The 10 best movies of 2025 — and where to find them

It’s interesting that so many of this year’s best movies are based on existing stories. I used to think adaptations meant a lack of original ideas, as someone who always looks for fresh talent and concepts. However, 2025 has made me reconsider that view.

I’m noticing artists looking to classic filmmaking for guidance, suggesting Hollywood should remember what’s always worked: compelling stories, strong actors, and movies made with passion and effort, not just by market research or budget-conscious executives (or, even worse, artificial intelligence).

Whether adapting original stories or completely reimagining classic tales – from sophisticated dramas to wild comedies – these ten filmmakers all understand the core of successful storytelling: captivating the audience. And they’ve all achieved that.

1. ‘Sinners’

Combining historical drama, vampires, and musical numbers could have been a mess, but writer-director Ryan Coogler pulls it off seamlessly. In “Sinners,” he casts Michael B. Jordan in a dual role as twin brothers Smoke and Stack, who run moonshine and find themselves battling a group of banjo-playing vampires led by the charming Jack O’Connell. The film delivers the action and bloodshed you’d expect, but it also asks a thought-provoking question: in the face of daily injustices during the Jim Crow South, why not live forever and take revenge on those who oppress you? “Sinners” is being hailed as the most thrilling film of 2025, proving that truly original blockbusters are still possible and audiences are hungry for them.

(“Sinners” is available on multiple platforms.)

2. ‘Hedda’

This fresh take on Henrik Ibsen’s classic “Hedda Gabler” moves the story from 1890s Norway to 1950s England, and Tessa Thompson shines as a bored housewife determined to help her unassuming husband get a raise. She also has a dangerous fascination with firearms. Director Nia DaCosta (“Candyman”) makes some clever changes, including reimagining Hedda’s former lover as a confident career woman (Nina Hoss) and giving her a shy, awkward girlfriend (Imogen Poots) who fuels Hedda’s jealousy. The play culminates in a wild, all-night party at a luxurious mansion, complete with a live jazz band, a lake, and a hedge maze where old flames might reconnect. Despite being over a century old, the story feels incredibly modern and energetic.

(“Hedda” is available on Prime Video.)

3. ‘Eddington’

Ari Aster’s film is deeply divisive, a satirical take on the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. It centers on a sheriff who refuses to wear a mask (played by Joaquin Phoenix) and a self-righteous mayor (Pedro Pascal), and how a powerful, tech-savvy group profits from their conflict. “Eddington” perfectly captures the strange humor and vocabulary of May 2020 – remember murder hornets, fears about Antifa, and the toilet paper shortages? But it goes deeper, portraying the unsettling feeling of a town – and the world – slowly realizing a new threat is emerging, this time through our phones. Everyone is constantly filming each other, like a modern-day Wild West showdown, yet no one understands what’s really happening. (I have a theory about the larger plot, but explaining it makes me sound crazy too.) This film will likely be how future generations understand the collective mindset during the pandemic. I suspect those who dislike it now will change their minds with time.

(“Eddington” is available on multiple platforms.)

4. ‘One Battle After Another’

Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest film is a thrilling and visually stunning experience, packed with memorable moments – from skateboarders on rooftops to children finding joy in difficult circumstances and a powerfully pregnant Teyana Taylor taking charge. It’s the kind of movie that stays with you long after the credits roll. On a second viewing, I was surprised by how much of the film – even small details like Sean Penn’s unsettling character grooming himself – felt deeply ingrained in my memory. Loosely based on Thomas Pynchon’s “Vineland,” the story centers on Bob, an awkward anarchist played by Leonardo DiCaprio, trying to save his daughter from the clutches of the menacing Col. Lockjaw. However, Bob isn’t a very effective rescuer, and the film suggests this is just one battle in an endless fight for freedom. Anderson is known for strong ensemble casts, and here, even minor characters feel essential. The world he creates feels more complete and inspiring than ever before.

(“One Battle After Another” is now playing in theaters.)

5. ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’

This film has a fascinating history: it started as an experimental novel, became a celebrated play, then a movie, and now a vibrant musical directed by Bill Condon (known for “Dreamgirls”). Each version has built on the previous one, creating an increasingly immersive experience. Condon takes it even further with spectacular, colorful dance numbers, especially for Jennifer Lopez, who shines in a role reminiscent of classic dancer Cyd Charisse. Whether you’re familiar with the story or not, you’ll be captivated by the complex and touching relationship between two prisoners, Luis and Valentin, powerfully portrayed by newcomers Tonatiuh and Diego Luna. This is a bold and ambitious film that doesn’t hold back, embracing its own over-the-top energy – just like the imaginary movie Luis creates in his mind, which he describes as delightfully campy and enjoyable.

(“Kiss of the Spider Woman” is available on multiple platforms.)

6. ‘A Useful Ghost’

Thai director Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke’s award-winning film starts with a possessed vacuum cleaner, and quickly becomes even stranger. Ghosts have taken over a rich widow’s factory, inhabiting her appliances and manipulating people – including her son and even the prime minister – to get what they want. These ghosts are the spirits of people who died in accidents, due to corporate carelessness, or through more sinister means. What begins as a darkly humorous ghost story surprisingly evolves into a touching and emotional film. Knowing that over 80 protestors in Bangkok were killed by the military in 2010 adds another layer to the story. The director uses the image of a vacuum cleaner to symbolize how ordinary people can be overlooked, but the pain and anger they experience doesn’t simply disappear – it lingers like dust.

(“A Useful Ghost” opens Jan. 16, 2026, in theaters.)

7. ‘The Roses’

The new film, “The Roses,” is based on the popular 1980s story and movie, “The War of the Roses,” which famously featured Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner in a bitter divorce battle. But while the original was a dark comedy, this version feels like a classic 1930s screwball comedy. Stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman are masters of witty, cutting dialogue, delivering sharp insults with perfect timing. Though the story is set in California, the actors maintain their British accents. The script, written by Tony McNamara (known for films like “The Favourite” and “Poor Things”), adds an interesting layer: this couple genuinely tries to make their marriage work. Despite their efforts, however, their relationship ultimately falls apart.

(“The Roses” is available on multiple platforms.)

8. ‘In Whose Name?’

In 2018, high school student Nico Ballesteros began filming Kanye West (who legally changed his name to Ye in 2021). Over the next six years, Ballesteros captured over 3,000 hours of footage as Ye traveled the world – from Paris and Uganda to California and Washington D.C. – and interacted with figures like Kenny G and Elon Musk. Ye was pursuing his artistic and spiritual ambitions, but his actions were also destroying his personal life and public image. Ye gave Ballesteros complete creative freedom, with the single request that the film focus on mental health. The resulting documentary is a compelling and tragic portrayal of a man driven by ego and fear, who stops taking his medication, believes his wealth shields him from the consequences of his views, and ultimately dismantles his own life to prove he’s correct.

(“In Whose Name?” is available on multiple platforms.)

9. ‘Sirāt’

For months, the pulsing electronic music from Oliver Laxe’s intense film has stayed with me. But recently, I’ve been equally captivated by the movie’s quiet moments – scenes of a group of wanderers traveling through the Moroccan desert, appearing as the last truly free people. The film follows a father, Luis (played by Sergi López), and his 12-year-old son as they join this unconventional crew, searching for the boy’s missing sister. Soon, the father is simply focused on survival, wondering if safety is even possible anymore. Hints on the radio suggest World War III may have begun, but these outsiders ignore the news and turn up the volume. The frustrating thing about “Sirāt” is that I desperately want to discuss its surprising turns, but I need to protect the experience for those who haven’t seen it yet.

(“Sirāt” returns to theaters on Feb. 6, 2026.)

10. ‘The Naked Gun’

Liam Neeson was perfectly cast in this hilarious follow-up to “Police Squad!” – and it’s exactly what audiences needed in 2025. The movie, directed by Akiva Schaffer, allows the 73-year-old actor to playfully mock his tough-guy image. As the son of Leslie Nielsen’s famous Lt. Frank Drebin, Neeson delivers a wonderfully silly performance filled with clever wordplay and physical comedy. The pairing of Neeson and Pamela Anderson, who reportedly struck up a romance during filming, felt surprisingly right. The fourth installment doesn’t attempt to reinvent the classic formula of the original films – it sticks to the familiar plot of a cop falling for a woman, a bizarre snowman, and some unexpected mishaps (this time without a blimp). The fact that everything keeps going wrong is what makes Neeson’s character so endearing.

(“The Naked Gun” is available on multiple platforms.)

Since I’m all jazzed-up about great movies, here are 10 honorable mentions very much worth a watch.

“The Ballad of Wallis Island” is a charming film about a wealthy, eccentric man who convinces a popular folk duo from the mid-2000s to reunite for a concert on his island in Wales. It’s surprisingly wonderful – I’ve recommended it to everyone I know, and they all enjoyed it! You’ll love it too.

“Bunny” is a delightfully rough-around-the-edges indie film from first-time director Ben Jacobson. It’s a darkly comedic story about a gigolo whose birthday takes a disastrous turn, populated by a hilarious cast of characters scrambling through a cramped New York apartment.

Rose Byrne is fantastic at both funny and serious roles. This film expertly blends those genres, creating intense suspense. She plays a stressed-out mother with a sick child, and her character pushes herself so hard to cope that she essentially self-destructs.

I just finished watching “Lurker,” and it’s a seriously unsettling film. It really captures this modern celebrity culture where someone can be huge online but a complete unknown everywhere else. The movie centers on Archie Madekwe, who plays a singer just starting to break through, and Théodore Pellerin as this…well, let’s call him a complicated friend. Pellerin’s character sticks by the singer through everything – the good, the bad, and the really blurry lines – and definitely takes advantage of the situation. It’s a psychodrama that will definitely leave you feeling uneasy.

“Magic Farm” is a playfully chaotic film by Amalia Ulman. It follows two journalists, played by Chloë Sevigny and Alex Wolff, who travel to Argentina hoping to create a viral video about a singer dressed as a bunny. However, their attempt backfires, and they end up looking even sillier than the singer.

In “One of Them Days,” Keke Palmer and SZA star as two friends and roommates in Baldwin Hills who are short on rent and have just nine hours to come up with the money. It’s a funny story, and I’d definitely enjoy watching their adventures unfold.

“The Perfect Neighbor” is a documentary built from police body-camera recordings. It focuses on a Florida neighborhood where everyone – residents and police alike – sees one woman as demanding and unpleasant. However, she believes they are the ones causing trouble, and she owns a firearm.

“Sisu: Road to Revenge” is a thrilling, nearly silent Finnish action movie that would likely impress Buster Keaton if he were still alive, reminding some of his classic film “The General.” While it features an exciting train sequence, the movie also borrows elements from action favorites like “Die Hard” and “Mad Max: Fury Road.”

“Train Dreams” is a film about a quiet logger in the early 20th century (played by Joel Edgerton) whose essential, yet unseen, work contributes to the growth of America.

In “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery,” detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) and a priest questioning his faith (Josh O’Connor) investigate a puzzling stabbing at a church. Director Rian Johnson delivers a wonderfully crafted and engaging murder mystery, filled with clever twists and thought-provoking themes related to Catholicism.

2025-12-05 14:02