My Top 10 Favorite Movies of 2025

2025 turned out to be a great year for movies, one that reminded me why I love this medium so much in the first place. These films didn’t just entertain me, they stuck with me. Some wrecked me emotionally, some lifted my spirits, some thrilled the hell out of me, and a few did all of that at once.

Below is my personal Top 10 favorite movies of 2025, ranked by how deeply they resonated with me. This list isn’t about hype or box office numbers. It’s about how these films made me feel, and how much the entertained me.

Obviously we all have different tastes and movie move us and connect with all of us in different ways. Your lists are probably a lot different than mine, but this is my personal list of films that I loved.

1. The Life of Chuck

This film quietly wrecked me in the best possible way. Mike Flanagan trades fear for tenderness here, crafting a story about life, death, and memory that feels deeply human and profoundly personal. Told in reverse, the structure invites reflection instead of mystery, and by the end, I wasn’t thinking about plot points, I was thinking about my own life.

The performances are beautiful across the board, with Mark Hamill delivering something truly special and Tom Hiddleston leaving a strong impression in limited but powerful screen time. This movie didn’t overwhelm me, it sat with me. It reminded me that even the smallest moments matter, and that feeling stayed with me long after I watched the movie.

2. Rental Family

This is the kind of movie that sneaks up on you and leaves your heart a little fuller. Brendan Fraser gives one of his most gentle and affecting performances as a lonely man finding connection in the most unexpected way.

Set in Tokyo, the film explores chosen family with warmth, sincerity, and a perfectly dry sense of humor. Director Hikari keeps everything grounded and lets the characters do the emotional heavy lifting. I walked out of this movie feeling lighter, calmer, and genuinely happy, which is something I don’t experience often enough at the movies.

3. Weapons

Zach Cregger fully unleashes his imagination here, delivering a horror film that’s disturbing, funny, and completely unhinged. The mystery pulls you in fast, then gleefully refuses to play by the rules.

Performances from Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, and especially Amy Madigan elevate the madness, and the imagery burns itself into your brain. It’s the kind of movie that makes you laugh, squirm, and question your sanity, sometimes all at once. Horror with personality like this is rare.

4. The Long Walk

This one crushed me. Francis Lawrence somehow pulled off what felt impossible, turning Stephen King’s bleak novel into an intimate, harrowing cinematic experience. The simplicity of the premise only makes the emotional weight heavier as you grow attached to the young characters in the story, and watch them march toward inevitable loss.

The cast, especially Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsso, brings raw humanity to every step. It’s exhausting, devastating, and unforgettable. This isn’t an easy watch, but it’s one that feels necessary.

5. F1: The Movie

This is pure cinematic adrenaline. Joseph Kosinski once again proves he knows how to make blockbuster filmmaking feel immersive and alive. Brad Pitt grounds the story with a performance full of regret and grit, while Damson Idris and Javier Bardem bring fire and urgency to the track.

Even as someone who went in knowing almost nothing about Formula One racing, I was locked in. The racing sequences are stunning, the sound design rattles your chest, and the emotional beats land with sincerity. It’s loud, thrilling, and wildly entertaining, and satisfying ride.

6. Thunderbolts*

This movie surprised the hell out of me. It’s one of the most emotionally grounded Marvel films in years, focusing less on spectacle and more on damaged people trying to survive themselves.

Florence Pugh delivers her strongest MCU performance yet, and I’d love to see her recognized for it. Director Jake Schreier and writers Eric Pearson and Joanna Calo lean hard into themes of trauma and mental health, and it works. By keeping the stakes personal instead of cosmic, the film hits harder and feels more honest.

7. Predator: Badlands

I didn’t expect a Predator movie to hit me like this one did, but here we are. Dan Trachtenberg flips the franchise perspective in a way that feels risky and exciting, following a young Predator trying to prove himself.

Elle Fanning is an absolute standout as Thia, bringing humor and warmth that anchors the entire film. The action is brutal and inventive, the world-building is awesome, and the character-driven approach makes this one of the most refreshing entries in the franchise. I loved how different it felt.

8. Frankenstein

This is a passion project through and through, and you can feel it in every frame. Guillermo del Toro delivers a tragic, gothic reimagining that leans heavily into empathy and emotional pain.

Oscar Isaac is mesmerizing as Victor Frankenstein, while Jacob Elordi brings heartbreaking humanity to the Creature. The film reframes the story as one of failed parenthood and abandonment, and that shift makes it hit incredibly hard. It’s gorgeous, sorrowful, and deeply moving movie.

9. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

If this really is the end of Ethan Hunt’s story, it’s one hell of a sendoff. Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie go all out, delivering some of the most intense action sequences I’ve ever seen, especially a submarine set piece that left me breathless.

What surprised me most was how emotional it all felt. This film reflects on legacy, sacrifice, and loyalty in a way that makes the entire franchise feel cohesive and complete. It’s massive, thrilling, and completely satisfying.

10. Bad Haircut

This little indie movie was one of the most fun surprises of the year for me. Kyle Misak delivers a horror-comedy that fully commits to its insanity, and it pays off big time.

Frankie Ray is unforgettable as Mick, a villain who’s equal parts terrifying and hilarious, while Spencer Harrison Levin keeps the story grounded. The scrappy, handmade feel gives it a charming midnight-movie vibe, and the laughs hit just as hard as the blood. I had an absolute blast with this one.

2025 gave me movies that challenged me, comforted me, thrilled me, and completely blindsided me. These ten films are the ones I’ll continue to revisit, and they’re the reason this year will stick with me as a damn good one for cinema.

What were some of your favorite films of 2025!?