The Big Picture

The Top Five Movies of 2025

December 5, 2025

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The ongoing saga of the Warner Bros. Discovery sale is mired in legal disputes, with Paramount/Skydance expressing "grave concerns" about an unfair process allegedly favoring Netflix. 
  • Leonardo DiCaprio has effectively confirmed his participation in Michael Mann's *Heat 2*, fueling excitement for the sequel to the hosts' favorite film. 
  • The consensus among the hosts regarding the 2025 movie year is that it features clear, undeniable frontrunners but suffers from a hazy middle ground and a general struggle with franchise tentpoles. 
  • The participants in "The Big Picture" episode "The Top Five Movies of 2025" reveal a strong consensus, placing Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another" as the number one film for Amanda and Sean, and number two for Adam. 
  • Several films discussed, including "Ephesus," "If I Had Legs, I'd Kick You," and "One Battle After Another," explore profound themes of parenthood, aging, and the difficulty of navigating life's responsibilities. 
  • Kiyoshi Kurosawa's "Cloud" and David Cronenberg's "The Shrouds" are highlighted as films that walk a fine line between brilliance and seeming ineptitude, rewarding repeat viewings for their unique formal qualities and underlying emotional depth. 
  • The discussion heavily centers on a specific, unnamed Paul Thomas Anderson (PTA) film, which one speaker declares their number one movie of the year due to its profound personal connection and masterful construction, despite acknowledging the potential bias. 
  • The speakers reflect on the current cultural climate, noting a theme in movies about figures who believe they are in control but are not, contrasting this with the overwhelming responsibility felt by parents. 
  • The conversation concludes with honorable mentions for 2025 films, including praise for Radojuda's *Dracula* as productively annoying and a shared appreciation for Ben Affleck's Criterion Closet video. 

Segments

Sponsor Messages and Introductions
Copied to clipboard!
(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The episode of The Big Picture features hosts Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins, joined by Chris Ryan and Adam Nayman, to rank their top five movies of 2025.
  • Summary: The episode opens with advertisements for State Farm and Amazon Prime. Hosts Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins introduce the premise: sharing their top five favorite films of 2025. Guest Chris Ryan is present at the start, with Adam Nayman joining later.
WBD Sale and Legal Updates
Copied to clipboard!
(00:01:50)
  • Key Takeaway: Paramount/Skydance lawyers sent a letter to WBD CEO David Zaslav expressing “grave concerns” about an alleged unfair sales process favoring a single bidder, speculated to be Netflix.
  • Summary: News broke that Warner Brothers Discovery has accepted bids for sale, leading to legal maneuvering. Paramount/Skydance alleged the WBD Board engaged in a “myopic process with a predetermined outcome.” The participants expressed general pessimism regarding industry consolidation and job loss resulting from such sales.
Zootopia 2 Box Office Success
Copied to clipboard!
(00:06:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Zootopia 2 achieved massive box office success, earning $570 million in one weekend, including over $20 million from China, a market rarely seen by animated films recently.
  • Summary: The massive success of Zootopia 2 was highlighted as Disney currently rides highest due to this juggernaut opening. The film’s success is attributed partly to strong engagement from children who grew up with the first film. The original film’s unique premise of animals running a human-like society without humans was noted.
DiCaprio Confirms Heat 2 Role
Copied to clipboard!
(00:11:41)
  • Key Takeaway: Leonardo DiCaprio confirmed to Deadline that he will star in Michael Mann’s Heat 2, potentially playing the character originated by Robert De Niro (Neil McCauley).
  • Summary: DiCaprio effectively confirmed his involvement in Heat 2 with Michael Mann, following their previous near-collaboration on The Aviator. The speaker believes DiCaprio is likely cast as Neil, citing his physical presentation and history with De Niro. The casting of Val Kilmer’s counterpoint remains a key unknown.
Leo’s Next Scorsese Film
Copied to clipboard!
(00:15:54)
  • Key Takeaway: DiCaprio’s next project with Martin Scorsese will be What Happens at Night, an adaptation of a 2021 Peter Cameron novel, which is expected to be an Apple project.
  • Summary: The next Scorsese/DiCaprio collaboration, What Happens at Night, will co-star Jennifer Lawrence and is being adapted by Patrick Marber. DiCaprio’s recent viewing of Vertigo and references to The Shining and Shutter Island suggest the film’s tone.
Early Award Season Results
Copied to clipboard!
(00:17:09)
  • Key Takeaway: One Battle After Another has swept Best Picture wins at the New York Film Critics Circle, National Board of Review, and Gotham Awards, establishing itself as the clear frontrunner.
  • Summary: The Jafar Panahi film (Just an Accident) is highly competitive, winning Best Director at NYFCC and showing strength in international categories, making it a contender against One Battle After Another. The National Board of Review’s top ten list included several Netflix titles and major blockbusters like Avatar: Fire and Ash and Wicked for Good.
Assessing the 2025 Movie Year
Copied to clipboard!
(00:27:46)
  • Key Takeaway: The 2025 movie year is characterized by a high ceiling of quality among auteur films but a low floor, with many feeling less compelled to see franchise blockbusters compared to previous years.
  • Summary: The hosts agreed that while they have strong top 10 lists, the overall feeling of going to the movies felt less rhythmic and compelling than in years past, similar to planning for major concerts rather than weekly outings. There was a noticeable slippage in performance for major franchises like Marvel and Jurassic, putting more pressure on studio-backed auteur films.
Adam Nayman’s Top 5 Reveal
Copied to clipboard!
(00:44:34)
  • Key Takeaway: Adam Nayman’s #5 film is The Secret Agent, a Brazilian period piece starring Wagner Mora that functions as a love letter to Brazilian film culture under dictatorship.
  • Summary: The Secret Agent is set in late 1970s Brazil during a military dictatorship and follows an administrative functionary trying to survive while navigating local government beef. The film is praised for its smart intersection of history and pop culture, including references to The Omen and Jaws.
Amanda Dobbins’ Top 5 Reveal
Copied to clipboard!
(00:49:25)
  • Key Takeaway: Amanda Dobbins’ #5 film is Train Dreams, an adaptation of a Dennis Johnson novella that she found beautiful and revelatory despite its familiar indie tropes.
  • Summary: Dobbins appreciated being free of expectations from the source material, finding the film’s exploration of grief and guilt moving. The film features a strong performance by Robert Greener and beautiful production design, particularly in a notable lookout scene.
Sean Fennessey’s Top 5 Reveal
Copied to clipboard!
(00:53:18)
  • Key Takeaway: Sean Fennessey’s #5 film is Ephesus, described as an aching monument to hanging out that felt like watching a Jim Jarmusch movie for the first time.
  • Summary: Ephesus centers on the final game played by two rec league baseball teams at a New Hampshire field slated for redevelopment into a school. The film explores the passage of time and the reluctance of middle-aged men to let the game—and their current moment—end.
Ephesus and Train Dreams Comparison
Copied to clipboard!
(00:53:17)
  • Key Takeaway: “Ephesus” by Carson Lund is considered a strong thematic double feature with “Train Dreams” due to its focus on the passage of time.
  • Summary: Ephesus centers on two rec league baseball teams playing the final game at a New Hampshire field slated for redevelopment, featuring men aged 25 to 65. The film explores the community’s reluctance to let the game end, symbolizing a desire to hold onto moments that make life feel alive. The movie takes a surreal turn as the players refuse to stop the game, resonating with the theme of life’s brevity.
Sinners Acclaim and Revisit
Copied to clipboard!
(00:55:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Revisiting “Sinners” confirmed its major synthesis between music and storytelling, despite acknowledging potential flaws.
  • Summary: “Sinners” is recognized as a major film that has gone through the typical critical cycle of masterpiece versus overrated claims. Its strength lies in the synthesis of its score and narrative, functioning as a bold vampire, historical drama, and gangster movie. The filmmaker conducted extensive research into Irish history for the project.
Adam’s Number Four: Cloud
Copied to clipboard!
(00:57:58)
  • Key Takeaway: Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s “Cloud” is an excellent gateway film into his filmography, morphing from a moody thriller into a full-on action film.
  • Summary: “Cloud” is a very funny, sinister thriller about an internet reseller whose clientele seeks revenge, leading to a warehouse shootout compared to John Woo or Tarantino. Kurosawa’s formal control—his camera setup, cutting, and attention-holding—is considered peerless by Adam. The director aimed for the reality in the film to unfold according to “film logic,” citing John Carpenter and David Cronenberg as influences.
Amanda’s Number Four: If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You
Copied to clipboard!
(01:01:44)
  • Key Takeaway: Mary Bronstein’s “If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You” is a nauseatingly honest, cinematic critique of the systemic failures that make motherhood impossible.
  • Summary: The film stars Rose Byrne as a mother caring for a child with an unspecified illness while her husband is absent, highlighting the unique difficulty of being a mother versus a father. It functions as a systemic critique, showing how the world—from hospitals to retail workers—fails to support mothers trying to cope. The movie features genuinely funny moments alongside its harsh depiction of maternal struggle and utilizes interesting filmmaking choices, particularly in its ending.
Adam’s Number Three: One Battle After Another
Copied to clipboard!
(01:09:26)
  • Key Takeaway: Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” is a massive, commercially successful film that also functions as a complex, fascinating financial near-disaster.
  • Summary: Adam notes that while he likes the film, his resistance stems from finding the director’s presence too overt, lacking the ambiguity present in PTA’s earlier work. The film’s massive scale and swerve into a new style create a series of crashes and side swipes that are fascinating to analyze. The ongoing discourse surrounding the film is expected to continue, making the title feel apt for the critical conversation itself.
Amanda’s Number Three: Die My Love
Copied to clipboard!
(01:12:36)
  • Key Takeaway: “Die My Love” powerfully captures the physical and feral reality of severe postpartum depression and psychosis, dividing the mother from her former self.
  • Summary: This Lynn Ramsey film starring Jennifer Lawrence is praised for its electric energy and for being the funniest movie Amanda saw all year, despite its dark subject matter. It offers a physical and primal representation of the psychological state of new motherhood, which Amanda related to personally. The film is also noted for its critique of a useless therapy system and features a filmmaking choice at the end that ranks highly for the year.
CR’s Number Three: Weapons
Copied to clipboard!
(01:15:46)
  • Key Takeaway: “Weapons” functions as a rock and roll movie exploring why horror is necessary to explain inexplicable tragedies, such as addiction, through mythical figures.
  • Summary: The film’s structure, switching points of view in an anthology style, allows for different viewing experiences, moving from plot-focused to appreciating the director’s tricks. Director Kregor, a comedian, employs a sketch mentality, constantly doubling back, which is an interesting byproduct of his background. The movie was a smash hit as an original piece, featuring memorable, seared-in images like the children running.
CR’s Number Three: No Other Choice
Copied to clipboard!
(01:21:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Park Chan Wook’s “No Other Choice” is a highly formal, funny, and absurd satire about corporate life and male virility, executed by a master filmmaker.
  • Summary: The film is an adaptation of Donald Westlake’s novel about a laid-off man who schemes to eliminate job contenders at rival paper companies. Park Chan Wook provided unusually detailed explanations of his intent during an interview, revealing deep thought behind every formal trick, cutting style, and transition. It functions as both a hilarious, silly blast and a cogent satire on the corporate complex and confusion between virility and economic status.
Adam’s Number Two: The Shrouds
Copied to clipboard!
(01:25:32)
  • Key Takeaway: David Cronenberg’s “The Shrouds” is a moving film about aging, grief, and loss, possessing a confidence that makes it feel close to being a terrible movie yet remains brilliant.
  • Summary: The film is noted for its relaxed confidence, suggesting Cronenberg does not care how audiences react, despite the movie being deeply personal about grief. It functions as the best “brainworm conspiracy movie” of the year, understanding how people invent theories to cope with distress. Cronenberg’s continued commitment to his small-scale, scrappy style, even while being revered, is admirable.
Sean’s Number Two: Marty Supreme
Copied to clipboard!
(01:30:23)
  • Key Takeaway: Josh Safdie’s “Marty Supreme” is a big, immersive experience featuring everyone “going for it,” capturing the intoxicating yet exhausting nature of ambitious young men.
  • Summary: The film stars Timothy Chalamet as an ambitious, hard-hearted competitive ping pong player in 1950s New York City. It is noted for its grand scale, utilizing production design by Jack Fisk and a score by Daniel Lopatin to create a fully immersive world. The movie effectively portrays the complex psychological state of young men who are gifted and fun but ultimately exhausting to be around.
Amanda’s Number One: One Battle After Another
Copied to clipboard!
(01:43:47)
  • Key Takeaway: “One Battle After Another” is an instant five-star masterpiece that masterfully blends film history, current events, and profound themes of parenthood and legacy.
  • Summary: The film is lauded for its virtuosity, accessibility, and scale, incorporating elements from Terminator 2, The Searchers, and Casablanca. It powerfully explores parenthood through characters like Tiana Taylor and Porphyria, focusing on what is left behind and finding hope for the next generation. Its success in delivering on massive expectations makes it a rare cinematic experience.
CR’s Number One: 28 Years Later
Copied to clipboard!
(01:46:12)
  • Key Takeaway: Danny Boyle’s “28 Years Later” is a dazzling sequel that profoundly explores themes of the decline of the British Empire and the responsibilities of the next generation.
  • Summary: The film provided an unexpected emotional resonance for Chris regarding his mother’s health, finding profound meaning in a zombie movie narrative. It is a dazzling execution that thoughtfully explores British isolationism, Brexit, and national mythology, particularly through the central child hero, Alfie Williams. Ray Fiennes delivers a career-defining performance as a doctor whose character arc culminates in a profoundly moving death ceremony.
Themes of Powerlessness
Copied to clipboard!
(01:51:01)
  • Key Takeaway: A recurring theme in 2025 movies involves powerful men failing to maintain control, reflecting broader feelings of powerlessness in English-speaking life.
  • Summary: The speaker identifies a cinematic theme of ‘big guys who are like, I got this, and they do not got it,’ which communicates something about the current state of life and who truly holds decision-making power. This contrasts with the overriding responsibility felt by parents managing their immediate family life versus large external forces. The speaker admits to checking out of the news to focus more deeply on movies, work, and family.
PTA Film Connection
Copied to clipboard!
(01:52:08)
  • Key Takeaway: The speaker’s deep, personal connection to the unnamed Paul Thomas Anderson film makes it feel almost ‘fake’ in its perfection, overriding typical critical objectivity.
  • Summary: The speaker is predisposed to loving PTA movies, noting that if he makes one, it is usually their favorite film of the year, as was the case with Licorice Pizza. The show operates without pretense to objectivity, responding to art through the specific lens of the participants’ lives. The speaker confirms that the film’s construction is by someone at the top of their game who spent decades figuring out how to build it.
Filmmaking Process Insights
Copied to clipboard!
(01:53:27)
  • Key Takeaway: The PTA film involved significant on-the-spot improvisation, requiring production shutdowns to rejigger scenes despite high stakes and expectations.
  • Summary: The speaker learned that parts of the highly constructed film were made up on the spot, surprising the speaker given the production level and money involved. The director was willing to shut down production for days to implement new ideas, which ultimately made the film flow like a waterfall ride. The film suggests potential about the modern time rather than delivering a direct message about fascism or white supremacy.
Hope and PTA’s Future
Copied to clipboard!
(01:54:49)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite cynicism, the speaker must remain hopeful as a parent, and the film’s ending focuses on the critical question of ‘what happens next’ for the characters.
  • Summary: The speaker views the film as forcing a rejection of cynicism, especially in the face of art they love, emphasizing the need to keep going. The film’s appeal is that it speaks to the generation figuring out what mattered as they age, making its potential award success fitting. The speaker questions whether PTA will pursue massive-budget films or return to smaller works like Inherent Vice or Licorice Pizza after scaling this cinematic mountaintop.
Jack’s Top Film and Honorable Mentions
Copied to clipboard!
(01:59:18)
  • Key Takeaway: Producer Jack Sanders names One Battle as his favorite film of the year, alongside Sinners and Train Dreams.
  • Summary: Jack’s top film is One Battle, with Sinners and Train Dreams also making his list, though he notes he hasn’t seen many limited-release films yet. Honorable mentions discussed include Secret Agent, Weapons, and Blue Moon, with praise for Ethan Hawke’s performance in the latter. The speaker expresses continued support for a sentimental film despite shifting critical tides.
Adam’s Honorable Mentions
Copied to clipboard!
(02:00:43)
  • Key Takeaway: Adam praises Dracula by Radojuda as the year’s most ‘productively annoying’ film, an absurdist satire featuring significant pornographic AI.
  • Summary: Adam highlights Mastermind and Blue Moon as very good honorable mentions, noting Testament of Anne Lee as a companion piece to The Brutalist. Dracula is described as a three-hour, episodic prank that satirizes IP adaptation and the use of AI, despite being nominated for Indie Spirits. The film is so long and challenging that the speaker felt attendees at the TIFF screening should have received medals for finishing it.
Amanda’s Genre Experiments
Copied to clipboard!
(02:03:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Amanda’s honorable mentions include several genre experiments, notably three rom-coms (Materialists, Splitsville, Eternity) and Pillion, a BDSM gay rom-com.
  • Summary: Amanda’s list includes Black Bag, Paddington and Peru, and Wes Anderson’s Phoenician Scheme. She specifically champions Pillion, an Alexander Skarsgård film, as one of the two funniest movies of the year, despite its limited release schedule. Two documentaries, Predators and Laura Poitras’s Cover-Up about Seymour Hirsch, are also mentioned for their staggering quality.
Final Mentions and Wrap-Up
Copied to clipboard!
(02:06:16)
  • Key Takeaway: The group celebrated the Ben Affleck Criterion Closet video as one of the best ever, with one speaker suggesting Affleck should run for president.
  • Summary: Chris Ryan shouts out F1 as the movie-going experience of the year and Splitsville for its humor, while Adam mentions Havoc and Megadoc (which is coming to Criterion Channel). The discussion concludes with high praise for Ben Affleck’s Criterion Closet video, noting his appreciation for humanist directors like Jean Renoir. The hosts announce their next episode will cover the Golden Globe nominations.