2025 End of Year Movie Survey

Happy Sunday everyone!  Today, I'm sharing my 2025 End of Year Movie Survey!  I've been doing my Mid-Year Movie Freak Out for a few years now (check out my 2025 list here), but I didn't start my End of Year Movie Survey until last year (you can see my list here).  All of the movies I featuring in today are all first time watches in 2025.  If anyone would like to link up with me and share their End of Year Movie Survey, I'd love to see your answers to the questions.  By the way, the titles are linked to my Letterboxd review or their Letterboxd page.  Without further ado, here we go:

1. Best Movie You Watched In 2025?

Sinners (2025) - This made my Mid-Year list as well.  I've seen a lot of great movies released this year, but I'd still say this is my favorite overall.  I actually went to see this twice in theac.

2. Best sequel you've watched so far in 2025.

Predator: Badlands (2025) - This was such a pleasant surprise! I liked this just as much or more than Prey which my favorite of the franchise otherwise.  This is also a great crossover with the Alien franchise.  I wasn't expecting the found family and fire forged friends tropes but I loved that about it.

3. Movie You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn't

Lost in Translation (2003) - I've heard a lot of great things about this, but I can honestly say that I don't understand how it was nominated for four Academy Awards and even won one of them. I wasn't expecting the level of Orientalism.  At least, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King won the Oscar for Best Picture instead of this.

4. Most Surprising (In A Good Way Or Bad Way) Movie You Watched?

KPop Demon Hunters (2025) - I'd heard so many great things about this, so I don't know why I was so surprised by how much I absolutely loved it.  It just made my day.  I wouldn't mind knowing more about Rumi's mom and Celine's trio, or just seeing more of this world in the future.

5. Movie You “Pushed” The Most People To Watch (And They Did)?

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (2025) - I know a lot of people who love Downton Abbey as much or more than me, so this wasn't a tough one to push!  This wrapped up the series so well. I loved seeing Thomas (over the course of the series quickly became my favorite downstairs character) living his best life, Noel Coward singing Poor Little Rich Girl at the party, and Edith (my favorite upstairs character) really having come into her own.  Also, I bet Mr. Molesley would have a great Letterboxd account if he lived in another era.

6. Favorite New Actor Or Director You Discovered In 2025?

Pierre Niney as Edmond Dantès/ The Count of Monte Cristo from The Count of Monte Cristo (2024) - I'm sticking with my Mid-Year pick for this one too.  I (still) haven't seen this actor in anything else, but I'll have to change that because I was so impressed with his performance in this movie.

7. Best Movie From A Genre You Don’t Typically Watch?

Il Mare (2000) - Romance movies aren't usually my thing, but this time travel/ intertwined parallel times film was a must watch.  I've never seen the American remake called The Lake House with Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves, but Jun Ji-hyun and Lee Jung-jae are both outstanding. 

8. Most Action-Packed/Thrilling Movie Of The Year?

Sorcerer (1977) - I had no expectations for this going in, but it's easily one of the most intense action thrillers I've ever seen.  By the way, it's only rated PG, but it's definitely a modern PG-13.  If you feel like not blinking and being on edge for two whole hours, this is a must watch!

9. Movie You Watched In 2025 That You Would Be MOST Likely To Re-Watch In 2026?

Wicked: For Good (2025) - I can't wait to rewatch this movie - and listen to the soundtrack again.  It's time to rewatch the first movie again too!

10. Most Memorable Character of 2025?

Harry Palmer as played by Michael Caine from The Ipcress File (1965) - There were quite a few characters I could pick for this, but I'm sticking with my Mid-Year pick.  Harry (and the movie as a whole) is very much the exact opposite of James Bond and I really appreciated that.  I'm going to have to watch the rest of this series soon.  I saw the sequel ages ago, but now that I've seen the first movie I'll have to rewatch it now that I know what's what.

11. Most Beautifully Made Movie Watched in 2025?

Lost in Starlight (2025) - This sci-fi romance Netflix animated Korean film was sweet and it looks absolutely beautiful.  Also, the music element totally fits the story.  This movie definitely deserves way more attention.

12. Movie You Can’t Believe You Waited UNTIL 2025 To Finally Watch?

Gun Crazy (1950) - I've watched a lot of film noir/ crime thriller/ heist movies, but this is one of the best.  I have no idea how I missed it for so long before this year.  It's also the oldest movie that I rated the highest this year.  I loved how the realistic details and how the camera seemed like it was right there with the cast.  The biggest surprise for me when it came to the cast was realizing that Bart was played by John Dall who I mainly associate with the role of Brandon in Alfred Hitchcock's Rope (1948).  By the way, if you haven't seen that one, it's pretty awesome too!

13. Movie That Shocked You The Most (Because of a plot twist, character death, left you hanging with your mouth wide open, etc.)

Decision to Leave (2022) - I went into this Korean mystery thriller blind and was absolutely blown away by it.

14. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!) (OTP = one true pairing if you aren’t familiar)

Sue and Reed from The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) - I really got a kick out of the whole team, but they're so good together in this! 

15. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

Bob and Yelena from Thunderbolts* (2025) - I loved this whole team, but Bob and Yelena were my favorites and I can't wait to see them again in the future.

16. Best Movie You Watched In 2025 That You Watched Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure Etc.:

Barbarian (2025) - I'm so glad I went into this blind! 

17. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Watched This Year?

Delicatessen (1991) - The style and the detail in this post-apocalyptic movie are top notch.  It's from the creators as Amelie (2001) and now that I've seen both, you can really tell.  It also reminds me of the style of Wes Anderson as well.

18. Movie That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Watch?

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2024) - I just love Wallace and Gromit, so any time I have the chance to see them is a good in my opinion!

19. Movie That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2025?

The Life of Chuck (2024) - This was so good!  Mike Flanagan was the perfect choice to adapt this Stephen King story.  I hope David Dastmalchian, Matthew Lillard, and Tom Hiddleston will appear in future Flanagan productions.  

20. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

The Long Walk (2019) - This was my first ever Laotian movie and I had no idea how much I needed this kind of ghost story/ time travel/ crime movie!

21. Movie That Crushed Your Soul?

White Bird (2023) - I also had this on Mid-Year list under movie that made you cry, but it totally fits here too. I'd read the book this was based on so I already knew what was coming, but I was still a mess. Anyway, both the book and the adaptation are great and I highly recommend checking them out. By the way, they are companions to Wonder (2017). 

22. Most Unique Movie You Watched In 2025?

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995) - This is easily my favorite Patrick Swayze movie (and Wesley Snipes and John Leguizamo are also fantastic too) and I crave Miss Vida Boheme's approval.  I wasn't expecting this 30 year old movie to hold up so well.

23. Movie That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)  - This movie and the history book this is based on are both excellent and I'm glad this brutal part of American history has gotten more attention due to them.

24. Best Book To Film Adaptation?

Frankenstein (2025) - I've seen a lot of good adaptations, but I absolutely love how Guillermo del Toro's take on this classic turned out.  It's got it's differences, but they worked for me and it still felt like the source material to me.  Also, everyone is great in their roles, but Jacob Elordi as The Creature is the real stand out of the movie.  I only wish I got to see it on the big screen rather than on my tv on Netflix.

25. Best Book To TV Adaptation?

Murderbot (2025-) - I was really concerned about this Apple TV+ adaptation, but I shouldn't have worried because it was amazing and they did justice to the story and the characters! The changes and expansions it really suited show as well.  I'm so happy they kept Murderbot's running internal monologue.  I didn't know what to think when Alexander Skarsgård was cast as the title character, but he quickly sold me and brought a favorite character to life so well.  The real MVP of the series for me, though, was David Dastmalchian as Gurathin who unexpectedly became my favorite character.  I can't wait for season 2!

26. Best Book Adaptation That Made You Want To Read The Source Material?

Murdoch Mysteries (2008-) - Over the last year, my mom and I have gotten really into this 1890s (at least in the beginning) Toronto set police procedural. ION Plus has been playing it.  They aren't quite playing it in order since they'll play blocks of episodes in order, but then they'll jump around between seasons.  So we've watched quite a few of episodes already, but not always the right way.  We're hoping to go back to the beginning and watch them through in the right order one of these days.  All of the characters are pretty great, but George Crabtree (on the far left side in the picture above) is my favorite.  Anyway, I've recently found out the show is based on the Detective Murdoch series by Maureen Jennings with Except the Dying as book one, so of course I'll have to give it a try sometime given how enjoyable the long running tv adaptation is.

27. 2026 Movie Releases You're Looking Forward To?

Looks like lots of great movies will be coming out in 2026, but here are five between now and May that have really caught my eye.

Send Help (2026) - Release date: January 30th - This Sam Raimi movie looks like it will be a great combination of Cast Away and Misery.  You can see the trailer here.

How to Make a Killing (2026) - Release date: February 20th - This is inspired by Kind Hearts and Cornets which is one of my favorites and a contemporary American retelling of that story could be pretty cool.  You can see the trailer here.

Hoppers (2026) - Release date: March 6th - The trailer for this Pixar movie sold me in 2 minutes and 24 seconds!  This is the most excited I've been for a Pixar movie I've been in years!

Project Hail Mary (2026) - Release date: March 20th - I love Andy Weir's book and this movie had better be good.  Luckily, the trailers look extremely promising.  I just can't wait to see Rocky!  You can see the trailers here and here.

The Sheep Detectives (2026) - Release date: May 8th - I know this is based on a book, but I haven't read it yet.  That said the trailer for this movie adaptation sold me in 2 minutes and 39 seconds.  I didn't expect how much I feel like I need this in my life.

Have you seen any of these movies or tv shows?  What are you looking forward to watching this year?  As always, thanks for visiting my blog and perhaps even commenting down below!