Christian's Best Movies of 2025

As we here at The Couch continue to recap 2025 in sports in entertainment, Film and Television contributor Christian Becker offers his ranking of the best films of an abnormally good year.

You can read fellow Film contributor Sierra Slaughter's Top 10 here as well.

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In ranked order, here's my Top 15:

15. The Naked Gun

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14. Frankenstein

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13. Is This Thing On?

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12. 28 Years Later

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11. F1

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10. Secret Mall Apartment

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9. The Lost Bus

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8. Wake Up Dead Man

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7. Materialists

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6. Black Bag

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Some additional editorializing for my Top 5 of '25...

5. Blue Moon

You ever sit in a movie and just feel so relaxed and taken care of? That’s how I felt for the entirety of Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon. A tribute to a great artist at the end of his rope, Lorenz Hart. A story treated much more like a plan than a film, but that works to the story's advantage. It’s like sitting at a bar and eavesdropping on some of the most entertaining, juicy conversations you’ve ever heard.

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4. Weapons

The only film on this list that I went back and watched a second time in the theater. I was so excited about what I watched, that as soon as it was over I planned a movie night with friends to go out and see it the very next week. A movie experience that will shock you, surprise you, and make you jump out of your seat. And Amy Madigan... what can I say about her that hasn’t already been said? The entire energy of the movie changes when she’s on screen. She does so much with so little screentime and crafts one of the most memorable characters in horror cinema this decade.

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3. One Battle After Another

Easily Paul Thomas Anderson’s best film in my book. Equal parts funny and captivating; it brings you along for a wild ride of wacky characters and set pieces, but none of it ever feels like a joke. This probably gets the award for “longest movie that feels like the shortest movie” of the year, which is a testament to how masterful and fast paced the craftsmanship is. Between Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Don’t Look Up (come on, he was funny in that!), and now this, I think I prefer fun Leo to serious Leo.

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2. Grand Theft Hamlet

One of the most unique and creative films not only of this year, but of any year! A COVID-era movie that actually uses restrictions to its advantage. A story that could have only been told through the limitations of being stuck at home, unable to perform in real life settings. Two actor friends making a movie about perseverance and the power of the creative spirit…all told through the world of Grand Theft Auto. A concept that really, should not have worked. Yet, it ended up being a piece of art that knocked me out.

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1. Sinners

After seeing this in on an amazing 70mm film print on a giant IMAX screen, I knew this would be the film to beat for me all year... and nothing ever did beat it. This is why we go to the movies! For thrills, for action, for love, for toe-tapping music, for insight into another culture and world! And yes, even for vampires! This was so captivating that even if the vampire element was never introduced, I’d still be in love with this movie simply to spend time in this world and hang out with these soulful characters.