I can’t believe we’re already nearing the beginning of November. Blink, and we’ll be stepping into 2026. Even though the year has flown by, it’s been packed with great movies, making now the perfect time to look back at the standout entries that made 2025 unforgettable.
For me, hitting the theater with my dad whenever a new release drops has become a little tradition, popcorn in hand, bracing for either delight or disappointment. Naturally, seeing everything also means sitting through a few misses (let’s not talk about “Minecraft” or “The Strangers”).
But today, we’re skipping over the flops and celebrating the movies that truly delivered. Most of them might be blockbusters or obvious award winners, but they’ve earned their praise for good reason. As someone who thrives on emotionally charged horror and intense thrillers, it’s no surprise my picks lean in that direction. So, here are my top five favorite movies of 2025 (so far), ones that have stuck with me that I’ve found myself rewatching the most over the past few months.
‘Sinners’
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“Sinners” is easily my favorite movie of 2025, and I knew the moment the credits rolled that no other movie would take its No. 1 spot on my list. It’s tough to even know where to start because there’s so much about “Sinners” that grabbed me. If I had to distill it into a single word, it would be: passion. Every frame quite literally pulses with life (and the sound design is absolutely next-level), and I honestly can’t recall the last time I felt a filmmaker’s energy so vividly through the screen.
A huge part of that spark comes from the cast. Michael B. Jordan, naturally, gives a show-stopping performance playing twins, and it’s remarkable how distinct each brother feels just through his expressions and tone. This had better win Best Picture at the 2026 Academy Awards.
Directed by Ryan Coogler, “Sinners” follows twin brothers, Smoke and Stack (Jordan), who return to their hometown after years of working for gangsters in Chicago. They aim to open a juke joint using stolen money and liquor. However, upon their arrival, they encounter a powerful vampire who threatens their plans.
“Sinners” is streaming on HBO Max
‘Warfare’
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April at the theaters was dominated by the runaway hit “Sinners.” Coogler’s high-energy vampire-horror earned every bit of its praise, as mentioned above. But while all the attention was on that juggernaut, another standout movie quietly slipped under the radar within the same week: “Warfare.”
“Warfare” is one of the best war movies ever made and another example of Oscar-worthy sound design. At a lean 95 minutes, it wastes no time letting the chaos unfold. That non-stop momentum is deliberate because there’s no room for calm in the middle of a battlefield. From the instant the situation spirals out of control, the tension stays cranked to the max. It can be a draining watch, sure, but that relentless pace is exactly what makes it so gripping and thrilling from start to finish.
“Warfare” is co-directed by Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland and based on Mendoza’s real-life experiences as a U.S. Navy SEAL during the Iraq War. The movie follows a platoon of Navy SEALs on a surveillance mission in Ramadi, Iraq, in November 2006. The team is tasked with monitoring a market believed to be a gathering place for insurgents. However, they unknowingly enter an apartment building adjacent to insurgent positions, leading to a violent confrontation.
“Warfare” is streaming on HBO Max
‘The Long Walk’
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Stephen King is my favorite author, so naturally I was beyond excited for the “The Long Walk” adaptation. Not only is it directed by Francis Lawrence (known for the “Hunger Games” franchise), but it also features a strong cast including David Jonsson, Cooper Hoffman, and Mark Hamill. To put it simply, I left the theater feeling a whirlwind of emotions, and my immediate thought was that I couldn’t wait to watch it again.
“The Long Walk” doesn’t shy away from presenting a grim and unrelenting vision of the future, and for some, its relentless bleakness might feel overwhelming.Lawrence drives the story home with stark, unflinching imagery (there’s blood, guts, and even moments of raw bodily realism). Yet amid the darkness, there’s a thread of hope that keeps you invested, much of it anchored by Jonsson’s striking performance.
Based on King’s 1979 novel, “The Long Walk” is set in a dystopian 1970s America under a totalitarian regime. The story follows 50 teenage boys who are randomly selected to participate in an annual event. The objective is simple: maintain a walking speed of at least 3 miles per hour without stopping. Failure to do so results in execution. The event continues until only one participant remains alive, who is then granted a wish of their choosing.
“The Long Walk” is streaming with purchase on Prime Video or Apple TV
‘Weapons’
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Zach Cregger’s horror-thriller “Weapons” was easily the summer release I was most excited for, mostly because it’s completely its own thing. No sequels, no prequels, no franchise baggage, just a brand-new, standalone horror story which felt like a breath of fresh air in a season packed with reboots and familiar titles.
Luckily, “Weapons” more than lived up to the hype. Cregger’s cleverly twisted mystery secured its spot on this list very quickly, and its unexpected turns have stuck with me since. This movie is a genre-blurring experience that plays out like a mystery while packing in plenty of horror, and even some dark humor that lands perfectly when the tension peaks. Usually, when a horror tries to juggle so many tones, it can feel messy or uneven, but “Weapons” somehow keeps you hooked no matter which direction it swings.
The story begins when 17 children from the same third-grade class mysteriously vanish from their homes at exactly 2:17 a.m., leaving only one student, Alex (Cary Christopher), behind. Suspicion falls on their teacher, Justine Gandy (Julia Garner), who becomes entangled in the investigation. Parallel narratives unfold, following various townspeople — including a father, Archer Graff (Josh Brolin) — as they uncover unsettling truths about the children’s fate.
“Weapons” is streaming with purchase on Prime Video or Apple TV
‘Superman’
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I think a lot of people went into the “Superman” reboot with low expectations since reviving such an iconic character is always a gamble. But James Gunn’s take nails it, earning the top spot as my favorite movie in the franchise. Yes, seriously. Gunn captures everything that makes Superman legendary (his hope, kindness, and strength) while giving the world around him a fresh, stylish, and funny update.
David Corenswet slides into the role with natural charm, and the supporting cast adds personality without stealing the spotlight. This isn’t a dark or gritty reinvention: it’s full of joy, optimism, and classic superhero energy. For the first time in a while, I walked out of a theater genuinely uplifted.
“Superman” begins with Clark Kent (Corenswet), a young reporter in Metropolis, who discovers his extraterrestrial origins as Kal-El. After a public debut as Superman, he faces challenges from Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), a tech billionaire who manipulates events to tarnish Superman’s reputation. With the support of Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) and allies like Krypto the Superdog, he strives to restore his image and protect Earth from emerging threats.
“Superman” is streaming on HBO Max
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