The Mosley Review: Best Films of 2025

And so 2025 has ended and yet again we find ourselves bathed in the light of great cinematic works of art. This year featured my largest list of most anticipated films and I think for the first time, every season had a gem. That is a rare achievement and what's even more rare is that there is one film I saw an early cut of and upon its official release, I saw it 2 more times. So with that, here's my list of the very best films of 2025. Cinema is subjective, but my list is objective. Remember to click the title of each film if you want to see my full review on each one.

First up.....

The Naked Gun: When is the last time we had a proper comedy in theatres? I'm not talking about the raunchy teen comedies or the quiptastic type of cerebral or situational comedies. I'm talking about well written dialog and perfectly timed physical comedy. I believe it died out somewhere in the early 2000's and my god I was so happy to see it return in such a jovial way. Liam Neeson captures the comedic timing and charm that Leslie Neilson crafted in the original films. Neeson is a great dramatic actor already, but in every frame, you can sense the love he has for the comedy and how much fun he’s having. Pamela Anderson came to play too as the love interest and she nailed the comedy. The chemistry between her and Neeson was off the charts and I haven't bursts into this much laughter in so long. My entire theatre was filled with laughter and joy and that is such a rarity these days. PLEASE let this be the sign that true comedy has been resurrected.

Weapons: When an intriguing premise sales itself correctly and leaves so much more to be learned, it can be magical. This was exactly that and it delivered a new level of terror that had me in its grip from beginning to end. The main villain was captivating in her subtle nature and has become a new horror icon. I loved the characters in this film and the approach to the fun multi-point story structure. The atmosphere was creepy in the best ways and I was cheering by the insanity of the finale. It was brutal justice that I never knew I needed to witness.

The Long Walk: As we all know, Stephen King is the most versatile author of all time. He has given us an entire universe of creatures, haunting stories and unforgettable characters. This film adaptation of a beloved novel was exactly that. Unforgettable. The premise may not seem exciting, but believe me when I say that it is the human story being told here that makes this film iconic. The contest itself is sad and barbaric, but my god the contestants are the main reason why you stay glued to the screen. After getting to know them all, I felt the most guttural heartbreak with each elimination. Cooper Hoffman was great and Judy Greer broke my heart in one particular scene between them. David Jonsson stole the film with his immeasurable charm, kind eyes, voice and remarkable chemistry with Hoffman. This was something truly gripping and great.

Frankenstein: If one of the great artisans of cinema gets the chance to make their passion project, you pay close attention because you're about to experience something magical. Mary Shelly's famous novel has been adapted by the minds of many storytellers and now it has reached the beautiful mind of Guillermo Del Toro. From the moment this film began, I knew that I was gonna be taken on a journey and what I loved about this version is that we get both sides of what means to be a "monster". Oscar Isaac was outstanding as Dr. Victor Frankenstein and how you quickly see the man disappear into something inhuman. Jacob Elordi surprised the hell out of me as The Creature. Del Toro truly knows how draw out an emotional performance from the actors under the heavy creature make-up and he did exactly that here. Jacob brought a humanity to the character I had never seen before and it was both beautiful and tragic. The film carries the signature visual nuances of Del Toro’s gothic aesthetic. There is so much more I can say about this film, but I will let you experience this true masterful piece of art for yourselves on Netflix.

Warfare: There aren't many war films anymore. We get a World War 1 or 2 film here an there, but nothing to this intensity. Saving Private Ryan was one of the defining and immersive war films of all time and now a new true story has finally reached the same level of excellence. Its not the outstanding and truly terrifying sound design of the action sequences, it was the silence and "boring" moments where you are with the soldiers waiting in house behind enemy territory. That is where this film sored for me because you got to know the men as they're just hanging out. The brutality of the violence in this film was a gut punch of realism I haven't experience in quite some time. The entire cast was fantastic and truly respected the men they were portraying that were actually there. The fact that this was a true retelling of the few days of pain from the actual soldier's memoir added the right amount of realism and tension. This was an experience in IMAX that I'll never forget and definitely a film that needs to be seen by all.

And now, my choice for the best film of 2025 is.........

Sinners: It is truly a privilege to witness a storyteller's work in progress and to give constructive criticism to help them to fix, enhance and perfect their vision. I had that privilege and to say that my small notes were heard and addressed was nothing short of humbling. No other film this year has truly touched my soul in a way that was both exhilarating, uplifting and was just indescribably joyous. The story was so perfectly woven net of southern charm, crime drama, coming of age, horror, religious tones and the beating heart of the Blues roaring through each frame. When it comes to original stories in cinema, this film was everything that has been missing for decades. Visually the film was stunning to witness on a true IMAX screen as it used IMAX cameras to capture the magic in certain scenes. What I loved the most was the outstanding performances of the cast all around. Michael B. Jordan once again showed his versatility as one of the best actors working today. His chemistry with Hailee Steinfeld as Stack was electric, but his best and most heartfelt moments were with him as Smoke and the incomparable Wunmi Mosaku as Annie. The real breakout performance belongs to Miles Caton as Sammie. Not only is he a talented musician, but he delivered a wonderful and vulnerable performance as the preacher boy that was coming into his own in a time where it was dangerous as black man. I can go on and on and on about how much I truly love this film, but I invite you to see this undeniable masterpiece. Writer and Director Ryan Coogler can finally be mentioned in the same breathe as one of the best filmmakers and storytellers of this generation. I know it’ll be sometime before we see his next film but until then, I'll continue to bask in the glory of this film and his longtime collaborator, composer Ludwig Göransson's perfect film score and soundtrack.

What a year for cinema am I right?! Its been awhile since most of the films on my list turned out to be my most anticipated and then genuinely exceed all expectations. Some of you may say that I might be missing a few and that's okay. Either way, we can agree that this was a great year for film and I would love to compare lists anytime. Here's to 2026 and the many great films that await our patronage. Let me know what you thought of my list and reviews in the comments below. Thanks for reading!