Lights, Camera, Action: A Spotlight on Movies of the Summer (Part 1: May)

A Flurry of Fun Films

The sun has set and the wind has chilled this summer season, but that does not mean there’s nothing to remember about it. In fact, from the perspective of entertainment, this summer had quite the plethora to offer, especially in terms of movies. Whether the latest superhero blockbusters, clever original stories, frightening horror feats, or simple family adventures, there was something for everyone this summer. 

But of the multiple films which hit theaters, what sticks out as the best of the lot, and what separates the achievements from the lower points? Having attended 21 screenings this summer–from May 1 to Aug. 30–I’ve witnessed a variety of movies in genre, style, tone, and overall execution. As such, this miniseries will focus on the features I saw based on the month they came out as I efficiently delve into their subsequent strengths and weaknesses. 

There’s a lot of movies to cover and four parts to do so, leaving only one question to answer: what films of the 2025 summer season are worthy of praise, and which ones should be avoided like a jellyfish in the ocean? 

Thunderbolts* (Disney+, Apple TV, Amazon Prime)

Kicking off this barrage of summer madness is a recent installment of the most successful film franchise of all time, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Thunderbolts* centers on a group of anti-heroes within the universe such as Yelena Belova (Black Widow’s sister), her father Red Guardian, and Bucky Barnes–the Winter Soldier. After escaping the clutches of a set-up death trap, the unlikely protagonists find themselves banding together to stop an evil entity known as the Void, while also confronting their own troubled pasts.

At first glance, this movie seems like an odd direction to take the MCU, especially since many of the characters on this team have not been seen on the big screen in years. In fact, a few characters on the team–specifically bounty hunter Taskmaster–can lack development and even feel a bit wasted. But surprisingly, director Jake Schreier finds a way to turn these anti-heroes into some of the most grounded in the current MCU. This can be attributed to a more grounded tone not often seen in superhero blockbusters.

The cast’s chemistry feels realistic as their bond develops throughout the runtime, particularly shining in the third act. Without giving too much away, I can say that the final 25 minutes of this movie were among the most emotional moments of the summer. The film delves into concepts such as trauma and mental health in an appropriately dramatic way, helping viewers to further gravitate towards the characters as they become more relatable and emotional.

On top of that, this film still boasts the engaging action and beautiful cinematography MCU films are known for, along with a variety of creative visuals. As such, it still maintains that classic Marvel feel amid the more dramatic moments. All of these factors combined result in a surprisingly strong entry in the MCU, justifying this unexpected anti-hero team-up and turning it into something more than its core concept.

Clown in a Cornfield (Shudder, AMC+, Apple TV)

Watch out Pennywise, there’s a new evil clown on the block ready to cause a ruckus! Based on Adam Cesare’s novel of the same name, this recent horror outing focuses on a rebellious teenager named Quinn, who moves to the quiet town of Kettle Springs, Missouri, with her father. While there, a mysterious murderer dressed as the town’s mascot, Frendo the Clown, begins slaughtering students one by one. With the killer’s next moves unknown, Quinn must team up with her friends to fend them off before it’s too late.

I went into this movie completely blind, having not seen any trailers and only going based on word-of-mouth. What I experienced was a very enjoyable horror film with an enjoyable nostalgic feel to it. Clown in a Cornfield reminded me of films like It and The Gate in how it prioritized its character work amid the horror and suspense. As a result, despite somewhat of a basic story and predictable first two acts, most of the characters feel natural in their portrayal, with Quinn standing out as she grows throughout the runtime. 

That said, my biggest drawback with the movie was how its supporting cast–particularly the friends Quinn makes–came off as annoying and unlikeable in many instances. The first half of the movie in particular sees delinquent behavior among the supporting cast which prevented me from being able to fully root for them. But this did not ruin the movie for me at all; like I said, amid all the character interactions, there’s still a murderous clown on the loose. 

The movie’s suspenseful side proved to be successful, as it excels in building tension and mystery without being overly graphic. In fact, the reveal of Frendo’s true identity in the climax paid off, making sense in the context of what was set up and paving the way for a tense conclusion. Despite the unlikeable side characters and familiar plot beats, this is still a well-crafted horror movie which I’d definitely recommend to fans of the genre.

Final Destination: Bloodlines (HBO Max, Apple TV, Amazon Prime)

Make sure you check every corner, because Death has come back for a new cinematic hurrah! Serving as the latest installment in the cult classic Final Destination series, Bloodlines centers on Stefani Reyes, a college student who suffers horrifying nightmares of her grandmother’s past. Suddenly, members of her family begin dying in terrifying freak accidents, as though they are being targeted by Death itself. With the bloodline fading quickly, Reyes and her surviving family must uncover the truth and break the cycle before Death can get to them.

I found myself having an absolute blast with this movie because it stood out as more than just a blood and gore fest. The brutality is still present, make no mistake, but it expands upon what Death is capable of and why it is targeting the Reyes bloodline, resulting in a clever story with plenty of twists and turns to keep viewers guessing and engaged, even when they think they have it all figured out. Granted, the third act and overall ending of the movie was derivative of previous installments, but the execution of the story and suspense of the tone results in an engagingly frightening ride.

The film also has some of the most well-written characters of the series not just in development, but also in personality. These include Caitlin Santa Juana as the cautious and worried Reyes, Richard Harmon as the wisecracking Erik, and Tony Todd–in his final onscreen appearance–as the mysterious Bludworth. The movie does a great job getting viewers to care about these characters, leading to many emotional impacts when Death rears its ugly head.

Speaking of which, the kill sequences in this movie rank among some of the franchise’s most graphic, which might not appeal to some viewers. But for me, they were well set up and resulted in numerous gnarly payoffs. Building tension and establishing paranoia is Final Destination’s specialty, crescendoing in a spectacular, splat-tastic fashion. Impressive practical and computer-generated effects bring these accidents to life, leading to many images which have stuck with me ever since I saw this film back in May. These sequences, mixed with the tension and thorough story, result in a horror film that’s as fun as it is scary, helping it stick out as one of the year’s most surprising sequels.

Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon Prime)

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to catch the sendoff to one of the most iconic action franchises! Serving as the grand finale to the Mission: Impossible saga, The Final Reckoning sees the return of Ethan Hunt and his team on the Impossible Missions Force (IMF). Tasked with hunting down a rogue artificial intelligence (AI) known as the Entity, the crew finds themselves in a tense race against time as the AI threatens to spread worldwide. All the while, Hunt and his team are being pursued by other government officials and figures from their past, leaving the fate of the world in the hands of the Entity or the ones in control of it.

As a great fan of the Mission: Impossible franchise, this sendoff proved to be quite the intense journey, particularly in its stunts and action, which are worth the price of admission on their own. Director Christopher McQuarrie and star Tom Cruise utilize their creative efforts to craft mesmerizing setpieces with spectacular action. The practical stunt work, courtesy of Cruise, adds an extra layer of stakes and realism to these scenes. Mixed with the terrific cinematography, music, and editing, the action kept me on the edge of my seat and stood out as the highlight of the film. 

In addition to his commitment to the stunts, Cruise also sports a great screen presence, as he provides an on-edge performance as Hunt in his final onscreen outing. He lets his personality shine through the screen, leading to many strong moments of drama, intensity, and vulnerability. Cruise also finds himself accompanied by a talented ensemble, with other standout performances coming from Hayley Atwell, Esai Morales, and Simon Pegg, who all have great development and energetic personalities.

Admittedly, the movie does sport a few faults in its story, particularly in the first hour. Not because it lacks ideas or energy, but rather, it puts a heavy emphasis on nostalgic callbacks and exposition. As a result, the pacing felt much slower than what would follow in the second and third acts, and thus took a while for the film to fully find its footing. But even with this, the terrific performances and development of the ensemble made the time feel worthwhile. Once the film does pick up the pace, it makes way for an intense and engaging action film which wraps the Mission: Impossible series on a satisfying note.

Lilo & Stitch (Disney+, Apple TV, Amazon Prime)

Crank up the luau music and get your blaster charged, as one of the most beloved Disney stories of modern times has received the live action treatment! A remake of the 2002 animated classic, this family adventure focuses on Experiment 626, later known as Stitch, as he crash lands out of space into Hawaii. There, he meets a young girl named Lilo Pelekai who adopts him as a pet, much to the chagrin of her sister, Nani. With an alien identity to protect and his creator in hot pursuit, Stitch lays low and forms a strong bond with Lilo, while learning the true meaning of family. 

As someone who loves the 2002 film, I had a fair share of skepticism going into this movie, as I was unsure how it would justify itself as more than just another cashgrab. Leaving the theater, I found myself satisfied with the end result, particularly in the way it portrayed the titular duo. There’s a lot of great emotional moments between the two, especially in how their interactions tackle the theme of finding your family. Plus, the performances of Maia Kealoha and Chris Sanders–reprising his role from the original movie–nail the personalities of Lilo and Stitch respectively, finding the right balance in humor and drama, making for an adorable duo of protagonists.

Despite this, there are flaws which plague the film that ultimately leave it inferior to the original. One of the biggest issues is the movie’s villain: Stitch’s creator, Dr. Jumba Jookiba. He’s portrayed by Zach Galifianakis in a role that feels rather miscast. Similar to Jack Black in A Minecraft Movie, he essentially plays himself in this role, and does not do much to make the character his own. As a result, an antagonist who should be menacing-yet-charming came off as kind of annoying and unremarkable.

On top of that, I was not a big fan of some of the changes made to the story, particularly in the finale. Without spoiling, all I’ll say is that while I understand what the filmmakers were trying to do, the ending to me felt much more abrupt than it did in the original, and the payoff was more lacking than effective. I can respect the film for not playing the story beat-for-beat to the original, especially since it maintains the core spirit and heart thoroughly. But as far as the conclusion goes, it just did not impact me the same way. These faults do leave the film inferior to the original in many regards, but that said, it’s still a fun remake whose portrayal of its title characters make it worth the price of admission.

If you’re interested in another viewpoint on this intergalactic blockbuster, check out the review from staff writer Carlee Nigro! Click here to give it a read!

Karate Kid: Legends (Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon Prime)

Practice those moves and focus your mind, as a new karate kid is ready to bring honor to his franchise. In the latest outing of the classic martial arts series, a boy named Li Fong moves to New York City with his mother, where he discovers an upcoming karate tournament with an undefeated champion. Despite his mother’s objections, Fong trains for the competition with the help of iconic Karate Kid characters–including shifu Mr. Han and sensei Daniel LaRusso–with the goal of building his strength and ultimately emerging victorious.

In comparison to the previous films in the Karate Kid franchise, I’d say this one ranks on the same level as the 2010 film with Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan. It’s undoubtedly flawed and inferior to previous installments, but it holds enough of its own ground to stand as a worthy addition. This primarily comes from the film’s training and fighting sequences, which reign supreme in the second half. Not only are they edited well, but they can also host a fair share of intensity and serve as a great way of showing Fong’s growth.

Additionally, the cast is great, particularly Ben Wang as Fong and Sadie Stanley as his love interest, Mia. The two have surprisingly great chemistry together, resulting in a solid subplot which sees them bonding throughout the runtime. Despite this, other actors in the film feel wasted, particularly those playing the legacy characters. Chan and Ralph Macchio return to the franchise as Han and LaRusso, respectively, and make strong use of the screentime they have, but they are not in the movie as much as the trailers and posters promoted. In fact, they feel underutilized in the grand scheme of the picture, almost coming off as a gimmick to sell more tickets.

Their combined lack of screen presence is accompanied by a story that feels simultaneously simple and overstuffed. What I mean by that is the core plot of the film is standard, derivative of the original Karate Kid movie, but it also sports a decent amount of subplots. In addition to the romance between Fong and Mia, there’s also side stories about the latter’s ex-fighter father and Fong’s relationship with his mother. All of these combined result in a film that feels jumbled in how much it shows, but predictable in its core ideas. The fight sequences and cast make the film enjoyable, but the story issues fail to help the movie stand out from its predecessors, ultimately impacting its legacy.