The Greatest Movies Of 2025

The 12 months in moviegoing can, maybe, be summed up by one truth: “Sinners” is the one movie within the Prime 10 checklist of highest-grossing motion pictures in the US that isn’t based mostly on present IP and isn’t part of a preferred franchise.

That alone is sufficient cause for the Ryan Coogler-directed movie to make this checklist, which is stuffed with different wholly authentic movies. The Southern Gothic horror set within the Jim Crow South was one of the talked-about movies this 12 months, all the way down to the final minute, because it racked up coveted nominations for the 2026 awards season and was left off just a few large best-of lists.

That doesn’t imply there weren’t some worthy diversifications that held our consideration, like “One Battle After Another,” “Hamnet” and “Wicked: For Good.” However there’s one thing particular about a number of of the lesser-known movies on this checklist that deserve your consideration, too.

On this year-end roundup, HuffPost staffers speak about their favourite movies of the 12 months, together with in style animated motion pictures, gripping documentaries and charming scripted dramas. You’ll want to add these to your watchlist in the event you haven’t seen them but.

Discuss a movie that scared absolutely the daylights out of me. “Bring Her Back” takes grief to a complete completely different degree with Sally Hawkins’ bone-chilling portrayal of a foster mother nonetheless mourning the dying of her daughter. After taking in two siblings alongside a troubled orphan she already cares for, Laura (Hawkins) secretly and sinisterly summons a demon to hold out a resurrection ritual to carry her daughter again to life.

I most likely cringed and squirmed by the higher half of this movie as a result of it was simply that disturbing. I nonetheless wince each time I take into consideration that brutal knife-eating scene. However as grisly and unsettling because the film is, all of the gore serves nicely in portraying the all-consuming feelings that the lack of a cherished one brings, and in determined occasions, what it may drive one to do. — Njera

“Elio” looks like one of many extra slept-on Pixar movies within the final decade — but the movie is sensible, heartwarming and relatable for each youngsters and adults. The animated story tells the story of 11-year-old Elio (Yonas Kilbreab), who’s being raised by his Aunt Olga (Zoe Saldaña) after each of his dad and mom die. Elio turns into obsessive about life in outer house, after which, he lastly will get kidnapped by aliens. He meets Glordon (Remy Edgerly), a worm-like alien with a bunch of tooth who’s being pressured to turn out to be a warlord like his father. Elio and Glordon turn out to be quick buddies as a result of they each really feel misunderstood. On the finish of an extended journey, they each understand a lesson: Typically you will discover connection in probably the most sudden locations. — Erin

“Hamnet” is without doubt one of the most devastating movies of the 12 months, replete with knockout performances from its forged; Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Jacobi Jupe, Joe Alwyn, Olivia Lynes and Noah Jupe will carry you to tears. Whereas Buckley is dominating the feminine lead nominations for the 2026 awards season, it’s Jacobi Jupe’s heartwrenching efficiency that isn’t being talked about sufficient.

The Chloé Zhao-directed movie is an adaptation of creator Maggie O’Farrell’s novel “Hamnet,” a fictional Sixteenth-century story of Wiliam Shakespeare’s son, Hamnet, his dying from the plague — and the way it impressed the play “Hamlet.” This film will shatter you, nevertheless it is without doubt one of the finest belongings you’ll watch all 12 months. — Erin

Masterful storytelling and performing is the easiest way to explain what writer-director Mary Bronstein and Rose Byrne obtain in “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.” This intense but brilliantly sincere portrait of a Grade A maternal crashout didn’t make as a lot noise because the blockbusters that dominated movie discourse this 12 months, nevertheless it certainly deserves all of the reward. Byrne’s excellent efficiency as Linda, a burned-out mom and therapist dropping management of her life, impressively juggles darkish humor and drama concurrently. And Bronstein’s script, impressed by her personal life, does such an incredible job at rooting the viewers in Linda’s perspective all through the film in a manner that enables us to empathize together with her poor choices, even after we really feel like we shouldn’t. It’s a harrowing depiction that goes past the sacrifices of motherhood to what occurs while you lose your sense of self fully. — Njera

“John Candy: I Like Me” is a tear-jerker because it paints a portrait of its hilarious and sort topic: actor-comedian John Sweet. The documentary is instructed by the tales of a few of Sweet’s family members, together with his spouse and youngsters, together with a handful of actors and comedians who carefully labored with him. Invoice Murray, Catherine O’Hara, Tom Hanks, Dan Aykroyd, Mel Brooks and Macaulay Culkin, amongst many others, seem within the doc to share humorous anecdotes and touching moments about Sweet. Directed by actors Colin Hanks and Ryan Reynolds, the movie introduces us to John Sweet, the household man, who handled crippling anxiousness all through his life, ever since his father died on his fifth birthday. Typically, our most tortured comedians carry audiences a lot pleasure and laughter, and Sweet was by no means brief on delivering each by his work. “John Candy: I Like Me” is a touching ode to him and his expertise. — Erin

It’s fairly simple to see why “K-Pop Demon Hunters” dominated the Netflix charts — and the field workplace — for therefore lengthy. The animated musical is an addictive world sensation; it follows Okay-pop supergroup Huntr/x — Rumi, Mira and Zoey — as they defend their followers from an enormous risk: the Saja Boys, a rival boy band made up of demons. The soundtrack to the movie consists of a number of earworms: “Golden,” “What It Sounds Like,” “Soda Pop,” “Your Idol” and extra all made it to Billboard’s prime film songs chart, and the album reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 in September. It’s a testomony to how ubiquitous the collection and its songs have been this 12 months. And speak concerning the movie isn’t going to finish quickly — it’s been nominated for just a few Golden Globe awards. Plus, there’s already a sequel deliberate for 2029.

Any Stephen King adaptation is sure to get folks speaking. Nevertheless it’s not the supply materials itself that makes “The Long Walk” such a compelling watch. The ugly idea of constructing a contest out of forcing younger males to stroll continuous or face dying is, certainly, as brutal to observe because it sounds. Nonetheless, the brotherhood that’s born between Cooper Hoffman’s Ray Garraty and David Jonsson’s Peter McVries as they push one another to remain the course makes the movie simpler to abdomen, even by its most graphic (and gross) scenes. Jonsson’s efficiency is maybe probably the most arresting with regards to carrying the emotional depth of the film, however don’t sleep on Hoffman. The duo add a way of hope to this bleak story, even whether it is short-lived. — Njera

“On Becoming A Guinea Fowl” opens with Shula (portrayed effortlessly and superbly by Susan Chardy) driving down the streets of Zambia in some gold, futuristic headgear, sun shades and an enormous, black, trash-bag-looking go well with a la Missy Elliot in “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” music video. It’s a enjoyable, fleeting second earlier than she rolls by her uncle, Fred, laid out useless in the course of the road. The movie that follows is a searing take a look at grief, the darkish secrets and techniques we stock and the way dangerous traditions can perpetuate trauma. The 95-minute darkish comedy ends in a stunningly chaotic manner — and now that it’s streaming on HBO Max, everybody ought to add it to their must-watch checklist. — Erin

Let me begin this by saying “One Battle After Another” is not at all an ideal film, as some critics would have you ever assume. Paul Thomas Anderson makes loads of attention-grabbing decisions in his dizzying action-comedy epic, a few of which proceed to spark movie discourse — specifically its problematic racial themes on which loads of the plot is constructed on, which may undoubtedly use some unpacking from the director.

Nonetheless, these points apart, I nonetheless discovered the movie extremely entertaining, and perceive why so many others do, too. For one, performances from Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro and breakout star Chase Infiniti assist spherical out a plot that goes from centering a gaggle of radical revolutionaries to a manhunt for a father and daughter each coping with the results of their pasts. Excessive-octane sequences of automotive chases and shootouts additionally add extra thrills to the film when it begins coping with heavier subjects of white supremacy and immigration crackdown. “One Battle After Another” is jam-packed, certainly, nevertheless it’s a enjoyable watch. — Njera

It feels egregious to say we haven’t gotten a correct buddy comedy starring two Black ladies in over 25 years, however fortunately, “One of Them Days” broke the drought this 12 months with a enjoyable movie that’s as hilarious as it’s endearing. The Lawrence Lamont-directed, Issa Rae-produced flick follows finest buddies and roommates Dreux (Keke Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA) on the verge of eviction after the latter’s boyfriend blows their lease cash. Their ridiculous money pursuit to pay again their ruthless landlord results in a wild set of misadventures that turns into, nicely, certainly one of them days.

Palmer and SZA are the comedic duo we by no means knew we would have liked on this movie (though their notorious “Saturday Night Live” sketch was a touch). And Syreeta Singleton’s screenplay introduced each their humor and attraction — plus the remainder of the hysterical forged — to life in a manner that made their characters really feel so actual and relatable. It’s humorous; “One of Them Days” made me understand we’ve been starved of Black ladies buddy comedies for a lot too lengthy. However due to its success, which helped greenlight a forthcoming sequel, it appears the tide in Hollywood simply may be handing over our favor. — Njera

Lots of movie star documentaries can come off as simply nostalgic seems to be at a well-known individual’s life, nothing greater than a spotlight reel with some commentary about probably the most talked-about moments in popular culture. Fortunately, “Pee-Wee As Himself” expertly manages to be far more than that — it’s a gripping take a look at the lifetime of Paul Reubens, the popular culture icon who donned a signature grey plaid go well with with a purple bow tie. The 2-part documentary, directed by Matt Wolf, who’s recognized for creating tasks constructed on large archives, dives deep into Reubens’ private historical past, his rise from small comedy circles to the principle stage of Hollywood, and his sordid authorized points. “Pee-Wee As Himself” facilities Reubens in his personal story in a wealthy portrait of his life. For those who cherished Pee-Wee, attending to know Reubens by this lens could be very satisfying. — Erin

I’ll admit “Sinners” is a movie that originally needed to develop on me. Ryan Coogler’s wholly authentic screenplay is stuffed to the brim with deeply private messaging about Black lineage and the facility of blues music in depicting ache, defiance and neighborhood. That’s not even counting the vampire lore that turns this sweltering Southern story right into a spellbinding horror thrill, the place twin brothers (magnificently portrayed by Michael B. Jordan) who escaped the North discover out that simply as a lot evil lurks for them again residence. I used to be each mesmerized and overwhelmed the primary time I noticed the movie. However that’s what made me need to watch it time and again and once more. It is sensible why the film turned one of the talked-about of the 12 months and is rightfully incomes awards buzz, particularly with standout performances from newcomer Miles Caton and the remainder of the supporting forged, together with Wunmi Mosaku, Delroy Lindo, Jayme Lawson and Jack O’Connell. — Njera

Along with his newest film “Sentimental Value,” Norwegian director and author Joachim Trier captures a touching story of a household embroiled in a generational behavior of wounding, abandoning and subsequently making an attempt to fix the injuries of the folks they love probably the most. Co-written with Eskil Vogt, the film follows sisters Nora (Renate Reinsve) and Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas) who reconnect with their estranged well-known father (Stellan Skarsgård) when he decides to make a movie about their sophisticated household historical past.

Though it looks as if an emotionally heavy conceit, there’s a stunning levity and luxury all through; a weak scene between the sisters towards the tip of the film concurrently broke my coronary heart and put it again collectively. Mirroring the picturesque but flawed household residence on the middle of the story, watching this movie looks like entering into my very own childhood residence; it holds reminiscences good and dangerous, each of that are nonetheless comforting in their very own manner. –– Alexandra

Questlove is changing into an knowledgeable of types with regards to music documentaries, however with “Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius)” he goes past merely chronicling a famed musician’s life and legacy. The movie isn’t a linear timeline of all of the Sly and the Household Stone frontman achieved, however quite an exploration of its subtitle — and never simply by Sly Stone. Figures like Chaka Khan, André 3000 and the late D’Angelo seem in interviews to dissect what it means to be Black and well-known and the accountability that comes with that. Out of the numerous movie star documentaries we’ve gotten currently, this outlier feels probably the most sincere. — Njera

“Songs From the Hole” is one other documentary with an genuine perspective as a result of it’s the literal manifestation of its title. Partially a visible album, the Contessa Gayles-directed movie recollects how previously incarcerated musician JJ’88 was sentenced to life in jail at 15 years previous for homicide — just for his brother to be killed three days later. Struggling to course of his ache whereas in solitary confinement (aka the outlet), JJ’88 wrote the songs that turned “Songs From the Hole.” The movie visualizes these tracks as JJ’88 imagined them behind bars with vibrant music movies that assist inform his story.

In the meantime, the documentary portion options narration from the musician, in addition to interviews together with his relations, to additional inform who JJ’88 actually is. “Songs From the Hole,” additionally created in collaboration with government producer richie reseda, is a deeply transferring testomony to the therapeutic energy of music. What makes the movie particularly distinctive is that it doesn’t concentrate on a person’s incarceration expertise, however quite his street to forgiveness and redemption. — Njera

There’s a sure thrill a couple of movie that may legit make you scream out loud in a movie show. That’s a part of the magic of “Weapons,” Zach Cregger’s terrifying horror thriller. When 17 elementary faculty youngsters disappear from a city, everybody questions who precisely is behind their disappearances, and the reveal is satisfyingly unhinged. It’s a gory, scary and haunting movie that had audiences begging for extra — and fortunately, it labored. Cregger mentioned he’s planning a prequel movie centered on Aunt Gladys, a depraved portrayal by Amy Madigan. I can’t wait. — Erin

Talking of “Wicked” portrayals, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo wowed audiences with their stellar performances as Glinda and Elphaba in “Wicked: For Good,” Half 2 of Jon M. Chu’s whimsical adaptation of Gregory Maguire’s 1995 fantasy novel. On this installment, audiences acquired to see extra “Wizard of Oz” lore within the movie, with a peek at Dorothy Gale and the Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion. For these of us unfamiliar with the Broadway manufacturing, there have been pleasant moments at each flip. For “Wicked” aficionados like HuffPost contributor Sarah Hunter Simanson, the second movie captured the identical magic that made “Wicked” the musical resonate greater than 20 years in the past. — Erin