Just one month into 2025’s second half and a dense whirlwind of blockbusters has almost completely blown through town; I honestly can’t remember the last time we had this many big-deal action movies packed into one season – and they were all pretty good! Five of these ten event movies cried out for IMAX, and I obliged on four of them without regret. The remainder of the list isn’t quite as universally strong, but you can’t win ’em all.
Maybe it’s related to all the big movie hype, but I feel like I’ve heard a lot more mentions of Letterboxd on my podcast feeds and in person this year; the app has reached a new level of mainstream presence and so it’s probably worth mentioning I’m on there @vagrantesque. I only catalogue and update lists on there, though. Actual movie thoughts still live right here.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
The Accountant 2
“Great when Bernthal and Affleck are bantering, kinda forgettable otherwise.”
Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning
“After a rickety first act, fires on every possible cylinder.”
The Amateur
“Serviceable espionage momentum, but Malek has already done this dance.”
Ballerina
“Best results if your favourite John Wick movie is 2.”
How to Train Your Dragon
“Yes it’s nearly identical, but it’s also impeccably well–made.”
F1
“The less you follow racing, the more you’ll enjoy this.”
K-Pop Demon Hunters
“Proof Spiderverse talent can make a banger out of anything.”
Superman
“Best Superman movie this century, though the bar wasn’t high.”
Fantastic 4: First Steps
“The first fantastic Fantastic Four film – on the fourth attempt.”
Happy Gilmore 2
Vagrant Rant 