Summer 2025 Blockbusters: The Good, The Bad, and War of the Worlds

Summer is always a prime time for movies, and 2025 was no exception. Some of the notable releases this summer include The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Happy Gilmore 2, Madea’s Destination Wedding, and War of the Worlds. 
by Mariana Castaneda, Emery Brown, Nyla Ferguson, Nathan Granados, Mackenzie Smith, and DaNija Thomas

The Fantastic Four: First Steps (8/10) - Emery Brown

​After a long drought of good content from Marvel Studios, they’ve begun to redeem themselves with the release of Thunderbolts* earlier this year, and they continue this trend with The Fantastic Four: First Steps. I’ve always had a soft spot for the Fantastic Four, specifically for their family dynamic, and First Steps delivered. Instead of focusing on their origin story, the Fantastic Four is already an established team when the movie starts. Instead, the focus is on Sue Storm’s (Vanessa Kirby) pregnancy, and the world’s favorite super-family is tasked with defending their world from consumption by the all-powerful being known as Galactus. 

First Steps was a fun break from the formula for Marvel. The stylized ‘60s aesthetic was interesting to navigate and appealing to the eyes, the action was thrilling, and the storyline was engaging. Above all, however, was the casting. Everyone played their characters astoundingly, my favorite being Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards. They felt like a genuine family, complete with emotionally gripping scenes and great comedic moments.
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My only complaint with the film is that it is fairly fast-paced, having to adjust itself to the modern short attention span. However, it doesn’t diminish the film’s quality too badly. Overall, I give this film an 8/10. 

(image via Hollywood Life)

Happy Gilmore 2 (8.65/10) 

​DaNija Thomas: I really loved the movie. It was so hilarious. I feel as if this movie fits Adam Sandler’s personality a lot. The part that shocked me the most was when he was hitting the golf ball, which hit his wife in the face, and it killed her. I felt bad for him because it was like he became so horrible at golf afterwards, but then he got back into it and surprised everyone. But overall, I really enjoyed this movie, and I recommend it, as 8/10.

Nathan Granados: I think this movie was amazing and very humorous. The addition of so many famous cameos was a really good idea. The only downside was the death of Happy’s wife at the beginning of the movie, which was his fault. The plot of him becoming a drunk and poor man was a good idea because it made him return to golf, so he could pay for his daughter's dance school in Paris. Overall, it was a good movie and I would give it a 9.3/10.

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(image via Rotten Tomatoes)

Madea’s Destination Wedding (8/10) - Mackenzie Smith & Nyla Ferguson 

Tyler Perry Studios released Madea’s Destination Wedding on July 11, 2025. Perry created the Madea franchise in 2005 with humor, banter, and the iconic line “Hellurr.” Similar to the other Madea films, Destination Wedding begins with a form of family drama, this time being a wedding mishap. 

​We enjoyed the comedic commentary between the characters as well as the constant moments of annoyance. We also enjoyed the way the plot played out and how it ended in a good way, with the daughter and fiancé getting married after all the conflicts that happened throughout the film. We also believe the setting was a nice switch-up compared to the other Madea movies. 
On the other hand, when we watch a movie, we want to feel the connection between real life and the film, something this film lacked. Although there was a downside to this movie, we enjoyed every part of it. Overall, we rate this movie an 8/10.

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(image via The Action Elite)

War of the Worlds (3/10) - Mariana Castaneda

War Of The Worlds, a film based on the 1889 novel by H.G. Wells, stars Ice Cube as Will Radford in this bizarre Sci-fi film that is very much unserious. So much so, I couldn't even finish this movie! The movie had a confusing plot, and I don't have anything good to say other than it's fun to watch with a friend, so you guys can laugh and make fun of it.

  Will Radford is the father of Faith and Dave and works at the Department of Homeland Security. Will has access to the cameras and computers around the nation, straining his relationship with his two kids because of how much he monitors them. 

 Additionally, Will aids police in trying to find notorious hacker “Disruptor". Suddenly, the movie takes a turn when meteors containing alien robots fall from the sky. When we first get a glimpse of the robots, the editing is amateur. In the film, Will’s daughter and son are trying to get to safety, yet all he does is video call them in his office.

Overall, this movie seems as though it was rushed to be made and has very cringeworthy dialogue/acting. It is sure to make you giggle, but it's not a good movie to really, actually, enjoy. 


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As summer draws to a close, it’s safe to say that it released a wide range of movies when it comes to quality. That begs the question: How will the rest of the year pan out?

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