2025 was a year full of stories that made us laugh, cry, and think differently about the world around us. From films that pushed the boundaries of storytelling to ones that quietly stayed with you long after the credits rolled, this year reminded me why I love cinema so much. These are the films that challenged me, inspired me, and changed the way I see certain moments in life. Some made me reflect, some made me feel deeply, and some just outright blew me away. Here’s my list of favorite films of 2025—movies that left a mark and are worth remembering
Love, Brooklyn
Set in Brooklyn, Love, Brooklyn follows young Black adults navigating love, career, identity, and transition during a period of personal change. It’s a romance, but it’s also a slice-of-life drama that resists the urge to sensationalize messiness. What stayed with me is how human it felt — people figuring things out without chaos for chaos’ sake. It reminded me how rare it is to see Black characters simply existing, evolving, and making imperfect but honest decisions. It’s poetic, grounded, and quietly beautiful.
Warfare
Warfare is a war film grounded in real experiences and memories from soldiers who lived it. There’s no score, no cinematic cushioning — just presence. It feels like you’re in the room with them, witnessing a single stretch of time unfold. What changed me was finally feeling the weight of war rather than just observing it. The film isn’t pro- or anti-war — it asks you to sit with the cost of it, and whether we fully understand what we’re asking people to carry before decisions are made.
Hedda
Nia DaCosta’s Hedda reimagines a classic character through a modern lens, anchored by a commanding performance from Tessa Thompson. The film is stylized, intentional, and character-driven, allowing Tessa to explore control, desire, and power with precision. What stood out to me was how confident the storytelling felt — this is the kind of work that should push DaCosta’s name further into conversations, and further cement Tessa Thompson as one of the defining actresses of her generation.
Hamnet
Based on the life of William Shakespeare, Hamnet explores his marriage, family, devastating loss, and the grief that ultimately shaped Hamlet. Chloé Zhao tells a sweeping yet intimate story — from romance to parenthood to tragedy — all within two hours, and it flows effortlessly. The film is poetic without being precious, emotionally grounded without being manipulative. That final stretch stayed with me long after the film ended, especially as someone who appreciates stories about how art is born from loss.
40 Acres
Set in a post-apocalyptic world, 40 Acres centers on a Black family living on generational farmland in Canada, led by parents who have taught their children how to survive outside threats. The film balances survival, legacy, and protection, showing how love and fear coexist when the world is dangerous. What stayed with me was the silence — how loud it felt. Danielle Deadwyler’s performance made me want to see her in more action-driven roles, and RT Thorne’s direction brought tension without excess.
The Long Walk
Based on Stephen King’s novel, The Long Walk follows 100 teenage boys forced into a brutal, televised walking competition where slowing down means death. Set in a dystopian America, the film explores endurance, sacrifice, authoritarianism, and the disposability of youth. The performances — especially David Johnson’s — carried the emotional weight. It felt bleak, exhausting, and unsettling in a way that mirrors both historical allegories like the Vietnam War draft and anxieties about our future. It kept me engaged the entire time.
One Battle After Another
One Battle After Another explores political unrest and revolution through overlapping personal stories, examining who is asked to fight, who holds power, and who pays the price when ideology turns into action. What stayed with me was the decision to center a Black woman, played by Teyana Taylor, within that chaos. Her presence adds layers around fetishization, protection, and how Black women are often positioned as both the reason for war and collateral within it. The film felt uncomfortably close to real life, which is why it lingered.
Sarah’s Oil
Sarah’s Oil tells the true story of Sarah Rector, who became the world’s youngest Black millionaire at age 11 after oil was discovered on her land. What stood out was how accessible the film is — it doesn’t center trauma, but instead invites families to learn together. Nia D. Thompson’s performance grounds the story, making it both educational and emotionally resonant. It sent me down a research rabbit hole afterward, which is exactly what a historical film like this should do.
Stay
Stay centers on a couple in the middle of separating who become trapped inside their home by a supernatural force. As they try to escape, it becomes clear the real battle isn’t the house — it’s themselves. The film deals with guilt, forgiveness, reconciliation, and self-reflection. Jazz Summers tells the story in a chaotic but intentional way that felt deeply relatable. It’s a horror film, but emotionally it’s about the things we avoid facing until we’re forced to.
Good Boy
Told largely from the perspective of a dog named Andy, Good Boy is a horror film where the true tension lies in what animals sense that humans cannot. The humans barely register — this is Andy’s story. While the film itself isn’t flawless, the emotional pull came from being fully invested in this dog’s survival. I thought about Andy long after watching, and it’s wild how rare it is for a film to make you fear for an animal in that way.
Frankenstein
Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein retells the story through multiple perspectives, reframing who the real villain is and where compassion truly lies. Despite countless adaptations, this one felt fresh. What I loved most was the emotional balance — humanity and madness sitting side by side. Del Toro’s empathy toward the monster reshapes the story into something deeply moving rather than purely horrific.
The Knife
The Knife is a tense drama-thriller centered on a loving Black family whose lives are thrown into chaos after a white woman breaks into their home. In a moment of panic — shaped by fear, instinct, and a deep understanding of how the system treats Black families. What stayed with me wasn’t just the premise, but the quiet terror beneath every decision. The film understands that for Black families, truth and safety don’t always coexist. It forces you to sit with an impossible question: What is the right choice when the system is already stacked against you? The performances carry that weight and while the film can feel heavy, that heaviness feels intentional. It mirrors the pressure, paranoia, and moral calculus Black people are forced to make in moments where survival is on the line.
House of Dynamite
Told from multiple viewpoints across the United States, House of Dynamite examines power, leadership, and the impossible weight of decision-making. Similar to Warfare, it focuses less on spectacle and more on consequence. The ending — controversial for some — worked for me because it refuses closure and instead leaves you with an ethical question that doesn’t have a clean answer. I was on edge the entire time.
Love + Wine
A South African romantic comedy centered on Black love, Love + Wine is light, warm, and charming without being shallow. While not aiming for big laughs, it delivers comfort and sweetness, reminding me how rare and necessary Black rom-coms are. It’s the kind of movie you watch with friends or family and leave smiling, wondering why we don’t get more stories like this.
Good Fortune
Good Fortune follows a man dissatisfied with his life whose circumstances are swapped by an inexperienced angel, forcing him to reassess what fulfillment actually looks like. The film blends humor with reflection, showing how unsustainable modern life feels while still highlighting resilience. What stayed with me was how close it felt to reality — less fantasy, more mirror.
Sinners
Sinners was the film that reminded me why I love cinema and the theatrical experience. Whether people love it or debate it, its ambition, craft, and impact are undeniable. Not every film needs to be everyone’s cup of tea — but dismissing Sinners outright misses what it accomplishes. For me, it was a cinematic masterpiece, and the most unforgettable film of the year.