Best Films of 2025
19 February 2026
This article is a look at the best films of 2025.
I saw 389 films in 2025. So let us begin.
THE FILMALUATION AWARDS
The following are listed alphabetically in each category for my nominations, with a runner-up, and then the very lucky winner!
Have you got your formal attire on? Okay, let’s begin…
Best Actress
Nearly made the list: AFTER THE HUNT - Julia Roberts, EDEN - Ana de Armas, THE ROSES - Olivia Colman, THE SMASHING MACHINE - Emily Blunt, WE LIVE IN TIME - Florence Pugh, WICKED: FOR GOOD - Cynthia Erivo
BABYGIRL - Nicole Kidman
BUGONIA - Emma Stone
DIE MY LOVE - Jennifer Lawrence
HARD TRUTHS - Marianne Jean-Baptiste
HOT MILK - Emma Mackey
I’M STILL HERE - Fernanda Torres
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER - Chase Infini
SHE RIDES SHOTGUN - Ana Sophia Heger
SORRY, BABY - Eva Victor
THE LAST SHOWGIRL - Pamela Anderson
Runner-up: THE LAST SHOWGIRL - Pamela Anderson
Winner: DIE MY LOVE - Jennifer Lawrence
Best Actor
Nearly made the list: 28 YEARS LATER - Alfie Williams, FRANKENSTEIN - Oscar Isaac, I SWEAR - Robert Aramayo, SOVEREIGN - Nick Offerman, THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND - Tim Key, THE SMASHING MACHINE - Dwayne Johnson
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN - Timothée Chalamet
BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER – Colin Farrell
BUGONIA - Jesse Plemons
JAY KELLY – George Clooney
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER - Leonardo DiCaprio
SINNERS - Michael B. Jordan
THE BRUTALIST - Adrien Brody
THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME - Benicio del Toro
THE SURFER - Nicolas Cage
TRAIN DREAMS – Joel Edgerton
Runner-up: THE SURFER - Nicolas Cage
Winner: SINNERS - Michael B. Jordan
Best Supporting Actress
AFTER THE HUNT - Ayo Edebiri
BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER – Tilda Swinton
FRANKENSTEIN - Mia Goth
HOT MILK - Fiona Shaw
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER - Teyana Taylor
SINNERS – Wunmi Mosaku
THE BRUTALIST - Felicity Jones
THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME - Mia Threapleton
THE WEDDING BANQUET - Yoon Yuh-jung
WICKED: FOR GOOD - Ariana Grande
Runner-up: AFTER THE HUNT - Ayo Edebiri
Winner: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER - Teyana Taylor
Best Supporting Actor
Nearly made the list: FRANKENSTEIN - Jacob Elordi, GOOD FORTUNE - Keanu Reeves, NUREMBERG - Michael Shannon, THE BRUTALIST - Guy Pearce
28 YEARS LATER - Ralph Fiennes
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN - Edward Norton
DIE MY LOVE - Robert Pattinson
HIM - Marlon Wayans
JAY KELLY – Adam Sandler
NUREMBERG - Russell Crowe
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER - Benicio Del Toro
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER - Sean Penn
SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE - Jeremy Strong
THE END - Michael Shannon
Runner-up: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER - Benicio Del Toro
Winner: HIM - Marlon Wayans
Best Animated Film
FLOW
MARS EXPRESS
SAVAGES
THE BAD GUYS 2
Runner-up: MARS EXPRESS
Winner: FLOW
Best Cinematography
Nearly made the list: DEAD OF WINTER, F1, THE BRUTALIST, THE LEGEND OF OCHI, WEAPONS
BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER
FLOW
HIGHEST 2 LOWEST
IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
JAY KELLY
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
SATURDAY NIGHT
SINNERS
THE SURFER
WICKED: FOR GOOD
Runner-up: BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER
Winner: FLOW
Best Screenplay
Nearly made the list: All OF YOU, EDDINGTON, HEART EYES, HOT MILK, I SWEAR, JAY KELLY, MICKEY 17, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING, PALESTINE 36; SORRY, BABY; THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND, THE SURFER
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN
A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE
BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER
FLOW
HOMEBOUND
I’M STILL HERE
IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG
WICKED: FOR GOOD
Runner-up: IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
Winner: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Horror
Nearly made the list: BAMBI: THE RECKONING, FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES, FRANKENSTEIN, HEART EYES, TOGETHER, WEAPONS
28 YEARS LATER
A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE
BRING HER BACK
COMPANION
DANGEROUS ANIMALS
HIM
SINNERS
THE ELIXIR
THE SURFER
THE UGLY STEPSISTER
Runner-up: THE SURFER
Winner: SINNERS
Best Score
28 YEARS LATER
A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE
BABYGIRL
BLACK BAG
BUGONIA
FLOW
HIGHEST 2 LOWEST
HIM
HOMEBOUND
MARS EXPRESS
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
PREDATOR: BADLANDS
SINNERS
THE GORGE
THE LEGEND OF OCHI
THE MASTERMIND
THE SURFER
THUNDERBOLTS
TORNADO
TRON: ARES
WEAPONS
Runner-up: FLOW
Winner: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Visual Effects
Nearly made the list: HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, KEEPER, THE LEGEND OF OCHI, TROLL 2
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH
F1
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING
PREDATOR: BADLANDS
THE ELECTRIC STATE
THE ELIXIR
THE GREAT FLOOD
TRON: ARES
WICKED: FOR GOOD
Runner-up: THE ELIXIR
Winner: THE ELECTRIC STATE
Best Documentary
BLUE ROAD: THE EDNA O’BRIEN STORY
BREAKDOWN: 1975
COVER-UP
ONE TO ONE: JOHN & YOKO
PAULINE BLACK: A 2-TONE STORY
STRANGE JOURNEY: THE STORY OF ROCKY HORROR
SURVIVING OHIO STATE
THE NEW YORKER AT 100
THOUGHTS & PRAYERS
TWIGGY
Runner-up: SURVIVING OHIO STATE
Winner: ONE TO ONE: JOHN & YOKO
Best Comedy
Nearly made the list: DEEP COVER, ETERNITY, THE NAKED GUN, THE ROSES
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
BUGONIA
COMPANION
FACKHAM HALL
GOOD FORTUNE
HEART EYES
MICKEY 17
MOUNTAINHEAD
OPUS
THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND
Runner-up: THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND
Winner: OPUS
Best Action Film
Nearly made the list: 11 REBELS, BALLERINA, DEMON CITY, LOVE HURTS, NOVOCAINE, THUNDERBOLTS
BLOOD BROTHERS: BARA NAGA
EXTERRITORIAL
FLOW
HEADS OF STATE
LAST BULLET
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
SISU: ROAD TO REVENGE
THE ELIXIR
THE GREAT FLOOD
Runner-up: THE ELIXIR
Winner: FLOW
Best Director
Nearly made the list: JAY KELLY – Noah Baumbach
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN - James Mangold
BABYGIRL - Halina Reijn
BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER – Edward Berger
BUGONIA - Jorgos Lanthimos
FLOW - Gints Zilbalodis
IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT – Jafar Panahi
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER - Paul Thomas Anderson
SINNERS - Ryan Coogler
THE SURFER - Lorcan Finnegan
WICKED: FOR GOOD - Jon M. Chu
Runner-up: WICKED: FOR GOOD - Jon M. Chu
Winner: FLOW - Gints Zilbalodis
Best Film
Nearly made the list: JAY KELLY
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN
A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE
BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER
FLOW
HOMEBOUND
I’M STILL HERE
IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG
WICKED: FOR GOOD
Runner-up: IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
Winner: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Congratulations to the award winners, dry your tears of victory.
So that’s it for another year folks! Bring on 2026!
THE FILMALUATION AWARDS
The following are listed alphabetically in each category for my nominations, with a runner-up, and then the very lucky winner!
Have you got your formal attire on? Okay, let’s begin…
Best Actress
Nearly made the list: AFTER THE HUNT - Julia Roberts, EDEN - Ana de Armas, THE ROSES - Olivia Colman, THE SMASHING MACHINE - Emily Blunt, WE LIVE IN TIME - Florence Pugh, WICKED: FOR GOOD - Cynthia Erivo
BABYGIRL - Nicole Kidman
BUGONIA - Emma Stone
DIE MY LOVE - Jennifer Lawrence
HARD TRUTHS - Marianne Jean-Baptiste
HOT MILK - Emma Mackey
I’M STILL HERE - Fernanda Torres
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER - Chase Infini
SHE RIDES SHOTGUN - Ana Sophia Heger
SORRY, BABY - Eva Victor
THE LAST SHOWGIRL - Pamela Anderson
Runner-up: THE LAST SHOWGIRL - Pamela Anderson
Winner: DIE MY LOVE - Jennifer Lawrence
Best Actor
Nearly made the list: 28 YEARS LATER - Alfie Williams, FRANKENSTEIN - Oscar Isaac, I SWEAR - Robert Aramayo, SOVEREIGN - Nick Offerman, THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND - Tim Key, THE SMASHING MACHINE - Dwayne Johnson
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN - Timothée Chalamet
BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER – Colin Farrell
BUGONIA - Jesse Plemons
JAY KELLY – George Clooney
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER - Leonardo DiCaprio
SINNERS - Michael B. Jordan
THE BRUTALIST - Adrien Brody
THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME - Benicio del Toro
THE SURFER - Nicolas Cage
TRAIN DREAMS – Joel Edgerton
Runner-up: THE SURFER - Nicolas Cage
Winner: SINNERS - Michael B. Jordan
Best Supporting Actress
AFTER THE HUNT - Ayo Edebiri
BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER – Tilda Swinton
FRANKENSTEIN - Mia Goth
HOT MILK - Fiona Shaw
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER - Teyana Taylor
SINNERS – Wunmi Mosaku
THE BRUTALIST - Felicity Jones
THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME - Mia Threapleton
THE WEDDING BANQUET - Yoon Yuh-jung
WICKED: FOR GOOD - Ariana Grande
Runner-up: AFTER THE HUNT - Ayo Edebiri
Winner: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER - Teyana Taylor
Best Supporting Actor
Nearly made the list: FRANKENSTEIN - Jacob Elordi, GOOD FORTUNE - Keanu Reeves, NUREMBERG - Michael Shannon, THE BRUTALIST - Guy Pearce
28 YEARS LATER - Ralph Fiennes
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN - Edward Norton
DIE MY LOVE - Robert Pattinson
HIM - Marlon Wayans
JAY KELLY – Adam Sandler
NUREMBERG - Russell Crowe
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER - Benicio Del Toro
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER - Sean Penn
SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE - Jeremy Strong
THE END - Michael Shannon
Runner-up: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER - Benicio Del Toro
Winner: HIM - Marlon Wayans
Best Animated Film
FLOW
MARS EXPRESS
SAVAGES
THE BAD GUYS 2
Runner-up: MARS EXPRESS
Winner: FLOW
Best Cinematography
Nearly made the list: DEAD OF WINTER, F1, THE BRUTALIST, THE LEGEND OF OCHI, WEAPONS
BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER
FLOW
HIGHEST 2 LOWEST
IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
JAY KELLY
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
SATURDAY NIGHT
SINNERS
THE SURFER
WICKED: FOR GOOD
Runner-up: BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER
Winner: FLOW
Best Screenplay
Nearly made the list: All OF YOU, EDDINGTON, HEART EYES, HOT MILK, I SWEAR, JAY KELLY, MICKEY 17, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING, PALESTINE 36; SORRY, BABY; THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND, THE SURFER
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN
A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE
BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER
FLOW
HOMEBOUND
I’M STILL HERE
IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG
WICKED: FOR GOOD
Runner-up: IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
Winner: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Horror
Nearly made the list: BAMBI: THE RECKONING, FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES, FRANKENSTEIN, HEART EYES, TOGETHER, WEAPONS
28 YEARS LATER
A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE
BRING HER BACK
COMPANION
DANGEROUS ANIMALS
HIM
SINNERS
THE ELIXIR
THE SURFER
THE UGLY STEPSISTER
Runner-up: THE SURFER
Winner: SINNERS
Best Score
28 YEARS LATER
A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE
BABYGIRL
BLACK BAG
BUGONIA
FLOW
HIGHEST 2 LOWEST
HIM
HOMEBOUND
MARS EXPRESS
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
PREDATOR: BADLANDS
SINNERS
THE GORGE
THE LEGEND OF OCHI
THE MASTERMIND
THE SURFER
THUNDERBOLTS
TORNADO
TRON: ARES
WEAPONS
Runner-up: FLOW
Winner: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Visual Effects
Nearly made the list: HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, KEEPER, THE LEGEND OF OCHI, TROLL 2
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH
F1
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING
PREDATOR: BADLANDS
THE ELECTRIC STATE
THE ELIXIR
THE GREAT FLOOD
TRON: ARES
WICKED: FOR GOOD
Runner-up: THE ELIXIR
Winner: THE ELECTRIC STATE
Best Documentary
BLUE ROAD: THE EDNA O’BRIEN STORY
BREAKDOWN: 1975
COVER-UP
ONE TO ONE: JOHN & YOKO
PAULINE BLACK: A 2-TONE STORY
STRANGE JOURNEY: THE STORY OF ROCKY HORROR
SURVIVING OHIO STATE
THE NEW YORKER AT 100
THOUGHTS & PRAYERS
TWIGGY
Runner-up: SURVIVING OHIO STATE
Winner: ONE TO ONE: JOHN & YOKO
Best Comedy
Nearly made the list: DEEP COVER, ETERNITY, THE NAKED GUN, THE ROSES
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
BUGONIA
COMPANION
FACKHAM HALL
GOOD FORTUNE
HEART EYES
MICKEY 17
MOUNTAINHEAD
OPUS
THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND
Runner-up: THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND
Winner: OPUS
Best Action Film
Nearly made the list: 11 REBELS, BALLERINA, DEMON CITY, LOVE HURTS, NOVOCAINE, THUNDERBOLTS
BLOOD BROTHERS: BARA NAGA
EXTERRITORIAL
FLOW
HEADS OF STATE
LAST BULLET
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
SISU: ROAD TO REVENGE
THE ELIXIR
THE GREAT FLOOD
Runner-up: THE ELIXIR
Winner: FLOW
Best Director
Nearly made the list: JAY KELLY – Noah Baumbach
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN - James Mangold
BABYGIRL - Halina Reijn
BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER – Edward Berger
BUGONIA - Jorgos Lanthimos
FLOW - Gints Zilbalodis
IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT – Jafar Panahi
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER - Paul Thomas Anderson
SINNERS - Ryan Coogler
THE SURFER - Lorcan Finnegan
WICKED: FOR GOOD - Jon M. Chu
Runner-up: WICKED: FOR GOOD - Jon M. Chu
Winner: FLOW - Gints Zilbalodis
Best Film
Nearly made the list: JAY KELLY
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN
A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE
BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER
FLOW
HOMEBOUND
I’M STILL HERE
IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG
WICKED: FOR GOOD
Runner-up: IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
Winner: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Congratulations to the award winners, dry your tears of victory.
So that’s it for another year folks! Bring on 2026!