🎬 My Movies of 2025 (So Far): A Year in Film.

Screens in Focus
Dec 30, 2025
3 min read

As 2025 winds down, I’ve been reflecting on just how stacked this movie year has been. From powerhouse performances to bold direction and stories that truly lingered, this was a year that reminded me why movies still matter so much to me.

This list includes everything I watched up through December 27, 2025. These aren’t rankings based on buzz or box office......his is about impact, craft, and what stayed with me long after the credits rolled.

Let’s get into it.

❤️ Top 10 Movies of 2025 (Up to Dec 27)

1. Song Sung Blue

The movie that truly got me this year and a huge part of that is the outstanding performances by Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson. They are the heart and soul of this film, grounding it with warmth, vulnerability, and authenticity. Their chemistry is a major draw, and it’s what makes this my clear favorite of 2025.

2. Wicked: For Good

Pure movie magic. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande deliver impeccable performances, with vocal ability that is genuinely breathtaking. Emotional, sweeping, and unforgettable, his film fully delivered on its promise.

3. Sinners

Simply put: superb. Top-tier filmmaking across the board. The direction, the performances, the storytelling, everything clicks. This was one of those films that left me sitting there afterward, just thinking about what I’d watched.

4. Frankenstein

Directed by the incredible Guillermo del Toro, this film feels like a true cinematic masterpiece. With Jacob Elordi and Oscar Isaac, it’s haunting, beautiful, and deeply thoughtful. A sweeping, emotionally heightened adaptation that embraces its melodrama and tragedy without restraint.

5. Stand by Me

A timeless classic that still hits just as hard. Proof that powerful storytelling, honest performances, and emotional truth never age.

6. My Mom Jayne

Directed by Mariska Hargitay, this film is heartfelt, personal, and surprisingly engaging. There’s a sincerity here that really connected with me, it’s emotional without being manipulative, and deeply human.

7. One Battle After Another

A masterclass in acting. Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and Benicio del Toro are all operating at the top of their game here. Bold performances, strong direction, and a film that fully commits to what it’s doing.

8. A Complete Unknown

The more I reflect on this one, the more I appreciate it. Timothée Chalamet delivers a standout performance that anchors the film and gives it real weight.

9. The Last Stop in Yuma County

Darkly funny, unpredictable, and best experienced knowing as little as possible going in. A sharp, memorable watch that surprised me.

10. Adolescence (four-part series)

One of the most compelling stories of the year. Intense, gripping, and emotionally resonant—this one stayed with me. Yes, it’s a four-part Netflix series, but it’s listed as a film on Letterboxd and played like one complete cinematic experience for me.

🎥 Honorable Mentions & Runner-Ups

These didn’t make my Top 10, but they were absolutely worth watching and left a strong impression:

28 Years Later – I watched it twice. While the genre isn’t usually my favorite, it was well executed and left me anticipating what’s next.
Warfare – A tough, heavy watch, but effective and powerful.
Becoming Led Zeppelin – Nostalgic and fun, especially if you love music history.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning – Classic high-stakes MI spectacle.
F1 – Fast-paced and visually impressive.
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere – Energetic, heartfelt, and full of great music moments. Jeremy Allen White's performance is amazing!
Weapons – Intense and engaging.
Conclave, Anora, The Brutalist – Strong Oscar-season films, all solid in different ways.
Your Monster – Unexpected, clever, and surprisingly heartfelt.

🎞️ Final Thoughts

Looking back, 2025 was a really strong year for film. Not everything I watched was a favorite, and that’s okay, but the movies that hit truly hit. Between powerhouse performances, bold direction, and stories that lingered, this year reminded me why I don’t just watch movies, I live in the stories.

Here’s to whatever the final days of the year bring… and to another great year at the movies 🎬