Top 50 Movies of 2025
The Phoenician Scheme
50. Sovereign – Christian Swegal
I’m a sucker for these types of crime films. A feature film debut that announces a strong voice. I can’t wait to see what he does next.
49. Where to Land – Hal Hartley
Only Hal Hartley could write a eulogy for himself.
48. Den of Thieves 2: Pantera – Christian Gudegast
Instead of going the Fast and Furious route, this franchise got more grounded with the sequel.
47. The Phoenician Scheme – Wes Anderson
Need a rewatch, because the first go around was not what I expected. Still great stuff from Wes as always.
46. Vulcanizadora – Joel Potrykus
True punk-rock cinema. It feeds a specific niche group of cinephiles, and we loved it.
45. Elio – Domee Shi, Madeline Sharafian, Adrian Molina
Damn you, Pixar! You made me care for a charming side character. Every time I fall for it!
44. The Naked Gun – Akiva Schaffer
Probably the most I’ve laughed in a theater in a long time.
43. V/H/S/Halloween – Bryan M. Ferguson, Casper Kelly, Micheline Pitt-Norman, R.H. Norman, Alex Ross Perry, Paco Plaza, and Anna Zlokovic
Another good entry into this franchise. The Annual V/H/S film release in October on Shudder continues to be a great decision.
42. Companion – Drew Hancock
A blast from minute one, nice to have solid original films still. Jack Quaid and Sophie Thatcher are some of the future of Hollywood.
41. Influencers – Kurtis David Harder
A Sequel to one of my favorite horror films in recent memory. Deepens the story of the first film with a satisfying ending.
Predator: Badlands
40. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning – Christopher McQuarrie
Screw what people say! The airplane sequence is worth the price of admission.
39. The Smashing Machine – Benny Safdie
The Rock genuinely delivers a career-best performance in the documentary-style film about a man trying to obtain greatness.
38. Predator: Badlands – Dan Trachtenberg
I’m going to pretend Elle Fanning’s Oscar nomination is for this performance. I hope Dan makes 10 more Predator films.
37. Dead Mail – Kyle McConaghy, Joe DeBoer
A surprise film this year. Sometimes Shudder delivers an unexpected gem, which is why I will continue to subscribe to it.
36. Highest 2 Lowest – Spike Lee
The world finally gets to see A$AP can act, going toe-to-toe with Denzel Washington.
35. Avatar: Fire and Ash – James Cameron
Some incredible stuff in here, some bloat, maybe could’ve been shorter. But, definitely needed more Oona Chaplin (Varang).
34. The Ugly Stepsister – Emilie Blichfeldt
Cinderella by way of David Cronenberg, told from the perspective of one of the evil step-sisters. Not for the faint of heart.
33. Wake Up Dead Man – Rian Johnson
Rian Johnson takes aim at religion and the hypocritical nature of it. I hope he keeps making these, just wish they were in theaters.
32. Predator: Killer of Killers – Dan Trachtenberg
Easily the best animated movie of the year. The Viking sequence is the most successful. I would watch a “Predator vs. Warrior of an Era” once a year.
31. The Voice of Hind Rajab – Kaouther Ben Hania
A gut-punch of a film. It’s a necessary viewing that will leave you upset and angry.
Final Destination: Bloodlines
30. The Secret Agent – Kleber Mendonça Filho
Wagner Moura delivers a commanding performance in this film about memory and the power it holds and how it can be shaped by outside forces.
29. Black Bag – Steven Soderbergh
A horny spy movie with brunette Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender in a turtleneck. I enjoyed this one.
28. Caught by the Tides – Jia Zhangke
Jia uses extra footage from his previous films to tell a sprawling story of China’s economic and industrial growth over 30 years. I’ve never seen a movie like this.
27. Roofman – Derek Cianfrance
If Matt Damon can get an Oscar nomination for being charming in The Martian (Complimentary). Then Channing Tatum should’ve gotten a nomination for this performance.
26. On Becoming a Guinea Fowl – Rungano Nyoni
A film about sexual abuse and how it is handled in a strict patriarchal society. Necessary and surprisingly entertaining.
25. If I Had Legs I’d Kick You – Mary Bronstein
Rose Byrne delivers a powerhouse performance in Uncut Gems for Moms.
24. Superman – James Gunn
I never thought I would cry at a superhero film, let alone twice. Well done, James Gunn.
23. Final Destination Bloodlines – Adam B. Stein, Zach Lipovsky
Finally, a new entry into my favorite horror franchise. Not only is it a worthy entry, but maybe the best one. With the perfect send-off for Tony Todd, R.I.P.
22. Sentimental Value – Joachim Trier
Left a little cold by this Norwegian family drama, doesn’t mean I don’t respect it, and recognize is as one of the best films of the year.
21. Cloud – Kiyoshi Kurosawa
The internet continues to drive us apart until we can no longer separate the internet from reality.
Eephus
20. Lurker – Alex Russell
Just another great film about how being a celebrity is insane and alienating.
19. Sirat – Oliver Laxe
Free fall cinema at its finest. I had no idea where this was going until the final moment, like falling without a parachute or safety net.
18. Rebuilding – Max Walker-Silverman
A film about the power of community, given our current times, we could use more community.
17. Die My Love – Lynne Ramsay
One of my favorite filmmakers is back with another great film. This time, about what motherhood does to a woman. Jennifer Lawrence is incredible.
16. The Shrouds – David Cronenberg
Cronenberg working through grief the only way he knows how. Maybe the most Cronenbergian of all his films.
15. Eephus – Carson Lund
A cool hangout movie about knowing when the end of something has arrived, and our inability to let it go.
14. Bugonia – Yorgos Lanthimos
Three films in my top 15 of the year deal with corporations being evil. Even being the “least” of the three Bugonia is still on point and showcases two excellent lead performances.
13. Friendship – Andrew DeYoung
Tim Robinson has a direct line to my funny bone. He’s not for everyone, but fans of his will love this one.
12. No Other Choice – Park Chan-wook
The second of the evil corporation films on this list. Park comes in hot with maybe his goofiest movie? Lee Yung-Byun is so brilliant, walking Park’s genre-bending razor tone.
11. The Mastermind – Kelly Reichardt
Kelly’s patient cinema isn’t for everyone, but I love it. Especially the film’s ironic title and how you realize it halfway through the film.
One Battle After Another
10. Train Dreams – Cline Bentley
Sometimes I wonder if I’m too worried about losing what I have, and I’m not appreciating it in the moment.
09. Sorry, Baby – Eve Victor
Eva is a new voice in Hollywood, and I am a season ticket holder for anything she does. A knock-out feature debut.
08. Eddington – Ari Aster
The best of the corporations are evil cinema of 2025. A poison arrow perfect film about our current times. An early quote, “I am listening! Shut up!” encapsulates these last 10 years.
07. 28 Years Later – Danny Boyle
A brilliant crisis of faith film. It was not what I expected at all, and on a rewatch, may just be the best in the franchise.
06. Weapons – Zach Cregger
This script should be taught in film school. Not for the dialogue but the structure. Each character’s perspective deepens the story with a chef’s kiss payoff. Zach Cregger understands a good time at the movies.
05. Sinners – Ryan Coogler
Coogler took a blank check and made the most of it. If it weren’t for a certain film at number one on my list, I’d want Ryan to win every award under the sun, but his time will come.
04. Marty Supreme – Josh Safdie
The best thing about this film is how everyone can come away with a different interpretation of the ending, and yet no one is wrong.
03. The Testament of Ann Lee – Mona Fastvold
Amanda Seyfried’s Magnum Opus. A “Speculative Biopic” about the founder of the Shaker movement. The music and dancing are hypnotic, unlike anything I’ve seen in a biopic.
02. It Was Just an Accident – Jafar Panahi
Jafar’s film about Iran’s government unjustly pushing its citizens is sadly poignant for the US. Capped off with the greatest ending of 2025, full stop.
01. One Battle After Another – Paul Thomas Anderson
The culmination of PTA’s career. A call to action, which is something I never thought we’d get from a PTA film. In five years, it could be considered his greatest film.
His second Pynchon adaptation is more of a road map than a direct adaptation. Making this feel less like an adaptation and a PTA original. It’s a special film.
