Time flies. This will be the 30th time I've put togther a list of the top 10 movies of the year. What began as a simple pleasure while working at a video store in 1996 has become a lifelong passion. You can see my lists from the past three decades by clickng here.
I had the chance to share the list on ABC Brisbane breakfast radio with hosts Craig Zonca and Loretta Ryan but in case you missed it, here it is. I saw 199 new cinema releases in 2025 and, as always, it's tough to narrow it down to a top 10.
Honourable mentions, which I couldn't quite squeeze into the list, go to Presence, Train Dreams, I’m Still Here, Hard Truths, Flow, Small Things Like These, Universal Language, Thunderbolts, Two Prosecutors, Relay.
On that note, here's my top 10 for 2025!!!
10. Sentimental Value (out Dec 26) is an affecting Norwegian film about a dad, who has always prioritised work ahead of his kids, now trying to reconcile with his two grown daughters. It features interesting, non-cliched characters that are further bolstered by great performances. Something to say about family, legacy, art, and homes.
9. One Battle After Another (out Sep 25) is the latest from director Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, Magnolia) and is an hilarious misadventure reminiscent of a Coen Brothers movie. The characters have distinctive quirks, the story is batshit crazy, and humour is spread throughout. The expansive cast, headlined by Oscar winners Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn, all tap into their comedic talents. Wild, random entertainment!
8. The Last Journey (out Feb 27) feels like a movie which is impossible to dislike. It's a Swedish documentary about a middle-aged son who takes his 80-year-old father on a road trip to France to help reinvigorate his passion for life. Plenty to think about!
7. Weapons (out Aug 7) holds your attention from start to finish and is not a film you'll easily forget. Creatively told from six different perspectives, it's a horror-thriller about 17 children from the same class at elementary school who all go missing in the middle of the night. Great characters, great performances, great direction, great ending.
6. The Long Walk (out Sep 11) is based on a Stephen King horror novel and is the story of young men in a winner-take-all walking contest where they must maintain a 3 mile an hour pace or be executed. It's already a great premise but the superb performances of the cast make it an affecting tale of friendship. Beautifully directed (characters are constantly moving obviously), this is not a film you'll easily forget.
5. Bring Her Back (out May 29) is not a movie you’ll soon forget – because of both its disturbing content and its directorial brilliance. It’s centred on two siblings placed in a foster home after a tragic event. Australian brothers Danny and Michael Philippou (Talk to Me) have created a movie which induces anxiety from start to finish. The performances are fantastic and I cared deeply for the two kids.
4. Weapons (out Aug 7) holds your attention from start to finish and is not a film you'll easily forget. Creatively told from six different perspectives, it's a horror-thriller about 17 children from the same class at elementary school who all go missing in the middle of the night. Great characters, great performances, great direction, great ending.
3. The Brutalist (out Jan 23) is a 3 ½ hour epic set in 1950s Philadelphia about a Hungarian-Jewish immigrant architect (Adrien Brody) in pursuit of the "American Dream". This is a sensational film. The characters are multi-dimensional (both heroic and flawed) and the themes are as relevant today as they've ever been.
2. Twinless (out Oct 23) is exceptional. A brilliant dark comedy about two young men who become friends... but their connection is based on a mountain of lies. There are moments of hilarious, insightful wit and there are moments where characters extricate themselves from tricky situations. A wild, riotous journey which won the Audience Award for dramatic features at the Sundance Film Festival.
1. Sing Sing (out Jan 16) is a brilliant drama based on the true story of a theatre group established inside a maximum-security prison. With a cast featuring many ex-cons who were part of the programs, it's a moving tale about the way "art" can provide hope and friendships.