Christopher Schobert's Ten Best Films of 2025

      In conjunction with The Film Stage's collective top 50 films of 2025, our contributors are now presenting their individual top 10 lists as part of our year-end review.

      For me, 2025 marked the first year I can remember when movies didn’t hold much significance. Mostly, that is. Beyond parenting, work, home ownership, and general concerns, my thoughts on pop culture were largely focused on the Oasis reunion tour. Once I wrapped up attending shows in Toronto and New Jersey, I shifted my focus back to cinema with September's Toronto International Film Festival and, a few weeks later, the incredible One Battle After Another. Paul Thomas Anderson's masterpiece changed my perspective on the film year, bringing more enjoyment than I had anticipated.

      Before I dive into my top 10, here are a few personal highlights:

      Most unforgettable cinema moment of 2025: Watching Jaws on the big screen with my son in August—his first viewing—was a thrill. I was eager to see the audience's reaction to the iconic Ben Gardner jump scare. My son leaped from his seat, and even after seeing Jaws countless times, I did too. The entire packed theater reacted the same way.

      Favorite streaming premieres: Rebecca Miller's Mr. Scorsese and the updated Beatles Anthology.

      Best performance: Amanda Seyfried in The Testament of Ann Lee.

      Most exciting 4K release: Criterion’s Eyes Wide Shut.

      Greatest surprise: The Naked Gun was not only hilarious but also effectively captured the essence of the Leslie Nielson films.

      Most shocking moments: The cliff scene in Sirat. (Yikes.)

      The Poor Things Award, meaning it simply didn’t resonate with me: Hamnet.

      Most unjustly overlooked release of 2025: Lynne Ramsay’s Die My Love.

      Favorite needle-drop: “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” in Marty Supreme.

      Most impactful first-time viewing: Funeral Parade of Roses.

      2025 TIFF films I'm eager to re-watch in 2026: Erupjca, featuring Charli XCX, and Baz Luhrmann’s EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert, were the two standout films I experienced at the festival. I have a feeling Charli and the King would have a great rapport.

      The major films from 2026 that I couldn't catch in time for this list: Avatar: Fire and Ash, Ella McCay (which looks promising!), The Mastermind, Resurrection.

      Now, here are the 15 films that resonated most with me in 2025 …

      Honorable mentions: Die My Love, A Little Prayer, The Naked Gun, The Secret Agent, The Testament of Ann Lee.

      10. Friendship (Andrew De Young)

      The enjoyment derived from Andrew DeYoung’s Friendship largely depends on the audience's tolerance for Tim Robinson's humor. The star of the popular Netflix series I Think You Should Leave has garnered a devoted fanbase through embarrassing scenarios and characters swinging from absurd rage to total self-delusion. While Robinson's feature film debut doesn't quite hit the peaks of his show, it remains a hilariously dark comedy.

      9. The Shrouds (David Cronenberg)

      David Cronenberg’s latest film was underrated during its screening at Cannes in 2024 and upon its U.S. release in 2025. It’s easy to understand why; this somber and unsettling portrayal of paranoia is steeped in grief and offers no simple resolutions. These qualities contribute to its resonance, especially its final sequence, which features a flight that is one of the most enigmatic of Cronenberg's career.

      8. Blue Moon (Richard Linklater)

      Richard Linklater’s second film of 2025 stands among his best; while Nouvelle Vague was enjoyable, it never reached the emotional depth of Blue Moon. Ethan Hawke delivers a brilliantly funny yet deeply moving performance as the melancholic Lorenz Hart. It's the pinnacle of his outstanding career.

      7. Sinners (Ryan Coogler)

      Ryan Coogler’s film provides a raucously memorable cinematic experience. It embodies everything we desire from a blockbuster directed by a major filmmaker—bold, innovative, and unafraid to take risks. Michael B. Jordan, Wunmi Mosaku, Jack O’Connell, and Hailee Steinfeld shine, but Delroy Lindo truly steals the show as aging blues musician Delta Slim.

      6. It Was Just an Accident (Jafar Panahi)

      Jafar Panahi’s latest work, which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes, is a remarkable drama about former political prisoners who may have encountered their torturer. The surprising element is its outburst of humor, rare for a film that is both devastatingly dark and amusing; Accident leaves the audience feeling profoundly affected in the best way.

      5. Sentimental Value (Joachim Trier)

      Joachim Trier crafts Sentimental Value with apparent ease, yet his achievements are noteworthy. The plot, which follows the relationship between a filmmaker and his adult