As 2025 draws to a close, movie lovers and critics alike are taking stock of a year that, for all its turbulence in Hollywood, still managed to deliver a diverse array of cinematic gems. From sci-fi spectacles and faith-based animations to intimate dramas and biting social commentaries, the films of 2025 provided audiences with both escapist thrills and thought-provoking narratives. But what truly stood out this year? And how did the shifting sands of the entertainment industry shape what we saw on screen?
According to Brett McCracken’s review for The Gospel Coalition, 2025 was a year marked by a modest box-office rebound, yet shadowed by ominous industry changes. The growing influence of artificial intelligence, Netflix’s acquisition of the storied Warner Bros., and a "spooky convergence" where everything not already television seemed to morph into it, all contributed to a sense of cultural stagnation. Apple TV, for instance, emerged as a major player, with original series like "The Studio" and "Severance" Season 2 prompting viewers to wrestle with deep philosophical and theological questions.
Yet, amid these industry tremors, movies continued to offer bright spots. On December 27, 2025, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette columnist Philip Martin published his personal top 10 best movies of the year, underscoring the enduring allure of the big screen—even as streaming’s dominance grew. Meanwhile, Jeff Spry, writing for Space.com, delivered a comprehensive ranking of 2025’s best sci-fi movies, highlighting how even in an era of diminished theatrical releases, Hollywood’s imagination remained as vibrant as ever.
Among the year’s most notable sci-fi entries, "Tron: Ares" made a splash with its $220 million budget and dazzling visuals, though it struggled to ignite audience enthusiasm. Spry noted, "It could be that the execution of the film failed to ignite audience interest in a tale of the digital realm intruding on our real world, or maybe that no one wanted to see an AI Jared Leto." Nevertheless, he praised the film’s visual feast and its killer Nine Inch Nails score, despite its financial woes.
Streaming giants continued to flex their muscles. Netflix’s "The Electric State," directed by the Russo brothers and starring Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt, was described as a "cartoonish romp" through a post-apocalyptic America, with visual effects that matched its staggering $320 million budget. Apple TV+ also made waves with "The Gorge," a sci-fi horror feature that, according to Spry, "should have been given a full theatrical release," thanks to its captivating performances by Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy.
Box office numbers told their own story. Disney’s live-action remake of "Lilo & Stitch" soared past the $1 billion mark, only recently surpassed by "Zootopia 2" as the year’s top performer. Director Dean Fleischer Camp kept the remake "cute and charming," with Chris Sanders reprising his role as the voice of Stitch. Spry summed up its appeal: "This makeover movie stays pretty true to the original and revolves around Lilo, a six-year-old, hula-loving Hawaiian surfer girl who adopts a furry blue alien creature named Stitch, who was created as a biological weapon."
Superhero films remained a staple, with DC Studios’ "Superman" introducing David Corenswet as the Man of Steel in a film that balanced hope and a star-studded cast. Marvel Studios, meanwhile, broke what Spry called the "decades-old curse" of lackluster Fantastic Four movies with "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," set in a retro-futuristic 1960s New York. This new take on Marvel’s First Family didn’t set the box office ablaze but was hailed as "a solid step in the right direction."
Not every major release landed smoothly. Films like "Mickey 17," "Elio," and Ice Cube’s "War of the Worlds" failed to make critics’ or audiences’ top lists, while "The Astronaut" left viewers scratching their heads. Still, for every misstep, there were films that blossomed—sometimes quietly, sometimes with a bang.
One of the year’s most ambitious projects was Guillermo del Toro’s "Frankenstein," which Spry described as "a haunting epic, both romantic and tragic, with enough atmosphere and artistic touches to satisfy the most discriminating of tastes." The film, starring Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi, drew praise for its lavish sets and its faithful, if modernized, take on Mary Shelley’s classic. McCracken, too, noted the film’s timely critique of "playing God" with science and technology, especially in an age increasingly dominated by AI.
But 2025 wasn’t just about spectacle. McCracken’s own top films included "Train Dreams," a period drama starring Joel Edgerton that pondered suffering and meaning against the backdrop of the early 20th-century Pacific Northwest. He lauded the film’s "gorgeous way that basks in the good, true, and beautiful—a mode of filmmaking all too rare in our jaded, disenchanted world." Other highlights included "Roofman," a comedic drama based on a true story of fatherhood and redemption, and "The Ballad of Wallis Island," a romantic comedy that celebrated kindness and the power of putting aside personal baggage.
International and faith-based films also found their moment. The French film "Souleymane’s Story" offered a compassionate look at the life of a food-courier immigrant in Paris, while the animated musical "David" from Angel Studios was praised as "a triumph of faith-based artistry." Even secular films like "Sinners," "Frankenstein," and "Wake Up Dead Man" wrestled with Christian themes in fresh, if sometimes theologically muddled, ways. As McCracken observed, "One welcome trend in 2025’s film and television landscape was the increased prominence of Bible stories and faith themes."
Elsewhere, the year’s best documentaries tackled weighty issues—from the ongoing war in Ukraine in "A Faith Under Siege," to the legacy of Nazi propagandist Leni Riefenstahl in "Riefenstahl." Even the lighter fare, like "Paddington in Peru," reminded audiences of the enduring power of family, home, and a little orange marmalade sweetness.
While the entertainment industry’s future remains uncertain, with streaming platforms consolidating power and AI reshaping creative processes, the movies of 2025 proved that artistry, imagination, and the search for meaning are alive and well. Whether viewers found themselves swept up in the neon glow of "Tron: Ares," the heartfelt drama of "Train Dreams," or the spiritual journey of "David," the year’s films offered something for everyone—reminding us, even in uncertain times, why we keep coming back to the movies.
