Top 15 Films of 2025 – Allen’s Picks
2025 felt like a transitional year for the movies, a lot of which was not good. Several big screen legends left us, including (but not limited to) Diane Keaton, Robert Redford, Gene Hackman, Val Kilmer, and David Lynch. Of course, the industry is still in shock from the untimely passing of Rob Reiner. There have also been big changes within the studio system, with Netflix’s purchase of Warner Bros. leaving the clash between theatrical releases and streaming even more in question. And we can’t forget the further escalation of Artificial Intelligence in nearly all aspects of entertainment, putting the livelihoods of hard-working artists into deeper jeopardy. It seems no matter where we look, the state of movies is rapidly entering unknown territory.
With the way things are going, the need for good films is as vital as ever. Thankfully, 2025 delivered a plethora of excellent offerings from across the globe. From the biggest blockbusters to obscure art house releases, from the emergence of new voices to the return of masters showing us how its down, there was no shortage of worthy films to explore throughout the year. Despite all the instability the cinematic world is in right now, the movies have endured and will continue to do so for quite some time. How it adapts – or doesn’t – with the changing times is yet to be seen. But as my top list shows, cinema has proven itself to be a means of escape, reflection, and perhaps more importantly, survival.
As is the tradition around these parts, I begin with my Honorable Mentions. These are the films I enjoyed or just flat out loved, but couldn’t quite fit them into the starting rotation:
Black Bag, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, Inheritance, Norm’s Rare Guitars Documentary, The Gorge, Paddington in Peru, Queen of the Ring, Seven Veils, The Monkey, Mickey 17, Novocaine, The Friend, Freaky Tales, Presence, One of Them Days, The Wedding Banquet, Dead Mail, Havoc, Fight or Flight, Warfare, Sharp Corner, The Ugly Stepsister, Final Destination: Bloodlines, Drop, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Lost in Starlight, The Phoenician Scheme, Predator: Killer of Killers, Ballerina, Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim, Materialists, Elio, 28 Years Later, F1, I’m Your Venus, Superman, Long Distance, Wall to Wall, Jaws @ 50, Kpop Demon Hunters, Fantastic Four: First Steps, Together, The Naked Gun, Eddington, Dongji Rescue, Highest 2 Lowest, Katrina: Come Hell or High Water, The Thursday Murder Club, Splitsville, Friendship, The Bad Guys 2, Secret Mall Apartment, Deaf President Now, Ne Zha 2, The Lost Bus, WTO/99, To Kill a Wolf, Not One Drop of Blood, The Alabama Solution, Bring Her Back, Wolf Land, Who Killed the Montreal Expos?, Bone Lake, Black Phone 2, Twinless, Lurker, Good Boy, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, Frankenstein, Cloud, Predator: Badlands, Christy, Love+War, Wick is Pain, The Plague, Reflection in a Dead Diamond, Soulemayne’s Story, The Legend of Ochi, Hedda, Blue Moon, Rebuilding, April, Arco, Keeper, Left-Handed Girl, No Other Choice, The Testament of Ann Lee, Rental Family, Dead Man’s Wire, Merrily We Roll Along, Nuremberg, Hamnet, Mr. Scorsese, Is This Thing On?, Eternity, Zootopia 2, Song Sung Blue, The Housemaid, Anemone, The Baltimorons, The Colors Within, Influencers, Roofman, The Mastermind.
Now that we got that out of the way, let’s take a look at my Top 15 Films of 2025:
15) Sorry, Baby
How does one simply move on from a traumatic event? Where does a person find the fortitude to continue when such an event has become seared into their being? How can everyone else continue living life and they are stuck in one singular moment in time? Eva Victor’s feature length debut tackles subject matter that is tough to talk about, but too many have experienced. Victor not only takes on writing and directing duties but places herself into the lead role as well. The result is moving, raw, and weirdly funny. With a naturalistic approach, Victor forces us to confront troubling actions and then sit with the ramifications afterward. Although this does explore dark and disturbing themes, Victor does leave an opening for hope. The film works because it isn’t solely focused on the horrors of abuse, but how its protagonist refuses to let it define their entire existence.
14) Caught Stealing
Director Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing (2025) is an exploration of a bad situation that only gets worse. Austin Butler stars as an ex-baseball prodigy whose bad life choices have turned him into an alcoholic bartender in 1990s New York. While things did not go according to plan for him, a case of mistaken identity plunges him into a crime caper involving money, gangsters, cops, and a San Francisco Giants playoff run. It’s the classic “Wrong Man” trope taken to an extreme and entertaining level. Featuring colorful supporting characters played by Zoë Kravitz, Regina King, Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, Vincent D’Onofrio and others, the narrative is twisty, violent, and absurd. It’s a story of a character coming to grips with who they are and using all their wits to escape a deadly situation.
Never bet against James Cameron. The third installment in the Avatar franchise is the biggest, weirdest, and kinkiest entry yet. Here we find Cameron upping the scale in almost every conceivable fashion. We follow Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) and their family as they continue their battle against the “sky people,” headed once again by the villainous Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang). The big standout is the introduction of the evil Na’vi character, Varang (Oona Chaplin) and her ferocious “Ash People.” In terms of CGI and special effects, this may very well be the most stunning blockbuster in recent memory. Characters and environments are rendered with photo-realistic detail, amplifying the sense of immersion. It also helps that this is just an entertaining and compelling action adventure. Don’t let the weak criticisms about its “repetitive story” or of its “cultural impact” fool you. There is a reason these are some of the most successful films in cinema history. Avatar is a substantial franchise that delivers exactly as advertised.
The best documentary of the year is The Perfect Neighbor (2025). Director Geeta Gandbhir constructs the film using police body cam footage and security recordings. We learn the story of a Florida woman whose fear and racism towards black and brown kids eventually led to tragedy. It’s like watching a time bomb slowly go off, as the woman’s constant complaints to authorities about the kids playing in her yard are discarded. But from the footage, we can sense the tension rising. It’s chilling to see people reach their boiling point, eventually taking matters into their own hands. And when the rubber band finally snaps, the heartbreak that follows is overwhelming and permanent. The power of Gandbhir’s documentary isn’t just in detailing the events that led to such a terrible event. It also examines the police department’s inability to see the warning signs and take preventative measures. It invites a deeper discussion over the legality of the “Stand Your Ground” laws, and how the line between self-defense and murder has blurred. This is an intense and timely documentary that I will not be forgetting anytime soon.
11) Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Story
Writer/director Rian Johnson and star Daniel Craig have struck gold with their Benoit Blanc whodunit series, and with Wake Up Dead Man (2025) they don’t appear to be slowing down. Johnson yet again manages to weave an intricate plot involving murder and betrayal, while connecting it with pressing social commentary. This time, he looks at themes involving faith, the corruption of morality, and how the influence of toxic leaders creates a community of isolation and fear. We’re introduced to a Catholic priest, Father Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor) who gets entangled in a conspiracy where suspicions and distrust are pointed right at him. He calls upon the famous sleuth, Blanc (Craig) to help prove his innocence. The match between the true believer (Duplenticy) and the atheist (Blanc) creates a fascinating dynamic where the two sides learn to work together despite their beliefs. The parallel to the real world is painfully clear. It’s as though Johnson, Craig and the rest of the production claim that our differences should not divide us. This series just keeps getting better with every installment, and I can’t wait to see what adventure Benoit Blanc gets himself into next.
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