The Best Movie of 2025

Honorable Mentions

Naturally, there were some fabulously fun flicks that sadly didn’t quite make the nomination cut. James Gunn’s Superman soared to rapturous heights as the hero we sorely needed in 2025, while Dan Trachtenberg went three for three with his amazing Predator entries, with Badlands proving to be a rollicking twist on the classic Yautja formula. Of course, we also can’t overlook Danny Boyle’s return to the 28 Days Later saga with 28 Years Later, a thoughtful dystopian adventure full of large emotions and even larger… well, you know.

Runner-Up: Weapons

Comedian/gamer/newly-minted horror maestro Zach Cregger nailed it with his follow-up to 2022’s Barbarian, unleashing another terrifying modern fable with plenty of nasty zigs and zags. Weapons is a mystery piece that keeps you bobbing and weaving through its non-linear narrative until it levels you with a diabolical, spellbinding, cosplay-worthy twist. Anchored by Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Benedict Wong, Alden Ehrenreich (hey, they’re all in the MCU!), and a scene-stealing Amy Madigan, Weapons had moviegoers running back to the theaters, arms outstretched in a downward V, to see it again and again.

Read our review of Weapons.

Runner-Up: One Battle After Another

For writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson to make what is arguably his best work (among many other strong PTA contenders) in 2025 is a stunning achievement, and he did it by adapting a Thomas Pynchon novel too, which did not go so well for him with 2014’s Inherent Vice. One Battle After Another had a tricky time with its marketing, unspooling several tonally different trailers ahead of its release: Some focused on the drama and action, and some on the quirky offbeat humor. But once you see it, it’s clear why this film was hard to tease; there’s nothing else quite like it. It’s a generational saga that touches on a handful of relevant revolutionary social issues while also maintaining its own spirit and identity, and it’s full of powerful performances (including a standout Chase Infiniti) and unforgettable sequences. See this VistaVision gem again… maybe after a few small beers.

Read our review of One Battle After Another.

Runner-Up: Frankenstein

At long last, Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro got to make the monster movie he’s always wanted to tackle – his favorite piece of literature, complete with his favorite misunderstood creature: Frankenstein. The result is a glamorously gothic yarn about obsession, creation, the failings of fathers, and the nurturing of kindness. Mary Shelley’s pioneering sci-fi novel has never been so preciously cared for and breathlessly adapted. Oscar Isaac embodies the fiercely flawed doctor, devilishly driven to achieve at all costs, while Jacob Elordi slinks his way into our hearts as a patchwork beast who ultimately overcomes being beset by violence and scorn since his first breaths, blossoming into a merciful being.

Read our review of Frankenstein.

Runner-Up: Marty Supreme

Equal parts fun and stressful – much like 2019’s Uncut Gems before it – Marty Supreme combines the chaotic directing style of Josh Safdie with the charisma of Timothée Chalamet to make a one-of-a-kind ping pong movie that is, without a doubt, one of the year’s best films. It’s an amazing first solo directing credit for Safdie that continues to build on the chaotic vibe he and his brother have been honing since Heaven Knows What. If you’re a fan of previous Safdie brothers efforts, you won’t be disappointed. But thanks to a career-defining performance from Chalamet as the charismatic Marty Mauser, Marty Supreme will appeal to more than just the film (and ping pong?) bros.

Read our review of Marty Supreme.

Runner-Up: KPop Demon Hunters

Netflix, notoriously coy about marketing and advertising most of their projects ahead of time (ideally wanting viewers to just turn on Netflix every night to see what’s new), has relied heavily on organic viewer-generated buzz for over a decade. As we bid farewell to Stranger Things – a show that originally found a massive audience via word-of-mouth after having hardly any early advertising – it’s fitting to spotlight the catchy, joyful phenomenon of KPop Demon Hunters, an animated film that shocked the streaming world, doing so well for Netflix (by the company’s mostly secretive metrics) that the decision was made to release it in theaters over the summer after it already cleaned up at home! It’s an awesome animated adventure with terrific fight sequences, captivating musical numbers, and an ample amount of harmony and heart.

Read our review of KPop Demon Hunters.

Winner: Sinners

Ryan Coogler’s Sinners drops vampires into the 1930s South for a deeply personal, heartfelt, sexy, bloody story that sticks with you. Michael B. Jordan wows in a dual performance as twins Smoke and Stack, and other frequent Coogler collaborators – like cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw and costume designer Ruth E. Carter – do remarkable work bringing the brothers’ world to life. Sinners also puts music to beautiful use, as we’re reminded that vampirism is but one way to achieve immortality.

Coogler’s first horror movie expertly blends tears, fears, the Blues, and a macabre Southern Gothic setting for a look at love, loss, racism, and the blood that connects us all. And while we ultimately gave Weapons our Best Horror statue this year because, well, it was more horrificSinners is much more than just a horror movie. It’s an ambitious swing that paid off, filled with clever uses of sound, color, and clothing. It was a clearly defined “vision” phenomenally brought to life in a way that AI could never – a grand accomplishment, made by humans with wisdom and soul, meant to be experienced in the movie theater. Sinners is IGN’s pick for Best Movie of 2025!

Read our review of Sinners.

So how’d we do? Did Sinners deserve to get best movie of 2025? Or what do you think should have won? Let’s talk in the comments, and don’t forget to vote in the poll above. And make sure to check out all our IGN Awards for 2025 across film, TV, gaming, anime, and comics!