Sierra's Best Movies of 2025
- Sierra Slaughter
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
I watched Idiotka at a film fest, and I know Utopia is distributing, but technically it's not out yet. Otherwise it likely would have cracked my Top 10 I think!
Honorable Mentions: Perfect Neighbor, Dust Bunny, Devo, Sorry Baby, Friendship
10. Spinal Tap 2: The End Continues
Here’s the thing with the critically (un)acclaimed Spinal Tap 2: if you watch it the day after Rob Reiner dies immediately following This is Spinal Tap and you have an open heart you will love it. It remains true to the original but dialed up to 11; cameos out the wazoo that were as delightful and surprising. A blast. RIP to one of the best to ever do it.
*Available to stream on HBO Max
9. Wicked: For Good
In a similar vein, watching Wicked: For Good was always going to be up my alley. "As Long As You’re Mine!" "No Good Deed!" "For Good!" Chills! Ethan Slater! The second act should have never been a standalone and the new songs are mega-skippable, but it's still close to my heart. Wonderful time.
*Available to rent on VOD (probs still showing in some theaters)
8. Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning
Wait I’m kind of sensing a trend…I sobbed when {redacted}, and I was more anxious at the final act of this movie then I’ve been at any Safdie Brothers movie. Tom Cruise, our real movie star, thank you God of Cinema™. Could have easily cracked the Top 5 if we had more mask reveals, something lacking in all the middling MI movies.
*Available to stream on Paramount+
7. Marty Supreme
The best of the Safdie bunch, together or apart. Timmy has always been a star, noted Husband of Sierra Emory Cohen is tragically underutilized, but it’s not too bad to watch a white boy make bad decision after bad decision. Very long, though, which absolutely works against it.
*Currently in theaters
6. Bring Her Back
I watched this at 8 A.M. on my couch on a weekday morning and almost had to turn it off. I was so horrified by the kitchen table scene. IYKYK. Practical effects will always be in, and the Philippou brothers are miles above Osgood Perkins.
*Available to stream on HBO Max
5. Train Dreams
William H. Macy gives the performance of his life. After so many horrible-looking movies recently, to see something beautiful, lyrical, and true on our screens is such a privilege. The Netflix release hurts, but goodness gracious, grab your friend with the best TV and sound, turn off all the lights, and embrace the PNW and open your heart x2.
*Available to stream on Netflix
4. Sinners
Easily could have been the best of the year if it was shorter. That said, it does contain the best scene of the year in the juke joint, and my second favorite cameo of the year (maybe first actually, I'm undecided). Extremely cool for a Hollywood Blockbuster to be THIS good and make THIS MANY waves.
*Available on HBO Max
3. Blue Moon
I did watch both Linklater movies and surprisingly liked Nouvelle Vague more than I thought I would. But Blue Moon is one of his best…ever? Ethan Hawke in a career-defining rule. A pathetic, sad, asshole little man for whom you can’t help but have your heart break. He gives a masterclass, completely melting into his role of Lorenz Hart, but brings enough of himself to give Hart full depth. (I deeply disliked Marget Qualley so much in this, btw. She very nearly ruins the entire film but that’s how good the REST of the movie is).
*Available to rent on VOD
2. Familiar Touch
What Director Sarah Friedland does with sound in this film is nothing short of extraordinary, in direct opposition of the likes of Sinners or Mission: Impossible. How lucky are we to be alive in the time of such grounded and personal performances. Kathleen Chalfant, I am sorry I was not familiar with your game. A rare small indie you will be thinking about many years after watching. In a year of HUGE male performances, Kathleen Chalfant quietly outdelivers on almost everyone.
*Available to steam on Mubi
1. Hamnet
Actually my first movie of 2026... I am writing this list on January 1, but I needed a clear #1 frontrunner from 2025 and here it is. I have adored Chloé Zhao ever since The Rider. She really feels like one of our last remaining auteurs, a singular filmmaker. Allowing Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal to breathe in their scenes, going that extra distance to hit their mark exactly. She also never once lets up the entire film. Completely gutted and totally exhausted emotionally, spiritually by the end. All we have is each other in this world and, if we’re lucky, beautiful art and this is some. Jacobi Jupe joins the ranks of "child actor performance of a lifetime." OPEN YOUR HEART X3.
*Available in theaters
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