In leu of the Oscar nominations today, I’d say it’s a good time to do my favourites of the year. As the year just finished, and I wrap up a couple more I will be at 50 total 2025 releases.
In comparison to the last two years, this felt like a relatively weaker year. With aside from maybe the top five, there’s a very low chance I rewatch anything ever again outside of that. It’s worth mentioning that I did say last year’s ten was on the weaker side, but as 363 days have passed since my post, I’d call it a relatively solid year now, after seeing what we have in front of us today. I’m still satisfied with how I ranked the 2024 list, but I think there’s a huge gap between the top three this year and seriously everything else that came out during the same time.
For the year as a whole I watched 225 films, pretty much 100 less watched than each of the two years prior. Whether it was from being back home or studying, I knew I had to stay on the ball and yet I still feel I have felt the pulse all year pretty solid. Excited for what 2026 holds, anticipating better than what we have here!
The critical and commercial Success of Sinners has to be mentioned, I am just not sure if It was for me. The fact that it is now the most Oscar nominated movie of all time (because of the addition of categories) is absolutely great for Ryan Coogler and the team. Spoiler alert, it didn’t make the list. We will see upon rewatch, so maybe I will punch myself for not including it on my list, but I am sure it will be on the majority of lists out there so I don’t feel too bad you can read about it elsewhere.
Disclaimer: I have considered Nirvana The Band, The Show, The Movie as a 2026 release, because that was when it was available to the public. I know some classify it as 25, but I had seriously no way of seeing it until Feb of 26, so it is going to have to wait until next year.
10. If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
It seems I have started a tradition to start off the list with something I found incredibly fun, and I am happy to start with the debut of Mary Bronstein. I love Josh Safdie and Ronny Bronstein, so to no surprise, I thought this was great and deserving of the ten spot. An absolute panic attack that no other movie felt even close too throughout the year. I’m sure being a parent is extremely hard, and this movie was one of the more fun portrayals of being a mom I have ever seen. Never seeing the kid is so awesome and is such a memorable touch. There’s a few forgettable characters sure and it’s not a perfect movie by any means but Rose Byrne is phenomenal and it gets bonus points for her character always playing music off her phone speaker. Oh and Asap Rocky is fucking awesome in it too.
9. Frankenstein
One of the best tales of all time. Very similar to Eggers Nosferatu last year, this is the perfect case of when the perfect story is gifted to the perfect auteur. Neither project couldve fell into better hands. Guillermo Del Toro was born to tell fantasy stories, so why not tell one of the most original, (maybe over done but who gives a fuck its GDT) and see what happens. This movie is one of the reasons why the Netflix big budget rocks. A match made in heaven, there was no chance this was going to be bad. Elordis monster is sick right from the get go and it wraps up extremely well. Del Toro is one of the better humans we have walking this earth.
8. Eddington
I don’t give a fuck were doing it and putting this at seven. It’s so fucking annoying and who knows what the fuck is going on with that ending, but I clearly found this better the majority of the other actual junk out there this year. What feels like an actual depiction, of one of the weirdest times in recent memory this planet has felt, and this sorta hits all those off the beaten path topics movies shouldn’t be about. Nobody knew what the fucking was going on, we all sort of went crazy, and it sure nails that. It goes there and it doesn’t give a fuck but I have to respect it for that. Once again, it’s SO annoying at times, and it was actually making me laugh but that’s exactly why it rocks. The guts to go out there and make some shit like this is absolutely awesome. How many people absolutely despised this movie? Shut it off a few minutes in? Ari Aster you are a champion and I hope you continue to keep getting these budgets.
7. Sirat
Mad Max Fury Rave! Fucking insane the best word to describe Sirat is just how “gutsy” it is. Such an evil movie on the audience. The fucking score and non-actors make the whole runtime feel so fresh. Go in blind and just enjoy the trip. Has to be the number one movie right now, that I would want to watch someone else watch for two of the most jaw dropping moments of the year. See this in the loudest room possible and ask questions later.
6. No Other Choice
Never seen anything like this before. PCW legit doing things from the director chair that only he is capable of. Cuts, transitions, shots, whatever the fuck you want to call it the level of technical craft is so admirable. This movie is extremely relevant, more globally relevant than I thought, with the story coming from Korea, and the current climate of work/labor/jobs out there today. A.I. isn’t coming, it’s here and it’s a very scary world out there that is only going to make getting a job that much harder. No Other Choice is extreme at times, but it works quite well showcasing the desperateness someone may go to, just to have a job. I think time is going to be quite kind to this movie, as getting jobs continues to get harder, as well as it being a technical masterpiece. Definitely the best laid off movie that comes to mind.
5. Sorry, Baby
Biggest surprise of the year. Welcome Eva Victor. To create something this beautiful with only a 1,500,000 dollar budget is exactly… why… you… do… it. That’s fucking ridiculous. I still think about how awesome Lucas Hedges is in it. Sorry Baby makes you laugh, cry, and feel all sorts of emotions while not knowing what is going to come next. Couldn’t recommend more to anyone else near my age. Best cat movie of the year!
4. Bugonia
Grown on me ever since finishing. Yorgos back to pure chaos Yorgos form. I think this will continue to age well as time goes on and fit in great with the rest of his work. It baits you to thinking one thing, switches on you, switches again until you just give up and enjoy the show. There’s amazing moments with Starvos and the cousin, but this literally feels like an act off between two of the strongest doing it right now, Plemmons vs Stone. It felt very much at times, like I was watching a sporting event, something like Boxing with them just going blow for blow throughout and taking it to the 12th round. I hope Yorgos and Emma continue to collaborate more together, its very clear they have a strong working chemistry, and its super cool seeing a modern version of those vintage exclusive actor/director duos we are used to seeing.
3. Sentimental Value
Joachim Trier is so cool. Like I can’t stress enough how cool he genuinely is. I hope he stays in Europe and continues with what he’s been doing and not get plagued by Hollywood. After finishing Oslo, August 31st the other night, and then waking up today seeing him nominated for Best Director, I couldn’t be more happier. Sentimental Value is just a beautiful movie, and it’s so cool to see a movie about film making/acting, that’s not a Hollywood production! The Piano Teacher/Irreversible moment may be my favourite scene of the year. I think there’s quite a clear podium here for me with this taking the bronze and the next two movies of course, being a serious level above the rest. Renate continues to be one of the most intriguing working actors we currently have and I hope she continues ripping it. I’m sure it isn’t going to be his last performance, but even if it was, what an absolute capstone from Stellan, this movie wouldn’t be the same with anyone else in that part.
2. Marty Supreme
Benny we are sorry, Josh has all the sauce! New York stand up! Josh has been doing it his whole life so to no surprise Marty Supreme is an awesome trip of a movie. Timmy heater. Three straight Christmas releases, somehow leveling up each time. From Willy Wonka, to Bob Dylan to Marty Mauser (not to mention Paul Atreidies in between) there really is no one doing it like him at the moment. From start to finish, the pulse is so fucking strong. I am so happy Josh got the best director nomination, it is truly so deserving. There are more than a handful of absolutely awesome characters, moments and needle drops. Abel Ferrera? Tyler the Creator? Mr Wonderful? All so fucking sick not to mention to phenomenal female supporting performances from Odessa and Gwyneth. Every character feels so fleshed out and the period piece feels so much more authentic because of it. The title cards to how the movie ended I am an extreme fan of. Doesn’t quite punch like Uncut Gems, but this is an absolute awesome time that I will definitely be revisiting in the future. Chase yo dreams!
1. One Battle After Another
The best movie of the year. Hands down. Not up for debate. Paul Thomas Anderson getting all of the flowers he so deeply deserves. The flowers he deserves more than any one in the industry. If I was in the academy he’d have four by now. We will look back at 2025 and strictly see OBAA, very similar to the likes of Oppenheimer in 2023. He should have won for There Will Be Blood, but maybe if he had, who knows what happens and we never get the likes of the master, phantom thread, and this. When one of the best film makers of the generation makes a movie, especially of this spectacle, especially when Leo has the ball in his hands and especially when Jonny Greenwood is on the score, you better see that shit in theaters. The opening of the movie, the ending of the movie, quite frankly every aspect of the movie is fucking gold. The Star Wars parallels as well as the parallels between PTA and his family life make the movie that much cooler. One Battle After Another is a movie that is going to be watched 100 years from now, and I couldn’t be any fucking happier putting it at number one on my list. I am so thankful for you Paul.