2025 Favorites

2025 was long. It was far from perfect but overwhelmingly in end of year debriefs I've had with friends and family it's regarded as a year full of growth and change. After the slog that was 2024 it felt nice to spend most of this year busying myself with work and social engagements, optimistically open to new opportunities and consuming my usual healthy diet of media. Here are some standouts:

2025 Releases

1.) Hamnet dir. Chloe Zhao

Coincidentally, this is my favorite movie released this year and is my number one pick for the Oscar race. I walked in worried I would agree with detractors on film Twitter who left the theater unaffected or worse, insulted by the emotional core the story is built around. Luckily, I love Jessie Buckley, have a heart, and am a thespian so I was sobbing by the end. I lightly touched on it in my Letterboxd review--and in every review about people making theatre--but the story is ultimately about people learning to understand one another and sue me! But I always think that's a very beautiful thing.

2.) Weapons dir. Zach Cregger

I was so reluctant to like this movie. As a Barbarian hater and a person who was unmoved when the cryptic trailer for this dropped, I assumed Weapons would be more of the same. I was pleasantly surprised when it ended up being a well paced exploration of the modern day panopticon, the illusion of privacy, and the degradation of a small town when people seek to find someone to blame rather than attempt to understand one another. It also happens to be incredibly funny and showcases Austin Abrams' talent to the general public (who are unfortunately unfamiliar with the special sauce he brought to Euphoria). Tons of fun!

3.) Kiss of the Spider Woman dir. Bill Condon

Another film I was hesitant to enjoy, really for no other reason than I'm not particularly fond of Jennifer Lopez (as a singer) and the rumblings of her potentially creeping into the best actress conversation seemed laughable to me. And while I don't think Lopez should be in contention for her performance in this, I did enjoy it an absurd amount and feel she managed to hold her own. This is what I've been missing in movie musicals, from the costuming to the dance sequences to the way it manages to make you suspend your disbelief and fear the infamous "spider woman's" poisonous kiss. The story, which is an adaptation of a stage show I'm unfamiliar with, is a bit silly, incredibly sad, and heartwarmingly sweet and the lead, Tonatiuh, is a standout.

4.) Hedda dir. Nia DaCosta

As it seems theatre related movies with strong female characters are the overarching thread in my favorites this year, it's only fitting I include Hedda. I read Henrik Ibsen's play for a classical theatre class years ago and remember enjoying it, recognizing it as the actresses equivalent of Hamlet, but not fully loving it the way some did. I think this movie bridges that gap. Not only is it almost always preferable to watch/hear a play rather than read it on the page in order to enhance understanding, but DaCosta made some directorial choices like setting the story in the 50s, gender swapping Hedda's unrequited love interest, and adding the element of queerness to it all that illustrates a masterclass in concious casting. I think the changes are thoughtful and masterfully directed--I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

Honorable Mentions:

• On Becoming a Guinea Fowl dir. Rungano Nyoni, truly one of the strongest and most affecting releases this year that I'm honestly still processing. Devastating, infuriating, and brutally honest.

• Bring Her Back dir. Michael & Danny Philippou, another frustrating watch but a well crafted horror gem--these two know how to make 'em.

• and After The Hunt dir. Luca Guadagnino, a movie I will write about eventually. Far from perfect, but a bit misunderstood.

First Watches

1.) Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person (2023) dir. Ariane Louis-Seize

Charming, bleak, and incredibly intimate. Almost any and all coming of age romantic comedies are going to be enjoyable, but this one had that special sauce that let me know it was crafted in a lab for a person like me to fall in love with. I'll think about the scene of them listening to records in Sasha's room constantly.

2.) Sing Sing (2023) dir. Greg Kwedar

Continuing the theme of movies that made me ache for theatre, this was such a gem. I've always loved the way specific stories, like the ones penned by Shakespeare, can don a brand new meaning depending on the interpretation brought to life by the director. Every play is universal and I think this movie demonstrates that perfectly.

3.) He's Just Not That Into You (2009) dir. Ken Kwapis

I already preached a bit of the gospel about this movie in my post about Materialists but it really was a formative piece in the emotional journey I weathered in 2025. As a recovering anxious avoidant who is notorious for feeling such intense emotions for people I hold them at an arms length to avoid any unwanted outcomes, I felt called out watching both Justin Long's Alex and Ginnifer Goodwin's Gigi. Suffice it to say, I did cry watching the love confession set to one of my favorite early 2000s ballads.

4.) It's What's Inside (2024) dir. Greg Jardin

Honestly kind of the M.V.P. of the year for me--I say that both seriously and un. This film is funny, visually interesting, thrilling, and full of twists in all the right places. There are distinct characters, emotional stakes you buy into, and every time you watch it you're able to pick up on more subtle story details. It's become my go to movie to Cary Dubek (aka, watch people watch). I love it.

Honorable mentions

• The Family Stone (2005) dir. Thomas Bezucha, a heartfelt, wacky, romcom from the golden era.

• Broken Hearts Gallery (2020) dir. Natalia Krinsky, the movie I started 2025 with--definitely contributed to some common themes that popped up last year. Geraldine I love you. <3

First Listens

1.) Debí Tirar Más Fotos - Bad Bunny

My first Bad Bunny album and honestly one of the most sonically pleasing experiences of my life. It's the kind of album I wish I could hear for the first time again and quickly became the soundtrack of my spring and summer. The joy, the nostalgia, the yearing. Gives me butterflies every time I listen.

2.) Fancy That - Pink Pantheress

A sleeper hit in my house, in truth I didn't realize how frequently I listened to this album until my Spotify wrap dropped, but it is one of the most universal releases from 2025. I could turn it on regardless of the season or my mood. It's an album to sing along to, an album to let loop while I read or write, or one to get hype to while I put my makeup. Many have praised Pink for her production, which is impeccable, but I think her songwriting also shines in an understated way.

3.) Lethal - Rico Nasty

Been a Rico girl for years but this is the first drop since Anger Management I've really vibed with. There are so many songs that scratch that itch in the back of my brain, PINK being one of them I listened to nonstop this summer. This album definitely feels a little poppier and cuter but it still has that undercurrent of anger I love.

4.) Who's the Clown? - Audrey Hobert

One of my mutuals on Twitter made a tweet how Audrey Hobert is like Marnie Michaels if she made good music and I fully agree. Her music is fully insecure, "I'm just a girl," bedroom pop and it appeals to the deepest, darkest, mushiest parts of me. There's also something incredibly nostalgic about her sound that just resonates heavily. I said when I first listened to her that she reminded me of the Disney channel girls I used to listen to in fifth grade, a distinct sound that can really only be honed by a hopeless romantic girl who grew up on Bridgit Mendler and Sabrina Carpenter when she was acoustic.

5.) Ghost the Musical

I listened to a few new musicals this year (not nearly enough, but that's a 2026 problem) and this is by far my favorite. This is what I wish all film adaptations were but unfortunately only a rare few are. The songs are cohesive with a 90s sensibility but it bends genres when it makes sense--gospel for Oda Mae, a rock ballad as Sam mourns the life he once had, a hip hop number as a ghost teaches Sam the ins and outs of harnessing his abilities. I listened to Carl's money hungry "More" too many times to count at this point.

Honorable Mentions

• Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party - Haley Williams, I'm currently working my way through her whole discography and her albums were really made for this time of year.

• Am I the Drama? - Cardi B, petty, catchy, and fun!

TV Shows

1.) Severance (s2)

Wrote about this a little bit on my Substack, but I think people are being a little too hard on this season. I will concede that I can understand and find merit in some criticisms, but I really enjoyed this season. Questions of love, consent, and what it means to be a fully formed person--coupled with some of my favorite performances (looking at Adam and Tramell specifically) in tv this year.

2.) The Pitt (s1)

So happy I jumped into the Pitt madness during the first season airing because it definitely held my hand through some tough times at the start of 2025. One of my favorites writers made a post on her now defunct Twitter discussing how watching Grey's Anatomy and other medical dramas weirdly helped her process her own medical trauma as she supported a parent through their time in the hospital and that fully encapsulated what I believe the Pitt did for me. Throughout most of 2024 I watched a load of YouTube videos of real doctors discussing procedures and reacting to dramaticized medical scenarios and it always gave me an odd comfort to understand more about what they do. I felt a similar feeling watching the Pitt, especially with how medically accurate it is (both because of the writing and because of the one hour = one episode story structure) and The Pitt Sunday's always gave me something to look forward to.

3.) Girls

Lena Dunham is my enemy. Lena Dunham is my friend. I already wrote about this show at length over on Substack, but it unfortunately is one of the most life changing shows I've ever watched. I woke up at 4am after finishing the finale in a cold sweat and wrote one of my favorite pieces I've ever made--so I must give her her tens. Begrudgingly.

4.) Adults (s1)

That's family for real. I love them all. It's the show of my dreams honestly, I see all my friends in all of the main characters and it is consistently funny and sweet. Paul Baker & Antwon <3

Honorable mentions

• The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season 2 and Love Island US season 7 may end up in a future blog post because I have many many thoughts about the current politics of the dating scene and how those ideaologies are depicted on screen and dissected online but both of these shows were absolute car crashes. I hated them and I could not stop watching.

• The Bear season 4 episode 4, contrary to popular belief I did enjoy season 4 of The Bear but it doesn't make it to my out right favorites list because it was so clearly a vehicle to set up season 5. But you know what? I don't mind. I think it's fun. I'm still a Sydcarmy enjoyer and this episode is well written and directed fully helmed by Black women.

Truthfully, I walked into the end of this year feeling like I'd accomplished very little, but as I reflect on the media that shaped my life I realize things have changed. I am different. And I'm hoping this year continues that trend. As always I am hoping to write more, and I am plugging my Substack again if anyone wants to check out my more personal and rambly pieces. I have a few creative goals I am not at liberty to share--but I'm hoping to continue to create more.

Thanks as always for reading, and Happy New Year!