I’ve seen a lot of great movies this year, and some of these I never would have guessed would rank this high.
If a movie sticks with me and I’m still thinking about it weeks to months later, it moves up the list.
With that in mind, here are my Top 10 Favorite Movies of 2025.
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10. Ballerina
I finally watched a John Wick movie… sort of. This takes place in the John Wick universe and is set between the third and fourth films. John Wick appears briefly, but this is Ana de Armas’ movie.
The story is simple and a little outlandish, but it works. People don’t come to these movies for plot, they come for the choreography and precision of the action, and this delivers. I’m a big fan of Ana de Armas and she clearly put in the work. Stylish, focused, and very rewatchable.
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9. Life of Chuck
This one didn’t hit me right away, but months later I was still thinking about it. That matters.
It’s a quiet reminder to live fully, especially knowing that time is limited. Rewatching it with my parents only deepened the impact. A movie that grows instead of fades.
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8. Marty Supreme
As I was leaving the theater someone said, “Man, that was stressful,” and I completely agreed. This movie is intense.
It follows Marty, a championship ping-pong player in the 1950s who will lie, cheat, and self-destruct if it means getting to Tokyo. I wasn’t convinced at first that this would work, but it absolutely does. The ending is very satisfying. Timothée Chalamet disappears into this role. He becomes the character.
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7. Companion
A very enjoyable movie filled with twists that genuinely surprised me.
It blends dark comedy, horror, and suspense without overexplaining itself. The opening narration alone sets the tone perfectly. This is the kind of movie that rewards going in blind and trusting the experience. Thoughtful, restrained, and smart.
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6. Badlands
I’ve never been a Predator fan until Prey, and this continued that momentum.
Instead of following the strongest hunter, the story focuses on the weakest of his clan trying to prove himself. Pairing him with a synthetic guide played by Elle Fanning adds humor and heart in unexpected ways. Even better on rewatch. I’m fully on board with wherever this universe goes next.
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5. K-Pop: Demon Hunters
This movie only became more meaningful over time.
It’s fun, emotional, and full of energy, but what pushed it higher for me was seeing the real people behind the music and what the success meant to them. That context changed the experience and made it hit harder than I expected.
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4. Sinners
A movie that is both joyful and tragic at the same time.
Set in the early 1930s, it starts as a celebration before turning dark in unexpected ways. The vampire elements mixed with music create something genuinely unique. It’s uncomfortable, intense, and morally messy, which is exactly why it works.
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3. Wicked For Good
I’ve seen this multiple times and it still hits.
Some moments are predictable, but the twists, performances, and emotional payoff more than earn it. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have unreal chemistry. Every viewing has reinforced why this belongs near the top.
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2. One Battle After Another
The first ten minutes are rough. I almost walked out.
Once it settles in, though, it becomes incredibly powerful. A father racing to save his daughter from the consequences of a violent past, set in a world that feels uncomfortably familiar. Intense, focused, and emotionally heavy in the best way.
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1. Thunderbolts
This shouldn’t have worked, but it absolutely did.
Florence Pugh anchors the movie with a performance that makes it feel personal instead of spectacle-driven. Rather than focusing on destruction, it leans into mental health, regret, and found family. Even if you’ve never seen a Marvel movie before, this one stands on its own. It surprised me the most, and it stayed with me the longest.