Disclaimer: These films are in no particular order, just films that stood out to me in 2025. Enjoy!

Sinners

Sinners, for my money, is the best film of 2025. Written and directed by Ryan Coogler, I wouldn’t be shocked if this movie took home a slew of awards come Oscar season. This movie, from a technical standpoint, and really any way you want to look at it, is perfect. Starring Michael B. Jordan in dual roles as twin brothers Smoke and Stack, he really gets to relish in two vastly different roles and personalities to interact with characters in ways that almost makes you forget he’s playing two characters. The entire cast of this movie leaves it all on screen and it shows through every frame of this film. I can’t say for sure if Sinners was a passion project for Coogler, but the way this movie is handled, from the cinematography to intermixing themes of music, community and family, creates a sense that it is. Sinners is easily the definitive “mic drop” movie of 2025.

Weapons

When Weapons was announced, it was safe to say my expectations were high, given that Writer/ Directer Zach Cregger delivered one of the best Horror films of 2022 with Barbarian. I can thankfully say that Weapons lived up to the crazy high expectations I had for it, maybe even exceeded them. Starring Julia Garner as an Elementary School teacher whose Seventeen students go missing in the night, and Josh Brolin as a father of one of the missing students, Weapons tells the story of how and why the kids are missing, but it tells it in segments. This in my opinion is a very smart, and creative way to tell a story, giving the audience pieces at a time rather than one huge reveal. The pacing of this movie is perfect and Cregger knows exactly when we’re going to be wanting more and right at that moment, we switch characters. I would also say this movie is the most tense film of the year, not relying on traditional jump scares to put the audience on the edge of their seats. With a top notch cast and clever writing and directing, I for one, cannot wait to see what Zach Cregger will do with the Resident Evil franchise in 2026.

Friendship

Good comedies seem to have become a rarity. Even more so that they are wholesome and non offensive. Friendship, Written and Directed by Andrew DeYoung, is that elusive gem of a comedy. Starring Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd, the movie shows almost too well how hard it is to find, let alone maintain, adult male friendships. Robinson is unhinged in his portrayal of Craig, a middle aged man with little social skills, befriending Austin (Rudd), a similarly aged man trying to maintain his own youth and allure. The film, in a quite hilarious fashion, shows how great it can feel when new bonds are forged, and how insane it can make one feel when they are broken. From a male standpoint, Friendship hit all the beats of what keeping and losing friends looks and feels like, but it does so in the zaniest ways possible and I love it for that.

Superman

Superman had a lot going agains’t it in 2025. Whether that be die hard Snyder-verse fans review bombing it, or the immense pressure of being a building block of a new DC Universe created by James Gunn. In true Superman fashion, it overcame all that to be the best adaptation of the beloved character in years. Starring David Corenswet as the Man of Steel, fans are finally, after over a decade, treated to a version of Superman that feels hopeful and optimistic, in a time where that feels more needed than ever. Written and Directed by James Gunn, Superman features amazing performances by Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. Brosnahan is amazing, opposite Corenswets’ Superman, bouncing off each other’s morality and questioning why they feel compelled to do what they feel they need to do. Hoult is really breaking out of the “good guy leading man role” with his depiction of Lex Luthor. From his first scene in the movie, we get to see the true arrogance of Lex and why he’ll do whatever he needs to do to destroy Superman. One of the most refreshing things about this version of Superman, is that we don’t have to sit through another painful origin story. Once the film starts, Superman already exits, and that opens up the movie for story and character development. I loved this new take on Superman and the DCU and I for one, cannot wait to see what Gunn has in store for the character in 2027.

Magazine Dreams

Magazine Dreams is an important film. It flew heavily under the radar due to the controversy surrounding Jonathan Majors, which is a true shame. Starring Majors as a body builder isolated by his own intensity, the film is not an easy one to sit through. Touching on subjects such as racism, isolation and mental illness, the film takes some dark turns, but ends on an extremely hopeful message. While watching Magazine Dreams, you feel a sense of dread that if Majors as Killian Maddox doesn’t get support and relief this movie would not be worth watching. Thankfully this film ends with a message of, if you need help, all you need to do is reach out and it will be there. Never an easy watch, Magazine Dreams is a truly exceptional film carried by a career best performance from Jonathan Majors.

The Life Of Chuck

Stephen King adaptations have had a sort of resurgence in 2025. The Life Of Chuck, being one of three film adaptations of the works of King in this year, also flew way under the radar, which is disappointing because the message of this film is one that I feel people need right now, and always. You as a person matter and life is beautiful even when it seems like it isn’t. Boasting an all star cast, led by Tom Hiddleston, with Mark Hamill, Karen Gillan, Matthew Lillard and Carl Lumbly to name a few. Life Of Chuck, tells just that, in a non traditional fashion, already giving it a memorable, non formulaic narrative, while perhaps becoming the most faithful King adaptation ever. This being a short story, I was worried there wouldn’t be enough material to adapt into a full length film, but Mike Flanagan, a regular when it comes to King adaptations, absolutely nailed the material, and gave audiences a beautiful film that will surely give any who watch it a new outlook on life.

28 Years Later

A film I honestly didn’t believe would ever see the light of day, 28 Years Later lived up to the hype 23 years later. Writer Alex Garland reteams with Director Danny Boyle to return us to a world ravaged by the Rage Virus. This story follows Jamie and son Spike (Aaron Taylor-Johnson and newcomer Alfie Williams), living in an Island community off the mainland, untouched by the virus. One of the qualities that make this film standout is its story and direction. It feels so different from previous entries, but still has the connective tissue of the Rage. Visually it has a similar feel to the original 28 Days Later, due to Boyle filming this movie with a rig of 20 I-Phones. This allows the film to maintain it’s gritty and brutal feel, while still giving us absolutely stunning scenes that look as though they could have been shot traditionally. The movie truly belongs to Alfie Williams, as he portrays Spike with such a curiosity and nobleness that it’s impossible to not root for him. Ralph Fiennes, with a smaller role in this first movie, but promised a much larger role in 2026’s The Bone Temple, is absolutely amazing and his scenes give so much exposition about what happened to the world and are so moving you almost forget you’re watching a horror film. 28 Years Later checks all the boxes of what a horror film can and should be, then goes the extra mile by giving us incredible performances paired with over the top violence. Here’s hoping when The Bone Temple releases in just over a week it will deliver the same!

Zootopia 2

Nine years is a long time to wait for a sequel. Granted, sometimes the wait is forever and a sequel never comes to fruition. Thankfully that was not the case with Zootopia 2. Even with the lengthy wait, Disney delivered a worthy follow up to the acclaimed film that in my opinion, deserves just as much acclaim. Taking place one week after the first film, we get to see the dynamic between Judy and Nick as they are officially partners now. When a snake, voiced by Ke Huy Quan, appears in Zootopia, it sends the city into uproar and we’re taken on a journey about why not only snakes, but the entire Reptile species has to live in the shadows to survive in Zootopia. The first Zootopia is amazing, but its sequel doesn’t have to be held down by character introductions or the typical formulaic plot. This film gets to introduce a new area of Zootopia and new additions to the cast, while telling an all too relevant story that involves the wealth of the world covering up wrong doings for their own betterment. This movie really does have everything the whole family can enjoy, and before Disney makes their move to AI generated content, I hope we get a few more gems like Zootopia 2.

The Long Walk

The Long Walk by all accounts shouldn’t work as well as it does. This is largely in part to the extremely strong cast, a script by JT Mollner, and the beautiful directing of Francis Lawrence. The film focuses on 50 young men, chosen through a lottery, that have the simple task of, walk until you can’t anymore, at which point you will be killed. An allegory for the Vietnam War, The Long Walk was one of Stephen King’s first novels, penned as Richard Bachman. The film has similar undertones, but focuses more on the camaraderie between the participants of the Long Walk, and this is where the movie shines. The entire cast is absolutely incredible, and just as devastating when we see them get their “ticket” as it’s called in the film, but Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson are the focal point. These relatively young actors had grueling film requirements but still absolutely anchor the film in ways I have not ever seen. A film about 50 men walking until only one remains doesn’t sound appealing but don’t let the synopsis deter you. The Long Walk is one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking films of the year, in addition to standing toe to toe with the best adaptations of King’s work.

Chainsaw Man: The Movie – Reze Arc

What a year it was for Animation. With a three year gap between when the Anime premiered and the release of this film, it’s safe to say expectations were high. Thankfully Sony and Mappa took their time and delivered one of the most over the top and beautiful looking films of the year with Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc. Picking up immediately where the Anime left off, this film wastes no time reintroducing us to all the characters, as well as introducing us to Reze, a new love interest for Denji. This film absolutely fires on all cylinders, from the stunning animation, to the voice acting and absolutely incredible score by Kensuke Ushio. The only thing that could detract from this film for first time viewers if if you don’t have any background on the series or aren’t up to date on the anime this movie will only confuse you more. This film also has a ton of heart that I haven’t witnessed in anime in quite some time. It takes its time building character connections and putting us through moments that are integral in these on screen relationships. Being a huge Chainsaw Man fan, I had very high expectations for this film and I can honestly say they were not only met, but blown out of the water. As far as anime adaptations go, The Reze Arc had no right to be as incredible as it was, but Mappa seems to be pooling all its resources into making Chainsaw Man, whether it be the anime or a feature film, as high caliber as possible for fans. If this next arc is half as good as this film, fans are in for a treat.