For movie lovers, 2025 has brought exciting new releases that are perfect to enjoy over the weekend as you relax. Action, drama, fiction and even standout TV shows are all part of the mix.

Below is a list of top-rated picks recommended by The New Times, each one worth your time.

ALSO READ: Seven movies to add to your weekend watchlist

Heads of State

Idris Elba and John Cena team up in this action film. The U.S. President and the British Prime Minister don’t get along and everyone knows it. But when their plane is shot down in enemy territory, the two are forced to work together to survive and stop a dangerous plan that could put the whole world in danger.

Deep Cover

An American comedian living in London is struggling to make it in her career. Things take a surprising turn when the police ask her to use her acting skills to help with small undercover missions. She brings in two of her improv students, an aspiring actor and a shy IT worker to join her. What starts off as harmless stings quickly turns dangerous as the trio gets pulled into real criminal activity.

kpop demon hunters

You're missing out if you haven’t watched this film. This animated fiction follows a K-pop girl group who secretly work as demon hunters. Meanwhile one of them is hiding a double life, she’s both a demon and a hunter. Things heat up when they clash with their biggest rivals, the Saja Boys, a popular boy band made up of undercover demons.

Ballard

This 10-episode TV show follows Detective Renée Ballard as she leads the police's cold case division. Tasked with solving long-forgotten crimes, she uncovers a deep conspiracy within the police department. With support from her team and retired detective Harry Bosch, Ballard faces danger and personal challenges while fighting to bring the truth to light.

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Clown in a Cornfield

Here’s one for horror fans. When Quinn and her father move to the small town of Kettle Springs for a fresh start, they quickly discover the town is far from peaceful. After a factory fire left the community broken and divided, tensions start to rise. But things take a terrifying turn when a creepy clown appears from the cornfields determined to fix the town by picking off victims one by one.

Black Bag

Packed with a strong cast and great reviews, this spy thriller is about top intelligence agent George Woodhouse, who is shaken when his wife, Kathryn, is suspected of betraying the country. He’s forced to make an impossible choice; stay loyal to the woman he loves or protect the nation he’s sworn to serve.

Weak Hero Class

This Korean drama has two seasons so far, the first released in 2022 and the second in 2025. It’s an emotional story best enjoyed by watching the seasons in order. The show follows a top student who looks physically weak but uses his intelligence, tools, and knowledge of psychology to stand up against violence both inside and outside his school. After facing bullying and danger, he forms a strong friendship with two other students as they navigate a world full of conflict and challenges.