It’s time for the 2025 year-end movie list after revealing my favorite TV shows last week. I still need to see “No Other Choice” and “The Secret Agent,” but there’s a wide variety of strong recommendations this year. The following movies were my favorite from 2025.
“One Battle After Another” isn’t Paul Thomas Anderson’s best movie by any stretch, but it’s the most fun I’ve had in a theatre in years. It’s undeniably political but without preaching while combining humor with high tension (the paternity test!). I was gripping my seat during the hills car chase scene, and the satirical Col. Lockjaw could go down as Sean Penn’s most memorable role. “One Battle After Another” was my favorite movie of the year.
Remakes and sequels of classics are almost always trash, but the updated “The Naked Gun” movie film is gold. Watching in a packed theatre (and with my kid) certainly helped the experience, but if you can name a funnier movie over the last five years, I’m all ears. The bodycam footage scene is amazing, and Liam Neeson’s deadpan humor is perfect while playing a 31-year-old Frank Drebin Junior. Oscar bait.
3. “Bugonia”
“Poor Things” was my favorite movie in 2023, as I’m a fan of the Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos collaborations. The last few minutes of “Bugonia” are controversial, but viewers will be debating up until the end (and afterward) of this highly entertaining movie.
A bluntly political film that’s also a gripping thriller. Shot illegally and in secret, the story behind the making of “It Was Just an Accident” is as dramatic as the movie. The final scene is haunting.
Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein ramp up the tension like in “Uncut Gems,” only this time without the implausible gambling angle. Ping pong is at the center of this year’s best sports movie.
I was worried 4h 40m in a movie theatre would feel like a chore while re-watching something, but this flew by. I’m a sucker for Quentin Tarantino and revenge plots. One small tweak from the original makes a huge impact and changes the entire experience. I would rank this masterpiece higher, but it felt like cheating given the original release dates.
It doesn’t get more intense than the first third of this movie, which would be my favorite of the year. I have fewer issues with acts two and three than others, and the ending provokes immediate discussion. I typically don’t like war movies but also loved “Zero Dark Thirty,” so count me in on Kathryn Bigelow. Without question, “A House of Dynamite” is the scariest movie of the year.
8. “Black Bag”
They don’t make them like this anymore. An intelligent spy thriller/mystery from a rejuvenated Steven Soderbergh. Great movie.
9. “Eddington”
Ari Aster’s newest is a comedy that satirizes the national mood during Covid. Reactions have been polarizing, but the controversial film does a good job offending both sides.
“The Substance” is an obvious comparison, which was my No. 1 movie of 2024 (which resulted in multiple people upset with me). I recommend this twisted take on the classic Cinderella story.
This Norwegian film is for cinephiles, who would argue I have this ranked far too low.
12. “Twinless”
“Twinless” and “Lurker” have similar themes and are best viewed entering cold.
13. “Lurker”
“Lurker” and “Twinless” both also have a “Saltburn” vibe.
14. “Splitsville”
Here’s the best "romantic comedy" of the year.
15. “Weapons”
“Weapons” is hardly perfect, but it’s executed extremely well.
16. "Predators"
A thought-provoking examination about the appeal of watching child predators being arrested on TV, with the tables (kind of) turned on Chris Hansen at the end.
There may be some true crime fatigue, but this unsettling doc is unique while featuring mostly police bodycam footage. “Zodiac Killer Project” is another unusual take on the genre, as it’s a documentary about how a documentary would’ve been made if not for losing the rights to a book about discovering one of the most infamous serial killers.
18. “Friendship”
I really liked “Friendship,” but then Tim Robinson took it up a notch with “The Chair Company.” Stay curious.
Spike Lee’s strong reinterpretation of an Akira Kurosawa crime thriller. I’m beginning to think Lee has a fondness for New York.
20. “The Housemaid”
A pulpy thriller with twists, the 73%/92% critics/audience split says it all. Far better acted and directed than you’d expect. Highly recommend it.
Honorable Mention: “Sinners,” “Zodiac Killer Project,” “Unknown Number: The High School Catfish,” “The Room Next Door,” “Train Dreams,” “Sorry, Baby,” “If I Had Legs I'd Kick You,” “F1 The Movie,” “Jay Kelly,” “Companion,” “Relay,” “Die My Love,” “The Shrouds,” “The Life of Chuck,” “Drop," “Eternity,” “Roofman.”
