The Best Movies Of 2025
From animated global phenomenons to sweeping genre-bending thrillers, the writers of Pop Culture Planet are sharing the Best Of 2025.
Companion
Starring Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid, Companion was the unexpectedly feminist sci-fi thriller of the year and we loved every moment! Thatcher’s character gaining autonomy and being a badass while beating out Quaid’s character was the icing on the cake for a film about independence, horror, AI, romance, and comedy.
Companion is streaming on HBO Max.
- Paola Cardenas
Eternity
In Eternity, Joan (Elizabeth Olsen) is faced with an impossible choice between spending her afterlife with the man she spent her life with or her first love who died young and waited for her. With a solid cast and surreal visuals, Eternity brings a captivating lore to the ideas of life and love after death. Miles Teller steals the show as the endearingly grumbly but comfortable Larry who you can’t help but root for.
Eternity is available on Prime Video.
- Kristen Maldonado
In Your Dreams
Stevie and her brother Elliot go on the adventure of a night time through their dreams to ask the Sandman to make a big wish come true in Netflix’s In Your Dreams.
In Your Dreams is hilarious, heartfelt, and undeniably real. Everyone will see a bit of themselves in this story. A seemingly simple wish for a perfect family takes our characters on a wild and vibrant adventure that shows us just how much beauty and love are in life’s messy parts.
Streaming on Netflix.
- Kristen Maldonado
KPop Demon Hunters
KPop Demon Hunters took the world by storm, becoming a global phenomenon that broke records in music, movies, and streaming. The fierce trio of Huntr/x are K-pop stars by day and demon hunters by night.
The film delivers beautiful messages of self-love and healing on top of its unforgettable soundtrack. The animation details are so intricate that it turned Rumi, Mira, and Zoey into relatable pop culture icons. KPop Demon Hunters is hands down the best film of the year, animated or not.
KPop Demon Hunters is streaming on Netflix.
- Kristen Maldonado
Materialists
Materialists was a personal favorite of mine with leading lady Dakota Johnson and her two love interests portrayed by Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans. What seems like a love triangle story is actually much deeper as the film delves deeper into heavy topics, vulnerability, and questions what it means to be in love, to find the right person, and modern relationships.
Watch Materialists on Prime Video.
- Paola Cardenas
Mickey 17
No one does dying over and over again like Robert Pattinson! The Bong Joon-ho-directed film is visually stunning. Pattinson pulls out all the stops in a very dark, quirky role and even the satirical commentary is enjoyable.
Mickey 17 is streaming on HBO Max.
- Paola Cardenas
Providence Falls
Hallmark Channel brought us the sweeping cross-genre three-part special that is Providence Falls this year. An Irish thief from 1844 is sent to present day to help the modern incarnation of his late love fall for her “true” soulmate. What he finds instead is that the consequences of their forbidden love has altered the fabric of history forever.
If you’re a fan of The Way Home or Drop Dead Diva, you’ll want to add this trilogy to your watchlist. Providence Falls is a truly spellbinding, genre-bending romance that is equal parts period piece, cop drama, and spiritual fantasy. Hallmark skillfully explores love, fate, and second chances in this movie trilogy format, leaving room for high-stakes storylines and meaningful character development in a way that feels more like a full television series. By the final film’s satisfying conclusion, you’ll be so attached to these characters that you’ll find yourself wishing for a continuation or spin-off just to spend more time in this world.
Streaming on Hallmark+.
- Kristen Maldonado
Sinners
Sinners was the breakout movie of the year! Set in Jim Crow South in the 1930s, the Ryan Coogler film tackles generational trauma, racism, and identity, offering a haunting nuance to the period drama. Michael B. Jordan’s performance is outstanding and the entire ensemble cast including Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell, Li Jun Li, and Jayme Lawson deliver. This is the film to watch if you haven’t already.
Sinners is streaming on HBO Max.
- Paola Cardenas
Summer of 69
When an awkward high schooler befriends an exotic dancer to help seduce her crush in Summer Of 69, the result is a surprisingly genuine and sweet friendship between the duo. Despite its suggestive title, the comedy starring Sam Morelos and Chloe Fineman is full of heartfelt moments. Jillian Bell’s directorial debut is lovable, relatable, witty, and raunchy all in one!
Stream Summer of 69 on Hulu.
- Paola Cardenas
The Life List
If you’ve ever felt a little lost in life, look no further than The Life List starring Sofia Carson. Upon losing her mom, Alex takes on a journey to complete her childhood life list and find herself. Carson proves herself to be an incredible lead and the film is deeply emotional, raw, vulnerable, and everything in between.
The Lift List is on Netflix.
- Paola Cardenas
The Long Walk
Based on the Stephen King novel, The Long Walk is a horror thriller you need to watch. The film is chilling every step of the way as the young men walk and are continually challenged. I was at the edge of my seat the entire time and experienced the most anxiety-ridden and heartbreaking scenes that kept me fully engaged.
The Long Walk comes to STARZ soon.
- Paola Cardenas
Wicked: For Good
Wicked: For Good took everything I loved about the first film and elevated it even higher. There is a beautiful innocence that is shattered as we transition into the story of For Good that finds these two best friends as figureheads on opposite sides of a moral war. This is the type of duology that you can write full dissertations on due to how rich the material is.
From their vocals to their acting choices, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande prove once again that they were born to play these roles. The film tackles the idea that being changed “for good” isn’t always positive. Sometimes it’s just permanent. The choices these characters make leave scars that don’t fade and continue to ripple through the world of Oz.
- Kristen Maldonado
