Ever since becoming Editor-in-Chief of ComingSoon in 2021, I’ve really fallen in love with film all over again, so I always look forward to going over my 10 favorite movies of the year. I appreciate the artform now more than ever, having spoken with incredible creatives and experienced a wide breadth of movies I normally wouldn’t seek out (I saw over 180 new releases this year). 2025 was a great example of why cinema isn’t going away any time soon and will continue captivating and inspiring audiences for decades to come.
Since there were a lot of great films released this year, it was very difficult to cut down the list to just 10. The movies that pained me the most to cut were Weapons and Marty Supreme, which I both greatly admire and are the ambitious types of original films I want to see in theaters. Sadly, I haven’t gotten a chance to see my most anticipated film of 2025, Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice, as its wide release is moving more slowly than molasses.
I also want to give props to the excellent Better Man by Michael Gracey, as the unconventional Robbie Williams musical technically came out in 2024 in limited release, but I saw it the first week of 2025, and it would’ve topped my list last year had I seen it. A truly magical film — check out my interview with Gracey for more on it.
10. Et Tu
One of the true delights of covering entertainment is when a small film that you know nothing about really surprises you. This becomes increasingly rare, but it was the case with Max Tzannes’ Et Tu, which stars Lou Diamond Phillips and Malcolm McDowell. If Ghostlight deftly demonstrated how theater and art can heal you, this dark comedy horror movie highlights the obsessive aspect that can take over artists’ lives. Phillips is fantastic, as he portrays a theater director who is losing grip on his production and his own sanity. Phillips wonderfully plays the film straight to begin and really chews the scenery as it gets increasingly ridiculous. Check out my interview with the actor to learn why it’s one of the most fun watches you could have in 2025.
9. Sinners
Sinners easily has my favorite scene of the year. The musical performance that sees the culture of the past, present, and future clash is a truly incredible moment. Throw in a wonderful dual performance by Michael B. Jordan, who deserves a Best Actor nomination, and a captivating vampire story that interrogates race and culture, and you’ve got one of the year’s best films, even if the vampire battle at the end isn’t quite as epic as the build-up warrants. Ryan Coogler is one of the brightest blockbuster talents in Hollywood, and his ability to make hits with meaningful stories is nearly unmatched by his peers.
8. The Plague
Charlie Polinger is one to watch! The writer and director of The Plague has crafted a stellar thriller taking place at a water polo camp. Getting remarkable performances from his young cast and Joel Edgerton (who plays their coach in a supporting role), the film is one of the most thorough and telling depictions of bullying that I’ve seen. Featuring some truly watch-through-your-hands gross-out moments and a great ending, this was one of the biggest pleasant surprises of the year.
7. Splitsville
While I also loved The Naked Gun reboot (how good was that snowman sequence?), my favorite pure comedy movie of the year was Splitsville. Michael Angelo Covino and Kyle Marvin put a hysterical spin on a rom-com gone wrong. From the hilarious opening road head sequence to the fight sequence between friends and Marvin befriending all of his soon-to-be ex-wife’s boy toys, Splitsville never stops being hilarious. Dakota Johnson and Adria Arjona are also wonderful as the wives who are way too good for their partners and show off their comedy chops as well. Seek this out if you don’t mind some raunchiness.
6. Hallow Road
I’ve never had a cinema experience quite like the one I had watching Hallow Road. This intense thriller takes place entirely during a drive after Rosamund Pike and Matthew Rhys learn that their daughter hit someone while driving. It’s one of the worst fears of a parent, and the thriller takes a turn for the bizarre when two strange passersby arrive at the scene of the crime before them. The film has some wild twists and turns, including a truly remarkable performance from Rosamund Pike, but it’s the only film whose ending left me a bit confused, which was instantly cleared up by reading the credits. It’s a wonderful and meta way to deliver a narrative, and Hallow Road makes the absolute most out of what had to be a small budget.
5. Avatar: Fire and Ash
Nobody does it quite like Big Jim! Never doubt James Cameron, as he delivered a spectacle unlike any other this year. Nobody comes close to delivering memorable 3D experiences quite like the Avatar movies, and they always feel special. Every aspect of Pandora feels incredibly fleshed out, from the cute little alien otters to the seductive qualities of Varang. It’s certainly the funniest movie of the trilogy — give me more of Quaritch doing drugs and being unabashedly horny — and it is another great step for the franchise. Whether or not we get a fourth film, I’ll always have a fond spot for the Avatar films.
4. One Battle After Another
Much like Jim Cameron, Paul Thomas Anderson always delivers. One Battle After Another is filled with some unforgettable performances by Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and Benicio del Toro, but it’s most impressive in showing how versatile PTA is. Of course, he can do an action movie and deliver incredible chase sequences. Why did anyone ever doubt him? Filled with sharp satire and quotable scenes, this is yet another instant classic from Anderson.
3. Blue Moon
I will watch anything that Richard Linklater puts out, but I was totally blown away by Blue Moon. Largely shot in one location, Blue Moon easily could’ve been a play with its sweeping monologues and handful of key characters. However, it’s the beautiful dialogue, singing as if it’s a song that Lorenz Hart himself penned, that makes it so riveting. Equal parts heartbreaking and fun to watch, this film about the night after the premiere of Oklahoma! has an Oscar-worthy performance by Ethan Hawke and is far more impactful than your average biopic.
2. 100 Meters
No film left me feeling as inspired as 100 Meters did. Featuring a wonderful depiction of track and field athletes, the anime shows the ups and downs that dedicated runners face. While races might last less than 10 seconds, the desire to be great consumes their lives (making it a fun comparison to Marty Supreme). There’s some wonderful rotoscoping animation, and the great usage of time jumps makes this a memorable watch that is one of the best sports anime movies ever released.
1. Eddington
No film stuck with me this year as much as Ari Aster’s Eddington did. The subject matter of COVID, conspiracy theories, political violence, and performative action was a sore spot for many and is sadly increasing in relevance since the film was released. While it was prickly at the time, and some might still struggle to laugh at themselves during a rewatch, as it spares no side, the movie is best enjoyed as a live-action South Park episode. Absurd, hilarious, and featuring some of the best sequences of the year, Eddington is the film that most encapsulates the time we live in. While many of our auteurs shy away from modern-day depictions, Aster embraced it, and Eddington is a more valuable piece of art because of it.
