A few short weeks remain in the 2025 summer movie season, and we have to say, it’s been a pretty great one. Lots of the big blockbusters really delivered. Lots of smaller films came out of nowhere to surprise us. And even a few streaming titles made their mark. Below, we’ve got our choices for the 15 best genre movies released during the summer of 2025, from the first weekend in May through the end of August.
15. Thunderbolts
Spoiler: this is the only Marvel movie on this list. Not that we disliked Fantastic Four—it’s actually pretty fun—but Thunderbolts offered us a more exciting ride, with an incredible cast of characters and a much, much better tease toward the future.
Thunderbolts is now available on digital download and Blu-ray. It’ll hit Disney+ on August 27.
14. Clown in a Cornfield
There’s something to be said about a movie that just gives you exactly what it promises, does it well, and does it right. That’s Clown in a Cornfield. Read our review here.
Clown in a Cornfield is streaming on Shudder.
13. Together
Together is almost an incredible movie. Instead, it’s just a really, really good, gross movie about two people who get infected with something that keeps forcing them together. Great performances, interesting relationship dynamics, and a killer ending. It’s missing a little something to put it over the top, but it is still well worth seeing.
Together is now in theaters and will be streaming later this year.
12. Jaws @ 50
Yup, I threw a documentary at you. This summer marked the 50th anniversary of one of the best genre movies ever, the killer shark film Jawsand this documentary diving into seemingly every aspect of its development, production, and reception is just a joy to watch. Read our interview with the film’s director here.
(And while it’s not exactly genre-focused, if you want another great doc from this summer, Pee-wee as Himself on HBO Max is masterful.)
Jaws @ 50 is streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
11. Bring Her Back
The 2023 horror film Talk to Me was absolutely amazing, and its directors, Danny and Michael Philippou, followed it up with this, not quite as good, but somehow even more disturbing horror tale. Sally Hawkins gives a chilling lead performance in a film that features the most horrifying visuals of the year.
Bring Her Back is now available for digital download or rental.
10. The Toxic Avenger
If you were wondering, “How can io9 do a list of best genre films of the summer when the summer isn’t over yet?” here’s the answer. We’ve seen the last major one, coming to theaters later this month, and it’s a doozy. Gory, hilarious, and a fine homage to the Troma films that inspired it. Read our review here.
The Toxic Avenger comes to theaters August 29.
9. How to Train Your Dragon
If How to Train Your Dragon was something we saw for the first time this summer, it would easily be the top movie on this list. The original is incredible. However, this “incredible” movie is just that movie again, in live action, so while it’s really wonderful, it drops a little bit down the list. Read our review here.
How to Train Your Dragon is currently available for digital download or rental.
8. Elio
Elio may have been one of the biggest box office bombs of the summer, but it’s not for lack of quality. The film itself is a funny, heartfelt, stunningly beautiful adventure that’s right up there with Pixar’s best recent output. So, it’s not Wall-E or anything, but it’s certainly on par with Turning Red, Souletc. Read our review.
Elio will be available digitally on August 19.
7. 28 Years Later
When Oscar winner Danny Boyle and legendary writer Alex Garland teamed back up to return to the franchise they put on the map, you knew it had to be good. And it was. 28 Years Later is an intense, heartbreaking piece of worldbuilding with lots of action, emotion, and massive penises. We can’t believe we only have to wait a few more months for its sequel. Read our review here.
28 Years Later is now available for digital download and rental.
6. KPop Demon Hunters
Arguably, the biggest hit, and surprise, of the summer was on Netflix. Who could’ve guessed? This tale of a K-Pop band that protects the universe from evil is not only fun and funny, but it’s also got some of the catchiest movie music in recent memory. It loses a little steam towards the end, but no matter. It’s still a blast.
KPop Demon Hunters can be streamed on Netflix.
5. Final Destination Bloodlines
The sixth film in a franchise is rarely the best film in a franchise, but that’s exactly what Final Destination Bloodlines is. Telling a big, sweeping story that connects the entire series, directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein brought an unfathomably wild set of kills to the film, making it scary and gross but also a complete blast to watch. Here’s our review.
Final Destination Bloodlines is currently streaming on HBO Max.
4. Superman
James Gunn did it. He was able to bring Superman back in a big, big way with a film that’s as massive as the character demands but also weird and off the rails in ways we never expected. It’s the best superhero movie of the summer. Read our review here.
Superman is still in theaters and arrives on digital Friday. Perfect timing!
3. Weapons
The best horror movie of the summer follows a town broken when a classroom of kids mysteriously goes missing in the night. What happens next has to be seen to be believed and, we think, will be watched and discussed over and over again. Read our review here.
Weapons is currently in theaters and is likely to hit streaming later this year.
2. Predator: Killer of Killers
Even before director Dan Trachtenberg added on an even better, more exciting end credit scene to the already awesome one he had, Predator: Killer of Killers was a winner. You just haven’t lived until you’ve seen Predators fight across the centuries. Read our review here.
Predator: Killer of Killers is streaming on Hulu.
A quick detour…
This is my list, and I’ll do what I want. That’s why, while it’s not technically a straight genre film, I just have to call out one extra movie. It’s Heads of Statethe John Cena/Idris Elba movie that premiered this year on Prime Video. This rather straightforward action film is so much fun, I couldn’t believe it. Light-years ahead of most films that premiere on streaming. Watch it here. And now…
1. The Life of Chuck
And yet, among all the superheroes, the killer animation, and the terrifying horror, it’s a not-so-simple movie about a simple man’s life that stands ahead of the rest. Mike Flanagan’s adaptation of the Stephen King short story is so fresh, optimistic, and rewatchable that we haven’t stopped thinking about it since we saw it. If you missed it in theaters, see it as soon as you can. You won’t be disappointed. Our review is here.
The Life of Chuck is now available for digital download and rental.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
