Ah, 2025: The year we were all waiting for the film industry to normalize once again. And… well, maybe “normal” is overrated? Yes? …Anyone?
Alas, this year had no shortage of industry downs and ups, turmoil, and uncertainty. Yet, filmmakers continued to push through, making and — most importantly, for this particular post — releasing movies of all genres, shapes, and sizes. Whether viewed at a festival, a commercial theater, or on streaming, the SAGindie staff did the homework necessary to name our FAVORITE FILMS OF THE YEAR (plus a few classics we just got around to in 2025). Join us in flashing back to the past 12 months to revisit some must-see titles!
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Darrien’s Favorites:
- Sinners
- F1
- Hamnet (for that ending)
- Wicked: For Good (because…)
- Sorry, Baby
- All That’s Left of You
- The Perfect Neighbor
Admittedly, late:
Still hope to see:
Eliza’s Favorites:
New:
- Sorry, Baby
- Dead Lover
- Satisfaction
- One of Them Days
- Queens of Drama
- Castration Movie Parts 1 & 2
- To the West, in Zapata
- Black Bag
- Weapons
- Eephus
- Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie
- Splitsville
New to Me:
- Foxfire
- T Blockers
- Smooth Talk
- Taxi Zum Klo
- Election (2005)
- Lawrence of Arabia
- Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Colin’s Favorites:
Top 10 Films of 2025:
- Eddington
- Wake Up Dead Man
- Sinners
- One Battle After Another
- Black Bag
- Splitsville
- Twinless
- It Was Just an Accident / Bugonia
- Sorry, Baby
- Weapons
Best Films of Not 2025 (That I Saw in 2025):
- Good Morning
- The Kid Brother
- Down With Love
- The Killing Fields
- Matewan
- The Return of the Living Dead
- Fail Safe
Shefali’s Favorites:
My Top Films of 2025, in classic fashion, very soft coming-of-age…but also vampires:
- Cactus Pears
- Sorry, Baby
- A Nice Indian Boy
- Sinners
- Twinless
- Brides
- Sentimental Value
- By Design
- I Wish You All the Best
- Bad Girl
My favorite old, but new to me:
Michaels’s Favorites:
By far my favorite, instant classic, have watched many times, will buy on BluRay to watch again and again is One Battle After Another.
Runners up include:
- Bugonia
- It Was Just an Accident
- The Mastermind
- Sentimental Value
- Sinners
- Sorry, Baby
- Tatami
- Train Dreams
- Weapons
Oldies for the first time: Will buy on BluRay and watch many times is High & Low (1963)
Runners up include:
- The Annihilation of Fish (1999)
- End of the Road (1970)
- Rashomon (1950)
- The Rules of the Game (1939)
- Waltz with Bashir (2008)
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