2025 is going to be a fruitful year for the film industry with so many amazing movies being released already. If you have not heard of them, here are the top 17 of them.
2024 was quite a quiet year for the film industry and obviously, we are not talking about the Marvel Franchise. In this world of CGL flicks, gore action, and superhero movies; there are still many films made that can intrigue you not only visually but cerebrally and emotionally. If you can put yourself out of the mass favorite horizon of Deadpool and Wolverine or any Marvel and DC franchise; you will find out that there are many great movies made around the world and most of them are not even available on your most-consumed favorite platform Netflix.
2025 seems to be a promising year for Hollywood movies with many great franchises are returning in the game such as Avatar, Mission: Impossible and Jurassic World. Similarly, the versatile directors or the legends like Bong Joon-ho, Lynne Ramsay, Spike Lee, Paul Thomas Anderson, etc many others are also making massive theater releases this year. If you want to upgrade your musical taste and find more worthy movies to watch this year, here are the top movies released so far.
Top 17 Movies of 2025 till Now
- Nickel Boys
This drama-based film is made from a first-person perspective without entirely sounding like a novel. While a lot of cinemas have successfully drawn the attention of the audiences by bringing them closer to the protagonists, none of them came closer to RaMell Ross’s kaleidoscopic portrayal of two young black men. The film shows the intertwined lives of the youths in a brutal reform school, situated in the Jim Crow South. Director Ross has done a remarkable job in establishing his ideas along with the influence of Whitehead’s 2019 novel which offers a blend of drastically different emotions.
- The Brutalist
It is hard to not like Adrien Brody and when he does movies like The Brutalist, it is bound to go to the Oscars. Brady Corbet did a great job with this movie which helped him gain world recognition with only just his third feature film. The movie is based on the post-holocaust situation in the rural lands of Pennsylvania. While it shows an industrialist, the brutalist comes out from within and offers audiences a gripping story. Featuring wide-scale vision, grand themes, and a huge runtime; this film can keep you hooked with its expressions and subtly.
- A Real Pain
Jesse Eisenberg did a great job with this film but the real justification was casting Kieran Culkin who is a true gem when it comes to acting. They two played the role of odd-couple cousins who initiated a Holocaust tour to tribute to their Jewish grandma’s old Polish roots in Eisenberg. It is a brilliantly written road trip movie that is full of experiences, realizations, and true emotions that flow without any barriers. There is a fair blend of humor and poignancy in the movie which appears to be smooth and in-depth, something that you would prefer in every movie. ‘A Real Pain’ is about life, just like its name suggests.
- Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy
They say the third time is a charm but sometimes the fourth time can be too. This romantic comedy movie features a perfect balance of optimism and ugly sobbing moments. The movie is about Bridget holding herself up after the death of Mark Darcy (Colin Firth). Whether it is the genuine pathos or the slapstick silliness, director Michael Morris did a wonderful job in churning out a wholesome essence in the whole movie with an organic layer of happiness that comes from within.
- Better Man
Well, a lot of movie buffs joked that this movie is made on ‘Ceaser’ from ‘Rise of the Planet of Apes’. It is quite common that humans would consider all the apes the same, but this one is different. He is a global pop star. This Robbie Williams biopic is truly one of a kind where the director used CGI chimp as a metaphor for the artist’s imposter syndrome and the inner wildness that could reflect through his craft. The film deals with the struggles and vulnerabilities of Robbie while describing how glorious boybands can also have toxic relationships within.
- I’m Still Here
This political thriller movie is basically a domestic drama that takes place in the time of Brazil’s military dictatorship in the 1970s. Director Walter Salles did a great job in depicting the toll of authoritarianism along with its wide-spread devastating effects. More than the male protagonist, the movie is based on a matriarch’s resolve even when the justice system and law fall apart. The congressman husband never returns after interrogation but she remains and always will just like her resolve to bring good over bad.
- Hard Truths
Have you seen a grumpy old lady spitting facts about life? Well, ‘Hard Truths’ is all about that and more. Marianne Jean-Baptiste’s remarkable acting skills did not get her an Oscar but she surely won a lot of hearts. Mike Leigh’s favorite characters are angry and frustrated life just like us and that is what makes his films so relatable and close to us. The movie depicts the need for mental well-being and how self-loathing can lead to a complete shutdown from the outer world. This movie will make you more empathetic to others.
- Black Bag
If you are looking for a gripping thriller story then ‘Black Bag’ has got you all covered. This is Steven Soderbergh’s second list and the first quarter of 2025 is still not over. The powerful performance of Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett along with London’s iconic locations perfectly embraces the theme of ‘Guess the Traitor’. There are a lot of twists and turns in this movie which makes it more gripping as it progresses.
- The Girl with the Needle
This movie from Demark offers the true essence of practical and psychological horror with a fine blend of history and reality. Magnus von Horn’s gripping period thriller brings the Scandi noir era back in the times of 1919 when the crime-stories are almost forgotten. With different shades of Wiene and Murnau, the film paints the weary picture of post-war Copenhagen where crimes were taking place as a result of scarcity of food, money, and love. Cinematographer Michał Dymek’s extraordinary works with light and shadows will keep you hooked more than modern VFX and CGI.
- Memoir of a Snail
2009’s Mary and Max was a huge tear-jerker and the Aussie crew is back with their same palette and stop-motion clay animation through this latest film called ‘Memoir of a Snail’ that received many nominations in the Golden Globe and Oscars. It takes place in the 1970s Melbourne setting where people are still struggling with concepts of sexuality and God. But some of them make it through all the stereotypes and a brother and a sister do it. Adam Elliot’s magic is reflected through the concept and script as well as the well-modeled clay characters.
- Mickey 17
Other than Parasite and Memories of a Murder, Bong Joon-ho has always stuck to his favorite sci-fi genre which helps him tell a lot about society and the current situation of the world. With his themes of classism, exploitation, discrimination, and socialism; the director has come up with Mickey 17 this time that offers an enjoyable and engaging cinematic experience. Robert Pattinson’s amazing acting is outperformed by Mark Ruffalo who played the character of a brainless dictator. Bong is a genius director and while audiences think it is a fun sci-fi movie about aliens, he drops the truth bombs within.
- Last Breath
Ever thought about what is the most important thing for humanity to live? That’s right! Air! While you can be a billionaire, when you are under kilometers of depth in the ocean, breathing is all you seek for. Alex Parkinson’s ‘Last Breath’ will keep your rear glued to the seat with a highly gripping story of survival underwater on an ocean bottom on a stormy night. I mean, could it go any crazier? The cast for the movie includes Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu, and Finn Cole and they all did an amazing job.
- Presence
Presence offers an effective twist to a ghost story from the perspective of an Asian family. Director Steven Soderbergh does not want to retire and wants to make movies like this that can captivate audiences. The horror in the film is not overwhelming but it is there, the whole screen time. You might even feel the presence of the unseen energy around who knows?
- Holy Cow
Holy Cow! Talk about good movies! The main ingredients for this movie are cheese, family, friendship, and of course sex. This debut project by Louise Courvoisier is a fantastic film that celebrates youth and country life devoid of frustrating and busy city culture. It is an honest and modern fairy tale that revolves around making cheese and love. The cinematography is so fresh and delightful, that you can almost smell the freshly cut grass and also cow dung, occasionally.
- Nosferatu
Who does not love vampires and Draculas right? Also, William Dafoe is in the cast! Heck Yeah! Robert Eggers has done it again with Nosferatu by creating a world of horror that is also artistic and aesthetically gore. Though it follows the original 1922 Dracula riff, there are ample creative elements that make this movie a standout in the horror genre. The jaw-dropping set designs and Lily-Rose Depp’s incredible physical performance make this movie a must-watch for everyone.
- The Colors Within
There is something very soothing and warm about anime movies that stirs our deeper emotions and you can feel those emotions through the latest creative work ‘The Colors Within’. It is a film by the great Naoko Yamada who has previously created A Silent Voice that made people cry ugly. With a softer palette and brighter colors, this film offers mind-expanding abstractions among three young teenagers. The main character here is Totsuko who can see people as colors based on their soul and emotions.
- Dog Man
While a lot of people will think Dog Man is only for the kids, Dav Pilkey’s illustrated novels can captivate even the adults. It is based on a canine crimefighter who is not really a Police K-9 Unit. This action-comedy animation includes a fair share humor and a solid voice cast including Pete Davidson, Lil Rel Howery and Isla Fisher. Dog Man is the movie that can be enjoyed with your family and kids.
As 2025 is proceeding to its next months, there will be more upcoming movies that you should enjoy. Make sure to diversify your taste in movies by not just watching MCU but also films from other foreign countries that are unique and does not care about the commercial success.
