ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
Throughout 2025, there were many great movies to check out either in theaters or via streaming, multiple of which ended up being reviewed on this page. With 2025 officially closed and 2026 getting started, I figured it would be fun to review some of my favorite movies for the year and mention some 2026 releases I’m particularly excited about.
Here we go!
“Fantastic Four: First Steps”
I wasn’t able to catch this in theaters, but I did catch it pretty quickly after it dropped on Disney+ and ended up REALLY enjoying it. The movie is set in a 1960s retro-futuristic world, which the team must protect from the planet-devouring cosmic being Galactus (Ralph Ineson). I loved how Galactus was a legitimately scary threat, and the cast for the titular team, which includes Vanessa Kirby, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, is also perfect, with Kirby and Quinn particularly standing out for me. This film was the first legitimately good cinematic outing for the Fantastic Four, and I absolutely loved how the underlying theme of family is present throughout the entire film. This is one of the rare movies where if I see a sequel announced, I won’t necessarily groan in consternation.
“KPop Demon Hunters”
I found this on Netflix the weekend it dropped, and I think it’s fair to say this film has exploded into nearly everyone’s lexicon by this point. The movie follows K-pop girl group, Huntr/x, who lead double lives as demon hunters as they face off against a rival boy band, the Saja Boys, whose members are secretly demons bent on taking over the world. As I said in my earlier review, the movie’s songs are total earworms, the animation throughout is absolutely stunning and total eye candy, and the voicework from everyone involved – both speaking and singing – is very well done. This is another movie I definitely wouldn’t mind a sequel film or sequel Netflix series.
“The Wild Robot”
This is another movie I caught on Netflix rather unexpectedly earlier this year and Oh. My GOODNESS did I regret not finding it sooner. The movie follows a service robot (voiced by Lupita Nyong’o) who, after being shipwrecked on an island, must adapt to her surroundings, build relationships with the local wildlife, and become the adoptive mother of an orphaned goose. The voicework from everyone involved (which includes the likes of Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor and Bill Nighy) is fantastic, the animation is absolutely stunning, and there are SO MANY moments parents will be able to relate to that might also possibly induce some tears. There is just so much heart in every aspect of this movie (as well as some laughs), and it’s just an overall fantastic watch.
Now that we’ve recapped a few favorites from 2025, let’s move forward to 2026!
“The Odyssey”
Set to release in mid-July, this is director Christopher Nolan’s take on Homer’s famous epic that follows hero Odysseus’ years-long journey to get home to his kingdom of Ithaca and his waiting family and people. And to be honest, it feels like moviegoers have been waiting about that long for this movie to be released. Not only do I just love the overall story and themes, but with a huge ensemble cast that includes the likes of Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Elliot Page, Robert Pattinson and Jon Bernthal (among MANY others), I feel like this is bound to be a huge it when it comes out. The teaser was shown before “Jurassic World Rebirth,” and a full trailer has been released since, and I feel a movie like this is right up Nolan’s wheelhouse.
“Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come”
Some might remember when I reviewed “Ready Or Not” a few years ago, and I was very surprised when I recently saw on social media the news of an official sequel being released. Set for a March release, the movie will follow Grace MacCaullay (Samara Weaving) as she must again fight for her life in a sadistic new game she’s forced into in order to protect her younger sister from a group of extremely powerful and wealthy families (I can’t help feeling there will be some social commentary involved there). I found the first movie a rather fun time, so hopefully lightning will strike twice and this will be another good outing.
“Hoppers”
Probably more an outing for younger moviegoers, this March release will follow an animal lover named Mabel (voiced by Piper Curda) whose mind is transferred into a robotic beaver in order to communicate with animals and save their home from destruction. I’ve seen some trailers and other advertising, and I have to say, the movie looks absolutely adorable, so it should be a great movie outing for families when it’s released. And if this film does well, maybe it’ll convince Pixar to focus more on original stories and movies and not a 20th “Toy Story” outing.
These are just a few movies I enjoyed in 2025 and am looking forward to for 2026, so if there are any movies you’ve heard of that you’re excited for, be sure and let me know and I’ll see if I can ultimately include them in my watch plans.
Happy new year!
