Monday, January 26, 2026

My Top 20 Movies of 2025


A decade or so ago I was doing gigantic elaborate awards every year here that showcased my favorite movies, my favorite performances, and on and on and on... then the last decade happened and I'm lucky I can even get out of bed anymore y'all. Who has that kind of stamina anymore? Not I. Not I! So yes these things -- The Golden Trousers, as I've been calling them since 2007 -- have considerably narrowed. Tis what its. But I do feel proud that both last year and this year I'm at least getting these locked in before I dive head-long into fresh Sundance stuff, which basically marks the start of the next year of movies. (Apologies to the first three weeks of January releases every single year but you know what you did.) I'm doing Sundance virtually again this year but that still means that I'll be mostly off-line while I do that, so it's likely there'll be no MNPP for you starting this Wednesday, lasting about a week. And so it's best I get this done immediately, before that happens! Otherwise who knows, it could be months knowing me. So let us brush off these 2025 concerns as I head into the future, with one last glance back toward the past with 20 of '25s gifts and wonders....

My 20 Favorite Movies of 2025

20 -- SIRAT

19 -- AFTER THE HUNT
-- Read my review here! -- 

18 -- LURKER
-- Read my review here! -- 

17 -- PETER HUJAR'S DAY
-- Read my review here! -- 

16 -- WAKE UP DEAD MAN

15 -- THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME
-- Read my review here! -- 

14 -- BLACK BAG
-- Read my review here! -- 

13 -- DUST BUNNY
-- Read my review here! -- 

12 -- THE SECRET AGENT

11 -- MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART 1

10 -- SENTIMENTAL VALUE

9 -- GRIFFIN IN SUMMER
-- Read my review here! -- 

8 -- BUGONIA
-- Read my review here! -- 

7-- THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE

6 -- THE HISTORY OF SOUND
-- Read my review here! -- 

5 -- NO OTHER CHOICE
-- Read my review here! -- 

4 -- PILLION
-- Read my review here! -- 

3 -- PEE-WEE AS HIMSELF
-- Read my review here! -- 

2 -- MARTY SUPREME
-- Read my review here! -- 

1 -- ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
-- Read my review here! -- 

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I have like 20 runners-up but fuck it, 
I'm done. Goodbye forever, 2025! 


When?

10 comments:

  1. bdog7:13 PM

    Marty Supreme has Kevin O'Fuckwit Leary in it, so auto disqualified. Safdie thinks he's so edgy casting non actors, when anyone with a SAG card can act circles around that fucking turnip. They can both fuck all. the way off. You didn't like Sinners? I feel like I don't even know you.

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    Replies
    1. dre7:00 AM

      He liked Sinners.

      Delete
    2. Jason Adams9:54 AM

      Sinners would probably make my Top 30. I have some issues with it (a couple of them pronounced) but it's a great time at the movies with several outstanding performances. Obviously I wouldn't vote for it for Best Picture but I 100% understand the love it endears to others and I refuse to be angry that a horror movie has a chance to win the top prize. (I still think OBAA's got it in the bag, which clearly would also be my pick, but who knows)

      Delete
  2. Anonymous10:24 PM

    I can't do a top 20 yet because I have at least ten more films to see (pre-SAG and Oscar ceremonies). But I'm pretty sure at least half of these 16 will make it onto the final list: BLACK BAG, SINNERS, ZWEI ZU EINS (with Sandra Hüller, Max Riemelt, Ronald Zehrfeld & Peter Kurth), TWINLESS, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, BUGONIA, PLAINCLOTHES, AFTER THE HUNT, HEDDA, FRANKENSTEIN, WAKE UP DEAD MAN, NO OTHER CHOICE, MARTY SUPREME, THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE, HAMNET & ROOFMAN.

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  3. Anonymous10:31 PM

    I'm very interested in seeing your runners up :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous11:56 PM

    Do we at least get gratuities of the year countdown?!

    ReplyDelete
  5. dre6:57 AM

    Oh, man. I REALLY wanted to like "History of Sound" but watching it felt like an eternity.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sissy at the Movies9:38 AM

    Here's mine, I know you hate #9

    ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
    IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
    UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE
    NO OTHER CHOICE
    MARTY SUPREME
    EDDINGTON
    SENTIMENTAL VALUE
    SIRAT
    BLUE MOON
    TRAIN DREAMS

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  7. Anonymous10:28 AM

    Excellent list. So happy you included Griffin in Summer. Did not receive the release it deserved and hardly any buzz around the movie. It's streaming now on Hulu.

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  8. Spidey1379:30 PM

    Great list. "Pillion" all the way. I would add "Twinless." Dylan is SO good. And "Plainclothes" without actually seeing it yet because of Big Ears Tovey and Blyth.

    ReplyDelete