From Indie Breakouts to Blockbuster Epics, These Movies Defined the Year
As we dive deeper into 2025, film critics across the U.S. have been revealing their picks for the best movies of the past year—and the selections have sparked plenty of discussion. From gritty character dramas to mind-bending sci-fi epics, this year’s most celebrated films offer a little something for everyone. But which movies have truly left their mark?
One name that keeps coming up is Sean Baker’s Anora. Critics have been calling it the most daring and emotionally charged film of the year. The story follows a young stripper from Brooklyn who unexpectedly marries the son of a Russian oligarch, setting off a chain of events that is both hilarious and heartbreaking. With its raw performances, sharp dialogue, and unflinching social commentary, Anora has quickly become a critics’ darling. Could this indie underdog take home the Best Picture Oscar? Many believe it just might.
Then there’s Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest, a film that critics say will stay with you long after the credits roll. This chilling Holocaust drama, set just outside the walls of Auschwitz, offers a disturbing look at the banality of evil. Rather than showing the horrors directly, the film lingers on the eerie normalcy of a Nazi commandant’s family life—a contrast that makes it all the more terrifying. Some have called it one of the most important films of the decade.
On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things has taken audiences on a wild and surreal ride. Imagine Frankenstein meets Alice in Wonderland, but with a lot more chaos. Emma Stone delivers one of the boldest performances of her career, playing a resurrected woman who embarks on a bizarre journey of self-discovery. It’s weird, it’s wonderful, and it’s unlike anything else this year.
Of course, no year in film would be complete without a massive sci-fi spectacle, and that’s exactly what Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two delivered. Expanding on the world introduced in the first film, this epic sequel is visually stunning, narratively gripping, and packed with unforgettable moments. Timothée Chalamet leads an all-star cast, including Zendaya and Austin Butler, as power struggles intensify and war looms over the desert planet of Arrakis. If you thought Dune: Part One was big, Part Two is on another level.
With the 2025 Academy Awards fast approaching, the question remains: Which of these films will take home the ultimate prize? Will the indie brilliance of Anora steal the show? Could Dune: Part Two make history as a rare sci-fi Best Picture winner? Or will a dark horse emerge at the last moment?
One thing is certain—2025 has been a phenomenal year for cinema, and movie lovers are in for an exciting awards season.
What’s your pick for the best film of the year? Let us know in the comments!
