Our final list of 2025 is here. We are sorry for the delay, but because we're just one person, it's always a bit later when we release our best movies of the year list. As always, this is based on the films we've personally watched this year, which is why some of the big named movies may not be here, but most of them are included here now. One quick sum up: The Predator rules 2025!
1) Sinners, A+
While there are other great movies on this list, none takes the case like director's Ryan Coogler's Sinners. His follow up to the Black Panther and Creed films with another African American actor lead movie, but this time focusing on 1930's blues music. Everything about this horror thriller is superb, including incredible acting by Michal B Jordan. The best thing about Sinners, however, is the unique cinematography and sound track of the film. The scene where the musicians are breaking through the time barrier is one of the best scenes we've personally seen in any film the past ten years, and it was especially enjoyable to watch on IMAX. It's a movie for blues lovers and music fans in general.
Where to stream: HBO max with subscription
2) One Battle After Another, A+
Paul Thomas Anderson's best film to date is the extremely political One Battle After Another, which we won't be surprised this year if it does win the 2025 Oscar for best picture. It's a powerful epic, beautifully shot and directed. The acting in the film is top notch by everyone involved, by highlighted by Leonardo Dicaprio and Chase Infinity who plays his daughter. It's a film meant for this generation and should be watched by all movie goers.
Where to stream: HBO max with subscription
3) KPop : Demon Hunters, A+
Netflix needed a big movie hit this year, and they sure got one with KPop Demon Hunters. However, despite it being a smash hit for the streaming service, it's also a wonderful animated movie with great characters and storyline. It could potentially open the doors to a whole new universe and were sure multiple more films. And we get it, the songs and singing are, like the characters, to die for and how can you not dance along?
Where to stream: Netflix with subscription
4) Frankenstein, A
If so many other great horror movies already didn't come out this year like Sinners, Frankenstein would be on the top of everyone's list. Even though it's not the greatest film of the year, it's pretty damn close, and one of Guillermo Del Torro's best movies. Beautifully directed and having a wonderful storyline and acting highlighted by Oscar Isacc who plays the doctor and Jacob Elordi who plays the monster. Were pretty sure Del Torro was simply meant to make this movie, and maybe we can get more universal monsters by him down the line?
Where to stream: Netflix with subscription
5) Wake Up Dead Man: Knives Out 3, A+
These Knives Out movies keep on getting better, and the third one is no exception. You can tell all the actors really love being a part of these movies, especially the top dog Daniel Craig. This Knives Out is certainly the best one yet, filled with a great compelling mystery, and amazing acting, especially by John O Conner who plays a priest, Glenn Close and Josh Brolin.
Where to stream: Netflix with subscription
6) Predator: Badlands, A+
While there were other greater horror movies of 2025-Weapons was technically better, but Badlands was all kinds of epic to see on the big Imax screen. It was the best Imax release of the year, with superb special effects. The first ten minutes of the film with the fight with the Predator brothers was all different kinds of insane. However, the best part of this film was that it gave us a change of pace-we were actually rooting for The Predator! Kudos to director Dan Trachtenberg and his team who previously released the last two Predator films as well. They just wanted to make a badass Predator movie, and they excelled.
Where to stream: not yet available to stream for free, most likely will be on Hulu when it does
7) Weapons, A
Speaking of Weapons, we just had to add it to next on our list because technically speaking, it is the best horror movie of the year (Sinners is more so a thriller, and Predator is more so a Science Fiction film at this point), so we can't really say those movies are pure horror. However, we can easily say that about Weapons. With everyone loving director Zack Cregger's breakout film, Barbarian, we were all wondering what he was going to do next. He returned this year with an incredible and unique horror film that's both darkly funny and filled with plenty of jump scars. At the same time, it's very much like Barbarian, so if you liked that one, you'll love this one, and we suggest watching it before Weapons. Julia Garner is also top on her game here, and could potentially win and oscar nod for best supporting actress her performance was so good in this movie.
Where to stream: HBO max with subscription
8) Train Dreams, A-
Train Dreams was a wonderful and beautiful film that everyone working in the United States Forest Service or can appreciate it should watch. It's amazingly directed, and filled with wonderful performances especially by lead actor Joel Edgerton. Train Dreams is a powerful movie with an even more powerful message. It has wonderful scenery throughout the film and is very haunting, but beautiful.
Where to stream: Netflix with subscription
9) Predator: Killer of Killers, A
While not as great as Badlands, Dan Trachtenberg's other film he released earlier this year is also an uniquely awesome Predator movie. It's animated, but it's very much a Predator film with a superb storyline, incredible animation and characters. It does tie into the Predator universe as well, so we suggest watching Prey first before this one. It's a wonderful and intense film that gives us amazing fight sequences with several interesting characters throughout world history battling the predator.
Where to stream: Hulu with subscription
10) Sorry, Baby, A
It might not have been nominated for any Oscars this year, but young actor and director Eva Victor proves she's a force to be reckoned with from her first film, Sorry Baby. Staring and directing, the lady has extreme talent, and Sorry, Baby is a beautiful, sad and often funny film about harsh topics. There are some amazing scenes in the movie, especially the last one, which sticks you after watching it. Eva is a star to watch out for as both an actress and director.
Where to stream: HBO max with subscription
11) Black Bag, B+
Director Steven Soderbergh released another one of his thriller/spy films this year, and this one was another good movie to add to his collection. This CIA thriller was fast paced with an interesting story line and great acting by leads Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett. However, the other characters needed further development, and the movie actually could have benefited with being a bit longer, making it not one of the best movies of 2025, but still entertaining to watch.
Where to stream: Amazon Prime with subscription
12) Marvel's Thunderbolts, A-
While DC made a tremendous success with Superman this year, Marvel surprisingly released a few great movies on their own, and one was the earliest film of the year that's been mostly forgotten-Thunderbolts. It was actually one of the best Marvel films to be released in years, and an unusual twist of super hero storytelling that's not so cut and dry like the other movies. It's also highlighted by a wonderful performance by Florence Pugh, who dare we say it, may be the best newest Avenger to date.
Where to stream: Disney Plus with subscription
13) Superman, B+
We'll continue the many super hero movies that came out this year with DC's Superman. It was a perfect way to start a new cinematic universe, and it's a wonderful movie about seeing the good in people and hope. The two main stars who play Clark Kent and Louis Lane are great, and while they aren't the best actors to who have ever played the parts, they fit well in comic's most profound couple. James Gunn did it with Guardians of the Galaxy, and he's back and better than ever with Superman.
Where to stream: HBO max with subscription
14) Companion, A-
Another great horror movie that was released very early last year was Drew Hancock's Companion. We liked this movie a lot when first watching it when it came out, and it has a tremendous cast lead by Yellowjacket's star Sophie Thatcher. It's darkly funny and has a great plot with plenty of jump scares, adding to the collection of the many great horror movies that were released.
Where to stream: HBO max with subscription
15) Eddington, B+
Eddington is the poor man's release of One Battle After Another, so to speak. While drawing similar comparisons to the movie, it's not as great, but it's extremely under rated with two powerhouse performances lead by Joaquin Phoenix. It has an interesting, compelling story that will leave you on the edge of your seat to the very end, and if you enjoy modern day westerns like we do, this movie is absolutely for you.
Where to stream: HBO max with subscription
16) Bring Her Back, B
We'll jump back to the horror genre with the director's second movie after breaking out with Talk To Me, which was another amazing story in its own way. This unusual film is no doubt perhaps the most true horror flick of the year with some very scary and gross body moments throughout the movie. It's filled with suspenseful moments and great acting, some of which you have to believe to see it. Bring Her Back is extremely raw and thoughtful, solidify director Danny Phillips as a new force in the horror genre, similar to Weapons director Zack Cregger.
Where to stream: HBO max with subscription
17) The Naked Gun, B
While comedy movies rarely make anyone list, we couldn't help resist this year's remake of the classic film The Naked Gun. Liam Neeson surely isn't known as a comedy actor, but he sure fits the part as the spy in this laugh out loud funny film that's by car the best comedy of the year. With many nods to the original throughout the movie, it's a solid entree in the universe of the Naked Gun.
Where to stream: Paramount Plus with subscription
18) The Fantastic Four, B-
Marvel's other big flick that came out this past summer was Fantastic Four, and while it wasn't the best super hero flick of the year, they sure did a great job with finally doing a halfway decent version of one of the first ever super hero groups. Let's face it, the previous Fantastic Four films were absolutely horrible, so it's nice seeing and getting even a halfway decent story and good actors playing the parts of the Fantastic Four.
Where to stream: Disney Plus with subscription
19) Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning, B-
It's not the best movie of the year, nor is it the best Mission by any means, but were including the film in this list simply because Tom Cruise risked his life for this movie. As always, the stunts were over the top and the highlight of the flick, highlighted by Cruise's epic diving into the arctic sea, which he actually did of course. Besides the stunts, the acting is surprisingly only sup-par and the film has a weaker plot compared to the previous Mission movies. Again, it's Cruise's dedication to these films and this particular movie is why it's included at all.
Where to stream: Paramount Plus with subscription
20) 28 Years Later, C+
More than 20 years ago, director Danny Boyle redefined the zombie genre with his breakout film, 28 Days Later. As many watching it for the first time realized it was one of the scariest films to be released, however, his new movie and the return to those fast running genres, while still ground breaking, isn't as great as the first film. What makes this movie great at all is Ralph Fiennes stand out performance, and we are excited to see where it leads to the second film, The Bone Temple.
Where to stream: Netflix
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