The Best Movies of 2025

Hello and welcome back to my Best Movies list! I enjoy writing this every year that I can, and I am excited for a year where I had a cluster at the top and had to figure out what my Best Film was. Fortunately, after awarding my "no-brainer" categories, a clear victor rose to the top, and I cannot wait to share that with you. I have 15 categories to award this year and will share my brief thoughts on each winner. I will also make Oscar predictions with each award despite not yet knowing the nominations.

DISCLAIMER: I did not see every film released in 2025, but I did see every film that I wanted to. I skip films that do not interest me, but I will list out all these at the end of my post along with honorable mentions that did not make my list.

Oscar Predictions for Unincluded Categories

• Animated Short Film - No prediction.
• Casting - Hamnet
• Costume Design - Wicked: For Good
• Documentary Feature Film - See Animated Short Film.
• Documentary Short Film - See above.
• Film Editing - F1
• International Feature Film - Sirât
• Live Action Short Film - See Animated Short Film.
• Makeup and Hairstyling - The Smashing Machine
• Production Design - Wicked: For Good
• Sound - F1

Without further ado, here are the Best Movies of 2025 according to Robert!

Best Cinematic Song: I Lied to You (Sinners)

This song became the heart of Sinners, weaving together enchanting visuals with a soulful tune performed magically by Miles Caton. In a film about music, oppression, and vampires, no scene quite sets the stage for a movie like I Lied to You.

Honorable Mentions: What It Sounds Like (KPop Demon Hunters); and Red Dragonfly (No Other Choice).

OSCAR PREDICTION: Music (Original Song) - I Lied to You (Sinners)

Best Superpowered Team: KPop Demon Hunters

While everybody has (rightfully) raved about the music and stunning animation in KPop Demon Hunters, what truly drew me in was the connection between the trio of chosen sisters. Their bonds, which are challenged, snapped, and rebuilt, show the complexity of relationships and how we often must rebuild trust in one another after it has been broken. They also kick some serious 나귀 throughout and show their immense power, which is fueled by the people of Seoul.

Honorable Mentions: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - The Movie: Infinity Castle; and Superman.

Best Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw (Sinners)

Sinners was shot beautifully on film, which makes the nighttime scenes and firey moments pop in a way that digital recordings struggle to replicate. Arkapaw also made history as the first female director of photography to shoot on IMAX film, which feels late but is welcome nonetheless. Her framing of each shot makes characters pop and set pieces stand out, even during small intimate moments like when Michael B. Jordan's Smoke meets with his estranged wife, Annie (portrayed beautifully by Wunmi Mosaku). This is a gorgeous movie that I barely caught in theaters, and I desperately hope that they will re-release in IMAX (the last re-releases did not reach where I live).

Honorable Mentions: Kim Woo-hyung (No Other Choice); and Larkin Seiple (Weapons).

OSCAR PREDICTION: Claudio Miranda (F1)

Best Survivor: Julia Garner (Weapons)

Very few films have captured the struggles of a public school teacher like Weapons does, and a lot of credit belongs to Julia Garner for her portrayal of an elementary school teacher. She has so much empathy for her students that her principal (Benedict Wong) must reel her back in, lest she cross professional lines. The emotional and mental burdens of her profession are shown with real care and torment by Garner, and she ultimately carries this film for me and gives it an emotional core.

Honorable Mentions: Chase Infiniti (One Battle after Another); and Miles Caton (Sinners).

Best Comedy: The Naked Gun

I did not expect yet another Hollywood reboot to be any good, but I was pleasantly surprised by how hilarious this film was. Akiva Schaffer directed one of my favorite comedies of the past few decades, Hot Rod, and brings that same energy and silliness to The Naked Gun. In addition, Liam Neeson playing the straight man throughout the film despite escalating bits of ridiculousness (often fed by his own inept actions) had me in stitches, particularly during an interrogation sequence involving chili dogs. If you miss old-school, silly comedies like Airplane or Spaceballs, look no further!

Honorable Mentions: Marty Supreme; and A Minecraft Movie.

Best Screenplay: Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-mi, Don McKellar, and Lee Ja-hye (No Other Choice)

I have watched many of Park Chan-wook's films, and they all have very similar themes, one of which being the struggles of those at the bottom of society to survive, or even to climb out of their designated class. No Other Choice reexamines these struggles while showing the cutthroat world of late-stage capitalism as it exists in South Korea (and throughout the world). It asks the question, "What would you do to keep your place in society?" then follows it down the darkest paths of Seoul. Park's script has a sense of realism, desperation, and biting satire that will make you laugh at the worst situations.

Honorable Mentions: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle after Another); and Zach Cregger (Weapons).

OSCAR PREDICTION: Writing (Adapted Screenplay) - Maggie O’Farrell and Chloé Zhao (Hamnet)

OSCAR PREDICTION: Writing (Original Screenplay) - Ryan Coogler (Sinners)

Best Leading Actor: Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)

Michael B. Jordan is one of the rare modern actors who draws audiences in by name alone, a la John Wayne or Tom Cruise. His latest collaboration with writer-director Ryan Coogler shows exactly why, as he turns in a powerhouse performance as twin brothers Smoke and Stack Moore. Smoke thinks ahead and plans for everything, willing to make the tough choices to keep those he loves safe; while Stack oozes charisma and makes sure everyone enjoys themselves in his company. These two wholly different characters are brought vibrantly to life by Jordan and elevate an already magnificent film.

Honorable Mentions: Lee Byung-hun (No Other Choice); and Julia Garner (Weapons).

OSCAR PREDICTION: Actor in a Leading Role - Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme)

OSCAR PREDICTION: Actress in a Leading Role - Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I'd Kick You)

Best Visual Effects: Frankenstein

This was the first category that I looked at and instantly knew which film won the award for me. Guillermo del Toro's retelling of The science fiction novel by Mary Shelley blew me away with its spectacular visuals, whether they be a collapsing castle, a thrilling fight on the ice, or the grotesque yet beautiful reconstruction of a human being from corpse parts. I have always loved the book, especially as a story of horror as well as science fiction, but I forgot just how brutal some aspects of the creation of the Creature would be on screen versus on a page. My one biggest critique of this film: it was not released in theaters! Shame on Netflix a hundred times over.

Honorable Mentions: 28 Years Later; and Sinners.

OSCAR PREDICTION: Frankenstein

Best Animated Film: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - The Movie: Infinity Castle

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - The Movie: Mugen Train (say that 5 times fast) was the first film that I saw in theaters after the start of COVID-19, and it blew me away with its visuals and heartbreaking story. Infinity Castle somehow upped the ante, providing stunning animation, beautiful music, and gut-punches of storytelling as the Demon Slayer series nears its conclusion. Watching this on IMAX with a full house was delightful, as everyone collectively cheered at incredible moments that have built for years (Zenitsu and Akaza in particular) and were dead silent during the tragic moments of loss and grief. Demon Slayer has had the best animation in anime for years now, and Infinity Castle continues that tradition with pride.

Honorable Mentions: KPop Demon Hunters; and The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants.

OSCAR PREDICTION: KPop Demon Hunters

Best Music: Ludwig Göransson (Sinners)

Of course the film about music would win Best Music for me! Göransson researched the history and culture of the blues extensively while composing this film, enlisting the help of his wife, Serena McKinney, and blues producer Boo Mitchell. Their passion and respect for the rich history of the American blues shines through with a beautiful score that no other film could hope to match this year or most any given year.

Honorable Mentions: Marcelo Zarvos (KPop Demon Hunters); and Jo Yeong-wook (No Other Choice).

OSCAR PREDICTION: Music (Original Score) - Ludwig Göransson (Sinners)

Best Revolutionary: Benicio del Toro (One Battle after Another)

I have long admired the work of del Toro, especially in Sicario, so I was excited to see that he would be in Paul Thomas Anderson's latest film. However, I did not expect him to play a shrewd and smooth mover-and-shaker who protects the immigrant population from oppressive domestic forces on the West Coast of the United States. He is calm, suave, and unshakable; he is ready to handle anything thrown his way as he protects his people and supports the insurgents, even when they fail spectacularly (I'm looking at Leonardo DiCaprio's Rocketman here).

Honorable Mentions: Arden Cho (KPop Demon Hunters); and Isabela Merced (Superman).

Best Director: Ryan Coogler (Sinners)

I cannot rave about the visual storytelling and excellent camerawork in Sinners and not tip my hat to its director, Coogler. He has long had a sense of how to make intimate moments feel epic (like Chadwick Boseman's conversation with Michael B. Jordan at the end of Black Panther); and how to make epic moments feel intimate (like the final fight of Creed). Both of these qualities are on full display in Sinners, with tragic conversations between characters in the dark; and explosive fights for survival under the moonlight. Coogler makes entertaining films with deep themes and wonderful characters, much like my all-time favorite director, Steven Spielberg. He has cemented himself as one of the best directors in cinema of the past decade and deserves recognition for it. 

Honorable Mentions: Guillermo del Toro (Frankenstein); and Park Chan-wook (No Other Choice).

OSCAR PREDICTION: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle after Another)

Best Scene: One last run through the neighborhood (Weapons)

The picture above is not from the scene I am awarding, as I could not find any non-spoiler depictions of it. It happens after a long film showing the dark and sad parts of childhood in the United States, including a 20-minute sequence symbolic of children with drug users for parents right beforehand. Then we get to see vengeance most delightful, culminating in a surprisingly hilarious trek with several expertly-crafted one-shots featuring excellent stuntwork. This ending was an incredible way to finish a great story and a capstone for writer-director Zach Cregger's excellent script.

Honorable Mentions: The Christmas Adventurers Club (One Battle after Another); and a spiritual performance (Sinners).

Best Supporting Actor: Son Ye-Jin (No Other Choice)

Although the film primarily follows the desperate path of Yoo Man-su (Lee Byung-hun), the true center of No Other Choice's story is his wife, Lee Mi-ri (Son). She not only becomes the solid foundation of the family when her husband falls to pieces after being let go from his decades-long employment at a paper factory, but also must make multiple moral choices when she begins to learn the truth of her husband's actions. Son has to balance portraying a strong woman who was capable of being a single mother with a woman afraid to fall into poverty and doing her best to keep her family afloat. She balances these aspects of a complex character perfectly and turns in a wonderful performance.

Honorable Mentions: Kevin O'Leary (Marty Supreme); and Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners).

OSCAR PREDICTION: Actor in a Supporting Role - Benicio del Toro (One Battle after Another)

OSCAR PREDICTION: Actress in a Supporting Role - Teyana Taylor (One Battle after Another)

Best Film: Sinners

If you have read each of my awards so far, it should come as no surprise that my Best Film of 2025 is Sinners. As I said before, many films were clustered at the top of my list (essentially #1-6 are all 9/10s), but Sinners pulled ahead due to its many "no-brainer" category wins. As I thought over this revelation and remembered the film, I became certain that this was the correct choice and that Sinners is my favorite film from this past year. It is beautiful, thrilling, heart-wrenching, action-packed, and terrifying. Sinners continues a long tradition of excellent blockbusters that are horror-adjacent, starting all the way back in 1975 with The blockbuster: Jaws.

I will also highlight one of the biggest reasons for my love of Sinners. Of the many wonderful characters in this film, I loved Smoke and his relationship with Annie. These two characters share a tragic past together, but choose to try to rebuild their future. During the final moments of the film, they reunite in such a way that moved me like no other film this year did, and I cannot wait to watch Sinners again once I own it myself. Without a doubt, Sinners is the Best Film of 2025.

Honorable Mentions: No Other Choice; and Weapons.

OSCAR PREDICTION: One Battle after Another

TL;DR

1. Sinners (Best Film, Best Director, Best Leading Actor, Best Music, Best Cinematography, Best Cinematic Song)
2. Weapons (Best Scene, Best Survivor)
3. No Other Choice (Best Supporting Actor, Best Screenplay)
4. One Battle after Another (Best Revolutionary)
5. Frankenstein (Best Visual Effects)
6. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - The Movie: Infinity Castle (Best Animated Film)
7. The Naked Gun (Best Comedy)
8. KPop Demon Hunters (Best Superpowered Team)

As promised, here are my honorable mentions and skipped films:

Good, Not Great

• 28 Years Later
• Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc
• Marty Supreme
• Mickey 17
• A Minecraft Movie
• The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants
• Superman
• Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

Bad or Overrated

• F1 (loved the race scenes in IMAX though)
• Five Nights at Freddy's 2 (delightful garbage)
• Highest 2 Lowest

Skipped or Missed

• Avatar: Fire and Ash
• Black Phone 2
• Bugonia
• Hamnet
• If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
• Nuremberg
• The Phoenician Scheme
• Predator: Badlands
• The Secret Agent
• Sentimental Value
• Sirât
• Wicked: For Good
• Zootopia 2

Thank you for reading my Best Movies of 2025! Looking forwards to 2026, I cannot wait to see Dune: Messiah, The Odyssey, and Werwulf. However, I am most excited for Godzilla Minus Zero! Enjoy your year!