Summer came and went far quicker than it should have. The good that came with the 2025 summer package, though, was a swarm of new releases in the media; from books to music, to films. Throughout this warm season, we have been given some great movies, which made this fast break from school worthwhile and entertaining. Here are some of the hit movies over the summer!
Happy Gilmore 2
Released July 25
After nearly thirty years, the sequel to the international favorite film Happy Gilmore was made. Happy Gilmore 2 follows former hockey-player-turned-golf-champion Happy Gilmore, as he comes out of retirement to coach a young golfer with a temper as fiery as his own. When a new rival threatens the integrity of the sport and insults Happy’s legacy, he finds himself back onto the course for one last epic showdown. Handling mentorship, old rivalries, and his own aging body, the film follows his journey to understanding why he ever deserved his old legacy in the first place.
This sequel received a 63% on Rotten Tomatoes, a 6.1 rating on IMDb, and a 2.7 on Letterboxd. In comparison to the original, the sequel has received lower ratings. Happy Gilmore received a 64% on rotten tomatoes, 7.0 on IMDb and 3.4 on Letterboxd.
The sequel received harsher criticism due to the frequent opinion that the humor felt forced, unlike the first movie. Happy Gilmore was a fun, playful film, with real-life themes that gave this exciting comedy a better sense of realism. But the second movie seemed less spirited than the original, which perhaps is why the rating was not as high.
Production costs were a little over 150 million dollars, and the report of their gross revenue is unknown to the public, but assumingly lower than the expected revenue flow. Overall, though many fans were brought back to life, awakened from their twenty-nine years without a sequel; Happy Gilmore 2 was not a major impact, but an entertaining two hours.
F1 – The Movie
Released June 27
F1: The Movie follows a young, underdog driver trying to make it big in the intense world of Formula 1. With rival teams pushing hard and the newer technologies changing the game, every race is a mix of speed, strategy, and drama. It’s not just about winning—it’s about proving yourself, facing your fears, and going all in for the dream.
This movie not only used talented actors such as Brad Pitt and Kerry Condon, but there were real F1 drivers in the film. Racers like Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Carlos Sainz, and George Russell. It received a 82% on rotten tomatoes, a 7.8 on IMDb, and a 3.7 on Letterboxd, all well ratings.
Something to appreciate about this movie is its pacing – unlike many newer films, which are rapidly paced in order to fill the minor attention spans, ultimately disconnecting the viewer from the heart of the film; F1: The Movie starts slow in order to have the watcher build a connection with the characters introduced.
Fantastic Four
Released July 25
Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps dismisses the origin story and dives straight into action with the team formed and ready to go. Set in a retro-style alternate 1960s in New York, the group faces a threat from Galactus and the Silver Surfer. At its core, the film is about family and resilience – fighting for what you love most, even when the stakes are high.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps has an 87% on Rotten Tomatoes, a 7.3 rating on IMDb, and a 3.5 on Letterboxd, all well ratings. Production costs for the movie was about 200 million dollars, and as of recent updates, have grossed nearly 500 million dollars.
As of the past six to seven years,
Overall, this movie received good reviews; however, there is criticism towards the choice of actors. Many people did not perceive Pedro Pascal as a strong actor for his character, Richard Reeds. Others seemed as though the movie was heavily predictable, or somewhat off theme to the normal Marvel standards. However, the praise for Fantastic Four washes over the harsher critics and embellishes the film in love and appreciation. There is much action, love, bits of humor and amazing cinematography – the high ratings are deserved.
“It was pretty fantastic,” Ryan Wells, senior at San Marcos said.
Upcoming Movies and TV Shows
The year isn’t over, yet! We still have a number of films (mostly sequels) to be released before the year is complete, such as Zootopia 2, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, Avatar: Fire and Ash, Wicked (For Good) and of course, the most anticipated show of the year, Stranger Things season five, all coming out in the late fall time.
