The films of 2025 seemed to collectively capture societal changes we are all suffering from and humanity's almost absurdist reaction to it - and this stretched far beyond the boarders of just the United States. The films offered us layers of comedy even in the midst of serious context; maybe most highlighting the hopeful idea of people coming together. Probably the funniest film of the year and I think my favorite overall (Splitsville) gave us flashes of Lubitsch-wit. And possibly the years most defining film (Sinners) was a genre bending that beautifully captured the pure magic of movie-making.

There is much discussion about the so-called death of film and of movie-going. Obviously the Warner Brothers-Netflix potential deal will be a future game changer that could have a negative impact on the theater-going experience. But I truly do not think it will go away in part for the deep belief I have it its power and beauty. Changes are certainly happening, but they always happen - and art finds ways to evolve within the times and the changes... the films of this year are a reflection of that! The current threat facing cinema may be more credible then previous so called death of cinema threats, but I think we will still see the transition survive (as it did in the transition between the 1950s to the 1970s).

As of December 31st, I saw 102 new films in 2025, which is the lowest since 2020. Because I'm more selective in choices of what I see, most of these are films that I like in some way. All but probably the bottom five are films I would recommend and did enjoy in some way or another (and I really really enjoyed probably the top 75 films on this list). Please don't get too caught up in the ranking. There are some films I still need to see a second time and some big ones I've yet to see.
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Notable films yet to see:
Sentimental Value; The Secret Agent; The Shrouds; The Smashing Machine; Is This Thing On; F1; The Testament of Ann Lee; Cloud; Elena the Great; Relay; The Running Man; Avatar: Fire and Ash; The History of Sound; It Ends; Predator: Killer of Killers; Anemone; Predator: Badlands; Christy; The Chronology of Water; Urchin; Ella McCay; Eephus; Goodbye June; Anaconda; Eden; Him; Big Bold Beautiful Journey; Warfare; Song Sung Blue; Erchin, The Plague; The Sound of Falling; Dirty Boy; Doin' It; London Calling; Megadoc; Plainclothes; Boys Go To Jupiter; The Surfer; Twinless; Bring Her Back; Little Amelie; Dead of Winter; Blue Heron; Arco; Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning

1… SPLITSVILLE
Michael Angelo Covino, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33247023/

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2… SINNERS
Ryan Coogler, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31193180/

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3… ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Paul Thomas Anderson, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30144839/

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4… BLUE MOON
Richard Linklater, United States / Ireland
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32536315/

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5… BY THE STREAM
Hong Sang-soo, South Korea
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32880592/

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6… THE MASTERMIND
Kelly Reichardt, United States / United KIngdom
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33455099/

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7… DIE MY LOVE
Lynne Ramsay, United Kingdom / Canada / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9362736

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8… WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY
Rian Johnson, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14364480

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9… SORRY, BABY
Eva Victor, United States / Spain / France
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32843349

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10… BUGONIA
Yorgos Lanthimos, Ireland / UK / Canada / South Korea
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12300742

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11… SIRAT
Oliver Laxe, Spain / France
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32298285

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12… NO OTHER CHOICE
Park Chan-wook, South Kora
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1527793

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13… THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND
James Griffiths, United Kingdom
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27674982

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14… IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
Jafar Panahi, Iran / France / Luxembourg
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36491653

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15… BLACK BAG
Steven Soderbergh, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30988739

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16… TRAIN DREAMS
Clint Bentley, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29768334

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17… MY SUNSHINE
Hiroshi Okuyama, Japan / France
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22694908

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18… 28 YEARS LATER
Danny Boyle, United Kingdom / Canada / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10548174

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19… WEAPONS
Zach Cregger, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26581740

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20… NOUVELLE VAGUE
Richard Linklater, France / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31688586

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21… MARTY SUPREME
Josh Safdie, United States / Finland
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32916440

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22… REBUILDING
Max Walker-Silverman, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29361963

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23… THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME
Wes Anderson, United States / Germany
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30840798

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24… EDDINGTON
Ari Aster, United States / United Kingdom / Finland
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31176520

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25… HIGHEST 2 LOWEST
Spike Lee, United States / Japan
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31194612

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26… THE THREESOME
Chad Hartigan, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21187592

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27… REFLECTION IN A DEAD DIAMOND
Hélène Cattet / Bruno Forzani, Belgium / Luxembourg / Italy / France
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32263401

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28… FRANKENSTEIN
Guillermo del Toro, Mexico / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1312221

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29… HAMNET
Chloé Zhao, United Kingdom / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14905854

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30… ROOFMAN
Derek Cianfrance, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4627382

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31… PRESENCE
Steven Soderbergh, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28249919

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32… BECOMING LED ZEPPELIN
Bernard MacMahon, United Kingdom / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10365912

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33… ETERNITY
David Freyne, United States / Canada
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt24950660

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34… IF I HAD LEGS I'D KICK YOU
Mary Bronstein, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18382850

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35… STRANGERS
Kenta Ikeda, Japan
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33470284

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36… TOGETHER
Michael Shanks, Australia / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31184028

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37… A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE
Kathryn Bigelow, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32376165

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38… DROP
Christopher Landon, United States / Ireland
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32149847

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39… LILO & STITCH
Dean Fleischer Camp, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11655566

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40… FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER
Jim Jarmusch, United States / Italy / France / Ireland / Germany
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31189315

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41… RESURRECTION
Bi Gan, China / France
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29002950

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42… SACREMENTO
Michael Angarano, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13491834

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43… CAUGHT STEALING
Darren Aronofsky, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1493274

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44… FRIENDSHIP
Andrew DeYoung, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30505698

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45… THE LONG WALK
Francis Lawrence, United States / Canada
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10374610

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46… JINGLE BELL HEIST
Michael Fimognari, United Kingdom / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt24852126

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47… DANGEROUS ANIMALS
Sean Byrne, Australia / United States / Canada
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32299316

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48… JAY KELLY
Noah Baumbach, United States / United Kingdom / Italy
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30446847

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49… ELIO
Adrian Molina / Madeline Sharafian / Domee Shi, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4900148

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50… LA GRAZIA
Paolo Sorrentino, Italy
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34886821

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51… THE LIFE OF CHUCK
Mike Flanagan, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12908150

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52… BONE LAKE
Mercedes Bryce Morgan, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26783625

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53… GOOD FORTUNE
Aziz Ansari, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27543578

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54… HONEY DON'T
Ethan Coen, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30645201

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55… FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES
Zach Lipovsky / Adam B. Stein, United States / Canada
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9619824

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56… LOVE ON TRAIL
Kôji Fukada, Japan
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17499010

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57… THE NAKED GUN
Akiva Schaffer, United States / Canada
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3402138

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58… THE MONKEY
Osgood Perkins, United States / United Kingdom / Canada
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27714946

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59… JOHN CANDY: I LIKE ME
Colin Hanks, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26683420

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60… THE MAP THAT LEADS TO YOU
Lasse Hallström, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33549478

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61… PLAY DIRTY
Shane Black, Australia / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18392014

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62… MOUNTAINHEAD
Jesse Armstrong, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35396529

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63… A PALE VIEW OF HILLS
Kei Ishikawa, Japan
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33253688

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64… GOOD BOY
Ben Leonberg, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35521922

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65… AFTER THE HUNT
Luca Guadagnino, United States / Italy
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32159989

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66… THE WOMAN IN THE YARD
Jaume Collet-Serra, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31314296

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67… MICKEY 17
Bong Joon Ho, United States / South Korea
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12299608

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68… KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN
Bill Condon, United States / Mexico
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30400277

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69… RIFF RAFF
Dito Montiel, United States / United Kingdom
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27775403

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70… V/H/S HALLOWEEN
Bryan M. Ferguson / Casper Kelly / R.H. Norman, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37676033

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71… THE ROSES
Jay Roach, United Kingdom / Australia / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31973693

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72… SUPERMAN
James Gunn, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5950044

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73… THE FRIEND
Scott McGehee / David Siegel, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18108824

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74… OH. WHAT. FUN.
Michael Showalter, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31998881

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75… BORDERLINE
Jimmy Warden, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13650814

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76… COMPANION
Drew Hancock, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26584495

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77… SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT
Mike P. Nelson, Canada / United States / France
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34508974

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78… ECHO VALLEY
Michael Pearce, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27052633

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79… ANOTHER SIMPLE FAVOR
Paul Feig, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20214908

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80… INHERITANCE
Neil Burger, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31050620

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81… THE CONJURING: LAST RITES
Michael Chaves, United States / United Kingdom / Canada
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22898462

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82… MATERIALISTS
Celine Song, United States / Finland / United Kingdom
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30253473

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83… THE HOUSEMAID
Paul Feig, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27543632

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84… RENTAL FAMILY
Hikari, Japan / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14142060

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85… DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA
Christian Gudegast, United States / Canada / Spain
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8008948

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86… HAPPY GILMORE 2
Kyle Newacheck, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31868189

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87… WOLF MAN
Leigh Whannell, Ireland / New Zealand / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4216984

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88… FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
Guy Ritchie, United States / United Kingdom
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27075958

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89… FREAKIER FRIDAY
Nisha Ganatra, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31956415

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90… THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10
Simon Stone, United Kingdom / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7130300

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91… MY SECRET SANTA
Mike Rohl, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35219851

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92… KEEPER
Osgood Perkins, Canada / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32332404

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93… THE ELECTRIC STATE
Anthony Russo / Joe Russo, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7766378

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94… NOBODY 2
Timo Tjahjanto, United States / Canada
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28996126

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95… REGRETTING YOU
Josh Boone, United States / Germany
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33088452

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96… DEATH OF A UNICORN
Alex Scharfman, United States / Hungary
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28443655

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97… SNOW WHITE
Marc Webb, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6208148

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98… THE PICKUP
Tim Story, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30445556

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99… BACK IN ACTION
Seth Gordon, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21191806

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100… I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER
Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, Canada / Australia / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4045450

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101… PLAY DATE
Luke Greenfield, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31425731

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102… YOU'RE CORDIALLY INVITED
Nicholas Stoller, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21227864

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