Yesterday we published our Movie of the Year shortlist, in which our film-buff editors all ranked the top 10 films of the year and each claimed their own #1 pick. Now that selection has been whittled down to an official top 10, taking all opinions into account to give you a mathematically balanced list of movies of the year.
From cult hits to comics, blockbusters to blockbusters, horror to… and other words that start with 'ah', 2025 has been a fun year for movie fans. Those of us here at TheGamer who go to the movies are no exception. Narrowing it down to 10 wasn't easy, but we did it anyway. Because that's what heroes do. Now, without further increasing the word count to keep up with current SEO metrics, let’s move on to the top 10.
10
Bugonia
Few films make you question your loyalties as much as Bugonia. The film opens with a successful businesswoman (delightful, if a bit out of touch) being kidnapped by a crazy lunatic who suspects she is an alien. But as the dark, human story at its heart unfolds, you begin to question who the real villain is. And they won't stop until the movie's left-field finale.
9
together
Together is a movie about movies that are so toxic that they end up fusing together. Here's a fun fact. I saw this movie with my wife, and the first thing she said to me after it ended was, “They were a lot like us.” Take what you will from it. As funny as it is tragic, Together makes the most of its uncomfortable premise and continues to find new layers to explore.
8
K-Pop Demon Hunter
This year's blockbuster animated collaboration between Netflix and Sony catapulted its central band, the Huntrix, into superstars. The soundtrack has been a hit all year and has a good chance of winning Best Original Song and Best Animated Picture at the Oscars. In a true imprint of a cultural touchstone these days, the group was quickly tracked to Fortnite.
7
companion
This January's horror film shattered expectations thanks to great central performances from Jack Quaid and Sophie Thatcher. Equal parts charming and creepy, Companion explores the downsides of having a robot companion… for both you and your companion. A horror romance that may not be as far in the future as we think is another feather in Thatcher's cap, and her stock will soon become a superstar.
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6
weapon
Earlier this year, on a convenient afternoon, a few of TheGamer's staff went downstairs to the movies and they absolutely loved Weapons. An allegory for a school shooting, a character study in the aftermath of trauma, and always keeping you guessing, Weapons lived up to the viral hype of 2025.
5
die my love
Jennifer Lawrence has appeared in bigger movies than Die My Love and will likely do so again. She won an Oscar and received three additional nominations. She will always be known for her roles as Katniss and Mystique and has already garnered critical acclaim for her various roles. But there will never again be Jennifer Lawrence's fierce, unflinching performance as bitter and painfully vulnerable as seen in Die My Love. It's a brilliant film in which one of the stars of her generation returns to reign supreme.
4
28 years later
28 Years Later begins exactly as you would expect. This is a zombie movie whose central plot seems to be a grizzled zombie-hunting father teaching his son how to be like him. However, toward the middle, the mother-child relationship becomes the driving force, revealing even more affection. The 28 series has always been at its best when it's about people rather than monsters, and Years finds new ways to explore what it means to survive in a world that's already dead.
3
long walk
This is a movie about walking. That's it. A group of young boys putting one foot in front of the other. That's how it begins, and that's how it ends. Not much happens in between. Aside from some very limited flashbacks, the entire movie is just them. There are no gimmicks, no explosive set pieces, nothing but one foot in front of the other. Stripped of everything else, we've managed to magnify their characters like few films have done, and the stellar performances of the young cast have shouldered this responsibility to great success. David Jonsson may not have been a breakout star before, but he certainly is now.
2
another battle
Paul Thomas Anderson is back with another ensemble story. This could be his best work. Following Leo DiCaprio's former revolutionary as he attempts to rescue his kidnapped daughter, this twisted tale explores parental absence, racism, obsession, fascism, liberal infighting, and the meaning of freedom. Or, more accurately, what it means to fight for it and keep fighting so hard that you lose it. Dealing with tense and difficult topics, One Battle After Another may be the most relevant film of the year.
1
sinner
Ryan Coogler's vampire movies seem to defy explanation, but if those feelings stem from our preconceptions, Coogler asks us to park them at the door. Part examination of the black experience, romance, and action horror throughout American history, every inch of The Sinner has been curated for maximum impact. It's a movie that has something to say, but doesn't shout it out. Pick up your guitar and know you're in the rhythm.
Michael B. Jordan's beautiful, tragic, and boldly dark performance as Stack grabbed all the attention when the film was released, but in the months since, the ensemble turns of Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O'Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, and Delroy Lindo have all garnered much praise as well. Sinners is a film like no other, and there is no other choice for film of the year.
- release date
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April 18, 2025
- run-time
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138 minutes
- supervision
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Ryan Coogler
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Michael B. Jordan
smoke/stack
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