Happy Sunday everyone! Today, I'm sharing my Mid-Year Movie Freak Out 2025! You can check out my 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 list, if you feel so inclined. If anyone would like to link up with me and share their Mid-Year Movie Freak Out, I'd love to see your answers to the questions. By the way, the titles are linked to my Letterboxd review or their Letterboxd page (and all of these are first time watches). Without further ado, here we go:
1. Best movie you've watched so far in 2025.
Sinners (2025) - I'd say this is both the best 2025 release I've seen and the best movie I've watched so far this year as well. Plus, it has a fantastic soundtrack and it's quickly become a favorite vampire movie.
2. Best sequel you've watched so far in 2025.
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2024) - I just love Wallace and Gromit, so anytime I have the chance to see them is a good in my opinion. Plus, bringing back Feathers McGraw was a fantastic decision. By the way, Gromit is easily my favorite fictional dog.
3. New release you haven't seen yet, but want to.
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year.
Wicked: For Good (2025) - I absolutely loved part one and I've been dying for this since the credits rolled after watching part one the first time.
5. Biggest disappointment.
The Sword in the Stone (1963) - I'm a fan of Arthurian stories, but unfortunately this one didn't work out for me. The colors and landscapes looked great, but that's about it.
6. Biggest surprise.
Sorcerer (1977) - I had no expectations for this going in, but it's easily one of the most intense action thrillers I've ever seen. By the way, it's only rated PG, but it's definitely a modern PG-13.
7. Favorite new actors or director.
Pierre Niney as Edmond Dantès/ The Count of Monte Cristo from The Count of Monte Cristo (2024) - I haven't seen this actor in anything else, but I'll have to change that because I was so impressed with his performance in this movie.
8. Newest favorite character.
Harry Palmer as played by Michael Caine from The Ipcress File (1965) - Harry (and the movie as a whole) is very much the exact opposite of James Bond and I really appreciated that. I'm going to have to watch the rest of this series soon.
9. Movie that made you cry.
White Bird (2023) - I'd read the book this was based on so I already knew what was coming, but I was still a mess. Anyway, both the book and the adaptation are great and I highly recommend checking them out. By the way, they are companions to Wonder (2017).
10. Movie that made you happy.
Thunderbolts* (2025) - Honestly, I could probably almost fit this in for the previous category, but I was just so happy to see these characters again and am looking forward to seeing them again in the future. I'd consider this a top MCU movie. I actually saw this twice at the theater and I'd say I liked it even more the second time around.
11. Best book to film adaptation?
The Count of Monte Cristo (2024) - I'm a big fan of the original classic story from Alexandre Dumas as well as several adaptations. As it turns out, I'd say this new French adaptation is my favorite of the group and also a favorite movie watched this year as well. Pierre Niney's performance as Edmond really makes it. I wish I could have seen this on the big screen, but it was still fantastic no matter what.
Runner Up: Mickey 17 (2025) - It's a bit different from the book, Mickey7 by Edward Ashton, that it's based on, but I loved how this was adapted for the screen. It's easily my favorite Robert Pattinson performance(s).
12. Best book to tv adaptation?
The Wheel of Time, Season 1 (2021) - I've only read the first book in the series and am not really planning on continuing them, but I did really enjoy the first season of the adaptation. I know it was recently cancelled, but at least I still have two more seasons to enjoy.
School Spirits, Season 1 (2023) - The first season of this series is available on Netflix and I absolutely loved it. I'm already wanting to rewatch it. I hope they'll add season 2 eventually, or else I'll have to take out a subscription to Paramount+ to find out what happens! By the way, this is a bit of a different case when it comes to a book adaptation because the book hasn't been released yet. The graphic novel will be released on September 9th and I'm patiently waiting for that day! Here's the Goodreads page for it.
13. Movie the made you laugh.
The Monkey (2025) - It's got a dark and killer sense of humor which I wasn't quite expecting to that degree going in. Theo James really needs to do more horror and more comedy because he was great in this.
14. Movie that scared you.
The Ritual (2017) - I had no expectations for this Netflix film going it, but it turned out to be a pretty great folk horror story. The growing sense of dread and claustrophobia is palpable. Robert James-Collier and Rafe Spall are my favorites in this. Also, I just thought I'd mention that I'm really looking forward to Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale. Even though I've seen the cast of the series in a variety of different things, it's always odd to see them in something set in the present anymore.
15. Best 2025 release so far?
Sinners (2025) - Usually my favorite movie of the year doesn't also fit this category, but this year it totally does. If you haven't seen this yet, what are you waiting for? I hope Michael B. Jordan will do more horror (or historical set) movies in the future.
16. Best hidden gem.
Il Mare (2000) - I've never seen the American remake of this which is called The Lake House with Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, but as far as I'm concerned this romance fantasy with Lee Jung-jae (who I've never seen younger) and Jun Ji-hyun is a must watch.
And that's a wrap for my Mid-Year Movie Freak Out 2025! If you'd like to play along, share your link with me so I can see your responses! Have you seen any of these? As always, thanks for visiting my blog and perhaps even commenting down below!
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