The 10 best movies of 2025

After watching over 360 movies in 2025, here are my 10 best of the year:

Note: This list does not include documentaries.

10. Weapons

Streaming on: HBO Max

Available for rent on: Apple TV, Amazon, YouTube

Released by: Warner Bros. Pictures

Quote: “There’s something very, very wrong going on.”

Hollywood loves horror movies because they’re inexpensive to make and are the most profitable genre. But since there are so many of these films, it can be tough to stand out. Weapons was a breakthrough hit thanks to a good cast, a good story, and a disturbing ending. Filmmaker Zach Cregger proved that Barbarians was no fluke with a non-linear tale told from multiple perspectives. Weapons also benefited from one of the most frightening villains in recent memory: Aunt Gladys. Amy Madigan was so good that she may get a Best Supporting Actress nomination and star in a Weapons prequel.

9. Dog Man

Streaming on: Netflix

Available for rent on: Apple TV, Amazon, YouTube

Released by: Universal Pictures

Quote: “This world has a lot of problems. But it can never be a horrible place because you’re in it.”

Who would have guessed that the best father-and-son story of 2025 would come from this animated comedy based on the children’s graphic novels? Pete Davidson as Petey the Cat isn’t the hero here. In fact, he’s Dog Man’s nemesis. However, this movie is all about Petey’s character arc. Parenthood is challenging and at times frightening, but it can also be rewarding in unexpected ways. What makes Dog Man such a fun watch is the sheer volume of jokes that come at the audience fast and furious. It’s one of those movies you’ll need to see again to appreciate all the delightful details.

8. Hamnet

In theatres

Released by: Universal Pictures

Quote: “He’s got more inside of him than any man I’ve ever met.”

Chloé Zhao was an odd choice to direct Eternals. Not surprisingly, the Marvel movie was a disappointment at the box office, with critics and fans. Thankfully, Zhao returned to her element. The Oscar-winning director excels at delivering intimate character portrayals grounded in reality. Hamnet is based on the historical fiction book of the same name, which explores the tragic background story that inspired Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. The tale is told through the romance and marriage of Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) and Agnes (Jessie Buckley). Buckley is certain to win Best Actress because of her remarkable performance in this stunningly beautiful and emotionally devastating drama.

7. Bob Trevino Likes It

Streaming on: Hulu

Released by: Roadside Attractions

Available for rent on: Apple TV, Amazon, YouTube

Quote: “I accidentally found another Bob Trevino, and he’s so nice.”

Finding rewarding friendships at any stage in life can be challenging. While we’re more connected than ever before, thanks to technology, that hasn’t prevented loneliness from being a problem. Bob Trevino Likes It features two lonely people in 20-something Lily Trevino (Barbie Ferreira) and 60-something Bob Trevino (John Leguizamo). They unexpectedly meet on Facebook because she thinks they might be related. They’re not. However, after meeting in real life, a friendship blossoms. This is not a Bill Belichick-Jordan Hudson situation. Bob Trevino Likes It shows how simple acts of kindness can positively affect people’s lives.

6. Presence

Streaming on: Hulu

Released by: Neon

Available for rent on: Apple TV, Amazon, YouTube

Quote: “I never had anybody die.”

Ghosts can have many motivations. Sometimes it’s revenge, other times it’s unfinished business, or maybe it’s a warning. You’ll spend most of the 85-minute runtime of Steven Soderbergh’s supernatural drama trying to figure out what the ghost wants. When a family in crisis moves into an old suburban home, they discover that they’re not alone. While the parents and daughter deal with their own issues, they have a mystery to solve. The exact reasons behind the haunting don’t become evident until the highly unsettling climax. Presence is a simple, low-budget movie that delivers tension and intrigue. The ending will stay with you for a while.

5. She Rides Shotgun

Streaming on: MGM+

Available for rent on: Apple TV, Amazon, YouTube

Released by: Lionsgate Films

Quote: “You got to feel weak to get strong.”

A sharp crime thriller about a father and daughter on the run brings a new twist to the coming-of-age story. Based on a novel, Nate (Taron Egerton) is a recently released prisoner who is desperate to escape his past while also desperate to reconcile with his 11-year-old daughter, Polly (Ana Sophia Heger). They head on the road, trying to elude murderous criminals and the police. What makes She Rides Shotgun so effective is the evolving relationship between father and daughter. Heger delivers the best work by a child actor this year. Watching her go from being afraid to curious to brave makes you cheer for her all the way.

4. Twinless

Available for rent on: Apple TV, Amazon, YouTube

Released by: Lionsgate Films and Roadside Attractions

Quote: “You know how people say ‘just be yourself?’ Like, what version of me? I hate most of them.”

A black comedy should make you feel uncomfortable, and no movie accomplished that feat more this year than Twinless, which is simultaneously heartwarming and creepy. Roman (Dylan O’Brien) and Dennis (James Sweeney) are strangers who meet at a bereavement support group for people who have lost a twin. They seemingly have little in common other than their grief, but quickly form a friendship. When the plot takes an unexpected turn, the film becomes astonishing. O’Brien is outstanding in a dual role, portraying Roman and his twin brother Rocky. Twinless is directed by Sweeney, who is adept at finding the humor in unusual pairings.

3. Sinners

Streaming on: HBO Max

Released by: Warner Bros. Pictures

Available for rent on: Apple TV, Amazon, YouTube

Quote: “I’ve been all over this world. I’ve seen men die in ways I ain’t even know was possible.”

Ryan Coogler’s Jim Crow-era vampire film can be discussed on so many levels that it’s hard to sum up in a paragraph. Twin brothers Smoke and Stack, both portrayed by Michael B. Jordan, are confronted by supernatural evil and traditional evil. But Sinners is more than just a blending of genres. Like historical fiction, it has roots in real-life situations brought on by the systemic racism of the time. On the surface, Sinners is a vastly entertaining horror film. But the narrative digs deeper to show that the vampires weren’t the most dangerous obstacle Smoke and Stack must face.

2. One Battle After Another

Streaming on: HBO Max

Available for rent on: Apple TV, Amazon, YouTube

Released by: Warner Bros. Pictures

Quote: “Freedom is a funny thing, isn’t it? When you have it, you don’t appreciate it, and when you miss it, it’s gone.”

One Battle After Another is such a tour de force of drama, comedy, and action that it feels like it’s from a different time when filmmakers were allowed more leeway to create something unique without studio interference. Paul Thomas Anderson has deservedly earned critical acclaim for his previous works, but this is his biggest box-office hit and his best chance to win an Oscar. He should get the trophy for the climactic car chase scene, alone. The acting by Leonardo DiCaprio and company is exceptional, but it’s Sean Penn’s Colonel Lockjaw who steals the movie. It’s not the same film without Penn’s weird energy.

1. Companion

Streaming on: HBO Max, Prime Video

Available for rent on: Apple TV, Amazon, YouTube

Released by: Warner Bros. Pictures

Quote: “I know that you think that having a few million dollars will disguise the fact that you are just a sad, bitter, weak human being.”

The marketing department did a disservice to Companion. The trailer contains spoilers that totally ruin a key plot twist. (Note: We included the teaser trailer above for consistency’s sake, but you may want to avoid it.) If you were one of the lucky few who knew nothing before seeing it, Companion was the best cinematic experience of the year. If Philip K. Dick wrote a rom-com satire, it would likely look a lot like this. Iris (Sophie Thatcher) and Josh (Jack Quaid) seem like a lovely couple, but there’s something strange afoot. Thatcher is marvelous here as Iris suddenly discovers the truth. Companion has plenty to say about relationship dynamics and what people want and need from their romantic partners.