The Best Movies of 2025, According to John Waters

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This year, New York City was the only place where you could have seen all ten of my favorite films. I owe a debt of gratitude to the New York Film Festival, the independent theaters that often thrive on unique and challenging films, and the dedicated film lovers who travel to the city to experience alternative cinema. It’s remarkable that filmmakers like Jim Jarmusch, Richard Linklater, Gus Van Sant, Kathryn Bigelow, Spike Lee, and Paul Thomas Anderson were able to get their distinctive films made and seen. Here are my personal picks – they deserve as much support as possible.

1. Eddington (Ari Aster)

This year’s best movie for me is a strange but captivating story – it’s as draining as following current events, and features characters you won’t necessarily love. Despite all that, it’s hilariously unsettling, oddly both innocent and provocative, and will leave you feeling delightfully weird and sophisticated. Seriously, if you don’t enjoy it, we might have a problem.

2. Final Destination: Bloodlines (Adam B. Stein, Zach Lipovsky)

Okay, look, as someone who’s been following this series from the start, I can confidently say this sequel absolutely nails it. It’s ferocious, really messes with your expectations, and throws in a ton of genuinely shocking twists. Honestly, it doesn’t just revel in being over-the-top – it elevates the whole ‘exploitation’ genre into something legitimately artistic. It’s not just good; it’s a whole new level of wild.

3. Oslo Trilogy (Dag Johan Haugerud)

These three outstanding Norwegian films, from a director considered the new Ingmar Bergman, beautifully explore the complexities and commonalities of both gay and straight love and desire. They feature some of the most insightful and clever romantic dialogue seen in years.

4. Sirāt (Oliver Laxe)

Forget everything you know about high-octane road movies like Mad Max and The Wages of Fear. This new film is a relentlessly thrilling ride to a rave in the Moroccan desert that leaves those classics in the dust. It’s a devastatingly intense story – a truly unforgettable and disturbing acid trip of a movie. Prepare to be shocked… and possibly even physically affected. (Warning: contains spoilers.)

5. Sauna (Mathias Broe)

Okay, let me tell you about this debut feature – it really reminded me of Warhol’s ‘Trash,’ but updated for today. It’s a steamy, well-acted story about a relationship between a really attractive gay man who works at a Copenhagen bathhouse – cleaning out those, uh, private spaces – and a trans man who’s embracing his identity as gay. It definitely pushes boundaries, and honestly, the film explores some pretty explicit territory – including a focus on oral sex that feels genuinely new and provocative. It’s not for everyone, but it’s certainly a bold and interesting piece of work.

6. Room Temperature (Dennis Cooper, Zac Farley)

This film is a deliberately slow and gentle puzzle of a movie, centered around a family preparing their house for a Halloween haunted attraction. Just when it starts to frustrate you, you’ll unexpectedly find yourself enjoying it. It’s odd, unsettling, and possibly… brilliant.

7. Misericordia (Alain Guiraudie)

This shocking thriller features a disturbing mix of murder, forbidden relationships, and intense, unwanted attraction. Expect unexpected twists, particularly involving sexual themes, and a truly surprising conclusion. It’s a wild and unsettling ride!

8. When Fall Is Coming (François Ozon)

This surprisingly tender and compassionate story follows a retired sex worker and her son, a gay man who has spent time in prison. He returns home and, despite his anger, helps her question her beliefs about a past act of violence, even suggesting it might have been justified.

9. My Mom Jayne (Mariska Hargitay)

This captivating documentary uncovers hidden truths about Jayne Mansfield and her family, offering a thrilling and emotionally powerful experience.

10. The Empire (Bruno Dumont)

I generally don’t enjoy science fiction, but this film completely won me over when a stark, imposing spaceship appeared in northern France. I was captivated by the strange beings inside. I didn’t realize the movie was a comedy until I read about it afterward. It is, in a way. It’s not laugh-out-loud funny, or even oddly amusing—it’s a unique blend of both, much like the director’s style.

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2025-12-04 00:55