Picking the Best of 2025

A few days ago, we kept our tradition and unveiled our favorite movies of the past year. Now it’s time to pick our absolute favorite of 2025, and with the commercial success and critical acclaim of the likes of One Battle After Another and Sinners, it’s no simple task.Thankfully, we’ve got more than a decade worth of experience doing this and we basked in a bunch of great movies all the live long year. Find out which topped our list and along the way enjoy a deep, serpentine discussion about the cinema that stood out and left an impression.Timeline00:00 Introduction and New Year Greetings01:23 Reflecting on the Year in Movies09:54 Favorite Beverages and Listener Shoutouts13:39 Diving into the Best Movies of the Year14:01 Unexpected Movie Highlights28:24 Breaking Down Cynicism in French New Wave Cinema29:32 Exploring Unconventional Films and Performances30:10 Debating the Merits of After the Hunt and Bugonia37:45 The Polarizing Life of Chuck and Its Unique Appeal40:49 Celebrating Genuine and Earnest Storytelling42:29 Top Four Films of the Year: An Overview59:42 Leo’s Versatility and Performance in One Battle After Another01:01:59 The Propulsive Nature of One Battle After Another01:03:50 Sean Penn’s Unbelievable Performance01:05:17 Benicio Del Toro vs. Sean Penn: Best Supporting Actor Debate01:10:34 Ryan Coogler’s Sinners: A Box Office Hit01:18:12 Michael B. Jordan’s Dual Role and Performance01:27:55 The Joy of Cinema and Final Thoughts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.film101.club