Moviegoers had a lot of popular choices in 2025, from big-budget Hollywood films to animated movies from around the world. However, critics weren’t as enthusiastic, according to their ratings on Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic. Here’s a look at what reviewers thought of the year’s ten highest-earning films.
After eighteen seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race, plus numerous All Stars, international, and Vs. The World spin-offs, the show’s format is very familiar to everyone. Over the years, Drag Race has evolved from a low-budget production into a popular, award-winning series, but it now feels a bit dated. The decision to no longer host the finale in a large theater feels disappointing and cheap. RuPaul doesn’t have the same energy as before, and some of the classic challenges, like the talent show and Snatch Game, aren’t as exciting anymore. What’s most frustrating is that recent seasons seem to focus on very young contestants, as the show prioritizes discovering and developing new talent for future All Stars seasons, rather than showcasing polished, experienced queens.
Many TV shows, particularly those in specific genres like fantasy, don’t have the time they need to develop properly. High fantasy is especially challenging because it’s a less mainstream genre, and TV executives aren’t always convinced it will attract a large audience. These shows often need a lot of detailed world-building and complex backstories, and viewers may not see the payoff immediately.
Rob Reiner’s 1990 film Misery, based on the Stephen King novel, stars James Caan, Kathy Bates, and Lauren Bacall. The movie tells the story of a popular romance author who is held hostage by an obsessive fan. It’s now streaming on Peacock, and also available on HBO Max. Peacock offers a more affordable monthly plan at $7.99, compared to HBO Max’s basic plan at $10.99.
Many fantastic movies from the 1980s initially received mixed or negative reviews, which unfortunately impacted how well they did in theaters. It’s a shame, because many of these films are now considered classics and could have benefited from more support when they were first released. Despite the initial reaction, these ten controversial movies from the decade have become timeless cinematic masterpieces.
Many great horror TV shows last for years – take Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story, which already has twelve seasons and is adding a thirteenth. But sometimes you just want something you can binge in a weekend. Whether it’s a short, self-contained series from a master of horror or a show that ended after only one season, these options are sure to keep you hooked.
In 2025, Apple TV remained the top choice for science fiction fans. It brought back popular shows like Severance and Foundation with compelling new seasons, and also introduced exciting new series such as Pluribus. With a highly anticipated cyberpunk show, adapted from a classic sci-fi novel, on the way, Apple TV is expected to maintain its leading position in the genre.
Even after just two films, Avatar has built a detailed and believable world, filled with unique cultures, spiritual beliefs, a well-defined ecosystem, and characters whose stories unfold over time. Pandora feels like a place with a long history and consistent rules, something few new movie franchises achieve so rapidly. However, the world of Avatar extends beyond what we’ve seen on screen.
The last season of Stranger Things wrapped up with a big and moving finale on Netflix this past Wednesday, December 31st. For nearly a decade, fans have enjoyed following the adventures of Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, and Lucas in this exciting sci-fi series about growing up, which first started in the summer of 2016.
Lately, horror movies have come in a few main forms: big franchise installments, films made by well-known directors, and smaller, independent productions. Companies like A24 and Neon have become successful by focusing on these independent horror films, and directors like Jordan Peele and Robert Eggers have become major figures in the genre.