My top 5 best movies of 2025

    Okay folks, the end of the year is here! You know what that means, time for me to tell you what my top 5 best movies of the year are. Now just to be clear, these are movies that I've reviewed based on my own opinions on them, and my own opinions only. Your opinions on these movies may be different, but again, their mine and mine only. For the record, I'll provide links to each review of these movies.

1. Regretting You

Release Date: October 24, 2025

Review: Missouri Movie Lover: Regretting You

    As I Stated in my written review, I thought Mckenna Grace shined in this film and stole the show! This was a really good movie, and thought it should be number 1!

 2. A Minecraft Movie

     Release Date: April 4, 2025

     Review: Missouri Movie Lover: A Minecraft Movie

     Okay When I saw this movie, I thought it would be a movie-going experience that I would never forget. The theater was sold out, everyone was shouting at the screen, and I heard that the movie became a social media phenomenon (let's put it that way)! When I saw the movie, I thought it was gonna be a box office hit.

3. Lilo and Stitch

    

    Release Date: May 23, 2025

    Review: Missouri Movie Lover: Lilo and Stitch

    When I first saw the original Lilo and Stitch in theaters back in 2002, I obviously didn't know that I would be seeing a remake of it 23 years later, in 2025. I honestly thought it was one of the best live action remakes Disney has done. I think this version has a better ending than the original.

4. The King of Kings

    Release Date: April 11, 2025

    Review: Missouri Movie Lover: The King of Kings

     I thought I'd add this one to the list is because it was a remarkable animated telling of the story of Jesus Christ. I don't think there's been one that animated, and this good since The Prince of Egypt. So, again I thought I'd add this film to the list.

5. Wicked for Good

Release Date: November 21, 2025

Review: Missouri Movie Lover: Wicked For Good

Okay, even though it's not as good as 2024's Wicked, but I think the continuation of that first film, it does start out slow but does pick up toward the end. 

Avatar: Fire and Ash

 Rated: PG-13

 Runtime: 3 hours 17 minutes

 Release Date: December 19, 2025

 Director: James Cameron

 Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver

    In this latest Avatar Adventure, while grappling with grief after Neteyam's death, Jake and Neytiri's family encounter a new, aggressive tribe, the ash people, who are led by the fiery Varang, as the conflict on pandora escalates and anew moral focus emerges.

    What do I think about this movie? Well let me tell you this, I think James Cameron did it again on the visuals! Story wise, I think it starts off very slow, but the ending was really good. I saw it in 3D, and I think Mr. Cameron did again on the 3D again as well. So go see it in 3D if you can. Parents, if you want to be more cautious about this film when it comes to the amount of violence, language, etc. go ahead and click
here before going. Although I did find that the language (I think), is leaning toward the rough side. So, there's that.

Final Grade:

C+

Wicked For Good

 Rated: PG

Runtime: 2 hours 18 minutes

Release Date: November 21, 2025

Director: Jon M. Chu

Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh

    Continuing the Story of Wicked, Elphaba (Erivo) has been given the identity of The Wicked Witch of the West, and she must now grapple with that Identity, after challenging the Wizard's totalitarian regime in Oz. Meanwhile, The Wizard (Goldblum) has given Glinda (Grande) the title "Glinda the Good." Now the two witches must decide their fates, and whether or not they should remain friends.

    This movie is a good movie, but not as good as the first Wicked. They do say that the first hour of the movie is slow, and I agree with that. But I think It has a good ending, just like first film. Parents, this is a PG-rated film So I think you and your kids should be ok with it.

Final Grade:

A-

Regretting You

 Rated: PG-13

Runtime: 1 hour 56 minutes

Release Date: October 24, 2025

Director: Josh Boone

Starring: Allison Williams, McKenna Grace, Mason Thames, Dave Franco

                This movie based on a novel by Colleen Hoover, The same author who wrote It ends with us, is about the relationship between a young mother played by Allison Williams, and her teenage daughter Played by McKenna Grace, that becomes strained following the death of the mother's husband and sister. This forces them to face life's challenges together. 

     This movie, is a good movie. I thought McKenna Grace really shined in this film and stole the show! If your looking for a good romantic date movie, I highly recommend it. Parents, if your teens wanna see this film, Go ahead and let them. But if you wanna know some more info about it, you might wanna click here. Otherwise, It's a really good movie.

Final Grade:

A+

Tron Ares

Rated: PG-13

Runtime: 1 hour 59 minutes

Release Date: October 10, 2025

Director: Joachim Ronning

Starring, Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Jeff Bridges, Evan Peters

            In this third installment of The Tron film series (the first one came out in 1982, and the second one in 2010), A highly sophisticated program named Ares (Leto), leaves the digital world, and enters the real one on a dangerous mission.

            It's an okay film. It's not good or bad, just in the middle. If your a fan of the Tron franchise, I think you'll have a good time with this film. Now, is it gonna win an academy award for best picture? No. Is Jared Leto gonna win an award for best actor? No. But I think it's a good time at the movies.

Final Grade:

C

Jaws

Rated: PG

Runtime: 2 hours 4 minutes

Release Date: June 20, 1975

Director: Steven Spielberg 

Starring: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss

   This 1970's classic is about a killer white shark, who terrorizes the community of Amityville Island. It is now up to the local Police Chief (Scheider), A Marine Botanist (Dreyfuss), and an Old Seafarer (Shaw) to hunt the creature. 

    In honor of it's 50th anniversary, Universal Pictures apparently decided to re-release this film back into theaters, and it's still terrifyingly intense as it was back in 1975! Yes, I went and saw it! Parents, even though it's rated PG, It still may be too intense for younger children, if you didn't know that already.

Final Grade:

B+

The Naked Gun

 Rated: PG-13

 Runtime: 1 hour 25 minutes

 Release Date: August 1, 2025

 Director: Akiva Schaffer

 Starring: Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser

    In this funny cop movie, Frank Drebin Jr. (Neeson) is the only man who has the skills to lead Police Squad, investigate a bank robbery, and stop the evil head of a tech company from carrying out a dangerous threat. This movie, is a good movie. I've never seen Liam Neeson play such a comedic role like this. Seriously folks, We need more movies in theaters like this! Although true it's not easy to do a comedy anymore, that is good, funny, and not extremely raunchy, and offensive. It's no wonder why the comedy genre is probably dying off. Parents, although there were kids in the theater (seriously there were), But it might be a good idea to click
here, if your planning on taking the kids. 

Fantastic Four First Steps

 

Rated: PG-13

 Runtime: 1 hour 55 minutes

 Release Date: July 25, 2025

 Director: Matt Shakmann

 Starring: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach

    In this latest Marvel Adventure, A team of superheroes call The Fantastic Four, are forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond. As earth faces a evil space God called Galactus, and his sidekick, The Silver Surfer.

    This movie, I think is better than Captain America: Brave New World. Now, I've never seen the 2015 film Fant4stic, So I can't compare that film to this one. But Parents, if either you or your kids like Marvel, go see this film.

Final Grade:

B+

Superman

 Rated: PG-13

 Runtime: 2 hours 9 minutes

 Release Date: July 11, 2025

 Director: James Gunn

 Starring: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult

    In this latest rendition of the Man of Steel, Superman reconciles his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as reporter Clark Kent. As the embodiment of truth, justice, and the human way he finds himself in a world that views these as old fashioned.

    I think this is a good, enjoyable film. Not as good as Man of Steel, but if your a DC fan, I think you'll have a good time with it. Parents, I think you should take the kids to this movie, especially if they too are DC fans. But if you want to be more cautious about it then, go ahead and click here before going.

Final Grade:

B+

M3GAN 2.0

 Rated: PG-13

 Runtime: 2 hours

 Release Date: June 27, 2025

 Director: Gerard Johnstone

 Starring: Allison Williams, Jemaine Clement, Violet McGraw

      Two years after M3GAN's rampage, A defense contractor has stolen her underlying tech, to build a military-grade weapon named Amelia. So, M3GAN's creator, Gemma (Williams) resorts to resurrecting her infamous creation in order to take down Amelia.

    I think this movie, is better than want everyone else says it is. I thought the shift from horror to action-comedy, was a nice idea, and it has some funny moments. Parents, even though there were kids in my theater, but I don't think this is a movie you should take them to. But, if they persuade you into taking them to it, Then may I suggest that you click here before going.

Final Grade:

B+

How to train your Dragon

 Rated: PG

Runtime: 2 hours 5 minutes

Release Date: June 13, 2025

Director: Dean DeBlois

Starring: Mason Thomas, Nico Parker, Gerard Butler

    In This live-action remake of the 2010 animated film of the same name, There is an ancient threat that endangers both Vikings and dragons alike. An Unlikely friendship between Hiccup (Thomas), an Viking, and Toothless, a Night Fury dragon, becomes the key to both species forging a new future together.

    This movie, is a good enjoyable movie. I'm reviewing it based on it's own merits, because It's been a long time since I've seen the original. So, I don't have much of a recollection of it. The movie has really good visuals, and maybe cinematography too. On top of that, I saw it in 3D, and the 3D was pretty good too. I think there was a lot of pretty good distance between the screen, and the background. Parents, There is nothing in this film that I think you'll find objectionable. So, go ahead and take the kids if they want to see it.

Final Grade:

A