Top Movies of 2025 as Ranked by AP Film Writers

Despite what the numbers might suggest, 2025 proved to be an exceptional year for cinema. Directors both inside and outside the studio system created daring, imaginative, and deeply personal works. Some of these films even achieved mainstream success its remarkable that Sinners ranked among North Americas top-grossing titles, alongside familiar franchises and sequels. Yet, many are more likely to become cult classics over time.

The film industry continues to face major shifts, with Warner Bros. contemplating another potential merger. Still, cinema adapts and endures. Audiences demonstrated a persistent love for the theater experience, whether laughing at Chicken Jockey or flocking to KPop Demon Hunters months after its Netflix release.

Several outstanding films went underseen, but 2025 also marked the passing of cinema legends like David Lynch, Robert Redford, Diane Keaton, and Gene Hackman a reminder that box office and awards are fleeting, while films themselves endure.

Lindsey Bahrs Favorite Films of 2025

1. One Battle After Another
   Paul Thomas Anderson delivers a whirlwind cinematic experience in this multifaceted film, blending farce, drama, and buddy comedy. Exceptional performances and a bold vision make it a standout theatrical experience.
2. If I Had Legs Id Kick You
   Mary Bronstein channels maternal exhaustion and surreal horror into this raw, fearless tale anchored by Rose Byrne. The film captures existential dread with striking intensity.
3. Marty Supreme
   Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein craft a high-energy, gripping story of ambition in mid-century New York, featuring a breakout performance from Timothe Chalamet.
4. Sentimental Value
   Joachim Triers poignant exploration of family, grief, and creativity features a moving performance from Stellan Skarsgrd and balances humor with profound insight.
5. The Naked Gun
   Akiva Schaffer reinvents a studio comedy through sheer commitment to absurdity, producing a hilarious and standalone reboot.
6. Sinners
   Ryan Coogler delivers a bold, genre-blending vampire-gangster musical with symbolic depth and an exceptional ensemble cast, including two Michael B. Jordans.
7. Sound of Falling
   Mascha Schilinskis ethereal second feature intertwines past and present on a North German farm, simultaneously a ghost story and coming-of-age tale.
8. It Was Just an Accident
   Jafar Panahi confronts questions of justice and morality in his gripping and darkly humorous exploration of crime and punishment in post-imprisonment Iran.
9. The Voice of Hind Rajab
   Kaouther Ben Hania creates a harrowing, intimate depiction of the Israel-Hamas conflict, set entirely within the Palestine Red Crescent Societys dispatch center.
10. Debut Features
    Urchin (Harris Dickinson) explores cycles of homelessness with realism and compassion.
    The Chronology of Water (Kristen Stewart) presents an electrifying, personal memoir on trauma.
    Dont Lets Go to the Dogs Tonight (Embeth Davidtz) confronts the Rhodesian bush war with grace and courage.

Jake Coyles Top Picks of 2025

1. One Battle After Another
   Andersons latest, while echoing past political movements, creates its own distinct history. The film highlights resilience and unforgettable performances.
2. No Other Choice
   Park Chan-wook crafts a darkly comic thriller about a man eliminating competitors to secure jobs, based on Donald E. Westlakes novel. A masterful display of Parks signature style.
3. It Was Just an Accident
   Panahi combines courage, humor, and humanity in this compelling story of justice after imprisonment.
4. Marty Supreme
   Josh Safdie delivers a high-octane New York story with Timothe Chalamet as a relentless dreamer, one of the years most exhilarating films.
5. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
   Rian Johnsons latest whodunit is both moving and cleverly executed, featuring Josh OConnor in a standout performance.
6. Afternoons of Solitude
   Albert Serras bullfighting documentary focuses on one bullfighter and his bulls, capturing a ritualistic spectacle with cinematic rigor.
7. Sinners
   Cooglers audacious genre hybrid is a must-watch, demonstrating the creative heights Hollywood can achieve.
8. Secret Mall Apartment
   Jeremy Workman uncovers a hidden mall living experiment in Providence, revealing an unexpected story of art, community, and ingenuity.
9. Blue Moon
   Richard Linklaters nostalgic chamber drama portrays Lorenz Harts wit and warmth, evoking the intimate charm of bygone eras.
10. Afternoons of Solitude
    Albert Serras focus on bullfighting immerses viewers in ritual and spectacle, creating a striking cinematic meditation.

Other notable films include Caught by the Tides, One of Them Days, Eephus, My Fathers Shadow, The Testament of Ann Lee, Cloud, Sentimental Value, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, Bugonia, and Sorry, Baby.

Author: Riley Thompson