The 15 Best Genre Movies of Summer 2025 (and Where to Watch Them)
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.
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.
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.
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 Jaws, and 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.
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.
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.
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.
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, Soul, etc. Read our review.
Elio will be available digitally on August 19.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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 State, the 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…
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Gal Gadot Says She Left ‘Entourage' Set Because Someone Behaved Inappropriately, ‘Hated' the Experience
The actress appeared in one episode of the HBO series in 2009 Gal Gadot appeared on one episode of 'Entourage' during the show's first season — and she doesn't look back on the experience fondly. While speaking to a group of amateur reporters this week, Gadot said she 'hated' being on the show. 'What I hated and didn't enjoy at all was being on 'Entourage,' an American series,' she explained. 'Someone there behaved inappropriately, it got to the point where I left the set and stopped working with them.' More from TheWrap Gal Gadot Says She Left 'Entourage' Set Because Someone Behaved Inappropriately, 'Hated' the Experience Catherine Zeta-Jones Says Husband Michael Douglas' So-Called Retirement Is 'Flexible': 'Never Say Never' 7 Creepy, Kooky Shows Like 'Wednesday' to Watch While You Wait for Part 2 Wendell Pierce Shuts Down Idea of Remaking 'The Wire' She did not elaborate on the experience, or about whom she was talking specifically. Gadot was later asked about her own acting skills, which she described as 'OK.' As she put it, 'If you cast me, you cast me well. My greatest strength is that I'm not afraid to work and I don't let things stop me.' Though her role in the series was short-lived, director Doug Ellin told Entertainment Weekly in 2018 that it was apparent Gadot would have a successful career. 'I remember when Gal came in, it was a small little role but everyone said, 'This girl is gonna be something big,' so it is cool to see,' he said. Elsewhere in the conversation, Gadot admitted navigating the controversies that surrounded the release of 'Snow White' this year was challenging. Her costar Rachel Zegler came under fire in 2024 after posting the words 'and always remember, free palestine' on X after thanking her fans for their support for the 'Snow White' trailer. Gadot served in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) from 2004-2009. Though both Gadot and Zegler put their best foot forward ahead of the film's release, the movie's box office performance was impacted. 'You can always explain and try to give people in the world a context about what's happening [in Israel] and what the reality is here, but in the end people decide for themselves,' Gadot said. 'I was disappointed that the movie was greatly affected by that and didn't do well at the box office.' The post Gal Gadot Says She Left 'Entourage' Set Because Someone Behaved Inappropriately, 'Hated' the Experience appeared first on TheWrap.
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Gal Gadot Says 'Pressure' To 'Speak Out Against Israel' Led To ‘Snow White' Flopping: 'I Was Disappointed'
In a recent interview, Gal Gadot blamed the 'pressure on celebrities to speak out against Israel' as the reason that 'greatly affected' the box office failure of Disney's live-action Snow White. The actress appeared on the Israeli celebrity interview program The A Talks on Thursday, per The Jerusalem Post, where one interviewer questioned if she was angry about the dismal theatrical performance of the adaptation also starring Rachel Zegler. More from Deadline 'Freakier Friday' Soundtrack: All The Songs In The Sequel Disney Entertainment Consolidates Film, TV & Streaming Marketing Under Asad Ayaz; Shannon Ryan Adds DTC Oversight ESPN And Fox Will Bundle Their Soon-To-Launch Streaming Services 'First of all, I have to say that I really enjoyed filming this movie,' Gadot said in Hebrew, per the Post. When pressed specifically on how it was to work with Zegler, Gadot responded, 'I even enjoyed working with Rachel Zegler. We laughed, we talked and it was fun. I was sure that this movie was going to be a huge success.' Gadot served in the Israeli Defense Forces for two years as part of her mandatory conscription, during which she participated in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war; Lebanon cited her service as the reason for banning Wonder Woman upon its 2017 release, The Washington Post reported at the time. Meanwhile, Zegler has been a vocal supporter of Palestine and Gaza, which reportedly did not go over well with Snow White producer Marc Platt amid promotion of the film. Gadot continued, 'And then October 7 happened, and what's happening in all kinds of industries, and also in Hollywood, is that there's a lot of pressure on celebrities to speak out against Israel.' She added that she 'can always explain and try to give people in the world context about what's happening and what the reality is here, but in the end, people decide for themselves. I was disappointed that the movie was greatly affected by that and didn't do well at the box office.' According to leading humanitarian groups and experts — such as the UN Special Committee, Amnesty International, Doctors Without Borders and international law scholars — Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians. A May 2025 IPC analysis projected catastrophic levels of food insecurity for the entire population of Gaza by September, meaning at least half a million people are expected to be in IPC Phase 5 — the highest phase, known as catastrophe — which is marked by acute malnutrition and mortality. In late May, five protesters were detained after reportedly targeting the central London set of Gadot's upcoming movie The Runner. Two months earlier, the actress' Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony was delayed by protesters representing both pro-Palestine and pro-Israel groups. Ultimately, Disney weathered an estimated $115 million loss on Snow White. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About 'Nobody Wants This' Season 2 So Far 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Emmys, Oscars, Grammys & More Everything We Know About Prime Video's 'Legally Blonde' Prequel Series 'Elle'
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Dan Tana Dies: Former Owner Of Celebrity-Frequented West Hollywood Eatery Was 90
Dan Tana, the erstwhile actor-turned-restaurateur whose eponymous West Hollywood eatery was a hotspot for celebrities for the past half century, has died at the age of 90, the restaurant's staff announced on Facebook. 'The great Dan Tana has passed on,' the post read. 'We all know that he created a very magical place. Our beloved little yellow house will forever feel his presence.' More from Deadline Pete Davidson Reflects On Canceling 'Bupkis' & Being In "Purgatory" With NBCUniversal Over The Decision: "They Were Not Pleased" Charisma Carpenter Addresses Whether She Will Be In 'Buffy' Reboot Gal Gadot Says "Pressure" To "Speak Out Against Israel" Led To 'Snow White' Flopping: "I Was Disappointed" 'Dan started out working for La Scala and The Villa Capri in the 1950s. It was working for those classic eateries that encouraged him to open his own! And he did just that. He was always proud of where he came from and what he accomplished, a former soccer star from Yugoslavia,' the statement continued. 'Dan had wonderful stories about Marilyn Monroe, Joe DiMaggio, James Dean, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis. In fact Robert Urich's character was named after Dan Tana on the classic TV show, Vega$. Today Dan Tana's is owned by his dear friend Sonja Perencevic who's kept it exactly the same since 1964. This man is a legend, and as you know a legend never dies,' the obit concluded. Born Dobrivoje Tanasijević in former Yugoslavia's Belgrade, Tana's background was in professional soccer, for which he moved to Canada to pursue. Deciding to forgo his sports career, Tana relocated to Hollywood, where he started out as a dishwasher, before moving up to be maître d'hôtel. At the time, Tana also began undertaking drama lessons with Jeff Corey, whose pupils included Natalie Wood, Angie Dickinson and Kim Novak. After Americanizing his name, he had his feature film debut in 1957's The Enemy Below, later appearing in series like Peter Gunn. He opened Dan Tana's Restaurant in 1964, taking over Dominick's hamburger stand on Santa Monica Boulevard. Featuring typical New York Italian fare and making the decision to keep the place open later than usual, the establishment was propelled to success after a glowing Los Angeles Times review in 1966 significantly bolstered its customer base. Due to its location being a stone's throw from famed music venue and nightclub Troubadour, Dan Tana's was frequented by the likes of Elton John, Bette Midler, Axl Rose and Springsteen. Since the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was previously housed around the corner, the establishment also drew other notable attendees like Kirk Douglas, John Wayne, Jack Nicholson, Cameron Diaz and Johnny Carson, who proclaimed it as his favorite L.A. restaurant during an episode of The Tonight Show after guest Richard Burton complained about being turned away from one of its coveted 17 tables. Since accumulating a star-studded clientele, the restaurant has named a number of its signature dishes after A-listers, including veal cutlets named after Jerry Weintraub and George Clooney, shrimp scampi Jerry Buss and New York steak Dabney Coleman. Prior to his death, Tana sold the restaurant to current owner Perencevic in 2009 and retired to Belgrade, Serbia. Best of Deadline 2025 Deaths Photo Gallery: Hollywood & Media Obituaries Julian McMahon: His Life & Career In Photos From 'Nip/Tuck' To Doctor Doom & More Remembering Michael Madsen: A Career In Photos
