I heard in a lot of places that this was a great year for movies. I had to take their words for it since I barely saw 30 films all year. There was medical issues and other things that led to my decreased movie watching. What used to be in the 100+ to almost 200 in some years, has greatly and sadly diminished. But I did get out to the theater a few times this year and saw the rest on streaming, which in its own way has become a blessing and a curse. So here is my list of favorite films of 2025.
8) The Monkey– Over the years I noticed I enjoy my horror more when there is a healthy dose of humor in the mix. I can handle straight creepy intense horror, but there is just something about the release of laughter going in step with properly placed jump-scares that make me love a good horror story. And if anyone knows a horror story it’s the master himself Stephen King. Based on a short from over 40 years ago, and in the brilliant hands of director Osgood Perkins this film is almost a screwball dramedy blended with the gross-out nature of a Final Destination flick. It’s all fun and gore, but still remembers to be little bit more. Also with a limited amount of screen time, Tatiana Maslany simply crushes every single scene she is in.
7) One Battle After Another– I saw PTA’s first film Hard Eight (Original title Sydney) way back in the 90’s. This was right in the mix of the indie boom, when I was hardcore into: Robert Rodriguez, Kevin Smith, Richard Linklater and Quentin Tarantino. These guys ruled and rocked my world. But I have to admit, only QT and PTA have been consistent and at times even outdoing themselves with every film. One Battle After Another is no exception. PTA just eats, sleeps, and breathes cinema. He has completely mastered the art of making something widespread yet personal. Team that up with a killer score by Jonny Greenwood and an epic cast with the likes of DiCaprio, Del Toro, Penn, and incredible performances by Teyana Taylor and Chase Infiniti just seals this up as one PTA classic after another.
6) F1: The Movie– Some would say that Joseph Kosinski in his last film just put a camera on a jet plane and told Tom Cruise “Go be Tom Cruise.” And some would also say he did the same thing here, he just put a camera on a race car and told Brad Pitt “Go be Brad Pitt.” But what those people are leaving out is Kosinski, Cruise and Pitt are all really really good at what they do. It also helps that screenwriter Ehren Kruger has also been firing on all cylinders, pun intended. Whether or not it had to be saddled with the “The Movie” suffix, F1 is damn solid filmed entertainment. It pulls you in from the first race with its well-placed needle drops and keeps you strapped in on every race that follows. And Pitt at this point in his career is practically incapable of not being the coolest M-effer in Hollywood.
5) Predator: Killer of Killers– Being able to resurrect a dying franchise is almost unheard of. But three films in (and I would argue he did it with the first film Prey) director Dan Trachtenberg has done exactly that. But his second film in his Predator series, a straight to streaming animated feature confirms what he proved in Prey. Tell a compelling story and then drop a Predator right in the middle of it. Set in three time periods: the time of Vikings, the time of the Samurai, and WWII, with three different Predators in the mix. The action rocks, the visuals are stunning and the characters keep you invested throughout to the unexpected and epic finale. Plus, a Samurai verses a Ninja? How the hell has no one done that this awesome before?
4) Superman/Fantastic Four: First Steps– I felt it made sense to put these two together since they both invoked the same feelings of nostalgia and do-gooding in the best possible way. James Gunn brought his unique Marvel sensibility to DC in his first film relaunching the DCU. Bringing the best Lois, Jimmy and dare I say Lex Luthor to the big screen. And David Corenswet wasn’t too shabby either. On the Marvel side, they certainly did right by the FF. Setting them into retro 60’s era where their powers would not look silly in the world of gods, nano-tech, and magic. Matt Shakman in one film evoked the essence of “family” that the Fast & Furious movies have barely done in 10 films. They also nailed the characters, which also has its own challenges since this was Marvel’s first hero team with an almost 65 year history to live up to. In both cases these two are helping keeping the Superhero movie genre alive.
3) Sinners– The only film on my list that is not an existing IP, part of a series of films, or based on a book. Ryan Coogler cashing in his checks from all the franchise work he’s been doing for the past 10 years. And he comes out swinging, with a period vampire tale that explores, family, religion, race, sex, music, love and the beauty of the world. It’s so big on its themes, that it needed two Michael B. Jordan performances to contain it. Even though it hit theaters over 9 months ago I still can’t get the phenomenal scene where music pierces the veil between time and space out of my head.
2) Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery– If I’m being honest, the first Knives Out film is still my favorite of this now trilogy by writer/director Rian Johnson. But his latest is by far the best of the bunch. In quality, musically, as well as on a storytelling and technical level. This movie is a banger of a mystery set in the realm of belief with a priest played by Josh O’Conner on one end, and the logic of Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc on the other. With solid performances all around led by legend Glenn Close in a brilliant turn as the devout yet hilarious Martha. Johnson who has been making films for 20 years now, has yet to make a bad one. If you haven’t seen Brick, The Brothers Bloom, or Looper, you should correct that now.
1) The Life of Chuck– So we started this list with Stephen King and now I’m ending it with him. Based on a short story of the same name, this faithful adaptation by the new torch bearer of the King on film, following the footsteps of Frank Darabont and the late great Rob Reiner, Mike Flanagan brought this unique story to life. Told in reverse order and focusing on not just the life of a guy named Chuck, but focusing on his mind as well. It explores what has become my favorite phrase this year. “We contain multitudes.” A beautiful sentiment and it is brought to life with a sense of joy and wonder in the face of an uncertain future that gives no promise of tomorrow. While the majority of the cast is only given a few to some of them even just one scene, they all absolutely crush it. For me this is one of those films that came along right when I needed it. It reached me in a way that no other film did this year, it’s truly a masterpiece.
Honorable Mentions: Weapons, Companion, Black Bag, Thunderbolts*, Predator: Badlands, Black Phone 2
