Best Movies of First Half 2025: 20+ Top Films from January-June Now Streaming on Netflix, Disney+, Max & More
Discover the 20+ best movies from January-June 2025 now streaming across all platforms. From blockbuster epics to indie gems, revisit the first half's critically acclaimed films you may have missed.
The first half of 2025 delivered exceptional cinema across every genre, from visually stunning sci-fi epics to heartwarming animated masterpieces and gripping prestige dramas. This comprehensive retrospective covers the 20+ best films from January through June 2025, now available on streaming platforms. Whether you missed theatrical releases or want to revisit early 2025's highlights, here's your complete guide to the first half's most critically acclaimed and audience-beloved movies, organized by genre with platform links to stream them all.
Blockbuster Epics: Spectacle Cinema at Its Finest
Watch blockbuster epics on Max at max.com and Disney+ at disneyplus.com
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
May's thought-provoking sci-fi continuing the iconic franchise.
Disney+
The first half's blockbusters proved spectacle cinema thrives when directors bring artistic vision. Dune: Part Two became the gold standard for sci-fi epics with Denis Villeneuve's masterful world-building, stunning Hans Zimmer score, and Timothée Chalamet's commanding performance as Paul Atreides completing his transformation. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes continued the franchise's exploration of intelligence and society with breathtaking motion-capture performances. Furiosa delivered Anya Taylor-Joy in George Miller's visually stunning origin story showcasing the Mad Max universe's brutal beauty. Twisters brought disaster movie thrills with Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones chasing Oklahoma tornadoes in spectacular VFX sequences. Pure blockbuster excellence streaming on Max and Disney+.
Animation Excellence: Pixar, DreamWorks & Beyond
Stream animated masterpieces on Disney+ at disneyplus.com and Netflix at netflix.com
Animation reached emotional and artistic peaks in early 2025. Inside Out 2 became Pixar's crowning achievement and the year's biggest film, exploring adolescent anxiety with Maya Hawke voicing new emotion Anxiety alongside Amy Poehler's returning Joy in a story that moved audiences of all ages to tears while grossing over $1.5 billion worldwide. Kung Fu Panda 4 brought Jack Black's Po back for spiritual growth adventures with stunning martial arts animation. The Wild Robot delivered DreamWorks' most heartwarming story yet about a shipwrecked robot learning to be a mother to an orphaned gosling, featuring Lupita Nyong'o's touching voice performance. Orion and the Dark showcased Netflix's animation prowess with Charlie Kaufman's imaginative script. Essential family viewing streaming now on Disney+ and Netflix.
Prestige Dramas: Awards Season Excellence
Find prestige dramas on Max at max.com, Netflix at netflix.com, and Apple TV+ at apple.com/apple-tv-plus
Killers of the Flower Moon
Scorsese's February epic with Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone.
Apple TV+Awards season extended into early 2025 with Oscar winners dominating January-February streaming. Oppenheimer completed Christopher Nolan's awards sweep with Cillian Murphy's transformative performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer winning Best Actor, the film's seven Oscars cementing its status as a modern epic. Poor Things delivered Emma Stone's career-best Oscar-winning work in Yorgos Lanthimos' surreal Victorian fantasy about female autonomy and self-discovery. The Zone of Interest earned acclaim for Jonathan Glazer's chilling approach to Holocaust cinema, using Oscar-winning sound design to create horror through what remains unseen. Killers of the Flower Moon brought Martin Scorsese's 206-minute masterpiece about Osage murders with Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone's devastating performances. Essential prestige cinema across Max, Netflix, Hulu, and Apple TV+.
Horror & Thriller: Scares and Suspense
Watch horror films on Prime Video at amazon.com/primevideo and Hulu at hulu.com
Horror thrived in the first half with franchises and originals delivering genuine scares. A Quiet Place: Day One brought Lupita Nyong'o to New York City's first day of alien invasion in Michael Sarnoski's prequel showing how silence became survival with emotional depth beneath creature terror. Immaculate delivered Sydney Sweeney's star turn in Michael Mohan's disturbing convent horror about pregnancy and religious extremism. The First Omen explored the franchise's terrifying mythology with Nell Tiger Free facing evil's birth in 1970s Rome. MaXXXine completed Ti West's X trilogy with Mia Goth's ambitious actress navigating 1980s Hollywood and the Night Stalker. Stream these horror standouts on Prime Video, Hulu, and Max throughout December.
Action & Adventure: Thrills Beyond Blockbusters
Stream action films on Netflix at netflix.com and Prime Video at amazon.com/primevideo
Action films brought both fun and intensity beyond traditional blockbusters. The Fall Guy delivered Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt's chemistry in David Leitch's love letter to stunt performers with spectacular practical action sequences and rom-com charm proving original films can still succeed. Road House brought Jake Gyllenhaal's intense physique to Doug Liman's reimagining with brutal MMA-influenced fight choreography in Prime Video's biggest action release. Civil War shocked with Alex Garland's near-future America torn apart, following journalists through war zones with Kirsten Dunst leading ensemble performances that felt disturbingly plausible. Different action flavors streaming on Netflix, Prime Video, and Max.
Comedy & Romance: Laughter and Heart
Find comedies on Netflix at netflix.com and Prime Video at amazon.com/primevideo
Comedy and romance found unexpected success in early 2025. Anyone But You became January's surprise phenomenon with Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell's electric chemistry in a modern rom-com set at an Australian wedding, word-of-mouth turning it into a $200+ million sleeper hit that proved the genre's continued appeal. Hit Man showcased Glen Powell's range again in Richard Linklater's clever Netflix original about a fake hitman falling for a client with dark comedy and unexpected romance. Both streaming on Netflix for perfect date night viewing.
First Half 2025 Priority Watchlist: The Absolute Best
Can't watch 20+ movies from the first half? Here are the five essential films ranked by critical acclaim and cultural impact:
1. Inside Out 2 (Disney+) - Pixar's emotional masterpiece became 2025's highest-grossing film ($1.5+ billion) exploring adolescent anxiety with Maya Hawke voicing Anxiety alongside Amy Poehler's Joy in a story that moved audiences to tears while delivering profound insights about growing up and accepting all emotions.
2. Dune: Part Two (Max) - Denis Villeneuve completed his sci-fi epic with visual splendor and narrative power, Timothée Chalamet's Paul Atreides transformation delivering spectacular IMAX sequences, Hans Zimmer's thunderous score, and political intrigue making it the decade's most ambitious blockbuster achievement.
3. Oppenheimer (Netflix) - Christopher Nolan's biographical epic swept awards season with seven Oscars including Best Picture and Cillian Murphy's Best Actor win, the three-hour IMAX spectacle exploring the atomic bomb's father with intellectual depth and visceral power that defined prestige cinema.
4. Poor Things (Hulu) - Yorgos Lanthimos' surreal Victorian fantasy earned Emma Stone her second Oscar for playing Bella Baxter discovering autonomy and pleasure in a visually stunning, darkly funny exploration of female liberation and self-discovery that divided and delighted audiences.
5. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (Max) - George Miller's prequel delivered Anya Taylor-Joy as young Furiosa in a stunning origin story showcasing the Mad Max universe's brutal beauty with incredible practical stunts, Chris Hemsworth's villain performance, and action sequences rivaling Fury Road's excellence.
Genre Breakdown: What Succeeded in H1 2025
The first half's box office and critical reception revealed clear patterns. Animation dominated with Inside Out 2 and Kung Fu Panda 4 proving family films drive theatrical attendance. Blockbuster spectacles succeeded when directors brought vision like Villeneuve (Dune) and Miller (Furiosa). Horror overperformed with A Quiet Place: Day One and originals like Immaculate finding audiences. Comedy struggled theatrically except Anyone But You's word-of-mouth phenomenon. Prestige dramas from awards season (Oppenheimer, Poor Things) continued strong streaming performance. Action needed star power like Gosling (Fall Guy) or franchise recognition to break through. Overall, quality mattered more than marketing budgets, with authentic storytelling resonating across all genres.
Complete First Half 2025 Streaming Guide
Access every essential first-half film with direct platform links: Disney+ (disneyplus.com) for Inside Out 2, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, and Twisters. Max (max.com) for Dune: Part Two, Furiosa, The Zone of Interest, Civil War, and MaXXXine. Netflix (netflix.com) for Oppenheimer, Kung Fu Panda 4, The Wild Robot, The Fall Guy, Anyone But You, and Hit Man. Hulu (hulu.com) for Poor Things, Immaculate, and The First Omen. Prime Video (amazon.com/primevideo) for A Quiet Place: Day One and Road House. Apple TV+ (apple.com/apple-tv-plus) for Killers of the Flower Moon.
The first half of 2025 established the year's cinematic excellence across every genre from blockbuster spectacles to intimate dramas. Whether you prioritize animated masterpieces like Inside Out 2, sci-fi epics like Dune: Part Two, prestige dramas like Oppenheimer, horror thrills like A Quiet Place: Day One, or action entertainment like Furiosa, these 20+ films represent the best of January-June cinema now streaming everywhere. Visit fivo.to to search all platforms simultaneously, discover where each first-half favorite streams, compare subscription options, and build your perfect retrospective watchlist to catch up on early 2025's best films you may have missed during their theatrical runs.