Yet Another List of the Best Movies of 2025

As we reach for the eggnog and brace ourselves for the end of another year, writers, journalists, influencers, and anyone with a Substack or keyboard are ready to publish their ruminations on the best movies of the year. And yes, I am one of them. 

It was a year of "slutty little glasses," K-Pop Demon Hunters, 382 Pedro Pascal movies, and one Aunt Gladys. And it all flew by faster than you can scream "6-7!" 

Superman was rebooted (again). Jurassic World was rebirthed. And that M3GAN sequel short-circuited. 

Meanwhile, the battle for movie theater supremacy raged on, even though more and more folks chose to stay at home and stream themselves into oblivion. And while Warner Bros. had a massively successful year at the box office, they ended up giving it all up...to Netflix. (We're still collectively wrapping our heads around how this historic acquisition is going to impact the industry, movie theaters, and American audiences – so stay tuned.)

But after all the popcorn dust has settled, there are only a handful of movies – out of the 82 I saw in theaters – that have stuck with me, making their mark and earning spots on my own Top 10 list. 

1. ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER – P.T. Anderson delivers a searing and propulsive modern American saga that may as well be called 2025: The Movie. It’s scary how timely it is, teetering on satire but never flinching on its brutal indictment on America — land of the feared, home of the battered.

2. WEAPONS – An outstanding Roshomon-style horror allegory that taps into 21st-century suburban fears like no other, delivering a new kind of nightmare that never lets go, with imagery that's instantly iconic. (Did you see those Halloween costumes?) The year's best in the genre also boasts the most memorable supporting actress performance (the soon-to-be nominated Amy Madigan). 

3. SINNERS – Ryan Coogler’s insanely inspired blend of 1930s gangster drama and vampire horror in Jim Crow Mississippi soars and sizzles while it demonstrates the power of music in its richly layered narrative. The electric ensemble sets the screen on fire (see: Miles Caton) and film course discussions ablaze. 

4. TWINLESS – James Sweeney’s original and sly study on grief ultimately turns into an emotional thriller about loneliness – with the first act ending with a twist you won’t see coming. Dylan O’Brien (above) delivers the best performance of his career in this clever little film that deserves your attention.

5. COMPANION – Twisted, smart, and funny, Drew Hancock’s entertaining and timely spin on sci-fi horror deserves to be seen without knowing much about its intriguing premise. The charismatic cast (Jack Quaid, Harvey Guillén, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri) is anchored by Sophie Thatcher's excellent performance as a different kind of final girl worth rooting for.

6. BRING HER BACK – The Philippou brothers crafted a brutally original horror piece that never loosens its grip, squeezing with every jaw-dropping development in a story about grief that's devastatingly portrayed by Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins, here playing the Worst Foster Parent Ever.

7. RENTAL FAMILY – A Japanese phenomenon inspires a very human story that ultimately unfolds as an exercise in empathy. Gentle giant Brendan Fraser maneuvers through a culture, trying to heal his own private pain while healing others. 

8. SENTIMENTAL VALUE – Sisterly bonds and generational trauma are beautifully handled in director Joachim Trier's contemplative Norwegian drama that observes the relationships inside a home that's literally broken. 

9. BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY – A wonderful closing chapter in a series that has aged extremely well. Zellwegger is surrounded by an extraordinary supporting framily—Hugh Grant bringing bittersweet depth to his caddish Daniel—as our heroine comes to terms with grief, single motherhood, and the challenge of rediscovering herself. Easily the best Bridget since the 2001 original.

10. BLACK BAG – A clever, confident, and compact cat-and-mouse mystery that features some of the sexiest production design on film this year. Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender sizzle in this stylish Soderbergh joint. 

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Final Destination Bloodlines, The Life of Chuck, 28 Years Later, Plainclothes, Hamnet, and Sorry Baby.

@TheFirstEcho