2025's Must-Watch Films: A Fresh Look at Storytelling

In 2025, the film industry brought us a diverse range of stories that pushed boundaries and challenged norms. Zach Cregger's psychological thriller, with its multiple perspectives and chilling climax, left audiences on the edge of their seats. The film's ability to weave together different narratives and deliver a satisfying payoff showcased Cregger's skill as a storyteller. Guillermo del Toro's take on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein offered a fresh perspective on the classic tale. With Oscar Isaac's charismatic portrayal of Victor Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi's sympathetic interpretation of the creature, the film explored themes of being an outcast and breaking cycles of bad parenting. Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhangke's experimental film, crafted from outtakes and scenes from his previous works, took audiences on a journey through China's cities and rural provinces. The film's emotional impact was unexpected, as it shifted from a stream-of-consciousness tour to a heartbreaking commentary on China's prosperity. Wes Anderson's latest film combined elements of a corporate-espionage thriller, slapstick comedy, and family drama. With an all-star ensemble cast and meticulously composed imagery, the film delivered a satisfying and heartfelt story. Rungano Nyoni's follow-up to her debut film explored themes of social protections for predators and the need to speak out against them. The film's dark humor and serious subject matter made for a thought-provoking viewing experience. Documentarian Raoul Peck's exploration of George Orwell's transformation from a cog in Britain's colonialist machinery to a political critic and author of Animal Farm and 1984 offered a timely commentary on power, corruption, and lies. The film's expansive design and connection of dots between the 20th century's totalitarian regimes and contemporary America made for a chilling and essential viewing experience. Yûta Shimotsu's debut feature, a J-horror movie, delivered a chilling and surreal story that explored themes of privilege, luxury, and personal fulfillment. The film's performance and storytelling made for a standout in the horror genre. Matthew Rankin's absurdist film, set in the snowy suburbs of Winnipeg, explored themes of identity and representation in cinema. The film's deadpan juxtaposition of styles and mash note to Iranian cinema made for a unique and thought-provoking viewing experience. Ari Aster's fever dream of an Op-Ed on American carnage explored themes of progressivism, political exploitation, and both-sides misanthropy. The film's broad parody and paranoid conspiracy thriller made for a divisive but thought-provoking viewing experience. Ira Sachs' focus on a single extended interview between two chatty Lower East Side hipster luminaries explored themes of a lost world of downtown scenesters, art-world gossip, and post-Stonewall gay culture. The film's modest indie status and standout performances made for a unique and engaging viewing experience. Joachim Trier's family drama explored themes of paternal baggage and the power of storytelling. The film's bittersweet fable and prickly dynamic made for a remarkable and thought-provoking viewing experience. Josh Safdie's ping-pong movie explored themes of success, ego, and determination. The film's eclectic cast and down-and-dirty grit made for a caustic American success story. Eva Victor's debut film explored themes of trauma and healing. The film's pointed comic voice and emotional haymakers made for a harrowing and often hilarious viewing experience. Park Chan-wook's pitch-black comedy explored themes of desperation and the mercenary aspects of selling oneself as a job candidate. The film's slapstick bits of business and satirical jabs made for a bleak, thrilling, and laugh-out-loud viewing experience. Jafar Panahi's award-winning parable explored themes of revenge and the need to even scores. The film's nailbiting thriller and elliptical road movie made for a masterful and thought-provoking viewing experience. Richard Linklater's behind-the-scenes recreation of the making of Jean-Luc Godard's game-changing debut feature explored themes of cinephile catnip and the power of cinema. The film's glorious hang-out movie and all-star ensemble cast made for a unique and engaging viewing experience. Clint Bentley's adaptation of the Denis Johnson novella explored themes of love, loss, and the human experience. The film's meditative and philosophical narration made for a beguiling and beautiful character study. Steven Soderbergh's take on love, marriage, and espionage explored themes of faith, trust, and power struggles in relationships. The film's old-school spy-vs. -spy thriller and smart deconstruction of a genre made for a fun and engaging viewing experience. Chloé Zhao's take on Maggie O'Farrell's novel explored themes of grief, loss, and the power of art. The film's moving and transcendent storytelling made for a chronicle of reckoning with death that nonetheless bursts with life, renewal, and rebirth. Paul Thomas Anderson's thundering, dizzying epic explored themes of revolutionaries taking care of their own and fighting back against a fucked-up world. The film's sprawling attempt to wrap its arms around the Great-Step-Backward Age we find ourselves in made for a timeless tale about revolutionaries taking care of their own while getting the next generation to pick up the flag.