The 15 BEST Films of 2025 (So Far)!

We have officially reached the halfway point of 2025. What does this mean? Well, for the vast majority it means that without us even realizing it, six months have already gone by. It also means that when we least look, we will be at the end of the year. For movie lovers here at CinePOP It also means the time for our balance, our retrospective. The best and worst that arrived in cinemas and streaming in the first half of 2025. We will now continue with the best films of 2025 – so far.

Also read: The 15 WORST Films of 2025 (So Far)!

And for you, what were the best films you saw in the first six months of the year? We have an idea. We believe that at least one of the 15 films we will choose below will also be on your list. Yes, we will continue with the highest point of the year so far, with the films, let’s say, most loved, for the most diverse reasons. Some seem to have already been born to become successful, others became a surprise success. But what they all have in common is that they were highly commented on by critics and the public, becoming popular works. So without further ado, here are the best movies of the first half of 2025.

‘Novocaine‘ is an action-thriller comedy starring Jack Quaid as Nathan Caine, a bank manager who has a strange condition known as CIP (congenital insensitivity to pain), which makes it impossible for him to feel pain. It’s all, of course, just an excuse to create a new action movie in the style of John Wickthat is, “shot, beating and bomb”. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an 81% approval rating from critics and an 84% approval rating from the public, and on IMDB it has a score of 6.5.

This film has all the pedigree for success. First, we have Steven Soderbergh in the direction, and in the cast, Michael Fassbender e Cate Blanchett starring in a serious version of ‘Sr. e Sra. Smith‘. The spy thriller released at the beginning of the year in cinemas won over critics much more, with a 96% approval rating on Rotten, while the public gave it a 70% approval rating on the same aggregator. The film has a rating of 6.7 on IMDB.

The Disney film is already one of the biggest hits of the year, bringing Stitch fever once again to a whole new generation. More than that, many consider it the studio’s best live-action remake. Rarely does a film manage to impress audiences and critics in the same way, but ‘Lilo & Stitch‘ has a 71% approval rating from critics and 93% from the public on Rotten. On IMDB, the film received a rating of 6.9.

This dramatic film based on a true story didn’t make much noise (or rather, any noise) when it was released in theaters. But it received praise from the press and all those who managed to watch it. Those who haven’t seen it will have another chance, as it has just been released into the Amazon Prime Video collection. The film about a real underwater rescue has a 79% approval rating from critics and 91% from the public on Rotten, and on IMDB it received a rating of 6.6.

Sequel to a relatively unknown film from 2016, but which over time became a cult film on streaming. In the “shot, beat and bomb” style, Ben Affleck stars as a professional killer who also happens to be autistic. The fun is seeing him alongside his truculent brother, the role of Jon Bernthal. The film received 77% approval from critics and 92% from the public on Rotten, and on IMDB its score was 6.7.

With one of the worst titles in recent years for an action film, this is not a sequel to ‘Black Swan‘ or something for that matter, but rather a spin-off of the ‘John Wick‘. Yes, from the real franchise of ‘John Wick‘. Starring Ana de Armasthe film expands the killer’s universe with new characters. And yes, Baba Yaga himself shows up. The film has a 76% approval rating from critics and 93% from the public on Rotten. On IMDB, it has a rating of 7.2.

We all love it Tom Cruise and his action films. But perhaps it’s time for the star to leave the scene, at least in the franchise’Mission: Impossible‘. This is the eighth feature in the franchise, and the fourth film in ten years. In other words, an average of one film every two years. The movies can continue, but we need to miss them a little more. Be that as it may, the praise continues, and the eighth feature received 80% approval from critics and 88% from the public. On IMDB, the rating was 7.4.

Speaking of pleasant surprises, this old-fashioned comedy was one of the films that attracted the most attention at the beginning of the year. A small film that was a success with critics and the public, the story is simple but very effective, and revolves around two young black friends (Keke Palmer e a rapper SZA) trying to get money to pay the rent. In Brazil, the film didn’t even show in theaters, but it is already available for rent. Critics drooled over the film, giving it a 94% approval rating, and the public followed with a 90% rating on Rotten. On IMDB, the film received a 6.5.

Who would have thought that the sixth ‘Premonition‘ would be one of the most praised in the franchise. Perhaps the most praised. Well, all it took was for the public to miss the franchise, as the franchise had been dormant for 14 years. Well, not just that, the script also had to be good. We already know the rest. ‘Blood Ties‘ has 92% of critics and 87% of the public. On IMDB it got 6.9.

Did you know that’Paddington 2‘displaced’The Godfather‘ as the best film of all time? Well, at least for a while on Rotten Tomatoes the film had the most positive ratings of all. The film is a masterpiece. Therefore, of course we would have the third one taking up space on the list as well. Although it didn’t make the same noise as the previous ones, the third onePaddington‘ has 93% from critics and 90% from audiences on Rotten, and on IMDB it has a 6.7.

One of the most “WTF” films of 2025, this film fell in favor with the public and became an instant cult favorite. Again we have Jack Quaid starring, and pairing with the revelation Sophie Thatcher. The less you know about the film the better, but we can say that it is not to everyone’s taste. It mixes romance, suspense and science fiction, as well as some horror. The film has a 93% rating from critics and 89% from audiences on Rotten, and on IMDB it received a score of 6.9.

And if ‘Lilo & Stitch‘ was considered by many to be Disney’s best live-action film, many critics consider ‘How to Train Your Dragon‘ the best live-action remake of an animation of all time. And here we are not talking about a Disney product, but rather Universal / Dreamworks. It’s still curious that the animation is only 15 years old. Be that as it may, this film, which has just opened in cinemas, is already “considered good”, with 77% of critics and 98% of the public on Rotten; on IMDB it has one of the best ratings of the year, with 8.1.

Now that everyone has seen the film, we know what the asterisk means. The best Marvel movie in some time,’Thunderbolts‘ was the victory the studio needed to boost morale. Although it was not a financial success, it achieved something even more important, the respect of critics and the public. And the fact that a darker film could be quite emotional too. O’Suicide Squad‘ by Marvel is in the top 3 of the best of the year, with 88% of critics and 93% of the public on Rotten, and on IMDB it has a rating of 7.5.

Co-directed by Ray Mendoza – veteran SEAL whose own experience served as a basis – and Alex Garland‘Wartime‘ is an immersive war thriller, set in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006. The film offers a real-time narrative, faithfully recreating the accounts of the platoon involved in the event. On Rotten Tomatoes, it achieved an impressive 93% approval rating among critics and 93% among the public, consolidating it as the best-rated film in the world. Garland until now. On IMDb, it maintains a solid rating of 7.3.

Directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan playing twins,’Sinners’ is a thriller with elements of horror, musical and southern gothic set in the 1930s in the Mississippi Delta. With an impressive 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, from the most enthusiastic reviews – even named as one of the best films of 2025 – and 96% audience approval. On IMDB it has a rating of 7.8.