Annlyel reflects on an exciting 2025 theatrical calendar to present her top 10 movies of 2025.
2025 has been an enjoyable and rewarding year for moviegoers. There have been surprise smash hits like this year’s Minecraft, and films that have already entered the talk for best films of the century so far, such as Sinners and One Battle After Another. What movies, however, have managed to enter my personal top ten of the year? Here is my list.
10. THUNDERBOLTS
When this movie was announced years ago, I wasn’t very excited. It felt like the MCU version of The Suicide Squad, and considering how much I didn’t like either version of the Suicide Squad movies, that was not a significant assumption. And yet, when the first teaser came out, I knew that Marvel Studios had something special on their hands.
Thunderbolts is the first Marvel movie in years to feel like a proper classic in the MCU. It has the great banter between characters you didn’t know you needed, great action scenes, a great story, and its newly introduced character, Bob a.k.a. Sentry, is one of the best new Marvel superheroes in recent memory. Lewis Pullman’s addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been a truly inspired choice, and I cannot wait to see more of his work in Avengers: Doomsday.
The film also became the year’s highlight in superhero films for its handling of a heavy topic: mental health and loneliness. The way that became the central focal point of the film’s story and the way this topic brought its anti-heroes together into a team was truly special. I am very pleased that the film’s director, Jake Schreier, will be the one to bring the X-Men to life in Marvel Studios’ first feature film about the iconic mutants.
9. HIGHEST 2 LOWEST
Like all great directors, when they bring out a movie, it’s no surprise that the film will be delightful. Spike Lee’s latest film, Highest 2 Lowest, starring Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky, is another testament to his incredible filmmaking as he retells the Kurosawa classic High and Low with a contemporary vision. I will admit, for the first thirty minutes of the film, it felt like Spike Lee had not delivered his typically astounding work, but by the second act, not only was I locked in, but I was once again pleased to see that the iconic director had made yet another great film. Additionally, A$AP Rocky’s film debut was, as they say, a revelation, and I hope to see him in more movies over the second half of this decade.
8. K-POP DEMON HUNTERS
I knew this movie was going to be amazing as soon as I saw the first trailer. What I didn’t expect was for the film to have one of the best soundtracks in recent history, for its song “Golden” to top the music charts, and for the movie to make me cry, but here we are. K-Pop Demon Hunters is a reminder that all iconic stories were once original. Hopefully, this film will encourage more studios to take chances on diverse stories and animated projects. Especially considering that animated movies have become the highest-grossing and most popular films of 2025.
7. 28 YEARS LATER
Despite not having seen the other films in this apocalyptic horror franchise, 28 Years Later utterly blew me away in ways that I wasn’t expecting. What was most surprising of all, however, was the mess of tears I found myself in at the end of the movie. Unlike most horror films, which are just farming for jump scares and have little substance, 28 Years Later is a story about survival and humanity. I found its storytelling quite cathartic, moving, and impactful. The film’s cliffhanger left me salivating for more. I will be seated for its sequel, 28 Years: The Bone Temple, in January, and I will surely enjoy every moment of its twisted narrative.
6. WICKED FOR GOOD
Many aspects of this film hinder it from being as phenomenal as it could have been. Wicked For Good often feels rushed; it needed to be PG-13 so it could dive headfirst into its darker themes, and the story itself is littered with plot holes. That said, even with these deficiencies absent from last year’s Wicked, the film is an utter cinematic blast. The actors are the true standouts of the movie, with their awe-inspiring performances elevating the film from forgettable to something that will stick with audiences for years to come.
None deserves that praise higher than Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Jonathan Bailey, who each deliver such moving and astounding performances in this film. I am eagerly awaiting the awards season because I believe Grande’s performance is deeply deserving of a Best Supporting Actress win. Still, maybe the film’s middling reception will hinder her chances.
5. ZOOTOPIA 2
I hadn’t been a Zootopia fan until this sequel. Seeing it for the first time last week was an utter blast, thanks to its comedic storytelling, which had me guffawing throughout. While the first movie’s story is handled a little more seriously, the second movie continues to tackle heavy allegories, only slightly softened by the humor and animal characters it focuses on. Also, I don’t think I have ever been more invested in a Disney couple’s love story than with Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. With the romance leveling up, the third movie is sure to be just as titillating, and hopefully, we’ll get something more than a hug on the third outing.
4. ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
When I saw this movie for the first time on an IMAX screen, I believed wholeheartedly that it was one of the best movies I’d ever seen, and maybe the best of Paul Thomas Anderson’s career, next to Phantom Thread. But there was a hint of skepticism holding me back. Was it really that great, or was it the type of film that’s amazing on its first viewing and ends up getting less entertaining on its subsequent viewings? Recently, I tested this theory by watching it for the second time on HBO Max, and sure enough, the movie is fantastic. Still, its strength hinges on Teyana Taylor’s “Perfidia Beverly Hills” and Sean Penn’s “Sergeant Lockjaw”. Taylor’s character disappears after the first act, and while Sean Penn remains a nagging presence throughout the film, the movie loses a little steam and, frankly, is a little too long.
That being said, one thing is for sure. Leo’s performance in this movie is criminally underrated and overlooked this awards season because how is he not considered a frontrunner for his performance in this film? He is absolutely brilliant with his acting choices in this movie, and I’d say this is one of the best roles in his illustrious career.
3. NE ZHA II
The version I have as the third-best film of the year I have seen is not the English-dubbed version, which I find quite atrocious, but the original Chinese version, which utterly blew my mind this year. I’ve seen this movie several times; I now own it on digital, and it is undoubtedly one of the most entertaining animated films I’ve ever had the privilege of watching.
Ne Zha II is the highest animated film of all time for a reason. It’s a coming-of-age story with astounding visuals, sick action scenes, and a third act that’ll knock your socks off. And luckily, I was able to see this excellent film on an IMAX screen.
2. SINNERS
Ryan Coogler did it again. He made another culturally relevant masterpiece that takes something as simple as a vampire movie and elevates it into something worthy of scholarly analysis. Of all the films that came out this year, this may be the one to have the longest-lasting cinematic impact because of its place in African-American cinematic history and its delightful story. Like One Battle After Another, despite this movie having so many amazing aspects, it can feel a little too long at times. That being said, its third act and final scenes, specifically the moving epilogue, are among the best cinema of this century. I hope it receives a bunch of accolades this awards season.
1. HAMNET
Chloe Zhao may be one of my favorite directors of all time because of her almost-therapeutic style of filmmaking. Her attention to detail and her connection with nature; there is such a sense of soulfulness in her work that the stories she directs draw you in. Hamnet, from its first scene to its last, sucked me into a world of love, grief, and humanity unlike anything else I’ve seen this decade. I don’t think I have ever cried that hard in a cinema while watching a film. This movie utterly destroyed me, but I loved every moment of its beautiful storytelling.
Jessie Buckley’s tour de force performance in this film is stunning, and whenever she’s onscreen, you can’t turn away. Paul Mescal again proves why he is one of the best actors in Hollywood these days. And I’d love to give a shoutout to the child actors in this film because they were equally astounding. In a perfect world, Chloe Zhao would get a second Oscar for Best Director for this film, and Hamnet would be this year’s Best Picture. Unfortunately, the chances of that happening are slim, but for me, this was undoubtedly my favorite movie of the year.
IN SUMMARY
Now we’re heading into a new year with even more films to look forward to, such as The Odyssey, which I can already tell will be one of 2026’s cinematic standouts. Until then, it’s time to prepare for another intriguing awards season.
How many of your top movies made the list? Drop a comment in the chat below.
Annlyel James is a Senior Correspondent of The Future of the Force. She is passionate about Star Wars and Marvel but loves a wide variety of movie genres. Aside from her role with Future of the Force she also writes for her blog: annlyelonline. Follow her on Twitter where she channels the Force frequently!
