Best Movies of 2025 (#25 - #11)
2025 at the movies had two themes: “rebellion” and “compassion”. Now these are two words that at first glance you may not think go hand-in-hand, but when everything in the world seems so divisive (this year more than ever), then sometimes being compassionate is the act of rebellion you need in the face of hatred. Movies like James Gunn’s Superman told us that kindness is the new punk rock. Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein showed that even a monster, just born into this world, would choose to lead with compassion if not for the torment caused by its creator.
I’m sure for some, the stress and tension can feel unbearable at times - wondering what horrible news is going to strike next, especially when you’re doomscrolling on your phone in bed. But the magic of the movies is that for 90-minutes (or if you’re brave…3-hours) you can escape it all. You turn your phone off (I repeat you turn your phone off) and you and a few strangers get immersed in another world together on a glorious big screen. The theatrical experience is invaluable, and no matter how hard Netflix tries, I don’t think that communal adventure is going anywhere. This year I saw 107 new movies, and as always it’s mostly in service of finding the best movies for this list. I truly appreciate everyone who keeps coming back to this each year and hope that there’s a film you’re inspired to check out or even revisit from these recommendations. Feel free to reach out and tell me all about how you agree or disagree. It was another great year in the audience!
(#25) Eternity
Eternity is definitely the best rom-com of the year. It’s probably the best rom-com of the decade, and it might even be the best rom-com of the century. When elderly couple Joan (Elizabeth Olsen) and Larry (Miles Teller) die within days of each other, they find themselves in their younger bodies in a limbo-like world where they are allowed to choose one place to spend their eternity. When Joan learns that her first husband, Luke (Callum Turner), who died in war when they were young, has been waiting decades for her to arrive, she’s now faced with an impossible choice of who she wants to spend the rest of her afterlife with.
I love it when a genre like rom-coms, which usually follow a formula, finds ways to stay fresh with high concept ideas. After making Eternity, director/co-writer David Freyne discovered he had a brain tumor that had gone undiagnosed for years. In his moving article for Time, he discusses how this film helped him to be less afraid of death and happier in life knowing that all things must end. The beauty in movies like Eternity is that they use fiction to reconcile with the unknowable, and love is one thing that helps us understand that unknown a little better.
#298 on my Favorites List
Available to rent on VOD (Itunes, Amazon, etc.) {TRAILER}
(#24) Eddington
Satire doesn’t have to be subtle, and it never is with director Ari Aster (Hereditary, Midsommar). Set in the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Eddington takes on a lot, but that period in time was a lot. It was serious, at times it was ridiculous, and Eddington tries its best to capture that all as the stakes rise to unbelievable heights. Joaquin Phoenix (Joker, Gladiator), as a conservative sheriff in small town New Mexico, squares off with Pedro Pascal’s (The Last of Us, Fantastic Four: First Steps) liberal mayor in a microcosm of all the shit (for lack of a better word) the world was going through that year.
The genius in Aster’s satire is that it skewers both sides of the aisle in their extremes. B-plots in Eddington follow white students organizing a Black Lives Matter protest in their town of 2000 people, the sheriff’s defense of shoppers who refuse to wear their masks, and gatherings of more than 5 that are okay as long as it’s for fundraising campaign money. Eddington is a blast that ends in a bang, as its explosive finale brings a crushing consequence to all the decisions that precede it.
#936 on my Favorites List
Now streaming on HBO Max {TRAILER}
(#23) Louis Theroux: The Settlers
Journalist and documentarian Louis Theroux is known for his provocative documentaries that dare to go where others won’t, like his exceptional My Scientology Movie. With The Settlers, Theroux travels to Israel to understand the mentality of extreme nationalists who are actively trying to “settle” the Palestinian West Bank. Theroux’s brief 60 minute documentary is genius for the backseat he takes as an interviewer and allowing the far-right zionists to speak for themselves. One of his subjects, Daniella Weiss, who credits herself with recruiting hundreds of settlers to the West Bank, reveals how closely her movement is tied to the Israeli government, even if they can’t say it out loud.
Theroux also takes time to interview Palestinian activists like Issa Amro and witnesses firsthand how the Israeli government treats the Palestinians as secondary citizens in their own cities. The horrific acts we’ve seen on the news towards innocent civilians are given faces to say that quiet part out loud as to why the invasion is happening. At one point an interviewee pushes Louis and tells him “I hope you push me back”. Sometimes words speak just as loudly as actions.
#685 on my Favorites List
Now streaming on BBC Select {TRAILER}
(#22) Vulcanizadora
I have never so actively hoped for a movie to get knocked off my Best of the Year list like I have with Vulcanizadora. Somehow though, this twisted movie that consists almost entirely of two actors on a camping trip with an ominous destination has stuck with me. This is an impossible movie to recommend.
It’s cringe comedy and dark humor at its finest, which isn’t even always in my bag, but Vulcanizadora casts a spell that hooks you with its horrifying tonal balance. Star (and director) Joel Potrykus perfectly portrays “this kind of guy”, with no social awareness but a deep caring for others around him. Again, I recommend you stay away from this movie, unless you’re in a really horrible state of mind and need a laugh that’s slowly going to become a “what the fuck am I watching”.
#944 on my Favorites List
Available to rent on VOD (Itunes, Amazon, etc.) {TRAILER}
(#21) Secret Mall Apartment
In 2003, when local Rhode Island artist Michael Townsend saw that a massive shopping center was being built in the part of town known for its rebellious art scene, he knew he needed to do something about it. He couldn’t fight the corporate powers that be; he couldn’t tear down the mall himself; but he could protest in his own way. With the help of his friends, piece by piece they bring in furniture, artwork, and all the makings of a home to a back room of the mall hidden to public view. Over the course of the next few years they evade arrest from mall authorities as they make this a new base of operations for them to plan their artistic endeavors.
The documentary Secret Mall Apartment is one of the most surprising films of the year in that I went into it expecting little, but walked out stunned with what it ended up saying. Director Jeremy Workman meditates on what art can be through Townsend’s secret mall project. Townsend views the whole endeavor as an experiential art piece, akin to other large scale public projects the doc shows he’s organized in the past. As a portrait of an artist, you come to know both Townsend’s methods and motivations. As a documentary, it acknowledges the innate silliness of the project with great comedy naturally occurring while these artists execute their undercover mission.
#435 on my Favorites List
Available to rent on VOD (Itunes, Amazon, etc.) {TRAILER}
(#20) Predators
To Catch a Predator was such a cultural phenomenon, that most people probably don’t realize the TV show only ran for 20 episodes. Those 20 episodes though had the nation in a vise-grip of entertainment: laughing at the expense of child predators who had been caught. Since the show’s finale in 2007, countless copycats (mostly on Youtube) have escalated the methods of detaining and harassing these offenders to garner more clicks. The new documentary film, Predators, isn’t afraid to embrace the uncomfortable duality of enjoying these videos of punishment for the worst people imaginable and questioning if it enacts any meaningful change.
David Osit’s documentary interviews those who are seeking this new type of clout online, actors who played the fake children on the show, and it all builds up to the white whale - Chris Hansen. As the celebrated host/creator of To Catch a Predator, Hansen can rightly be attributed to the success of the show and the creation of this perverse genre. The last scene of Predators, which holds those accountable for the attention economy that’s been created out of such an evil act, will stick with me forever.
#593 on my Favorites List
Now streaming on Paramount+ {TRAILER}
(#19) Wake Up Dead Man
The Knives Out movies have always been a hoot, but I’ve never felt they elevated the material much more than stylish popcorn fare. With his third installment, Wake Up Dead Man, writer/director Rian Johnson proves me wrong with the best Benoit Blanc mystery yet. Daniel Craig interestingly takes a backseat this time as Detective Blanc, and hands the reins over to Josh O’Connor (Challengers) as Father Jud. Due to the impossible nature of the murder in his congregation, Father Jud begins to question his purpose as a priest and his relationship with the church.
Wake Up Dead Man evolves this franchise into a searing indictment of the current weaponization of faith in our society. Many political figures have used religion as excuses to justify racism and hatred, and it’s a powerful message for a blockbuster that this is not the true faith. There is a scene in Wake Up Dead Man, set up with such expert emotional impact (that it comes out of nowhere), everyone I know who’s watched this movie has the same reaction to it. If you want to read me going more in depth on that scene, check it out on my Letterboxd here, but there are spoilers, so come back to it after you crack the case!
#312 on my Favorites List
Now streaming on Netflix {TRAILER}
(#18) Rental Family
With one of the themes for 2025 at the movies being compassion, no movie this year has exhibited that more sincerely than Rental Family. Brendan Fraser (The Mummy, The Whale) plays Phillip, a white actor living alone in Tokyo who, when recruited for a strange casting, finds new ways to connect in a foreign land. Phillip begins work for a “rental family” agency, where people in Japan hire actors to fulfill real life roles: a husband to make your parents think you’re married, a father to get your kid into a prestigious private school, or even just a friend to play X-Box with.
Rental Family features my favorite kind of script, where even the supporting cast of customers and co-workers get complete arcs. They are all affected by the protagonist in his journey. Kindness emanates from every encounter Phillip has due to the clever layering of his different “gigs”, but mostly due to Fraser’s performance. Not only does Fraser have a kind face, but he endows Phillip with a kind soul. His life and those he “performs” for are forever changed by his empathy. You might even find yourself changed for the better by the time the credits roll.
#146 on my Favorites List
In theaters now; streaming/VOD in 2026 {TRAILER}
(#17) The Life of Chuck
To gush over The Life of Chuck and the many reasons why it’s one of my favorites of the year would be a disservice to all of you. With its chaptered structure, the moment it clicks how The Life of Chuck is coming together takes your breath away, and I wouldn’t dare spoil it here. What starts with characters reckoning their end-of-days on a global scale evolves into a portrait of one man’s life - Chuck. Based on a Stephen King novella, writer/director Mike Flanagan (Haunting of Hill House) takes a break from horror to bring us the most life-affirming movie you’ll see this year.
Featuring Tom Hiddleston (Loki) and strong young actors as the titular character in different periods of his life, the film hyperfocuses on the other people who make an impact. The Life of Chuck reminds you to live a life full of fun and whimsy, because you never know how much time you have left. Whimsy is a word I’ve probably never used before, but this film is genuinely whimsical. The mystery surrounding it all intrigues because it questions the grander mystery of why we’re here.
#271 on my Favorites List
Available to rent on VOD (Itunes, Amazon, etc.) {TRAILER}
(#16) 28 Years Later
When I told my girlfriend that this new zombie movie was going to make her cry, she didn’t believe me. By the end of 28 Years Later we both had tears in our eyes. Director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland’s return to this franchise after 20+ years feels just as fresh and innovative as 28 Days Later must have all that time ago. These innovations include using camera rigs that were created just for this film, a unique score that’s as much vocal as it is instrumental, and flipping where you think the narrative is going on its head.
It’s a tragedy that awards often overlook horror performances, because Jodie Comer (Killing Eve) would be my vote for Best Supporting Actress this year. It’s a true supporting role in that she has little screen time, but when she is on screen she shines. The same can be said for Ralph Fiennes (Harry Potter, Conclave) who comes in late to the film, but defies all expectations for what you expect his character to be. 28 Years Later is disconnected from the earlier films in the franchise, so there’s no shame in going in blind. You may just want to bring a blanket to hide behind or tissues to wipe some tears away.
#243 on my Favorites List
Now streaming on Netflix {TRAILER}
(#15) The Testament of Ann Lee
If I was on my death bed and could inject one thing into an IV drip to keep me alive, the first few musical numbers in The Testament of Ann Lee might do the trick. (That or Culver’s cheese curds…) Director Mona Fastvold, who co-produced/co-wrote my #1 movie of last year (The Brutalist) returns for her own directorial effort that also tackles the American Dream. Amanda Seyfried gives her body and soul to the film in her portrayal of Ann Lee, the founder of the Shaker movement in the early days of America.
The Shakers are a religious group that believed the second coming of Christ revealed himself in Ann Lee, a devout believer in celibacy. The film, much like the religion, is full of intense musical and dance numbers that appear more as fits and seizures than any choreographed dance moves. The lust to express themselves in contrast with their religious beliefs makes it look like these dances are their feelings trying to escape. Seyfried leads the best musical of the year here, in a year where Wicked: For Good and KPop Demon Hunters didn’t even make this list.
#552 on my Favorites List
In theaters now; streaming/VOD in 2026 {TRAILER}
(#14) On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
When the rigidity of traditionalism is shaken in On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, it makes for tense and layered conflict. Zambian filmmaker Rungano Nyoni’s film interrogates how religious fundamentalists protect their own wrong-doers in order to preserve the sanctity of their faith. When Shula, played by the fantastic Susan Chardy, finds the body of her uncle dead on the side of a road, it begins a funeral mourning period that draws her family and religious group together. As we learn more about the uncle and the kind of person he was in life, it becomes clear how widespread his wrongdoings were.
While culturally specific to Zambia, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl still speaks to universal truths on cultures of abuse. The film captures the undercurrent of staying quiet when a whole group knows something is wrong, but is too afraid to speak up. Like many movies in 2025, however, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl ends on a note of hope - that the next generation will be able to turn things around.
#957 on my Favorites List
Now streaming on HBO Max {TRAILER}
(#13) Sorry, Baby
Sorry, Baby is a writing, directing, and acting debut so strong from triple threat Eva Victor that I’m already on the lookout for what she’s going to do next. Jumping around through the past and present, we learn that “a bad thing” happened to Agnes. The film deals with how she tries to recover from “the bad thing” and move on with her life. Stuck in a small New England college town where all her friends have moved on to start families elsewhere, Agnes can’t seem to put the pieces of her life back together. The world of this New England town feels vivid and lived in, with a cast of characters that come in and out of Agnes’ life, all with their own quirks and awkward personalities.
Much like A Real Pain last year, the tone management in Sorry, Baby is exquisite. This is made even more so by Victor’s choice to be self-referential about how hard it is to balance humor and dark subject matters. Each chapter drew me further into the story, until by the end I got emotional wishing the best for where Agnes goes in the next chapter of her life after the screen goes black.
#681 on my Favorites List
Now streaming on HBO Max {TRAILER}
(#12) If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
If I could pick one performance from an actress this year that deserves to be seen by anyone reading this, it’s Rose Byrne in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. Following a mother, Linda, looking after her mysteriously ill child, there’s hardly a frame in the film that isn’t centered on Byrne. First time filmmaker Mary Bronstein shoots Byrne in extreme closeups and trusts her actress to carry the weight of the movie not on her shoulders, but on her eyebrows.
The frantic pace of If I Had Legs I’d Kick You throws you around like a ship that’s lost its mooring, matching the chaos of Linda’s life as a parent. She looks after her patients as a therapist, she takes her daughter to doctors appointments, she tries to fix her broken apartment - all leaving no time for Linda to look after herself. As a viewer, you’re helpless to do anything. You want to reach out and tell her that everything will be alright, because Byrne never loses the humanity of her character. As a veteran known mostly for her comedic performances (Bridesmaids), Byrne also brings a dry humor to an already witty script, in particular through her rivalry with a pet gerbil that her daughter just had to have.
#684 on my Favorites List
Available to rent on VOD (Itunes, Amazon, etc.) {TRAILER}
(#11) Resurrection
The magic of cinema comes from the realization of dreams. When you dream, you imagine worlds, whether fantastical or mundane, that have never existed before. What Chinese filmmaker Bi Gan seeks to express is that maybe dreams and films are one in the same. Loosely following a future where people have stopped dreaming to extend their lives, one dying man who has been hunted down is allowed to dream one last time. What comes next is a cinematic voyage like no other I’ve seen. Each of the five dreams depicted is shot in the style of a different period in cinema, from silent films all the way to a modern thriller.
While there are deep thematic threads in Resurrection, the film is more a series of vignettes that honor the history of the medium. The cinematography from Jingsong Dong is the best of the year, as the shifting genres culminate in a 30-minute unbroken take through neon-lit rain-drenched alleyways and bars. It’s a miracle how this shot was pulled off, let alone the film. If you’re a true fan of cinema, then this is a can’t miss, but understandably its meandering nature might put off more casual movie-goers.
#947 on my Favorites List
In theaters now; streaming/VOD in 2026 {TRAILER}
