Movie Final - My Favorite Movies of 2025
Honorable Mention 1 - Stans
Eminem not only changed rap music, he changed the English language with his song "Stan". The aptly named documentary focuses more on Eminem fans than the man himself, but it also explores how he handles those fans. Its a unique direction of a documentary, but works quite well. The fans chosen to be the focus are unique and entertaining. They really drive home how you can be affected by someone's art.
Honorable Mention 2 - Fantastic Four: First Steps
Even for a Marvel movie, this was a bit cookie cutter. But the cast and the visuals elevate this. Marvel's first family is finally back where it belongs. And the retro-futuristic fusion aesthetic given to the film, makes it one of the most visually superior entries in the ever expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe. Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby anchor the cast, and it will be fun to see them in future Marvel projects.
Honorable Mention 3 - Jurassic World: Rebirth
Did this have many similar beats as anything with "Jurassic" in the title? Yes. Did it matter? Not really. The "World" entries of the Jurassic franchise were uneven at best, and pretty unwatchable at worst. But this one hit the mark. There was at least a semi-convincing reason to go back to a dinosaur infested island. Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali are the strongest leads this franchise has had since the original movie. The cast gels well with each other, the main plot and subplots dovetail together to make a satisfying story, and the dinosaur action stays exciting. It is a fun watch, whether you are a fan of the franchise or not.
Honorable Mention 4 - The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie
Classic animation has gone by the wayside for more 3D looking, computer imagery. At the same time, classic characters like the Looney Tunes aren't as prevalent as they used to be in today's crowded roster of animated characters in the pop culture lexicon. So a movie featuring Porky Pig and Daffy Duck with classic looking animation, was a breath of fresh air, albeit a bit of a gamble. On top of that, the movie itself has a fun plot, funny gags, and classic Looney Tunes shenanigans. However, its not too over the top, and actually has some heart and a coherent plot. This will be a fun way to get that nostalgia hit if you grew up with these characters, and also a good way to introduce the Looney Tunes to a younger generation.
Honorable Mention 5 - Now You See Me: Now You Don't
A movie about a group of magicians doing heists is a fun concept. But walking out of the first movie, I never thought it would be a franchise. So this third entry was something of a return to form after the messy second entry. All of the original Horsemen are back, but the movie also didn't forget about the incomparable Lizzy Caplan. It had modern "Legacy-quel" tropes, passing things on to a new generation, but it was fun story, and it was nice to check into this world again. It does set things up for more entries, but if they never come, that is okay. This one was a fun movie to go out on. Now You Don't is not deep, and at times it is down right silly. But that is what gives this franchise its charm. It was a fun time at the movies.
10. The Naked Gun
I was always a fan of the Leslie Nielsen movies. I was a little bit hesitant going into this movie, but it delivered. The jokes are constant. Sometimes, 3 or 4 gags are happening at once. It is so full in fact, it is hard to pinpoint the best line or moment. This one almost warrants multiple views, because it is so difficult to catch every joke the first time. Liam Neeson does an incredible job anchoring a comedy, and Pam Anderson hasn't lost a step either. It feels like the comedies from the 80s and 90s that used to be made all the time. Comedy is my favorite genre, and I am thrilled movies like this still exist, even though they are far less frequent than they used to be.
9. Freaky Tales
Every year seems to bring a hidden gem that is a little bit odd, and a little bit unexpected. This year, it was Freaky Tales. The film shows several stories happening in the same town on the same day, all of which come together at the end. It feels a little like Pulp Fiction in that sense. Every story has strong elements to it. It blends sci-fi with a bit of noir, and it was just an unexpected pleasure to experience this story, and witness a bit of unique filmmaking.
8. I Like Me
John Candy is one of the greatest comedians to ever grace us with his presence. Like most geniuses, he was gone way too soon. His legacy lives on in all of his work, and this documentary is a wonderful way to celebrate a wonderful man. The film is emotional and poignant. While it doesn't quite hit the depths of the darker side of his life, it does touch on it enough to make you feel the emotional impact of his passing on the set of Wagon's East. If you like John Candy, or wonder why other people do, give this one a go.
7. Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning
Tom Cruise went full-tilt-boogie on the stunts here. And while they were absolutely, jaw-droppingly incredible, it actually hurt the flow of the movie. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the film immensely. But it was obvious that the plot was to just cater to the stunts. The movie is a spectacle of cinema, and was absolutely a must see in IMAX. But it didn't quite reach the heights of the 4th, 5th, and 6th entries of this franchise. While it has "Final" in the title, I highly doubt we've seen the last of Ethan Hunt. Definitely watch this if you like these movies. If you don't, well it's a lot of that, so be your own judge.
6. Thunderbolts*
Of the 3 MCU movies released this year, if you told me this would far and away the best one, I would have not believed you. But here we are. This group of misfits works really well together on screen. And the villain being the manifestation of grief and anxiety was a wonderful choice. Not every superhero outing has to be an end of the world portal opening. More personal stories sometimes hit harder. The MCU is a little unfocused at the moment, and this was a breath of fresh air in their busy slate.
5. Wake Up Dead Man
Of all the Benoit Blanc/Knives Out movies, this one is the most straight forward. But that makes it no less entertaining. The narrative was strong from the get-go, and going on the journey with Daniel Craig's Blanc to figure out just what happened is the most fun part of these films. Director Rian Johnson gathered another all-star cast, and it was fun to keep trying to guess who did it, and what happened. I love how each of these movies feels different from the others. It also genuinely feels like Craig and Johnson love making these movies, and that comes through on the screen. Wake Up Dead Man is an immensely entertaining murder mystery, and I cannot wait for the next one!
4. Predator: Badlands
Prey was the best Predator movie since the original. So how does Dan Trachtenberg follow that up? By making the Predator the protagonist. This was never a universe that I was invested in, but Prey blew me away. That momentum brought me to Badlands, and it didn't disappoint. The action is inventive, and the premise is intriguing. You go in not wanting to root for the species that has been the villain since the 80s, but the protagonist quickly wins you over. The blending of this universe with the Alien universe felt seamless here too, and not at all forced. I like that they can use elements of each other's lore to tell the best story possible. Dan Trachtenberg is to Predator what Ryan Coogler is to Creed. A fan of the original that had a different take on a story in that universe. I can't wait to see what he does with it next.
3. One Battle After Another
Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro and Regina Hall star in a movie directed by Paul Thomas Anderson? I am already in. Then actually watching it, I was really in. The film is unapologetically political and perfectly aligns with things happening today. The cinematography will win awards. So will the score. And I wouldn't be at all surprised if Teyana Taylor gets a supporting Oscar nomination. The film is intense, poignant, heavy, and exactly what art should do in times like these. Anderson doesn't pull any punches and it is such a welcome action in today's landscape. An almost 3 hour run time feels like a big ask, but the film is paced well and doesn't drag in the middle. It is one of the most well-made films of the 20s.
2. Superman
Darker movies work better when things are going well. When things are not going well, movies need to be lighter and more hopeful. That is exactly what Superman is. It is Hope: The Movie. The official launch of James Gunn's DCU could not have asked for a better anchor in David Corenswet's Kryptonian superhero. One of my favorite superheroes of all time has had some stumbles on the big screen as of late, but this is an absolute return to form for the Kansas farm boy. The cast is killer, the action is fun, the world building seems organic, and the dog steals the show. The entire film oozes hope and optimism, and its exactly what the world needs right now.
1. Sinners
***
2025 Films I have seen:
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