Unmissable Cinema: 2025’s Most Captivating Big-Screen Events

There’s a certain magic to watching a film in a proper cinema, a sensation that’s hard to replicate elsewhere. As Nicole Kidman so memorably put it in the AMC pre-show advert,

“That indescribable feeling we get when the lights begin to dim and we go somewhere we’ve never been before — not just entertained, but somehow reborn.”

This year has been a showcase for that very feeling, with a host of remarkable screenings and cinematic events that have reminded us all why the big screen still matters.

Reviving Legends: Hong Kong Action on the Silver Screen

Early in the year, Shout! Studios made headlines by acquiring the Golden Princess collection, a treasure trove of over 150 classic Hong Kong action films. This move brought a wave of excitement to film enthusiasts, as these works—featuring early efforts from directors like John Woo and Tsui Hark—returned to cinemas nationwide under the banner of the “Hong Kong Cinema Classics” series. For many, it was a rare opportunity to encounter or revisit gems such as John Woo’s Hard Boiled and The Killer, as well as Tony Ching Siu-Tung’s A Chinese Ghost Story trilogy. The series has proven so popular that it’s set to continue into next year, with some titles even making their way into mainstream multiplexes.

Modern Mastery: Del Toro’s Frankenstein on the Big Screen

Guillermo Del Toro’s adaptation of Frankenstein may have been produced for Netflix, but its impact was most keenly felt in the cinema. Every frame of Del Toro’s vision is meticulously crafted, from the cinematography to the production design, hair and make-up, and visual effects. Audiences in select cities were treated to the spectacle in IMAX, though even a standard screening was a visual feast. With Netflix’s recent acquisition of Warner Bros., there’s hope that more of their productions will receive the cinematic treatment they deserve.

Technical Triumphs: 70mm IMAX and HFR 3D

Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another was shot in VistaVision, but only a handful of venues worldwide projected it in this format. For most, the next best thing was 70mm IMAX, which did justice to Michael Bauman’s striking cinematography. The film’s use of a floor-to-ceiling aspect ratio throughout—rather than reserving it for action sequences—created a sense of intimacy and immersion that’s simply unattainable at home.

Meanwhile, James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash pushed the boundaries of high frame rate (HFR) technology. While previous attempts at HFR have been divisive, Cameron’s latest effort managed to sidestep the pitfalls of earlier works, delivering visuals that felt both crisp and cinematic. The film’s presentation in Dolby 3D, combined with HFR, resulted in an image of remarkable clarity—an experience that truly justified the trip to the cinema.

Musical Moments and Cinematic Highs

At the top of the list sits Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, which delivered a standout moment in the form of Miles Caton’s performance of “I Lied to You.” The scene, set in the Smoke and Stack Twins’ juke joint, saw the aspect ratio expand from a narrow scope to the full height of IMAX 70mm, creating an almost transcendent effect. The rest of the film also made excellent use of the format, from sweeping drives through fields to a climactic vampire showdown, but it was this musical sequence that truly captured the audience’s imagination. The film’s popularity has already led to two re-releases in the format, a testament to its impact.

What were your most memorable cinema outings of the year? Share your thoughts below.