At Nerdist, cinema is life in all forms. Whether we are curling up on our couch and watching a new flick on Netflix or reclining at the movies with a weird popcorn bucket in hand, we could never, ever get tired of talking about films. We enjoy chatting about theories and post-credits scenes among our team just as much as we love whipping up explainers and op-eds for our readers. There are seemingly endless choices from a swath of genres and subgenres to choose from on any given day. Sometimes, you want a slasher that serves up buckets of blood and big laughs. Other times, you want a sweeping superhero epic that takes you far away from reality. We’ve watched a ton of films in 2025 and, in our very humble opinions, these are the best ones so far.
F1: The Movie
F1: The Movie isn’t quite what you’d think of as a Nerdist flick, but it actually is. Nerding out goes far beyond genre entertainment. Just like we (and a lot of you) love MCU, horror, and sci-fi films, we also belong to the community of racing enthusiasts. And there’s nothing quite like the story of a rising star whose story was cut short by tragedy decades ago only for them to get another shot.
That’s what happens with Brad Pitt’s Sonny Hayes, a prodigy who lost his steam after an accident. He comes back thirty years later to help a team from collapsing and forms a relationship with British rookie driver Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris). From its high-octane racing sequences to the incredible amount of heartbreak and hope in its storyline, F1: The Movie fires on all cylinders straight towards success and is one of the best movies of 2025.
Sinners
Ryan Coogler’s Sinners felt like a breath of fresh air in a sequel and reboot-laden horrorsphere. It tells a truly unique and moving story about twin brothers (played by Michael B. Jordan) who return to the Mississippi Delta to discover that something sinister lurks in their hometown.
Sinners flawlessly interweaves Black Southern American culture, from music to folklore to Hoodoo, with the familiar vampire beats. A bluesy, tense, and thoroughly engaging romp told through Coogler’s sharp lens, Sinners pulls you in and stays with you long after the credits roll. Coogler and Jordan are one of the great director-actor duos of this time and this film further cements their place in film history.
Heart Eyes
We certainly didn’t see this one being a part of our best movies of 2025 list. Heart Eyes’ trailer was fun enough with some quips and a dash of chemistry between Scream VI’s Mason Gooding and Cloak & Dagger’s Olivia Holt. But those clips barely scratch the surface of how solid this film is.
It is horror comedy meets romantic thriller, blending in brutal kills and impeccably placed quips into a surprisingly unique premise. Just imagine going out to dinner with someone you just met only to be mistaken for a couple by a serial killer who murders couples. Gooding and Holt are a pure delight to watch as they fight to survive the night.
28 Years Later
A lot of horror sequels simply don’t live up to their predecessors nor do they add anything else to the franchise’s lore. But that’s not the case with 28 Years Later, an emotionally resonant and rather unnerving installment that brings back the Rage Virus in full force.
This film takes some big creative swings and amps up the action to deliver a very satisfying sequel that made all of its development hell worth it. 28 Years Later touches on themes relevant in our verging on apocalypse society while imagining an alternate future that speaks to humanity’s resilience and shortcomings. It’s all around brilliant and worthy of many, many watches.
Thunderbolts*
This film about a band of underdogs who have to step into heroic territory embodies what we love about the MCU. Highly character driven with moving storylines, Thunderbolts packs in the action, humor, and even those lovely nods to the overall universe in a way that feels both epic and grounded. Anchored by a powerful performance from Florence Pugh, Thunderbolts* was the refreshing jolt that the MCU needed as it moves towards a new phase. We are glad it belongs on our best movies of 2025 list!
Jurassic World Rebirth
Who knew that we’d get a stellar Jurassic World movie in 2025? Jurassic World Rebirth gives us all the intense dino action that we’d expect from this franchise with a story that packs a surprising amount of heart. The characters’ motivations and interpersonal relationships certainly struck a chord with us as well as many people across the globe, making it one of the highest grossing films this year.
Superman
David Corenswet had some pretty big red boots to fill following beloved Superman actors like Henry Cavill and Christopher Reeve. He took on the challenge and exceeded everyone’s expectations in a film that was funny, frenetic, and an all-around delight. Sometimes, we forget that a story can have resonant themes but also be a lot of fun, even in the midst of drama.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
We will admit that including this film probably puts us in the minority. It wasn’t the big, bombastic adventure that some folks envisioned in their minds. But there was something delightfully charming and weirdly grounded in this story. Pedro Pascal as Mister Fantastic was just *chef’s kiss* and this movie played a pretty big role in why we chose him as the Nerdiest Man Alive.
Weapons
Horror continues to rock the big screen with films like Weapons, a wholly unique tale that you have to experience to fully understand. From the film’s twists to its compelling characters, it fires on all cylinders from beginning to end. Striking the balance between chilling and clever humor isn’t easy, but Zach Cregger does it well.
HIM
Once again, we are probably in the minority here. But HIM‘s exploration of the body horror of football, sacrificing for one’s dreams, and the brutal power systems behind professional sports made for some seriously solid entertainment. Marlon Wayans and Tyriq Withers are electrifying together on screen, the visuals sear into your brain, and the film’s ending is a brutal horror show. We liked it a lot!
Bugonia
This film had one of the most bizarre yet intriguing trailers of the year. But, as we all know, an excellent trailer doesn’t necessarily equate to a great film. Thankfully, Bugonia did not disappoint, even though it did leave us scratching our heads at first.
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