10 Best Movies of 2025, Ranked

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2025 was a significant year for Hollywood. Despite major changes in how studios operate due to mergers, people still flocked to theaters. Warner Bros. led the way at the domestic box office with A Minecraft Movie and launched a new Superman cinematic universe. Disney also saw success, releasing three Marvel films, though their live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch proved to be their biggest hit.

Horror movies recently saw a big surge in popularity, largely thanks to fresh, original concepts. While sequels like Final Destination: Bloodlines and 28 Years Later were noticed, it was original films such as Sinners, Weapons, and Bring Her Back that really impressed critics and audiences. Science fiction took a different approach, focusing on continuing established franchises with new installments like two Predator movies, a Tron sequel, and another Jurassic World film.

Choosing just ten movies from the thousands released in 2025 is a tough task, but these films represent both the high quality and the wide variety of movies we enjoyed this year.

10) If I Had Legs I’d Kick You

Mary Bronstein’s film is a psychologically complex drama that explores the challenges of modern parenting in a strange and dreamlike way. Rose Byrne delivers a powerful performance as Linda, a mother overwhelmed by the chaos of life, and the movie takes some truly unexpected turns. While Byrne’s acting and Bronstein’s visually unique style are highlights, the film also features a surprisingly compelling dramatic performance by Conan O’Brien, making him a standout in a supporting role.

9) The Perfect Neighbor

Geeta Gandbhir’s documentary is a difficult but important watch, detailing the tragic death of a Florida mother at the hands of her neighbor and the events leading up to it that deeply impacted the local community. The film, The Perfect Neighbor, relies entirely on police body camera footage, interrogation recordings, and news coverage. It’s a masterfully edited film, skillfully connecting various elements of the story within the Ocala, Florida neighborhood where the shooting took place. Be warned: The Perfect Neighbor is intensely disturbing and contains some of the most upsetting scenes of the year, and it’s a film that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

8) It Was Just an Accident

Jafar Panahi’s thriller takes a little time to get going, but it’s worth the patience. The story centers on an ex-political prisoner in Iran who thinks he’s found the man responsible for his past suffering. He impulsively kidnaps him, and then seeks out the man’s friends to confirm his suspicions. The film’s clever script is a major strength, exploring the complex situation from all sides and giving the actors plenty to work with. It Was Just an Accident steadily builds tension towards a gripping finale that will leave you thinking long after the credits roll.

7) Pee-wee as Himself

Matt Wolf’s documentary is a lengthy, three-and-a-half-hour film – comparable to a big-budget movie – giving it ample time to explore the life of its subject. Through archival footage and interviews with those who knew him, as well as with the subject himself, the film reveals a performer deeply invested in crafting his public persona. It also shows the tension between the filmmaker and the subject as they debated the final form of the movie. This isn’t just for fans of the performer; it’s a complex and insightful look at an artist’s journey over many years.

6) The Life of Chuck

Mike Flanagan has become known for expertly adapting Stephen King stories, especially the ones considered difficult to bring to the screen. His latest, The Life of Chuck, showcases this talent with a narrative told in reverse, slowly revealing the full story in the finale. The film also features Flanagan’s signature style, including his favorite actors and a penchant for powerful monologues. In a year filled with remakes and horror icons, The Life of Chuck stands out as the most compelling Stephen King adaptation – a surprisingly emotional story that focuses on living a meaningful life, rather than relying on action or monsters.

5) Hamnet

Four years after her somewhat flawed Marvel film, Eternals, Academy Award-winning director Chloe Zhao returned with Hamnet, a moving story about the events that inspired Shakespeare’s play. Hamnet showcases Zhao’s talent for creating beautiful and immersive films, particularly through her focus on natural settings and allowing actors, like Jessie Buckley, to fully inhabit their roles. The film skillfully handles a potentially delicate subject – how Shakespeare’s personal tragedies shaped his work and famous lines – with sensitivity and depth. Instead of drawing attention to these connections, Hamnet invites viewers to thoughtfully consider the journey that led to the creation of his plays.

4) Weapons

Zach Cregger’s new film, Weapons, is a remarkably ambitious horror movie, drawing comparisons to both the complex storytelling of Magnolia and the unsettling tone of Hereditary. It’s a satisfying mystery that keeps audiences guessing, always providing answers while simultaneously delivering shocking and darkly humorous moments. With strong performances from Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich, and Austin Abrams, Weapons is a film that benefits from multiple viewings and demonstrates that horror can be truly expansive when filmmakers are willing to take big risks.

3) No Other Choice

With themes of terrible bosses, company mergers, and a flooded job market, No Other Choice is a surprisingly funny and biting film. It cleverly exaggerates the realities of modern work life. A brilliant move is casting Lee Byung-hun – famous for dark and serious roles in shows like Squid Game and films like I Saw the Devil – as a completely inept and clueless character. This unexpected casting, combined with director Park Chan-wook’s inventive camera work, makes the South Korean satire relatable and impactful for audiences worldwide, even if it leaves them feeling uneasy about how true it rings.

2) Marty Supreme

It’s tempting to simply call Marty Supreme “Timothée Chalamet’s ping pong movie,” but that would be a disservice. The film is immediately engaging, largely thanks to its unusual setting and, especially, Chalamet’s captivating performance. He portrays a character who is charismatic, funny, frustrating, and complex – a fully realized person with surprising depth. Despite its two-and-a-half-hour runtime, every moment feels necessary and contributes to the overall story, which is as expansive and intricate as the main character himself. The film maintains a fast pace that’s consistently entertaining and full of unexpected twists.

1) One Battle After Another

Featuring a standout performance from Leonardo DiCaprio as a disillusioned rebel in a dangerously complex world, One Battle After Another is both visually stunning and incredibly engaging. Paul Thomas Anderson’s ambitious film isn’t just carried by DiCaprio’s quirky and funny character; every actor delivers a unique and fully developed performance, creating a cast unlike any you’ll see in other movies this year. Despite its serious plot with plenty of twists, One Battle After Another is also surprisingly hilarious, with jokes that are cleverly delivered and will leave you chuckling, all while the breathtaking VistaVision cinematography keeps you on the edge of your seat.

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2025-12-23 22:42