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https://nerdist.com/article/best-movies-of-2025/
At Nerdist, cinema is life in all forms. Whether we are curling up on our couch and watching a new flick on Netflix or reclining at the movies with a weird popcorn bucket in hand, we could never, ever get tired of talking about films. We enjoy chatting about theories and post-credits scenes among our team just as much as we love whipping up explainers and op-eds for our readers. There are seemingly endless choices from a swath of genres and subgenres to choose from on any given day. Sometimes, you want a slasher that serves up buckets of blood and big laughs. Other times, you want a sweeping superhero epic that takes you far away from reality. We’ve watched a ton of films in 2025 and, in our very humble opinions, these are the best ones so far.
F1: The Movie
F1: The Movie isn’t quite what you’d think of as a Nerdist flick, but it actually is. Nerding out goes far beyond genre entertainment. Just like we (and a lot of you) love MCU, horror, and sci-fi films, we also belong to the community of racing enthusiasts. And there’s nothing quite like the story of a rising star whose story was cut short by tragedy decades ago only for them to get another shot.
That’s what happens with Brad Pitt’s Sonny Hayes, a prodigy who lost his steam after an accident. He comes back thirty years later to help a team from collapsing and forms a relationship with British rookie driver Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris). From its high-octane racing sequences to the incredible amount of heartbreak and hope in its storyline, F1: The Movie fires on all cylinders straight towards success and is one of the best movies of 2025.
Sinners
Ryan Coogler’s Sinners felt like a breath of fresh air in a sequel and reboot-laden horrorsphere. It tells a truly unique and moving story about twin brothers (played by Michael B. Jordan) who return to the Mississippi Delta to discover that something sinister lurks in their hometown.
Sinners flawlessly interweaves Black Southern American culture, from music to folklore to Hoodoo, with the familiar vampire beats. A bluesy, tense, and thoroughly engaging romp told through Coogler’s sharp lens, Sinners pulls you in and stays with you long after the credits roll. Coogler and Jordan are one of the great director-actor duos of this time and this film further cements their place in film history.
Heart Eyes
We certainly didn’t see this one being a part of our best movies of 2025 list. Heart Eyes’ trailer was fun enough with some quips and a dash of chemistry between Scream VI’s Mason Gooding and Cloak & Dagger’s Olivia Holt. But those clips barely scratch the surface of how solid this film is.
It is horror comedy meets romantic thriller, blending in brutal kills and impeccably placed quips into a surprisingly unique premise. Just imagine going out to dinner with someone you just met only to be mistaken for a couple by a serial killer who murders couples. Gooding and Holt are a pure delight to watch as they fight to survive the night.
28 Years Later
A lot of horror sequels simply don’t live up to their predecessors nor do they add anything else to the franchise’s lore. But that’s not the case with 28 Years Later, an emotionally resonant and rather unnerving installment that brings back the Rage Virus in full force.
This film takes some big creative swings and amps up the action to deliver a very satisfying sequel that made all of its development hell worth it. 28 Years Later touches on themes relevant in our verging on apocalypse society while imagining an alternate future that speaks to humanity’s resilience and shortcomings. It’s all around brilliant and worthy of many, many watches.
Thunderbolts*
This film about a band of underdogs who have to step into heroic territory embodies what we love about the MCU. Highly character driven with moving storylines, Thunderbolts packs in the action, humor, and even those lovely nods to the overall universe in a way that feels both epic and grounded. Anchored by a powerful performance from Florence Pugh, Thunderbolts* was the refreshing jolt that the MCU needed as it moves towards a new phase. We are glad it belongs on our best movies of 2025 list!
The post The Best Movies of 2025 (So Far) appeared first on Nerdist.
At Nerdist, cinema is life in all forms. Whether we are curling up on our couch and watching a new flick on Netflix or reclining at the movies with a weird popcorn bucket in hand, we could never, ever get tired of talking about films. We enjoy chatting about theories and post-credits scenes among our team just as much as we love whipping up explainers and op-eds for our readers. There are seemingly endless choices from a swath of genres and subgenres to choose from on any given day. Sometimes, you want a slasher that serves up buckets of blood and big laughs. Other times, you want a sweeping superhero epic that takes you far away from reality. We’ve watched a ton of films in 2025 and, in our very humble opinions, these are the best ones so far.
F1: The Movie
F1: The Movie isn’t quite what you’d think of as a Nerdist flick, but it actually is. Nerding out goes far beyond genre entertainment. Just like we (and a lot of you) love MCU, horror, and sci-fi films, we also belong to the community of racing enthusiasts. And there’s nothing quite like the story of a rising star whose story was cut short by tragedy decades ago only for them to get another shot.
That’s what happens with Brad Pitt’s Sonny Hayes, a prodigy who lost his steam after an accident. He comes back thirty years later to help a team from collapsing and forms a relationship with British rookie driver Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris). From its high-octane racing sequences to the incredible amount of heartbreak and hope in its storyline, F1: The Movie fires on all cylinders straight towards success and is one of the best movies of 2025.
Sinners
Ryan Coogler’s Sinners felt like a breath of fresh air in a sequel and reboot-laden horrorsphere. It tells a truly unique and moving story about twin brothers (played by Michael B. Jordan) who return to the Mississippi Delta to discover that something sinister lurks in their hometown.
Sinners flawlessly interweaves Black Southern American culture, from music to folklore to Hoodoo, with the familiar vampire beats. A bluesy, tense, and thoroughly engaging romp told through Coogler’s sharp lens, Sinners pulls you in and stays with you long after the credits roll. Coogler and Jordan are one of the great director-actor duos of this time and this film further cements their place in film history.
Heart Eyes
We certainly didn’t see this one being a part of our best movies of 2025 list. Heart Eyes’ trailer was fun enough with some quips and a dash of chemistry between Scream VI’s Mason Gooding and Cloak & Dagger’s Olivia Holt. But those clips barely scratch the surface of how solid this film is.
It is horror comedy meets romantic thriller, blending in brutal kills and impeccably placed quips into a surprisingly unique premise. Just imagine going out to dinner with someone you just met only to be mistaken for a couple by a serial killer who murders couples. Gooding and Holt are a pure delight to watch as they fight to survive the night.
28 Years Later
A lot of horror sequels simply don’t live up to their predecessors nor do they add anything else to the franchise’s lore. But that’s not the case with 28 Years Later, an emotionally resonant and rather unnerving installment that brings back the Rage Virus in full force.
This film takes some big creative swings and amps up the action to deliver a very satisfying sequel that made all of its development hell worth it. 28 Years Later touches on themes relevant in our verging on apocalypse society while imagining an alternate future that speaks to humanity’s resilience and shortcomings. It’s all around brilliant and worthy of many, many watches.
Thunderbolts*
This film about a band of underdogs who have to step into heroic territory embodies what we love about the MCU. Highly character driven with moving storylines, Thunderbolts packs in the action, humor, and even those lovely nods to the overall universe in a way that feels both epic and grounded. Anchored by a powerful performance from Florence Pugh, Thunderbolts* was the refreshing jolt that the MCU needed as it moves towards a new phase. We are glad it belongs on our best movies of 2025 list!
The post The Best Movies of 2025 (So Far) appeared first on Nerdist.
Time Travel, Tough Lessons, and a Rookie Spirit User
If Onmyo Kaiten Re:Birth Verse episode one threw us headfirst into the chaos, episode two hits the brakes just long enough for Takeru—and us—to catch our breath before tossing us right back into the action. Time travel is on the table, and Takeru’s got a front-row seat to his own déjà vu nightmare.
Takeru wakes up on Tsukimiya’s stage again, alive and confused, surrounded by people who don’t recognize him. Turns out, the poor guy has looped back over a month before his first battle with the Oni. You can feel his frustration as he tries to explain what happened, only for everyone to look at him like he’s telling the world’s worst joke. His attempt to flex his onmyoji powers falls flat, leading to a reality check from Yura and some tough love from the crew.
What makes this episode shine is the balance between humor and heart. Takeru’s frustration is relatable but so is his determination. He’s not the kind of protagonist who has it all figured out overnight. He knows he’s outmatched, and instead of sulking, he runs straight to Abeno Seimei and demands to be trained. Seimei, with that calm teacher energy, gives him another shot. Kazura runs him through the basics of onmyoji techniques, but Takeru’s got no patience for the history lesson and wants to skip straight to the power-ups. Classic rookie mistake.
The episode also gives us a deeper look at Astunaga, who starts to soften toward Takeru. Their dynamic shifts from rivals to something closer to teammates, though the tension over who gets to protect Tsukimiya stays sharp. The two share a moment where Astunaga challenges Takeru’s strength, literally forcing him to unlock some spiritual power through sheer pain tolerance. Anime training arcs really love their suffering.
Let’s not forget the peaceful moments. Takeru throws a surprise gyoza night at Astunaga’s place, proving the universal truth that anime food always looks amazing. For a brief moment, the characters get to be regular people sharing a meal before everything inevitably goes sideways.
Oni Battles and a Rookie’s First Victory
And sideways it goes. A new black mist outbreak hits, and the Oni in this episode steps things up with missile-like puppets and devastating strength. The Shikigami battles remain one of the show’s highlights, blending sharp animation with creative combat strategies. The Oni’s design continues to be stunning and terrifying, and the destruction it causes serves as a harsh reminder of what’s at stake.
Astunaga almost sacrifices himself in the heat of battle, but Takeru returns just in time, revealing that he spent his time away training and leveling up. His entrance is bold, his actions louder than any speech, and for the first time, Astunaga acknowledges his potential. Together, they co-pilot a Shikigami in battle, creating a partnership that feels earned rather than forced.
By the end of the episode, Seimei offers Takeru an official place among the onmyoji, hinting at even bigger challenges ahead. Takeru still has a long way to go, but his growth in just two episodes is promising.
Onmyo Kaiten Re:Birth Verse continues to deliver strong visuals, energetic battles, and a cast that balances comedy and drama with ease. If the first episode was a sprint, this one feels like the first few steps of a marathon, laying the groundwork for character growth and bigger conflicts to come.
Onmyo Kaiten Re:Birth Verse streams new episodes every Wednesday exclusively on Crunchyroll.
About Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll is the global anime brand that fuels fans’ love of anime. With the ambition to make anime an even bigger part of pop culture, Crunchyroll offers fans the ultimate anime experience and destination centered around a premium streaming service. Crunchyroll has the largest dedicated anime library, an immersive world of events, exciting theatrical releases, unique games, must-have merchandise, timely news, and more. Anime is for everyone and is accessible to stream across territories through Crunchyroll—whether on the go on mobile, through gaming consoles and big-screen devices at home, or on desktops anywhere.
Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.
Cover image via Comicbook.com
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The post ‘Onmyo Kaiten Re:Birth Verse’ Episode 2 Review: Time Loops, Spirit Power, and a Little Gyoza on the Side appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
These days, a teaser trailer for a movie will almost always contain footage from the film. Usually edited sometime while the movie itself was in principal photography. But before the turn of this century, teaser trailers were often their own unique thing, shot specifically just to “tease,” as the name suggests, and not much else. Such was the case for the original Jurassic Park teaser, which hit theaters in winter 1992. The trailer for Spielberg’s classic doesn’t show a single dinosaur. Instead, it focuses on the prehistoric mosquito in amber, explaining to audiences how the dinosaurs return. You can watch this classic trailer right here:
After we see miners digging in a cavern, the trailer shows a microscope examining the mosquito, while the narrator explains how this was all made possible due to a scientific breakthrough in the year 1990. Why use the year 1990? Well, that was probably Steven Spielberg’s clever way to pay homage to the Michael Chricton novel, which he published in (you guessed it) 1990. It also means that John Hammond built an entire park populated with dinosaurs within three years. But hey, life finds a way. Especially when one has billions of dollars and a bad idea.
This era of blockbuster movie teaser trailers was very different. The teaser for Terminator 2: Judgement Day was in theaters a full year before the movie was released. And it didn’t feature a single shot used in the film. Going back even further, the teaser for The Empire Strikes Back just showed concept art for the film, with Harrison Ford narrating it. The last such trailer we can recall, with footage shot specifically for a teaser, was Sam Raimi’s original Spider-Man. That teaser showed Spidey stopping bank robbers in a getaway copter, suspending them in a web between the World Trade Center. Once 9/11 happened, Sony pulled it from theaters, marking the end of an era for this kind of teaser. But Spielberg’s Jurassic Park remains among the very best of this now-lost art.
The post The Strangest Trailers of Pop Culture History: The Original JURASSIC PARK Teaser appeared first on Nerdist.
A woman’s Moroccan trip turned nightmarish after she found what she says was a hidden camera inside her Airbnb. Pauline (@himynamespaul_) shares how her magical stay in Marrakesh was cut short when she realized she was being secretly recorded.
Pauline’s first clip in a series of TikToks was uploaded on June 30. In it, she shares how she went on a group trip to Morocco with some friends. Her first TikTok shows how a seemingly innocent picture frame randomly appeared inside her Airbnb’s bathroom. Pauline shows a photo frame that holds a stock photo of a Yorkie puppy. It sat on the ledge by the bathtub. The frame, she explains, was not there the day before. It is also angled to directly face her shower.