Our Film Critics gave their Top Picks for Films Released Jan.-June of 2025.

by The Latino Slant

Rosa Parra

1. 28 Years Later

2. The Ballad of Wallis Island

3. Freaky Tales

4. Sinners

5. Thunderbolts

6. How to Train your Dragon

7. Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie

8. The Last Rodeo

9. La Pecera

10. Elio

Cyn’s Corner
Top 5 BEST


1. Better Man

2. The Life of Chuck

3. Sinners

4. Warfare

5. F1

Top 5 WORST


1. On Swift Horses

2. Oh, Hi!

3. Tornado

4. Love Hurts

5. Opus
   

Paulie’s Best
F1
28 Years Later
Warfare
Companion
Sinners
Bring Her Back

D. Movieman
BEST
Sinners
Black Bag
Twinless
East of Wall
Companion
WORST
Death of a Unicorn
The Old Guard 2
Jurassic World Rebirth
Captain America: Brave New World
The Surfer

Anthony A. Perez
Top 5 BEST
1 Sinners – Ryan Coogler’s Sinners is a stylish, genre-blending vampire flick with swagger, soul, and standout performances — especially from Michael B. Jordan in dual roles. While the trailers spoil too much, the film’s rich atmosphere, killer blues score, and unique spin on vampire lore make it a fresh standout in the horror genre.
2 How To Train Your Dragon – A lovingly faithful, shot-for-shot live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon that honors the original’s heart, visuals, and score — thanks in large part to returning director Dean DeBlois and composer John Powell. While it offers little new, it’s an emotionally rich companion piece that captures the same magic for a new generation. Friendship – Friendship is one of the most unique comedies I’ve ever seen—funny, weird, awkward, and surprisingly dark. Tim Robinson totally nails this spiraling character study, and A24 once again delivers something bold, cringe-inducing, and genuinely hilarious.

3. Friendship – Friendship is one of the most unique comedies I’ve ever seen—funny, weird, awkward, and surprisingly dark. Tim Robinson totally nails this spiraling character study, and A24 once again delivers something bold, cringe-inducing, and genuinely hilarious.

4.Warfare – Warfare throws out the traditional war movie playbook and delivers something raw, grounded, and emotionally devastating. It’s a visceral, no-score, moment-in-time experience that trades narrative for intensity—and it left me with a whole new perspective.
5.F1 is a visually stunning and technically impressive sports drama that leans heavily on practical effects and star power, with Brad Pitt bringing effortless charisma to a familiar underdog story. While it runs a bit long and hits predictable beats, the visceral racing sequences and strong ensemble make it a thrilling ride worth taking on the big screen
Top 5 WORST
1 Rats – Rats is all shock value and no substance—a gross-out fever dream with zero narrative momentum, flat characters, and nothing to latch onto. I admire absurdity when there’s purpose, but this one left me wondering why it exists at all.
2 How to be Normal and the Oddness of the Other World – A well-meaning look at mental health and reintegration into society, but despite its message and a committed lead performance, the film meanders with unlikable characters and a script that leans more on quirky discomfort than emotional resonance.
3 Shadow of God – A compelling concept—a man possessed by God—gets lost in a messy, emotionally flat script. Despite solid performances and decent atmosphere, the film struggles to leave an impression.
4 Hysteria – Hysteria had a strong concept and striking cinematography, but it meandered too much and buried its best material until the final minutes. The lead character was frustrating and unlikable, and while the film had something to say, it waited too long to actually say it.
5 The Surfer – The Surfer has flashes of visual brilliance and a fully committed Cage performance, but its surreal, meandering narrative left me more detached than intrigued. It’s the kind of film I appreciated more for its ambition than actually enjoyed.