My Favorite (Best) Movies of 2025: Personal Highlights and Hidden Gems
2025 was an exceptionally prolific year for me in terms of watching movies and writing film reviews. I followed the film industry more closely than ever before, watching nearly 100 films in total—around 80 of which were 2025 releases, with the rest being must-watch classics from previous years that I finally caught up on. As the year comes to an end, I'm excited to share my personal favorites and why they stood out to me. These aren't ranked in any strict order; they're simply the ones that resonated most deeply.
1. Frankenstein (2025)
Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein (2025) is a breathtaking adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic novel, blending deep philosophical themes with stunning visuals. I loved it for its profound exploration of life, death, belief, God, and humanity, all brought to life through del Toro's signature style and heavy reliance on practical effects. The film stars Oscar Isaac as the brilliant but egotistical Dr. Victor Frankenstein, who creates a creature (Jacob Elordi) in a monstrous experiment that ultimately destroys both creator and creation. This tragic story of ambition, isolation, and the search for acceptance is elevated by del Toro's passionate, lyrical direction, making it not just a horror film but an emotional character study. The gothic atmosphere, powerful performances, and thoughtful commentary on what it means to be human left me in awe—easily one of the most meaningful adaptations I've seen.
Jafar Panahi's It Was Just an Accident (2025) is a deeply moving thriller that stayed with me long after the credits rolled. The story was gripping and emotionally resonant, and discovering that Panahi is Iranian Azerbaijani added a personal layer—especially in two poignant scenes where the protagonist speaks Azerbaijani with her mother, a rare and touching representation in Iranian cinema. The plot follows Vahid, a modest Azerbaijani auto mechanic and former political prisoner, who encounters a man he believes to be his sadistic jailer from years ago. This chance meeting spirals into a tense moral dilemma as Vahid and other ex-prisoners grapple with revenge, identity, and forgiveness. Panahi's defiant storytelling, blending dark comedy with raw political commentary, won the Palme d'Or at Cannes and feels like a miracle of filmmaking under constraints. It's a gripping rebuke of authoritarianism that moved me profoundly.
Park Chan-wook's No Other Choice (2025) is a brilliant, visually stunning Korean black comedy that masterfully satirizes unemployment and capitalism's ruthlessness. The dark humor and sharp social commentary made it unforgettable. The story centers on Man-su (Lee Byung-hun), a middle-class paper industry expert laid off after decades of loyal service. Desperate after years of joblessness, he hatches an absurd yet chilling plan: posing as a recruiter to identify and eliminate his top competitors for a new position. As his scheme escalates into serial murder, the film explores desperation, emasculation, and corporate indifference with mordant wit and stylistic flair. Park's ornate plotting and visceral thrills turn this into a chilling state-of-the-nation satire, drawing comparisons to Parasite while standing on its own as a masterpiece of tonal mastery.
As a longtime Predator fan, I was shocked and speechless by the animated Predator: Killer of Killers (2025)—its visuals are breathtaking, relying heavily on visual storytelling that left me in awe. This anthology follows three fierce historical warriors—a Viking raider seeking revenge with her son, a ninja in feudal Japan battling his samurai brother for succession, and a WWII pilot investigating an otherworldly threat—who become prey for the ultimate hunter: the Predator. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, the stories interconnect into a larger saga, showcasing brutal, creative action and expanding the franchise's lore in innovative ways. The animation's ferocity and gore elevate the hunts to epic levels, making this a visceral, thrilling addition that's perfect for fans craving more Predator mythology.
I adore mystery stories, and Rian Johnson's Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025) surprised me with its clever locked-room puzzle and soulful themes. Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) investigates an impossible murder in a small-town church led by a charismatic but divisive preacher. A young priest becomes the prime suspect in the stabbing of Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, found dead in a sealed alcove during a service—no one entered or exited. Blanc teams with local police to unravel secrets of faith, division, and hidden motives among the congregation. Johnson's witty script explores religion, forgiveness, and tribalism in modern America, delivering twists, humor, and emotional depth. It's the most moving entry in the series yet.
Paul Thomas Anderson's critically acclaimed One Battle After Another (2025) is a revolutionary thriller with deep themes, a heartfelt father-daughter story, and moments of unexpected humor that had me laughing amid the intensity. Loosely inspired by Thomas Pynchon, it follows ex-revolutionary Bob (Leonardo DiCaprio), living off-grid in paranoia with his spirited teen daughter Willa (Chase Infiniti). When a corrupt military officer from their past resurfaces, kidnapping Willa, Bob reunites with old comrades for a high-stakes rescue, confronting betrayal, resistance, and family bonds. The film's timely commentary on authoritarianism, blended with explosive action and emotional resonance, makes it a thundering epic of defiance and tenderness.
2025 was a Predator festival with two standout entries—I already loved Killer of Killers, and Predator: Badlands (2025) delivered more thrilling action. Set on a deadly remote planet, it follows a young outcast Predator who allies with a damaged android (Elle Fanning) on a treacherous journey to face the ultimate adversary. Dan Trachtenberg's direction flips the franchise by making the Predator a heroic figure in a survival saga full of world-building, stunning visuals, and intense battles. The buddy dynamic and mythological expansion make it a fresh, entertaining evolution.
The Roses (2025) prompted deep reflection on relationships—sometimes hilarious, sometimes absurd, always compelling. This dark comedy reimagines a picture-perfect couple, Theo (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Ivy (Olivia Colman), whose marriage unravels as professional jealousies ignite fierce resentment. What starts as subtle competition escalates into outrageous sabotage over their dream home and life. The sharp satire on ambition, ego, and domestic warfare, fueled by stellar chemistry, turns toxic love into biting entertainment.
As a dystopia fan, I was thrilled to see Stephen King's The Long Walk (2025) adapted for the big screen. In a totalitarian America, 50 teenage boys compete in an annual deadly contest: walk endlessly at a minimum speed or face execution—the last one standing wins anything they desire. The film explores camaraderie, despair, and survival through raw performances and unrelenting tension.
I don't usually care for racing or Formula 1, but F1: The Movie (2025) hooked me from start to finish—entertaining, informative, and thrilling. Brad Pitt stars as Sonny Hayes, a retired 1990s F1 prodigy who returns to mentor a rookie and save a struggling team from collapse. Packed with authentic high-speed action and behind-the-scenes insights into the sport, it's a comeback story of redemption and teamwork.
2. It Was Just an Accident (2025)
Jafar Panahi's It Was Just an Accident (2025) is a deeply moving thriller that stayed with me long after the credits rolled. The story was gripping and emotionally resonant, and discovering that Panahi is Iranian Azerbaijani added a personal layer—especially in two poignant scenes where the protagonist speaks Azerbaijani with her mother, a rare and touching representation in Iranian cinema. The plot follows Vahid, a modest Azerbaijani auto mechanic and former political prisoner, who encounters a man he believes to be his sadistic jailer from years ago. This chance meeting spirals into a tense moral dilemma as Vahid and other ex-prisoners grapple with revenge, identity, and forgiveness. Panahi's defiant storytelling, blending dark comedy with raw political commentary, won the Palme d'Or at Cannes and feels like a miracle of filmmaking under constraints. It's a gripping rebuke of authoritarianism that moved me profoundly.
3. No Other Choice (2025)
Park Chan-wook's No Other Choice (2025) is a brilliant, visually stunning Korean black comedy that masterfully satirizes unemployment and capitalism's ruthlessness. The dark humor and sharp social commentary made it unforgettable. The story centers on Man-su (Lee Byung-hun), a middle-class paper industry expert laid off after decades of loyal service. Desperate after years of joblessness, he hatches an absurd yet chilling plan: posing as a recruiter to identify and eliminate his top competitors for a new position. As his scheme escalates into serial murder, the film explores desperation, emasculation, and corporate indifference with mordant wit and stylistic flair. Park's ornate plotting and visceral thrills turn this into a chilling state-of-the-nation satire, drawing comparisons to Parasite while standing on its own as a masterpiece of tonal mastery.
4. Predator: Killer of Killers (2025)
As a longtime Predator fan, I was shocked and speechless by the animated Predator: Killer of Killers (2025)—its visuals are breathtaking, relying heavily on visual storytelling that left me in awe. This anthology follows three fierce historical warriors—a Viking raider seeking revenge with her son, a ninja in feudal Japan battling his samurai brother for succession, and a WWII pilot investigating an otherworldly threat—who become prey for the ultimate hunter: the Predator. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, the stories interconnect into a larger saga, showcasing brutal, creative action and expanding the franchise's lore in innovative ways. The animation's ferocity and gore elevate the hunts to epic levels, making this a visceral, thrilling addition that's perfect for fans craving more Predator mythology.
5. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025)
I adore mystery stories, and Rian Johnson's Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025) surprised me with its clever locked-room puzzle and soulful themes. Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) investigates an impossible murder in a small-town church led by a charismatic but divisive preacher. A young priest becomes the prime suspect in the stabbing of Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, found dead in a sealed alcove during a service—no one entered or exited. Blanc teams with local police to unravel secrets of faith, division, and hidden motives among the congregation. Johnson's witty script explores religion, forgiveness, and tribalism in modern America, delivering twists, humor, and emotional depth. It's the most moving entry in the series yet.
6. One Battle After Another (2025)
Paul Thomas Anderson's critically acclaimed One Battle After Another (2025) is a revolutionary thriller with deep themes, a heartfelt father-daughter story, and moments of unexpected humor that had me laughing amid the intensity. Loosely inspired by Thomas Pynchon, it follows ex-revolutionary Bob (Leonardo DiCaprio), living off-grid in paranoia with his spirited teen daughter Willa (Chase Infiniti). When a corrupt military officer from their past resurfaces, kidnapping Willa, Bob reunites with old comrades for a high-stakes rescue, confronting betrayal, resistance, and family bonds. The film's timely commentary on authoritarianism, blended with explosive action and emotional resonance, makes it a thundering epic of defiance and tenderness.
7. Predator: Badlands (2025)
2025 was a Predator festival with two standout entries—I already loved Killer of Killers, and Predator: Badlands (2025) delivered more thrilling action. Set on a deadly remote planet, it follows a young outcast Predator who allies with a damaged android (Elle Fanning) on a treacherous journey to face the ultimate adversary. Dan Trachtenberg's direction flips the franchise by making the Predator a heroic figure in a survival saga full of world-building, stunning visuals, and intense battles. The buddy dynamic and mythological expansion make it a fresh, entertaining evolution.
8. The Roses (2025)
The Roses (2025) prompted deep reflection on relationships—sometimes hilarious, sometimes absurd, always compelling. This dark comedy reimagines a picture-perfect couple, Theo (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Ivy (Olivia Colman), whose marriage unravels as professional jealousies ignite fierce resentment. What starts as subtle competition escalates into outrageous sabotage over their dream home and life. The sharp satire on ambition, ego, and domestic warfare, fueled by stellar chemistry, turns toxic love into biting entertainment.
9. The Long Walk (2025)
As a dystopia fan, I was thrilled to see Stephen King's The Long Walk (2025) adapted for the big screen. In a totalitarian America, 50 teenage boys compete in an annual deadly contest: walk endlessly at a minimum speed or face execution—the last one standing wins anything they desire. The film explores camaraderie, despair, and survival through raw performances and unrelenting tension.
10. F1: The Movie (2025)
I don't usually care for racing or Formula 1, but F1: The Movie (2025) hooked me from start to finish—entertaining, informative, and thrilling. Brad Pitt stars as Sonny Hayes, a retired 1990s F1 prodigy who returns to mentor a rookie and save a struggling team from collapse. Packed with authentic high-speed action and behind-the-scenes insights into the sport, it's a comeback story of redemption and teamwork.
These were my top 10 favorites—the films I consider the best of 2025 for their impact on me. There were so many other great movies this year that I couldn't fit detailed thoughts on all, but here are more standout 2025 releases I highly recommend:
- If I Had Legs I'd Kick You (2025)
- Roofman (2025)
- Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 (2025)
- Train Dreams (2025)
- The Shadow’s Edge (2025)
- Bugonia (2025)
- The Perfect Neighbor (2025)
- Black Bag (2025)
- Good Fortune (2025)
- A House of Dynamite (2025)
- Blue Moon (2025)
- Bhagwat Chapter One: Raakshas (2025)
- A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (2025)
- The Woman in Cabin 10 (2025)
- The Lost Bus (2025)
- She Rides Shotgun (2025)
- Sinners (2025)
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)
- Freakier Friday (2025)
- Dracula: A Love Tale (2025)
- Weapons (2025)
- Superman (2025)
- 28 Years Later (2025)
- Mickey 17 (2025)
- Jay Kelly (2025)
- Sentimental Value (2025)
- The Great Flood (2025)
You can find my detailed and honest reviews for all these movies (and more) on my blog—just search for the title in the top-right corner. What were your favorites from 2025? Let's discuss in the comments!
