Letterboxd’s Top 10 Films of 2025: The Year’s Standouts
Discover which 2025 films captured the hearts of Letterboxd users. From gripping dramas to inventive animation, this year’s highest-rated titles offer a fascinating mix of genres and stories.
As 2025 drew to a close, film enthusiasts on Letterboxd once again made their voices heard, championing a diverse array of titles that sparked debate, admiration, and the odd heated row. The platform’s annual round-up of the most highly rated films is always a talking point, and this year’s selection is no exception—ranging from period pieces to supernatural thrillers, and even a Japanese animated feature that’s taken the community by storm.
Period Dramas, Supernatural Thrills, and Dark Comedy
Clint Bentley’s Train Dreams opens the list, a period drama adapted from Denis Johnson’s novella. Joel Edgerton’s portrayal of Robert, a solitary orphan working the railroads, is quietly devastating. The film’s sparse dialogue and evocative visuals linger long after the credits roll.
Next up, Sinners sees Michael B. Jordan in a dual role as twin brothers in a supernatural horror set during the Great Depression. Ryan Coogler’s direction brings a genre-bending energy, with the brothers’ dreams of running a juke joint unravelling as sinister forces emerge. Audiences were particularly taken with the film’s striking visuals and its deft handling of complex themes.
Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice offers a sharp, darkly comic look at the pressures of modern life. After being made redundant, Yoo Man-su’s solution to unemployment is as bizarre as it is bleak: he decides to eliminate his competition—literally. The film’s biting social commentary and offbeat humour have made it a favourite among those with a taste for the macabre.
Intimate Portraits and Biographical Stories
Hamnet reimagines the domestic life of William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes, played by Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley. The film traces their relationship through courtship, marriage, and the shattering loss of their son. It’s a raw, unflinching meditation on grief and love, not for the faint-hearted.
Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value brings us to Norway, where two sisters reunite with their estranged father, a once-celebrated filmmaker. Old wounds are reopened when he casts a Hollywood star in his comeback project, having been refused by his daughter. The film’s intimate, character-driven approach has generated considerable buzz during awards season.
In I Swear, Robert Aramayo takes on the role of John Davidson, a Scottish man living with Tourette’s syndrome. The biographical drama doesn’t shy away from the difficulties of adolescence marked by involuntary tics and outbursts, but balances its more painful moments with flashes of humour and genuine warmth. The film has been widely praised for its sensitive portrayal and advocacy for greater awareness.
Action, Comedy, and Animated Surprises
Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another has been sweeping up awards, with Leonardo DiCaprio starring as Bob Ferguson, a former revolutionary whose past refuses to stay buried. Teyana Taylor and Sean Penn round out a cast that keeps viewers guessing, and while reactions have been mixed, the film is already tipped for Oscar glory.
Marty Supreme sees Timothée Chalamet in a role that’s been called the highlight of his career. As Marty Mauser, an aspiring table tennis champion with a penchant for chaos, Chalamet delivers a performance that’s both entertaining and unexpectedly moving. The film’s blend of sport, personal drama, and sharp wit has struck a chord with audiences.
One of the year’s most powerful entries, The Voice of Hind Rajab, dramatises the harrowing true story of a young Palestinian girl trapped in Gaza. The film uses actual audio recordings of Hind Rajab, with actors portraying the rescue workers on the other end of the line. Its impact has been felt far beyond the festival circuit, earning standing ovations and critical acclaim.
Animation Takes the Top Spot
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the year, Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc has topped the Letterboxd rankings. This Japanese animated feature, adapted from the popular manga, picks up where the anime’s first season left off. Denji’s complicated relationship with Reze unfolds against a backdrop of frenetic action and emotional intensity, with the film’s animation and storytelling winning over even the most sceptical viewers.
Here’s a quick look at how these films fared with critics and where you can watch them:
Title Rotten Tomatoes Streaming Train Dreams 95% | 90% Netflix Sinners 97% | 96% HBO Max No Other Choice 98% | 95% Not Available Hamnet 86% | 93% In Cinemas Sentimental Value 97% | 94% Prime Video I Swear 100% | 99% Not Available Marty Supreme 93% | 83% In Cinemas One Battle After Another 94% | 85% HBO Max The Voice of Hind Rajab 96% | 88% Not Available Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc 96% | 98% Prime Video
These selections demonstrate that audiences continue to reward originality and bold storytelling, regardless of genre or language. Which of these titles would you put at the top of your own list?