Work in progress – subject to change. Because I am still watching movies released in 2025, so it’s always possible that a new title could usurp the number one in due course.
All numbered films received either a theatrical, online or home media release in the UK between 01/01/25 and 31/12/25.
This version includes re-releases, but those aren’t numbered. It’s hard to imagine movies improving on Eisenstein’s Battleship Potemkin, Haneke’s The Piano Teacher or Woo’s Hard Boiled.
In addition to re-releases, this version also includes films seen in festivals which haven’t had any wider UK release in 2025.
Finally, last year’s list is here.
Top Ten Movies (and more) 2025
Please click on titles to see reviews.
The numbering will mostly be added later when I’ve watched more of the outstanding 2024 titles, and they have stopped moving around. So, currently, positions in this list should be taken with a pinch of salt.
*****
Babe (1995, Australia – reissue)
Battleship Potemkin / Music by Pet Shop Boys (1925, USSR – reissue, new score)
Brief Encounter (1945, UK – reissue; also in Film Tottenham’s BFI / Love & Obsession programme)
A Clockwork Orange (1971, US, UK – in Film Tottenham’s Cinema for All / 100 Years of Community Cinema programme)
The Devil’s Backbone (2001, Mexico, Spain – reissue)
Dogtooth (2009, Greece – reissue)
1=. Flow (2024, Belgium, France, Latvia)
1=. The Glassworker (2024, Pakistan, Spain)
Hard Boiled (1992, Hong Kong – 4K restoration – shown at LEAFF)
Jaws (US, 1975 – reissue)
Notorious (1946, US – in Film Tottenham’s Cinema for All / 100 Years of Community Cinema programme)
1=. One Battle After Another (2025, US)
Perfect Blue (1997, Japan – reissue)
The Piano Teacher (2001, Austria, France – reissue)
Picnic at Hanging Rock (4K restoration)
1=. Riefenstahl (2024, Germany)
1=. The Seed of the Sacred Fig (2024, Iran, Germany, France)
Singin’ in the Rain (1952, US – in Film Tottenham’s Cinema for All / 100 Years of Community Cinema programme)
Throne of Blood (1957, Japan – 4K UHD)
Thunderbirds – double bill (1965, UK – 4K remaster)
Zodiac (2007, US – 4K UHD)
—
Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (1974, Germany – in Film Tottenham’s Cinema for All / 100 Years of Community Cinema programme)
The Descent (UK, 2005 – reissue)
I, The Song (2024, Bhutan, Norway, Italy, France – GemArts Masala Festival, Newcastle)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975, US, 4K remaster)
Peeping Tom (1960, UK – in Film Tottenham’s Cinema for All / 100 Years of Community Cinema programme)
Phil Mulloy – Extreme Animation (2001, UK – old DVD release, included here in memory of Phil Mulloy, 29 August 1948 – 10 July 2025)
The White Ribbon (2009, Austria, Germany)
—
Dark Star (US, 1974, 4K UHD)
6=. Mars Express (2023, France)
Oh, What Happy Days! (2025, Iran, US, France, Canada – shown at PÖFF – Tallinn Black Nights FF)
6=. On Swift Horses (2024, US)
6=. September 5 (2024, US, Germany)
—
3670 (2025, South Korea – shown at LKFF)
A Summer Tale (2025, Argentina – PÖFF – Tallinn Black Nights FF)
Funny Games (1997, Austria – reissue)
9=. Islands (2025, Germany)
9=. Novocaine (2025, US)
—
Ran (1985, Japan, France)
11=. Relay (2024, US)
11=. The Ice Tower (2025, France, Germany, Italy)
Little Shrew (short, 2024, UK, played in cinemas before From Hilde, With Love)
13=. The Shrouds (2024, Canada, France)
13=. Sinners (2025, US)
Marnie (1964, US – Film Tottenham’s BFI / Love & Obsession programme)
15. When Autumn Falls (2024, France)
Away (2019, Latvia – reissue c/w short The Lab, 2024, UK)
16=. Late Shift (2005, Switzerland)
Mo Papa (2025, Estonia – PÖFF – Tallinn Black Nights FF)
16=. Prime Minister (2025, US, New Zealand)
16=. Red Path (2024, Tunisia, France, Belgium, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Qatar)
Shark Skin Man and Peach HIp Girl (1998, Japan – Blu-ray)
Two Way Stretch (1960, UK, Blu-ray)
—
19. Cloud (2024, Japan)
Cure (1997, Japan – in Film Tottenham’s Cinema for All / 100 Years of Community Cinema programme)
Old Fox (2024, Taiwan – Taiwan’s entry for 2025 Best International Feature, no UK release)
20. The Regulars (2025, UK)
—
21. Little Trouble Girls (2025, Slovenia)
Black Swan (2010, US – Film Tottenham’s BFI / Love & Obsession programme)
22. Good Boy (2025, US)
23. Mongrel (2024, Taiwan, Singapore, France)
Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride (2005, US – UHD)
Frosted Window (2025, South Korea – LKFF)
Moonlight (2016, US – in Film Tottenham’s Cinema for All / 100 Years of Community Cinema programme)
The Neon Demon (2016, US – Film Tottenham’s BFI / Love & Obsession programme)
Night of the Kings (2020, France, Ivory Coast, Canada, Senegal – in Film Tottenham’s Cinema for All / 100 Years of Community Cinema programme)
—
Winners (2022, UK, Iran – in Film Tottenham’s Cinema for All / 100 Years of Community Cinema programme)
Be Natural: The Untold Story Of Alice Guy-Blaché (2018, US – in Film Tottenham’s Cinema for All / 100 Years of Community Cinema programme)
Alone in the Night (1994, Japan, Blu-ray)
24=. The Choral (2025, UK)
24=. The Colors Within (2024, Japan)
24=. Die My Love (2025, US)
24=. The Girl with the Needle (2024, Denmark, Sweden, Poland)
24=. Memoir of a Snail (2024, Australia)
Princess Mononoke (1997, Japan – reissue)
24=. The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants (2025, US)
—
30=. The Bad Guys 2 (2025, US)
30=. Diplo the Mighty Dinosaur (2024, Poland, Czechia)
Filibus (1915, Italy – played Noisy Silent Film Club, All Good Bookshop, Turnpike Lane)
Let There Be Light – The Odyssey of Dark Star (2010, US, Blu-ray)
30=. The Naked Gun (2025, US)
30=. Pink Floyd at Pompeii (1972, UK)
Qualia (2023, Japan – Japan Foundation Tour)
Romeo + Juliet (1996, US – Film Tottenham’s BFI / Love & Obsession programme)
Round 13 (2025, Tunisia, Cyprus, Qatar, Saudi Arabia – PÖFF – Tallinn Black Nights FF)
Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928, US – in Film Tottenham’s Cinema for All / 100 Years of Community Cinema programme)
30=. Savages (2024, Switzerland)
The Silent Virgin (2025, Mexico – PÖFF – Tallinn Black Nights FF)
Taegukgi / Brotherhood (2004, South Korea – LEAFF)
30=. Zero (2024, US)
—
36=. Cover-Up (2025, US)
Darling (1965, UK – reissue)
36=. The Extraordinary Miss Flower (2024, UK)
36=. It Was Just an Accident (2025, Iran, France, Luxembourg)
36=. The Life of Chuck (2024, US)
36=. Lollipop (2024, UK)
Memories of Murder (2003, South Korea – LEAFF)
36=. Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025, US)
36=. Odyssey (2025, UK)
Street Wanderers (2025, Argentina, Peru – PÖFF – Tallinn Black Nights FF)
—
46=. Avatar – Fire and Ash (US, 2025)
46=. Exhibition on Screen – Dawn of Impressionism Paris 1874 (2025, UK)
46=. Marty Supreme (US, 2025)
46=. The Road to Patagonia (2022, Australia)
Slade in Flame (1975, UK – 2K remaster)
Tokyo Pop (1988, US, Japan – reissue)
50=. 2000 Meters to Andriivka (2025, Ukraine)
50=. Ballerina (2025, US)
China Sea (2025, Lithuania, Taiwan, Poland, Czechia – PÖFF – Tallinn Black Nights FF)
50=. Christy (2025, US)
50=. Dangerous Animals (2025, Australia)
50=. Gazer (2024, US)
50=. The Marbles (2025, UK)
50=. Steve (2025, UK)
57. Kontinental ’25 (2025, Romania)
Hidden (Caché) (2005, Austria, France, Germany – reissue)
58=. War Paint: Women at War (2025, UK)
59=. Architecton (2024, Germany, France, US)
59=. Bambi: A Tale of Life in the Woods (2024, France)
59=. Bridget Jones – Mad about the Boy (2025, UK)
59=. A Complete Unknown (2024, US)
Exhibition on Screen – Michelangelo: Love and Death (2017, UK – reissue)
59=. Frankenstein (2025, US)
59=. Mickey 17 (2025, US)
Ghost Cat Anzu (2024, Japan – Japan Foundation Tour)
65=. The Most Precious of Cargoes (2024, France)
65=. The Tale of Silyan (2025, North Macedonia)
67=. Cottontail (2023, UK, Japan)
Invisibles (2025, Canada, PÖFF – Tallinn Black Nights FF)
67=. Paul & Paulette Take a Bath (2024, France)
67=. Tornado (2025, UK)
YMCA Basebell Team (2002, South Korea – LKFF)
—
Silver Apricot (2024, South Korea – LKFF)
That Burning House (2025, Taiwan – PÖFF – Tallinn Black Nights FF)
—
Break Up the Chain (1971, South Korea – LKFF)
70=. Chang’an (2023, China)
70=. Exhibition on Screen – Caravaggio (2025, UK)
72. Bugonia (2025, US, Ireland, South Korea)
Avatar – The Way of Water (2002, US – reissue)
73. Dongji Rescue (2025, China)
74=. Nosferatu (2024, US)
74=. The Running Man (2025, US)
76=. Sister Midnight (2024, UK, Sweden, India)
76=. Tron – Ares (2025, US)
78=. Elio (2025, US)
78=. Karate Kid – Legends (2025, US)
Nino in Paradise (2025, Belgium, France – PÖFF – Tallinn Black Nights FF)
80=. I’m Still Here (2024, Brazil)
80=. I Swear (2025, UK)
80=. Valley of the Shadow of Death (2024, Hong Kong, China)
Completely Cuckoo (1997, US – extra on One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest 4K UHD disc)
The Good the Bad the Weird (2008, South Korea – LKFF)
83. The Shadow’s Edge (2025, China)
84=. Hard Truths (2024, UK)
84=. Weapons (2025, US)
EVERY MOVIE ABOVE THIS SENTENCE IS ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD, TO BE FAIR… IT’S BEEN A GOOD YEAR. BELOW IT, NOT SO MUCH, WITH A FEW WORTHY OSCAR-BAIT ITEMS AND SOME REAL DISAPPOINTMENTS.
86. Jurassic World – Rebirth (2025, US)
87. Boonie Bears – Future Reborn (2025, China)
88. Ne Zha 2 (2025, China)
89. Saturday Night (2024, US)
90. The Session Man (2023, UK)
Waxworks (1924, Germany – in Film Tottenham’s Cinema for All / 100 Years of Community Cinema programme)
91. Brief History of a Family (2024, China)
92. The Monkey (2025, US)
93. Giants of La Mancha (2024, Argentina, Germany, Spain)
94. The Ballad of Wallis Island (2025, UK)
95=. Brides (2025, UK)
95=. Urchin (2025, UK)
97. Happyend (2024, Japan)
98. The Brutalist (2024, US)UK, France)
99. How to Train Your Dragon (2025, US)
100. We Live in Time (2024, UK, France)
101. A Real Pain (2024, US)
102. Disney’s Snow White (2025, US)
103=. From Hilde, With Love (2024, Germany)
103=. The Return (2024, Italy, Greece, UK, France)
—
Turkeys
1. Can I Get a Witness (2025, Canada)
2. Pavements (2024, US)
3. Fountain of Youth (2025, US)
4. Samsara (2025, Indonesia – LEAFF)
5. Black Bag (2025, US)
6. Bring Them Down (2024, Ireland)
7. The Thinking Game (2024, UK)
8. Nobody 2 (2025, US)