Top 10 Films | 2025

Once again, we have assembled some friends and colleagues to contribute lists of their favorite feature films of the year. Films from prior to this year were eligible for inclusion if they were released formally in the United States in 2025. 2025’s festival and international films were likewise eligible, even if US distribution is still pending.

See our favorite Dark Side of the Screen picks here.

Amara Alvarado — Improv Comedy

Honorable Mentions: KPOP DEMON HUNTERS / THE NAKED GUN / ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

#10. WARFARE

#9. ONE OF THEM DAYS

#8. ZOOTOPIA 2

#7. NUREMBERG

#6. COMPANION

#5. WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY

#4. SINNERS

#3. FRANKENSTEIN

#2. BUGONIA

#1. F1: THE MOVIE

Favorite On-Screen Moments:
AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH: Neytiri’s rescue mission
COMPANION: Iris speaks German to a police officer
F1: THE MOVIE: Sonny is in such a perfect state of focus that “he’s flying”
KPOP DEMON HUNTERS: “What It Sounds Like”
NOW YOU SEE ME: NOW YOU DON’T: the magic showdown
NUREMBERG: the last trial scene
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER: the final car chase
ONE OF THEM DAYS: Dreux donates blood for money
SINNERS: the juke joint oner
WARFARE: the “show of force”

*****

Wesley Caldwell — Filmmaker

Honorable Mentions: FINAL DESTINATION BLOODLINES / R.L. STINE’S PUMPKINHEAD / SPLITSVILLE / WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY

#10. COMPANION

#9. THE LONG WALK

#8. THE NAKED GUN

#7. THE LIFE OF CHUCK

#6. ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

#5. BLUE MOON

#4. EDDINGTON

#3. SINNERS

#2. MARTY SUPREME

#1. WEAPONS

Favorite On-Screen Moments:
THE ACCOUNTANT 2: Ben Affleck line dancing
EDDINGTON: the family dinner / the kid talks about social justice while a gun rack rests behind the family
ELLA MCCAY: “Ella, you just became the governor of the state you were born and raised in.”
THE LIFE OF CHUCK: the first vignette with the end of the world
MARTY SUPREME: the bathtub scene
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER: “A few small beers…”
SINNERS: the post-credits scene / **(I got emotional)**
SPLITSVILLE: the big fight over getting cucked
WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY: the phone call with the construction rep who needs some prayer
WEAPONS: Gladys on the run at the end of the film

*****

Dave Cowden — Universal Studios

Honorable Mention: None

#10. 28 YEARS LATER

#9. TO KILL A WOLF

#8. THE HISTORY OF SOUND

#7. BLUE MOON

#6. SORRY, BABY

#5. BRING THEM DOWN

#4. BLACK BAG

#3. BUGONIA

#2. SINNERS

#1. TRAIN DREAMS

Favorite On-Screen Moments:
28 YEARS LATER: Jamie and Spike cross the causeway
BUGONIA: Michelle climbs into the wardrobe for the final time
EDDINGTON: Joe manages competing politics in the grocery store
IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT: local cops accept a payoff via mobile “Tap to Pay”
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG: Charley performs “Franklin Shepard, Inc.”
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING: the aspect ratio expands to 1.43:1 as Ethan opens the hatch to the USS Ohio
NO OTHER CHOICE: Wonno tries his hand at Für Elise
THE ODYSSEY: the extended prologue plays before AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH
TRAIN DREAMS: nature retakes Grainier’s home
URCHIN: Mike’s runoff shower water goes down the drain

*****

Mike Dillon — Cal State Fullerton

Honorable Mentions: IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT / NO OTHER CHOICE / NOUVELLE VAGUE / ON BECOMING A GUINEA FOWL / THE PLAGUE / VULCANIZADORA / YOUNG MOTHERS

#10. SUNLIGHT

#9. LATE SHIFT

#8. SISTER MIDNIGHT

#7. TATAMI

#6. THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB

#5.SIRĀT

#4. ALL THAT’S LEFT OF YOU

#3. SOULEYMAN’S STORY

#2. THE FURIOUS

#1. TRAIN DREAMS

Favorite On-Screen Moments:
BROKEN RAGE: the “spin-off” interrogation
DEAD MAN’S WIRE: Tony slips on the ice
DRACULA: the AI nonsense
FINAL DESTINATION BLOODLINES: Tony Todd bids farewell
FRANKENSTEIN: the creature hits a sailor so hard that he “crumples”
GRIFFIN IN SUMMER: “They weren’t miscarriages… They were abortions!”
LEFT-HANDED GIRL: I-Jing makes her apologies
RESURRECTION: the oner through the slums
THE SECOND ACT: the nervous waiter pours a glass of wine
THE UGLY STEPSISTER: Elvira expels the tapeworm

*****

Julie Garcés — Film Editor

Honorable Mentions: ADULTHOOD / A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE / MARTY SUPREME / MATERIALISTS / SINNERS

#10. SENTIMENTAL VALUE

#9. EDDINGTON

#8. THE MASTERMIND

#7. BUGONIA

#6. FRIENDSHIP

#5. WEAPONS

#4. CRYSTAL CROSS

#3. ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

#2. EDEN

#1. NOUVELLE VAGUE

Favorite On-Screen Moments:
ADULTHOOD: Bodie comes at Noah with martial arts weapons
CAUGHT STEALING: Hank drives around with Russ
COMPANION: Iris speaks German to a cop
CRYSTAL CROSS: Dotty and James record a song together in the sound booth
EDEN: the dogs circle at the worst time
FRANKENSTEIN: the opening scene in the arctic
FRIENDSHIP: the toad scene
THE MONKEY: the pool kill
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER: Bob tries to remember the code word
WEAPONS: the reveal of “the aunt”

*****

Teddi Gaydos — MarketCast

Honorable Mentions: DEEP COVER / NOUVELLE VAGUE / TRAIN DREAMS / WARFARE

#10. GRAND THEFT HAMLET

#9. GOOD FORTUNE

#8. THE WHITE HOUSE EFFECT

#7. THE CHRONOLOGY OF WATER

#6. LEFT-HANDED GIRL

#5. NO OTHER CHOICE

#4. THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR

#3. FREAKIER FRIDAY

#2. TWINLESS

#1. BLUE MOON

Favorite On-Screen Moments:
BLUE MOON: Hart corners Rodgers on the staircase
GOOD FORTUNE: Gabriel eats his first burger
HAMNET: the audience reaches out to the “dying” Hamlet
KPOP DEMON HUNTERS: Derpy knocks over a planter
LONE SAMURAI: the samurai fights the cannibals on the beach
THE NAKED GUN: “UCLA?” / “I see it every day.”
ONE OF THEM DAYS: the tumble weave
SENTIMENTAL VALUE: Agnes has Nora read their father’s script
WAKE UP DEAD MAN: “Just flesh and blood…”

*****

Daniel Love — Sony Pictures Creative Content

Honorable Mentions: BUGONIA / DIE MY LOVE / HEDDA / OPUS / WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY

#10. FRANKENSTEIN

#9. WEAPONS

#8. THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME

#7. MARTY SUPREME

#6. BLUE MOON

#5. EDDINGTON

#4. SINNERS

#3. BRING HER BACK

#2. 28 YEARS LATER

#1. [tie] SORRY, BABY

#1. [tie] ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

**self-selected images**

Favorite On-Screen Moments:
28 YEARS LATER: Jimmy says goodbye to his father
BLUE MOON: little Steven Sondheim
CAUGHT STEALING: Russ’s dad tattoo
DIE MY LOVE: “I’m going to shoot the dog.”
EDDINGTON: Clifton Collins, Jr. walks into a bar
NUREMBERG: the Nazis wrench and squirm while watching concentration camp footage
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER: “I believe she was a sperm thief.” / “A Semen Demon?”
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER: “Why is your shirt so tight?”
THE NAKED GUN: “You can’t fight city hall. It’s a building.”
SISU: ROAD TO REVENGE: **a thigh seems like the safest place to keep this**

*****

Henry McComas — Filmmaker

Honorable Mentions: None

#10. ONE OF THEM DAYS

#9. THE LIFE OF CHUCK

#8. 28 YEARS LATER

#7. LURKER

#6. THE RULE OF JENNY PEN

#5. WEAPONS

#4. NO OTHER CHOICE

#3. AMERICANA

#2. SINNERS

#1. SKETCH

Favorite On-Screen Moments:
28 YEARS LATER: the aurora borealis / run for safety
AMERICANA: the proposal scene
THE LIFE OF CHUCK: Matthew Lillard’s scene
NO OTHER CHOICE: the fight for the gun
THE RULE OF JENNY PEN: the bathtub scene
SINNERS: the juke joint oner/time warp that celebrates the blues and its impact on music
SKETCH: “Am I a bastard?”
SUPERMAN: Lois interviews Superman
TOGETHER: the bathroom rendezvous
WEAPONS: the children stampede in the finale

*****

Cary Murnion — Filmmaker

Honorable Mentions: 28 YEARS LATER / BLACK BAG / CLOUD / MEGADOC / MICKEY 17 / THE NAKED GUN / ONE OF THEM DAYS / SENTIMENTAL VALUE / WARFARE

#10. THE SHROUDS

#9. PREDATOR: KILLER OF KILLERS

#8. IF HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU

#7. ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

#6. FINAL DESTINATION BLOODLINES

#5. PREDATOR: BADLANDS

#4. NO OTHER CHOICE

#3. SINNERS

#2. THE SECRET AGENT

#1. LEFT-HANDED GIRL

Favorite On-Screen Moments:
BUGONIA: the worldwide corpses montage / “nature’s rebirth”
FINAL DESTINATION BLOODLINES: the garbage truck scene
HIGHEST 2 LOWEST: the cross-cutting subway chase & money drop
IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU: the hamster scene
LEFT-HANDED GIRL: the birthday celebration reveal
MICKEY 17: the sex scene / “This is so exciting.”
PREDATOR: BADLANDS: the brothers vs. their father
PREDATOR: KILLER OF KILLERS: Ursa uses her shield / the continuous shot
THE SECRET AGENT: the gunfight through the streets of Recife
THE SHROUDS: the first date

*****

Aaron Neuwirth — Out Now with Aaron and Abe

Honorable Mentions: AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH / EEPHUS / FRANKENSTEIN / FRIENDSHIP / JANE AUSTEN WRECKED MY LIFE / NIGHT CALL / THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME / SUPERMAN / THE SURFER / WEAPONS

#10. HIGHEST 2 LOWEST

#9. BLACK BAG

#8. BOB TREVINO LIKES IT

#7. IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT

#6.SIRĀT

#5. TRAIN DREAMS

#4. IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU

#3. MARTY SUPREME

#2. SINNERS

#1. ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Favorite On-Screen Moments:
BLACK BAG: the first dinner party
GRAND THEFT HAMLET / HAMNET: the play
HIGHEST 2 LOWEST: the Puerto Rican Pride Day chase
IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT: the final sound of footsteps
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER: the car chase
SINNERS: “I Lied to You” / the song through time
SUPERMAN: Lois interviews “Superman”
TRAIN DREAMS: the first flight
WAKE UP DEAD MAN: Louise’s phone call
WEAPONS: Gladys waves from a distance

*****

Bomani J. Story — Filmmaker

Honorable Mentions: None

#10. EDDINGTON

#9. FRIENDSHIP

#8. THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME

#7. 28 YEARS LATER

#6. THE UGLY STEPSISTER

#5. BRING HER BACK

#4. NO OTHER CHOICE

#3. MARTY SUPREME

#2. SINNERS

#1. ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

**self-selected images**

Favorite On-Screen Moments:
BRING HER BACK: Oliver chews on the knife
BRING HER BACK: Oliver chews on things throughout the house, including himself
EDDINGTON: Joe Cross gets slapped at the party
FRIENDSHIP: Craig makes sure Austin’s toupee is okay before getting arrested
NO OTHER CHOICE: Man-su tries to shoot his competitor, but the music is too loud to hear them
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER: “You like black girls? I love ’em!”
THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME: Zsa-zsa Korda fights with his Uncle Nubar
SINNERS: Stack sees Sammie Moore sing in the car and starts screaming with joy
28 YEARS LATER: the Alpha chases Jamie and Spike across the causeway
THE UGLY STEPSISTER: the nose job scene