’ve seen these on social media…
Anyway, even though its not 100% perfect as I was hoping, but I still enjoying it and give respect to the people who worked on this movie for the best is yet to come. Which is why Superman 2025 is my Number 1 Movie of the Year 2025.
Whew, now im done talking about 2025, im looking forward for new movies in 2026, even if I miss some like Iron Lung, but don’t worry, il save it later when its available on digital market, but im sorry to say, I won’t do my quick thoughts of upcoming movies, due to my time conflict from numerous movies of 225 I’ve been dealing with. Aw well.
But of course, got any other good movies in 2025 that I missed? Let me know in the comments bellow.
Thanks for reading, il catch you later when il starting review movies in 2026. but as always, im Anthony, signing out.
