As always, it all leads up to this! The Best Films of the Year! My favorite list to do AND my hardest list to do. Life’s like that sometimes, isn’t it? And isn’t that fascinating?

Anyway, sorry, where was I? Oh yes, my Best Films of 2025!

Films

20. Dust Bunny- Think The Professional (Leon if you’re nasty) minus the creepy sex vibes but plus monsters and a sharper sense of humor. Sounds great, right? It is!

19. She Rides Shotgun- Certain movies feel like Tim Stevens movies. A relatively low-budget film about a father and daughter trying to outrun cops and crooks and rediscovering their bond is such a movie.

18. Twinless- Hey, everybody. Dylan O’Brien is a strange dude star. Time to get onboard if you aren’t already.

17. Bob Trevino Likes It- This one was a great surprise. As open-hearted and human as any film released in 2025.

16. Companion- There is a version of this list that exists with Heart Eyes in this spot. While that film is a blast, this one is just stronger. A weird sci-fi/horror cousin to Ruby Sparks, it explores what happens when a man gets his dream girl, only to find the ugliness in him ruins everything.

15. Hamnet

14. Sirāt- A rave in hell meets Sorcerer (or Wages of Fear if you must). But even that doesn’t fully do it justice.

13. No Other Choice- The most intelligent criticism of the excesses of capitalism released this year, and a damn tense film to boot.

12. The Mastermind- I never stopped to think, “What if Kelly Reichardt made a heist film?” The Mastermind demonstrates why that was very dumb of me.

11. Weapons- There are a lot of reasons to enjoy this movie, but for me, it came down to two moments. The opening of a hatchback trunk and the sight of a swarm of children literally tumbling through every obstacle in their way. If you know, you know.

10. The Secret Agent

9. Sorry, Baby- What a debut. Smart, kind, and honest.

8. Marty Supreme- I had sort of forgotten how great Chalamet can be after that Wonka prequel. (I know some people like it. I respectfully disagree.) This is an excellent reminder. Jittery, unafraid of being unpleasant, and strangely moving. I think I still prefer Uncut Gems, but it is by a nose.

7. The Knife- Utterly heartbreaking and deeply unnerving. Plays everything so small and real, it took me a long time to shake this one off.

6. Eephus- A simple tale impeccably told.

5. Black Bag- There’s not a moment in this spy drama I’d change. Wonderfully shot (love the warmness of the lights) and featuring the best married couple of the year.

4. Wake Up Dead Man- Breaking with formula to deliver a film deeper than its predecessors without sacrificing much of what made those two previous films such delightful charmers.

3. Sentimental Value

2. One Battle After Another- There’s not a moment of this where I felt its running time. Everyone involved is operating at the absolute top of their game. Plus, it is fun. Like, how did that happen?

1. Sinners- This movie has two of the best scenes of the year within like 20 minutes of each other. And if they were 11/10s (and they were), the rest of the movie operates at like a 9.75/10.

Worst (in no particular order)

War of the Worlds- What if Amazon made a feature-length commercial for itself? What if, even by those standards, they did a terrible job?

Hurry Up Tomorrow- The Weeknd has many talents. TV and film do not appear to be among them. No shame in that. Well, no shame as long as he stops making either.

Most Anticipated of 2026 (in no particular order)

Digger- I’m not a huge Iñárritu guy. If anything, I’m more negative on him than positive. But Tom Cruise stepping away from the Mission: Impossible franchise (though I love it) and making something very different again? Yes please. Maybe this is his first step towards getting back to making the sort of choices he was making pre-2014.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day- I liked Spider-Man, ok? And with the franchise getting a new director to match its new direction, I’m curious.

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come- The first one was a delight. This one adds Kathryn Newton and several others. So very here for it.

Disclosure Day- Spielberg sci-fi. I’m not above that sort of thing.