Zhuo-Ning Su’s Best 10 Films of 2025

      Following The Film Stage’s selection of the top 50 films of 2025, our contributors are sharing their individual top 10 lists as part of our year-end coverage.

      Another year has passed, prompting a reflection on the cinematic offerings of the last 12 months. From my perspective, it has been a commendable year for filmmaking. Although there weren't many films I would immediately categorize as masterpieces, a significant number succeeded in captivating, challenging, surprising, and informing us.

      Upon reflection, one notable trend is a reassuring resurgence of quality films aimed at wider audiences. The term “mainstream” can often carry a dismissive connotation in film criticism, but well-crafted films with broad appeal are not only a unique art form but also crucial when the film industry—if not cinema as a whole—faces considerable obstacles. In this regard, I was pleased to see classic action spectacles like F1, a skillfully made legacy thriller like Predator: Badlands, a familiar yet thoroughly enjoyable rom-com like Materialists, or a superhero film that embraces the genre’s inherent silliness and is genuinely fun, such as Superman.

      Some commercially viable films may not have made a significant impact at the box office but still merit more attention, such as the stylishly alluring Black Bag, the heartwarming true story Roofman, or the cleverly written relationship comedy Splittsville. The streaming platforms also provided a few engaging crowd-pleasers, like the insightful, humorous-turned-nostalgic Jay Kelly and the most tightly constructed, richly layered installment in the Knives Out series, Wake Up Dead Man.

      The year 2025 has also proved fruitful for queer cinema. Sundance introduced the intricately observant Plainclothes and the clever, bittersweet Twinless, featuring one of the most innovative, genre-blending screenplays of the year. Berlinale honored Dreams as the best film, a touching, eloquent drama that portrays a teenage girl’s queer sexual awakening with remarkable sensitivity. The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo won the Un Certain Regard prize at Cannes for its moving homage to those lost to ignorance and hatred during the AIDS crisis. On the Road was recognized with an award at Venice for its authentically gritty depiction of contemporary gay experiences through transient connections. Strange River and Last Night I Conquered the City of Thebes, two atmospheric, highly experimental films with erotic undertones, also debuted to well-deserved acclaim on the Lido.

      Finally, horror delivered some impressive offerings this year. Sinners, ambitiously conceived and robustly crafted, weaves a bloody narrative of vampires intertwined with themes of social injustice. 28 Years Later skillfully continues the post-apocalyptic world-building decades later, significantly aided by Alfie Williams' outstanding big-screen debut. The Ugly Stepsister cleverly satirizes toxic stereotypes and beauty standards from fairy tales with a twisted retelling of Cinderella. Rose of Nevada takes its time-traveling characters to a sunken place through strikingly unique visual and sound design. Keeper is a slow-burn film, but its buildup remains tense, and the monstrous revelation is well worth the wait. A few impactful dramas—including Tereza Nvotová’s harrowing Father, Akihiro Hata’s workplace thriller The Site, and Zinnini Elkington’s morality tale Second Victims—skillfully create and sustain tension that quickens the pulse even without delving into outright horror.

      Now, on to the favorites.

      Honorable Mentions: The Blue Trail (Gabriel Mascaro), Bugonia (Yorgos Lanthimos), The Testament of Ann Lee (Mona Fastvold), Kokuho (Sang-il Lee), and The Secret Agent (Kleber Mendonça Filho)

      10. Marty Supreme (Josh Safdie)

      Energetic and un-moralistic, Safdie’s debut solo directorial film offers a compelling portrayal of the quest to achieve the American Dream. The protagonist’s journey, marked by deceit, compromise, and an almost pathological desire for success, can be seen as both motivational and cautionary. Timothée Chalamet immerses himself in the role of an unstoppable go-getter, demonstrating charisma, cleverness, and a laid-back disregard for any obstacles in the way of victory. With Darius Khondji’s fierce cinematography and Daniel Lopatin’s exhilarating score, he elevates a ping pong player’s narrative to an unflinching exploration of the ethos that defined post-war America.

      9. Pillion (Harry Lighton)

      Intersecting arthouse sensitivity, mainstream fish-out-of-water themes, and queer fetishes, Lighton’s provocative comedy-drama is a remarkable film that operates at its highest potential. The lively script holds nothing back, aiming for laughs and shock while unexpectedly addressing something profoundly real. Stellar performances from Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling achieve a remarkable balance, infusing sizzling energy into every scene. It’s rare to find a comedy this bold that