The Best Films of 2025 – Minority Mindset

2025 was a “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times” kind of year for movies.

Movie ticket sales have been disastrous for months, particularly for independent and smaller studio films. With fewer companies controlling most of the industry, the remaining studios are making fewer movies and sticking to safer bets. They seem to think the only way to turn things around is to focus all their resources on a few huge blockbusters, much like a gambler putting everything on a single, risky play. It’s not a time of smart decisions; it’s a time of reckless ones.

Despite some disappointments, 2025 offered a wealth of films – from blockbusters to indie projects, and from American productions to international ones. Interestingly, many films expected to be award winners didn’t live up to the hype, while some lighthearted summer movies turned out to be surprisingly insightful and daring. Even as traditional studios scaled back, streaming services continued to release a lot of high-quality content, some of which rivaled anything shown in theaters. It’s hard to say whether this signals a promising future for film, or a time of decline.

While we’re all anticipating what the year holds, I’ve put together my list of the 20 best films of 2025, with a few extra notable movies mentioned as well. I expanded from a top ten list a while back – honestly, anyone who limits themselves to just ten great films clearly isn’t watching enough! It’s easy to get discouraged about the current state of movies and where the industry is headed, but the past year has also given us a lot to be excited about. It’s been a mix of both good and bad, a real high and low point for cinema.

The Best Movies of 2025

20. Caught Stealing

I have to admit, Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing really came out of nowhere and ended up being one of my favorite films of the year. It dropped almost unnoticed in late August – usually where studios hide movies they don’t believe in – but it’s a genuinely fun and surprisingly dark thriller. The movie is steeped in this fantastic, old New York atmosphere, and it reminded me a lot of After Hours before Griffin Dunne himself even showed up! It just kept throwing unexpected twists at you. Honestly, what got to me the most wasn’t just the story, but the nostalgia. Seeing Shea Stadium, the old Kim’s Video… it was a welcome reminder of a different era, and a real surprise to get a drama like this, made for adults, from a major studio.

19. Eephus

The title Eephus perfectly captures the feel of this gentle, seemingly straightforward film. Much like the eephus pitch itself, the movie subtly draws you in, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, it takes an unexpected turn. (The other names for that pitch – like blooper ball or parachute – would also fit the film well.)

Eephus centers around the last game played by two small-town amateur baseball teams before their field is demolished. Over the course of nine innings, co-writer and director Carson Lund delves into the connections between teammates and opponents, using this ultimately unimportant game to examine why baseball traditions and rituals are so meaningful to people.

18. It Was Just an Accident

Fans of films featuring deeply troubled men who kidnap someone they blame for a terrible injustice have seen a downturn with Bugonia, and It Was Just an Accident continues that trend. This movie tells the story of a former Iranian prisoner (Vahid Mobasseri) who unexpectedly encounters a man (Ebrahim Azizi) he believes tortured him during his unjust imprisonment. He never actually saw his torturer, but recognizes the voice and the sound of a prosthetic leg. Unsure of what to do, he enlists other victims of torture to help identify the man and decide what to do with him. The film is both brutally sad and surprisingly funny, and it’s especially impactful because director Jafar Panahi himself has been imprisoned multiple times. In fact, he recently received another one-year prison sentence from the Iranian government – for making this very film.

17. Bugonia

Yorgos Lanthimos is known for his darkly comedic films, and his latest, Bugonia, continues that tradition. It’s a twisted update to the 2003 South Korean movie Save the Green Planet! and reflects our current obsession with conspiracy theories. The film centers around a reclusive and unsettlingly relatable man named Teddy (Jesse Plemons) who kidnaps a powerful pharmaceutical CEO, Michelle (Emma Stone), convinced she’s part of an alien scheme to destroy the world. She’s understandably baffled and angry. The situation is both incredibly funny and deeply disturbing, perfectly capturing the anxious feeling of what it’s like to live in today’s world.

16. The Perfect Neighbor

This chilling Netflix documentary uses police bodycam footage to tell the story of a tragic act of violence in Florida. It details the escalating conflict between a woman and her neighbors, culminating in a killing. The Perfect Neighbor not only shows the events leading up to the tragedy and its devastating consequences, but also raises difficult questions about whether the legal system truly protects the innocent. Though it’s a documentary, many are calling it the most frightening horror film of 2025.

15. Reflection in a Dead Diamond

With its dazzling visuals and throwback spy style, Reflection in a Dead Diamond is a thrilling, fast-paced film. Directors Bruno Forzani and Hélène Cattet pack it with striking imagery, following a veteran agent (Fabio Testi) as his mental state unravels. The film is a loving homage to classic Eurospy and Italian giallo thrillers, and one of the villains can even hypnotize people into thinking they’re in a movie. It’s so captivating and visually rich that it feels like a hypnotic experience, leaving viewers completely immersed in its retro world.

14. Mickey 17

As a movie fan, one of the things I really appreciate about Bong Joon-ho is his knack for subverting expectations. He loves taking actors we see as these stoic heroes and really messing with that image, especially in sci-fi. Remember when he turned Captain America into… well, let’s just say not a hero? He’s done it again with Robert Pattinson in Mickey 17. Pattinson plays this character, Mickey, who’s basically a disposable operative – think of him as someone sent on incredibly dangerous missions for space colonization. The really wild part? Every time Mickey dies, they just ‘reprint’ him – a new body, same memories. By the time the movie starts, he’s up to version 17, but a glitch creates an 18th Mickey, and things get… complicated. Now, Mickey 17 isn’t quite as perfectly polished as Parasite, but honestly, that feels intentional. With 18 almost-identical versions of the same guy running around, a little unevenness in the film’s tone actually makes sense. It feels like the form is mirroring the function of the story.

13. Friendship

“Friendship” was a remarkably engaging theatrical experience in 2025, eliciting audible reactions – sighs, gasps, and even shocked exclamations – from the audience throughout the comedy. These reactions were fully earned, as the play centers on Tim Robinson’s increasingly awkward and humiliating experience after a promising friendship with a charismatic neighbor (Paul Rudd) falls apart during a disastrous get-together. Robinson perfectly portrays cluelessness, while Rudd excels as the effortlessly cool friend, and the script, written by director Andrew DeYoung, relentlessly explores male insecurities in a way that might actually cause some viewers to physically cringe.

12. Black Bag

I wasn’t expecting Black Bag to be such a steamy, twisty mystery – a bit like Agatha Christie, but with a lot more heat! And I quickly realized it was exactly my kind of movie. Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett play a married couple who are both spies. Their happiness is disrupted when Fassbender is asked to investigate his wife, suspecting she might be working against them. The film also features a fantastic supporting cast including Regé-Jean Page, Marisa Abela, Naomie Harris, and Pierce Brosnan. But what really makes Black Bag special is how unpredictable it is – you genuinely have no idea what’s going to happen next, which is refreshing and really enjoyable.

11. Superman

Look, I get it – comparing any DC film to Richard Donner’s Superman feels sacrilegious to many. But honestly? James Gunn’s Superman delivers. Nicholas Hoult is Lex Luthor – brilliantly self-absorbed and hilariously fragile. And the supporting cast? Fantastic. Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific is perfect, but let’s be real, Krypto the super-dog practically steals every scene he’s in – a wonderfully disobedient scene-stealer! What really surprised me, though, was David Corenswet as Superman. He’s genuinely charming and portrays a vulnerability that makes you really root for him. It’s a fun, exciting, and even romantic film, with a little bit of social commentary thrown in. More importantly, it feels like a genuine reset for DC, and it’s a fantastic sign that this is just the first film in what’s supposed to be a whole new universe of superhero stories.

10. Train Dreams

Each year, there should be an award for the best Netflix film that really doesn’t feel suited to watching on Netflix. And the first winner is Train Dreams. (Yes, I watched it on Netflix!) It’s a beautifully made, thoughtful, and often heartbreaking film. It follows the decades-long life of Robert Grainier, a solitary logger, played with quiet power by Joel Edgerton. Director Clint Bentley uses Grainier’s story to show how the Pacific Northwest changed over time, as he travels, works, meets people, and starts a family with a woman named Gladys (Felicity Jones). Train Dreams isn’t something you can casually watch while distracted. It demands your full attention – dim the lights, put your phone away, and let yourself be fully immersed in another time and place.

9. Predator: Badlands

The latest Predator film feels like the franchise’s answer to Terminator 2 – though perhaps not quite as grand in scale. This time, the Predator isn’t a mysterious, unstoppable villain, but a more relatable character. The story follows a young, outcast Predator who is sent to a dangerous planet to prove himself by defeating an incredibly powerful creature – a monster with some familiar traits.

Along the way, this Predator gains a surprising group of comedic allies, including Elle Fanning as an optimistic android. Despite this lighter side, the film still delivers the intense action and thrills fans expect. It’s director Dan Trachtenberg’s strongest Predator film yet, boasting impressive visuals, exciting action sequences, innovative gadgets, and a thoughtful story about family and honor.

8. Weapons

If Zach Cregger asks you to come down to his basement, seriously, just leave! He clearly loves creating unsettling, dungeon-like environments, and his new movie, Weapons, is no exception. Beneath the quiet surface of a Pennsylvania town lies a truly creepy space, which becomes central to a baffling mystery: the sudden disappearance of 17 children from one classroom. The film follows multiple characters – including the teacher (Julia Garner), a father of one of the missing kids (Josh Brolin), and a troubled police officer (Alden Ehrenreich) – as they try to unravel what happened. Weapons jumps between perspectives, creating a tone that’s both deeply disturbing and surprisingly funny. Think of it as a darkly comedic thriller, like a Pulp Fiction you didn’t know you were waiting for.

7. Avatar: Fire and Ash

I think Avatar: Fire and Ash is the best of the three Avatar movies so far. The visuals continue to get better with each film, especially with the 3D and high frame rate technology. But beyond that, Fire and Ash really delivers on emotional moments after almost twenty years of storytelling – you can see the weight of time on the characters like Jake Sully, Neytiri, and Miles Quaritch. Or maybe, as a father, I’m just easily moved by stories about parents fighting to keep their kids safe in a difficult world. Either way, I’m excited for Avatar 4 and can’t wait to see what happens next.

6. The Naked Gun

If you’re looking for a hilarious movie, look no further than the 2025 release, The Naked Gun. It’s 85 minutes of constant laughter, packed with visual gags, silly puns, and outrageous humor, all while cleverly poking fun at pop culture. This update to the classic franchise is one of the best revivals of the 2020s. Liam Neeson steps into the role of Frank Drebin Jr., the son of Leslie Nielsen’s iconic character, and he’s just as delightfully clumsy. He’s a tough detective assigned to a case involving a villainous businessman (played by Danny Huston), and his hilarious inner thoughts add to the chaos – especially when he notices the attractiveness of his love interest, Pamela Anderson, with a particularly memorable line. The Naked Gun proves that spoof comedies – and comedies made for theaters – still have a lot to offer.

5. Predators

The current demand for easily-produced, recognizable content has led to a surge of documentaries that revisit popular culture phenomena from the past, trying to understand why they resonated with audiences and what deeper meanings they held. Just in recent months, we’ve seen docs about figures like Pee-wee Herman, Jerry Springer, and Alex Rodriguez, as well as stories about MoviePass, yacht rock, and Charlie Sheen. While these films are often enjoyable, the documentary Predators stands out due to director David Osit’s personal connection to its subject matter and his unusually thoughtful approach.

Predators examines the Dateline NBC segment “To Catch a Predator,” which, despite its sensational nature, seemed to serve a public good by helping to prevent child exploitation. However, Osit’s film explores how turning this important work into entertainment altered the dynamic between reporter Chris Hansen, his producers, and the show’s audience.

Instead of a broad overview, Osit focuses on specific cases, interviewing the individuals who acted as decoys, an expert who studied the show’s methods, and even YouTubers who have imitated Hansen’s approach online. Osit himself rarely appears on screen, but his quiet, melancholic voice guides the questioning. This contrasts sharply with Hansen’s confrontational style, revealing Osit’s deep concern and internal conflict regarding the show, which he admits to having watched frequently. In a world where empathy seems increasingly rare, films like Predators – films that encourage understanding – are more vital than ever, as famously noted by Roger Ebert’s observation about the power of movies.

4. Marty Supreme

If you found the Safdie brothers’ Uncut Gems a bit too relaxed, Marty Supreme is the movie for you. It’s a wild story about Marty Mauser (Timothée Chalamet, who continues to impress in every role), a supremely talented but reckless table tennis player and hustler who believes he’s destined for greatness. Unfortunately, his arrogance keeps landing him in trouble, and the film feels like a never-ending chase – Marty constantly has to scramble to avoid disaster. It’s a darkly funny, brilliantly acted film with a fantastic cast – including Gwyneth Paltrow and even Shark Tank‘s Mr. Wonderful – and it’s packed with suspense. Marty Supreme is so good, you’ll leave the theater wanting to chase your biggest dreams and hoping it becomes a huge box office hit.

3. No Other Choice

Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice is a remarkably enjoyable film – both hilarious and thrilling. It feels like something Alfred Hitchcock would have loved, perhaps even more than Star Trek: Section 31. But the movie offers much more than just surface-level entertainment. It’s filled with clever visual jokes and repeating themes, notably images of plants and trees, all connected to the story of a dedicated paper mill worker (Lee Byung-hun) who loses his job and struggles to find new work. While the story is based on a Donald Westlake novel, the choice of a paper industry setting feels particularly relevant today. In an age where technology threatens so many jobs, a paper worker perfectly embodies the fight for survival as older ways of life disappear.

2. Sinners

Is Sinners the best vampire movie of 2025? Or is it a deeply thoughtful film about America, music, cultural appropriation, and the stories we create around artistic genius? The answer is both. Ryan Coogler’s Sinners is also genuinely frightening, surprisingly sensual, and often quite humorous. It’s an ambitious film, and comes very close to being a masterpiece.

1. One Battle After Another

Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest film, One Battle After Another, is a rare and ambitious movie in today’s Hollywood. Despite a hefty price tag—reportedly over $150 million—it’s a visually striking and politically charged epic with a clear artistic vision. The film defies easy categorization, seamlessly blending elements of thriller, adventure, and social commentary, all while telling a deeply emotional story about a father trying to shield his daughter from his own history and a world in turmoil. It’s a funny, gorgeous, unsettling, and thrilling experience—essentially, a new masterpiece from PTA.

Here are some other notable entries, listed alphabetically: Ballerina, Companion, Hamnet, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, The Mastermind, One of Them Days, 28 Years Later, Wake Up Dead Man, Wick Is Pain, and Zodiac Killer Project.

Movies That Are Shockingly Rated PG

Airplane! (1980)

The IMDb page for the movie Airplane! contains offensive language, including multiple uses of a slur and several instances of a racial slur, as well as jokes that are generally considered inappropriate. The film also briefly shows a woman nude, despite being aimed at a broad audience.

The Bad News Bears (1976)

The movie The Bad News Bears centers around a grumpy, alcoholic coach who constantly yells at and puts down his clumsy Little League team. Interestingly, despite containing swearing and mature content, the MPAA still considered it appropriate for children, perhaps because some believe it realistically portrays the behavior children might experience from adults struggling with alcohol abuse.

Barbarella (1968/77)

When Barbarella was first released, movie ratings didn’t exist yet, so it premiered with plenty of nudity and sexual content. After Star Wars proved science fiction films could be huge money-makers, the filmmakers edited down the most explicit scenes and re-released it as Barbarella: Queen of the Galaxy, earning it a PG rating. The original, uncut version is technically unrated. However, the MPAA lists the film as simply “PG,” which likely has surprised a few parents who unknowingly let their children watch Jane Fonda’s famous nude scene in space.

Beetlejuice

In the movie Beetlejuice, the mischievous ghost character famously declares he’ll do anything asked of him, then shockingly offers to bite a dog. This scene, meant to showcase his frightening side, includes bizarre visuals like snakes emerging from his face, and culminates in a crude gesture with an accompanying sound effect resembling a vintage car horn. Surprisingly, the film received a PG rating!

Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)

The film Conquest of the Planet of the Apes culminates in a revolt by enslaved apes who fight back against their human oppressors, setting their city ablaze. This dramatic scene clearly reflects the racial unrest of the time. It’s powerful and unsettling, especially considering it received a PG rating. Interestingly, the original Planet of the Apes, which contained torture, violence, and the destruction of humanity, was rated G!

Earthquake (1974)

While Earthquake doesn’t have a lot of graphic violence or swearing, it does feature the almost complete destruction of Los Angeles through a series of earthquakes. Plus, a major part of the story involves Charlton Heston having an affair with Geneviève Bujold while married to Ava Gardner. And to top it off, many of the main characters die in a devastating flood. If that sounds like appropriate viewing for your children, then feel free to let them watch it.

Ghostbusters (1984)

I saw Ghostbusters countless times as a kid, but when I showed it to my own children, I was surprised by how frightening and mature it actually was. I even checked the MPAA rating online to make sure! It seems like kids were allowed to watch just about anything in the 80s.

Gremlins (1984)

When people talk about scary movies from the 80s, Gremlins often comes up. It, along with several films on this list, is believed to have pushed the MPAA to create the PG-13 rating, falling between PG and R. The sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, received that PG-13 rating, but the original Gremlins has never been re-rated. Surprisingly, this means the movie—with its monsters, violence, and Christmas mayhem—is still considered appropriate for all audiences.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

The original Indiana Jones movie featured Nazis, dangerous airplane scenes, and gruesome effects, yet it received a PG rating. Temple of Doom then took things much further with a child slavery ring, people eating monkey brains, and a villain who literally rips a man’s heart out. Interestingly, the MPAA created the PG-13 rating just two months after Temple of Doom came out in theaters.

Jaws (1975)

What do the movies Gremlins and Temple of Doom have in common? They were both produced and directed by Steven Spielberg, who first became famous with another scary (but PG-rated) film, Jaws. Jaws features several shark attacks, including a particularly gruesome scene where a shark bites a character in half and pulls him underwater. Despite this, the film has aired on television for around fifty years with only minor cuts, likely due to its PG rating or relaxed TV standards. I remember watching it for the first time on WPIX 11 when I was about ten years old, and its accessibility to children may explain why it continues to influence so many movie fans across generations.

Mission to Mars (2000)

It’s surprising to see Brian De Palma, the director behind suspenseful films like Dressed to Kill, Carrie, and Body Double, make a PG-rated sci-fi movie. Mission to Mars is far from lighthearted – almost everything goes wrong for the crew, leading to a lot of death and destruction, including a character’s shocking self-sacrifice in space. It makes you wonder if the MPAA simply glanced at the title and mistakenly thought it was a harmless adaptation of a Disney ride.

Poltergeist (1982)

Okay, let me tell you, Steven Spielberg does not shy away from scaring kids! It’s almost admirable, really, how dedicated he is to delivering the thrills. Even back in the original Poltergeist, which he helped create, he really put families through the wringer. I mean, this wasn’t just a little spooky; this movie terrorized a normal suburban family with ghosts, skeletons, and all sorts of creepy, otherworldly beings. Definitely not a bedtime story, but a classic for those who like a good fright!

Prophecy (1979)

In John Frankenheimer’s Prophecy, a bear is transformed into a terrifying monster by toxic waste, and it goes on a destructive rampage through the forests of Maine. The trailer itself proves this isn’t a family-friendly PG movie—it’s a full-blown monster movie, as the poster clearly states!

Sixteen Candles (1984)

The movie Sixteen Candles is a classic from the 1980s, and one of director John Hughes’ most well-known teen comedies. However, it contains a disturbing scene where the main male character describes a heavily intoxicated girl in a way that implies sexual assault. While the movie doesn’t show anything happening, the scene’s implications are deeply unsettling, and it’s surprising it received a PG rating.

Son of the Mask (2005)

The MPAA rated Son of the Mask PG-13 for action, crude humor, and language, which is accurate enough. However, that rating doesn’t really convey how disturbing it is to see a terribly fake-looking CGI baby throwing up and urinating on Jamie Kennedy – that part felt more like something you’d see in an NC-17 movie.

Spaceballs (1987)

Mel Brooks’ Blazing Saddles features plenty of crude humor – Dark Helmet curses in frustration, President Skroob is shown in a suggestive situation, and many characters are insultingly referred to as “Aholes.” The film earned an R rating, while Young Frankenstein received a PG rating.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

Believe it or not, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan received a PG rating despite containing intense scenes – things like psychological manipulation, a violent explosion, and a character suffering a slow, agonizing death. It was actually much more intense than the original Star Trek movie or the television series. The Star Trek franchise didn’t receive its first PG-13 rating until 1996 with Star Trek: First Contact. Interestingly, even the director’s cut of The Wrath of Khan, re-rated in 2002, still earned a PG rating.

Star Wars (1977)

The movie Spaceballs was rated PG, which raises the question: why wasn’t the original Star Wars also rated PG? Actually, all three original Star Wars films received PG ratings, even though they contained violent scenes like characters losing hands, suggestive costumes, dramatic duels with ghosts, and the massive destruction of planets and spaceships—resulting in countless deaths.

Top Gun (1986)

Compared to most war movies, Top Gun isn’t particularly graphic or violent. While it avoids excessive bloodshed, it does feature a fairly explicit (though not nude) romantic scene between Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis. There’s also a significant character who meets a very disturbing end on screen – you can probably guess which one inspired the song “Take My Breath Away!” I wouldn’t necessarily give it an R rating, but a PG-13 seems more appropriate, and that rating was already established when Top Gun came out.

Watership Down (1978)

Martin Rosen’s film adaptation of Watership Down is widely praised as a classic animated movie, even earning a place in the Criterion Collection in 2015. However, deciding what age is right for children to watch this film is more difficult. It’s a dark and sometimes disturbing story about rabbits looking for a new home, and it contains scenes of violence – rabbits being shot, killed by predators, and the ever-present threat of death. While these difficult themes could be valuable for some children, they need to be prepared for such a harsh portrayal of life.

2025-12-08 17:06