Dear readers,

Thank you for another record-breaking year of viewership. Writing reviews while juggling a full-time day job and a busy lifestyle would never be worthwhile without your continued interest and interactions. We are and will always be extremely grateful for every link click, review read and relevant comment left.

I have probably overloaded these end of year posts in recent years and do hope this summary of the 182 films seen released in Australia in 2025 (so far!) is more concise to you too. Though 45 of those 182 films received 4 stars or more from me (and 0 received 5 stars!), I have collated the best 20, the worst 1, called out the year’s best acting performances and have made a few special mentions. Enjoy 🙂

Leigh’s Top 20 Films of 2025

20 – The Fantastic Four: First Steps (4 stars, no review)

Marvel regains its winning formula with a film that was on and off my watch list since its cinema release

19 – Hallow Road (4 stars)

Real-time thriller at the top of its game over a compact 80-minutes and a must watch for those who liked The Guilty starring Jake Gyllenhaal (or the original Danish version) and/or The Call starring Halle Berry.

18 – Twinless (4 stars)

An arguably career-best performance in a dual role by Dylan O’Brien (The Maze Runner trilogy) and ingenious writing by co-star and director James Sweeney take this irreverent and darkly funny picture to some disconcerting and psychologically deranged places. Not for all tastes but sure to be a blast for the ones it hits.

17 – The Bibi Files (4 stars, no review)

An excellent and explosive documentary featuring leaked footage Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu does not want you to see. Boasts outstanding clarity and provides viewers with greater knowledge to understand (but never accept or justify!) the war in Gaza and his genocide of the Palestinian people. 

16 – Rental Family (4 stars, no review)

Brendan Fraser backs up his 2023 Oscar-winning ® performance in The Whale with another contender in this involving and meaningful comedic drama that also boasts a star-making performance from young actress Shannon Mahina Gorman, acting in her first-ever feature film. 

15 – Sorry, Baby (4 stars, no review)

A complete and utter gem from writer, director and star Eva Victor, who adopts an unorthodox and subtle way to communicate a heavier subject matter in a consistently lighter tone in her impressive and unique independent film. 

14 – KPop Demon Hunters (4 stars, no review)

It took a strong recommendation from a close friend to give KPop Demon Hunters a chance. The fact it is THIS DAMN GOOD and immediately cemented a spot in my best of list still remains my greatest and most pleasant surprise in 2025!

13 – Maria (4 stars, no review)

Matches its style with substance. Angelina Jolie was unacceptably and inexplicably snubbed of an Oscar nomination for powerfully and breathtakingly playing the late Opera legend Maria Callas. This is one of the finest performances I have seen this decade.

12 – The Lost Bus (4 stars, no review)

A very realistic and impressive re-creation of a true event that is one of the more continuously tense and most stressful films I’ve seen in 2025. The Lost Bus is not lost on the emotions either! Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera pair up perfectly too.

11 – Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (4 stars, no review)

The screenplay and the ensemble cast headline the standouts of this expertly and intricately crafted third film in the Knives Out series.

10 – Bob Trevino Likes It (4 stars)

A semi-autobiographical dramedy based on director Tracie Laymon’s personal experiences, Bob Trevino Likes It is this year’s hidden gem that features a beautiful and star-making performance from lead actress Barbie Ferreira. 

9 – Emilia Perez (4 stars, no review)

Despite being nominated for 13 Academy Awards ®, this highly original and utterly immersive crime drama musical was a huge public let down that also sparked controversy. It is such a shame these negative views overshadowed what is such a strong and rare role for a transgender person that actress Karla Sofia Gascón performed so well in.

8 – The Smashing Machine (4 stars)

Full of heart and brain to match its mighty brawn, The Smashing Machine is a great sports drama with a performance from an unrecognisable Dwayne Johnson that has already earned him a Golden Globe ® nomination and will surely have him nominated for an Oscar too. 

7 – The Seed Of The Sacred Fig (Daneh Anjeer Moghadas) (4 stars)

This brave and contemporary drama set in Tehran is a sheer triumph in its execution at weaving a fictional and utterly compelling story against the backdrop of real-life deadly protests that made global headlines, which it courageously speaks out against.

6 – Wicked: For Good (4 stars, Review by Jell)

A seamless continuation of the story from the first part in which Ariane Grande shines, though its highs do not soar to the lofty and magical standard as the first part, which was 1 of 3 films to earn 5 stars from me last year. Still, Wicked: For Good is excellent and better than almost all other movies released in 2025.

5 – Love+War (4½ stars, no review)

“So much happens in war that’s never meant to be seen”. That is where American photojournalist Lynsey Addario comes in. There is no greater or more broadly compelling and powerful documentary I am aware of than Love+War to illustrate the absolute need for journalists who are courageous enough to photograph and document what they witness in warzones, the last place on Earth they are wanted. 

4 – One Battle After Another (4½ stars)

From various conversations I’ve had, I feel like One Battle After Another is deservedly almost everybody’s favourite film of 2025. It is certainly enmeshed in the upper crust of cinema for the year, as is Sean Penn’s incredible performance, which is bound to earn him an Oscar nomination. 

3 – We Live in Time (4½ stars)

It’s virtually impossible to match the on-screen chemistry Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield produce in We Live in Time, a profound romantic drama and near flawless film that deserved to be nominated for far more awards it never received. 

2 – Weapons (4½ stars)

A masterclass in its genre. Weapons is a top shelf cinematic production that boasts a magnificently mystifying story, is one of the best mystery thriller/horror films of the last decade and the best since Get Out in 2017.

1 – Nuremberg (4½ stars)

Nuremberg, my best film of 2025, boasts a magnificently multi-faceted and brilliantly layered screenplay that is always articulated with outstanding clarity and is a sumptuous psychological feast. Not to mention, the towering performance from Russell Crowe that is sure to gain Oscar ® attention. 

From the best to the worst. Leigh’s worst movie (and I suspect will be Jell’s too) of 2025:

Him (1½ stars, Jell reviewed)

Woeful acting. Inconceivable plot. An initially intriguing premise that self-destructs. Avoid Him, at all costs. 

Actors of the Year 

Josh Brolin for Weapons and Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery 

Josh O’Connor for The History of Sound and Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

Actress of the Year

Emma Stone for Eddington and Bugonia

Final Special Mentions…

>The top 3 movies that I consider as underrated and/or were much better than expected/should have been are Nightbitch (along with Amy Adams’ performance!), family film Sketch and The Naked Gun.
>Sequel syndromes that struck and let down were Nobody 2, Den of Thieves: Pantera and M3gan 2.0.
>Other noteworthy performances include Pamela Anderson for The Last Showgirl, Anapela Polataivao for Tinâ (Mother), Ana Sophia Heger for She Rides Shotgun, Tonatiuh for Kiss of the Spider Woman, Jesse Plemons for Bugonia, Jennifer Lawrence for Die My Love and Indy the Dog in Good Boy.
>Note down these films for pending 2026 releases: Sirât, It Was Just An Accident, The Rivals of Amziah King, I Swear, The Boy With Pink Trousers (Il Ragazzo dai pantaloni rosa), The Exit 8 (8-ban deguchi), Adam’s Sake (L’intérêt d’Adam).

Compiled by Leigh for Moviedoc
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