Thomas Storai 
Thomas takes a retrospective look back at the biggest hits of 2025 to share his top 20 movies of the year!
The end of the year is near so it’s time to look back at what 2025 has offered us. And this has been a phenomenal year for cinema with the debut of the DCU, a new iteration of the Fantastic Four and so much more. So, which films made it to my top 20? Let’s find out!
20 – FRANKENSTEIN
Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein is an intimate and compelling tale that is also a heartbreaking take on hubris and humanity with great emotional depth. The visuals are sumptuous. Jacob Elordi delivers a haunting performance, he perfectly conveys the loneliness of his character. Oscar Isaac is also outstanding in this role.
19 – LILO & STITCH
Lilo And Stitch is genuinely a great Disney live-action remake. It beautifully captures what made the original animated film so special while also being unexpectedly more emotional. And the CG is surprisingly good!
18 – THUNDERBOLTS* – THE NEW AVENGERS
Thunderbolts* is not your usual Marvel film. It feels fresh and different breaking from the usual formula. This is the best MCU film in a long time and one of the best team-up films. It’s a dark and deeply moving story about lonely and broken characters who come together. Florence Pugh excels as the lead of this great team. She owns the screen! Visually, it’s the best the MCU as looked with Director Jake Schreier leaning on practical effects and filming on location, it makes all the difference.
17 – THE LIFE OF CHUCK
The Life Of Chuck is a heartfelt and inspiring non-linear tale. It’s an ode to life that asks us to live as fully as we can. This story is of profound humanity that explores the complexities of who we are as beings for we contain multitudes. It’s an absolute joy to see Tom Hiddleston shine in this role. It’s also great to see Mark Hamill and Jacob Tremblay on the big screen again.
16 – MISSION IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING
Mission Impossible The Final Reckoning is the darkest and the one with the highest stakes of the franchise. It’s an epic and action-packed film with some of the most insane stunts Tom Cruise has ever done.
15 – HAMNET
Credit: Agata Grzybowska / © 2025 FOCUS FEATURES LLC
Hamnet is a raw and intimate tale of love and grief. Jessie Buckley delivers a guttural and truly astonishing performance. Paul Mescal is also outstanding. Both deserve Oscar nominations. Once again Chloé Zhao shows all her talent as a filmmaker. And Max Richter’s score beautifully seamlessly fits with the story.
14 – THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a real triumph with gorgeous production design and a cool 60s retro style. This film has some of Marvel’s best visuals with some great practical effects. The cast has an amazing chemistry. Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby own the screen. It’s without any doubt the best Fantastic Four film. I also love that this film tells a self-contained story.
13 – GOOD NEWS
Good News is an incisive satire about bureaucracy and the intricacies of international cooperation. At the same time, it’s a tense and completely ridiculous film. With its energetic pace, it keeps you entertained all the way through. Byun Sung-hyun has delivered a film that perfectly mixes genres. He has also assembled a talented international ensemble cast.
12 – HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
How To Train Your Dragon is a triumph. This is the definition of how you remake a classic. This film perfectly captures the magic of the original. Mason Thames was born to play Hiccup and Nico Parker was the right choice for Astrid. It’s also great to see Gerard Butler bring to life the character he voiced in the original films. Hearing John Powell’s iconic score again is an absolute joy and the visuals are stunning. It’s the film of the Summer!
11 – A COMPLETE UNKNOWN
A Complete Unknown is a compelling retelling of Bob Dylan’s rise to fame. Timothée Chalamet delivers a career-defining performance. He impresses both with his acting and singing skills. I totally get why he is nominated at the Oscars, we’ve got a winner here!
10 – PREDATOR: BADLANDS
Predator Badlands is exactly what this franchise needed. It’s a non-stop scifi action-packed adventure that does a great job at fleshing-out its characters. This film turns the Predator into a hero you’re rooting for. Stunning visuals and a powerful musical score. Best film of the franchise, think of it as The Mandalorian of Predator.
9 – ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
One Battle After Another is a fast-paced and entertaining film. There’s never a dull moment. With great action pieces, Paul Thomas Anderson has delivered a visually stunning film meant to be seen on the big screen. Leonardo DiCaprio delivers a strong performance.
8 – WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY
Rian Johnson has done it again, he’s a master of this genre! Wake Up Dead Man is another captivating and twisted whodunit that had me guessing the whole time. This one is darker and more enigmatic than the previous films, everything comes together in the most satisfying and surprising way. Moreover, this film also has a lot to say, it’s an intricate examination of humanity. Josh O’Connor is a scene stealer of this all-star cast. May we get more adventures of Benoit Blanc because Daniel Craig absolutely nails it every single time.
7 – SUPERMAN
James Gunn delivers a solid opening for his DCU. He understands who Superman is and it shows. Superman is an action-packed and entertaining blockbuster. This film feels like a comic-book coming to life and is not afraid to explore the silly aspects from the comics, it embraces them. It also feels nice to have a reboot that doesn’t start from scratch and already begins with a universe that has been established. David Corenswet IS Superman and Nicholas Hoult is deliciously evil as Luthor. The Justice Gang is another highlight from the film. The CG isn’t always great but it’s good for the most part.
6 – THE SMASHING MACHINE
The Smashing Machine is a sincere and gritty film that explores in-depth Kerr’s struggles and successes. Dwayne Johnson delivers a tour de force performance, a performance of a genuine actor, the best of his career, he truly excels in the dramatic scenes. The emotional tug-of-wars between him and Emily Blunt is heart wrenching.
5 – DOG 51
Dog 51 is a gripping dystopian thriller that delivers on its promises. It’s an ambitious film with a clever script, striking visuals, a powerful score and an all-star cast. Gilles Lellouche and Adèle Exarchopoulos make an unlikely duo that works perfectly.
4 – SINNERS
Ryan Coogler has delivered one of the best films of 2025. It’s the kind of film that stays with you long after the credits end. Sinners is a dazzling visual display with exceptionnal performances from its cast. It’s just as much a visceral vampire story as it is deeply touching human drama. This film aches and sings in the best of ways.
3 – ZOOTOPIA 2
Zootopia 2 is an amazing sequel that was worth the wait. It’s as good as the original if not even better! The new characters are compelling. Judy and Nick are still the irresistible duo we all love. And Shakira’s new song is a memorable one.
2 – KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
Sony has proven yet again that they rule with animation. Kpop Demon Hunters is irreverently entertaining and heartfelt. It has everything – dazzling animation, stylish action scenes and songs that will get stuck in your head.
1 – F1 THE MOVIE
Joseph Kosinski delivers another visual spectacle with F1. The races are captured in all their intense glory, sublimated by Hans Zimmer’s score and other songs, it’s meant to be seen on the big screen! This film is driven by Brad Pitt’s effortless charisma.
What are your best movies of 2025? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts. We’d love to hear from you.
Collectables and Anime Editor for Future Of The Force.
Star Wars expert and Japan connoisseur.
