Our Top 10 Lists have been named in honor of late Blog Director and DJ Clarence Ewing, who pioneered and published this annual feature for nearly a decade.
In celebration of independent music, arts, and culture of all flavors, film contibuter Kyle Sanders writes of his ten favorite movies this year.
Lots of terrible things happened in 2025. I mean, how else can you explain a year bookended by the untimely deaths of two beloved American filmmakers? In January, we lost David Lynch, and then just a few weeks ago, Rob Reiner. Both had directed some of the most notable films of the past half century, including two films that were released in the same year: Blue Velvet and Stand By Me. It's hard to believe those classics will be turning 40 in 2026 (as will I—which is even harder to believe!), and they're still as lauded and popular among film lovers today. Though Lynch and Reiner are no longer with us, their legacies continue to shine with the films they gave us.
As much as 2025 was a complete downer of a year, it at least gave us some great films to distract us from all the chaos. Here's a list of the best films I saw this year...
10. Eddington (Ari Aster)
Anytime you see the words "A film by Ari Aster," you know your day is about to be ruined! This film is Aster's cinematic interpretation of "2020," a year full of conspiracy-raddled brain rot and hollow wokeisms, all on display as a local election takes place in a small town coming loose at the seams during a pandemic. Did I enjoy it? Not exactly. Was that the point of it? Eh, perhaps. Either way, it inspires divisive conversation, and isn't that what makes a memorable film?
9. Familiar Touch (Sarah Friedland)
This deeply moving drama screened at this year's Chicago Critic's Film Festival, and is about an octogenarian battling dementia while adjusting to the assisted living facility she's chosen to live in during the remaining years of her life. It's an unconventional coming-of-age story we aren't used to seeing on screen, providing dignity and grace to that final phase in our lives we don't wish to confront, but inevitably must face.
8. Black Bag (Steven Soderbergh)
It's Mr. and Mrs. Smith meets Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, as told by Steven Soderbergh. A sexy spy couple (Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender) play a game of cat-and-mouse—even if it risks exposing top secret intelligence. But the real thrills are served at the dinner table, where casual conversation can take a venomous turn at any second!
7. Twinless (James Sweeney)
Two men grieving over their respected twin brothers develop a growing friendship after meeting in a support group. That's about all I can say about this quiet black comedy, which is full of unexpected turns I didn't see coming--my favorite kind of movie!
6. The Secret Agent (Kleber Mendonça Filho)
Set during the political turmoil of the Brazilian military dictatorship, a former academic seeks refuge in Recife as the community celebrates Carnival. There, he hides out with other political refugees while trying to stay connected with his young son. By the time this film screened at this year's Chicago International Film Festival, it had already won Best Director and Best Actor at Cannes. A film with that kind of reputation preceding it can sometimes come up short, but in this case, Kleber Mendonca Filho's confident direction and a mesmerizing performance from Wagner Moura more than prove their outstanding praise.
5. Hamnet (Chloé Zhao)
Meet the Shakespeares! They're just like any other family, dealing with typical familial issues like alcoholism, poverty, tensions with the in-laws, and death. In this emotionally-charged drama, it's the Bard's wife (a powerhouse Jessie Buckley) who takes center stage, raising a family and playing not-so-happy homemaker as her creative genius of a husband drowns his writer's block in booze—until a heartbreaking tragedy inspires one of the playwright's most memorable plays. Bring the tissues for this weeper!
4. Train Dreams (Clint Bentley)
Beautifully shot, delicately acted, and available on streaming. As much as the Netflix/Warner Bros. deal breaks my heart, it has nothing on this gut-wrenching film that is as poetic as an old post card convincing you that you wished you were "here" instead. A drama about the mysteries of life and how we never fully come to terms with it until we near the end of our own.
3. It Was Just An Accident (Jafar Panahi)
This year's Palm d'Or winner at Cannes takes the subject of human behavior and interrogates every angle with aggressive fervor. This thriller follows a group of former Iranian political prisoners and what they plan to do with a man that they think is one of their former tormentors. But is he who they think he is? Will they exact their revenge, or will they forgive and forget? It's not so much about the "what" as it is the "why," and soon you'll be weighing the options right along with them. Any film that rattles your moral compass the way this one does is worthy of one's attention!
2. Sentimental Value (Joachim Trier)
I enjoyed my experience with The Worst Person in the World, so I couldn't wait to see Joachim Trier's follow-up, about an aging filmmaker trying to reconcile with his two daughters while trying to revive his declining career. As he tries to make a film about his mother's suicide, he must revisit the past while being confronted with that of his daughters—whose childhoods he was mostly absent from. The ensemble of actors is top-notch, as is script and Trier's intimate direction.
1. One Battle After Another (Paul Thomas Anderson)
The best film of the year, period. For a film nearly three hours long, the pace is quick and the cast keeps your attention every second of its runtime. Old pros like DiCaprio, Del Toro, and Penn turn in some career bests, alongside electrifying newcomers Chase Infiniti and Teyana Taylor. It's funny, it's thrilling, somewhat satirical, and it reminds you that the best reason for continuing the fight, for continuing to defeat evil, and for continuing the resistance is to do those things with love. Perhaps the closest film to our current timeline, but with a hopeful message about fighting life's daily battles.
May we soldier into 2026 with that same mentality and hope for another year's worth of memorable films to get us through it all over again! See you at the movies!