2025 turned out to be a better cinematic year than I was anticipating. We finally started to feel like Hollywood was returning to normal following the Writer's strikes that plagues 2024. And for as good as 2025 was, it appears as though 2026 could be amazing with Christopher Nolan, Denis Villeneuve, Steven Spielberg and many other top-notch filmmakers expecting to release their latest titles. But before we turn the page to 2026, let's recount my favorite movies of the past year:
Honorable Mention (In Ranked Order):
#20. Bring Her Back
#19. The Long Walk
#18. One Battle After Another
#17. Companion
#16. Oh, Hi!
#15. Lurker
#14. Together
#13. Roofman
#12. Bugonia
#11. F1
And now, my Top Ten Films of 2025:
Rian Johnson's post-Star Wars career has been almost entirely devoted to his exceptional whodunit Knives Out franchise. With both previous entries (Knives Out and Glass Onion) landing in the Top Ten of their given years, it's only fitting that Johnson's third installment cracks my Top Ten in 2025. This time around, detective Benoit Blanc (played by Daniel Craig) is tasked with solving the murder of a deranged priest in a remote upstate New York town. While all fingers appear to be pointed at the young priest (Josh O'Connor) who was newly assigned to the parish, Blanc believes it's a far more sinister plot. With another fantastic ensemble and, once again, an unpredictable mystery, Rian Johnson reaffirms that he's found his niche with Dead Man Walking.
It's been a joy watching Brendan Fraser's seamless transition back to being a Hollywood star since he won the Best Actor Oscar for Darren Aronofsky's The Whale. In 2025, Fraser returned once again in one of the year's most earnest and heartfelt films, Rental Family. Fraser stars as Phillip Vanderploeg, a struggling American actor relegated to starring in low paying commercials in Japan. Desperate for work he takes on a new kind of job, one that finds him acting as a stand-in for various roles in everyday people's lives. Here, Phillip eventually is asked to pretend to be the biological father of a young Japanese girl who needs BOTH parents present at an interview to help get her into a prestigious school. The relationship they forge is extraordinary but it begs the questions of, "what happens when it's time for the job to end?". Rental Family examines this unimaginable challenge and so much more. It's definitely one of the most crowd-pleasing films of the year.
By now, any film lover is well aware of director Guillermo del Toro and his fascination with monsters. From Pan's Labyrinth to The Shape of Water, creature features have been a staple of his career. Hence, who could be better suited to tackle the classic tale of Frankenstein? While del Toro takes some creative liberties that deviate from Mary Shelley's source material, his adaptation also stays true to the story's burning question of, "who really is the monster here?". Oscar Isaac gives an animated, yet effective, turn as Dr. Viktor Frankenstein, a crazed scientist hellbent on reanimating the dead. And once the unthinkable becomes a reality, this tale of vengeance poses many philosophical questions. Frankenstein is another phenomenally shot film from del Toro that boasts exceptional makeup and set design. The movie looks amazing, it's brilliantly acted, and the story is remarkably engaging, reminding us all of del Toro's superior filmmaking talents.
There's a unique charm peppered throughout James Griffiths' indie gem, The Ballad of Wallis Island. Adapted from his own 2007 short film and penned by leading stars Tom Basden and Tim Key, the film centers around Charles (played by Key), a two-time lottery winner who's dead-set on bringing his favorite folk duo to his remote island for a private show. The only problem is, the duo haven't played together since their falling out decades ago. The Ballad of Wallis Island blends Basden's soulful orginal folk songs with a deeply emotional story and relentless humor. You'll cycle through an array of emotions thanks to Charles' quirky personality and the insane antics these folk singers are forced to endure along the way.
My favorite SXSW world premiere proved its staying power on my year's best list from March until 2026. Chad Hartigan admittedly wanted to create a "messy" rom-com, and boy does he deliver that with The Threesome. Connor (played by Jonah Hauer-King) has been infatuated with Olivia (Zoey Deutch) since a brief fling they had years ago. But when his relentless pursuit spirals into an unplanned threesome one evening with Olivia and Jenny (Ruby Cruz), a girl they just met, the casual encounter ends up blossoming into a far more complicated situation that will test Connor and Olivia's relationship forever. The Threesome stands as the perfect blend of comedy and drama that's counterbalanced wonderfully by deeply written characters. Your investment in their performances is well-earned and your heart will break for each of them at some point throughout the film. Hartigan offers up an unforgettable rom-com deserving of a much wider audience than it's been given.
After directing siblings Benny and Josh Safdie decided to split ways following two intense thrillers, Good Time and Uncut Gems, Benny went on to delivery a bit of a clunker (The Smashing Machine) while Josh has has immersed himself into the Best Picture conversation with Marty Supreme. One of Hollywood's biggest box-office movie stars, Timothée Chalamet, stars as Marty Mauser a gifted American Ping Pong player destined to be the greatest in the world during the 1950s. However, the overly confident table tennis star, finds himself constantly struggling to manage his everyday life all while training to be the greatest at his sport. In typical Safdie fashion Marty Supreme is relentless with its intensity and pacing, brilliantly masquerading what most would consider a boring hobby as a tension-filled sport of gladiators. The film is undeniably ambitious and masterfully acted by Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, ODessa A'zion, and Shark Tank star and business mogul, Kevin O'Leary.
Director Clint Bentley missed out on a Best Picture Nomination for his 2024 indie hit, Sing Sing. It was an underseen but immensely loved little gem that put incarceration under a microscope. But just one year later, it seems as though Bentley could finally break through into that Best Picture race with his new Netflix release, Train Dreams. The premise seems a bit uninspiring, as the film follows a lonesome logger (played by Joel Edgerton) in the Pacific Northwest who experiences love and tragedy, only to discover a greater purpose in his life. While on paper, the story might sound like a snoozer, Train Dreams is actually one of the most moving and intimate films of 2025. Joel Edgerton is flat out superb and Clint Bentley's direction is sharp and engrossing, helping to transform a seemingly boring story into a compelling portrait on the meaning of life. With a runtime barely over 100 minutes, Train Dreams is one of the easiest and most rewarding watches of the year.
Bradley Cooper's first two directorial efforts were stark contrasts from one another. On one hand, his debut, A Star Is Born, was a superb and timely remake with relatable themes and characters. On the other hand, his follow-up feature, Maestro, played like a soulless piece of pretentious Oscar-bait that grew more tiresome and mundane with every passing minute. This left movie lovers straddling the line for Cooper's next film. Thankfully, Is This Thing On? is a return to elite form for the filmmaker. The story follows a passion-less couple (played by Will Arnett and Laura Dern) who are going through the motions in their marriage and in life. After agreeing that they should divorce, each one embarks on their own journey of self discovery that helps them to finally find purpose and meaning in their lives. Is This Thing On? is the type of laugh-out-loud R-Rated comedy that audiences have been craving.
Famed author Stephen King is no stranger to the big screen. His writings have been adapted into films more times than I can count, some good and some bad. Yet, Mike Flanagan's The Life of Chuck envisions a Stephen King short story in the most profound way imaginable. Told through three chapters, the movie examines the unconventional life of Charles Krantz (played by Tom Hiddleston) in reverse chronological order. Although The Life of Chuck is a Stephen King adaptation, this is anything but a horror film. While it does infuse a small supernatural element into the story, Flanagan's work stands as a life-affirming testament to the power of storytelling. It's truly an exceptional tale that's executed to perfection by the entire cast and crew.
Writer and director Zach Cregger took the horror world by storm in 2022 with his wildly imaginative and twisted feature, Barbarian. That film's huge box office returns, along with Cregger's crafty and unpredictable new story, turned the purchase of his latest screenplay into an enormous industry-wide bidding war that was eventually won by Warner Bros. Pictures. It turned out to be a brilliant financial move as the late-summer release of Weapons managed to gross nearly $270 million worldwide. The film tells the mystery of a small-town where 17 children in the same elementary school classroom go missing on the same night. With the police's investigation stalled and no trace of the kids anywhere, parents and residents are left angry and puzzled by this mystery. To say anything further is to say too much. Just trust me when I tell you that Weapons is a bonafide blockbuster that's worthy of multiple views (I've seen it five times already). Make some popcorn and cozy up for one hell of a wild ride!
Honorable Mention (In Ranked Order):
#20. Bring Her Back
#19. The Long Walk
#18. One Battle After Another
#17. Companion
#16. Oh, Hi!
#15. Lurker
#14. Together
#13. Roofman
#12. Bugonia
#11. F1
And now, my Top Ten Films of 2025:
Rian Johnson's post-Star Wars career has been almost entirely devoted to his exceptional whodunit Knives Out franchise. With both previous entries (Knives Out and Glass Onion) landing in the Top Ten of their given years, it's only fitting that Johnson's third installment cracks my Top Ten in 2025. This time around, detective Benoit Blanc (played by Daniel Craig) is tasked with solving the murder of a deranged priest in a remote upstate New York town. While all fingers appear to be pointed at the young priest (Josh O'Connor) who was newly assigned to the parish, Blanc believes it's a far more sinister plot. With another fantastic ensemble and, once again, an unpredictable mystery, Rian Johnson reaffirms that he's found his niche with Dead Man Walking.
#9. Rental Family
It's been a joy watching Brendan Fraser's seamless transition back to being a Hollywood star since he won the Best Actor Oscar for Darren Aronofsky's The Whale. In 2025, Fraser returned once again in one of the year's most earnest and heartfelt films, Rental Family. Fraser stars as Phillip Vanderploeg, a struggling American actor relegated to starring in low paying commercials in Japan. Desperate for work he takes on a new kind of job, one that finds him acting as a stand-in for various roles in everyday people's lives. Here, Phillip eventually is asked to pretend to be the biological father of a young Japanese girl who needs BOTH parents present at an interview to help get her into a prestigious school. The relationship they forge is extraordinary but it begs the questions of, "what happens when it's time for the job to end?". Rental Family examines this unimaginable challenge and so much more. It's definitely one of the most crowd-pleasing films of the year.
By now, any film lover is well aware of director Guillermo del Toro and his fascination with monsters. From Pan's Labyrinth to The Shape of Water, creature features have been a staple of his career. Hence, who could be better suited to tackle the classic tale of Frankenstein? While del Toro takes some creative liberties that deviate from Mary Shelley's source material, his adaptation also stays true to the story's burning question of, "who really is the monster here?". Oscar Isaac gives an animated, yet effective, turn as Dr. Viktor Frankenstein, a crazed scientist hellbent on reanimating the dead. And once the unthinkable becomes a reality, this tale of vengeance poses many philosophical questions. Frankenstein is another phenomenally shot film from del Toro that boasts exceptional makeup and set design. The movie looks amazing, it's brilliantly acted, and the story is remarkably engaging, reminding us all of del Toro's superior filmmaking talents.
There's a unique charm peppered throughout James Griffiths' indie gem, The Ballad of Wallis Island. Adapted from his own 2007 short film and penned by leading stars Tom Basden and Tim Key, the film centers around Charles (played by Key), a two-time lottery winner who's dead-set on bringing his favorite folk duo to his remote island for a private show. The only problem is, the duo haven't played together since their falling out decades ago. The Ballad of Wallis Island blends Basden's soulful orginal folk songs with a deeply emotional story and relentless humor. You'll cycle through an array of emotions thanks to Charles' quirky personality and the insane antics these folk singers are forced to endure along the way.
#6. The Threesome
My favorite SXSW world premiere proved its staying power on my year's best list from March until 2026. Chad Hartigan admittedly wanted to create a "messy" rom-com, and boy does he deliver that with The Threesome. Connor (played by Jonah Hauer-King) has been infatuated with Olivia (Zoey Deutch) since a brief fling they had years ago. But when his relentless pursuit spirals into an unplanned threesome one evening with Olivia and Jenny (Ruby Cruz), a girl they just met, the casual encounter ends up blossoming into a far more complicated situation that will test Connor and Olivia's relationship forever. The Threesome stands as the perfect blend of comedy and drama that's counterbalanced wonderfully by deeply written characters. Your investment in their performances is well-earned and your heart will break for each of them at some point throughout the film. Hartigan offers up an unforgettable rom-com deserving of a much wider audience than it's been given.
#5. Marty Supreme
After directing siblings Benny and Josh Safdie decided to split ways following two intense thrillers, Good Time and Uncut Gems, Benny went on to delivery a bit of a clunker (The Smashing Machine) while Josh has has immersed himself into the Best Picture conversation with Marty Supreme. One of Hollywood's biggest box-office movie stars, Timothée Chalamet, stars as Marty Mauser a gifted American Ping Pong player destined to be the greatest in the world during the 1950s. However, the overly confident table tennis star, finds himself constantly struggling to manage his everyday life all while training to be the greatest at his sport. In typical Safdie fashion Marty Supreme is relentless with its intensity and pacing, brilliantly masquerading what most would consider a boring hobby as a tension-filled sport of gladiators. The film is undeniably ambitious and masterfully acted by Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, ODessa A'zion, and Shark Tank star and business mogul, Kevin O'Leary.
#4. Train Dreams
Director Clint Bentley missed out on a Best Picture Nomination for his 2024 indie hit, Sing Sing. It was an underseen but immensely loved little gem that put incarceration under a microscope. But just one year later, it seems as though Bentley could finally break through into that Best Picture race with his new Netflix release, Train Dreams. The premise seems a bit uninspiring, as the film follows a lonesome logger (played by Joel Edgerton) in the Pacific Northwest who experiences love and tragedy, only to discover a greater purpose in his life. While on paper, the story might sound like a snoozer, Train Dreams is actually one of the most moving and intimate films of 2025. Joel Edgerton is flat out superb and Clint Bentley's direction is sharp and engrossing, helping to transform a seemingly boring story into a compelling portrait on the meaning of life. With a runtime barely over 100 minutes, Train Dreams is one of the easiest and most rewarding watches of the year.
Bradley Cooper's first two directorial efforts were stark contrasts from one another. On one hand, his debut, A Star Is Born, was a superb and timely remake with relatable themes and characters. On the other hand, his follow-up feature, Maestro, played like a soulless piece of pretentious Oscar-bait that grew more tiresome and mundane with every passing minute. This left movie lovers straddling the line for Cooper's next film. Thankfully, Is This Thing On? is a return to elite form for the filmmaker. The story follows a passion-less couple (played by Will Arnett and Laura Dern) who are going through the motions in their marriage and in life. After agreeing that they should divorce, each one embarks on their own journey of self discovery that helps them to finally find purpose and meaning in their lives. Is This Thing On? is the type of laugh-out-loud R-Rated comedy that audiences have been craving.
Famed author Stephen King is no stranger to the big screen. His writings have been adapted into films more times than I can count, some good and some bad. Yet, Mike Flanagan's The Life of Chuck envisions a Stephen King short story in the most profound way imaginable. Told through three chapters, the movie examines the unconventional life of Charles Krantz (played by Tom Hiddleston) in reverse chronological order. Although The Life of Chuck is a Stephen King adaptation, this is anything but a horror film. While it does infuse a small supernatural element into the story, Flanagan's work stands as a life-affirming testament to the power of storytelling. It's truly an exceptional tale that's executed to perfection by the entire cast and crew.
#1. Weapons
Writer and director Zach Cregger took the horror world by storm in 2022 with his wildly imaginative and twisted feature, Barbarian. That film's huge box office returns, along with Cregger's crafty and unpredictable new story, turned the purchase of his latest screenplay into an enormous industry-wide bidding war that was eventually won by Warner Bros. Pictures. It turned out to be a brilliant financial move as the late-summer release of Weapons managed to gross nearly $270 million worldwide. The film tells the mystery of a small-town where 17 children in the same elementary school classroom go missing on the same night. With the police's investigation stalled and no trace of the kids anywhere, parents and residents are left angry and puzzled by this mystery. To say anything further is to say too much. Just trust me when I tell you that Weapons is a bonafide blockbuster that's worthy of multiple views (I've seen it five times already). Make some popcorn and cozy up for one hell of a wild ride!
Top 5 Films of 2024 (Unofficial)
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