The best movies of 2025 (so far)

From Sinners to One Battle After Another, these films are the top reasons to visit the cinema this year.

A Silent Voice Director’s New Masterpiece

The latest film by anime great Naoko Yamada is a joyous story of three teenagers using music to navigate their future. Filled with imaginative fantasy and deep abstractions, it remains deeply true to the inner world of Totsuko, a high-school girl who can see people’s [translate: «цвета»]. Yamada has crafted a beautiful and sensitive coming-of-age animation that could be the best film of the year.

Florence Pugh Shines in the MCU’s New Phase

Despite the underwhelming Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Florence Pugh’s portrayal of the broken Russian assassin Yelena Belova stands out. Her role energizes a deliberately rough-around-the-edges team-up movie that tackles themes of trauma, depression, and mental health while confronting a new superhuman threat.

Marvel earns praise for moving away from excessive VFX battles towards a more practical filming style, guided with subtle expertise by former indie director Jake Schreier (Paper Towns).

The rest of the Thunderbolts cast is also a delight, especially David Harbour as an ex-Soviet superhero facing both obsolescence and a humorous midlife crisis. Even the post-credits scene is worth the wait.

Paul Greengrass’s Signature Style

Director Paul Greengrass continues to blend high-energy action with complex moral themes, adding depth to his films that keeps audiences engaged.

"If the underwhelming Phase 5 of the MCU has given us something to get excited about it’s Florence Pugh."

Overall, 2025 is shaping up to be a strong year at the cinema with diverse films offering fresh stories, emotional depth, and engaging performances.

Summary: 2025's top movies blend imaginative storytelling, strong performances from stars like Florence Pugh, and directors’ expertise in crafting emotionally rich and visually inventive films.

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Time Out — 2025-11-06