By George & Josh Bate
From a frenetic sports drama to a sprawling horror epic to a reimagining of a tale over 200 years old, 2025 featured an immense variety of well-crafted and emotionally moving movies. Now, with the year at an end, we are taking look at the year’s best films. Of note, this list only includes films that received a theatrical and/or digital release in 2025. This means that films screened at festivals yet to have a release to the public are not considered for inclusion.
Below are The HoloFiles’ Top 10 Movies of 2025 (and 6 honorable mentions)….
Honorable Mentions
Bugonia
Credit: Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.
Yorgos Lanthimos crafts a mesmerizing, absurdly hilarious, poignant, and relevant film with Bugonia. Despite its unusual story, the Focus Features release is probably Lanthimos’ most approachable and even mainstream film, largely deprived of the quirkiness in dialogue and style his recent efforts have been marked by. The psychological back-and-forth between Jesse Plemons’ conspiracy-obsessed kidnapper and Emma Stone’s calculated CEO makes Bugonia an enthralling watch that invites the audience into the debate at hand and mirrors real-life interactions with people unwavering in their extreme views. Although Lanthimos and screenwriter Will Tracy don’t seem particularly interested in making some profound message, their film holds a mirror up to conspiracy theory and online misinformation culture and, after some of the absurdist humor subsides, becomes quite unsettling. In what could have easily gone awry, Bugonia spectacularly sticks its bold landing. However, the relative lack of emotion in the story beyond the endearing bond between Plemons’ Teddy and his cousin Don renders the film somewhat unfeeling. Nonetheless, Bugonia marks yet another phenomenal achievement in the filmography of Yorgos Lanthimos and confirms that his partnership with Emma Stone is one of the great actor-director pairings in modern cinema.
Read our full review of Bugonia here.
The Baltimorons
The Baltimorons is an offbeat, genuinely moving Christmas rom-com destined to warm the hearts of viewers. In avoiding going over-the-top with its humor or story as many holiday comedies do, Jay Duplass’ new film maintains an emotional and narrative groundedness as it explores a refreshing romance between an older woman and younger man, anchored by pitch-perfect performances from Michael Strassner and Liz Larsen. The quirky sense of humor works most of the time and, even when jokes fail to land, they still commendably serve a purpose in further developing the characters. Despite adopting a strangely amoral stance on infidelity that casts doubt on the ethics of its leads, The Baltimorons makes for enchanting, touching viewing nonetheless and more than earns its status as a great Christmas movie.
Read our full review of The Baltimorons here.
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You lives up to its title in kicking the feet from right under you with the palpable frenzy of anxiety, dread, tension, and stress it evokes. Anchored by a stunning and career-best performance from Rose Byrne, the second feature from writer/director Mary Bronstein propels forward with the breakneck pace of a heart-pounding psychological thriller as it deftly explores parental stress, caregiving, and self-blame. Bronstein gives voice to issues rarely explored in depth in cinema, in particular the nuances of caring for a sick child and the mental health care of mental health care providers. So stressful that you can’t help but laugh throughout, the film avoids being a painfully dour watch though through a screenplay full of wit, interspersed with some genuinely funny moments. The film will not be for everyone, especially those looking for a fun and breezy time at the movies. But, as an example of the spectrum of deeply relatable emotions and thoughts that film can elicit, movies rarely hit as hard and leave as lasting of an impression as If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.
Read our full review of If I Had Legs I’d Kick You here.
Sinners
In just over a decade, writer/director Ryan Coogler has nailed social commentary drama, superhero epics, and sports movies, earning plenty of deserved plaudits along the way. In 2025, the acclaimed director turned to the horror genre and showed that he is more than capable of delivering chills and thrills like the most seasoned of scary movie veterans. Sinners operates as a film of two halves, the first of which is a grounded drama about two brothers returning to their hometown and the second of which is a From Dusk till Dawn-esque vampire romp. Both halves work exceptionally well, albeit in decidedly different ways. What is consistent throughout Sinners is Coogler’s proclivity for boundary-pushing visual storytelling and willingness to explore the power of music that “can pierce the veil between life and death, past and future.” While there is some questionable logic behind various characters’ actions and the plot doesn’t entirely hold up to much scrutiny, Sinners nonetheless is easily one of 2025’s best films and just misses out on our top 10.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a quintessential superhero movie that captures the comic book accuracy of its titular heroes in a manner similar to what Sam Raimi did with Spider-Man and what Matt Reeves did with Batman. Although the film features a skyscraper-tall, planet-devouring antagonist and all sorts of cosmic threats, it achieves a groundedness and genuine heart through its moving portrayal of family and boldness to dedicate prolonged time to intimate character interactions during routine activities, something seldom seen in blockbuster fare. There isn’t a weak link among the four core cast members as Pedro Pascal captures the balance of intellect and insecurity that makes Reed Richards so fascinating, Vanessa Kirby brings a maternal warmth to Sue Storm, Ebon Moss-Bachrach makes Ben Grimm a beacon of kindness, and Joseph Quinn, arguably the standout of the bunch, showcases his potential for A-list stardom. All four performances feed into the distinctive, retro-futuristic, 1960s setting, which is brought to life by awards worthy production design and visual effects and makes First Steps the MCU’s most visually spectacular film to date. A lean script that thrusts audiences into this world fosters brisk, yet never overwhelming, pacing and plummets audiences into a high-stakes, streamlined threat. Capping off with a haunting mid-credits sequence that has raised our anticipation for Avengers: Doomsday to unexpected heights, The Fantastic Four: First Steps excels in every department and triumphs as, not only of the best MCU movies to date, but one of the best films of 2025.
Read our full review of The Fantastic Four: First Steps here.
10. The Monkey
An overlooked Stephen King story is brought to life by Longlegs director Osgood Perkins in a film produced by horror mastermind James Wan. Any project with those three names will immediately peak the interest of horror fans and foster quite lofty expectations, and yet The Monkey does somehow exceeds expectations resoundingly. Masterfully blending morbid themes, gruesome violence, and sharp humor, writer/director Osgood Perkins crafts the rare bloody horror comedy that is never mean-spirited, off-putting, or tonally mismatched. Creative and gruesome kills destined to feature in YouTube compilations and in the memories of moviegoers for years are sprinkled throughout a film that can be best characterized as a crowd pleaser (albeit a crowd pleaser for crowds who don’t queasy with blood). A compelling story anchored by strong performances from Christian Convery and Theo James as the young and adult versions of twins Hal and Bill respectively features an unexpected plot twist and surprising, although not groundbreaking, emotional depth in the end. Perkins showcases his intricate attention to detail in numerous ways here, but perhaps most so with the titular vintage toy monkey, who ranks among some of the creepier cursed inanimate objects in horror movie history. The Monkey is the second Osgood Perkins movie in a row to make our Top 10 movies of the year list, after Longlegs topped our Top 10 Movies of 2024. While Keeper was certainly a disappointment, there’s no doubt that Perkins has quickly ascended to be among the giants of contemporary horror.
Read our full review of The Monkey here.
9. Roofman
Heartwarming and heartbreaking, lovely and tragic, Roofman is easily one of 2025’s best movies. The latest work from director and co-writer Derek Cianfrance sees the filmmaker swap his trademark gritty realism and dense drama for a far lighter, more humorous story, albeit one that does not sacrifice the powerful emotions and compelling characters we’ve come to expect from Cianfrance. Roofman deftly tows a delicate tonal balance to ensure that its lightness and sense of humor never undercut the tragedy and groundedness of its story. Although the film unfolds predictably, investment in our lead character remains strong throughout, largely due to an awards-worthy and career-best turn from Channing Tatum. The actor somehow outdoes his exceptional turn in Foxcatcher for a deceptively complex performance that moved us more than any performance we’ve seen this year. Despite Cianfrance taking a rather straightforward route in avoiding intricate moral questions in favor of a more traditional happy (or as happy as possible) ending, Roofman nonetheless proves undeniably compelling, charming, and enjoyable. Just like how Channing Tatum’s character ascends to the roofs of McDonald’s to rob them, Roofman ascends to be near the top (or roof) of our best movies of the year rankings.
Read our full review of Roofman here.
8. Warfare
Visionary director Alex Garland and Iraq War Veteran Ray Mendoza create one of the most intense moviegoing experiences of all time with Warfare. Disinterested in making strong political statements and liberated from traditional Hollywood romanticism of war, the film plummets audiences into immersive, disorienting chaos for 90+ minutes and never loosens its grip. Through exceptional sound design, cinematography, and performances, the filmmakers meticulously reconstruct a real life combat mission that fosters palpable anxiety and tension in their audience. A testament to the performances, in particular that of Joseph Quinn, emotional investment in the characters comes naturally and easily, which is particularly noteworthy given how little is revealed about each of the servicemembers. While the movie is a tad one note and more exposition on the frontend would have provided greater grounding in the story, Warfare excels as a primal movie, one that evokes universal, yet essential and powerful, emotions, and a striking physiological reactivity we have never experienced in a movie before. As Alex Garland’s impressive filmography continues to grow, his uncanny ability to create tension through cinema and have viewers feel this tension through every cell in their bodies remains unrivaled.
Read our full review of Warfare here.
7. 28 Years Later
Perhaps the most flawed movie on this, yet its style and emotional backbone elevate it immensely, 28 Years Later works better as a standalone zombie thrill ride than it does a successor to Danny Boyle and Alex Garland’s original film. Boyle retains the 2002 film’s gritty, dynamic, and almost documentary-style directing, filled with fast shutter speeds and shaky cam, and uses this to create a visceral, gripping, and intense moviegoing experience only Danny Boyle could engineer. Unfortunately, Boyle’s signature filmmaking only goes so far as the film is hindered by a disjointed story juggling too many ill-fitting elements and a post-apocalyptic landscape that feels all too similar to other stories. This lack of novelty, coupled with a reversal of the ending of 28 Weeks Later and misfired attempts to further develop the infected, leave 28 Years Later as an unusual, almost misguided installment in the franchise and, simultaneously, an undeniably entertaining standalone zombie horror film with strong performances, energetic directing, palpable intensity, and an emotional climax. With a sequel on the way in January 2026 that will inevitably expand upon the current film’s commendably bizarre ending, hopes remain high for what Boyle and Garland have in store for this infected wasteland.
Read our full review of 28 Years Later here.
6. Marty Supreme
Marty Supreme is exhilarating, kinetic, bold, and, by quite some distance, the year’s most entertaining movie. Josh Safdie’s film propels through its 150 minute runtime by retaining the frenzied chaos of Uncut Gems and Good Time that keeps audiences at the edge of their seat and has our lead character experience one hardship after another. The bookends play much like a traditional sports drama, but the bulky middle act beautifully embraces this sense of chaos more than ever, creating a simultaneously hilarious and nail-biting rollercoaster for Chalamet’s Marty and, in turn, the viewer. Chalamet delivers a career-best performance as the aspiring table tennis champion, deftly navigating the nuances of narcissism amidst the pursuit of greatness in a manner that secures his position as frontrunner for the Best Actor Academy Award. Supporting actors Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin O’Leary, and Tyler Okonma all similarly excel in delivering natural performances that seamlessly fit into the tone and pace of Safdie’s film, but Odessa A’zion stands out the most with a warm and compassionate performance that aids in giving the film much-needed heart. The film may not flood one with emotion, outside of its admittedly moving ending, but nonetheless impresses with its technical brilliance, breakneck pacing, and, perhaps more than anything, Chalamet’s outstanding performance.
Read our full review of Marty Supreme here.
5. One Battle After Another
One Battle After Another is Paul Thomas Anderson at his most crowd-pleasing, absurdly funny, and timely. The acclaimed filmmaker crafts a propulsive epic that never ceases to entertain, unfolding much like a fast-paced action comedy. The parallels to contemporary America may be a tad surface-level, but there is undoubtedly something powerful and disturbing that comes from PTA’s examination of abuse of power and corruption. DiCaprio is a great dramatic actor, but, as evidenced by this performance, he may very well be an even better comedic actor. Sean Penn has arguably never been better as he crafts a deeply unnerving and toxically masculine antagonist, while Chase Infiniti announces herself with a bang, delivering a performance that brings heart to the film. One Battle After Another is easily PTA’s best film since The Master and a demonstration that, even after 30 years of filmmaking, the acclaimed director still has new tricks up his sleeve.
Read our full review of One Battle After Another here.
4. Weapons
Weapons is a sprawling, captivating, ambitious, and meticulously engineered horror epic. Bolstered by an immediately gripping premise, filmmaker Zach Cregger quickly plummets viewers into an intricate, Prisoners-esque mystery that slowly unveils its true nature and remains unpredictable every step of the way. Mirroring the structures of films like Pulp Fiction and Magnolia, Weapons features a series of fascinating vignettes, each focusing on a single character with relevance to the broader mystery and each bookended with a narrative punch, mostly in the form of a terrifying scare. Although the resolution of the mystery feels a bit small scale considering how epic and interesting the preceding mystery is and attempts to imbue the film with social commentary seem half-baked, the film nonetheless concludes strongly by wrapping up all of its loose ends and embracing humor in an unexpectedly overt manner. A strong ensemble devoid of a weak performer helps carry the interweaving stories, although Cregger seems more interested in the complexities of the plot than exploring the emotional complexities of his characters. Regardless, Weapons makes for compelling viewing – the kind of movie you simply want to not end. Excelling as a mystery, horror, and comedy, Cregger’s second solo screenwriting and directing outing is a resounding success and one of 2025’s best movies.
Read our full review of Weapons here.
3. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Rian Johnson caps off his trilogy of whodunnits with a more heartfelt and subtly satirical, yet similarly winding and ingeniously plotted murder mystery. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery sees Johnson retain his trademark subversiveness, while simultaneously exercising restraint to avoid getting too clever with too many twists, turns, and non-linearity. Marking an intelligent shift from the previous films, the audience is given the chance to solve the mystery alongside Benoit Blanc this time around, rather than having Daniel Craig’s suave detective always be multiple steps ahead. The array of suspects may not live up to the heights of Knives Out and Glass Onion’s suspects, but they each work as interesting and humorous personifications of various roles and issues in modern society, making the film yet another timely story. The timeliness becomes even more apparent through the more poignant and subtle social commentary of this third film, which will resonate with anyone even moderately aware of the current political landscape. While the film’s examination of faith doesn’t quite go as far as it could, multiple discussions of faith (or lack thereof) give Wake Up Dead Man its heart, in particular a scene with Josh O’Connor that is easily the series’ most moving. O’Connor shines above and beyond this scene, crafting a gentle, vulnerable, kind, and extremely likable lead, while Craig exudes suave in a role he could probably play in his sleep at this point. An unbelievable and more overt reverence for the detective works of Agatha Christie, John Dickson Carr, and others seeps through every scene of Wake Up Dead Man and will satisfy die hard whodunnit lovers like ourselves. With three Knives Out films under his belt, Rian Johnson has created an enthralling, subversive trilogy that breathed much-needed new life into the cinematic whodunnit. Hopefully this is far from the last mystery we see Benoit Blanc unravel.
Read our full review of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery here.
2. Frankenstein
It takes real craft to make Mary Shelley’s over 200 year old story of Frankenstein feel fresh after innumerable adaptations and reinventions, but Guillermo del Toro does so with flair and heart. The renowned filmmaker crafts a sweeping gothic fairy tale divided into two distinct, yet equally enchanted halves. The film features plenty of omissions and additions from its source material, but somehow enriches the timeless themes of the novel, rather than dilute their meaning. While various alterations are made to the narrative, del Toro uncannily captures the spirit and themes of the novel in a way few, if any, Frankenstein adaptations have done before. del Toro’s screenplay comes to life with two anchoring performances from Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi. Isaac brilliantly portrays the drive and descent into immorality of Victor Frankenstein, even if his accent is a bit over-the-top and the film speeds through some of his character’s more important developments. Elordi, meanwhile, delivers the best performance of his career to date as he draws on the poetry of Rory Kinnear’s portrayal of the Creature from Penny Dreadful and the emptiness of Christopher Lee’s portrayal from the Hammer films to usher in profound emotion in the film’s second half, bolstered by a small, yet pivotal performance from David Bradley. At 150 minutes, Frankenstein may run a tad too long, but there are far worse things that seeping in the beautiful fusion of Shelley and del Toro’s minds for a while. del Toro has, rightfully so, earned acclaim for the likes of Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water, Nightmare Alley, and so on, but, for us, Frankenstein may be his magnum opus. A cinematic triumph that proves, in the right hands, reanimating and breathing new life into Frankenstein’s creature will forever be a remarkable feat.
Read our review of Frankenstein here.
1. Rental Family
The renaissance of Brendan Fraser continues with Rental Family, a lovely and deeply moving film that tops our list of best movies of 2025. Although a tale of a lonely man developing unexpected connections is far from novel, filmmaker Hikari handles his story and characters with such delicacy and authenticity that it is difficult to not get wrapped up in the swelling emotions of Fraser’s character’s journey. The trajectory of this journey may be easy to forecast, but its predictability doesn’t detract from these emotions in the slightest. This is largely due to a superb performance from Brendan Fraser, who follows his Academy Award-winning role in The Whale with a more emotionally nuanced yet similarly powerful turn. Akira Emoto, meanwhile, excels in a pivotal supporting role that, when coupled with Fraser’s performance, gives Rental Family its beating heart. Much like the strong, tear-inducing emotions that sneak up on you while watching it, Rental Family sneaks up to the apex of our favorite movies of the year and will deliver audiences a much-needed uplifting tale of finding connection in the most unexpected of places.
Read our full review of Rental Family here.