A Preview of the Biggest and Best Summer Movies of 2025
by A.J. Daulerio
Due to a fortunate birthdate, I was 11 years old during the vaunted “Summer of 1985” movie season which released heavy hitters like Back to the Future, Cocoon, Fletch, and Rambo: First Blood Part II. It was also jam-packed with many of my personal old favorites—Summer Rental, Return of the Living Dead, Brewster’s Millions, and Teen Wolf.
One of my biggest regrets as a lifetime journalist was never becoming a film critic. When I was a young boy growing up in Philadelphia, my father routinely grabbed the sports and business section; the only part of the paper I’d look forward to was the weekend insert with all the movie reviews. Carrie Rickey, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s longtime critic, informed most of my film opinions at that age. And their summer movie preview issue would ignite an excitement in me equaled only by the Sears Wish Book Christmas catalog that’d be sent out later that fall showcasing the overpriced Christmas toys Santa “couldn’t carry in his sleigh,” according to my mom. But oh, to wish!
This year, I was lucky enough to score several screeners from a few friends in the Hollywood business, and—let me tell you—film buffs are in for a real treat this year with at least a dozen sure-fire classics. I wouldn’t be surprised if this summer’s box office gross tops 12 billion dollars.
I have watched over a dozen soon-to-be-released movies in the past three weeks, and here are my top five from that group. It could have been Top 10, but I’m trying to keep this under 6,000 words.
I watched most of these from the comfort of my own home, but I can’t wait to rewatch some of them on the big screen. Maybe I’ll see you there?
Okay, let’s get to it!
Keep us breathing fire!
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