2025 Look Back – “Recap.”

Something Popped started in 2025 was an early & mid look into the year. Well, we’re now into the following year of 2026, so let’s look back and “Recap” the year of 2025.

Were my top 10 predictions correct? What surprises occurred? Misses, swings & hits. Let’s get into it!

Let’s start with my top 10 predicted vs officials.

Ouch! Let’s start with my misses! – Love Hurts, seriously hurts to see this on my top 10 list when I gave it a 4.5. Ballerina, sadly, I fell asleep, so I don’t have a review of it, and never re-watched it to catch the middle parts I missed. Jurassic World & Black Phone 2 were fine movies with a mixture of good & bad elements.

The remainder were good to great, with scores ranging from 7.5 to 8.5.

So what’s my actual top 10 for 2025: (Not Actually Listed 1 through 10)

Ranking 2025 – Top 10	Movie Title
1	Ne Zha 2 – 9/10* – #1 Oscar Animated Feature
2	Bring Her Back – 9/10*
3	Sinners – 9/10*
4	Better Man – 9/10*
5	Sarah’s Oil – 9/10
6	Song Sung Blue – 9/10
7	David – 9/10
8	The Life of Chuck – 9/10
9	F1 – 9/10
10	One Battle After Another – 9/10

Ne Zha 2 came out of no where. Like, wasn’t even on my radar and seriously loved this movie and watched the first & second movie over 3 times each. First one probably closer to 5/6.

Same with Bring Her Back – Watched this twice and thoroughly enjoyed it. Was surprised placing a horror movie into my top 10 but then Sinners feels so right in here :D.

Better Man I’ve watched twice and thoroughly loved the nostalgia of the story, setting & music.

True stories were big for 2025 and Sarah’s Oil & Song Sung Blue were incredible. Moved me emotionally and tales I’d re-watch again.

Life of Chuck is one of those movies you’ll sit and ponder. Reflecting and taking in what the movie meant to you individually. A lot can be broken down by this. Love to hear your thoughts.

One Battle After Another vs Sinners are my two best picture plays. Haven’t re-seen OBAA yet but Sinners, I loved even more the second watch.

Dark Horses of 2025:

Minecraft blew up with Chicken Jockey. Captain America came out same time as Ne Zha 2. You can read my thoughts on those in their respected “Reviews”. Mortal Kombat 2 got pushed to 2026 so let’s hope it actually releases this year. Once again in my Dark Horse but I’m backing Street Fighter based on their trailers.

Looney Tunes was a lot of fun but didn’t do great. Hopefully Coyote vs Acme performs this year. Until Dawn & M3gan 2.0 flopped. With Mickey 17 not being my cup of tea but did decent. Fantastic Four faired better than Captain America but I’m hoping Doomsday is worth this recent era of Marvel :S…..hopefully….

Here’s to a solid year of movies for 2026! Looking forward to seeing how wrong I am again :P. Honestly this year has so many good movies I’d be surprised not seeing my predicted list being a little closer than my 2025 list was :D.

Next Popped Date to be end of January when we discuss the Oscar Nominations! Snubs, potential winners & my disappointment for Ne Zha 2 not being nominated based on how it’s going with Critics Choice & Golden Globes.

Until next time though fellow movie-goers – Happy Watching 😀

January 4, 2026 0

We Bury the Dead “Review”

Release date: January 2, 2026 (USA)

Director: Zak Hilditch

MPAA rating: R

Producers: Grant Sputore, Kelvin Munro, Ross M. Dinerstein, Joshua Harris, Mark Fasano

Running time: 1h 34m

Distributed by: Vertical, Umbrella Entertainment

Secret Movie time and despite thinking it was Primate – Dice landed on We Bury The Dead!

This feature will make for a solid streamer. One of those movies you see raved about on social media with high scores, but honestly, it’s just an okay movie with a unique offering in the zombie genre.

Daisy Ridley plays Ava Newman, a wife on a mission to find her missing husband. After a catastrophic military disaster occurs on the island, Ava joins a military organization of civilian volunteers that bury the dead & maybe uncovers far more than advertised.

Honestly, cut 15 -20 minutes off this movie, and it may have been a fine to good movie. But without getting into spoilers. The ending is rather weak & doesn’t hold well for the writers on this one. Good streamer if you’re looking for something unique in the zombie space, but otherwise a 6/10 Popped score.

It’s neat being able to watch a mystery movie that you’re unaware of what could be until it’s playing on screen. Sometimes that’s a hit. Other times a unique tale was told. But alas we still have Anaconda tomorrow to check out and sometime this weekend – Song Sung Blue / Marty Supreme to wrap up the year of 2025.

Happy Holidays to all fellow moviegoers! I’ll see you in the next batch 😀

December 23, 2025 0

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 “Review”

Release date: December 5, 2025 (USA)

Director: Emma Tammi

Prequel: Five Nights At Freddy’s

MPAA rating: PG-13

Running time: 1h 44m

Distributed by: Universal Pictures, Cinemundo

I was worried this movie would feel out of season…but ….let’s discuss, shall we!

Elizabeth Lail (Playing Vanessa Shelly), Josh Hutcherson (Playing Mike Schmidt) & Piper Rubio (Playing Abby) are back once again for the sequel to FNAF. Some recap and a dark opener are setting up this sequel, but otherwise, this felt about the same as the original.

Great additions from McKenna Grace (Playing Lisa), a paranormal investigator who heads into the original Freddy’s location on a tour. Without spoilers, she may honestly have some of the best scenes in the movie.

It’s darker when it wants to be. Has better scares when it wants to. Includes gameplay elements from the second game….when it eventually gets there. But otherwise suffers for me personally the same as the sequel did.

Love the nights at Freddy’s. Love the animatronics. Loved the horror elements. Could have done without the relationship BS. Long-winded PTSD segments. The back-and-forth between FNAF content & movie “filler” content.

Otherwise, a fine movie with some good horror scares mixed in. A popped score of 6.5, and worth sticking around for the mid-credit scene. For FNAF fans, maybe stick around to the end for an easter egg?

Thank you for coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews” fellow movie goers :D.

Be seeing you over the weekend for Fackham Hall & Hamnet. Checking out FNAF 2 this weekend? Let me know what you thought in the comments below. Also, for those fans out there of the games. How true/accurate are the movies keeping to them?

Until next time, though, happy movie going fellow movie-goers!

December 4, 2025 1

Keeper “Review”

Release date: November 14, 2025 (USA)

Director: Osgood Perkins

Genre: Horror

Producers: Jesse Savath, Chris Ferguson

Running time: 1h 39m

MPAA rating: R

Loved Tatiana Maslany in Orphan Black and went in expecting something along that…WTF!

I’ll come right out with this one. Someone asked what this movie is about. The question stumped me as I didn’t want to spoil anything. Seriously. This movie summed up is a total WTF experience. It’ll be a solid top-notch streamer late at night. Popped score of 6.5/10. The second half was good, but that first hour had me split.

Liz (Played by Tatiana Maslany) & her partner Malcom (Played by Rossif Sutherland) have an interesting chemistry at first, which I wish I saw a quick connection point between the two before the uncertainty and skepticism.

The film setup this feature beautifully. Establishing the trend and revealing slightly the WTF nature of what’s to come without fully revealing literally anything.

This is what kept me in suspense. Wanting more. Wanting to see what the literal fuck is going on in this title. Maybe that’s why my rating is slightly higher than others, with 6/10 on IMDb being the highest thus far.

Out of all three features in this batch, I would love to know your thoughts on Keeper. Maybe I’ve teased you to check it out, maybe you’re turned away. Either way, this is a fine, almost good movie with 6.5/10. The second half was what almost got this to a 7, but ultimately, without going into spoilers, was the reason why it stayed in the 6’s.

With that, we have our trilogy of movies this week, and I appreciate you all coming by Popped for those movie “Reviews. With Keepers that puts our total movie count at ……. 127 if I counted my posts correctly…. WOW, speak about losing track.

Goal was 100 – Maybe we can hit 150 by the end of December? Let me know your predictions in the comments below, and how many movies you’re currently up to for watch count.

November 15, 2025 0

Sarah’s Oil “Review”

Release date: November 7, 2025 (USA)

Director: Cyrus Nowrasteh

Producers: Zachary Levi, Cyrus Nowrasteh, Jon Erwin · See more

Production companies: Kingdom Story Company, Wonder Project

Distributed by: Amazon MGM Studios, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Running time: 1h 44m

Another true story inspired movie ready to affect my heartstrings – Where do I sign up? 😀

Honestly, I wasn’t sure if checking out this title was going to be possible this week. Seeing that 98% on Fandango, I couldn’t pass that opportunity up.

Sarah’s Oil is an incredible story about the young girl in the poster (Sarah Rector – Played by Naya Desir-Johnson) who is given an allotted land within Indian Territory back in the early 1900’s. Sarah comes to find, through God, that there’s oil in this land which sets her on an extremely difficult path to maintain control of this land and oil.

2025 really was the year of true story-inspired/based movies, and this one may actually be the best yet…or close to Last Breath, which is my current #1. Need to rewatch and see who gets it.

Zachary Levi tapped into his Chuck persona, which is the side of him I fell in love with (Playing Bert Smith). This got me in the feels for sure. Maybe didn’t shed tears like Christy. But held bigger emotional punches throughout that had me rooting for Sarah & her family.

Incredible performances throughout, and honestly, a beautifully envisioned and shot movie.

This will knock off Colors within from my top 10, and with that, Popped score of 9/10.

Thanks for coming by, Popped everyone for your movie “Reviews”. We have Nobody coming up next, but not the Nobody you may be thinking of 😀 Which makes it hard to find the breakdown of director, etc., but I’ll do my best to pull accurate info for the next “Review”.

Coming up this weekend, we have a triple whammy – Keeper, Now You See Me & Running Man.

November 12, 2025 1

Stitch Head “Review”

Release date: October 29, 2025 (USA)

Director: Steve Hudson

Producers: Sonja Ewers, Mark Mertens

Production companies: Wild Bunch, Gringo Films · See more

Distributed by: Wild Bunch, Briarcliff Entertainment

MPAA rating: PG

I’m often asked why I watch so many movies. My reply? – “You never know when you’ll find a hidden gem”. So how’s Stitch Head? – One of those hidden gems ;D.

When a freakish carnival group comes rolling through town in attempts to make some money. They find themselves dissapointed that their competition is that of the actual monsters living in the castle up on the hill.

Mean while within that castle. A mad scientist is creating his newest creation. “Creature” – Stitch Head never knowing love and longing for a place to be loved by. Finds himself having unknowingly created a family with the monsters. While finding his place with a different group of humans – The Carnival crew!

Is Stitch head truly safe? Will Creature be the best-est best friend to find a way to save Stitch Head from the humans? Come on down and buy yourself a ticket to a hidden gem of a cute full of heart movie.

I’d honestly love to watch again. Seeing that there are 6 books in this series, I’m ready for a sequel with these characters. Popped score of 8/10, honestly, I had a fun time. Maybe most would be in the 7s, but I loved Stitch Head & Creature. Some laugh-out-loud moments are worth checking out.

What a fun surprise watch I found myself in :D. Thank you all for taking the time to come by Popped for this “Review”. We had quite a few new followers join us this week and I greatly appreciate you for following Popped.

Checked out or curious about Stitch Head? Let us know in the comments below :D. Thanks again, everyone. Until next batch though, – Happy Movie Going Everyone!

November 4, 2025 0

Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc “Review”

Release date: October 24, 2025 (USA)

Director: Tatsuya Yoshihara

MPAA rating: R

Running time: 1h 40m

Story by: Tatsuki Fujimoto

Adapted from: Chainsaw Man

Waited to watch with my wife, but as she’s busy went to check it out tonight!

It’s been a while since I’ve seen season 1. That being said, I loved the intro and was solidly back in with Denji and the crew. This includes some new faces also. Yea the trailer showed off the enemy so my rage goes on against trailers! We only need 1 at this rate studios. Why reveal so much in your trailers!

Anywho, that aside. Loved the relationship between Denji and this new cutie! Fan of the show – You’re going to watch this, I’m sure. But for those with little ones. This is R-rated. There’s a lot of adult material in this one. Demon Slayer may go with blood and demons. This is raunchy AF. As a heads up ;).

Combat was cool, but I was falling asleep by this point and missed a few lines. So another viewing is in order with my wife at some point before season 2 drops. (Yeah, I need to rest and stop watching so many movies haha. I also have to re-watch episodes for the same reason of falling asleep while watching at night).

It’s a pretty short movie at an hour and 40minutes. Had a lot of fun and going with the 8/10 great movie for Chainsaw Man. Love the 9’s on social media but this isn’t as good as Demon Slayer. Sorry Denji.

Stick around for a cute end scene of him though, after the credits roll have wrapped up.

Thanks for coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews”. Played catch up a bit on this weeks batch. However next week is looking mighty promising. Christy & Predator: Badlands should do well with some supporting movies I’m going in blind – Die My Love | Sarah’s Oil (Saw Trailer) | Unexpected Christmas | Maybe… Nuremberg.

Week after has Keepers | Now You See Me: Now You Don’t | The Running Man.

Then the 2 week double whammy – Wicked for Good & Zootopia. Supported by Rental Family | Sisu 2 & Eternity.

See you all there in the next batch as we enter the two final months and prepare for Oscar Nominations of 2025 :O.

November 2, 2025 0

Shelby Oaks “Review”

Release date: October 24, 2025 (USA)

Director: Chris Stuckmann

Producers: Chris Stuckmann, Ashleigh Snead, Cameron Burns, Aaron B. Koontz

Screenplay: Chris Stuckmann

MPAA rating: R

Running time: 1h 42m

Trailer intrigued me – Then found out who wrote & directed this movie – Chris Stuckman!

The film starts off almost like a mockumentary style – the Last footage of Riley (Played by Sarah Durn) being alive. One of 4 members of a paranormal show called Paranormal Paranoid. As they’ve all gone missing and news spreads across the area around Shelby Oaks. We get introduced to Riley’s sister Mia (Played by Camille Sullivan) being interviewed by the news before this style of intro gets flipped on its head and enters an actual cinematography film. Done superbly, mind you. Both from the intro to the switch, this movie had captivated me from here on out. (Despite being mega tired from a close open shift, I forced myself to stay awake to not miss a second.)

I made big praise to Chris Stuckman as I used to watch his movie reviews on youtube awhile back. Now I’m a returned subscriber but also a fan of his movies from here on out :D.

As usual, I won’t get into spoilers. So with the above, and with Mia going to find out what happened to her sister Riley. I will let you know this movie creates tension. Scares across several layers of depth. Not just jump, sound, presence etc. This is a well executed and produced movie which I’d watch again if asked. I can see this being huge on streaming.

Thoroughly enjoyed the movie with some slight weakness for the last act. Ending saves it? You decide. But honestly a well worth watching movie at a Popped score of 7.5/10.

Appreciate you coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews”. A triple dose batch of worthy watches for someone across the board. Sadly holding out to watch Chainsaw Man on Monday for a sub version. Local theatres near me has majority Dub which I’m not a fan of to be honest.

If spoilers are something to avoid with Chainsaw Man and the Dubs are not bad, then let me know in the comments below.

Until next time, though, fellow moviegoers. Happy movie watching 😀

October 24, 2025 0

Black Phone 2 “Review”

Release date: October 17, 2025 (USA)

Director: Scott Derrickson

MPAA rating: R

Prequel: The Black Phone

Running time: 1h 54m

Distributed by: Universal Pictures

My most anticipated movie of 2025…. so how’d it go? Let’s Discuss!

Loved the first title back in 2021. Some big shoes to fill, that’s for certain.

Mason Thames is back after training a dragon earlier this year as Finney. Grown up and haunted by Ethan Hawke as The Grabber he’s the tough kid in school that now smokes cigarettes :O.

Madeleine McGraw, playing Finney’s sister Gwen, has also grown up but now has more severe and extreme dreams than before. These dreams share a connection with their mother, which sends them on a path to a religious campground to do battle with The Grabber once again.

Followed Popped since the first review (Night Swim). You’ll see that I mentioned the Blum house Universe being supposedly created after the events of this movie…. well, I have my theories if this is the path being taken still.

*Spoilers* – I think focusing on the daughter Gwen, could align with the next movie of Blum House, FNAF… let me know what you think? *Spoilers*.

Popped score of 6.5/10, some good scenes, but don’t let it fool you into thinking this was actually a good movie. It’s a solid streamer. The bar was set way too high for it to come anywhere near the first film. Sadly, we may have the M3GAN effect. Changing the tonal shift and psychological aspects to more paranormal may have lost what many like myself, thoroughly enjoyed about its origins.

Thank you all for taking the time to come by Popped for your movie “Reviews”. Next week we have a very nice feast of all sorts. :D.

From Chainsaw Man, Regretting You, Shelby Oaks (Maybe Springsteen) & Bugonia…. all going well, we have a good time. Potentially a solid week, but only time will tell. Wondering about the Oscar noms yet? Me too!

Let’s discuss that the end of October as we near Halloween and the winter movie slate cooks for release! 😀 See you next batch & happy movie going everyone.

October 19, 2025 1

After the Hunt & Good Fortune “Reviews’

Release date: October 10, 2025 (USA)

Director: Luca Guadagnino

Cinematography: Malik Hassan Sayeed

Producers: Luca Guadagnino, Brian Grazer, Allan Mandelbaum, Jeb Brody

Screenplay: Nora Garrett

Running time: 2h 19m

Double batch “Review”…. you know what that means :(…. let’s a go!

Rapid Fire – Watch the trailer then watch last 30-40minutes of a 2 Hour 20minute film. Nothing really gets developed until then and the pacing never really picks up. It’s just long, feels long and to top it off. Adds a ticking sound track multiple times through the movie adding to the feeling of feeling long. It’s not bad but it’s not good. Above Average at best. A good background movie streamed at home.

*Spoiler Rapid Fire?* – Movie will show the consequences for 4 different accounts. When a rape is real – How it affects the victim & the predator. When rape is made up for revenge / to hurt someone – How it affects the victim & the saboteur.

6/10 Popped Score.

Release date: October 17, 2025 (USA)

Director: Aziz Ansari

Producers: Aziz Ansari, Alan Yang, Anthony Katagas

MPAA rating: R

Running time: 1h 38m

Genres: Comedy, Action

Fantastic cast. Great trailer. So why’s the film edited/written this way? Where’d it go so wrong?

Rapid Fire – Was looking forward to this one. While it had good moments, the majority of the good stuff is from the trailer. Not only was it in the trailer, but the trailer also had the scene in its entirety. Scenes shifted in & out so casually the film felt extremely dry. Not really all that funny sadly. Mostly Seth Rogen & Keanu were doing all the heavy lifting. Other actors did fine but the material provided was not good.

At best 6.5, but a Popped score of 6/10.

With that rapid-fire double “Review” – Stick around for Black Phone 2 with a little bit of everything before I hit the hay at 3 am: D.

October 19, 2025 0