Last summer was a bit of a down time for movies. The typical crop of tentpoles was a little smaller than usual, fueled in part by the lingering effects of the 2023 writers and actors strikes. After the one or two standout titles, the best summer movies were ... just okay.

2025 was different. There were great movies in theaters over the last few months — and even a couple available at home on streaming. They came in all shapes and sizes: Big blockbusters and smaller fare; films from established auteurs and films from up-and-coming artists; bold originals and surprisingly inventive sequels that updated older franchises for contemporary audiences. Every week or two, it seemed like there was another title you had to go out of your way to see.

The summer movie season offered very goo

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