AFI Awards Movie Top 10: 'Sinners', 'Avatar: Fire And Ash', 'Jay Kelly' Recognized as Honorees

The American Film Institute has revealed its annual list of the Motion Pictures of the Year, recognizing 10 standout films. This prestigious list is widely regarded as a bellwether for the Oscars, often aligning closely with the Academys nominations. In recent years, AFI has matched eight of the 10 Best Picture Oscar nominees.

The 2025 AFI honorees include Avatar: Fire and Ash, Bugonia, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Jay Kelly, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, Sinners, Train Dreams, and Wicked: For Good. In addition, a Special Award was presented to Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi for his Cannes Palme dOr-winning film It Was Just an Accident. Such awards are occasionally given to international films that have limited exposure in the U.S.

Some notable American releases that did not make the list this year include F1, A House of Dynamite, Nuremberg, Rental Family, and Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere.

Among distributors, Netflix leads with three filmsFrankenstein, Jay Kelly, and Train Dreams. Universal also has three entries, with Wicked: For Good, Bugonia, and Hamnet via its Focus Features unit.

Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO, commented: For over 25 years, AFI Awards has celebrated creativity without competition. We are proud to honor these exceptional works as a testament to the enduring power of art during challenging times.

The honorees will be officially recognized at a private AFI Awards luncheon on Friday, January 9, at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, a key event in the awards season calendar.

Author's Analysis: AFI 2025 Motion Pictures of the Year

The American Film Institute’s 2025 selection highlights a diverse mix of films, blending high-profile blockbusters with smaller, character-driven projects. Notably, the inclusion of international recognition through Jafar Panahi’s Special Award underscores AFI’s continued commitment to global cinema, even for films with limited U.S. release.

Netflix and Universal dominate the distribution landscape, each contributing three films to the list. This signals a continued shift in industry influence toward streaming platforms alongside traditional studios. The omission of major releases such as F1 and Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere reflects AFI’s focus on artistic merit rather than commercial success alone.

Historically, the AFI list serves as a reliable indicator for the Oscars, with eight of the ten honorees often aligning with Best Picture nominations. This year’s selections suggest potential frontrunners, particularly for films like Frankenstein and Wicked: For Good, which combine critical acclaim with broad audience appeal.

The official recognition at the AFI Awards luncheon on January 9 in Beverly Hills will provide an early benchmark for awards season, offering insight into both industry trends and the films most likely to resonate with Academy voters.

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• AFI Awards Movie Top 10: ‘Sinners’, ‘Avatar: Fire And Ash’, ‘Jay Kelly’ Among Honorees