21 MOVIES TO WATCH BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR

The days are getting rapidly shorter, and with everyone getting just a tiny bit lazier during the winter season, it is the perfect time to wrap yourself in a blanket and catch up on all the amazing films that came out this year. And boy, was it a year of great films! From heart wrenching drama to a gay romance with just the right amount of leather outfits, no matter what your favourite movie genre is, there is something for everyone. 

Every group has its cinephiles, who you can rely on for great movie recommendations, and we asked ours about movies that definitely should be on your binge list (in no particular order) before the year 2025 ends. 

BUGONIA
recommended by VERONICA TLAPANCO SZABÓ, Junior Website Editor Intern

Opening with Chappell Roan’s Good Luck, Babe! is an indescribably perfect choice, because trust me, you’re absolutely going to need it. While queuing to enter the cinema, I was warned to eat breakfast before watching this film, and I can fully attest: do not go on an empty stomach! This one is a delight for lovers of a good plot twist, with Jesse Plemons once again embodying the neighbourhood weirdo and Emma Stone playing a suited-up bosslady. “Timely” feels like a silly word to throw around about films lately, but it truly fits Bugonia. Nasty from start to finish, it’s quickly climbing as one of our favourites from Yorgos Lanthimos, with the final shots among our favourites of the year.

P.S. I'm going to be looking at calculators and closets a little suspiciously from now on.

IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
recommended by SANYEE BARJOGARÓN, Contributor

Director Jafar Panhani brings something bold and dare I say, fresh with this film. Centred around a man named Vahid (Vahid Mobasseri) suspecting that his new client is someone who once tormented him in prison, the story gives an abundance of thrills and suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat! What makes this film unique is the question whether Vahid wishes to seek revenge on his ex-tormentor! If you want a politically thrilling revenge film that will keep you wondering what happens next - check this film out asap!

SENTIMENTAL VALUE
recommended by SONNY NGO, Contributing Editor

I don’t think Joachim Trier has a single miss in his filmography, and Sentimental Value certainly doesn’t leave a dent in his oeuvre. Having premiered at this year’s Cannes festival, and taking home the prestigious Grand Prix, Trier reconnects with longtime collaborator Renate Reinsve in this comedy drama about family estrangement. The film is a tender portrait of regret and reconnection with Reinsve being supported by stellar acting from Stellan Skarsgård and Ella Fanning. It will surely hook you from start to finish. 

HAMNET
recommended by VERONICA TLAPANCO SZABÓ, Junior Website Editor Intern

You read that right, this isn’t a typo, Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao, follows the incredibly heartbreaking relationship between Agnes and William Shakespeare, as they face the tragic loss of their 11-year-old son Hamnet. Lyrically oriented, this story encompasses sorrow, love and the art that springs from life’s most painful experiences, in this case the play Hamlet. The film is as much about the experience of having a child as it is about losing one, so be prepared, you’re very likely to end up in tears (the seismic grief had everyone in the theatre in shambles). It’s also worth noting that Paul Mescal’s relentless quest to play the saddest most broken men alive may well reach its pinnacle in this performance!

FRANKENSTEIN
recommended by SONNY NGO, Contributing Editor

If you take anything from this text, let it be this: Jacob Elordi prosthetically transformed into a six-foot endearing creature. I mean, honestly, if that does not convince you to see this movie I don’t know what will. The iconic Mary Shelley story has Guillermo Del Toro’s flair all over, from gothic sci-fi set designs to haunting cinematography. Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth are bright as ever, but the real revelation is the side of Elordi we have yet to see before, delivering a performance so striking you can’t seem to look away. The film is currently streaming on Netflix, perfect for cosy evenings during this equally scary Dutch weather. 

PILLION
recommended by SANYEE BARJOGARÓN, Contributor

If you don’t plan to see Alexander Skarsgård in the role of a sexy biker who has a dominant-submissive relationship with Henry Melling—it’s safe to say you’ll be missing out on a pivotal piece of modern cinema. Who doesn’t like a little romance with a whole lot of steam to make you blush. Harry Lighton’s Pillion is a must see before 2025 ends.  With unique themes of desire, submission and exploring identities, it’s a unique story of self-revelation. 

DIE MY LOVE
recommended by SONNY NGO, Contributing Editor

In this absolutely wild drama, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson play a newly wed couple handling all the ups, downs, and in-betweens of having a baby. The story is adapted from Ariana Harwicz’s acclaimed novel about postpartum depression and director Lynne Ramsey translates Harwicz’s beautiful prose into equally stunning visuals. It’s primal and electrifying, razor-sharp, ferocious, and thoroughly addictive. The film features some of Lawrence’s most live-wire acting, and her chemistry with Pattinson is undeniable. A must-watch for the season! 

URCHIN
recommended by VERONICA TLAPANCO SZABÓ, Junior Website Editor Intern

Harris Dickinson is directing now too, because why not do it all??? Truly, Harris excels at everything, and his debut film proves it. A raw, raggedy little gem shot in a beautifully bare documentary style with almost no colour grading. The story follows Mike, a Londoner cycling in and out of homelessness and prison for five years, with the emotional openness of a literal wound. The film traces his path from mugging to landing a cooking job at a decidedly sketchy hotel, poignantly capturing the near-futility of trying to claw your way out of addiction and homelessness. And yes, there is a tiny Harris Dickinson cameo tucked in there, just in case that seals the deal for you!

IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU
recommended by SANYEE BARJOGARÓN, Contributor

Anything starring Rose Byrne demands immediate attention! So naturally, this had to make the list of must-see films to watch before the year concludes. It’s about a woman named Linda (Byrne) who tries to navigate through her daughter’s mysterious illness, with a bunch of other twists in this story. From a missing person, her absent husband, and a hostile relationship with her therapist—you’re sure to be in for a wild ride expecting the unexpected! Director Mary Bronstein, who also wrote the screenplay, channels her unique experiences into a story worth watching on the big screen.

RENTAL FAMILY
recommended by VERONICA TLAPANCO SZABÓ, Junior Website Editor Intern

By now, you’ve probably heard of the unusual Japanese service where you can hire a “rental family.” Essentially, clients pay for professional actors to play family members, friends, colleagues, or other figures for personal, social, or emotional reasons. It’s a strangely whimsical premise and it’s exactly what director Hikari builds her film around. All throughout you will find your cheeks will ache from smiling so much, only for the film to stop you for a little cry. Brendan Fraser feels perfectly cast here, for a performance that is unsurprisingly sweet, shockingly funny, and quite profound (still recovering from The Whale). The film beautifully explores the ways in which performance can easily slip into real feelings, and how these small lies and enacted gestures can grow into something heartbreakingly genuine. Truly, a crowd-pleaser.

JAY KELLY
recommended by SONNY NGO, Contributing Editor

George Clooney, Adam Sandler, directed and co-written by Noah Baumbach? Sign me up. Jay Kelly premiered at the 82nd edition of the Venice Film Festival and was nominated for the Golden Lion. This comedy drama features an impressive ensemble cast and follows a famous movie star and his manager, portrayed by Clooney and Sandler, as they travel throughout Europe whilst reflecting on their friendship, lives, and legacies.

AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH
recommended by SANYEE BARJOGARÓN, Contributor

James Cameron is back with Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington in the third film of the series! This of course makes the must see list, as the story continues with Jake Sully (Worthington) and Neytiri (Saldana) facing off against a new, aggressive Na’vi tribe called the Ash people—who seem to be working with their nemesis Quaritch (Stephen Lang). We all know Avatar is known for its advanced CGI and its beautifully immersive world and creatures of all kinds! We are eager to see what Cameron has in store for us with the continuation from Avatar: The Way of Water. It’s guaranteed to be the best blockbuster of winter, no doubt!

THE SECRET AGENT
recommended by VERONICA TLAPANCO SZABÓ, Junior Website Editor Intern

The Secret Agent (originally Agente Secreto), directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, was the most awarded film at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, sweeping both Best Director and Best Actor! Totally deserved! The film is set in Brazil in 1977, a time when the military regime’s repression doubled down. Joy and sadness pervade the film in equal measure during its two hours and forty minute run time which absolutely flies by. You can expect a drama full of brilliant characters, suspense, and even a sequence inspired by Brazil’s hairy-leg folklore. Mendonça Filho is clearly having fun with it all, and we’re just tagging along for the sun-drenched ride.

WICKED: FOR GOOD
recommended by SONNY NGO, Contributing Editor

Those familiar with the original broadway show know just how emotional the next chapter in Wicked is about to get, and yet I don’t think anything truly prepares you for seeing it on the silver screen. If the first movie already got you dropping a few discreet tears, be prepared for this one to tuck at your heartstrings ten fold. Filmed-back-to-back, director Jon. M. Chu sweeps you right back into the world of Oz. This time, however, it will feel even richer, more grandiose, and more serious as the stakes are raised. And when those musical numbers hit? Goosebumps.

NOW YOU SEE ME 3
recommended by SANYEE BARJOGARÓN, Contributor

With a surprise third instalment, Ruben Fleischer takes on the role to direct a new story in the series of heist performing magicians! Returning to New you see me: Now You Don’t is the original cast that have since the first film, become household names. Woody Harrelson, Jessie Eisenberg, Dave Franco, Isla Fischer, Morgan Freeman, Daniel Radcliffe, and Mark Ruffalo are back for yet another fantastic sequel full of more mayhem and twists. I can promise, whatever tricks Fleischer has up his sleeve—you won’t see it coming.

THE SMASHING MACHINE
recommended by SONNY NGO, Contributing Editor

Lately it seems rare to see Dwayne ‘the Rock’ Johnson in anything other than a big action blockbuster. And although there is nothing wrong with such films, if you want to see him play in a more grounded, subtle movie, you have to watch Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine. In this biopic sports drama, Johnson portrays the iconic MMA and UFC fighter Mark Kerr with total conviction, while Emily Blunt plays his then-wife Dawn Staples. Dare I say, a career highlight for the former. 

THE RUNNING MAN
recommended by VERONICA TLAPANCO SZABÓ, Junior Website Editor Intern

Originally published in 1982 but set in the year 2025 (yes the very one we’re living in), Stephen King’s The Running Man imagines a future where the global economy has collapsed, America has slipped into a totalitarian nightmare, and the media keeps citizens too busy hating each other to notice who the real enemy is. Sound familiar? This new adaptation comes to us courtesy of Edgar Wright, the director behind Baby Driver, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and Last Night in Soho, so of course the pacing is razor-sharp and the soundtrack is everything. While still giving a tiny nod to its predecessor (keep an eye out for Arnold Schwarzenegger on the $100 bill) Glen Powell is able to conjure the perfect mix of kooky, campy, cracky energy to hold this 80s-style action romp together. 

NO OTHER CHOICE
recommended by SANYEE BARJOGARÓN, Contributor

Director Park-Chan Wook delivers something truly incredible in this Korean film! It’s a unique comedy/thriller that explores themes of survival, corruption, and the dark sides of capitalism, which I’d say in fairness, is pretty relevant in today’s world. Another beautiful aspect of this film is that the protagonist Yoo Man-soo (Lee Byung-hun) is a closeted gay man exploring the gay community that exists in Seoul! So yes, an interestingly layered film with lots of eye-catching themes that is sure to be quite the spectacle to experience! If you have the chance, give this film a shot! You might be surprised!

NUREMBERG
recommended by VERONICA TLAPANCO SZABÓ, Junior Website Editor Intern

For anyone who didn’t get enough of our cover star Rami Malek, you can now find him starring in Nuremberg. Russell Crowe also returns with a bang (not that he ever really left), delivering a chilling yet nuanced performance. Set in postwar Germany, what unfolds is a complex battle of ethics and intellect, particularly in the encounters with Hermann Göring, Hitler’s right-hand man. This film probes at the unsettling capacity for evil within all of us, whether through deliberate action or passive complicity, and its themes feel hauntingly relevant today, despite the hollow promise that humanity would “never again” repeat such horrors. The genius of James Vanderbilt, allows for the film moves with real vigour and just the right touch of humour, making it worthy of adding to your watchlist.

THE HOUSEMAID
recommended by SONNY NGO, Contributing Editor

Based on the major best seller novel by Freida McFadden, The Housemaid is a psychological thriller directed by Paul Feig. A young woman, played by Euphoria alum Sydney Sweeney, tries to escape her complicated past by accepting a live-in housemaid job for the wealthy Nina (Amanda Seyfried) and Andrew Winchester (Brandon Sklenar). What starts as an easy dream job quickly unravels into a gripping mystery as more and more secrets are revealed within the household. 

ETERNITY
recommended by SANYEE BARJOGARÓN, Contributor

This movie is STACKED with talented actors taking the lead in a fascinating love triangle in the afterlife. Starring Avengers alumni Elizabeth Olsen, Miles Teller, and the dreamy Callum Turner - director David Freyne’s film explores a woman named Joan (Olsen) and her romance between her also dead husband (Teller) and her first love (Turner). If you love a good romance with sci-fi elements and world class actors, this film is definitely one you should see! It asks all the hard questions about love and explores the possibilities of what choices lead to our afterlife. Okay, enough with the heavy stuff. Go see this film now!