Top Movies of Summer 2025

[Udaman]

It's time for our biannual Box Office Prediction thread. Vote on the movies you think will end up in the Top 5 US Domestic Box Office for the summer. I know every summer is tough, but this one seems nearly impossible, as there are several movies that could end up just north of $200M. I've never gotten all 5 correct, and I'm certain that trend will continue. Polls close on Friday, May 2nd.

Choices are:

Superhero Movies: Thunderbolts*, Superman, Fantastic Four
Action: Mission Impossible, F1, John Wick: Ballerina, Jurassic World
Childrens: Lilo & Stitch, How to Train Your Dragon, Smurfs, Elio, Freakier Friday (teen+)
Horror: Final Destination, M3GAN, 28 Years Later

 

[PackMan97]

The death of original content continues.

The only two the look vaguely original is the live action remake of Cars and the cartoon version of The Last Starfighter or something like that.

 

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

Welp, I'm in.

I hate not voting for Pedro Pascal, but I haven't yet seen an entertaining or successful version of the Fantastic Four.

 

[CameronBornAndBred]

The death of original content continues.

The only two the look vaguely original is the live action remake of Cars and the cartoon version of The Last Starfighter or something like that.

This is the first I've heard of that. Wonder how that pitch went.
Disney exec "Hey, we need another live action remake."
Yes Man "Great, they ALL do SO well!"
DE "What Pixar movie did people like least?"
YM "The Good Dinosaur?"
DE "Eh, Jurassic Park is coming out with another. Let's do Cars, people hated that one."
YM "Great idea, sir!"

 

[LasVegas]

Yuck.

 

[Udaman]

Wow - these threads use to have 30 plus voters. Now we are only at 8. And I still won’t win. For all others - get those votes in!

 

[CameronBornAndBred]

I wasn't sure about Lilo & Stitch, but I watched the trailer and it was hilarious. Not so thrilled about HTTYD, even though like L&S the original was a huge money maker.

Also echoing MtnDevil and am not convinced that FF is a winner. Watching that trailer didn't help me think differently.

My 5 are Thunderbolts, L&S, Tom Cruise Running Around Again, More People Being Eaten By Dinosaurs and the cinematic debut of Krypto the dog.

I'm guessing I go 3-5

 

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

Am I crazy or does the Superman trailer look like trash? Why so many different characters packed into the preview? It feels like another overbloated DC attempt to match Marvel.

I'd love to be wrong, but it looks like another overproduced film trying to do too much.

 

[PackMan97]

Thunderbolts looks like it's getting surprisingly good reviews. I think I've grown tired of all the Marvel movies. Things just aren't exciting any more.

Black Panther + Infinity War + End Game I think we peak Marvel, it's been down hill since.

 

[Phredd3]

OK, in no particular order, my choices are:

Thunderbolts*
Jurassic World Rebirth
Superman
Elio
F1

Boy, this was a tough contest. I think Thunderbolts is all but a lock, and I think it's an easy call that film-goers will want to see ScarJo battling Teeth instead of Thanos. But the others are tough.

In the end, early returns sounds pretty positive for Superman, with James Gunn, an experienced and highly successful superhero director. Of the movies aimed at kids, only Elio looks really viable as a choice to me. I want to back How to Train Your Dragon, but the early shots of the remake look terrible. I can't get behind the IP in Lilo & Stitch or Smurfs. My sleeper pick is F1, which has had so much money thrown at it by both Apple and Formula One Racing itself that I think it will end up being a spectacle people will try even if they don't care at all about the nominal subject matter. It's a big risk, though, since the backup plan is for it to end up on Apple TV, and there's a decent chance the plot behind the production values is lousy. Either way, the investors are taking a bath on this one.

I could well end up 2-for-5.

 

[PackMan97]

...and shouldn't Thunderbolts not be included since it has already opened and the poll is still open? I shoulda just waited to see what the Thursday/Friday numbers looked like before voting.

 

[CameronBornAndBred]

The movie with the most votes, DinosEatingPeopleAgain, was my most iffy. The last few haven't been great, although the first JW at least had a fresh feeling.

No movie has more than 80% of votes behind it, which I don't think is common in these polls.

 

[Phredd3]

...and shouldn't Thunderbolts not be included since it has already opened and the poll is still open? I shoulda just waited to see what the Thursday/Friday numbers looked like before voting.

Funny, I knew it was opening this weekend, but I didn't even think to look.

 

[nmduke2001]

It won't win this contest, but I think, "The Smashing Machine" has a chance to be the best movie of the summer. Interested to hear Jason's take on the film.

 

[CameronBornAndBred]

...and shouldn't Thunderbolts not be included since it has already opened and the poll is still open? I shoulda just waited to see what the Thursday/Friday numbers looked like before voting.

I'll be more than surprised if Thunderbolts isn't top 3, much less top 5, so I'm ok with it being added now. It still didn't get everyone's vote, so it's a challenge for someone.

Who those someones are is a mystery, since we can't see the votes.

 

[JasonEvans]

Am I crazy or does the Superman trailer look like trash? Why so many different characters packed into the preview? It feels like another overbloated DC attempt to match Marvel.

I'd love to be wrong, but it looks like another overproduced film trying to do too much.

I think James Gunn's track record is such that we should expect Superman to be pretty darn good. With all that DC and Warner have riding on this film, Gunn could likely do reshoots and reedits and test screenings as much as he wants to get this film perfect. I will be stunned if this isn't a really good superhero movie.

 

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

I think James Gunn's track record is such that we should expect Superman to be pretty darn good. With all that DC and Warner have riding on this film, Gunn could likely do reshoots and reedits and test screenings as much as he wants to get this film perfect. I will be stunned if this isn't a really good superhero movie.

I hope you're correct.

 

[PackMan97]

I'll be more than surprised if Thunderbolts isn't top 3, much less top 5, so I'm ok with it being added now. It still didn't get everyone's vote, so it's a challenge for someone.

Who those someones are is a mystery, since we can't see the votes.

One is then was me. I have terrible voting for movies that sounds dull... And marvel is dull to me these days.

 

[Udaman]

I think James Gunn's track record is such that we should expect Superman to be pretty darn good. With all that DC and Warner have riding on this film, Gunn could likely do reshoots and reedits and test screenings as much as he wants to get this film perfect. I will be stunned if this isn't a really good superhero movie.

Agree with JE. Gunn has a great track record of a good story with humor and relatable characters. Of course Superman is the toughest to do because, sans kryptonite, he’s basically unbeatable. Hard to make a compelling storyline. Only one that makes sense is a bad Superman, except then nobody could stop him. And The Boys has basically done that. All that said, I didn’t pick it in my Top 5. Probably a mistake.

 

[Udaman]

Saw Thunderbolts. Sigh. It was fine. Would put it in the middle trench of all Marvel movies, but nowhere near Top 10. And part of the reason it was good is because the last ones have been so awful. I will say that Harbour steals every scene he is in.