The 20 Must-Watch Movies of 2025
- Joao Nsita
- 16 hours ago
- 14 min read
Introduction
If 2024 was the year cinema got back on its feet, 2025 was the year it started sprinting. It has been a monumental twelve months for the silver screen, a year defined by audacious swings, genre-bending experiments, and the triumphant return of some of the medium's most revered auteurs. We have seen the boundaries of horror pushed by the Philippou brothers, the reinvention of the sports blockbuster by Joseph Kosinski, and the "Cozy Horror" aesthetic dominate TikTok trends and Pinterest boards alike.
The cinematic landscape of 2025 wasn't just about explosions and capes; it was about the human condition. We saw deep dives into the trauma of war, the hilarity of awkward social interactions, and the complexities of desire in ways that felt entirely new. Whether you are a fan of high-stakes political thrillers or quiet, animated fables about cats navigating a flooded world, this year offered a kaleidoscope of experiences.
In this comprehensive guide, we are breaking down the 20 films that defined the year. We have scoured the reviews, analyzed the box office trends, and debated the merits of every plot twist to bring you this definitive list. So, grab your popcorn, dim the lights, and get ready to update your watchlist.
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Before we dive into the ranking, check out these other curated lists to keep your queue full:
20. Warfare
Director: Alex Garland & Ray Mendoza
Starring: D’Pharoah Woon-A-Tai, Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Joseph Quinn
Genre: War Drama / Biopic
Kicking off our list is a film that redefined the war genre by stripping it down to its rawest, most painful components. After the speculative fiction of Civil War, Alex Garland teamed up with military veteran Ray Mendoza to co-direct Warfare. This isn't a film about the glory of battle; it is an exercise in memory-as-movie.
The film aims to recreate a specific, real-life battle fought by Mendoza and his platoon during the Iraq War. By casting D’Pharoah Woon-A-Tai as a fictionalized version of Mendoza, the directors created a meta-narrative that questions the very nature of truth in storytelling. The absence of traditional Hollywood theatrics—no swelling orchestral scores to tell you how to feel, no slow-motion hero shots—makes the violence feel sudden and sickeningly real.
Why It Matters: In an era of CGI-heavy blockbusters, Warfare relied on practical effects and immersive sound design to place the audience directly in the line of fire. It serves as a potent reminder of the cost of conflict, focusing heavily on the psychological toll on the soldiers.
Who Is This For? Fans of The Hurt Locker and Jarhead who appreciate war films that prioritize soldier psychology over action spectacle.
19. The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet Starring: Adrien Brody, Guy Pearce, Felicity Jones Genre: Historical Drama
Cinema loves a monolith, and The Brutalist is exactly that—a three-hour epic shot in glorious VistaVision that feels like it was carved out of granite. Brady Corbet’s ambitious drama follows László Tóth (Adrien Brody), a Hungarian-born Jewish architect who survives the Holocaust and emigrates to the United States to rebuild his life.
The film chronicles the construction of a massive brutalist structure for a wealthy, enigmatic client (Guy Pearce). The building itself becomes a character, mirroring Tóth’s own rigid, often impenetrable exterior. Yet, beneath the concrete and the steel lies a story of profound resilience and the immigrant experience in mid-century America.
Production Note: The film includes a built-in intermission, a nod to the roadshow theatrical releases of the 1950s and 60s, inviting the audience to treat the viewing as an event.
Why You Should Watch: Adrien Brody gives a career-best performance, capturing the quiet desperation of a man trying to impose order on a chaotic world through architecture. It’s a dense, intellectual film that rewards patience.
18. Frankenstein
Director: Guillermo del Toro Starring: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth Genre: Gothic Horror / Drama
It has been a passion project for nearly two decades, and in 2025, Guillermo del Toro finally unveiled his vision of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. This isn't the bolt-necked monster of the 1930s; this is a tragic, operatic exploration of creator and creation.
Oscar Isaac plays Victor Frankenstein with a manic, obsessive energy, while Jacob Elordi delivers a physically transformative performance as the Creature. Elordi, shedding his heartthrob image, brings a terrifying vulnerability to the role. The makeup effects are practical and grotesque, honoring the body horror roots of the novel while infusing it with del Toro’s signature fairy-tale melancholy.
The Aesthetic: Visually, the film is a feast of Gothic architecture, swirling mists, and candlelit laboratories. It taps into the "Dark Academia" aesthetic that has been trending on Pinterest, offering a lush, romanticized view of 19th-century horror.
Key Scene: The confrontation on the ice, where the Creature demands a mate, is heartbreakingly acted, shifting our sympathies entirely to the "monster."
17. A House Of Dynamite
Director: Kathryn Bigelow Starring: Rebecca Ferguson, Jared Harris, Idris Elba Genre: Real-Time Thriller
Kathryn Bigelow returned to the director's chair with a vengeance in A House Of Dynamite, a film that unfolds in real-time as the US government races to identify the source of an incoming missile strike. Written by Noah Oppenheim, the script is a masterclass in tension.
The film is split into a triptych of perspectives: the Situation Room (led by Idris Elba as the President), the military command center, and a ground-level intelligence operative (Rebecca Ferguson). The editing is frantic, mimicking the panic of the characters. It captures the terrifying fragility of geopolitical peace in the 21st century.
Why It Made the List: Few directors handle tension like Bigelow. A House Of Dynamite does for nuclear anxiety what Zero Dark Thirty did for the manhunt procedural. It leaves you breathless, clutching the armrest until the credits roll.
For more thrilling recommendations, check out our Movie Recommendations Blog.
16. Black Bag
Director: Steven Soderbergh Starring: Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender Genre: Spy Thriller / Romance
Steven Soderbergh asked a simple question: Can spy movies be sexy again? The answer, provided by Black Bag, is a resounding yes. Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett star as a married couple who are both covert operatives for the British National Cyber Security Centre.
When a leak is discovered within the agency, they are tasked with rooting it out, only to discover they are investigating each other. The film plays like Mr. & Mrs. Smith aimed at the arthouse crowd, filled with sharp, witty dialogue penned by David Koepp. The chemistry between Blanchett and Fassbender is electric, turning every interrogation scene into foreplay.
Style Watch: The costumes in this film are impeccable, sparking a "Spy Chic" trend on TikTok. Expect to see a lot of trench coats and turtlenecks this winter.
Listen to our episodes here for more stories about complicated relationships.
15. The Naked Gun
Director: Akiva Schaffer Starring: Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson Genre: Spoof / Comedy
In a year of heavy dramas, The Naked Gun reboot provided the belly laughs we desperately needed. Akiva Schaffer (of The Lonely Island fame) understood that the key to this franchise isn't the jokes—it's playing them straight. Enter Liam Neeson as Detective Frank Drebin Jr.
Neeson, known for his grim action roles, proves to be a comedic genius here. His deadpan delivery makes the absurdity of the visual gags land perfectly. From infinite coffee cups to a snowman montage that defies physics, the film is a barrage of silliness. It proves that the spoof genre isn't dead; it just needed a serious actor to resurrect it.
Why It Works: It respects the legacy of Leslie Nielsen while updating the humor for modern sensibilities without losing the anarchic spirit of the original.
14. Bugonia
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos Starring: Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons Genre: Sci-Fi Satire / Dark Comedy
The creative partnership between Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone shows no signs of slowing down. Bugonia, a remake of the Korean cult classic Save The Green Planet!, is arguably their weirdest collaboration yet.
Stone plays Michelle Fuller, a pharmaceutical CEO kidnapped by conspiracy theorists (Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis) who are convinced she is an alien reptile planning to destroy Earth. The film oscillates between torture porn, slapstick comedy, and tragic drama. It captures the paranoia of the modern age, where truth is subjective and conspiracy theories ruin lives.
The "Bugonia" Effect: Stone’s shaved head in the film became an iconic image of 2025 cinema, symbolizing a stripping away of vanity that resonated with audiences tired of polished, filter-heavy media.
13. F1
Director: Joseph Kosinski Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Javier Bardem Genre: Sports Action
If Top Gun: Maverick put you in the cockpit, F1 puts you in the driver's seat. Joseph Kosinski utilized similar technology, bolting IMAX cameras onto actual Formula 1 cars during real Grand Prix weekends to capture the speed and violence of the sport.
Brad Pitt stars as Sonny Hayes, a retired driver lured back to the grid to mentor a young prodigy (Damson Idris). While the plot hits familiar sports movie beats, the execution is unparalleled. The sound design alone—the screaming V6 hybrids, the screech of tyres—is worth the price of admission. It’s a visceral, adrenaline-fueled ride that even non-racing fans loved.
Cultural Impact: The film has led to a massive spike in F1 viewership in the US, continuing the trend started by Drive to Survive.
12. Hard Truths
Director: Mike Leigh Starring: Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Michele Austin Genre: Social Realist Drama
Reuniting nearly 30 years after Secrets & Lies, Mike Leigh and Marianne Jean-Baptiste delivered a film that is excruciatingly real. Hard Truths follows Pansy (Jean-Baptiste), a woman so consumed by bitterness and misery that she scorches everyone around her.
It is not an easy watch. Pansy is difficult, rude, and unhappy. Yet, Leigh peels back the layers to show the profound pain driving her behavior. It is a study of mental health, family dynamics, and the quiet tragedies of everyday life. The "babies and pockets" rant scene is already being hailed as a classic monologue.
Why It Made the List: It reminds us that cinema doesn't need special effects to be powerful; it just needs truth.
11. Nickel Boys
Director: RaMell Ross Starring: Ethan Herisse, Brandon Wilson, Daveed Diggs Genre: Historical Drama
Adapting Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel was always going to be a challenge, but director RaMell Ross made a bold choice: he shot the entire film from the first-person perspective (POV) of the protagonists.
This technique immerses the viewer in the harrowing reality of the Nickel Academy, a reform school in Jim Crow-era Florida where abuse was rampant. We see what the boys see; we fear what they fear. It transforms a historical drama into a deeply personal, almost VR-like experience of survival and trauma.
Key Performance: Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor shines as the grandmother, her performance largely delivered directly into the camera lens, creating an intimacy that is heartbreaking.
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10. Pillion
Director: Harry Lighton Starring: Alexander Skarsgård, Harry Melling Genre: Romantic Comedy / Drama
Number 10 on our list is perhaps the most unconventional romance of the year. Pillion is a "dom-com" exploring the BDSM relationship between a timid gay man (Harry Melling) and an enigmatic biker (Alexander Skarsgård).
While the premise suggests titillation, the film is actually a tender exploration of consent, boundaries, and finding one's tribe. It treats the leather community with respect rather than ridicule. Melling is fantastic as a man discovering his own desires, and Skarsgård uses his imposing physicality to play a character who is surprisingly nurturing.
Connection to Audio Drama: If you enjoy stories about unconventional love and finding your perfect match, check out our audio rom-coms on That Love Podcast. We explore similar themes of connection and self-discovery (minus the leather... mostly).
9. I Swear
Director: Kirk Jones Starring: Robert Aramayo Genre: Biopic / Drama
The "Feel-Good Movie of the Year" title goes to I Swear. Based on the true story of John Davidson, a Scottish activist with severe Tourette’s syndrome, the film navigates the line between humor and heartache with grace.
Robert Aramayo delivers a transformative performance, capturing the physical tics of Tourette’s without ever descending into caricature. The film explores the cruelty of society towards those who are different, but ultimately focuses on Davidson's resilience and advocacy. It’s a warm, empathetic film that champions the underdog.
Trivia: The film received a 10-minute standing ovation at the Toronto International Film Festival.
8. 28 Years Later
Director: Danny Boyle Starring: Cillian Murphy, Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson Genre: Horror / Sci-Fi
Decades after redefining the zombie genre with 28 Days Later, Danny Boyle and Alex Garland returned to the rage-infected UK. 28 Years Later ignores the events of the second film to tell a direct sequel story about a nation trying—and failing—to rebuild.
The film is split into two distinct halves. The first is a high-octane survival thriller featuring Aaron Taylor-Johnson protecting his son. The second is a more contemplative, soulful journey featuring Jodie Comer and original star Cillian Murphy. It balances the terror of the infected with a profound look at legacy and trauma.
Visual Style: Shot partly on iPhone 16 Pros to mimic the gritty digital video look of the original, it successfully bridges the gap between 2002 and 2025 filmmaking technology.
7. Predator: Badlands
Director: Dan Trachtenberg Starring: Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi Genre: Sci-Fi / Action
After the success of Prey, Dan Trachtenberg was given the keys to the Predator kingdom, and he took us to space. Badlands flips the script entirely, making the Predator (a runt of the litter named Dek) the protagonist.
Set on a "Death Planet," the film follows Dek as he is hunted by other Predators and human mercenaries. Elle Fanning plays a synthetic android who forms an unlikely alliance with the alien hunter. It’s a daring, weird, and visually stunning expansion of the lore that feels more like a dark fantasy epic than a standard slasher.
Why It Works: It humanizes the monster without removing his lethality, creating a unique anti-hero journey.
6. Bring Her Back
Director: Danny & Michael Philippou Starring: Sally Hawkins, Billy Barratt Genre: Horror
The Philippou brothers (RackaRacka) proved Talk To Me was no fluke with Bring Her Back. This A24 horror film dives deep into the terrors of grief and foster care. Sally Hawkins plays a foster mother whose obsession with her deceased daughter leads her to subject her new charges to terrifying rituals.
The film is relentless. It combines the kinetic camera work the directors are famous for with a deeply disturbing emotional core. Hawkins is terrifying, flipping between maternal warmth and psychotic rage in seconds. It cemented the Philippous as the new kings of modern horror.
Horror Trend: This film fits perfectly into the "Elevated Horror" trend, merging jump scares with complex psychological drama.
5. Flow
Director: Gints Zilbalodis Genre: Animation / Adventure
In a world of loud, dialogue-heavy animated films, Flow was a breath of fresh air. Created by a small team using Blender software, this dialogue-free masterpiece follows a black cat navigating a world that is slowly being submerged by water.
The cat teams up with a capybara, a lemur, a dog, and a secretary bird on a boat. The interactions between the animals are realistic—they don't speak, they just behave like animals. It is a visual poem about cooperation, climate change, and survival. It won the Best Animated Feature Oscar, beating out major studio releases, proving that story and style matter more than budget.
For Families: This is a perfect movie to watch with kids, teaching empathy and resilience without a single word being spoken.
4. The Ballad Of Wallis Island
Director: James Griffiths Starring: Tim Key, Carey Mulligan, Tom Basden Genre: Comedy / Drama
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Tim Key has long been a cult comedy hero, but The Ballad Of Wallis Island made him a mainstream star. Adapted from a short film, it follows Charles (Key), a lonely lottery winner living on a remote island who pays his favorite disbanded folk duo (Mulligan and Basden) to reunite for a private concert.
The film is hilarious, filled with Key’s trademark absurdism and poetry. But it is also deeply moving, exploring themes of loneliness, wealth, and the healing power of music. Carey Mulligan shows off her comedic chops and a surprisingly great singing voice. It’s the "comfort movie" of the year.
British Charm: For fans of British humor, this film sits right alongside classics like Local Hero and Withnail & I. Read more about British cinema in our article on 12 Classic British Christmas Movies.
3. Weapons
Director: Zach Cregger Starring: Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Benedict Wong Genre: Horror Anthology
Zach Cregger followed up Barbarian with Weapons, a sprawling, interconnected horror epic that feels like Magnolia with demons. The film weaves together multiple storylines in the town of Maybrook, all centering on the disappearance of a school class.
From Josh Brolin’s grieving father to Julia Garner’s terrified teacher, the cast is stacked. Cregger balances terrifying scares with moments of dark comedy perfectly. The "Aunt Gladys" segment became an instant viral sensation on TikTok, with users recreating the character’s eerie movements.
Why It’s Top 3: It ambitiously reinvigorated the anthology format, proving that horror can be epic in scope.
2. One Battle After Another
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Teyana Taylor Genre: Action Comedy / Thriller
Paul Thomas Anderson making a "dad movie" action-comedy? It sounded impossible, but it turned out to be brilliant. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as a washed-up former radical raising his daughter off the grid. When his past catches up to him, he has to go on the run.
The film is chaotic, funny, and thrilling. It’s PTA’s most accessible movie in years, channeling the energy of 70s chase movies but with his signature visual flair. DiCaprio is hilarious as a man constantly out of his depth, and the needle drops are perfection.
Why It Works: It deconstructs the "action hero" trope while still delivering satisfying action beats. It’s revolutionary cinema delivered with a wink.
1. Sinners
Director: Ryan Coogler Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Jack O'Connell, Hailee Steinfeld Genre: Period Horror / Thriller
Taking the number one spot for 2025 is Sinners. Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan reunited to create a vampire movie unlike anything we have seen before. Set in 1930s Jim Crow Mississippi, Jordan plays twin brothers returning to their hometown, only to find it besieged by an ancient evil.
The film is a masterclass in atmosphere. It blends the real-world horror of racism with the supernatural terror of vampires. The "vampires" here aren't sexy aristocrats; they are feral, terrifying forces of nature. The blues-infused score by Ludwig Göransson becomes the heartbeat of the film.
The Verdict: Sinners is everything you want a movie to be: scary, smart, emotional, and visually spectacular. It reclaims the vampire genre and roots it deeply in American history. It is, without a doubt, the must-watch movie of 2025.
Conclusion
From the swamps of Mississippi in Sinners to the flooded landscapes of Flow, the movies of 2025 took us to worlds both terrifying and beautiful. We saw the revival of the spoof, the elevation of the biopic, and horror movies that dared to be funny.
Cinema is evolving, becoming more inclusive, more experimental, and more accessible than ever. Whether you streamed these at home or saw them on the biggest IMAX screen possible, the stories told this year will linger in our cultural memory for decades to come.
As we look forward to 2026, one thing is clear: the movies are back, and they are better than ever.
FAQs
What is the best movie of 2025? Sinners directed by Ryan Coogler is widely considered the best movie of the year due to its originality, performances, and cultural resonance.
Where can I stream The Brutalist? The Brutalist is available to stream on major platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+ following its theatrical run.
Is 28 Years Later a sequel? Yes, it is a direct sequel to 28 Days Later, ignoring the events of 28 Weeks Later.
Are there any good comedies in 2025? The Naked Gun reboot and The Ballad Of Wallis Island are the standout comedies of the year.
What is the scariest movie of 2025? Bring Her Back and Weapons are tied for the scariest experiences, offering psychological and supernatural horror respectively.
Is Flow suitable for children? Yes, Flow is a dialogue-free animated film that is suitable for families, though it deals with some perilous situations.
Did Brad Pitt actually drive the car in F1? Yes, Brad Pitt drove modified Formula 2 cars during actual Grand Prix weekends to capture authentic racing footage.
What genre is Pillion? Pillion is a romantic comedy-drama with BDSM themes, focusing on the relationship between a biker and a timid man.
Is Warfare based on a true story? Warfare is based on the real-life memories and experiences of co-director Ray Mendoza during the Iraq War.
Where can I find more movie recommendations? You can find more curated lists on our Movie Recommendations Blog.
External Links
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