Happy New Year’s Eve, dearest readers. 2026 awaits us all. But first…
As crazy as this year has been, virtually all the brightest spots of 2025 stare back at me as I peruse my Letterboxd list. And so I give you my personal favorites from 2025. Hope there is something here for everyone, and see you again in two weeks’ time!
1. “Hamnet”
Directed by Chloé Zhao, starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, this amazing adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s eponymous novel moved me to tears. Pretty sure about 300 other moviegoers wept with me. As I always say, tears release stress hormones. You know you need a good cry.
2. “Rebel with a Clause”
You also need some great laughs. If grammar guru Ellen Jovin and her director-husband don’t make you smile in this one-of-a-kind documentary, well, you probably need professional help.
3. “Tow”
Starring Rose Byrne, Octavia Spencer, Dominic Sessa, Ariana DeBose, and Corbin Bernsen, among others, this mind-blowing, based-on-a-true-story movie spoke to me as a social worker. Transportation is a social determinant of health, obviously.
4. “Nonnas”
Where else will you see Susan Sarandon, Talia Shire, Lorraine Bracco, and Brenda Vaccaro in the same place? Vince Vaughn, Linda Cardellini, Drea de Matteo, and Joe Manganiello complete the cast in this Netflix comedy about a family restaurant. It’s Italian.
5. “Sinners”
Director Ryan Coogler and star Michael B. Jordan have done it again. Must see, if you haven’t already. And if you haven’t, you just might be a sinner.
6. “Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror”
A documentary about a 50-year-old musical film phenom whose fans got up, got dressed (in costume), and went to see this in the theater like it was 1975. Do the time warp again.
7. “Ocean with David Attenborough”
Sir David Attenborough turns 100 in May. The story he shows and tells in this gorgeous doc made me feel like the scuba diver I once was. The cinematography thrilled me, and now that I live on an island, ocean health is definitely more top of mind. Check out this trailer:
8. “I Know Catherine, the Log Lady”
If you don’t know who Catherine Coulson is, stop what you are doing and watch this right now. And if you and Catherine are already acquainted, you are in for a treat. As Movie Nation described it, “The greatest Show Must Go On story ever told.”
9. “Sirāt”
John Waters summed up Oliver Laxe’s film this way: “Tragedy after tragedy of unspeakable intensity make this script the best feel-bad acid adventure ever filmed.” I simply warn you: It is explosive. It also took home the Jury Prize this year at Cannes.
10. “Marty Supreme”
But not for the reasons you think. I loved this two-and-a-half-hour movie because I did not realize just how much I have missed Gwyneth Paltrow. True story!
