The Best Movies of 2025 (So Far)
From 'Sinners' to 'One Battle After Another', these films give great reasons to visit the cinema this year.
Naoko Yamada’s Latest Animation
The newest film by anime master Naoko Yamada tells a joyous story about three teenagers navigating life through music. It blends whimsical fantasy with deep introspection, centered on Totsuko, a high school girl who perceives people’s colours. Known for directing A Silent Voice, Yamada delivers a beautiful and emotionally rich coming-of-age animation that could be the year's best.
Marvel’s Fresh Take in Phase 5
While Phase 5 of the MCU may have underwhelmed, Florence Pugh shines as Russian assassin Yelena Belova. Her role energizes a scrappy team-up movie that sensitively explores trauma, depression, and mental health, all while facing a new superhuman threat. Marvel deserves credit for scaling back CGI-heavy battles in favor of a more practical effects approach, led by indie director Jake Schreier (Paper Towns).
The Thunderbolts team is engaging, with David Harbour delivering joy as a former Soviet superhero wrestling with obsolescence and his midlife body. Even the post-credit scene is worth waiting for.
Paul Greengrass’s Signature Style
Paul Greengrass has built a career on mixing hyper-kinetic action with moral complexity.
His films continue to offer dynamic storytelling that dives into challenging ethical questions.
Author’s summary: The standout films of 2025 combine innovative storytelling with emotional depth, from heartfelt anime to fresh superhero tales and gripping action dramas.