As 2025 comes to a close, we look back at the year’s cinematic highlights with our picks for the Top Five Films that defined the year.
Despite the film community already setting their sights on 2026, it is undeniable that this year has been a great year for cinema. Two themes have been front and center in particular: political commentary, either in the form of satire or as compelling drama like Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, and stories of anguish and loneliness like Lynne Ramsay’s Die My Love.
Unfortunately, Philippine cinema is once again a victim of an increasing lack of timely theatrical releases for less mainstream but equally astounding films. Chloe Zhao’s Hamnet and Rental Family with Brendan Fraser are some of the most thought-provoking films of this year, but were shackled by limited-time theatrical releases. Other films that have built up significant anticipation internationally do not seem to have any indication that they will get a Philippine release date at all, including my most anticipated film of the year in The Secret Agent with Wagner Moura. Perhaps as Filipino films like Lav Diaz’ Magellan and Babyruth Villarama’s Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea get more international recognition, the Philippine moviegoing scene can bounce back and attract more film distributors.
With these caveats out of the way, here are the top five films of 2025:
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5th: Bugonia
Yorgos Lanthimos hit the ground running with another collaboration with two-time Oscar-winner Emma Stone, this time with a political commentary against corporate America, exploring what happens when an underclass conspiracy believer attacks and kidnaps a corporate millionaire celebrity. This film is a step forward for Lanthimos’ signature style of blending absurdist humor with sociopolitical underpinnings and is, in my opinion, the best film he’s made.
4th: Habang Nilalamon ng Hydra ang Kasaysayan
A film entry during this year’s Cinemalaya Film Festival, Hydra is another political commentary in this list, but this time leaning more heavily on drama and the emotion of loss. Presented as a series of intertwining dialogues, the film centers around the aftermath of the 2022 Philippine presidential elections and follows supporters of the losing political camp. Hydra is heavy but pausing for well-placed humorous relief at times, and is an eerily accurate reminder of overcoming helplessness in times of political turmoil.
3rd: Zootopia 2
Zootopia 2 is Disney magic at its finest. In a sea of failures, this film is a sequel done right, with clever humor, an amazingly deep plot narrative, and an infinite number of callbacks to other films. One of the best aspects of Zootopia, however, has got to be the not-so-subtle romantic undertones between Hopps and Wilde, which is certainly appreciated by adults in the cinema. Zootopia 2 will restore your hopes with Disney animated movies and will be remembered as one of the greats.
2nd: Frankenstein
There is a storied past between Director Guillermo del Toro and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, with del Toro committing to not do a Frankenstein film adaptation unless he is prepared, and Frankenstein 2025 is proof that del Toro waiting to perfect his craft was the right call. There is no film this year that has successfully blended fantasy and poetic tragedy as effectively as Frankenstein. Once again, del Toro masterfully explores humanity in monstrosity, but this time, resting on the pillars of Mary Shelley’s excellent story and Jacob Elordi’s excellent performance as the “monster”.
1st: One Battle After Another
One Battle After Another is Paul Thomas Anderson’s return to film after a few years since Licorice Pizza, and he stamped his name as one of the greatest filmmakers in history by releasing a perfect film that pushed the boundaries of modern cinema. Shot on a VistaVision format, the film tells the story of the years of conflict between an American terrorist revolutionary and a fascist military goon, presented as an “Americana” absurdist comical thriller. One Battle After Another is a powerful political film employing a magnificent musical score, intentional cinematography, and Sean Penn delivering an Oscar-worthy performance.
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