Still In Bloom

2025 was a really good year in film. I was at the movies a lot! I would be anyway, but there were multiple weekends where I had to strategize how I was going to see all the films I was generally interested in seeing, as some only available at certain theaters for a limited time. It got complicated, and I had to double up some days. More so, I got to cross a few off my list thanks to The Chicago International Film Festival.

My ranking system/criteria is determined not entirely by acclaim but the impact the film had on me. When I go to the movies, I like to have an experience. It’s important that I feel something by the time the credits roll.

That said, the format you see a film in does matter, and seeing a movie in the theater is an experience that should be protected.

Films that surprised me or made me emotional were the ones I found the most enjoyable.

Without further ado, here is my favorite films of 2025:

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

16. Roofman

I understand the marketing may not have fully communicated what kind of film this would be, but I also hate when a trailer tells me too much about a film. Channing Tatum’s performance was heartwarming. Overall, the film took me on an interesting journey based on true events, and also showed how harsh the criminal justice system could be.

15. Zootopia 2

I really appreciated how woke this movie was. It touched on ethnic cleansing and state propaganda but made it digestible for kids. There was also sexual tension between the Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman). Their relationship was really cute, and how they were eventually able to be vulnerable with each other. Pawbert Lynxly (Andy Samberg)’s switchup did actually gag me and hurt my feelings.

Animation (and human animators) deserve more respect in the industry.

14. Caught Stealing

This was one that took me by surprise. I didn’t expect to like it so much. Also I’ve tried to avoid admitting how hot Austin Butler is, but I can’t deny it any longer (Thank you Darren Aronofsky for having him in his undies so much).

Caught Stealing is such a wild ride with drug dealers, crooked cops, and car crashes. It enlists a great ensemble that ends with a bang, and a full circle moment. I had a lot of fun but was equally stressed out.

13. F1

I have never cared about car racing, but I was very into this film. I learned a lot about F1 and the science of speed racing. I appreciated the scientific POV from Kate (played by Kerry Condon; yes women in STEM).

I love a second chance story and was rooting for Sonny (Brad Pitt) amidst his rivalry with Joshua (Damson Idris). Still, I was on Joshua’s team, too, and was ready to cry when he had his accident (Damson is one of my celebrity boyfriends, so I took that personally).

This is another fun one and I left feeling inspired.

12. Sentimental Value

This Danish-Norwegian film is emotionally tough, as it explores a complicated relationship between Nora (an actress struggling with depression played by Renate Reinsve) and her father (Stellan Skarsgard) who is a director.

I held it together until Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas) told Nora (Renate Reinsve) that she came out okay, “because I had you.”

Everyone was acting down in this film, and director Joachim Trier gave some very visually interesting shots. with an ending that feels cathartic.

11. The Secret Agent

This film beautifully captures dictator-controlled Brazil in the ’70s, following a man escaping his past.

I must say, lead actor Wagner Moura is one to watch (I could see him taking Pedro Pascal’s hype). He played two roles in this film, which takes an unexpected turn in the final act.

There are many nods to Brazilian culture that have deeper meaning, such as the hairy leg and its symbolism of against the expression of sexuality.

10. Sorry Baby

A very impressive debut film from star and director Eva Victor, this film details the aftermath of sexual assault. Sexual abuse can be shown without gory visuals, and can look different than the average person may think.

Conversations around assault are so important, and can help the average person understand why abusers are rarely brought to accountability.

This film has a lot of heart. Lydie (Naomi Ackie) is the perfect bestie in the film, providing support and comedic relief as Agnes processes her trauma.

9. Mārama

Usually, it’s very hard for something set in the Victorian era to keep my attention, but this was riveting! And I saw it without subtitles, feeling fully engaged despite not knowing any of the languages spoken.

With that said, I could still understand the themes of this historical gothic horror, following a young Māori woman (Ariāna Osborne) fighting to reclaim her indigenous identity and what was owed to her by her oppressors.

I love movies that end with burning shit down.

8. Cotton Queen

Coming of age stories are dear to me. I love when young women and girls choose their own path, despite all the negative speak and harmful systemic beliefs they face.

Once again, I also love when women burn shit down! At the Chicago International Film Festival, I got to sit in on a Q&A with director Suzannah Mirghani. A story with a lot of heart, and an impressive feature directorial debut, especially when you factor in the difficulties that came with filming in Sudan.

7. Knives Out: Wake Up Dead Man

While I do have a couple of critiques for this one, I still am very obsessed with this film. Like the previous films in the franchise, Knives Out: Wake Up Deadman has a star-studded cast and a delicious whodunnit plot.

I will say, I do agree with takes that some of the cast was miscast and underutilized. Kerry Washington is too good of an actress for so little screen time. Someone on Twitter said Jeremey Renner and Andrew Scott could’ve switched parts and I agree.

Despite this, Josh O’Connor and Daniel Craig carried. There are gorgeous visuals and important critiques on Christianity (though I feel like it was more of a critique of Protestantism/mega churches than Catholicism).

All in all it was a wild ride that I wish I could’ve seen it in a theater (Yes, this is Netflix shade).

6. Frankenstein

Though some critics felt it was too on the nose convincing us Victor was evil, I still thoroughly enjoyed this film.

Frankenstein was a very beautiful take on a classic, with a very different looking monster. Jacob Elordi delivered a surprisingly good performance as the Creature. I loved the chapter breakdown – and when the Creature says it’s his turn to tell the story.

More so, the anticipation that built as he got closer to the ship was really fun and intense. Director Guillermo del Toro loves romanticizing outcasts and loneliness and I think he does so in such an alluring way.

Toro’s use of practical sets was very impressive, and the production design and costume design awards are deserved.

This would’ve been nice to see in theaters, too. I’m jealous of those who got to see it in 70mm IMAX.

5. Superman

Superhero movies can be good! DC is making a comeback, and I loved this version of the beloved hero. It was refreshing to see Superman (David Corenswet) be corny and emotional again, and to see him yearn shamelessly for yearning. I also enjoyed Rachel Brosnahan’s portayal of Lois, who was a real modern independent woman.

When a story has been done enough times, it’s okay not to redo the origin story. I didn’t expect the twist of his birth parents being evil, or him having to fight a clone of himself. His adoptive parents in Smallville felt very comforting in times we needed to be picked up.

Nicholas Hoult was a passionate Lex Luthor who was very obsessed with Superman. Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi) was a great addition, and gave a fun performance. Lastly, I appreciated the film’s obvious criticism of an apartheid state, whether James Gunn wants to admit it was based on Israel or not.

4. One Battle After Another

This was my first Paul Thomas Anderson film. It was strange, quirky, funny, and emotional.

I did have problems with the sexualization of Teyanna Taylor’s character Perfidia. While I do think revolution and sexuality can be linked, it could have been done more thoughtfully given how much Black woman have to deal with misogynoir. In general, I wish the Black women characters had bigger roles in the film, as Black women are critical to the revolution. This Substack explores this frustration deeper.

I also think there’s only so much Paul Thomas Anderson could tap into as a white man and a Zionist when it comes to revolution.

Despite my problems with it, I still found the film itself to be very timely in regards to underground networks and immigration, and the sacrifices and risks that come with revolution.

Sergio (Benicio del Toro)’s “Latino Harriet Tubman situation” was very impressive to watch, and how calm he remained despite Bob (Leonardo DiCaprio)’s anxiety.

Though there was enough of Deandra, Regina Hall’s performance was quiet and powerful. Chase Infiniti is also a star, and I’m excited to see more from her.

The winding road chase scene was incredible. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Christmas Adventurer’s club was a real thing.

Warner Bros was on a role last year… hopefully them being acquired doesn’t ruin the quality of the projects they put out.

3. Weapons

Weapons is easily one of the best horror films I’ve seen. I’m not always into horror, but I respect when it deals with socioeconomic themes. This was extremely suspenseful and actually scary. It was also a bit funny.

You truly can’t predict where this is going. I absolutely loved how Zach Cregger utilizes the chapters for each of the main characters. I love how it all unfolds.

Aunt Gladys (Amy Madigan) was as iconic as she was terrifying and iconic, and I would watch a prequel on her.

While I didn’t take it as a perfect allegory for gun violence, I still get the point. A whole classroom of kids can be gunned down (or go missing) and nothing will be done about it.

2. Rental Family

Rental Family was a very touching film. I love Japanese culture, but I had no idea about rental families. I find it true that sometimes it doesn’t matter if something is real if its felt.

“The girl needs her father” was such a powerful and true line. Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how good of a job a single parent does, the absence of the other parent is always felt intensely.

This movie provided me an emotional release, as I cried a lot. I was also reminded of how beautiful the unexpected turns of life can be. More so, the film emphasizes how much we can mean to each other and ways to combat loneliness. For me, this is a different take on community and the power of connection.

1. Sinners

Sinners is not only the best film of the 2025, but one of the greatest films ever made, regardless of whether Hollywood recognizes it as such. It’s a perfect film, from the casting, to the cinematography, to the music, and the writing. This movie blends vampirism, spirituality, blues and the Mississippi Delta for a ride like no other.

I just watched for the *11th* time and there’s not a piece of Sinners that isn’t award worthy. I’ve seen it in every format I could (IMAX, 70mm, AMC Laser, and at home on Blu-ray). 

Read my full thoughts on Sinners here.

Honorable Mentions 

These were good, just didn’t move me as much as the above.

• Companion – I really enjoyed this film as we move closer to robot companions and the rapid evolution of AI. Never would I imagine I’d root for the robot.
• Hamnet – Again, I don’t love films set in this time period, and I did feel like it was cry bait and Oscar bait. Still I must say, much of this was very beautiful. Jesse Buckley does give a powerful performance as Anne. Anne and William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) spoke in a language only they could understand. At the end, they were real lovers, and people grieve differently (though Shakespeare did deserve a few lashings).
• Hedda – Tessa Thompson is wonderful in this, and Nia DaCosta is an amazing director.
• Bouchra – One of the most interesting films I’ve seen. An animated movie about a lesbian coyote filmmaker and her relationship with her mother.
• KPop Demon Hunters – I was pleasantly surprised with this film.” Golden” is a great original song. I’ll let it have some awards but the Oscar still needs to go to “I Lied to You”.
• My Father’s Shadow – This film was really beautiful, and deserves more recognition.
• Is This Thing On? – Get back with your ex propaganda. They were besties though. And just needed to talk things out for real. Not too funny, more of a drama with some comedic elements. Sweet. Things took a turn when wife found out the joke was about her, but then about missing her. Bring real men (yearners) back. Yearning wins again.
• No Other Choice – This was another timely film about the lengths one will take to land a job.
• Splitsville – More get back with your ex propaganda. Quite the journey.

Interesting Concepts, Imperfect Executions 

These are films that I expected way better from, and had they been, could’ve made my top 16.

Marty Supreme – While it was a wild and entertaining ride very loosely based off of table tennis star Marty Reisman, I’m not sure what the point was. Marty didn’t charm me personally, but I can give credit where its due. Timothy you have earned your baddies chain! And Odessa has big acting chops too. I loved the cinematic style of this, but I felt irritated and confused by the end of it.

Him – It felt like something was missing. Football is definitely a cult and a religion in this country, but I didn’t feel the film went deep enough into it. Great concept, but missed the mark. Still worth a watch. On Peacock now.

The Long Walk – David Jonsson deserves more recognition for his performance in this! He and Cooper Hoffman ‘s chemistry carried the film. Without it, I don’t feel like the plot was strong enough. The ending felt incomplete. Also we’re living in dystopian times, so I don’t necessarily need hypothetical films about it anymore.

Eternity – I loved parts of this; I love films about love. I didn’t enjoy how strict the rules in the afterlife were. It felt like hell to only choose one place and one person to spend the rest of your consciousness with. But maybe it serves a reminder to enjoy life now.

_{Eternity. A24 (top left). Him. Materialists. A24 (top middle). Universal Pictures (top right). The Long Walk. Lionsgate (bottom left). Marty Supreme. A24 (bottom right).}

Materialists – It’s no Past Lives. Materialism and capitalism has interfered with many finding love in the modern era, however I agree with those who view it as broke man propaganda Sorry Celine Song, I still love you and I know you hate this interpretation of the movie as that was not your intent, but unfortunately, women can not just marry a man out of love alone. A few tweaks in the casting or the plot could’ve turned this around.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps – The space scene in the beginning was so gaggy that nothing after it moved me. I had high hopes, and I think the ’60s era setting was doing a lot of heavy lifting. I also wonder if there could have been a stronger Mr. Fantastic…

Wicked: For Good – Extremely underwhelming in comparison to the first act. Read my blog about this film here.

Die My Love – This was not for me at all. I get it’s about postpartum but it was too weird for me.

Mickey 17 – While I was really excited for this one, I must admit it didn’t quite do it for me. It wasn’t a bad film, but I felt it was trying to be two different films that didn’t blend seamlessly – a comedy and an anticapitalist/imperialist commentary. Still, I can appreciate the message.

Avatar: Fire and Ash – I love the world of Pandora, I am just tired of seeing Skywalkers cause suffering. I get it’s trying to educate against colonialism but it feels like it’s intended more for entertainment. For one, some Native communities have called out the “white saviorism” of the film and its lack of indigenous casting since the first film. More recently, lead actress Zoe Saldaña said her character is a “racist” for hating her colonizers. I’ve expressed more thoughts on Letterboxd. I felt similarly about Avatar: The Way of Water, which I previously blogged about here.

Movies I didn’t get a chance to see but highly acclaimed and on my list:

• Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk
• The Voice of Hind Rajab
• Train Dreams 
• 28 Years Later 
• Eddington
• Love, Brooklyn
• Twinless
• Urchin
• It Was Just an Accident
• The Smashing Machine
• The Mastermind
• If I Had Legs I’d Kick You