Opinions

2025 Movie Releases Wrapped

Anna Newman, Staff Reporter

February 1, 2026

David Corenswet, who plays Superman in the 2025 movie, poses for a movie poster with the iconic Superman flying stance and his cape blowing in the wind. Photo Courtesy of IMDb.

2025 was an excellent year for film. From superhero blockbusters to horror sequels, the year covered it all. In total, I saw 16 2025 releases, and I am here to rank them from worst to best.

Honorable Mention (TV Finale)

Stranger Things 5: The Finale

In one of the final scenes of the show, the original party gathers around the table in Mike’s basement, playing one final match of Dungeons and Dragons. Photo courtesy of Netflix.

How I watched: In theaters

Director: The Duffer Brothers

Ranking: ★★★★★ (5 stars)

The Stranger Things finale was everything it needed to be: heartbreaking, but still fun and nostalgic. After a near ten-year run, this was a great ending to the show so many of us grew up with. Also, since Stranger Things was such a cultural phenomenon, the finale was uniquely shown in theaters. This experience really added to the overall effect of the finale.

Movies

15. Fear Street: Prom Queen

One of the killer’s first victims is astonished as a creepy figure in all red approaches, while she is dressed up at her school dance. Photo courtesy of Thought Catalog.

How I watched: Netflix

Director: Matt Palmer

Ranking: ★☆☆☆☆ (1 star)

Before watching this, I had heard so much about the Fear Street franchise, despite never watching any of the movies. So, when watching this, I was pretty excited to finally start watching these movies. However, I was quickly surprised by how disappointing this movie was. It was very cringey and just overall bad. It was a super cheesy slasher movie, and I feel like they could have done so much better with the concept.

14. The Minecraft Movie

In the overworld of Minecraft, the main cast walks through a village, specifically towards a chicken stand. Photo courtesy of The Rice Thresher.

How I watched: In theaters

Director: Jared Hess

Ranking: ★★1/2☆☆ (2½ stars)

This is another movie that I was excited to watch but was ultimately disappointed. As someone who grew up with the game, this movie felt inaccurate. This was another case of wasted potential to me, as I feel like the Minecraft game could have led to a much better executed movie. It was very fun, just not good.

13. Regretting You

During her father’s funeral, Clara Grant goes outside for air and is approached by her crush, Miller Adams. He is trying his best to comfort her through the unimaginable pain. Photo courtesy of Empire.

How I watched: In theaters

Director: Josh Boone

Ranking: ★★★☆☆ (3 stars)

After watching Black Phone 2, I was itching for more Mason Thames content. He is a phenomenal actor, so I thought that this would be a phenomenal movie. It was not bad, but it just felt like it was all over the place. At times, the background story overpowered the main love story of Miller and Clara. Despite this, the acting in the movie was great, especially Mckenna Grace’s crying scene, which brought tears to my eyes. Also, the early twist was very unexpected.

12. I Know What You Did Last Summer(2025)

The core group of the show watches as a car falls off the cliff in front of them, in shock because they know they caused the accident. Photo courtesy of IMDb.

How I watched: In theaters

Director: Jennifer Kaytin Robinson

Ranking: ★★★1/2☆ (3½ stars)

I have never seen the first I Know What You Did Last Summer, so I feel like my ranking might be different from avid fans. But I thought this was pretty good with really unexpected twists. Also, the Sarah Michelle Gellar cameo was really cool to see, since I know she was an important character in the first movie.

11. Jurassic World Rebirth

Dr. Henry Loomis holds a dinosaur egg in admiration as Zora Bennett watches curiously, as they are both in the nest of said dinosaur. Photo courtesy of Rolling Stone.

How I watched: In theaters

Director: Gareth Edwards

Ranking: ★★★1/2☆ (3½ stars)

Even though I rated this film five stars after my first watch, I do not think I could place it above these upcoming movies. I have to admit; I think my recent bias got to me when rating it. However, a lot of people really dislike this movie, but I strongly disagree with those takes. I thought it was a great continuation of the franchise in a different light, and it honestly had me on the edge of my seat.

10. Avatar: Fire and Ash

Jake Sully and Neytiri stand united as they prepare for battle, while fully armed and ready, wearing cultural face paint and gear. Photo courtesy of Loud and Clear Reviews.

How I watched: In theaters

Director: James Cameron

Ranking: ★★★1/2☆ (3½ stars)

Avatar is sort of like Stranger Things in the way that it takes so long between movies (or seasons). Because of this, for the first 30 minutes of the movie, I felt like I was catching up. I probably should have rewatched the first ones before watching this, but I eventually understood what was happening. Other than that, I really enjoyed this movie. After every Avatar movie, I am always left entranced by the beauty and details, but a little annoyed at the length of the movie.

9. Captain America: Brave New World

Sam Wilson holds his shield gifted to him by Steve Rogers before his departure, and Wilson stands tall as he wields it with Joaquin Torres supportively watching. Photo courtesy of Deadline.

How I watched: In theaters

Director: Julius Onah

Ranking: ★★★★☆ (4 stars)

I am a big fan of Captain America, especially when Captain America was Steve Rogers. The first three Captain America movies, especially Captain America: The Winter Soldier, are some of my favorite movies ever made. Because of this, I was both scared and extremely excited going into the movie. After it ended, I was very satisfied. I feel like they are definitely going in the right direction with Sam Wilson as Captain America, and I cannot wait to see what this brings in Avengers: Doomsday later this year, especially with Chris Evans confirmed to be coming back.

8. Five Nights at Freddy’s 2

The Toy Freddy animatronic walks through Freddy Fest, as attendees watch, thinking it is a person in a cosplay. Photo courtesy of Popverse.

How I watched: In theaters

Director: Emma Tammi

Ranking: ★★★★☆ (4 stars)

I really liked this movie. I have been so excited for this sequel to come out ever since the first FNAF came out, and it did not disappoint. I loved the new spins, how they are introducing new game concepts, and how they are adding new movie-specific details. There was one scene with Josh Hutcherson’s character that replicated the game so well, and that scene made the movie for me. I cannot wait for the third movie to be released.

7. The Fantastic 4: First Steps

The Fantastic 4 looks up in shock as they prepare to fight this movie’s villain. Photo courtesy of Rotterdam Square Cinema 7.

How I watched: In theaters

Director: Matt Shakman

Ranking: ★★★★☆ (4 stars)

This is another franchise where I started with the latest release. I have never seen the first Fantastic 4 movies, so this was completely new to me. Despite this, I thought this movie was great, and it made me want to go back and watch the originals. I especially loved Joseph Quinn’s performance as the Human Torch, and I thought he did an amazing job in the role.

6. Wicked: For Good

Elphaba and Glinda have an argument about their love interest, Fiyero. Photo courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter.

How I watched: In theaters

Director: Jon M. Chu

Ranking: ★★★★1/2 (4½ stars)

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were made for the roles of Glinda and Elphaba, and this really shows that. However, something unexpected was how Ethan Slater was made for the roles of Boq and the Tin Man. His execution and flip from the sweet and kind Boq role to the dark role of the Tin Man brought me chills in the theaters. The pure hatred he had for Elphaba by the end of the movie was astonishing.

5. Marty Supreme

Marty plays in a ping pong match, intensely pointing at his opponent. Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Times.

How I watched: In theaters

Director: Josh Safdie

Ranking: ★★★★1/2 (4½ stars)

The marketing for this movie was insane. From the jackets to Timothée Chalamet’s song, this movie really got its name out before it was released. I did not know what to expect going in though, and I was pleasantly surprised with what it was. Chalamet did an amazing job portraying Marty Reisman, and he really set himself apart with this role. He spent years learning ping pong, and it showed through his performance.

4. Thunderbolts*

The Thunderbolts* crew packs into an elevator, ready to fight the movie’s evil. Photo courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter.

How I watched: In theaters

Director: Jake Schreier

Ranking: ★★★★★ (5 stars)

This was a movie I was so looking forward to seeing, and it lived up to my expectations. It touched on deep topics like mental health so tastefully, while still being an action-packed Marvel superhero movie.

3. Sinners

Twins Smoke and Stack show off their differing personalities through their expressions and choices of color. Photo courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter.

How I watched: HBO Max

Director: Ryan Coogler

Ranking: ★★★★★ (5 stars)

Although I only recently watched Sinners, even though it came out in early 2025, I quickly became obsessed with this film. This movie is top-tier, and I hope it wins all the Academy Awards it is nominated for. Michael B. Jordan put everything he had into his roles as Smoke and Stack, and this translated onto the screen so well. Through the movie, he played two roles (as twins) and did so well that it was clear who was who. Also, Hailee Steinfeld did great work in this movie, too. Another thing I love about this movie is the music and how much meaning music has in the story.

2. Black Phone 2

Finney Blake is on the phone angrily with his kidnapper, who somehow can still communicate with him despite his death in the previous movie. Photo courtesy of IMDb.

How I watched: In theaters

Director: Scott Derrickson

Ranking: ★★★★★ (5 stars)

I liked the Black Phone, but I loved the Black Phone 2. A lot of times, sequels do not live up to the original, but this is not the case with these movies. I feel like the second movie really took the foundation of the first and elevated it to new potential. Mason Thames did so amazingly well in this movie, and he portrayed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder unlike anyone else. The next day, after seeing this in theaters, I rewatched the first, and then the next day I bought the second so I could rewatch it unlimitedly.

1. Superman (2025)

Superman saves a young girl during a battle in Metropolis. Photo courtesy of TL;DR Movie Reviews and Analysis.

How I watched: In theaters

Director: James Gunn

Ranking: ★★★★★ (5 stars)

This movie reshaped my life, and I am not being dramatic when I say this. I have always been a Marvel superhero girl, so I did not expect a whole lot from this movie. However, nonetheless, I went along with my family with an open mind, and I was quickly proven wrong. Superman (2025) represents hope, goodness, and how to defy hate when it is so dominant. After one watch, this became my favorite movie of all time. I watched it twice in theaters, bought it to watch at home, and bought so much merchandise. There are not enough words to describe how much I love this movie.

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About the Contributor

Anna Newman, Staff Reporter

Anna is a Senior, and this is her first year as a Staff Reporter for The Fallston Print. Other than The Print, she is the Secretary of NHS, Competitive Events Coordinator for FBLA, a manager for the lacrosse team, and a member of Mock Trial, SGA, SNHS, MNHS, and the Criminal Justice Club. Alongside fellow staff reporter, Sammy Evans, she is reinstating the Speech and Debate club as Co-Captain. Outside of school, she works at the Forest Hill Rita’s. She moved to the Fallston area before 10th grade and has been an active member within Fallston ever since. After graduating, she hopes to pursue a degree in Journalism or a related field. Outside of school, Anna enjoys hanging out with friends and binging TV shows like The Vampire Diaries and Smallville.