The 15 highest-rated films of 2025 so far

15) Afternoons of Solitude, 14) To A Land Unknown, 13) Sinners, 12) 2000 Meters To Andriivka, 11) I’m Still Here, 10) Black Bag, 9) Train Dreams, 8) A Nice Indian Boy, 7) April, 6) Caught By The Tides, 5) On Becoming A Guinea Fowl, 4) It Was Just An Accident, 3) Familiar Touch, 2) Sorry, Baby, 1) Sentimental Value

2025 has been a year that continues to see streaming services challenge the standard cinema format, but while this summer may not have seen an all-encompassing blockbuster event like the Barbenheimer phenomenon of 2023, there has been a lot of exciting releases. Looking at Metacritic’s top film ratings for the year as it stands, from months-old favourites to ones that have only premiered at film festivals so far, shows what cinema has given us this year (bear in mind, some premiered in 2024, and others haven't received a full theatrical release yet). From Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett in Black Bag to Michael B Jordan and Miles Caton in Sinners, get the popcorn ready to dive back in to some of the most acclaimed films of the year. Interestingly, in a year that is seeing the release of so many sequels - I Know What You Did Last Summer, The Naked Gun, Tron and Smurfs amongst them - this list shows that there are still a lot of original stories that are making waves with film critics. (Photo: Claudette Barius/Focus Features)

15) Afternoons of Solitude

15) Afternoons of Solitude, 14) To A Land Unknown, 13) Sinners, 12) 2000 Meters To Andriivka, 11) I’m Still Here, 10) Black Bag, 9) Train Dreams, 8) A Nice Indian Boy, 7) April, 6) Caught By The Tides, 5) On Becoming A Guinea Fowl, 4) It Was Just An Accident, 3) Familiar Touch, 2) Sorry, Baby, 1) Sentimental Value

Spanish bullfighting remains a controversial topic - a proposed 300m-high bull statue has recently faced criticism from opponents of the sport in Spain. But with a Metascore of 84 based on 10 critic reviews, opinions are more universally positive on this Albert Serra documentary about bullfighting. It follows famed matador Andrés Roca Rey, also featuring Roberto Domínguez, Francisco Manuel Durán, Antonio Gutiérrez, Francisco Gómez and Manuel Lara as themselves, in a film that never holds back in its cinematography or its graphic violence. (Also note: the Matthew Rankin-directed Universal Language, while not breaking the top 15, also scored the same 84 Metascore as entries 12-15 on this list) (Photo: Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival)

14) To A Land Unknown

15) Afternoons of Solitude, 14) To A Land Unknown, 13) Sinners, 12) 2000 Meters To Andriivka, 11) I’m Still Here, 10) Black Bag, 9) Train Dreams, 8) A Nice Indian Boy, 7) April, 6) Caught By The Tides, 5) On Becoming A Guinea Fowl, 4) It Was Just An Accident, 3) Familiar Touch, 2) Sorry, Baby, 1) Sentimental Value

Premiering at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, this Mahdi Fleifel-directed film follows the journey of two Palestinian refugees, Reda (Aram Sabbah) and Chatila (Mahmoud Bakri), as they attempt to make their way through Athens to Germany. Praised for its empathy and topicality, also tackling themes of drug addiction, it has achieved a Metascore of 84 or 'universal acclaim', and a Metacritic Must-See badge. (Photo: Mahdi Fleifel)

13) Sinners

15) Afternoons of Solitude, 14) To A Land Unknown, 13) Sinners, 12) 2000 Meters To Andriivka, 11) I’m Still Here, 10) Black Bag, 9) Train Dreams, 8) A Nice Indian Boy, 7) April, 6) Caught By The Tides, 5) On Becoming A Guinea Fowl, 4) It Was Just An Accident, 3) Familiar Touch, 2) Sorry, Baby, 1) Sentimental Value

Set in the 1932 Mississippi Delta, this Ryan Coogler-directed film follows the story of twin brothers (both played by Michael B Jordan) returning to their hometown. It received huge critical acclaim, and The i Paper enjoyed it in a four-star review – describing it as the best blockbuster the reviewer had seen all year, “a rare, evocative, big-budget movie that gets under your skin and stays there,” creating its own story with topical parallels, “exploring issues of race, Jim Crow-era segregation and the perils of fascism”. Box Office Mojo reports that it had a worldwide box office of almost $366m – a box office hit as well as a critical favourite. Also an 84-scoring Metacritic Must-See. (Photo: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc./Eli Ade)

12) 2000 Meters To Andriivka

15) Afternoons of Solitude, 14) To A Land Unknown, 13) Sinners, 12) 2000 Meters To Andriivka, 11) I’m Still Here, 10) Black Bag, 9) Train Dreams, 8) A Nice Indian Boy, 7) April, 6) Caught By The Tides, 5) On Becoming A Guinea Fowl, 4) It Was Just An Accident, 3) Familiar Touch, 2) Sorry, Baby, 1) Sentimental Value

Another film showing a human storytelling of a topical news event, 2000 Meters To Andriivka is directed by Mstyslav Chernov and follows a journalist accompanying a Ukrainian platoon as it attempts to liberate a village from Russian occupation, witnessing the devastation of war with increasing uncertainty about when or if it will end. (Photo: Mstyslav Chernov/Courtesy of Sundance Institute via AP)

11) I’m Still Here

15) Afternoons of Solitude, 14) To A Land Unknown, 13) Sinners, 12) 2000 Meters To Andriivka, 11) I’m Still Here, 10) Black Bag, 9) Train Dreams, 8) A Nice Indian Boy, 7) April, 6) Caught By The Tides, 5) On Becoming A Guinea Fowl, 4) It Was Just An Accident, 3) Familiar Touch, 2) Sorry, Baby, 1) Sentimental Value

Based on a memoir by Marcelo Rubens Paiva and premiering at the Venice International Film Festival, I'm Still Here is set in the military dictatorship of Brazil 1971. Directed by Walter Salles, it follows the story of a former politician's wife (played by Fernanda Torres) forced to find a new course for her family. Its Metacritic rating is 85, with a Metacritic Must-See bage and very positive user score of 9.1/10 to back it up.

10) Black Bag

15) Afternoons of Solitude, 14) To A Land Unknown, 13) Sinners, 12) 2000 Meters To Andriivka, 11) I’m Still Here, 10) Black Bag, 9) Train Dreams, 8) A Nice Indian Boy, 7) April, 6) Caught By The Tides, 5) On Becoming A Guinea Fowl, 4) It Was Just An Accident, 3) Familiar Touch, 2) Sorry, Baby, 1) Sentimental Value

A Steven Soderbergh-directed spy drama, telling the story of intelligence agents George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender) and wife Kathryn St Jean (Cate Blanchett). The i Paper was very positive about it in a four-star review, praising Fassbender and Blanchett's chemistry and David Koepp’s screenplay, “all fast-talking dialogue with a surprisingly dark sense of humour”. It has achieved a Metascore of 85 and a Metacritic Must-See. (Photo: Claudette Barius/Focus Features)

9) Train Dreams

15) Afternoons of Solitude, 14) To A Land Unknown, 13) Sinners, 12) 2000 Meters To Andriivka, 11) I’m Still Here, 10) Black Bag, 9) Train Dreams, 8) A Nice Indian Boy, 7) April, 6) Caught By The Tides, 5) On Becoming A Guinea Fowl, 4) It Was Just An Accident, 3) Familiar Touch, 2) Sorry, Baby, 1) Sentimental Value

This acclaimed film is directed by Clint Bentley and based on the Denis Johnson book. It follows the story of Joel Edgerton’s Robert Grainier, who is orphaned in the 20th century during a period of change for America. Bentley has praised the original story for its relatability, telling Netflix’s Tudum: “There’s something very special about [Robert Grainier’s] story in that it is so specific to this one person’s life, and yet there’s a universality to it of a person trying to navigate a world that’s changing around them constantly — kind of leaving you behind, even as you’re still alive.” After a period of showing in select cinemas in November, it achieved an 85 Metacritic score. (Photo: 2025 Netflix, Inc.)

8) A Nice Indian Boy

15) Afternoons of Solitude, 14) To A Land Unknown, 13) Sinners, 12) 2000 Meters To Andriivka, 11) I’m Still Here, 10) Black Bag, 9) Train Dreams, 8) A Nice Indian Boy, 7) April, 6) Caught By The Tides, 5) On Becoming A Guinea Fowl, 4) It Was Just An Accident, 3) Familiar Touch, 2) Sorry, Baby, 1) Sentimental Value

“First comes love. Then comes chaos.” This 85-scoring film follows the story of fiancees Naveen (Karan Soni) and Jay (Jonathan Groff), as Naveen's traditional Indian parents must help plan a same sex wedding with a white partner. Directed by Roshan Sethi and wirtten by Eric Randall and Madhuri Shekar, this film blends romantic comedy and drama. (Photo: Sky Original/A Nice Indian Boy Movie LLC)

7) April

15) Afternoons of Solitude, 14) To A Land Unknown, 13) Sinners, 12) 2000 Meters To Andriivka, 11) I’m Still Here, 10) Black Bag, 9) Train Dreams, 8) A Nice Indian Boy, 7) April, 6) Caught By The Tides, 5) On Becoming A Guinea Fowl, 4) It Was Just An Accident, 3) Familiar Touch, 2) Sorry, Baby, 1) Sentimental Value

Despite an unfavourable user review score of only 3.8/10 on Metacritic, April proved a much bigger hit with the critics, whose 100% positive reviews gave it an 86 Metacritic score and Metacritic Must-See badge. Written and directed by Déa Kulumbegashvili of Beginning fame, it follows Nina (played by Ia Sukhitashvili), who faces scrutiny performing abortions alongside her medical duties. (Photo: Venice Film Festival)

6) Caught By The Tides

15) Afternoons of Solitude, 14) To A Land Unknown, 13) Sinners, 12) 2000 Meters To Andriivka, 11) I’m Still Here, 10) Black Bag, 9) Train Dreams, 8) A Nice Indian Boy, 7) April, 6) Caught By The Tides, 5) On Becoming A Guinea Fowl, 4) It Was Just An Accident, 3) Familiar Touch, 2) Sorry, Baby, 1) Sentimental Value

This Zhangke Jia-dirrected drama, written by Jiahuan Wan and Zhangke Jia, follows the love story of Qiaoqiao (Tao Zhao) and Bin (Zhubin Li). When Bin leaves without notice, it leads Qiaoqiao to go out and search for him. With an 87 Metacritic score, it has been awarded a Must-See badge. (Photo: Sideshow and Janus Films via AP)

5) On Becoming A Guinea Fowl

15) Afternoons of Solitude, 14) To A Land Unknown, 13) Sinners, 12) 2000 Meters To Andriivka, 11) I’m Still Here, 10) Black Bag, 9) Train Dreams, 8) A Nice Indian Boy, 7) April, 6) Caught By The Tides, 5) On Becoming A Guinea Fowl, 4) It Was Just An Accident, 3) Familiar Touch, 2) Sorry, Baby, 1) Sentimental Value

A black comedy directed and written by Rungano Nyoni that shows a middle class Zambian family uncovering the secrets of their family after Shula (Susan Chardy) finds the body of her uncle. It achieved universal acclaim from critic reviews, a Metacritic score of 87 and a Metacritic Must-See badge. (Photo: Picturehouse Entertainment)

4) It Was Just An Accident

15) Afternoons of Solitude, 14) To A Land Unknown, 13) Sinners, 12) 2000 Meters To Andriivka, 11) I’m Still Here, 10) Black Bag, 9) Train Dreams, 8) A Nice Indian Boy, 7) April, 6) Caught By The Tides, 5) On Becoming A Guinea Fowl, 4) It Was Just An Accident, 3) Familiar Touch, 2) Sorry, Baby, 1) Sentimental Value

Directed and written by Jafar Panahi (named 'Asian Filmmaker of the Year' at Busan International Film Festival), this film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and focuses on how a smaller accident can set off a much larger chain of disastrous events. It deals with life under the Iranian regime, a topic well-known to Panahi, an Iranian who has been imprisoned and banned from filmmaking. It has achieved a Metacritic score of 87. (Photograph: Jafar Panahi Productions/ Les Films Pelleas)

3) Familiar Touch

15) Afternoons of Solitude, 14) To A Land Unknown, 13) Sinners, 12) 2000 Meters To Andriivka, 11) I’m Still Here, 10) Black Bag, 9) Train Dreams, 8) A Nice Indian Boy, 7) April, 6) Caught By The Tides, 5) On Becoming A Guinea Fowl, 4) It Was Just An Accident, 3) Familiar Touch, 2) Sorry, Baby, 1) Sentimental Value

Written and directed by American filmmaker Sarah Friedland (her directorial debut), this film has been awarded a hugely impressive Metacritic score of 88 and a Metacritic Must-See badge. It follows retired cook Ruth (Kathleen Chalfant) and her son (H Jon Benjamin) in a coming-of-age story that explores mortality and the power of memories.

2) Sorry, Baby

15) Afternoons of Solitude, 14) To A Land Unknown, 13) Sinners, 12) 2000 Meters To Andriivka, 11) I’m Still Here, 10) Black Bag, 9) Train Dreams, 8) A Nice Indian Boy, 7) April, 6) Caught By The Tides, 5) On Becoming A Guinea Fowl, 4) It Was Just An Accident, 3) Familiar Touch, 2) Sorry, Baby, 1) Sentimental Value

A human story of finding your footing after a moment of trauma, Sorry, Baby is the debut from director, writer and actor Eva Victor. It promises “an authentic, bitingly funny drama that marks the arrival of a brilliant new voice in cinema.” Scoring the same 89 Metacritic score as the first place option and a Metacritic Must-See badge, this is a film highly unlikely to disappoint when it hits wider cinemas in August. (Photo: Mia Cioffy Henry/A24 via AP)

1) Sentimental Value

15) Afternoons of Solitude, 14) To A Land Unknown, 13) Sinners, 12) 2000 Meters To Andriivka, 11) I’m Still Here, 10) Black Bag, 9) Train Dreams, 8) A Nice Indian Boy, 7) April, 6) Caught By The Tides, 5) On Becoming A Guinea Fowl, 4) It Was Just An Accident, 3) Familiar Touch, 2) Sorry, Baby, 1) Sentimental Value

Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival in May, the year’s top Metacritic film (scoring 89) frustratingly won’t be in cinemas until 7 November. But reviews suggest that this Joachim Trier-directed film will be more than worth the wait, a story that follows the complicated family drama of two sisters Nora (Renate Reinsve) and Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas) reuniting with their estranged father, a once-renowned director, as he works on a comeback film. Somewhat ironic that a film focusing on former directorial glories has been shown by Metacritic to be the film success story of 2025. (Photo: Nordisk Film Norge)

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