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30. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
I’ve actually only seen two Mission: Impossible movies, those being this and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning (2023). Generally, the film was great in terms of its ever-escalating action, but what put this film so high on my list was definitely the theater experience. This was by far the largest audience I had seen a film with in a typical theater setting, and the series’ ability to draw such large crowds was enough for me to give the film its flowers.
29. Rental Family
Rental Family’s concept was one of its most interesting aspects. I couldn’t tell you exactly what it was I was expecting, but the film felt less fulfilling than it was supposed to. It definitely did its job and wasn’t a bad experience, but I would have liked something more in terms of the emotional value of such a seemingly emotional film. Brendan Fraser gave a great performance, and the film definitely had its comedic value (especially at the beginning) but I was left expecting something else.
28. Now You See Me 3
Now You See Me 3 was not as entertaining as the first two films in the trilogy, which I attribute to the magicians being depicted as less competent and smart and therefore less “cool” in this film. This led the film to feel slightly more like a “turn-your-brain-off” action movie, which there’s nothing necessarily wrong with. I thought Dominic Sessa and Justice Smith added a lot to the cast, but I also just don’t think Ariana Greenblatt can act. Still, I was constantly entertained and did not expect the twist.
27. Is This Thing On?
I haven’t seen the other two of Bradley Cooper’s films, but I always sensed the slightest sliver of pretentiousness within their concepts. For that reason, I thought Is This Thing On? was a great next step in his filmography. The cinematography was at its best during scenes in the comedy club, and there was something extra entertaining in the dramatic irony of Will Arnett telling jokes about his divorce while his ex-wife is on a date in the room. Still, I thought the story wasn’t extremely developed and that the ending could have gone in a slightly different tonal direction.
26. Companion
Although I watched Companion later than others, I managed to avoid the twist for several months, which leads me to believe that not many saw it. I thought the performances were fun to watch, and that the story was interesting in the way it unfolded. Companion could have had a stronger aesthetic, and I would have liked to see some more subliminal clues to the twist rather than awkwardly inserted moments like Sophie Thatcher perfectly reciting the weather. One could argue that Companion was a lazy, offbrand reboot of Ex Machina (2014), which it very well could have been. Still, I wouldn’t be so harsh.
25. The Ballad of Wallis Island
At first I thought The Ballad of Wallis Island was titled “The Battle of Ellis Island,” and therefore expected a very different movie than the one I watched. Still, the surprise was a welcome one. The film told an endearing story with a few simple characters. I did think there were a few moments that didn’t exactly fit well structurally in the movie, but those didn’t take away from my ability to enjoy it.
24. The Roses
The Roses is a film oriented toward those who enjoy a very specific type of comedy that’s most popular amongst the British. That being said, it’s an extremely funny movie with a great cast. Considering it was an adaptation of an adaptation, it still managed to be entertaining and to stay true to its strong storyline. I did think some of the comedy undermined a layer of realism or connection to reality, but that criticism can’t really apply to a film that banks on a lack of empathy among its audience.
23. Good Fortune
A considerable amount of people did see Good Fortune, but I feel as if I enjoyed it more than most audiences. I thought both the concept and execution were fun, and that Keanu Reeves as a low-level angel was really funny. Of course, it wasn’t especially revolutionary, but it did have good messages that I think it sent pretty well. I’d even argue that the film had a pretty clear aesthetic that added a layer of enjoyment to it.
22. The Smashing Machine
Disregarding the potential Safdie Brothers drama, I was excited at the beginning of 2025 to see The Smashing Machine and Marty Supreme indirectly face off against one another through inevitable comparison of their solo-directorial-debuts. Unfortunately for Benny Safdie, Marty Supreme’s reliance on themes and tones that worked previously for the Safdies did rise above Benny Safdie’s exploration of other stories. That being said, The Smashing Machine was generally a fun watch. It was especially entertaining to see Dwayne Johnson’s first “real” performance, which I thought he executed very well. Aesthetically, Benny Safdie made a visually pleasing film, but I do think the story slightly fell flat.
21. Frankenstein
Frankenstein did deserve the recognition it got this awards season, especially in terms of makeup and hairstyling, costume design, and set design. Aesthetically, Guillermo Del Toro knows how to build an environment that perfectly suits his story. From a story standpoint, however, it did feel slightly on-the-nose with its themes about fatherhood. I’m aware that Del Toro is known for his use of extreme wide angles, but I generally prefer the cinematography style of Pan’s Labyrinth (2006). Regardless, this film had some extremely interesting performances and was enjoyable to watch overall.
20. Left-Handed Girl
I got to see Left-Handed Girl at its Montclair Film Festival screening, and also got to see director Tsou Shih-ching in a Q&A after the screening. I found it insightful into the process of creating a film so rooted in Asian culture and customs, and I especially enjoyed hearing about the guerrilla filmmaking techniques used to capture some of the shots in the film. I wasn’t particularly expecting this film to get much recognition, but I’d definitely recommend it to those who asked.
19. No Other Choice
While I can’t say I fully understood aspects of No Other Choice, it was clear that Park Chan-wook was one of the boldest directors from this past year. Similar to Eddington, his approach to filming in the age of screens was extremely creative, and certain shots in that film could only have come from a mind like his. The concept of the film was also extremely entertaining, and I was surprised and disappointed to see this film not receive any Academy Award nominations.
18. It Ends
It Ends was one of the most creative low-budget films I had seen this year. Gen Z director Alexander Ullom leans into existential horror, a subgenre that our generation seems to take a particular interest in. Following a group of recent college graduates as they get stuck on an infinitely long road, we watch as they lose sight of what was once most important to them, that being each other. It Ends was an endearing film with realistic dialogue and a fun liminal concept.
17. Superman
Superman was a refreshing take on comic book movies, reminding us that the films are meant to be fun rather than to try and transfer a fictional character into the real world. The reason Superman worked so well was not only James Gunn’s lack of hesitation to create an entirely new world for the film, but also his focus on Superman’s values that make him the hero he is.
16. Warfare
Seeing as Alex Garland’s Civil War (2024) didn’t do as well as expected (mostly due to marketing forgetting to show that it was a film about war photojournalism, and not just a second American Civil War), I was hoping the best for Warfare, which was set to release a year later and involve the creative insights of an actual veteran. For the most part, I believe Warfare did its part to truly emphasize the horrors of war through a real-time retelling of true events. The sound design in the film was extremely precise as well. My only criticism would be the strange pacing, but of course the film was meant to be a real time recreation.
15. Thunderbolts*
Thunderbolts* was a breath of fresh air from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After so many failures, Marvel recognized its multiversal issues and cosmic scale was causing issues. Issues that could only be remedied through a grounded story about a group of unlikely friends battling their mental health struggles through the exploration of their darkest memories and the support of one another. The cast felt truly like a family and the aesthetic of the film was clearly established, making for the super fun experience that we were missing from the MCU.
14. Friendship
I saw Friendship on my birthday last year, and in a weird way it was the perfect way for me to celebrate. I knew an A24 comedy movie that leans into its aesthetics while remaining true to its comedy would be a difficult task, but Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd lean into the awkwardness of the situation and multiply it by a million, creating for an extremely funny movie. I do recognize that this type of humor may not resonate with all audiences, but I recommend audiences try and see it regardless.
13. Roofman
I wasn’t exactly surprised that Roofman was a film that flew under the radar of most audiences, but I was disappointed nonetheless. Roofman had an unexpectedly strong aesthetic and created a fun environment with interesting visuals. I do think the film wouldn’t have worked as well had it not been Channing Tatum playing the main character. With a simple “based on a true story” approach, Roofman was a great movie that I wish more people had chosen to see.
12. Eddington
Ari Aster’s divisive film, Eddington, was one I was most excited for this year. I’d consider Aster my favorite director, so a new project of his naturally caught my full attention. While I do prefer Aster’s more grounded and personal work, this film was still interesting in a way I wasn’t expecting. The film, which delves into the politics of a small town in May of 2020, clearly has a lot to say despite many reading it as a “centrist” film. I also must applaud Aster’s empathetic portrayal of those with political beliefs that may not have been in accordance with his own, since it is interesting to see different values within the characters.
11. Eternity
With the benefit of a compelling logline, Eternity tells a touching story using universal themes and one of the best scores to a film I’ve heard this year. I’ve found that Eternity saw a surprisingly low amount of recognition, despite its great cast and strong concept, but would encourage those of all ages to watch it. Even if romance is a genre outside of your typical interests, the world that Eternity builds is so aesthetically pleasing both visually and emotionally.
Check back next week for the top 10!
