The Top 30 Movies of 2025 (According To Jeff D Lowe)
Folks, that is a WRAP on 2025 at the movies!
I saw as many movies as I possibly could this year, topping out at 390 brand new releases. How do I do it? Insomnia for one, and a very understanding family for another. While your applause is appreciated, it actually came out to one less movie than 2024, so it's a bit of a failure.
Jokes aside, this was a year with a couple absolute gems at the top, but a small step down in quality overall. Let's take a look at the numbers, shall we?
MY 2025 MOVIE RATINGS:
- 95/100+: 5
- 90/100+: 12
- 80/100+: 59
- 20/100 or lower: 52
MY 2024 MOVIE RATINGS:
- 95/100+: 2
- 90/100+: 19
- 80/100+: 98
- 20/100 or lower: 62
I actually had more movies I rated 95/100+ from 2025, but there were a handful more movies I rated 90/100+, and a shit load more movies in the 80/100+ range. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed a lot this year, but the step down in quality could be heavily felt. Even so, there were more than enough movies I am more than happy to carry water for from this year, and I am excited to praise them.
The following ratings & rankings are the movies I think are the BEST. These aren't my favorite movies, as I always say in these blogs, but solely based on quality. For example, 'Small Soldiers' is one of my 50 favorite movies of all time, but do I think it's one of the 50 best? No, obviously not.
For the full list of all 390 new movies I saw this year, check out my LetterBoxd below…
I'll show you off my movies 50 through 31, just to give you a taste of the Top 50…
Anyway, here we go, my Top 30 movies of the year!
NOTE: Each movie title is also a link to its trailer
30) Bob Trevino Likes It (84/100) - This movie borders on cry porn, but I'd be lying if I said this movie didn't hit me across the face with a bag of emotional bricks. Cry porn, or not, I enjoyed it! Barbie Ferreira and John Leguizamo are fantastic in this movie, and their performances help drive home the sad yet heart-warming story. It's a great (based on a true) story that will leave an impact, and I could see this one growing on me over time.
29) Bad Shabbos (84/100) - A great cast with enjoyable characters is what shines brightest in this dark comedy that came as quite the surprise! 'Bad Shabbos' is a quick-witted, high-tempo story that had me laughing from start to finish. This type of family & friend dynamics comedy doesn't come around very often, but director Daniel Robbins paints it with a very relatable brush stroke. It reminds me a little of the movie 'It's a Disaster' from 2012, and we need more of this style of comedy.
28) The Mastermind (84/100) - A slow burn no doubt, there's a tranquility to this thoughtful movie that had me leaned forward in my chair right from the start. Kelly Reichardt has a distinct style and way with which she directs a movie, and while I don't think it's perfect, this was a very welcome fresh take on the heist genre. Fans of heist movies should enjoy this one, and I quite love that it feels like something "new."
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27) The Long Walk (84/100) - How many fucking Stephen King movies came out this year? Anyway, this is a really solid movie, with a really solid story, but one that is elevated to another level thanks to two dynamite performances by David Jonsson & Cooper Hoffman. Will they get Oscar nominations? I'd be surprised given the genre, but you're out of your mind if you don't think they should both be up for consideration.
26) Mickey 17 (85/100) - Whoa boy, was this a lot (and that's not exactly a bad thing). I'll get out of the way that this movie is hurt a bit by some pacing issues, and the fact it isn't close to the Oscar-winning director's best movie. But that can take a backseat to the fact I still really enjoyed this movie. It's a goofy movie with a ton of humor, and the big story moments that matter all land in an impactful way. I loved everything from the cast, and Robert Pattinson specifically brought home (with the help of elite editing and special effects) one of the better dual-role performances I have seen.
25) The Naked Gun (85/100) - Comedies are back! Well, maybe not fully, but it felt like it with this one. In a world where the traditional, old-school pure comedy has all but died in terms of being exhibited in theaters, 'The Naked Gun' (2025) is an unexpected breath of fresh air. It's incredible what happens when funny filmmakers respect their audience and deliver a fast-paced & creative comedy. Hopefully people go out and see this movie, because with some clear effort, this type of comedy isn't dead, and we need more of them!
24) Predator: Killer of Killers (85/100) - So, I guess we are just getting awesome Predator movies now! Badass movie that knows exactly what it needs to be and doesn't try to do too much. It doesn't reach extraordinary heights, but I am also not sure it was trying to! I'd actually argue they could have let it breathe a little longer story wise. It's no shock a universe & franchise like this translates perfectly to animation.
23) Bring Her Back (85/100) - Well, what the fuck. When I left the theater, an audience member turned back to me and simply said, "that was fucked." Spot on my fellow moviegoer, spot on. The Philippou brothers, who burst onto the scene with 2023's 'Talk To Me', clearly have the horror sauce. I would have preferred a little more leaning into the story over the shock value, but that's a nitpick. It's also worth noting too that Sally Hawkins, and everyone involved, adds another layer to this movie with their performances. This movie will occupy space in my mind for a long time. This movie whacks you over the head with shock & gore, so it won't be for everyone, but I could see this growing even more on me over time.
22) Jay Kelly (85/100) - I am a sucker for movies about Hollywood. Apologies (to no one)! Did I love 'Jay Kelly' and everything from George Clooney? Very much yes. Had Noah Baumbach really delivered a top-tier sharp & punchy script we might have had a Top 3 movie of the year with this one. Clooney is excellent in a role he's clearly made to play, and Adam Sandler once again shows that when it's time for a dramedy, he's going to likely out-act everyone. The emotion worked for me, and I bought in hook, line, and sinker.
21) Blue Moon (86/100) - Am I an idiot for thinking that we don't give Ethan Hawke enough praise? This guy has stupid range (a week or two before this movie came out, he was the main villain in a horror movie), and often times steals the show regardless of size of role. Pair up one of the year's best performances with the always excellent Richard Linklater, and you get a really damn good movie with some good emotional weight in all directions.
NOTE: The graphics below link to the trailers when clicked!
Once this movie gets going from a slower start, it is Steven Soderbergh at his best. Packed with an excellent cast and great script, 'Black Back' is a delicious, slick spy thriller. It's a sharp, slick, and dare I say sexy time, which plays right into Steven Soderbergh's unmatched ability to keep an audience guessing. The man fucking retired years ago… and yet is still cranking out multiple good movies in a single year. Crazy.
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This movie is an absolute fucking blast. I really liked 'F1', especially on a second viewing. Set the cliches aside and just have fun with 'F1: The Movie', because doing anything else feels a bit silly. Yeah, sure, you can criticize some of the story choices, especially its cartoonish second act villain, but this movie's real quality is in what matters: the atmosphere. As with his past movies, Joseph Kosinski creates a rich environment and immerses you right into it. The characters were fun, the music was fantastic, and 'F1' hits every turn at top speed. Sometimes you just need look past a few bumpy moments on the track!
It took 20 years, but Danny Boyle (with the help of Alex Garland) took a big swing with the sequel to '28 Days Later' (we are ignoring '28 Weeks Later' in canon) and knocked it out of the park. This is a bold movie, that toes the line of being a bit too much at times but manages to stay on course for a perfectly chaotic experience. Any movie is also helped a lot when it has Ralph Fiennes, who has never turned in anything below a great performance.
For a rather simple & grounded story, this movie was stressful & intense, in the most complimentary of ways. An excellent script, and an ability to truly make you care about the main character are bother serviced by a career-best performance from Rose Byrne. It would be a damn shame if she wasn't one of the five nominees at the next Academy Awards, she was that good.
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This was a fascinating movie for a multitude of reasons. It's incredibly patient and really asks the audience to put the pieces together with, at times, not a ton to go on. For a good chunk of 'The Secret Agent' I truly had no clue which way it was headed, or where to even look. The structure of the storytelling won't work for everyone, and I even found it bumpy at times. But it's also a movie that trusts it has a smart audience and dares to go genre-bend in ways you wouldn't expect. I'd also be doing the movie a huge disservice if I didn't mention the fact that it looks beautiful, and Wagner Moura turns in one of the year's best performances.
It seems crazy to say, but is this is one of the better movies centered around religion ever made? Another killer entry into the Knives Out franchise, with a great diversion in terms of vibe & tone. They once again nailed the casting, but one person stands out the most and that's Josh O'Connor. He outshines even Daniel Craig (though, he remains born for this role), which feels impossible in this franchise, and it might be my favorite performance of his to date. It's a great murder mystery story that tosses you around in a few unexpected directions, and Johnson's commitment to not falling into cliches within the genre should be commended. The usual mix of mystery intrigue and humor from Johnson hit once again, and I need more Knives Out once again!
This is an awesome movie, and everything just explodes off of the screen. The performances (unreal casting efforts; Corenswet, Brosnahan, Hoult, Fillion, etc. all crush their roles) are great, the visual style is infectious, the score rips, it was funny yet touching, and overall, this is a slam dunk arrival for the re-birth of on-screen Superman and the new DCU. Now, is it perfect? No, it's absolutely a bit messy in spots. I understand there was a lot they had to establish early on while also avoiding an origin story, but it was very clunky out of the gates. With that said, this is so beautifully "comic book-y" and fun that I couldn't help myself from walking out of the theater with a big fat smile on my face.
A fascinating story, made by a fascinating (fantastic) director, and made under fascinating circumstances… you'll be shocked to hear me say this next line: this is a fascinating movie. 'It Was Just an Accident' is one of those thrillers that whips you around in a few directions, thanks in large part to some impressive genre-bending. The acting is also off the charts in this movie, and a few Oscar-worthy performances help push you further to edge of your seat. With a dynamite ending in tow, this movie was one of my favorites of 2025 and I'm hoping it finds its way into more theaters as the awards season nominations roll in.
Another Alex Garland movie! This is as unique of a war movie as you will ever see. Terrifying and effective storytelling from Alex Garland & Ray Mendoza, 'Warfare' is unlike almost any war movie you've seen, and how it plays out may not be for everyone, but that unorthodox story telling is why I loved this thing and boy does it leave an impact. This is a very raw, immersive look inside of war, and plays out almost like a Call of Duty mission. The tension is off the charts, especially from the get-go with one of my favorite tone-setting opening scenes from any movie in recent memory. I liked this a good chunk more than 'Civil War', a similar release from Alex Garland from 2024.
It's another success for the super-team of Yorgos Lanthimos & Emma Stone, and my love for this movie has only grown since first seeing it. This thing sits with you, for many reasons, as do most things released by Lanthimos. 'Bugonia' is an intense, engaging story with some fantastic performances including Stone (when does she not turn in an award-winning performance?) and the always underappreciated Jesse Plemmons. There were spots in which I wish the movie threw you for a loop a little more, as opposed to point you in the direction of the ending. With that said, the ending was one I fucking loved, and it's clear that this guy sure knows how to make movies.
This has the single best scene of 2025. The Subway scene is a 100/100, perfect moment in all forms of media. Just needed to get that out of the way off the top.
Tim Robinson finding a way to take his character(s) from 'I Think You Should Leave' and seamlessly work him into a dark dramedy with actual emotional weight is fucking impressive. If you aren't a fan of the Netflix sketch show, or this type of humor, you may not care for 'Friendship', but my word did I love this movie. It takes many unexpected turns and subverts your expectations from what you might think Robinson & Paul Rudd would do together in a cringe-comedy. Over time this movie is going to grow a bigger audience, and hopefully people continue to appreciate the genius that is Tim Robinson.
I am pissed about the fact I didn't get to see this in theaters. From the opening scene, 'Train Dreams' ropes you in with its thick emotion, and stunning visuals. There's a breathtaking weight to the storytelling and characters, and you can just feel it dripping off of the screen. This is a rather visceral experience, and one of my favorites of the year. They might have done so in recent weeks, but I wish Netflix had been pushing this movie for awards as much as they did with 'Frankenstein', because it deserves top-tier recognition.
This movie is brilliant, and people will either love it, or absolutely despise it… and that's kind of perfect. The story is meant to ruffle some feathers, offend you while offending the opposing viewpoint at the same time, and perfectly represent the dread & chaos of the world that was during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. It's a tad over-baked in terms of ideas, but I can excuse that because there was a clear intent from Ari Aster (a genius) to muddy the waters of the story a bit. And, after all, you can't tell the story of 2020 without a little bit of a mess. 'Eddington' is funny, thought-provoking, tense, uncomfortable, and the exact amount of absurd we've come to expect from Aster.
After making a surprise hit in 'Barbarian' a few years back, Zach Cregger sharped his skills and delivered an even better movie in my eyes. 'Weapons' is suspenseful, fucking wild, filled with fights, and is a fantastic time at the movie theater. This is the type of genre-blending that makes you go "oh yeah, they have the sauce" about a director. What a perfectly batshit time at the movie theaters.
What futuristic planet is Park Chan-wook from? This man, in the year 2025, tossed in shot after shot, transition after transition, and scene after scene that looked unlike anything I have ever seen before in a movie. The inventive way in which the acclaimed director made this movie deserves every accolade it might bring home. My first thought when the credits rolled was, "I need to see this again." The story, albeit a little thin at times, was tight and engaging, with a surprisingly funny script. All of the performances were superb, and it's a shame they aren't going to receive much recognition during awards season.
This was a mesmerizing experience? I have a question mark at the end of that statement because I feel like I woke up from a trance when 'The Testament of Ann Lee' ended. Unlike anything I have seen in a while, this movie is a visceral, ambitious piece of art that left me speechless at times. It's also set in a time period I typically don't enjoy, with subject matter that usually doesn't connect for me, and neither component bothered me at all. The visual craftmanship in this movie is fantastic, and the musical elements swept me away, but it's Amanda Seyfried's dynamic performance that really stands out. How she is fighting for a nomination at the Oscars and not a lock is beyond me. Written by the partner duo of Mona Fastvold & Brady Corbet just like they did for 'The Brutalist', the former gets the directing credit on this movie, and she absolutely knocks it out of the park. 'The Testament of Ann Lee' will absolutely not work for everyone, and I'd dare to say it's even more of a bold swing than 'The Brutalist'. But after walking into this movie not expecting much, I left loving what I had just seen, and wanting to go back again.
The big year for foreign language movies continues! I feel very confident saying the following: Joachim Trier is a Top 3 director working right now, and Renate Reinsve is a Top 2 actor working now. A follow-up to 'The Worst Person in the World', 'Sentimental Value' is a deep, moving story about family dynamics, trauma, and so much more. There isn't a director better than Trier when it comes to painting the picture of human vulnerability & emotion, and the fact he gets to have Reinsve act out these scenes is a cheat code. It's also a disservice that I am only getting to Stellan Skarsgard, who turns in a career-best performance. This movie locked me in, and didn't let go, from its fantastic opening scene(s) to what can best be described as a perfect ending.
The movie gets out of the gate a little wobbly and too chaotic, but once it gets its feet squarely set ‘One Battle’ is absolutely fantastic. I hate to be negative with such a positive review, but I only mention that to say if the beginning had hummed a little more for me, this might be a pure 100/100. Everyone in the cast shines, but, in this short form review, the highest praise has to go to the psychotic, captivating role played by Sean Penn. Accompanied by an incredible score, the story is heart-pounding, riveting, and every word you can find to describe an edge-of-your-seat ride. You could argue there's a better active director in Hollywood, but I'd be hard pressed to accept any argument against Paul Thomas Anderson being the most versatile.
JEFF'S NOTE: In preparation for making my video of this list, I re-watched 'One Battle', 'Marty Supreme', and 'Sinners', and had to make a late flip of the latter two movies. They're both at a 96/100, but after my third viewing of each, 'Sinners' crawls back up to the top spot it held nearly all year.
Nearly the best movie of 2025, and they should just carve Timothee Chalamet's name into the Oscar now, because he's just that good. An excellent, thrilling, fast-paced story, that has a bit of a different emotional & comedic beat to past Safdie movies. The casting for this was excellent, and Josh Safdie gets a ton out of Odessa A'zion, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin O'Leary (!!!), Tyler Okonma, and (former Barstool Idol contestant) Lukey Lunchbox, just to name a few. From the score to the cinematography, some of the soundtrack choices, and all else in between, 'Marty Supreme' delivers on immense hype in every single way.
This is why you go to the movies. A truly GREAT original movie, 'Sinners' has it all. Amazing story, music, acting, visuals, and everything in between, and it is rightfully the current front-runner for Best Picture at the next Oscars. Ryan Coogler has also firmly established himself as one of the best working directors in Hollywood, and all of his movies are must-see on opening night. On top of that, the music from Ludwig Göransson, which will surely win him another Oscar, only further establishes that he may go down as one of the best, if not the best, composers in movie history. What a fucking experience. The music montage scene is legitimately one of the best scenes I have ever seen in my entire life.
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Good year, not a great year, but it's a year with a ton of movies that made it as great as ever to go to the theater. So, if you can see any of these top releases on the big screen still, go fucking do it! If not, get ready to buy those tickets and help boost the box office for 2026. Let's turn the next page and hope for a big year, which should have some huge moments from 'The Odyssey', to 'Avengers: Doomsday', and my most-anticipated release of the year 'Dune: Part Three'.
Make sure to follow me on LetterBoxd…
…see ya at the movies!