A fun fact about me is that I have always been a huge fan of film. I love watching all sorts of genres with my friends and family and getting to share that experience with them.
Here are my favorite movies that I have seen within the past year.
- “Sinners”
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When I saw this movie in the theaters, I was completely entranced. I don’t think that I have ever been so captivated and awestruck by a movie before. Seeing this movie in theaters was an absolute must for this film.
The story follows twin brothers, Smoke and Stack as they work to open up a “juke joint” or rural gathering for dancing and singing in the 1920s. Their little cousin, Sammie gets roped into performing there, allowing him to break away from his controlling father for a night.
Quickly, the night goes awry as vampires start to creep into their juke joint.
I love this movie because it highlighted the racism and prejudice that have existed in the United States, particularly in the South in the 1920s. It was presented in a great way and was really able to show the history of racism and the colonization of different groups of people.
The incorporation of the music throughout the film was my absolute favorite part, as it coincided with these central topics, as well as further add to the creative expression that this movie embodies.
- “Superman”
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This is another film that I went to see in theaters because I saw it hyped up in the weeks leading up to its release.
In this movie, Superman himself was marketed as a superhero who was not always “super.” He made mistakes and would sometimes get knocked down by his enemies, but this ultimately made him more relatable.
Throughout the film, Superman always had the drive to save his community and those who couldn’t save themselves. He never gave up and it was revealed that his care for others was his true superpower. I absolutely love the way that his character was represented in this particular movie.
I also love that this movie played off of real-world issues and showed Superman defeating the evil villains that were in positions of power. It created an amazing message for the little kids who watched it about how they can stand up for what is right too.
This Superman also made it cool to care, which was really inspiring and made me feel hopeful.
- “Wicked: For Good”
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Beginning with the first film, “Wicked” took the whole world by storm. I am a big fan of movie musicals and loved the first movie, so you can imagine my excitement for the second one to release. The conclusion to these movies did not disappoint me.
The soundtrack and vocal ability of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are enough to inspire anyone to watch the film. The actresses and their unique talents are what make this project so special. Their chemistry itself is how this film has been able to be marketed, memes and all.
I also absolutely loved the way that the sequel crossed over with the plot of “The Wizard of Oz,” but still kept Dorothy faceless since this is not her story.
Seeing the transformations of some of the characters from the first film into characters that we know from “The Wizard of Oz” was also really interesting. The whole cast did an amazing job of bringing this Broadway musical to life on the big screen.
- “White Chicks”
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It usually takes a lot for me to audibly laugh out loud at a movie, but this one accomplished that. The Wayans brothers are absolutely hysterical in this film and their comedic timing is incredible. This has inspired me to watch other films that they have made.
The film follows two brothers who are FBI agents and are hired to protect two heiresses, as someone is out to get them. When the heiresses refuse to follow their rules, the brothers pretend to be them and live their lives in order to catch the criminal who wants to attack the girls.
The Wayans brothers did an excellent job at poking fun at the social “royalty” of the early 2000s.
I don’t think any movie has made laugh as much as this one, with the crazy stunts and jokes that are made throughout the film. The movie does a great job of playing off of stereotypes in a lighthearted and truly comical manner.
I also love how the film shows how the heiresses friends and the two brothers could maintain a friendship after their job was finished, as well as how the girls could forgive them for pretending to be their best friends.
- “Anyone But You”
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My absolute favorite genre of movies would have to be romantic comedies and this one did not disappoint. I also believe that any movie that has Glen Powell in it will immediately be amazing, particularly when it’s a rom-com. He has great comedic timing and is a perfect fit for such roles.
The film follows Ben and Bea, who have hated each other ever since she walked out a date with him after overhearing a poorly worded conversation. Later, they realize that they have mutual friends who are getting married and their exes will be attending. This leads them to fake dating in order to make their exes jealous.
Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes in romantic comedies and I believe that Powell and Sydney Sweeney did a great job of portraying it. They have great chemistry and it showed on the big screen. They also both did a great job of delving into this particular genre and I believe that they would be great in other films within the genre.
Movies have always been one of my favorite areas of media and it is important to me that I watch films I haven’t seen before each year. I watched many in 2025, but not all of them impressed me as much as these did. I hope my reviews inspired you to watch these films too.