The summer of 2025 had something for everyone in terms of entertainment. From releases in theatres every week to new seasons of fan-favorite shows, everyone was hooked onto their screen in some way. Here are a couple of the biggest hits from the summer.
“F1: The Movie”
“F1: The Movie” starring Brad Pitt became Apple’s highest-grossing movie, earning $600 million at the box office after its release on June 27. Pitt portrays Sonny Hayes, a racing prodigy forced to retire after a career-ending crash. Hayes returned to the track as a favor for his friend, the owner of APX GP racing team, who were the underdogs in threat of losing ownership of the team. Capturing the essence of both friendship and rivalry, Hayes pushes past his differences and works with rookie Albert Josua Pearce (Damson Idris) to save their team and careers.
The movie features a stellar soundtrack, with music tailored for the film such asas “Lose My Mind” by Don Toliver (feat. Doja Cat) and “Just Keep Watching” by Tate McRae. These upbeat tunes carry the lively storyline and captivate the audience in a thrilling, high-speed chase to the finish.
“Superman”
“Superman,” directed by James Gunn, made its global debut on July 11. Starring David Corenswet as Superman, the movie wastes no time, opening with Superman already active in Metropolis, working as a reporter at the Daily Planet while also navigating his responsibilities as Earth’s protector.
Unlike the darker, more cynical tone of other superhero movies, the story takes a more sincere approach, emphasizing Kent’s empathy. This film contrasts Clark Kent’s upbringing after the destruction of his home planet of Krypton with his identity of Clark Kent, living a normal human life. While Superman’s alien heritage plays a role, the story focuses more on his place in a world populated by both ordinary humans and emerging metahumans, reinforcing the theme of dual identity.
The score, composed by John Murphy and David Fleming, pays homage to John Williams’ iconic original theme. While fundamentally orchestral, it also weaves in both electric and acoustic guitar to add a deeper element, more humanizing element, to Superman’s character.
The movie grossed $614 million worldwide after its release, and the sequel, “Man of Tomorrow,” is set to premiere on July 9, 2027.
“Wednesday”
The second season of the hit show “Wednesday” premiered on Netflix, with the release of the first four episodes on Aug. 6 and the final four episodes on Sept. 3.
The show begins with Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) returning to Nevermore Academy after receiving a vision of her roommate Enid Sinclair’s death. Wednesday attempts to put a stop to this vision but begins to lose her psychic powers entirely.
She is forced to prioritize her broken relationship with her mother, rather than living in solitude, in order to restore her own powers. With her new friendships, she fights against monsters, discovers dark legacies and mysteries regarding the Addams family.
“Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning”
Tom Cruise stars as Ethan Hunt in “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” directed by Christopher McQuarrie. The movie grossed $597 million worldwide, surpassing its budget of $400 million as one of the most expensive films ever made.
What makes this film stand out is how it balances its signature franchise action with emotional weight. The film includes numerous callbacks to earlier installments, continuing Ethan Hunt’s story while raising the stakes both globally and personally.
Visually, it features the series’ hallmark of practical stunts and dynamic camera work, with several action scenes shot in IMAX to heighten intensity. One of the most notable sequences involves Cruise performing another daring real-life stunt — riding a motorcycle off a cliff — emphasizing the franchise’s commitment to pushing cinematic boundaries
Whether it be superhero struggles or heartwarming stories, these films are just a couple of the many that broke records and kept audiences smiling all summer.
