One final piece of housekeeping, because \u201cbiggest\u201d is such a subjective term, the movies selected for this list are the 10 highest-grossing movies worldwide released during the summer movie season (running May to August). Now, let\u2019s dive in, and if you disagree with my ranking, be sure to leave a comment with your own thoughts.<\/p>\n
You may like<\/p>\n
Biggest summer movies of 2025, from worst to best10. \u2018Lilo & Stitch\u2019<\/p>\n Lilo & Stitch | Official Trailer | In Theaters May 23 – YouTube Watch On <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cLilo & Stitch\u201d is the only summer blockbuster on this list to have grossed more than a billion dollars at the global box office (and one of only two movies to achieve the milestone this year so far). Still, it\u2019s yet another soulless live-action remake of a Disney classic. Sure, it hits many of the same comforting narrative beats as the fan-favorite 2002 original, but much of the charm is lost in the transition away from traditional animation, and the longer runtime is wasted on pacing-sapping filler.<\/p>\n Perhaps most unforgivable are the numerous changes made to the source material. Some, like the removal of the poorly-aged drag scene, make complete sense, but the mischaracterization of Jumba, the alien scientist who created Stitch, didn\u2019t sit well with fans, and the reworked ending is baffling. Nevertheless, getting \u201cLilo & Stitch\u201d back in the public eye has likely done wonders for Disney\u2019s bottom line. Stitch was already a merchandising monster, and now the alien pest has even more fans.<\/p>\n Watch on Disney Plus<\/a> now<\/p>\n 9. \u2018Jurassic World Rebirth\u2019<\/p>\n Jurassic World Rebirth | Official Trailer – YouTube Watch On <\/a><\/p>\n If I were trying to be kind to \u201cJurassic World Rebirth,\u201d I\u2019d note that it\u2019s a huge step-up over the previous two \u201cJurassic World\u201d movies, but considering the quality of \u201cFallen Kingdom\u201d and \u201cDominion,\u201d that\u2019s not exactly a compliment any studio would be rushing to put on a movie poster. \u201cRebirth\u201d has the benefit of the bar being set so low by its two predecessors that even a passable installment in the prehistoric franchise would be a major improvement.<\/p>\n \u201cPassable\u201d is very much an apt word here. Gareth Edwards, who helmed \u201cStar Wars: Rogue One\u201d and the overlooked sci-fi gem \u201cThe Creator,\u201d goes back to basics, and at least the results aren\u2019t a disaster. \u201cRebirth\u201d returns the franchise to an island setting, and Scarlett Johansson makes for a capable lead. But there\u2019s nothing here that hasn\u2019t been done better in the glory \u201cJurassic Park\u201d days, and by now, the magic of dinosaurs brought back to life on the big screen is waning.<\/p>\n Buy or rent on Amazon<\/a> now<\/p>\n 8. \u2018How to Train Your Dragon\u2019<\/p>\n How To Train Your Dragon | Official Trailer – YouTube Watch On <\/a><\/p>\n Another crowd-pleasing animated movie turned into a mostly drab live-action adventure, but at least this time it\u2019s not Disney recycling their previous work, but DreamWorks Animation. \u201cHow to Train Your Dragon\u201dfalls into all the same pitfalls as “Lilo & Stitch.” Namely, an extended runtime compared to the original that adds little beyond bloat, and an inescapable sense that much of the joy has been lost in the transition.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re a huge \u201cHow to Train Your Dragon\u201d fan and want to experience the first chapter in a new way, then you might find this remake an enjoyable ride, but anybody who got their fill of the franchise’s dragon-fueled adventure in the 2010s can safely skip.<\/p>\n Buy or rent on Amazon<\/a> now<\/p>\n 7. \u2018Superman\u2019<\/p>\n Superman | Official Trailer | DC – YouTube Watch On <\/a><\/p>\n I have an inkling that if the majority of my colleagues were determining this ranking, \u201cSuperman\u201d would be a whole lot higher. In fact, I\u2019d wager positioning it at seventh will be viewed as something of a “controversial take,\u201d considering the passionate fanbase that has already sprung up around this first step into James Gunn\u2019s new DC Universe. For the record, I certainly don\u2019t dislike \u201cSuperman,\u201d but I had too many issues with the superhero romp to rank it any higher.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve fully detailed my complaints<\/a> already, but if you want the cliffnotes version, \u201cSuperman\u201d is overstuffed with too many characters competing for your attention, and Gunn made the odd decision to portray the Man of Steel as kind of puny. Nevertheless, David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan are well-cast as Clark Kent and Lois Lane, respectively, and I see plenty of untapped potential in this new DC franchise. It\u2019s certainly a big leap from the final days of the much-maligned DCEU.<\/p>\n Buy or rent on Amazon<\/a> now<\/p>\n 6. \u2018F1: The Movie\u2019<\/p>\n F1\u00ae The Movie | Main Trailer – YouTube Watch On <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cTop Gun: Maverick\u201d director Joseph Kosinski is a master at crafting high-speed vehicular action, so he seemed a perfect fit to helm the official movie of Forulma One. So it proved. Every moment that \u201cF1: The Movie\u201d spends behind the wheel of a lightning-fast race car is an edge-of-your-seat blast. The big finale is a real highlight, bringing the movie to a satisfying close that combines feel-good character beats and thrilling racing sequences.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, it\u2019s everything outside of the car that doesn\u2019t quite claim a podium position. Naturally, Brad Pitt is a predictably charismatic lead, and I enjoyed Damson Idris\u2019s role as a cocky rookie (even if the narrative redeems him way too fast). However, you can pretty much map out how this sports drama is going to play out before watching, and the level of product placement verges on shameful. F1 diehards should also be warned that it takes a lot of liberties with the rules of the motorsport.<\/p>\n Buy or rent on Amazon<\/a> now<\/p>\n 5. \u2018The Fantastic Four: First Steps\u2019<\/p>\n The Fantastic Four: First Steps | Final Trailer | Only in Theaters July 25 – YouTube Watch On <\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s been far from a banner year for the declining Marvel Cinematic Universe. \u201cThe Fantastic Four: First Steps\u201d was supposed to be the launching point for its revival, and while $500 million grossed worldwide might seem impressive, given the reported budget that totals north of $200 million, it\u2019s unlikely to have reached the financial heights Marvel was hoping for. Of course, the financial side is less important for us mere viewers (unless you happen to own Disney stock, I suppose), and on a quality level, \u201cFantastic Four\u201d is decently enjoyable.<\/p>\n It\u2019s the MCU on autopilot, to a degree, but it\u2019s the best big-screen interpretation of Marvel\u2019s First Family yet, and I greatly enjoyed its depiction of the planet-chomping baddie Galactus. Plus, its 60s-era aesthetic at least gives it a look that feels distinct compared to the cookie-cutter comicbook movies Marvel has been churning out post \u201cAvengers: Endgame.\u201d Is \u201cFantastic Four: First Steps\u201d a much-needed sign that the MCU has course-corrected? Perhaps not, but it\u2019s certainly watchable.<\/p>\n Watch in movie theatres<\/a> now<\/p>\n 4. ‘Thunderbolts\u2019<\/p>\n Marvel Studios\u2019 Thunderbolts* | Teaser Trailer | Only In Theaters May 2025 – YouTube Watch On <\/a><\/p>\n Back in May, Marvel kicked off the summer movie season with \u201cThunderbolts,\u201d and it remains the best slice of the MCU we\u2019ve had in 2025 (but perhaps the nifty-looking \u201cMarvel: Zombies\u201d will change that later this month). It\u2019s a team-up movie that brings together various (anti) heroes, including Florence Pugh\u2019s Yelena Belova, Sebastian Stan\u2019s Bucky Barnes and David Harbour\u2019s Red Guardian. It\u2019s an unconventional squad, but there\u2019s great chemistry between its leading members, and Lewis Pullman’s Bob has a fantastic character arc (Which I won’t spoil!).<\/p>\n It may be a team-up flick, but Pugh\u2019s Yelena is the clear star, and the exploration of the assassin’s headspace following plenty of past trauma gives \u201cThunderbolts\u201d a deeper hook than just a bunch of C-Tier Marvel characters appearing on screen together. It\u2019s perhaps the closest Marvel has come to recapturing its glory days this side of \u201cAvengers: Endgame,\u201d and the post-credits tease for the upcoming \u201cDoomsday\u201d is great at building the bubbling hype.<\/p>\n Watch on Disney Plus<\/a> now<\/p>\n 3. \u2018Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning\u2019<\/p>\n Mission: Impossible \u2013 The Final Reckoning | Official Trailer (2025 Movie) – Tom Cruise – YouTube Watch On <\/a><\/p>\n If \u201cMission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning\u201d is indeed to be the final entry in the spy action franchise, then it\u2019s a very solid note for the series to bow out on. Of course, this is Hollywood, so I expect a reboot to arrive in the not-too-distant future if Tom Cruise can\u2019t be convinced to return to his iconic role as Ethan Hunt. The eighth installment in the series has to pay for the narrative sins of its predecessor, but it\u2019s hard to get too hung up on that when the set-piece action is darn thrilling.<\/p>\n Considering how highly I regard some of the previous \u201cMission: Impossible\u201d movies, it\u2019s a huge compliment to say \u201cThe Final Reckoning\u201d contains some of the series very best action moments. The sequence set on a sunken submarine is appropriately breathtaking, and the grand finale had me grinning in my cinema seat. I do wish the movie were a bit tighter, with the first act in particular dragged down by endless exposition, but once things get going, \u201cMission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning\u201d is a joyful summer blockbuster.<\/p>\n Buy or rent on Amazon<\/a> now<\/p>\n 2. ‘Final Destination: Bloodlines\u2019<\/p>\n Final Destination Bloodlines | Official Trailer – YouTube Watch On <\/a><\/p>\n Way back in the early 2010s, I can recall being so desperate for another \u201cFinal Destination\u201d movie that I would desperately scour the internet for any hints of a follow-up to \u201cFinal Destination 5.\u201d Well, it certainly took longer than I was hoping for one to materialize, but \u201cBloodlines\u201d was worth the wait. This semi-reboot of the supernatural horror franchise doesn\u2019t reinvent the wheel, but it adds some shiny new rims that gleam.<\/p>\n It offers the longest, and I\u2019d maybe even say, most intense, premonition sequence in \u201cFinal Destination\u201d history. Plus, its slight spin on the series formula \u2014 seeing the grandchildren of somebody who cheated death hunted down by the unseen entity \u2014 is just different enough for \u201cBloodlines\u201d to not feel like a total retread. It also marks the final appearance of franchise stalwart Tony Todd (who passed away in 2024), and his last scene is genuinely emotional.<\/p>\n Watch on HBO Max<\/a> now<\/p>\n 1. \u2018Weapons\u2019<\/p>\n Weapons | Official Trailer – YouTube Watch On <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWeapons\u201d isn\u2019t just the best movie of the summer, in my opinion, but my favorite movie of 2025 to date. And trust me, it\u2019s going to take something special to knock it off that perch. I didn\u2019t quite buy into the hype for director Zach Cregger\u2019s previous breakout horror \u201cBarbarian,\u201d but I\u2019m fully on board the wagon when it comes to hyping up \u201cWeapons.\u201d It\u2019s a movie I can only describe as epic, blending mystery and chills beautifully.<\/p>\n What impressed me most about \u201cWeapons\u201d is its clever narrative structure, which delivers its gripping yarn in several interconnected chapters, each from a different character’s point of view. This keeps the intrigue burning across the entire two-hour runtime and leads to several satisfying moments where a shocking cliffhanger from one chapter pays off in another. It\u2019s storytelling genius. The fact that the central hook of a classroom of children running into the night, never to be seen again, is instantly compelling also helps \u201cWeapons\u201d get its hooks into you from the drop. Plus, the cast is all excellent, none more so than Julia Garner.<\/p>\n Watch in movie theatres<\/a> now<\/p>\n More from Tom’s Guide<\/p>\n Streaming device deals not to miss<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As the calendar ticks into September, it marks the end of the summer movie season for another year.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":118510,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[49,48,75,337],"class_list":["post-118509","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-movies","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-entertainment","tag-movies"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118509","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=118509"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118509\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/118510"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=118509"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=118509"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=118509"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n![\"Lilo](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1756962913_613_maxresdefault.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n![\"Jurassic](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1754727671_73_maxresdefault.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n![\"How](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1756962915_896_maxresdefault.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n![\"Superman](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1756962915_236_maxresdefault.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n![\"F1\u00ae](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1756962915_218_maxresdefault.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1756962915_165_maxresdefault.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n![\"Marvel](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1756962916_884_maxresdefault.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n![\"Mission:](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1756962916_974_maxresdefault.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n![\"Final](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1756962916_465_maxresdefault.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n![\"Weapons](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1756962916_31_maxresdefault.jpg\")
<\/p>\n