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Top Ten Movies of 2025
Jan. 6th, 2026 11:05 amI'm not going to do a "Worst Of" list this year. There just weren't enough movies I truly disliked. Really, the only one I can think of is that animated Predator movie, Killer of Killers, and even that one had its moments. Instead, my two top ten lists this year will be of the best movies and TV series. First up, movies.
Runner up for the top ten is Kokuho, which I think at least deserves an honourable mention for being the highest grossing live action Japanese film of all time. And it was an interesting movie in a variety of ways. It doesn't belong in my top ten but it was a valuable experience.
My number 10 is O'Dessa (Wikipedia entry, my review), the movie starring Sadie Sink as a wandering guitarist in a post-apocalyptic U.S. In a movie industry dominated by left-wing rhetoric, this was one of them. But Sink is one of the best stars to come out of Stranger Things, certainly more captivating than Millie Bobbie Brown, and it's nice to see her on screen.
At number 9 is The Fantastic Four: First Steps (Wikipedia entry, my review). Reed Richards was miscast and the movie somehow can't muster enthusiasm for its source material. But the Silver Surfer was sexy and Galactus was kind of badass.
My number 8 is One Battle After Another (Wikipedia entry, my review), pretty much on the strength of the first 25 minutes of the movie. Someone should make a series in which left and right bicker all day and then have really kinky sex at the end of it. I can see John Waters doing it.
K-Pop Demon Hunters (Wikipedia entry, my review) is number 7. It's a charming animated adventure with some catchy tunes.
Number 6 is Guillermo Del Toro's adaptation of Frankenstein (Wikipedia entry, my review). It's a fundamentally flawed rendition of the source material but its costumes, makeup, and production design are so magnificent I couldn't rank it any lower. The performances were good, too.
Number 5 is Fushigi no Kuni de Alice to: Dive in Wonderland (Wikipedia entry, my review). Here's yet another Alice in Wonderland movie but it's an unabashed riff, taking the concept in a new direction and meaningfully tying it to AI, virtual reality, and social media. I'm not sure I agree with the film's outlook but it delivered its message in an inventive way that was also pleasing to Alice geeks like me.
Number 4 is Thunderbolts* (Wikipedia entry, my review), the best Marvel movie of 2025. This movie would've been even better if the first act were a little more tightly written and if Florence Pugh didn't look like Tidus from Final Fantasy X dressed as a janitor.
The best superhero movie of 2025 is Superman (Wikipedia entry, my review), my pick for third best movie of the year. James Gunn had the audacity to directly import the gaudy optimism from the comics and it works. It's certainly a breath of fresh air after a string of DC movies that weakly imitated Christopher Nolan. Finally, something with a pulse.
But it wasn't as fun as Honey Don't!(Wikipedia entry, my review), which I have as number 2. Margaret Qualley is so charming and so lovely in perfect costumes among a great cast delivering razor sharp dialogue. It's everything you want from a slice of high brow pulp fiction.
Finally, my number one is David Cronenberg's latest film, The Shrouds (Wikipedia entry, my review). It's a grim and unsettling film but certainly not without humour. Cronenberg's lack of belief in the soul goes to a logical conclusion by establishing a grief culture in which people actually want to watch their loved ones decay. As he further explores the implications, Cronenberg also offers his take on AI, Few other filmmakers have a reputation that so uniquely qualifies them for analysis of AI and he certainly comes up with food for thought.
That's my top ten movies of the year. I'll post my top ten shows within the next few days.
Runner up for the top ten is Kokuho, which I think at least deserves an honourable mention for being the highest grossing live action Japanese film of all time. And it was an interesting movie in a variety of ways. It doesn't belong in my top ten but it was a valuable experience.
My number 10 is O'Dessa (Wikipedia entry, my review), the movie starring Sadie Sink as a wandering guitarist in a post-apocalyptic U.S. In a movie industry dominated by left-wing rhetoric, this was one of them. But Sink is one of the best stars to come out of Stranger Things, certainly more captivating than Millie Bobbie Brown, and it's nice to see her on screen.
At number 9 is The Fantastic Four: First Steps (Wikipedia entry, my review). Reed Richards was miscast and the movie somehow can't muster enthusiasm for its source material. But the Silver Surfer was sexy and Galactus was kind of badass.
My number 8 is One Battle After Another (Wikipedia entry, my review), pretty much on the strength of the first 25 minutes of the movie. Someone should make a series in which left and right bicker all day and then have really kinky sex at the end of it. I can see John Waters doing it.
K-Pop Demon Hunters (Wikipedia entry, my review) is number 7. It's a charming animated adventure with some catchy tunes.
Number 6 is Guillermo Del Toro's adaptation of Frankenstein (Wikipedia entry, my review). It's a fundamentally flawed rendition of the source material but its costumes, makeup, and production design are so magnificent I couldn't rank it any lower. The performances were good, too.
Number 5 is Fushigi no Kuni de Alice to: Dive in Wonderland (Wikipedia entry, my review). Here's yet another Alice in Wonderland movie but it's an unabashed riff, taking the concept in a new direction and meaningfully tying it to AI, virtual reality, and social media. I'm not sure I agree with the film's outlook but it delivered its message in an inventive way that was also pleasing to Alice geeks like me.
Number 4 is Thunderbolts* (Wikipedia entry, my review), the best Marvel movie of 2025. This movie would've been even better if the first act were a little more tightly written and if Florence Pugh didn't look like Tidus from Final Fantasy X dressed as a janitor.
The best superhero movie of 2025 is Superman (Wikipedia entry, my review), my pick for third best movie of the year. James Gunn had the audacity to directly import the gaudy optimism from the comics and it works. It's certainly a breath of fresh air after a string of DC movies that weakly imitated Christopher Nolan. Finally, something with a pulse.
But it wasn't as fun as Honey Don't!(Wikipedia entry, my review), which I have as number 2. Margaret Qualley is so charming and so lovely in perfect costumes among a great cast delivering razor sharp dialogue. It's everything you want from a slice of high brow pulp fiction.
Finally, my number one is David Cronenberg's latest film, The Shrouds (Wikipedia entry, my review). It's a grim and unsettling film but certainly not without humour. Cronenberg's lack of belief in the soul goes to a logical conclusion by establishing a grief culture in which people actually want to watch their loved ones decay. As he further explores the implications, Cronenberg also offers his take on AI, Few other filmmakers have a reputation that so uniquely qualifies them for analysis of AI and he certainly comes up with food for thought.
That's my top ten movies of the year. I'll post my top ten shows within the next few days.
