Instead of picking the “best” films of the year, I prefer to list my favorites.  There is, of course, overlap in those two lists, but I like to acknowledge the imperfect films that brought me the most joy.  Some of the “best” movies I see each year are ones I don’t really want to watch again.  Not all of these will be award winners or nominees, but each offers something unique and special.

Joel Edgerton gives another stunning performance in this story of a logger’s life in the early 20th century.  It’s amazing how much story is crammed into the 1 hour 42 minute runtime.  It’s a perfectly paced film that takes you through multiple highs and lows as he tries to understand the meaning of life.  Truly one of the most beautiful films of the year.

This is the third of Dan Trachtenberg‘s Predator films, but the first to be shown on the big screen.  Once again, he expands on the Predator lore with fresh ideas and a fun premise.  Somehow, he takes the villain from previous films and makes him the leading character, whom we eventually come to empathize with.  Don’t let the PG-13 rating dissuade you; this is filled to the brim with action and non-human gore.

A sequel to the 2022 Finnish action flick, Sisu: The Road to Revenge, continues to follow Jorma Tommila‘s unrelenting character as he tries to rebuild his life after WWII.  This one ramps up the action and violence to the point of live-action Looney Tunes, while somehow also raising the emotional stakes.  This one had me laughing at the violent absurdity one moment and tearing up the next.

This has to be the biggest surprise of the year.  At first glance, this straight-to-Netflix animated film looks like low-effort childish schlock.  Instead, it is one of the best animated films of 2025 with a soundtrack to match!  It gained so much positive attention that Netflix decided to release it on the big screen, including sing-along showings.  Put your expectations aside and enjoy the ride!

This version of Superman has left audiences divided, but for me, it was nice seeing the character act more like a fireman than a cop.   This is the version of the character that no one is afraid to approach and who truly tries to see the best in the world.  Silly, fun, and full of hope, this left me grinning from start to finish.

I’m a sucker for a good anthology.  This is a great one.  Produced, narrated, and containing a cameo by Too $hort, this film takes place during 1987 in Oakland, California.  Each of the segments overlap, eventually telling one cohesive (and freaky!) tale.  The segments also include performances by Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, and an unforgettable cameo from Tom Hanks.  This is my go-to film when a friend is looking for a fresh film recommendation.

This movie took four years to make and stars the director’s personal dog. “Good Boy” is a bittersweet, creepy tale told entirely through the dog’s perspective.  It is unsettling, beautifully shot, and features one of the best animal performances I’ve ever seen. Out of everything on my list, this is the film I’ve watched the most this year.  A true triumph in independent cinema.

Writer/director Zach Cregger perfectly balances horror, humor, and pacing that is just so much fun. Structured similar to an anthology, this story of missing children has one of the most rewarding endings I’ve ever seen. Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, and Benedict Wong are amazing in their roles, but it’s Amy Madigan who ends up stealing the show.

At 2 hours and 41 minutes, this is the longest film on my list.  Too often a movie with a runtime over 2 hours is just bloated and could benefit from tighter editing.  That is not the case here.  The pacing is perfect, with strong social commentary and witty dialog.  It feels big and epic but never outstays its welcome.  Paul Thomas Anderson has made a lot of excellent films, but this might be my favorite.  Leonardo DiCaprio is framed as the lead protagonist, but he is actually the least competent character in the film.  His heart is in the right place, but it’s women and minorities that move the story along and do the most heroic things.  Sean Penn loses himself in the villain role as a man who is both terrifying and pathetic.  Benicio Del Toro is an absolute joy to watch as “Sensei Sergio St. Carlos.”  The true heroes are the strong women in the movie.  It’s been a long time since we’ve seen characters like Teyana Taylor‘s “Perfidia,” Regina Hall‘s “Deandra,” and Chase Infiniti‘s “Willa.”  Featuring the best script of the year and some amazing cinematography, expect “One Battle After Another” to get a lot of attention during awards season.

“Sinners” is “The Matrix” of this decade.  It draws from a myriad of other sources and films, creating something even greater than the sum of its parts.  The attention to detail is unmatched.  I can’t think of a better example of “Show, don’t tell” than this film.  There is so much subtext, background, and history that is simply shown on screen.  Some moments seem like careless anachronisms, which are actually historically accurate.  There are nuances the characters exhibit that later flesh out their characters. (For example, why does one brother always roll cigarettes for his twin?) In addition, each and every performance in this movie is amazing. Michael B. Jordan deserves an Oscar for his portrayal of Smoke and Stack.  We’re able to know which character is on screen just by the subtle differences he portrays in each.  Then there is the jaw-dropping music-through-the-ages sequence in the juke joint.  Oh, and there are vampires too!  A movie like this doesn’t come around often.

These films ALMOST made it on my top 10, and are certainly worth experiencing if you haven’t seen them.

• Reflection in a Dead Diamond (A retired spy fears his former adversaries have resurfaced. One of those movies that is better the less you know going in.)
• Black Phone 2  (Improves on the original in almost every way)
• Companion (A fresh take on the AI Android Gone Psycho genre)
• The Running Man (A high-energy and surprisingly faithful adaptation of the Stephen King novel)
• The Long Walk (Another excellent, yet brutal, Stephen King adaptation.)