2025 might be one of the most depressing years for movies in a long time, and thank God for it. With America in turmoil, resurfacing itself in a very negative place, cinema is here to caution and remind us of the values we must defend. Will this list change? Maybe. It's a loaded year with amazing cinema, which would be a complete travesty if Netflix and Warner Bros. got rid of the big screen. There's simply nothing like seeing movies like Sinners or One Battle After Another on the largest canvas, with a crowd. If this is one of the remaining years for movie theaters, at least they went out with a bang.

10 Sinners

Overrated, but not underappreciated. Ryan Coogler's Sinners is a deep(ish) horror film about racism set in the early days of America, when Prohibition was still in effect. The movie is loaded with allegories that may have gone over this white boy's head, but didn't go unnoticed. By the time the movie reaches its second half, it becomes a From Dusk Till Dawn knockoff, full of racial allegories and smart commentary that ends up in bloodshed rather than thought. The film could be cut by 20 minutes, especially during its incredibly long mid-credits sequence. Despite its misfires, some grand payoffs raise the movie beyond the typical horror film. It might be a bit too silly for its own good, yet there's hardly a horror film that's as smart as this one.

9. The Life of Chuck

It's the year of Stephen King. One not loaded with horror films, but rather his other works. The first half (arguably its best) is a disaster film that blends into an existentialist picture. The second-third half could use way less dancing. I get it, dancing was what Chuck (Tom Hiddleston) loves. It was his calling, but he ended up being an accountant because of the values his grandfather taught him in a wonderful monologue about the importance of numbers. Although narratively unbalanced, The Life of Chuck effectively conveys how little time we all have. Once we're gone, we become one with the stars. The earth may collapse, but there's a sense of hope that something may be out there for us after we pass.

Full review link. https://www.ypareviews.com/blog/2025/5/31/the-life-of-chuck-is-a-unique-look-into-death-until-it-isnt

8. Bugonia

This movie almost didn't make the list because of its goofy, overly subversive ending, which almost torpedoes an otherwise fantastic film. Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons have knockout performances in a battle of will and wits. The movie is a fascinating commentary on what information we gather is real. What happens when the internet, plus your family, feeds you lies your whole life? Nobody in the film is a good person. Everyone represents something wrong with society. Whether it be greed, limited education, or sexual abuse, this film has a ton to unpack and does so masterfully. Most bad endings would ruin a movie. Yet, I can't argue against the fact that the ending will leave you wanting to know more. It's worth a rewatch to check all the clues, as it makes you question if reading an article from a reputable source like the New York Times is actually reliable.

Full review link https://www.ypareviews.com/blog/2025/10/15/bugonia-achieves-greatness-until

7. Friendship

Tim Robinson is one of the rare performers where being annoying is his intention, yet it draws itself to a greater theme. Maybe Will Ferrell could take a lesson from Tim's notebook. Friendship examines the struggle men face with their masculinity and social acceptability. Craig (Tim Robinson) always wants to be the center of attention. He's trying to prove that he's tough, only to be continually humiliated. Craig needs help. He doesn't know how to fit in, so he makes a fool of himself in an attempt to be recognized. His new neighbor, Austin (Paul Rudd), is the type of man Craig aspires to be, but is too awkward to blend in as well as Austin does. He's simply not cool like his neighbor. This jealousy drives Craig into a downward spiral that grows increasingly uncomfortable to watch, but it's worth every second of screentime. You may not like the film. It's a chair squirmer, but man, it resonates if you're a weirdo like me. Craig's inability to seek mental help is a cautionary tale for those who blow their lives up because they don't know how to handle life and don't get the assistance they need.

Full written review link https://www.ypareviews.com/blog/2025/5/14/friendship-is-the-funniest-tragedy-of-the-year

6. The Long Walk

Before he was Stephen King, Steve was credited as Richard Bachman. Although this movie came from the Hunger Games guy, it is not a watered-down dystopia designed for a teenage audience. It's shockingly violent. If not a bit too cartoonish during its first big kill. America is in a terrible place with increased militarization. The Long Walk's premise is simple: walk endlessly or get shot. You can't stop to go to the bathroom or anything. The winner gets whatever they want. Except for discontinuing the program, I guess. The performance from Mark Hamill as the Major is a cartoonish impersonation of George C Scott's General Patton, and the ending is classic sad Hollywood loaded with plot holes, but otherwise, strap in for an invigorating, depressingly topical picture.

Full review link https://www.ypareviews.com/blog/2025/9/6/the-long-walk-is-americas-eulogy

5. Train Dreams

Who thought a story about lumber would be so resonant? America was built upon a strong labor force. It's also been a country where most live in poverty. Yet, that will never change. Train Dreams is a depressing look at the everyday person. Most people with limited education wind up like Robert Grainer (Joel Edgerton). Wandering the earth as an old man, feeling lost. Train Dreams is enduring and heartbreaking. A meditation in loss, failure, and loneliness. It's a wonderful example of how the American workforce is used. If you don't do well in school, you could very well end up broken like Robert. Terrance Malick could take some notes on this film about how to structure his stories.

4. Marty Supreme

An inspirational sports story that doesn't feel inspirational? Josh Safdie's follow-up to Uncut Gems is 2.5 hours of unrelenting tension and honesty. Marty (Timothée Chalamet) is an obnoxious protagonist who also serves as a commentary on how you must be aggressive to get ahead in life, even if it gets you into trouble. Featuring the best opening credits I've ever seen, the usual quick cuts and fast pans, and an incredible score, Marty Supreme is more of a survival film than it is yet another lift-the-audience-up sports tale.

Full review link https://www.ypareviews.com/blog/2025/11/20/marty-supreme-will-rock-your-nerves-like-a-bouncing-ball

3. Eddington

Some of the best movies are the most divisive ones. Where One Battle After Another is a rallying cry against fascism, Eddington is a reflection on humanity's inability to coexist among a cataclysmic event. Eddington is not only a COVID movie, but so far, it is THE COVID movie. It perfectly encapsulates how algorithmic data divides us. There's no conversing anymore. It's all about people trying to humiliate each other to appear intellectually superior, even though so much misinformation spreads that it's difficult to keep track of what's true and what's not. The movie is a dark, modern western in which our protagonist thinks he's a badass sheriff, only to never realize that he's actually a fool.

Ari Aster goes hard with this one and is unapologetic in exposing the stupidity on all sides of the aisle. It's not a look back at America's failure to COVID, but where we're all going to be if we don't put our phones down. Hopefully, in a few years, this film will be appreciated for the hilarious, disturbing message about a society that's in the middle of a data-driven dumpster fire.

Full review link https://www.ypareviews.com/blog/2025/7/14/eddington-is-the-definitive-post-covid-film

2. Hamnet

You don't have to be a Shakespeare fan to love this movie. Hamnet is an emotional gut punch that doesn't let loose. It's rare to run into a movie about loss that's this lingering or profound. It's not merely about how an artist finds inspiration to tell a ubiquitous story. There's no cliche scene of William Shakespeare reciting "to be, or not to be." Oh, wait, there is, but it works beautifully and makes illiterates understand the meaning behind that scene beyond the biopic scene where a singer finds the lyrics to their song. It's about how that art gives someone a reason to live, to make their pain matter. The best art comes from suffering, and this movie is no exception. If Jessie Buckley doesn't get nominated for an Oscar, then it will be a Shakespearean tragedy.

Full review link https://www.ypareviews.com/blog/2025/11/20/why-hamnet-will-break-and-repair-your-heart

1. One Battle After Another

What kind of movie is it? Is it a comedy, a thriller, or a drama? The answer is yes. It's a little bit of everything. Paul Thomas Anderson is the frontrunner for the Oscars for a very good reason. There simply is no other film this year, or in years, like it. Only PTA can make a movie that's loaded with language, sex, and energy, yet doesn't come across as sensationalistic ADHD pandering. The movie clearly takes a stance against racist conservatism that might trigger some snowflakes.

There's no sameness or hiding of the film's political opinions. Yet it takes place in an alternate reality that could very well be us in one or two years. It's a mockery of violence, power, and the need to fight against an oppressive system. From gorgeous celluloid cinematography to Johnny Greenwood's amazing score to top-tier performances (especially from Sean Penn), One Battle After Another gets better with each viewing. For the love of God please give PTA his Oscar already!

Full review link https://www.ypareviews.com/blog/2025/9/17/one-battle-after-another-rages-a-gust-busting-war-against-tyranny

Dec 11 The Best Movies of 2025-According to Some Guy