every movie i watched in Q2

playing catchup with 2025 films...

Unfortunately, it’s now July, the midpoint of the year. I hate it!

Here’s every movie (ahem, film) that I watched in Q2.

April

1. Mickey 17 (2025)

   Right now cinema and television seem to be at the height of identity-questioning, doppelgänger media, and I’m all for it. I will say, given the current political climate and how tired we all are of this administration’s antics, this film may have fallen flat with many audiences. I’m really curious how this film could have influenced culture if it had been released on its original release date before all the delays…

2. The Monkey (2025)

   I was surprised by this movie in a bad way. I thought a campy horror film starring Theo James as a set of twins would be enjoyable, but alas… If you want to media with multiple Theo James’s that is actually worth your time, watch The Time Traveler’s Wife (2022) on HBO Max.

3. The Hunger Games (2012) [rewatch]

   Just so well done. This will go down as a classic piece of media for this generation (both the book and the movie).

4. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) [rewatch]

   Even better than the first. RIP Cinna.

5. Shiva Baby (2020) [rewatch]

   Emma Seligman is perfection.

6. Phantom Thread (2017)

   What a wild movie. I think this film requires a specific vibe to fully appreciate, so I will be rewatching this sometime when I am not tired.

7. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

   Watched this at the behest of Mikaya. Not my thing, but I can acknowledge the cultural impact. Also, yay Kieran Culkin!

8. Wicked (2024) [rewatch]

   Was thinking about Cynthia Erivo a lot after I went to hear her speak at an on-campus event…

9. The Maze Runner (2014) [rewatch]

   I don’t remember why this movie seemed better when I was a teenager. Also, Zart being short for Mozart blew my mind.

10. The Darkest Minds (2018) [rewatch]

    Hilarious to watch now knowing where Amandla Stenberg and Harris Dickinson’s careers went.

11. Conclave (2024) [rewatch]

    Forced my ex-religious friend to watch with me. We love Stanley Tucci.

12. Drop (2025)

    From a technological standpoint, this movie is simultaneously freaky and uncanny. The whole premise of airdropping is so silly, but Meghann Fahy acted the hell out of this. Good for her…

13. Freaky Tales (2024)

    Watched for Pedro Pascal, but not really my thing. If you like Scott Pilgrim and Kill Bill, you’ll get a kick out of this one.

14. My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997) [rewatch]

    Genuinely the messiest movie ever. I saw something on Twitter about how Dermot Mulroney has credits on IMDb for playing the cello for numerous films, and it reminded me of this movie, so naturally, I had to rewatch it.

April Favorite: Mickey 17

May

1. Flow (2024)

   If you’re a fan of the found family theme/trope… this is for you. I am unfortunately an animated film skeptic who happens to have a sibling who is obsessed with animation. This one really deserved all the awards ever and is such a feat of unmatched creativity and artistry.

2. Past Lives (2023) [rewatch]

   This film jumped from a 4.5 star movie to a 5 star movie for me on the rewatch. I adore the way Celine Song directs. The choices and details in this movie make so much more sense knowing what I know now about her being a playwright, an incredible writer, and someone who dares to play with cinema.

3. Nickel Boys (2024)

   There are few films that dare to take as many risks as Nickel Boys did. It was completely snubbed at the Oscars, but I am not surprised considering the subject matter and the Institution that is the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences if you catch my drift…

4. Warfare (2025)

   I may have misjudged this film before watching it. I was awfully confused by A24’s willingness to produce a War Movie™ and contribute to the propaganda of the military industrial complex. As someone who has seen quite a few of the classic War Movies™, this one feels incredibly different. To paraphrase a Reddit review I saw, this is not the type of war movie that holds your hand throughout—this is the type that assumes you already know War Movies™. This film is more subversive than I expected, and it interestingly enough reveals a great deal about humanity. Also, it has like 4 or 5 White Boys of the Month™ so.

5. Isle of Dogs (2018) [rewatch]

   About 5 minutes into watching this film the first time, I knew my sister would enjoy it, too. Loooove the rumor bit.

6. Crazy Rich Asians (2018) [rewatch]

   Had to show my sister the Bible of modern Asian American representation in film. Yeah, yikes. Why is this kind of the best one out there? Can’t we get better Asian American films that don’t cast Awkwafina? A solid 3 stars in my book forever.

7. The Wedding Banquet (2025)

   I had extremely low expectations for this one. (Are you sensing a theme?) I thought I knew where this was going from the trailer, but I was 50% wrong. This film had an abysmal marketing campaign (or lack thereof), but if you love Las Culturistas/Bowen Yang/Fire Island (2022), the grandma from Minari (2020), or Lily Gladstone and her remarkable acting, this is the movie for you. Dare I say, way better Asian American representation than Crazy Rich Asians? Maybe I’m biased because it’s also a queer love story but…

8. Barbie: Princess Charm School (2011) [rewatch]

   My absolute favorite Barbie movie. Showed my sister some of the incredible storytelling from my childhood (joke), and she was less than impressed. It’s okay, we love Portia, and she learned this movie is the origin of the Tiktok audio “You stole my cake. Not me, Blair!” while I learned of the existence of this audio. Also, not the only Asian character using chopsticks to hold her hair in a bun. The 2010s were crazy.

9. The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)

   Need I remind you my sister loves animated movies? This movie was so touching, despite providing some comedic but necessary commentary on the technological singularity and the importance of data security and corporate transparency.

10. Castle in the Sky (1986) [rewatch]

    My sister wanted to watch all the Studio Ghibli films she had yet to see, and this was a weak kick-off to say the least. I swear this one was way better the first time I had watched it… 10 years ago… but I fell asleep halfway. Oops! Not as good as I remember it. As you’ll see in June, we did not commit to finishing the Studio Ghibli films because this one was such a letdown. Maybe it’ll happen in July.

May favorite: Flow

June

1. Sinners (2025)

   I mean, my God, this is what cinema is all about. There’s a reason people can’t stop talking about this film, and the hype is so well-deserved. The reclamation of music history, the critiques of Christianity and oppression, the nod to Chinese Americans in the Mississippi Delta, tHE MUSIC AND SOUND PRODUCTION!!! I don’t foresee ever forgetting about this film. If this film doesn’t win Best Original Score at the 2026 Oscars at the least, I will riot. All hail Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Göransson.

2. American Fiction (2023)

   I’ve had this film on my to-watch list for far too long. The writing in this is so meta and so genius, and I physically laughed out loud throughout. I would say this satire was snubbed at the Oscars, but the 2023 lineup was hard to compete with (EEAAO/Oppenheimer sweep, etc., etc.)

3. Materialists (2025)

   If by “rom-com” Celine Song meant romantic commentary, this film would be a 5/5. Regardless, I still enjoyed it. Song is an incredible director, and the comedy is subtle but definitely there. I can’t say I agree with some of the casting decisions or some of the writing, but this film managed to reach much deeper ideas than what’s shown in the trailer and may resonate with folks with divorced (or should-be divorced) parents who fight about money (yas). I will echo some of the critiques I’ve heard about this film in that audiences may find it difficult to root for either relationships on the basis of the characters’ personalities. Over the course of the film, we don’t get to know the male interests’ personalities a ton, and it feels like there are no real stakes to either. All in all, it was nowhere near as tight writing-wise if the baseline is Song’s Past Lives, but still impactful as a commentary on the reality of dating today. Also, Pedro Pascal. Yes, even 8 years prior to the film setting (if you know, you know). This film is sparking a ton of discourse on Substack as well as hate, and I think it goes to show the genius of Celine Song (some may disagree).

4. Top Gun (1986)

   I have to admit this was my first time watching despite watching “Top Gun 2” multiple times. This one really falls short with the storytelling via editing (yes, I know it was made a while ago but still). The flying sequences were generally difficult to follow and really detracts the overall story. The best part of this film was seeing how similar Miles Teller’s Goose looks like his father (and seeing my mom giddy every time the theme song came on).

5. Top Gun: Maverick (2022) [rewatch]

   You can’t start your summer until you rewatch this film. That’s a rule.

6. Elio (2025)

   I think we just need to accept that no matter what movies Pixar creates after 2020, there will be discourse. And often about how bad the state of animation is. Aside from a lot of the valid discourse and the simplistic writing, I still think the movie is extremely endearing and entertaining. Nothing beats seeing your sister getting really invested in movie characters.

7. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2021) [rewatch]
   Just an all around pleasant and heartwarming time. I fear Marcel will always be misgendered as a girl.

8. Challengers (2024) [rewatch]
   Okay, I am now realizing that this has been in every one of my “every movie i watched in ___,” but to be fair, it was my birthday.

June favorite: Sinners (duh)