The critics have spoken: Reviews for some of the most anticipated movies of the year are out following the Toronto International Film Festival.
For ten days each September, downtown Toronto is dominated by film critics, cinephiles, industry executives and Hollywood stars. The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is one of the largest film festivals in North America, where major movies are shown before their public release. Some notable screenings include “Brokeback Mountain,” “12 Years A Slave,” “La La Land” and “The Holdovers.”
Critics flock to the festival to get the first look at some of the most anticipated films of the fall and winter. After having the pleasure of attending last year’s TIFF, I can admit that I only started paying attention to the trades and awards given to films after my attendance. It’s where I came to the realization that TIFF and other major competitions — Cannes Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival and New York Film Festival — are where a film’s reputation sinks or swims. While I was not able to go this year, TIFF 2025 ran from Sept. 4 to 14, with critics believing this year to have had one of the strongest lineups in years — fitting for the festival’s 50th anniversary. Of the 291 films screened at TIFF this year, the following is a list of some of the films that received the most buzz:
Blue Moon
“Blue Moon” tells the story of Lorenz Hart (Ethan Hawke), part of the Broadway songwriting duo Rodgers and Hart. The musical drama centers on Hart skipping the opening night of “Oklahoma!” out of jealousy, after Rodgers (Andrew Scott) finds a new songwriting partner in Oscar Hammerstein (Simon Delaney). The night is filled with melancholy, as Hart tries to understand his entanglement with a woman named Elizabeth Weiland (Margaret Qualley) and occupies his time by sitting in a bars alone, rambling to anyone that will listen. Director Richard Linklater takes a somber approach in this biopic, portraying Hart as a man hiding his depression and sexual orientation behind a carefully constructed facade.
Although “Blue Moon” is at competition with Linklater’s other film coming out this year — “Nouvelle Vague” — critics and audiences alike have had mostly positive reactions. The film currently has a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and an average of 3.6/5 on Letterboxd. It will be released in select theaters on Oct. 17, with a wider release the next week on Oct. 24.
Christy
A boxing movie starring Sydney Sweeney? How could this not be on this list? In this biopic, Sweeney portrays boxer Christy Martin, one of the most successful female boxers of all time. However, much of the story unfolds outside the ring, focusing on her abusive relationship with her trainer-turned-husband James V. Martin (Ben Foster) and her struggle with a closeted queer identity.
Sweeney is the driving force of this film, spending months training and putting on 30 pounds to portray Martin. Despite some rather cliché and shallow scenes, many recognize Sweeney’s performance. The film has received generally favorable reviews, with it receiving a current 64% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 3.5/5 on Letterboxd. It will be released in theaters on Nov. 7th.
Couture
“Couture” has been a long-anticipated film, marking Angelina Jolie’s follow-up to last year’s Best Actress snub for “Maria.” Jolie plays Maxine, an American filmmaker in Paris for fashion week, shooting a documentary about models. Maxine exerts confidence while juggling the pressures of her work, a looming divorce and raising a teenage daughter. But everything changes when she learns she has breast cancer.
While reviews have been mixed, critics have once again praised Jolie’s performance. Some called it her most in-depth and vulnerable work on screen. The role carries personal weight for Jolie, who has lost multiple family members to breast and ovarian cancer and underwent preventative surgery herself. Currently, “Couture” has a 58% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.4/10 on IMDb. So far, the film does not have a publicly released trailer or theatrical release date in the United States.
Frankenstein
Director Guillermo del Toro finally brought his pet project to life: a film adaptation of the 19th-century novel by Mary Shelley. Led by Oscar Isaac, Mia Goth, Jacob Elordi and Christoph Waltz, audiences were excited to see the classic story unveil in del Toro’s distinct gothic style. Many critics praised del Toro’s stunning costume and set design in “Frankenstein,” as well as his fresh take on a story over 200 years old.
Jacob Elordi and Oscar Isaac received praise for bringing a different perspective to the monster and Dr. Frankenstein, respectively. The film was the runner-up for the People’s Choice Award at TIFF, and currently has an 82% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 3.6/5 on Letterboxd. The film will have a limited theatrical release on Oct. 17 and will be released on Netflix on Nov. 7.
Hamnet
After a critical and disappointing box office with “Eternals,” many hoped that Chloé Zhao would bounce back with her new film “Hamnet,” especially with Steven Spielberg on board as a producer. What they were not expecting was for it to win the top prize at TIFF — the People’s Choice Award. Based on the novel by Maggie O’Farrell, “Hamnet” follows a fictionalized series of events with Agnes (Jessie Buckley) and William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) after the death of their son Hamnet.
Jessie Buckley received particular praise for her portrayal of Agnes as she grieves the loss of her son. Additionally, critics have given rave reviews to the portrayal of the Shakespeare couple and their experience of love, loss and the power of art. At the moment, “Hamnet” has an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and a staggeringly high 4.2/5 on Letterboxd. It will have a limited release on Nov. 27, before a wider release on Dec. 12.
Rental Family
Two years after winning the Academy Award for Best Actor, Brendan Fraser returns in a leading role. This time, he portrays Phillip Vandarpleog, a lonely American actor in Tokyo who takes a job as a stand-in for family figures in people’s lives. Over time, Vandarpleog comes to realize how the digitalized world has disconnected people from real life.
Fraser is making headlines for his performance, with many speculating he could once again be the contender for Best Actor. Currently, “Rental Family” has a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 3.6/5 on Letterboxd. It will be released in theaters on Nov. 21.
The Smashing Machine
While I typically watch trailers before a movie starts, it’s uncommon for me to remember the trailer once I leave the theater. A24’s “The Smashing Machine” was part of that uncommon occurrence. It reminded me so much of one of my favorite films, “Raging Bull.” Seeing Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as the protagonist and “Uncut Gems” director Benny Safdie directing, I knew I was going to be seated for this movie.
Johnson portrays MMA fighter Mark Kerr, who sees his UFC career rise to be one of the best fighters in the world, only for his career to crumble because of his relationship troubles with his girlfriend Dawn Staples (Emily Blunt). The immediate reviews out of the Venice Film Festival and TIFF praised Johnson, with many crediting it as his best performance. Many see Kerr and Johnson similarly, both publicly seeming like gentle giants, with many agreeing that it was a perfectly cast role.
“The Smashing Machine” generally received positive reviews, with some criticism for the portrayal of the relationship between Staples and Kerr. Currently it has an 79% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 3.5/5 on Letterboxd. The film will be in theaters Oct. 3.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
I get the world doesn’t love sequels, much less a trilogy, but there are some exceptions to this rule. Based on its current TIFF reviews and a third-place finish, “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” may be an exception. The movie starts with a conflict between priests Jud (Josh O’Connor) and Jefferson (Josh Brolin), where Jefferson seems to alienate the small town from Jud. Suddenly, Jefferson is found dead, and Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) investigates with the town, embarking on a mystery.
Unlike the first two “Knives Out” films — which focused on class warfare and wealth inequality — this film focuses on corruption and authority. The scenery is much different, not taking place within a mansion with a group that already knows each other. The reviews for “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” have been generally positive as it currently stands with a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 3.8/5 on Letterboxd. It will be released in theaters on Nov. 26 and on Netflix on Dec. 12.
Closing remarks
As a cinephile, I was happy to see the reviews coming out of TIFF for several films I have been eagerly anticipating. That said, the late summer festivals — TIFF, Venice Film Festival and Telluride Film Festival — give us a good glimpse of what to expect in the last quarter of the year, which has become one of the strongest times for movie releases.
So what are you waiting for? Make some room on your watchlist, prepare some snacks and be on the lookout for these promising films!
