I love movies. No surprise there, but 2025 had genuine highs and lows. Studios always focus on sequels and remakes, but they really doubled down this year. The box office reflected that. A Minecraft Movie, Lilo & Stitch, Superman, Jurassic World Rebirth, and Zootopia 2 were the biggest hits in the US. Some worked. Others didn’t. Still, it was a year that reminded me why I keep returning to the cinema. There were many pictures worth celebrating.
A little context is in order when reviewing my favorite films of 2025. Some got better with time and revisits. This list is an attempt to capture the ones I love right now. That connection can come from spectacle, emotion, ideas, craft, or a single great performance.
At the very top are releases that felt urgent. Confident filmmakers with a strong voice, ambitious in thought, and unafraid to commit to a point of view. Debating whether one title should sit higher or lower misses the point. These are all releases I genuinely loved.
Here are my Top 10 Films of 2025, followed by ten more that just missed the list.
1. Weapons
Directed by Zach Cregger - Starring Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Benedict Wong
2. One Battle After Another
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson - Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina Hall, Sean Penn, Teyana Taylor
3. Marty Supreme
Directed by Josh Safdie - Starring Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’zion, Kevin O’Leary
4. Eddington
Directed by Ari Aster - Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, Austin Butler
5. F1
Directed by Joseph Kosinski - Starring Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
6. KPop Demon Hunters
Directed by Maggie Kang & Chris Appelhans - Starring Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo-seop, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo
7. Hamnet
Directed by Chloé Zhao - Starring Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn
8. Blue Moon
Directed by Richard Linklater - Starring Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley, Andrew Scott, Bobby Cannavale
9. Sentimental Value
Directed by Joachim Trier - Starring Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Elle Fanning
10. Black Bag
Directed by Steven Soderbergh - Starring Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris
Just Missed the Top 10
11. Rental Family
12. Song Sung Blue
13 . Predator: Badlands
14. The Naked Gun
15. Fackham Hall
16. Bugonia
17. Friendship
18. Sketch
19. Twinless
20. The Ballad of Wallis Island
Worst of the Year
Each one of these films failed, but in a uniquely different way. Some of the filmmakers responsible have done outstanding work in the past. A strong filmography earns my respect, but not a free pass.
1. The Long Walk
2. A Minecraft Movie
3. A House of Dynamite
4. Caught Stealing
5. Snow White
3 Responses
1. Weapons
2. Hamnet
3. One battle after another
4. Marty Supreme
5. Black Bag
6. Blue Moon
7. Fackham Hall
8. Twinless
9. Sentimental Value
10. Rental Family
That is a great list! Everything here made my Top 20. No notes.
Happy New Year to you Mark, it is always good to take a look at your films of the year list. It gives me a good idea of what to look out for. in the coming year. We are a little behind the U.S scheduling here in Taiwan. Once again, there is a lot of crossover with your list and my own. There are also a few contrasts too. Weapons and One Battle After Another are high on my list too. Sentimental Value and Rental Family are due to come out here next month. I think I was a much bigger fan of Caught Stealing than you. It felt like a throw-back to a 90s action thriller that might have been released by Miramax. It is good to see that we agree on the quality of Black Bag and Bugonia. Here are my lists:- https://darrenmoverley81.wordpress.com/2025/12/31/25-quality-films-from-2025-part-1-25-11/ https://darrenmoverley81.wordpress.com/2026/01/01/25-quality-films-from-2025-part-2-the-top-10/ Thanks for checking out my articles too. I enjoy our new year exchanges.