Hey everyone, Jack Drees here! It is time to count down my top 10 BEST movies of 2025. This year has been in a word, complicated. There is a lot going on in the world right now. Granted, there always has been. But there is a lot going on that stands out to me, so I will take any chance I get to escape by watching a movie. Some of those movies have been complete and total bangers. I have reviewed those movies throughout the year, but now you will get to see me sum up my thoughts about them once more. If you are new to these end of the year countdowns, the rules are simple.
No touching of the hair or face. Never cross the streams. And do not feed the Gremlins after midnight.
Okay, in all seriousness… The rules are simple. Everything you see here is based on my personal thoughts and experiences, which are not based on scientific law, but rather on artistic opinions. If you disagree with something on this list, here is my suggestion. Make your own. Also, I did not see every single movie that came out in 2025. I have seen a lot of movies this year, but if you are wondering about my thoughts on movies like “Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere,” “Predator: Badlands,” “Train Dreams,” and “It Was an Accident,” I apologize, but I did not see those prior to making this list. One last thing, I have to say this every year, and I recognize it makes me look like a snob, but I stand by it, the movies on this list have to have had a theatrical release of some kind. Do not expect any straight to streaming movies on here. Do not expect any straight to DVD movies on here. Do not expect any straight to cable movies on here. They have their place, just not here. With that out of the way, let us begin with some honorable mentions.
Honorable Mention: Jay Kelly
The first honorable mention is “Jay Kelly.” Clooney leads this film as the titular character, and the story follows his various ups and downs in his family life, his personal life, and his work life. Each scene is as watchable as the last and the film does a great job at establishing the effects Kelly has on the people around him. Adam Sandler also stars, and it is nice to see him continue to expand his resume outside of the pure comedy genre.
Honorable Mention: Scarlet
This next film has not had a wide release yet, but I am counting it as it did screen for one weekend in select IMAX theaters. “Scarlet” is Mamoru Hosada’s latest anime and boy is it amazing. The film follows a young princess living in Medieval Times who dies before she can get revenge on her father’s killer. She fails to fulfill her goal by the time she dies, at which point she enters an afterlife where she runs into a medical worker from modern times. From then on, the two try to work together despite their differences. It is a thrilling adventure that looks absolutely beautiful. It is my favorite animated film of 2025.
Honorable Mention: Bring Her Back
Lastly for the honorable mentions is “Bring Her Back.” This film is directed by the Philoppou brothers, who also helmed another solid horror flick, “Talk to Me.” While I liked “Talk to Me,” “Bring Her Back” clicked with me just a little bit more. Sally Hawkins’ performance is one of the best of the year. The younger cast is well-written and just so happen to ace their roles. The climax is incredibly exciting. There is a lot to like about this movie. It is a definite must watch for horror fans.
With these movies out of the way, we have done the worst list, we have done the most disappointing list, and now, it is time for something positive! These are my top 10 BEST movies of 2025.
#10: Thunderbolts*
My #10 pick is “Thunderbolts*.” I saw this film twice in theaters. I loved it the first time and have only grown to appreciate it more on the second viewing. While “Thunderbolts*” is not my favorite Marvel movie, it is one of the better ones when it comes to dissecting the human condition. The film has a lot to say about mental health and how certain events of our lives could affect us down the road. “Thunderbolts*” also showcases the importance of not bottling your feelings up and keeping them too deep inside. The film shines a much needed light on mental health that I think a lot of people need this year, and probably will need for many years to come. “Thunderbolts*” copies and pastes certain elements from previous Marvel projects, but even this film’s familiarities are well done. Add in David Harbour’s Red Guardian as a solid comic relief, and you have a recipe for a fun but also impactful flick.
I took a trip to New York City in October and I had the privilege of seeing this next film at 8:30 in the morning in IMAX 70mm. Ladies and gentlemen, please do yourselves a favor, if “One Battle After Another” is playing near you, take advantage of the opportunity and check it out on the big screen. Technically speaking, this film is a goldmine. The film is shot on VistaVision, which has an aspect ratio that is a bit taller than your traditional flat screen TV. Not all screenings were capable of showcasing this, but those that did highlighted just how grand this movie can come off at times. Jonny Greenwood’s score is one of the mightiest of 2025, and as the film enters the climax, the music booms so heavily throughout the auditorium that it almost felt like I was in a concert hall listening to it live. Speaking of 2025 bests, Leonardo DiCaprio gives a performance to remember. He is given so much to do throughout the runtime and nails every little bit of it. The film is also likely going to open so many doors for Chase Infiniti, who plays the daughter of Leonardo DiCaprio’s character. The film is a bit long, but I was the engaged the entire time. It is hard to be bored with something as good as “One Battle After Another.”
#8: The Fantastic Four: First Steps
After years of trying, if you can call it that, I was unsure whether a good “Fantastic Four” movie was a possibility. That is until I saw “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” which may have been the most fun I had watching a superhero film this year. Overall, 2025 was a pretty decent year for superhero cinema, as long as you forget that the box office was not as strong as it was in the late 2010s. Regardless, “Fantastic Four” may not be Marvel’s biggest moneymaker, but it won my heart. The titular quartet are all charismatic and bring their individualities to the table, and that is more than just superpowers.
You have Reed Richards, whose highly intelligent brain results in some unique ideas. Beside him is his wife, Sue Storm, who serves as a core to the story when it dives into its deeply engaging dilemma. Johnny Storm strikes me as the fun party animal of the group, though to the movie’s benefit, he was definitely toned down from his 2000s variant played by Chris Evans. And the Thing is incredibly strong, but also seems to have a soft side while in front of children. Together they must go face to face with two compelling villains. Julie Garner may be the Silver Surfer, but her character has an occasionally ominous presence that is as good as gold. And you have Ralph Ineson as the fearsome Galactus, whose motivation is as simple as satisfying his hunger. I cannot blame the guy. We all gotta eat. The biggest standout of the movie for me is Michael Giacchino’s score, which I have listened to nonstop ever since this movie came out. The main theme from this film may be my all time favorite piece of music in the MCU. It packs in a classical feel that sometimes sounds like something you would hear in an urban nightclub. “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” sometimes feels like what would happen if Tomorrowland from the Disney Parks became a feature film. That is unless you count the actual one with George Clooney from a decade ago. Whatever, I stand by this statement!
#7: Friendship
I walked out of this next film thinking I may have just seen the funniest comedy in years. If you have not seen “Friendship,” you are missing out on an obnoxiously hysterical masterpiece. Tim Robinson leads this film as a loser dad who tries to befriend his adventurous neighbor, played by Paul Rudd. The latter brings the former out of his comfort zone, the two bond, but their connection does not last very long. Despite its title, the film is not so much about the friendship itself, but more so the complications of Tim Robinson’s character trying to maintain it. We see how his actions affect the people he already knows. This is a wildly entertaining comedy that features some fleshed out characters. Also, it is a tried and true theory that people falling when they hit glass will always be funny, and this movie showcases a shining example of that.
#6: If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
If it were not for “Fackham Hall,” then “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” would take the award for best movie title of 2025. But the positives go far beyond the intriguing name. When I reviewed this movie, I described it as this year’s “Uncut Gems.” For the record, I saw “The Smashing Machine” and “Marty Supreme” sometime after watching this film. Yet even after seeing those two, which were separately directed by the brothers who helmed “Uncut Gems,” I thought “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” was the must see extended anxiety attack of 2025. It is hard to say if this film is going to be for everyone, because it deals with a lot of heavy issues, but the way the film handles all these issues makes for something special. If you are a parent, most especially a mom, I think you are going to relate to “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” in some way. Linda, played by the enormously talented Rose Byrne, deals with one issue after another. Not just the typical issues that many moms have to deal with, but she has a child who is ill, her husband is out of the picture, and when she is not dealing with her child, she turns her attention to her job as a therapist. Also, the biggest surprise of a performance in 2025 can be found in this movie. Conan O’Brien showcases his dramatic chops as a Therapist. I was not sure what to expect out of this performance, but I was floored with O’Brien’s efforts here. 2025 has proven that Conan O’Brien still has a knack for comedy based on his hosting of the Oscars. But if you are looking for him to take on something a bit more dramatic, then I implore you to watch “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.”
#5: The Long Walk
A number of Stephen King works were brought to the big screen this year, including “The Long Walk,” which is way more intense than its title might suggest it to be. “The Long Walk” is set following the end of a war. At this time, a bunch of young men compete against one another in an event where everyone must walk together at the same pace, or face certain death. Leading these young men is a very arrogant Mark Hamill as the Major. I sense the dark side in this character for sure. As for the young men themselves, the film does a solid job at fleshing each one out, including the film’s lead, played by Cooper Hoffman. Everything in “The Long Walk” is straight to the point. It contains plenty of killer while dodging right past the filler. The film is pretty bloody and gory. If you can handle that, this cinematic experience may be for you.
This year was a first for Scene Before, I reviewed a concert film! And said film was so electrifyingly epic that it had to end up on my top 10 somewhere. That film is “Hans Zimmer & Friends: Diamond in the Desert.” I love Hans Zimmer. I even attended the actual concert this film is based on several months before its release, so I felt the need to check this out. Throughout the year, I looked back on this project thinking it gave me two great movies for the price of one. Although one could argue it gave me three. It is part concert movie, part music video movie, and part documentary. All of these elements are done with excellence. When the film is not busy showcasing Hans Zimmer’s music, either at an actual concert or in a video specifically made for this picture, it splices in some fun and insightful interviews. I really enjoyed getting to know more about Hans himself, why he does his work, and the impact he has had on those who worked through the same projects with him. I particularly enjoyed the interview towards the end of the film where Zimmer explains why he ended up embracing “The Lion King,” Not just because it is a favorite film of mine, but the project subverted his expectations upon diving deeper into what it was about, how it reminded him of his own experiences. That said, I watched this film in theaters as part of a Fathom Event, and I do think the sound could have been upped just a smidge. Other than that, this is an excellent project featuring one of cinema’s greatest composers.
“The Long Walk” is not the only incredible Stephen King adaptation brought to the screen this year. A few months before that film came out, I had the privilege of watching the joyous and inspiring flick, “The Life of Chuck.” This is a film that makes me think about life. It sounds like a corny thing to say, but I would not be telling this to you if it was not true. “The Life of Chuck” is presented in a non-linear order, where we begin with act three, time travel backwards to act two, and conclude with act one, which goes even further back in time. Each act, as the title suggests, represents Chuck’s life and legacy. The film implies that to understand one’s life, you have to look backwards. The entirety of act two by itself makes for one of my favorite scenes of the year. It oozes excitement, passion, and happiness. Every performer is on their A-game, including Mark Hamill, meaning he has taken on two Stephen King adaptations this year. The narration is also spot on. If its diction and timing were not enough to make it sound cool, then the use of Nick Offerman certainly does. Despite maintaining a sense of atmosphere, the film is most definitely at its slowest in its first 40 minutes. Although if you can make it through that, you are in for a treat through what is left of the movie.
This is the second-to-last film I saw in theaters in 2025, and boy did this year end with a bang. “Is This Thing On?” is the third film directed by Bradley Cooper. I can confidently say that this is my absolute favorite of his. Granted, my love for this film may be due to some personal biases that would be worth noting. For starters, I love standup comedy, and this film is about someone who tries becoming a standup comedian. Also, this film is about a couple dealing with the potential of divorce. While I have never been married, and as a result, never divorced, my parents are not together, so anytime a movie deals with a topic like this one, I am onboard. That said, it handles both of these topics very well. The movie presents the idea of a couple separating as a new beginning for both Alex and Tess. While the movie does not officially see these two legally divorced, we see the moments leading up to that potential point. During this time we see Alex find a new hobby with standup comedy. AS for Tess, we see her get back into volleyball, which she played when she was younger.
The film also does a fantastic job at highlighting reasons why people fall in love, as well as the difficulties of maintaining that spark that was felt at the beginning of the relationship. “Is This Thing On?” contains one of my favorite scenes of the year, where we find out about a picture of Tess that Alex hangs on the wall inside his apartment. This upsets Tess, even though in Alex’s mind, he hanged the picture as a sign of appreciation. The scene is a fantastic representation of how their relationship started, and how it likely lost its magic. Both Arnett and Dern give knockout performances, and it was also amusing to see how loved ones reacted to the separation. We see the couple’s children and parents asking questions and critiquing the relationship. We see how the separation affects their friends and the direction in which they decide to take their lives. The film has a star-studded cast that also includes Peyton Manning, Amy Sedaris, and Andra Day, all of whom do a great job in their roles. Bradley Cooper handles several responsibilities at once. He is not only credited as the film’s director, but he co-wrote the film alongside star Will Arnett and Mark Chappell. Cooper even has a notable role on-screen as Balls. I have little to no notes on his efforts here.
As of this list’s publication, “Is This Thing On?” is only out in select cities. I was lucky to live close enough to Boston to get a chance to see it a couple days after Christmas. But if you are okay with waiting, or the film is not playing in your area, it is expanding into more theaters on January 9th. Please go check this one out. You’ll be entertained. You’ll be moved. You’ll be wowed.
I had some pretty cool theatrical experiences in 2025, between getting to see “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another” in IMAX 70mm… Watching “Shelby Oaks,” a film I partially funded, finally come to life on the big screen… And seeing an extended cut of one of my childhood favorites, “Spider-Man 2.1,” at a Fathom Event in D-Box… but regardless of how this next movie turned out, I was going to be able to brag to everyone that I got to see it exactly where it was shot.
Thankfully, “Secret Mall Apartment,” to my utter amazement is the best film of the year. Until this very countdown, I have only put one documentary on my top 10 BEST movies lists, and that was “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”, which is about children’s TV icon Fred Rogers. “Secret Mall Apartment” is in rare company with that film, and the recently mentioned “Hans Zimmer & Friends.” It is not like I am against documentaries. But there are only so many that are theatrically released that I have time to watch. But I had to go see “Secret Mall Apartment” the moment I knew exactly what was. The film is about eight people who lived inside Providence Place, Rhode Island’s largest shopping center, between 2003 and 2007. As someone who lives in New England and has had an oddball obsession with malls as a child, I knew about this story for years, but not in its entirety. I am so happy to see it finally be brought to the big screen with archival footage and everything. The movie’s concept got me in the door, but there is so much more than meets the eye.
This movie sold me instantaneously on its larger than life, but completely true concept. It already had me on its hyperbolic nature, but what sealed the deal for me as the movie kept going is how joy-inducing it is. Yes, it is about a group of people who are basically trespassing and secretly taking advantage of the mall’s resources, but these are genuinely kindhearted people who are passionate for the arts and have sometimes used their art to make people’s days better or shine a light on others who deserve it. The movie dedicates an extended period of time to tape art, and it warmed my heart. I was expecting to be floored by “Secret Mall Apartment” in terms of the story’s overall absurdity, but I was not anticipating to be floored by how much the movie made me smile and see the good in humanity. “Secret Mall Apartment” is a genuine feel-good movie about a group of artists that also just so happens to feature a story about that same group living at a mall in which they had no business setting up a home.
The film does a great job at not just establishing its main characters, but also making the mall, as well as the city of Providence, characters of their own. The film does a great job at describing the city’s quirky charm, part of which ties to the characters’ own experiences as artists. I have been to Providence Place numerous times, and this film made realize things about it that amaze me to this day despite how often I have been there. The film does a great job at highlighting how the mall essentially ignored a large part of its own city, even as it was being built. One side of the mall that points west has no entry points from the street. The opposite side does, however, and one could argue that side is the “nicer,” “cleaner,” side of Providence with easy access to places like hotels and the Capitol. As someone who has been to that mall and seen its evolution, it is amazing to me to realize that this mall started out as a place for people who have more disposable incomes. The mall has a lot more down to earth stores than it did back in the day. Also, similar a lot of other properties of its kind, it is somewhat debatable at this point as to whether the mall has a future.
Like I said in my review, the people that make up this story are not troublemakers. They are simply trying to get by. In fact, the film highlights the group living in the mall as a way to move on from losing their homes. The film puts a spotlight on gentrification while also making for one of the most wildly entertaining hours and a half I have ever used up in my life. Now that I have seen this done as a documentary, it begs the question as to whether this concept could work as a written narrative. Honestly, after seeing this film, it is hard for me to imagine it as such, especially considering the B-plot about tape art. These feel like two separate movies that I am not exactly sure if they would blend perfectly if dramatized. But as a documentary, both of these movies combined into one neat package. That said, there was a movie released this year by the name of “Roofman,” about a guy who spent an extended period of time living in a Toys R Us. I have not seen that movie, but as of this publication, both the critic and audience scores for it on Rotten Tomatoes are in the 80s. If that could work, maybe something on this story could work. But for now, I am more than happy with the documentary we got. Go check it out. It is streaming. It is on DVD and Blu-ray. You will thank me later. “Secret Mall Apartment” is my favorite movie of 2025.
Thanks for reading this countdown! You have seen my worst list, most disappointing list, and now my best list! With me doing a most disappointing list you may ask why I did not make a most surprising, or expectation-exceeding list. If I had it in me, I would publish one, but it was much easier for me to think about the films that let me down as opposed to the ones that went beyond my hype levels. I get excited to watch just about any movie, so maybe my constant excitement and hope that a film does well could play a factor. That said, I hope you enjoyed this epic trilogy of countdowns and I look forward to seeing more movies and putting out more reviews in 2026. This is going to be a good year, and I have some proof to back me up.
On a personal note, 2026 officially marks ten years of Scene Before! The official anniversary is in March, but the celebratory spirit is something I intend to carry throughout the year. Thank you to everyone who viewed this blog over the years and made me a very happy Movie Reviewing Moron.
In honor of the 10th Anniversary, I have 10 movie reviews already planned. I did not see the movies yet, but those will be in progress throughout the year, in a series I like to call… Celebrity Movie Requests!
Yes, some of your favorite stars have requested 10 movies for me to talk about and review! This year, you will see reviews as requested by an Emmy nominee, an Average Joe, a guardian, a video store owner, a sci-fi TV icon, a clerk, a game show host, a Jedi, a loudmouth, and a theme park manager. I will unveil the official guests down the line, but these are your hints for now if you would like to make any advance guesses.
Also, per usual, I will be doing the Jack Awards, it is Scene Before’s annual awards show dedicated to the best films of the year! As has been tradition in the past, the Best Picture category is based on my top films of the year, so chances are you could see the entire top 10 listed above represented in that category by the time I announce the nominees. This year’s edition is going to take place a bit earlier than usual… Look forward to the unveiling of the nominations on Sunday, January 25th, followed by the official ceremony on February 8th!
If you want to see these upcoming events and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, what are your favorite movies of 2025? Do you have a list? Do you think I missed a movie? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!
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