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Published 1/27/2026
Written by: Braylon Mitchell
It was a great year for cinema with many bold, instantly iconic films- and out of all the good to great films that released last year, here is my final ranking of my top ten favorite films of 2025.
*There are no reviews currently linked for the films on this list, as at the time of my making of this list "Watch It, Buddy" was created mere days ago.
*Later added three films to my honorable mentions as they released in February after I created this ranking.
HONORABLE MENTIONS (in alphabetical order)
28 Years Later (Dir. Danny Boyle)
All That's Left of You (Dir. Cherien Dabis)
Frankenstein (Guillermo Del Toro)
Friendship (Dir. Andrew DeYoung)
Hamnet (Dir. Chloe Zhao)
If I Had Legs I'd Kick You (Dir. Mary Bronstein)
Kokuho (Dir. Sang-il Lee)
Little Ameile or the Character of Rain (Dir. Jin Kaung & Maiys Vallade)
No Other Choice (Dir. Park Chan-wook)
Nuremberg (Dir. James Vanderbilt)
The Perfect Neighbor (Dir. Geeta Gandbhir)
Pillion (Dir. Harry Lighton)
Sirat (Dir. Oliver Laxe)
Sorry, Baby (Dir. Eva Victor)
Twinless (Dir. James Sweeney)
The Voice of Hind Rajab (Dir. Kaouther Ben Hania)
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (Dir. Rian Johnson)
Weapons (Dir. Zach Cregger)
#10
Resurrection
(Dir. Bi Gan)
This film is the latest entry into my top ten and the only film on this ranking that I didn't see during the year 2025, but it's a film I'm so glad I didn't skip out on. It's certainly not a film for everyone, it's a nearly three hour surrealist epic about the grandiose of human nature told in five or so chapters that often teeter on experimental filmmaking- but I promise that if you're engaged with it, this film offers one of the most rewarding cinematic expierences of the year. Visually stunning (there's an AMAZING forty or fifty minute oner), visceral direction from Bi Gan who's mastery I wasn't aware of, and at it's ending leaves you with an appreciation for the art of cinema- something that unexpectedly made me quite emotional. This is a bold, visionary film.
#9
Sentimental Value
(Dir. Joachim Trier)
Following up 2021’s The Worst Person in the World was no easy task, but with his newest film Joachim Trier once again proved to us all that he’s one of Europe’s finest filmmakers. The central four performances are powerhouses of human emotion and I still think about the structuring of Trier & Vogt’s wonderful script. The music supervision of this film is some of my personal favorite of the year- man, that “Cannock Chase” needledrop during the ending scene warms the soul. In fact, the entirety of the cathartic ending scene warms the soul. This film is soul-food for cinephiles.
#8
The Secret Agent
(Dir. Kleber Mendonça Filho)
Walking out of the theater after first watching this film, I knew I loved it. A few weeks later, after constant reflecting on it- I knew I really loved it. After a few months, it was clear that this was one of my clear favorites of 2025- it doesn't hurt at all that I've been consistently thrilled by it's success this awards season too. Kleber Mendonça Filho tackles so much with this film, thematically and tonally- nailing it all, his 70s set slow burn tension and surpising playfulness making this a statement piece that sears into your mind. No one has ever looked cooler than Wagner Moura does in this film either.
#7
The Naked Gun
(Dir. Akiva Schaffer)
This is my type of comedy. The type of balls to the walls stupidly clever, mile a minute humor that's tounge in cheek in not taking itself seriously at all- pure silliness, brilliantly written comedic silliness. It's both a love letter to the film series that it's "rebooting" and an absolute gust of studio comedy fresh air that knocked the breath out of this comedy-lover. I think I laughed more in this film than any other film of the past five or so years, and that means something to me. Easily one of my personal favorites of the year.
#6
Blue Moon
(Dir. Richard Linklater)
This is an acclaimed film that received two Oscar nominations, nonetheless I feel like I’m much higher on this film than many people are. I really love this film. As Robert Kaplow’s snappy script captures the atmosphere of a late night in a New York bar where light piano tunes and the monologues of a short man fill the room, I felt utterly enchanted all three times I've seen this film. Steered by a career best, Oscar win worthy performance from Ethan Hawke- this film is sneakingly heartbreaking as it thoroughly entertaining as a chamber piece on such a flamboyant personality in musical theatre history.
#5
Train Dreams
(Dir. Clint Bentley)
The emotional punch that this film throws, no pun intended, hits like a freight train. It's an examination of grief told with mainly montage-like storytelling throughout the life of a logger and by simply watching the life of this man, so much can be learned. Life is short, and precious- and no matter what we loose, that's something we'll all eventually have to hold onto. Not to mention this film's stunning, Malick-esque cinematography that'll be included in those "greatest shots in film history" video compilations forever. This is the one film on this list that didn't just make me genuinely emotional, but cry real tears.
#4
It Was Just An Accident
(Dir. Jafar Panahi)
To me, Jafar Panahi is one of the few masterclass filmmakers alive today. The way he constructs and writes his films speaks to me, particularly his innovative practice of letting wide shot long takes fully breathe in & out and how his heavy handed poltical/social commentary on the people of Iran somehow refuses to come across as unsubtle despite arguably being just that. This film is the culmination of what makes Panahi one of the very best. It's my favorite screenplay of the year, my second favorite directed film of the year, and a film that hasn't left my thoughts since I first saw it- and that's all because of how genius Jafar Panahi's filmmaking is.
#3
Marty Supreme
(Dir. Josh Safdie)
I've seen this film three times and already have solid plans to watch it two more times before the Oscars ceremony on March 15th with different family & friends- and hell, I wouldn't be shocked at all if I end up watching it again sometime after that in the coming year. This film is a ball of cinematic energy- two and a half hours of chaotic Safdie escalation, kinetic editing, a pulsating 80s-inspired retro score set against the great Jack Fisk's immersive 1952 production design & Miyako Bellizzi's costumes, incredible performances from a uniquely compiled cast led by Timothee Chalamet's freshly iconic performance, etc. Watching how excellently crafted and entertaining this film is, I can't help but feel inspired to think "that's the type of film I want to make and want to see more of".
#2
One Battle After Another
(Dir. Paul Thomas Anderson)
Not much that can be said about this film that hasn’t already been clamored by the masses since it premiered to some of the best reviews of the decade back in September. Absolutely hilarious yet dire political satire, instantly iconic characters/performances, one of the greatest car chase sequences committed to film history, a hell of a score by Johnny Greenwood, and much more make this film so damn loveable. Paul Thomas Anderson is a director that’s made many incredible films throughout his career, and by the end of his career this one will certainly be remembered as one of his very best.
#1
Sinners
(Dir. Ryan Coogler)
In my opinion, years from now three films that released in 2025 will unanimously be remembered as some of the best of the 2020s- Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, and of course Sinners. I don't think it's a stretch at all to call Sinners THE film of 2025. A massive cultural impact across all types of auidences, unexpected box office success as one of the highest grossing non-IP films ever, and major awards success resulting in shattering the ninety eight year Academy Award record to become the film with the most nominations in Oscar's history. Everyone loves this film, and if you don't love this film- I'd be willing to bet it's probably because you're aware that everyone else adores this film.
When I first watched this film back in theaters in April, I was certainly excited for it but didn't expect it to be anywhere close to as astounding as it ended up being. In that IMAX theater, I felt my passion for cinema being re-invigorated. It was pure movie magic. Ryan Coogler pulled off something so ambitiously original and fully in line with his distnict vision- reaffirming that no matter how big the studio or budget, if a true auteur director has a strong cinematic vision they can defy all odds and expections. The "Magic What We Do" sequence alone marks a pivotal moment in modern cinema. The first time I saw it, I was in awe during the scene- as my jaw was dropped, I recall thinking "holy sh*t, Coogler's done it". In the moment, I didn't even fully comprehend what "it" was but now I know "it" meant pushing cinema a step further.
I haven't even scratched the surface of all the countless reasons I adore this film, but I believe I've already made that clear. This film is truly riveting, and a film that's brillance will only grow to be admired as time goes by. Sinners is my favorite film of 2025.
Go back and click on the posters of each film for the film's trailer.
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