Several big movies came out in the summer of 2025, but none have been declared the movie of the summer. Two years ago, it was “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” It was worth the wait, as many enjoyed the art and the hidden details. Yet this year, there are several candidates for the best movie of the summer.
One example is the live-action version of “Lilo and Stitch,” which was a hit, grossing $1 billion worldwide. It became the first movie to do so this year. According to Hollywood Reporter, fans enjoyed it due to how it presented Hawaiian culture and seeing Stitch in live action.
However, the characters were not the same as they were when they were animated. Some say Lilo’s sister (Nani) was not how she was in the original film. She didn’t prioritize her sister much in the live action and she was willing to go to college even if it meant giving up her sister in the end. Also, the original casting for Nani’s love interest, Kahiau Machado, was replaced after his controversial actions on social media. It was also the altered ending that made fans feel like the live action didn’t bring the original justice.
So if “Lilo and Stitch” wasn’t this year’s summer movie, then it must have been the new “How To Train Your Dragon,” the live-action version. The majority of Google users (92%) liked this movie, and fans of the original movies also enjoyed it. Many reviews stated how they love how the world was built like the original films. Berk is the fantasy world in which the franchise takes place in and was inspired by the Faroe Islands off the coast of Scotland.
While the movie was declared a hit, it has been controversial on social media due to Nico Parker, the actor playing Astrid, not resembling her original character. Director Dean DeBlois was quick to defend Parker, saying that the diverse heritage was a choice to reflect the many cultures the Vikings had. Though there is also the fact that the movie was heavily dependent on CGI to build this fantasy world, a movie like HTTYD has so many of its own features that it would be hard to make into an actual prop or to bring it to life. These factors probably contributed to why the movie only has a 76% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Another contender for best summer movie broke the box office: “Superman.” It is the highest-grossing superhero film so far this year. It inherited the belief in hope and the goodness that Superman has in a world of negativity and challenging times. The story felt relatable to fans who believed in finding the silver lining on a bad day. Many people also enjoyed Krypto, Superman’s dog. The movie has an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
There is one movie that supersedes all the contenders, and it was close to 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. This movie wasn’t released in theaters like the other movies; it was and is only released on Netflix. For weeks, “KPop Demon Hunters” has been in the top 10 movies globally. “Golden” is a song that is part of the movie’s soundtrack, and it is at the top of Spotify charts. In second place is the song “Your Idol,” which is also an original song in KPDH. The movie hit almost a 100% this summer on Rotten Tomatoes, with 97% of viewers enjoying it. It is rated higher than “Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse Universe.”
A significant reason KPDH took off so well is that K-pop already has a dedicated fan base. While superheroes, Disney, and fantasy have their own significant fans, K-pop fans take it to an extreme. Loving the music the artists produce, and very involved in the singer’s love life. The movie was released only two months ago, and already a sequel is planned, and it had a limited-time theater release with sing-along parts.
The summer of 2025 had amazing movies.But we still have half of the year left which means the competition for 2025’s signature movie is still running. So far K-Pop Demon Hunter’s in No.1.
