Where to Watch the Top Movies of 2025

      As the year 2025 nears its conclusion, like many film enthusiasts, we're eager to discover titles that might have been overlooked or not yet seen. Thus, as we do annually, we're presenting a list of the finest films available for home viewing.

      This selection is sourced from our earlier list of the Best Films of 2025 So Far, covering the first half of the year, as well as films we've enjoyed in recent months and others we've just had a chance to watch. Our comprehensive year-end coverage will follow, including our team's top 50 films of 2025, but this streaming guide aims to serve as a useful resource for readers to uncover noteworthy and potentially lesser-seen films.

      Please note that we are focusing on U.S. releases from 2025, and the streaming services mentioned are limited to that region. To stay informed about new titles available, be sure to check our weekly column. In the meantime, take a look at the list below, which will be updated as new titles become available on streaming platforms, so don’t forget to bookmark it. Also, remember to review our recommendations for theatrical releases.

      **28 Years Later (Danny Boyle)**

      With an arsenal of iPhones, *28 Years Later* definitely serves as an "I still got it" statement from Boyle. His energetic style, combined with returning writer Alex Garland's uniquely structured screenplay, results in a film where viewers feel pleasantly unsettled—an impressive feat for a movie about to hit multiplexes. Even if it doesn’t translate into a conventional great film. – Ethan V. (full review)

      Where to Stream: Netflix, VOD

      **Afternoons of Solitude (Albert Serra)**

      Albert Serra’s *Afternoons of Solitude* feels more like a two-hour Sky Sports broadcast than what one would expect from the creator of *Story of My Death*. Sticking to the rules of observational and direct cinema, it largely consists of long takes that observe Spanish bullfighting rings, particularly focusing on Andrés Roca Rey, a Peruvian figure caught in ritualistic brutality. While we are increasingly aware of the constructed nature of documentaries, Serra’s main achievement here is cultivating an objective viewpoint. The cinematography is not intrusive, and the editing refrains from close-ups that might push viewers toward disapproval, fostering an understanding that this is both a brutal sport and something deserving of respect—a blend of admiration and condemnation. Roca stands in a powerful stance, appearing both as hero and villain, but those labels ultimately fall short here. – David K. (full review)

      Where to Stream: VOD

      **Apocalypse in the Tropics (Petra Costa)**

      After five years, amidst Brazil's closest presidential election and a subsequent insurrection, documentarian Petra Costa dives into Jair Bolsonaro's rise and the radical evangelical rights that rallied behind him for the presidency in 2018. With Costa's almost unhindered access to key figures in modern Brazilian politics, *Apocalypse in the Tropics* unfolds almost in real-time—a gripping, intense documentary. – Luke H. (full review)

      Where to Stream: Netflix

      **Black Bag (Steven Soderbergh)**

      Imagine if a *James Bond* or *Mission: Impossible* movie stripped away its action scenes—except for the occasional explosion—while adopting a script with a pop John le Carré vibe; it might resemble Steven Soderbergh’s *Black Bag*. This sleek spy thriller primarily unfolds in dining rooms and office spaces as characters engage in fast-paced, witty banter penned by David Koepp, who returns to the genre after the initial *Mission: Impossible*. The script examines whether it’s feasible to maintain healthy relationships when work and life blur, especially for professionals who thrive on deception. – Jordan R. (full review)

      Where to Stream: Prime Video, VOD

      **Caught by the Tides (Jia Zhangke)**

      Jia Zhangke’s works often evoke a sense of déjà vu: “We’re once more in the northern Chinese city of Datong,” Giovanni Marchini Camia wrote back in 2019, “it's a new millennium, Qiao is once again in a relationship with a mobster, and though familiar elements surface, it is evident that this is not simply a sequel or remake.” Though he was commenting on *Ash Is Purest White*, much of the same can apply to *Caught by the Tides*, where we witness the evolution of the director's long-standing collaboration with Zhao Tao over more than 20 years of footage—a true gem of contemporary cinema. – Rory O. (full review)

      Where to Stream: The Criterion Channel, VOD

      **Cloud (Kiyoshi Kurosawa)**

      We may not have fully reached late-period Kurosawa, but after four decades of filmmaking, his increasing simplicity is evident. Just look at the opening scene of *Cloud*, which provides a psychological profile of its protagonist before a title card appears.