Top 5 Movies of 2025
Tell me what 2025 movies I should watch before the year ends!
1. Sinners absolutely blew me away. It’s visually gorgeous, rich with culture and soul, and it delivers on the horror. The vampires were everything I hoped they would be for a Southern-gothic setting. The cast is phenomenal, with standout performances from Michael B. Jordan and Miles Caton. Miles has a voice like honey, and I was completely enamored—especially during the music sequence that shows how music transcends time and space across generations. I do wish they left Hailee Steinfeld’s big moments out of the trailer, she was as gorgeous as ever though.
2. The Long Walk was devastating and beautiful. It’s my favorite Stephen King (Richard Bachman) novel, and the adaptation captured so much of what I love about it. I do wish they had stuck with the original bleak ending, but I understand why they chose a different direction. David Jonsson easily became my favorite actor of 2025 after this.
3. Avatar: Fire and Ash was stunning. I’m a huge James Cameron and Avatar universe fan, and I never want it to end. I could happily sit in a theater for 10 hours just immersed in Pandora. Some of the dialogue was cheesy, but the themes of family—and burning the world down for the people you love and what you believe in—really hit home. And Oona Chaplin was a complete breath of fresh air. She was the baddie I didn’t even know I needed this year. I pray we get the 4th and 5th film. I’m looking forward to seeing it again before it leaves theaters.
4. Weapons felt so original. I loved this film—it scared me, kept me guessing, and even had me cackling. I loved the chapter breakdown for each character, and the ending was pure chef’s kiss in my mind. Amy Madigan gave one of my favorite performances of 2025 and is an icon to me now. She was deeply eerie, and I’ve been waiting for someone to portray a witch in such a new, chilling way. I want more of Gladys—I need to know where she comes from!
5. Hamnet. My gosh—what a powerful film. My last post was my mini-review of it, but it deserves repeating. I read the book, which is not my usual genre, and I loved it. Maggie O’Farrell has such a beautiful way of stringing words together, and the story haunted me, moved me, and devastated me. It’s an incredible portrait of grief, and Jessie Buckley was absolutely mesmerizing.
Having watched several of the standout movies from 2025, I can personally attest to the broad range of emotions and cinematic styles they offer. For instance, "Sinners" truly redefines the vampire genre by blending Southern gothic elements with profound cultural storytelling — the performances by Michael B. Jordan and Miles Caton are particularly noteworthy for bringing the complex characters to life. The musical sequence in "Sinners" resonated with me deeply; it’s rare to see a film depict music as a timeless connective force across generations, making it a memorable theater experience. On the other end of the emotional spectrum, "The Long Walk," adapted from Stephen King’s novel under his pseudonym Richard Bachman, offers a haunting look at endurance and despair. The adaptation’s choice to soften the ending stirred some debate, but it still managed to capture the novel's powerful themes and keep me hooked throughout. David Jonsson's portrayal added layers of intensity that elevated the film beyond typical thriller fare. Fans of visually immersive universes will find "Avatar: Fire and Ash" an absolute treat. I appreciated the film’s exploration of family loyalty and sacrifice, wrapped in the spectacular worldbuilding James Cameron is known for. Despite some cheesy lines, the movie's heart and Oona Chaplin’s villainous role provided a new and exciting dynamic to the Avatar saga. "Weapons" is a unique addition to this year’s lineup — it kept me guessing with its intriguing, segmented storytelling that delves into each character’s psyche. Amy Madigan’s eerie portrayal of Gladys breathed new life into the archetype of the witch, blending horror with dark humor. This film’s originality and narrative style left me eager for more background on its mysterious characters. Finally, "Hamnet," based on Maggie O’Farrell’s evocative novel and directed by Chloé Zhao, stands out as an emotionally devastating portrayal of grief. Jessie Buckley’s mesmerizing performance anchored this intimate film, which stayed with me long after the credits rolled. Its poetic storytelling reminds us of the power of cinema to portray human vulnerability in profound ways. Whether you’re into horror, drama, or epic fantasy, these top films of 2025 offer something for every movie lover. I recommend making time to see them before the year ends, as each contributes uniquely to the landscape of contemporary cinema.
I'm surprised that Minecraft Movie isn't on the list.