The time has come for “Screen Talk” podcasts Anne Thompson and Ryan Lattanzio (that’s us) to share their top 10 films of 2025. Ryan Coogler’s Southern vampire epic “Sinners” leads Anne’s list, with Alain Guiraudie’s queer noir “Misericordia” topping Ryan’s. See our rankings below or listen in this week’s podcast episode.
The only film we overlapped on was, of course, Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another.”
On this week’s episode, we also parse the implications of Netflix vs. Paramount in acquiring Warner Bros. and assess which buyer we think is best for Hollywood. The writing was already on the wall even before the deal was launched last week. As the number of films released by studios suffers attrition, box office numbers are down, and theater attendance is spread across IP and animated films and select originals throughout 2025, it’s clear: Hollywood cannot stay the same, even as this news suggests worse things to come. Don’t panic yet, we advise.
President Trump didn’t state a preference for a buyer until this week, when he said he wanted Warner Bros. Discovery-operated CNN to be part of the deal. Paramount’s pitch to shareholders is to keep the company intact, whereas WBD’s David Zaslav would spin off Discovery’s cable assets and CNN and sell to Netflix Warners’ streaming and theatrical arms (including Warner Bros. the studio, HBO, and HBO Max).
In the past week and a half, the Golden Globes and the American Film Institute also unveiled their nominees and honorees for the best of 2025. What do these groups indicate for Oscar hopes ahead?
“Wicked: For Good” is looking weak as a potential Best Picture nominee after losing out on a best musical nomination at the Globes, though stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande both received acting nominations. Erivo’s Best Actress nomination is looking less secure, especially as Rose Byrne rises in the ranks for her performance in “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” among a number of critics groups.
We also look at who’s ahead in the best international feature Oscar race, as shortlists will unveil on Tuesday. You can expect at least four, but possibly five, Neon titles to be among the list of 15: “Sentimental Value,” “The Secret Agent,” “Sirat,” “It Was Just an Accident,” and “No Other Choice.”
As an addendum to our top 10 lists, Anne also singles out Embeth Davidtz’s “Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight” as a best first feature, and Raoul Peck’s “Orwell: 2+2=5” as the best documentary. Ryan gives “The Testament of Ann Lee” and “Roofman” honorary mentions. Tomorrow, IndieWire’s entire staff will share their own top 10 lists.
Anne Thompson’s Top 10 Films of 2025
1. “Sinners”
2. “The Voice of Hind Rajab”
3. “Sentimental Value”
4. “Train Dreams”
5. “Hamnet”
6. “One Battle After Another”
7. “Frankenstein”
8. “Blue Moon”
9. “28 Years Later”
10. “Marty Supreme”
Ryan Lattanzio’s Top 10 Films of 2025
1. “Misericordia”
2. “Resurrection”
3. “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”
4. “One Battle After Another”
5. “Pillion”
6. “Urchin”
7. “The Things You Kill”
8. “April”
9. “Hedda”
10. “Cloud”
Listen to this week’s “Screen Talk” below or on your favorite podcast platform.
