In 2025, I watched 180 new movie releases.
“Risk” is the word of the year. The finest films of 2025 didn’t play it safe. Some were loud while others were quiet, but the most memorable entries all took bold swings.
These are the 10 best movies of the year.
10. ‘Bugonia’
The performances from Jesse Plemons (Teddy) and Emma Stone (Michelle Fuller) are at the root of the film’s success. The pair bounce off each other for some of the most intense sequences of dialogue in 2025.
On top of this, Yorgos Lanthimos’ direction aids in this tension. With constant close-ups, he captures every imaginable emotion while also adding a claustrophobic feel.
The technical successes continue with stunning cinematography and a booming score. The film captures the beauty in both the stunning and atrocious, while hammering viewers with sharp sounds to aid in the immersiveness.
“Bugonia” is also surprisingly timely, tackling ideas of obsession, echo chambers and misinformation.
Reaching bizarre levels of “weird,” the movie fully earns the label of dark comedy. No matter how bleak the overarching narrative grows, Lanthimos locates absurd comedy in pretty much everything.
“Bugonia” is a bold blending of genres that’s admirably ambitious. This is a thought-provoking film that’s hard to ignore.
9. ‘Sentimental Value’
It’s tedious. Overstuffed. Even self-indulgent. Nonetheless, “Sentimental Value” is unapologetically itself and undoubtedly beautiful.
The film is able to balance precious, intimate moments with the harsh realities of mental health and depression. Not many movies can do it – but “Sentimental Value” perfectly captures the innate human desire to be loved.
This comes through so clearly because of the characters. Renate Reinsve (Nora), Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (Agnes) and Stellan Skarsgård (Gustav) bring them to life.
Spending so much time with the individuals, the movie offers various storylines to connect with: fractured relationships, loneliness or a lost sense of purpose.
While this isn’t necessarily an “easy” watch, there is satisfaction within the movie. Staying persistent and hammering home its messaging, the film lands a strong emotional bookend.
“Sentimental Value” explores both love and healing in an uncomfortable yet cathartic way.
8. ‘Together’
Horror movies are most effective when they develop realistic characters. “Together” does just that, spending large durations of the runtime exploring the central couple.
Dave Franco and Alison Brie take the film to new heights. Their real-life chemistry makes “Together” truly believable, keeping the narrative grounded even when things spiral into chaos.
While balancing body horror and comedy, the movie still offers audiences a lot to think on. It’s a metaphor about love, and the lengths humans go to maintain it – whether for good or bad.
Many people fear losing their sense of individualism and freedom in relationships. “Together” literalizes this anxiety, bringing it to life in terrifying fashion.
Strong practical effects, beautiful cinematography and snappy editing all shine as well. Director Michael Shanks showcases his eye for detail, meticulously navigating dark corridors for several spine-tingling moments.
Delivering awkward laughs, thought-provoking scenarios and unsettling imagery, “Together” lingers long past the credits. It’s different and daring – cinema that takes risks and earns them.
7. ‘The Threesome’
“The Threesome” is about the complexities of love, modern dating culture, maturing into adulthood and the ups and downs of pregnancy. It does so much, while also feeling wholesomely simple.
At the heart of the film are three exceptional performances from Zoey Deutch (Olivia), Ruby Cruz (Jenny) and Jonah Hauer-King (Connor). Their onscreen chemistry is unmatched, delivering on the romantic, emotional and comedic sides.
Dedicated to individual development, “The Threesome” proves to be a trifecta of a character study. Even with split focus, all three feel equally impactful as the movie draws to a close.
Even with a raunchy title, the film is extremely heartfelt. It’s more intimate than sexy, presented in an over-the-top and humorous scenario.
This isn’t to say that it’s not funny, however. The movie blends serious subjects into an absurd setup that is made for the big screen. With out-of-pocket jokes and repeating mistakes, it captures the hilarious chaos that real life often provides.
“The Threesome” is a hidden gem for those seeking a heartfelt yet laugh-out-loud experience. The title alone may deter some viewers, but beneath the surface is a thoughtful journey that’s worth watching.
6. ‘If I Had Legs I’d Kick You’
In its opening two minutes alone, “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” offers a gripping introduction to the central character. Utilizing sound design to its advantage, the film blends different audio layers in and out of focus to mirror Linda’s frazzled state.
This is a hilarious movie – just not in the ways you’d expect. The humor feels effortless, with the title alone sparking laughter.
Rose Byrne (Linda) delivers one of her most commanding performances. Facing a constant stream of trials and tribulations, she fully dives into the role.
“If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” succeeds more often than not because it spins her character’s challenges into humor, much like real life can at times.
Revolving around motherhood – specifically single parenting – the movie examines the tolls and stresses that come with it. By continually piling on her struggles, the stakes continue to rise. This lingering sense of discomfort and not feeling good enough only intensifies as the 113-minute runtime unfolds.
Notably, the film makes the bold choice to not put a face to many of the key figures in Linda’s life. This contributes to her growing sense of isolation.
“If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” is a raw, funny and unflinching story about motherhood. It doesn’t aim to comfort – in fact, quite the opposite. And that’s exactly what makes it so excellent.
5. ‘Dangerous Animals’
“Dangerous Animals” mixes two horror subgenres into one – serial killer and creature feature.
This is one of the first films that makes a true attempt at getting sharks right. Rather than portraying them as the villain, it’s actually sympathetic. While this approach may result in fewer bloodbaths, it demands respect.
Taking a more realistic approach, it allows the most misunderstood animals in the world to shine – just in a different way than you’re used to seeing.
Jai Courtney (Tucker) is absolutely electric. From beginning to end, he steals the show every time that he is onscreen. His menacing presence is what allows the movie to succeed.
Over anything else, “Dangerous Animals” plays out as a character study. It examines trauma, fear and masculinity. At surface level, it’s a fairly straightforward experience. But looking a little closer at the main antagonist and the animals below, it does have a lot to say.
“Dangerous Animals” flips the genre on its head, making the audience respect the animals while being horrified by the human monster above the water. A gripping performance from Courtney and the portrayal of sharks make this a must-see. It’s a horror movie that attempts something truly unique.
4. ‘One Battle After Another’
With a 161-minute runtime, “One Battle After Another” is daunting. From the start, however, the movie thrusts the audience into a grand story and never lets go.
The narrative is anchored by the central relationship between Leonardo DiCaprio (Bob) and Chase Infiniti (Willa). The father-daughter dynamic is key to the movie’s identity, with love remaining at the forefront throughout.
DiCaprio continues his streak of transformative performances, disappearing into a role unlike anything he’s done before.
At its core, “One Battle After Another” is a comedy. The film fires off nonstop jokes through heightened social and political commentary.
Director Paul Thomas Anderson brings style to every frame. Shot on VistaVision, the movie is immersive by nature.
With its upfront political nature, the movie examines modern America in ways rarely attempted. While other films turn into a sermon, this tackles systemic injustice and racism through history and generational revolutionism.
“One Battle After Another” should not be mistaken for a simple wake-up call. It’s a warning… and a reminder that forgetting history ensures it will repeat. There’s no neat ending here, because the struggle never truly stops.
This is a movie that will likely define a generation.
3. ‘Train Dreams’
“Train Dreams” is one of the few movies that uses narration to perfection. While other films include narration to tell the story, this utilizes it as a complement. The pairing between voice-over and story works well, bouncing off each other to craft a complete picture.
The beautiful visuals match the soothing nature of Will Patton’s narration. This captures the beauty of nature – whether it’s vast and empty, covered in trees or erupted in flames. The Earth is almost a character of its own, showcasing the power that just a single plot of land can possess time and time again.
The message of “Train Dreams” is on-par with the movie’s technical achievements. It explores love and loss in subtle yet enormous ways.
Deciphering grief and loss in fascinating ways, the film lets viewers know that whatever path their emotions take them is OK. This message echoes through the end credits and beyond.
Able to tell the story of one man’s life in only a 102-minute runtime, this attains an epic status that is so hard to achieve.
Joel Edgerton (Robert) turns the film into a triumph. He may not say much, but Edgerton’s presence is enough. With each gaze into the distance, sigh or breath of relief, he makes Robert feel whole.
“Train Dreams” explores the meaning of life – and all the love and loss within. It’s both a visual and auditory feast with a career-defining performance from Edgerton. A quiet masterpiece.
2. ‘The Assessment’
“The Assessment” is heartbreaking, uplifting, stressful and packed with psychological warfare. The film triggers all of these emotions through its exploration of parenthood, along with themes of control, trauma and individualism.
Unfolding in a dialogue-driven format, the movie allows conversations to take the lead in revealing who the characters are. It may seem like a straightforward story on the surface, but it becomes far more compelling by giving such a personal look on two individuals’ lives.
Elizabeth Olsen (Mia), Himesh Patel (Aaryan) and Alicia Vikander (Virginia) all excel. Olsen is the star, with her vocal inflections, body language and restraint saying as much as the dialogue itself.
With a day-by-day format, “The Assessment” constantly resets the dynamic with new behaviors and tests.
This all culminates in the conclusion – which hits like a wall. The tone shifts hard, and the silence afterward speaks volumes. This leaves viewers with a lot to process, and that’s part of what makes it works.
“The Assessment” is a dense, haunting look at parenthood through a dystopian lens. With a stimulating script and powerhouse performances, this leaves its mark… and it may even be hinting at a future closer than we’d like to believe.
1. ‘Marty Supreme’
From start to finish, “Marty Supreme” is injected with adrenaline. It’s the perfect mix of weird, passionate and, of course, some table tennis.
This has been labeled as the “ping pong movie.” In reality, it’s so much more than that.
“Marty Supreme” is a character study, exploring every facet of the enigma that is Marty Mauser. It isn’t asking the audience to root for its protagonist. In fact, it gives every reason to hate him.
Timothée Chalamet plays the character to perfection. He’s cocky and arrogant, while also completing the character with moments of desperation and emotion.
Director Josh Safdie flawlessly puts together the pieces of Marty’s life… which is a messy one. This chaos is what allows the 149-minute runtime to fly by.
With each swing of the paddle and landing of a ball on the table, “Marty Supreme” demands attention. The sound design and cinematography play a role in this, with audio and visual elements combining to put the audience directly in the character’s shoes.
It’s in the title. “Marty Supreme” is indeed supreme. And for 2025 movie releases, it scored the match point.
