Amid industry shifts of looming mergers and ever-shrinking theatrical-to-streaming windows, a number of vibrant, original pictures broke through. At this midpoint of the decade, it feels as though cinema is approaching yet another inflection point.
Here goes my Top Films of 2025!
10.
THE MASTERMIND
Kelly Reichardt's film is part shaggy vintage heist movie and a character study of an opaque, drifty character.
9.
IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
Another dryly humorous and powerful piece from Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, this one taking elements of old Hollywood screwball comedies to illustrate the brutal realities of a ragtag group confronting past ghosts.
8.
MESSY
Alexi Wasser's neurotic, ribald comedy harkening back to flicks like An Unmarried Woman, is completely refreshing. I caught this at the Provincetown Film Festival and was practically levitating afterwards.
7.
WEAPONS
As a fan of Zach Cregger's inventive chiller Barbarian, I was surprised he was able to follow with an even better, bonkers, consistently surprising movie.
6.
HAMNET
It was a brief balm to watch the communal bonding in this film's powerful final sequence. Adapted from Maggie O'Farrell's imaginative novel.
5.
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Definitely the year's most-discussed in movie nerd world, Paul Thomas Anderson's opus is a slick, technically impressive achievement. The rolling hills car chase sequence was one of the few moments I can think of where I actually felt a movie in a physical way (especially in theatrical VistaVision).
4.
MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART I - LAST AIR IN MOSCOW
My heart was in my throat (cliché to say, I guess) in the final moments when the walls begin to close in on the subjects in Julia Loktev's sprawling, vital documentary.
3.
THE SECRET AGENT
A perfect companion to his mesmerizing documentary on Brazilian cinema-going in Pictures of Ghosts, I love Kleber Mendonça Filho's attention to details and use of genre film references in this compelling story of a man trying to outrun his fate.
2.
SENTIMENTAL VALUE
Joachim Trier's aching, drum-tight family drama, with a wonderful cast within a very memorable, lived-in house. Noticed some of its layered, symbolic visual motifs on subsequent viewings (his films often reward even more deeply on repeat watches).
1.
MARTY SUPREME
I was smitten and surprised by the energy of Josh Safdie's picture: its eclectic ensemble, nostalgic, sweeping synth score (a reminder of big budget adult dramas of the 80s and early 90s), Darius Khondji's cinematography capturing the beautifully grimy look of Marty's perspective.
Other notable films of the year (in approximate order):
Sinners, Hedda, Misericordia, The Perfect Neighbor, Songs of Slow Burning Earth, Twinless, Companion, Blue Moon, Plainclothes, Lurker, Roofman, The Plague, 2000 Meters to Andriivka, Belen, Pillion, The Tale of Silyan, Nouvelle Vague, Sorry, Baby, Familiar Touch, Presence, Train Dreams, All That’s Left of You, The Voice of Hind Rajab, Ponyboi, Christy, Materialists, On Swift Horses, Black Bag, Windless, Caught By the Tides, The Testament of Ann Lee, Throuple, Eephus, Folktales, Rose of Nevada, After the Hunt, Viet and Nam, The Wedding Banquet, Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, Resurrection, Jay Kelly, Kontinental ‘25, Bugonia, Homebound, Come See Me in teh Good Light, Highest 2 Lowest, No Other Choice, When the Phone Rang, Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror, Landmarks, Rebuilding, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, Die My Love, East of Wall, The President’s Cake, A Private Life, Urchin, Secret Mall Apartment, The Love That Remains, Griffin in Summer, Jimpa, Bonjour Tristesse, 100,000,000,000,000, Everything Moves, Zodiac Killer Project, Miroirs No. 3, Romeria, Opus, Is This Thing On?, Elementary, Garland Jeffreys: The King of in Between, Best Wishes to All, Gavagai, Sirāt, Sound of Falling, Anemone, BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions, Come Closer
A look back at my 2024 favorites!
-Jeffery Berg
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