We are halfway through 2025, which means it is time to look at the best movies of 2025 so far. I have seen 55 new releases so far this year (97 total, including film festival movies and movies that will be released later this year).

At this point in 2025, I would consider it a mixed year for movies. A lot of the movies I have liked have been smaller indie films or auteur-driven vehicles. While I haven’t seen all the big tentpole films that have been released this year (sorry, Lilo & Stitch), I have been relatively disappointed with a lot of the big-budget blockbusters and highly anticipated sequels that I have seen, despite some seeing great critical responses elsewhere. There have been a lot of memorable performances, though, many of which have the strength to last into consideration for end-of-the-year awards. With my picks for the year, you will find a nice mix of genres and budgets from filmmakers new and old.

Below you will find my picks for the best movies of 2025 so far. I am first going to rank my ten favorite films of the year in order. Then share my picks for the best performances of the year, ranking each category (Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress) in alphabetical order, with my pick for the winner being highlighted in bold. I will also give my picks for the best technical achievements of the year.

Top 10 Movies of 2025 (So Far)

1. Sinners

• Ryan Coogler’s southern fried vampire music film is an undeniable juggernaut and the film of 2025.

2. Eephus

• It might just be about the final game of a beer league baseball league, but Eephus is a poignant and moving film while also being hilarious and the best baseball movie since Moneyball.

3. Black Bag

• Steven Soderbergh’s spy film is a lean, mean, slick thriller featuring an excellent cast.

4. The Phoenician Scheme

• Wes Anderson’s latest is his most political and action-packed and features a towering performance by Benicio Del Toro.

5. Bring Her Back

• The Philippou Brothers solidify themselves as horror maestros with this terrifying and shocking look at trauma and letting go.

6. Pavements

• Is Pavements a documentary about a ’90s slacker band? An exploration of pop culture monetization? A parody of Hollywood’s obsession with awards-friendly biopics? All of the above? None of the above? That’s the brilliance of Alex Ross Perry’s documentary about the band Pavement.

7. F1® The Movie

• It’s big, loud, glossy, and expensive, but also the best time I’ve had at the movies all year.

8. Mickey 17

• Bong Joon-Ho’s first film since his Oscar-winning Parasite is an exciting and layered sci-fi epic.

9. April

• Dea Kulumbegashvili’s unflinching look at women’s rights and abortion in Georgia is a tough but essential watch.

10. The Life of Chuck

• Mike Flanagan’s adaptation of Stephen King’s short story is a brilliantly crafted and acted film that is deeply emotional and earnest.

 

Best Director

Wes Anderson, The Phoenician Scheme

Ryan Coogler, Sinners

Joseph Kosinski, F1® The Movie

Dea Kulumbegashvili, April

Carson Lund, Eephus

• Coogler’s vision is unmatched in Sinners, making a film that is wickedly entertaining while also layered with American history, the beauty and power of music, the duality of man, and vampire lore.

Best Actor

Vincent Cassell, The Shrouds

Benicio Del Toro, The Phoenician Scheme

Michael Fassbender, Black Bag

Theo James, The Monkey

Michael B. Jordan, Sinners

• It was a tough battle between Jordan and Del Toro, but the brilliance of Jordan’s dual performance as bootlegging brothers in Louisiana is one of the many reasons why Sinners is the best movie of 2025.

Best Actress

Sally Hawkins, Bring Her Back

Lea Myren, The Ugly Stepsister

Keke Palmer, One of Them Days

Ia Sukhitashvili, April

Eva Victor, Sorry, Baby

• Sukhitashvili is an undeniable force in April, putting the weight of the film on her shoulders and delivering a complex and demanding performance.

Best Supporting Actor

Michael Cera, The Phoenician Scheme

Joe Keery, Pavements

John Carroll Lynch, Sorry, Baby

Jack O’Connell, Sinners

Tramell Tillman, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

• John Carroll Lynch is in one scene of Eva Victor’s delightful Sorry, Baby, but he makes the most out of his limited screentime, delivering a delicate performance that defines humanity and empathy.

Best Supporting Actress

Maria Abela, Black Bag

Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners

Mia Sara, The Life of Chuck

Mia Threapleton, The Phoenician Scheme

Sora Wong, Bring Her Back

• Threapleton is outstanding in Anderson’s latest, giving one of the great breakout performances of the year.

 

Best of the Rest

Best Original Screenplay – Sinners

Runner Up – Sorry, Baby

Best Adapted Screenplay – The Life of Chuck

Runner Up – Mickey 17

Best Editing – F1® The Movie

Runner Up – Sinners

Best Cinematography – Sinners

Runner Up – Presence

Best Production Design – The Phoenician Scheme

Runner Up – The Shrouds

Best Costume Design – The Ugly Stepsister

Runner Up – Eephus

Best Ensemble – Sinners

Runner Up – The Life of Chuck

Best Comedy – Friendship

Runner Up – One of Them Days

Best Action Movie – F1® The Movie

Runner Up – Thunderbolts*

Best Horror/Thriller – Sinners

Runner Up – Bring Her Back

Best Documentary – Pavements

Runner Up – SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)

Biggest Surprise – Pavements

Runner Up – One of Them Days

Movie I Liked More Than Most – Ash

Runner Up – Heart Eyes

Biggest Disappointment – Ballerina

Runner Up – 28 Years Later

Worst Movie – Riff Raff

Runner Up – Rosario

 

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