My Own Subjective Top 10 Movies of 2025

Hello, faithful readers!

It's not every day that I update my blog, it's just every year. So now that 2025 has ended, it's time for me to look back at the films I watched for the first time and share with you my favorites. If you want to hear my least favorites, you can check those out on my podcast, Baconsale. And if you want to see all of the 110 movies I reviewed last year (why? I'm not sure), you can find those on Letterboxd.

Well, I feel like I've shamelessly plugged enough of my other work, so let's just get to the list, shall we?

10. Dead Ringer (1963)

Dead Ringer didn’t start off on the right foot. I felt like the split screen effects were a little hokey and I thought Bette Davis was chewing the scenery no matter which side of the screen she was on. However, when the inciting incident occurred and the story started rolling, I was hooked. This movie has more twists and turns than a roller coaster, and I enjoyed the whole macabre ride. And while Davis never really stops overacting, it almost became part of the plot for me. I thought Karl Malden did a fantastic job with his role, as well. I would recommend Dead Ringer to any fan of classic thrillers.

9. Go West (2023)

From BYU’s Divine Comedy to Studio C to JK Studios, this group of comedians have proven they have what it takes to make people laugh. With Go West, they’ve done what I always wished I could have done with my friends back in the day, make a feature-length film for a wide audience to enjoy. And while it’s obvious that this movie was made on a shoestring (boot string?) budget, the writing is solid, the humor is plentiful, and the acting is entertaining. My family enjoyed watching this together to commemorate Pioneer Day and my kids have been quoting it even since then. You understand. Good job, gang!

8. TRON: Ares (2025)

Surprisingly, I enjoyed Tron: Ares. I have liked the Tron franchise in general, but something about this movie really appealed to me. Perhaps it was the mesmerizing visuals that accompanied the equally enthralling score. Maybe it was Jared Leto’s subdued, yet engaging performance. There were definitely some moments when I started to logically question why certain things were happening, but then the other part of my brain would tell me to chill out and just enjoy the film for what it was. And I did. As controversial as this may sound, I think I enjoyed Tron: Ares more than Tron or Tron: Legacy.

7. The Wild Robot (2024)

When I first saw the trailer for The Wild Robot, I wasn’t that interested in seeing it. However, after I listened to the score, my opinion changed. The music is stirring and beautiful, and I was pleased to find that the film matched that level of quality. I was also surprised by how many times I laughed. Plus, as a parent, the plot hit me in the feels a number of times. Lupita Nyong'o and the animators did a fantastic job of making Roz come to life. There were moments when the story felt a little rushed, but overall, I enjoyed watching The Wild Robot with my family. And now I want to read the book.

6. Donnie Brasco (1997)

Donnie Brasco would be a compelling film if it were complete fiction, but the fact that this is based on a true story makes this movie even more engaging. The character I found the most intriguing was Al Pacino as "Lefty" Ruggiero. He’s not playing the typical powerful egomaniac we’ve seen him do many times before. Lefty is kind of a loser, but he’s also quite dangerous, and yet you also feel pity for him. And Johnny Depp anchors the plot with his performance. His emotions feel real and complex. I know I’m late to the party, but a wise guy would watch Donnie Brasco if he knew what was good for him.

5. Conclave (2024)

What would happen if you sequestered a bunch of the best actors in a room and told them not to come out until they gave Oscar-worthy performances? You’d get Conclave. This fictional story almost feels like a documentary. I found the process and protocols of electing a new pope to be absolutely fascinating, and the performances of Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini make it so all the talking and pontificating maintain the viewers’ interest. Yes, the third act could come across as melodramatic, but Conclave is a religious courtroom drama I wouldn’t mind seeing again.

4. Isle of Dogs (2018)

I don’t know why I waited so long to watch Isle of Dogs. I like Wes Anderson films, I enjoy Fantastic Mr. Fox, but for some reason I let this movie sit in my queue for years. And I shouldn’t have. This is a unique & entertaining experience. It’s bizarre, but it in a good way. The screen is constantly filled with rich animation for your eyes, and the quirky dialogue is a treat for the ears. The voice acting is excellent, and I was surprised by how many big names popped up throughout the story. So while I don’t think this will win over any Wes Anderson detractors, I think Isle of Dogs is a good boy.

3. KPop Demon Hunters (2025)

Catchy songs. Interesting animation. Clever story. There’s not much to dislike about KPop Demon Hunters. To be honest, this movie wasn’t really on my radar, but my kids were all asking to watch it, so we gave it a shot. I’m glad we did. Arden Cho, May Hong, and Ji-young Yoo give vocal performances that really bring their characters to life, and it’s enhanced by the animators having a great time with their facial expressions. The message of the movie gets a little muddled, and the ending left some loose ends, but I would gladly watch KPop Demon Hunters again and I’ll give the soundtrack a listen, too.

2. F1 (2025)

I don’t know much about F1 racing, so watching this movie was a learning experience. I was surprised by how much money this organization has and how many people are involved with each team. But beyond education, this film is also highly entertaining. The racing scenes are fantastically fueled with adrenaline. Even when I didn’t really know the mechanics of what was going on, I still got caught up in the emotion of it. Brad Pitt leads the cast with laid-back charisma with Damson Idris and Kerry Condon trailing close behind. I don’t know if I’m a fan of Formula One racing, but I am a fan of F1 the Movie.

And my #1 movie that I watched in 2025 is....

1. The Naked Gun (2025)

The Naked Gun (2025) is easily my third favorite Naked Gun movie. I’ve been a big fan of the first two films for a long time. I even own the Police Squad TV series, so I was a little worried when they announced they would be rebooting the franchise. Especially since comedy sequels are usually terrible. However, this movie nails the tone set by its predecessors. It doesn’t rely on shock humor (although there is one scene I’d skip over next time). The jokes are clever, and this movie comes fully loaded with them. We all miss Leslie Nielsen, but Liam Neeson does a great job stepping into his shoes.

And here are a few honorable mentions that didn't make the cut for this list, but I still wanted to mention...honorably: A Star is Born (1937), John Candy: I Like Me (2025), Superman (2025), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939), Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986), Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982), John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023), Grey Gardens (1975), A Man Called Otto (2022), Flipped (2010), and Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (2024).

Well, faithful readers, that's all I have for you this time, but we'll see you again next year with more movies, more jokes, and more shameless plugs.