PV Guide's best of the year so far

My favorite movies, action movies, TV, and video games of the first half of 2025

I’m going to do a whole big Best of the Year series at the end of the year, but seeing as we’re a little past the midway point of 2025, let’s check in on the best new releases so far. Below are some early “so far” best-of 2025 lists from me – movies, action movies, under-the-radar movies, TV seasons, and video games – as well as a little bit about each title.

A note: I don’t go to theaters much these days, so I haven’t seen a good amount of the most recent theatrical releases. 28 Years Later won’t be on here, for example, because I haven’t had the chance to watch it yet.

Top 10 new movies of the year

1. Sinners

Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan’s smash box office hit lives up to the hype and then some. The rare big budget movie these days that feels like it was made for adults, it’s a terrific blend of blockbuster thrills, complex themes, and impressive technical execution.
Where to watch it: HBO Max

2. Hard Truths

Mike Leigh’s moving story about a woman dealing with phobias and insecurities by lashing out at the world around her, and the relationship she has with her family and her significantly more content sister. Features a transcendent performance from Marianne Jean-Baptiste, one of the best I’ve seen in years.
Where to watch it: Paramount Plus

3. Eephus

The essence of baseball, distilled in a story about the last game at a small town’s baseball field before it is replaced by a new construction project. Eephus does a better job of any movie I’ve seen of communicating what baseball is all about – the moments in between.
Where to watch it: On VOD platforms

4. The Shrouds

A darkly funny sci-fi from noted weirdo David Cronenberg about grief and technology, following a man who responds to his wife’s death by inventing a way to monitor the remains of departed loved ones 24/7, and the ways that tech and obsession might be warped and abused.
Where to watch it: The Criterion Channel

5. Black Bag

Steven Soderbergh’s sleek spy thriller, about an intelligence agent (Michael Fassbender) looking to chase out a mole by hosting a dinner party for spies. One additional problem: his wife (Cate Blanchett) is a suspect.
Where to watch it: Peacock

6. Den of Thieves 2: Pantera

A Euro-core sequel to the decidedly LA-core heist movie Den of Thieves, Pantera trades the grimy streets of Los Angeles for the luxurious world of European diamond theft with great effect. You can read my interview with director Christian Gudegast here.
Where to watch it: Netflix

7. One of Them Days

A raucous, raunchy buddy comedy about two friends (Keke Palmer and SZA) who have until the end of the day to recover their lost rent money before they’re evicted from their apartment.
Where to watch it: Netflix

8. The Woman in the Yard

A blunt but effective horror movie from Orphan director Jaume Collet-Serra about depression and grief that works because of a fantastic leading performance from Danielle Deadwyler, unusual visual choices for the genre, and its directness about its themes.
Where to watch it: Peacock

9. Last Bullet

The final entry in the fantastic French vehicular action trilogy closes things out with a bang, and has some new tricks up its sleeve. You can read my interview with director Guillaume Pierret here.
Where to watch it: Netflix

10. Diablo

Martial arts stars Marko Zaror and Scott Adkins team up in a devilishly good action thriller that leans on their respective strengths and features an all-time weirdo villain performance from Zaror. Read my review here.
Where to watch it: VOD

Honorable mentions
New movies I dug and don’t appear in a later category here: KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix), Heart Eyes (Netflix), The Wedding Banquet (VOD)

As a bonus, here are four movies I saw at the Seattle International Film Festival that haven’t come out yet. I enjoyed them, and you should keep an eye out for:

Summer’s Camera

A coming-of-age story about a teenage girl who discovers a secret about her late dad in his final photo roll, which inspires her to learn more about him (and herself).

Shepherds

Based on a memoir, this movie follows a French Canadian marketing executive who suddenly quits his job and moves to the south of France to become a shepherd. Unflinching in its depiction of the difficulties of that life, Shepherds nevertheless manages to be hopeful and moving.

Souleymane’s Story (out August 1)

A Guinean immigrant practices his asylum interview as he rides his bicycle around Paris, making food deliveries. A tautly directed drama with strong performances from a group of first-time actors, I wasn’t as sold on the ending, but I dug the journey to get there.

Boong

A touching, funny coming-of-age story about a kid who goes on a surprise road trip to try to bring his dad back home as a gift to his mom, and the friend who joins him on the journey.

Top 10 new action movies of the year so far