This past summer delivered one of the most unpredictable movie seasons in recent memory. From long-awaited superhero reboots and emotional animated journeys, to genre-bending surprises and franchise farewells, the blockbusters ran the full cinematic spectrum. Some films soared with style, heart and innovation, while others stumbled under the weight of nostalgia or narrative misfires.
Whether you came for the high-flying action, heartfelt reunions or just the popcorn, here’s how this summer’s biggest releases stacked up.
Jurassic World: Rebirth
The Jurassic Park franchise has leaned on nostalgia for years, and "Jurassic World: Rebirth" continues that trend with mixed results. Director Gareth Edwards brings scale and atmosphere, his camera lingering on towering dinosaurs with awe reminiscent of Steven Spielberg’s original.
When the film leans into creature-feature thrills, the tension sparks. Chase scenes pulse with energy, and the visual effects are among the franchise’s best.
However, the story is safe and uninspired. Human characters are thin archetypes, and the script rehashes old beats of corporate villains, nature’s inevitable triumph, and recycled callbacks to the original film. Edwards knows how to shoot dinosaurs but has little new to say with them. The result is fleeting entertainment, more late-night snack than cinematic feast.
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
After nearly 30 years of rooftop runs, jet leaps and daring dives, Tom Cruise gives Ethan Hunt one last mission in "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning." The result is a film that both indulges in the series’ greatest hits and wrestles with how to end an action saga defined by escalation.
Director Christopher McQuarrie stages each chase, brawl and explosion with operatic precision. The set pieces are dizzying, the fights tightly choreographed, and at least one stunt feels engineered to terrify Cruise’s insurers. The stakes keep escalating, and Cruise’s commitment to practical stunt work remains unrivaled in contemporary action cinema.
But the film can’t escape structural flaws. Its first half buckles under callbacks and melodrama, at times feeling like a farewell tour more than a fresh story. Still, the finale lands with epic suspense, a stylish, pulse-pounding closing anchored by the last great movie star doing what no one else dares.
How to Train Your Dragon
A live-action "How to Train Your Dragon" was inevitable, but director Dean DeBlois faces the challenge of honoring a modern classic. Many iconic moments are recreated shot-for-shot, sparking nostalgia but making the film feel like a well-produced cover version.
The transition to live action brings rewards. Toothless feels more tactile, every flick of his tail rendered with realism, while flight scenes add vertigo-inducing immersion.
The cast delivers, with Gerard Butler reprising Stoick and bringing warmth, humor and quiet tragedy. While not reinventing the story, the remake soars on timeless themes of friendship, fear and defying tradition. It doesn’t surpass the original, but it stands as a sincere, visually impressive tribute.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Set in an alternate universe, "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" is a refreshing, self-contained reboot steeped in 1960s retro-futurism. Director Matt Shakman embraces sleek design and a brassy Michael Giacchino score that evoke wonder and heroism.
Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm is the standout, balancing leadership and maternal drive. Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards mixes gravitas with vulnerability, Joseph Quinn brings fiery spark as Johnny Storm and Ebon Moss-Bachrach lends Ben Grimm gruff strength. Ralph Ineson’s Galactus looms as a towering, elemental villain.
The family dynamic anchors the film, with action scenes limited but character work rich. Stylish, heartfelt and accessible, it thrives on emotional storytelling rather than franchise connections.
Superman
James Gunn’s "Superman" is the bold franchise launch DC has long needed. Gunn’s Superman shines both as an icon of heroism and as a deeply human character, grappling with fears, doubts and moral dilemmas.
David Corenswet balances Clark’s humility with Superman’s charisma and conviction. Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane is sharp, witty and compassionate, creating crackling chemistry with Corenswet that anchors the film. Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor is a terrifying villain, magnetic in his weaponized intellect.
Visually, the movie soars, blending golden-age nostalgia with modern spectacle. Gunn balances cosmic grandeur with small moments that remind you why Superman endures.
While world-building sometimes swells beyond the central story, Gunn always returns to Superman’s compassion and optimism. Thrilling yet earnest, it feels like taking flight for the first time: hopeful, exhilarating and unforgettable.
K-Pop Demon Hunters
Few animated films this decade match the energy of "K-Pop Demon Hunters." Produced by Sony Pictures Animation, it bursts with rhythm, neon glow and visual imagination. Every frame feels alive, from Seoul’s streets to surreal demon realms.
The premise of a girl group moonlighting as demon hunters could have been a gimmick, but the film treats it with sincerity, weaving mythology into the emotional lives of its characters. Action sequences play like music videos, blending martial arts with beats in an audiovisual ballet.
Beyond spectacle, the story explores self-acceptance, solidarity and confronting inner demons. The emotional core is the romance between Rumi, the group’s lead singer with a secret, played by Arden Cho, and Jinu, a rival idol/demon with a tragic past, played by Ahn Hyo-seop. Their relationship adds tenderness and complexity rare in animation.
The soundtrack is phenomenal, feeling like a true love letter to the K-pop genre with its high octane tempo and euphoric songs. Original, stylish and heartfelt, "K-Pop Demon Hunters" feels like the beginning of a vibrant new world.
Weapons
Zach Cregger’s "Weapons" is a bold, unnerving horror triumph. Seventeen children vanish overnight, and from its first frame, the film grips with dread, blending terror with razor-edged dark humor.
At the core is Julia Garner as Justine, a teacher vilified by her community. Her empathetic performance contrasts Josh Brolin’s raw intensity as a grieving father and Austin Abrams’ darkly funny turn as a drug addict who uncovers a terrible secret.
Scares hit hard, staged with precision and backed by a chilling Holladay Brothers score. Cregger weaves in allegories of school shootings, groupthink and weaponized grief without slowing the film’s momentum.
Told through shifting perspectives, the story builds tension until an explosive finale. Bold, chilling and purposefully unsettling, "Weapons" cements Cregger as one of horror’s most daring voices.
With fall bringing a wave of prestige dramas and winter promising another round of franchise heavy-hitters, the lessons of this summer are clear: audiences are eager for risks, and the films that resonated most weren’t the safest bets, but the boldest swings.