2025, what a year for movies. While everyone talks about how stacked 2026 will be, it’s important to reflect on the great movies that came out in 2025. Be it blockbusters, independent films, streaming films or even some foreign films, I saw more new releases this year than any other year (thank you, Regal Unlimited).
Before I go into my list, I must include some films I was not able to watch in 2025 that definitely could’ve made this list:
- “No Other Choice”
- “The Secret Agent”
- “Sirât”
- “Sound of Falling”
- “Is This Thing On?”
- “The Testament of Ann Lee”
- “Peter Hujar’s Day”
- “Father Mother Sister Brother”
10. Frankenstein
Based on the 19th-century Mary Shelley novel, “Frankenstein” follows Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac), who brings a stitched-together creature (Jacob Elordi) to life, only to abandon it. It is one of, if not the best-looking films of 2025. The costumes, makeup and set design like every Guillermo del Toro film, are perfect. They are all deliberately picked, fitting like a glove in every shot. Even the cinematography is great and complements del Toro’s style perfectly.
However, “Frankenstein” is not a film that puts style over substance. A main theme is acceptance, and how many turned the Creature away and had prejudices against him for his appearance. Elizabeth (Mia Goth) is one of few people who gets to know the Creature and learns of his intelligence and capabilities. Ironically, a film taking place in the 19th century seems to criticize the hive-mind of society we live in today, and how few break from it. In addition to those themes, the film is much more about fatherhood than I expected, and that comes after reading the novel a few years ago. Del Toro decision to follow the novel more strictly than most adaptations, ultimately made the film more moving.
Elordi is the star of the film, with his performance truly shining during the second half of the movie. While it shouldn’t have been award-winning, it certainly deserved recognition for one of the best performances this year. While I wish I could’ve seen this on a big screen, I’m still happy I got to see this iteration of “Frankenstein.”
Where to Watch: Netflix
9. Bugonia
This easily has to be the strangest movie I saw last year. “Bugonia” follows two young conspiracy theorists, Teddy (Jesse Plemons) and Don (Aidan Delbis) who kidnap Teddy’s Big Pharma CEO boss, Michelle Fuller (Emma Stone), because they believe she is an alien trying to destroy Earth. A major focus of the movie is on Teddy’s personal trauma and how his life was ruined by those in power, be it Michelle or his former babysitter-turned-cop, Casey (Stavros Halkias).
Like director Yorgos Lanthimos’s other films, it is very stylized and has his quirky charm. It also touches upon many topics, but it succeeds in doing so as it doesn’t bite off more than it can chew thematically. The film delves in-depth into conspiracy theories and where they stem from. Ultimately, Teddy’s struggles come from how unforgiving corporations can be and how they can even destroy lives. It is also the most nihilistic film of the year, which may not sit well with everyone. I also found the ending a bit confusing at first in relation to the movie’s themes, but it can be interpreted in many different ways.
Finally, the acting in this movie is the strongest aspect. Plemons gives a great performance that should hopefully land him an Oscar nomination. Stone likewise gives a great performance that is one of the best from an actress in 2025. It is really great to see them oppose each other in their cat-and-mouse dynamic. This movie will for sure go down as one of Lanthimos’s classics and I hope to see more from him, Stone and Plemons in the future.
Where to Watch: Apple TV, Prime Video
8. Jay Kelly
For the first time in nearly a decade, George Clooney is back in a starring role. “Jay Kelly” follows the titular character (Clooney), a famous actor, who travels to Europe with his manager Ron (Adam Sandler) to find his college-bound daughter (Grace Edwards) whom he spends little time with due to his busy schedule. It is a movie that discusses the sacrifices and mistakes that many in the film industry make on the road to success. It was co-written and directed by Hollywood veteran Noah Baumbach, someone with decades of experience in the industry. Plus its cast includes Laura Dern, Riley Keough, Jim Broadbent and Patrick Wilson, all experienced Hollywood actors. Everyone had some emotional weight in the game, and it was definitely felt.
Clooney gives a great performance here and is deserving of a best actor nomination. Sandler complements him well and is in the running for best supporting actor, too. The movie relates to both of them, given they’ve been busy actors for their entire careers. Yet, the film never feels too heavy and is a very easy and fun watch. Despite this, it still had plenty of substance. The movie does stray away from the plot in a few scenes and is a little slow at times. It finishes in a completely different place than it starts, which may bother some people, but wasn’t a problem for me.
Though the story could be a bit loose, it says quite a lot about being in Hollywood and being a celebrity. It shows how family and friendships can easily go to the wayside to be successful. No matter how big you make it, you’ll still have regrets in your career. It is a movie not really about movies, but about the sacrifices to make them. “Jay Kelly” is a good time, and a good way for the cast and crew to give us an insight into the sadder side of showbiz.
Where to Watch: Netflix
7. It Was Just an Accident
I haven’t seen all that many foreign films, and certainly no Persian films before 2025. However, after this movie won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival last year, I knew I had to see this movie. It was an interesting look into not only Jafar Panahi’s filmography, but Middle Eastern cinema in general. And after watching, it’s safe to say that I was not disappointed.
“It Was Just an Accident” is definitely the most unique film I saw in 2025. It follows Vahid (Vahid Mobasseri), a former political prisoner, who finds one of his former torturers after hearing the sound of his prosthetic leg. Confiding in others who were also tortured, Vahid confirms the man to be the torturer. The movie is very subtle, with short scenes and singular lines that relay its messages well. It discusses the oppression of the Islamic Republic, the trauma many dissidents live with in Iran, while emphasizing justice and fair trial. In fact, Panahi was a former political prisoner himself, punished for making a documentary criticizing the Iranian government’s handling of the 2009 presidential election. He was even given a jail sentence for this film. Knowing this context makes this film even more haunting.
This movie had a limited release, and I hope it gets a wider one at some point. It gives a good insight into how fortunate many are to experience freedom of speech and expression. The film especially excelled at showing what life is like under an oppressive state and how valuable freedom and justice are.
Where to Watch: Apple TV
6. If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
A lot of people love movies that they can kick back and enjoy. However, I want cinema to have an impact and make me think. Contrary to most people, I can still enjoy a movie even if it almost gives me an anxiety attack. “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” did that, but it was definitely worth the watch. “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” follows Linda (Rose Byrne), a mom who has to make sure her daughter with a severe eating disorder eats enough while they are in a motel after their apartment floods, all while Linda’s husband is away for over a month for work. While the movie can seem a bit all over the place, it does not stray away from the plot at all, and continuously raises the stakes.
I have to start off with Rose Byrne. It is a difficult leading performance, and she delivers. The panic she has throughout the movie, whether expressed all over her body or just in the back of her mind is always there. The anxiety present throughout the movie is projected onto the viewer because of the raw emotion Byrne shows. It really shows the raw stress that single mothers can go through, something not discussed often in film. If it were up to me, I would give Byrne the Oscar for best actress. One scene where Byrne’s performance stood out to me the most was when Linda struggled to get her prescription from the pharmacy, leading to her having a breakdown.
The film succeeds most in how consequential every scene is and how a wrong move could completely backfire on Linda. I liken it to “Uncut Gems” and “Marty Supreme” as all three movies share a similar structure. It is directed and written by Mary Bronstein, whose husband, Ronald, co-wrote those movies and is a producer on this movie along with Josh Safdie. It is unfair to say it is the same movie because Linda is a different character from Howard or Marty. While Linda is trying to be a responsible mom, Bronstein highlights stress relievers, be it either her co-worker therapist (Conan O’Brien) or doing drugs with a motel clerk (Asap Rocky). While it is a scattered and stressful movie that may put people off, I found it riveting and thought-provoking, and it was a great surprise last year.
Where to Watch: “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” is available on video on demand and will be streaming on HBO Max Jan. 30.
5. Hamnet
I’m not much of a Shakespeare fan, I’ll be honest. That said, all the coverage I heard out of the Toronto International Film Festival involved praise for “Hamnet,” based on the 2020 novel by Maggie O’Farrell. Once it won the People’s Choice Award, I had to see it.
I have to start with the main character, Agnes Shakespeare (Jessie Buckley). Despite William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) being much more well-known than her, the focus of the movie is not William’s work, but rather, his family life. Buckley plays the role of Mescal’s equal so well, and their chemistry is one of the strongest points of the movie. To see them go through life together is honestly quite moving. Individually, Buckley leads this movie, and we see her go through many stages of her life. The pain she endures throughout the entire movie is put squarely on Buckley, and she consistently delivers. There is a reason why she is the frontrunner for best actress.
The cinematography is fantastic too. The first scene looks beautiful, the shots of the forest look so lively. The camerawork throughout is just as good, and I like how director Chloé Zhao relied on natural lighting. Changing colors were also utilized well, adapting to shifting moods in scenes. The craft of cinematography is on full display in “Hamnet.”
The portrayal of loss is done so perfectly and resonated with me a lot. It is quite a sad movie, and I credit O’Farrell and Zhao’s building of the characters as to why it succeeds at this. This movie is not a giant crowdpleaser, it is meant for a niche group of cinephiles. As someone in that group, it is the saddest moviegoing I have experienced in a while. That’s the beauty of it: what it tries at, it does so well.
Where to Watch: “Hamnet” is currently only shown in a limited number of theaters, but is expected to be available for video on demand in the coming weeks at time of publication.
4. Sinners
After seeing “Sinners,” I recall telling my roommate that it was one of the top three movies of the decade. Funny enough, it finished fourth in this list, but that says more about how strong 2025 was. I’m actually kind of glad that many people are naming a movie that came out in April the best of the year, and how much staying power it had.
“Sinners” follows twins Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan) who return to their hometown and set up a juke joint in 1930s Mississippi, only for it to be taken over by a gang of white vampires. I’ll be honest to say that the logline does not do this movie justice, as there is so much more to this movie. For one, there are loose ends that Smoke and Stack have to tie up when they come back to their hometown, especially with Stack and Mary (Hailee Steinfeld). More importantly, it uses the vampires as a metaphor for cultural appropriation. In that way, “Sinners” is genius, and it is executed perfectly. It delves into an aspect of racism that I haven’t seen discussed, and I commend director Ryan Coogler for doing so.
Seeing “Sinners” in theaters was frankly one of the best experiences I had last year because of how good it looked on the big screen. “Sinners”‘ cinematography relies heavily on natural lighting and directs the viewer’s focus so well. The score also really helps the mood and strays away from the usual horror film soundtrack. This all comes together in one scene, which is the best scene of the year. “Sinners” thrives on creating the atmosphere, and it is a great touch by Coogler.
Where to Watch: Apple TV, Prime Video
3. One Battle After Another
“One Battle After Another” is arguably director Paul Thomas Anderson’s masterpiece. Despite being over two and a half hours, I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. The screenplay is so engrossing due to the character writing and portrayals.
The film follows Bob (Leonardo DiCaprio), an ex-revolutionary who must find his daughter Willa (Chase Infiniti) after his enemy, Colonel Stephen Lockjaw (Sean Penn), invades their town to kidnap Bob’s daughter. DiCaprio gives a great performance, where he manages to combine the personality of a helicopter parent, stoner and a revolutionary. However, the best performance is from Sean Penn. He plays Lockjaw so well that you just despise him in every scene he’s in. He is always looking out for himself and you can tell that Penn is leading the decisions, not just following the script.
Thematically, there is so much to unpack. The main theme is white supremacy, and how much of it is perpetrated by the white elites (who may or may not believe in it). It touches on political extremism, and how the extremes of Bob’s former revolutionary group the French 75, and Lockjaw’s white supremacist Christmas Adventurers Club are fighting each other and causing havoc. It also explores the sacrifice that Bob gave up for his and Willa’s safety, while his wife, Perfidia (Teyana Taylor), continued to serve in the French 75. The themes in this movie were very unique and a good way to discuss much of what is occurring in U.S. politics today.
The cast was also incredible in its performances. Penn should get an Oscar for best supporting actor, and DiCaprio is the frontrunner for best actor. If not for Penn, Benicio del Toro could be in contention for best supporting actor as he joins DiCaprio during the second act. Taylor was also unexpectedly great alongside DiCaprio in the first act. Infiniti broke out in this film and hopefully has a promising career ahead. I must make mention of Shayna McHale, better known as Junglepussy. She isn’t in much of the movie, but she is hilarious.
Overall, “One Battle After Another” is an example of excellence in filmmaking, and arguably the best film that Anderson has made in his long and storied career.
Where to Watch: Apple TV
2. Sentimental Value
“Sentimental Value” is not a movie for everyone. It is a slow-paced family drama mostly in Norwegian. Yet, no film in 2025 hit me like “Sentimental Value” did.
To give a short summary, “Sentimental Value” is about two sisters, stage actress Nora (Renate Reinsve) and Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas), who return to their childhood home after their mother dies. When their estranged father, movie director Gustav (Stellan Skarsgård) comes back into their lives, he tries to recruit Nora to be in his comeback movie. What I find really great about the screenplay is how well the relationships between the characters are written. This is what sets it apart from “Jay Kelly” despite being similar thematically. Another thing that it does better than “Jay Kelly” is continuously building up momentum and finding a way to maintain it.
Thematically, there is so much going on. The loneliness shared by Nora and Gustav is the strongest, I would say. I also really liked seeing the parallels between Nora and Gustav and how similar they are, especially in their stubbornness to rekindle. Like “Jay Kelly,” we see the influence of art and how it is passed on to generations. There is also some commentary on the film industry and how it has changed recently. For an old filmmaker like Gustav, it is a bit off-putting.
The acting is top-tier too. Reinsve is fantastic as Nora. It is not an over-the-top, dramatic or physical role, but Reinsve keeps perfect composure portraying someone with so much baggage. Skarsgård also portrays Gustav well, impressively changing the mood during the family’s dynamics. Fanning and Lilleaas are more complementary to Skarsgård and Reinsve respectively, but both accompany them so well. Lilleaas especially does great as a sort of a middlewoman between Nora and Gustav, who tries to reason with both of them. The acting in this movie is superb and something that I recognize, even with the language barrier.
“Sentimental Value” is not a movie that lots of people have seen in the United States. It played in only a few hundred theaters and wasn’t marketed heavily. If you can watch it, I highly recommend you do because the emotions and thoughts that crossed my mind during and after the movie could not be replicated by any other movie in 2025.
Where to Watch: “Sentimental Value” is in a limited number of theaters and is available on video on demand.
1. Marty Supreme
“Marty Supreme” is not a movie for everyone, and I’ve heard multiple people say they dislike it. It depends on how willing you are to watch an anti-hero who isn’t trying to be a better person. Personally, I was able to do so very easily, and it was all thanks to Timothée Chalamet. He should win best actor, as he makes this movie the best of the year.
The film follows Marty Mauser (Chalamet) hustling around 1950s New York City to make it enough money to compete in the World Ping Pong Championship in Japan to avenge his loss in the British Open. Not a second is wasted in this two-and-a-half-hour movie and it goes by fast with how much exposition and plot there is. It’s like “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” but more fun and adventurous.
Chalamet gives his best performance yet. He embodies Mauser perfectly and embraces the chaos of the movie so well. He starts off as incredibly arrogant, believing that he deserves the best. Yet, by the end, Marty is a different man: he isn’t taking opportunities for granted, he is nice to people and he focuses on his goals. While many believe that “Marty Supreme” is about pursuing aspirations, personal pride, class and nationalism, at its heart it is a story about growth, and frankly, a coming-of-age movie. Chalamet successfully portrays Marty and will be a character study in the years to come.
A second watch is frankly a must, there is so much in the movie that is very easy to miss. On my second watch, I paid more attention to the side characters and really studied how genius they are. While Chalamet is the leading man, the side characters are also portrayed so well and work so well in the story. I could go on about this movie, arguing that “Marty Supreme” is not only the best movie of the year, but of the decade (so far).
Where to Watch: “Marty Supreme” is playing in theaters at time of publication.
Onto 2026
With 2025 over, we are onto 2026, which should be a fantastic year for film. Movies from David Fincher, Aaron Sorkin, the Russo Brothers, Ridley Scott, Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan will be released. So get in line for popcorn because there will be a reason to be in the theaters all year long.
Sheldon Meisel
January 10, 2026 at 2:26 am
Outstanding commentary