My Top Ten Movies of 2025

    It's hard to believe it's been exactly a year since I published "My Top Ten Movies of 2024". I watched a lot of movies this year. I watched movies like Frozen that, yes, I had never seen before, and How to Train your Dragon: Live Action that was the first new movie I'd seen in a theatre in quite a long time. (The last one was quite possibly Incredibles 2; I won't confirm this, however.)

     Unlike last year, where I had to remember as many movies as I could, I made a list this year and added to it every time we watched a new one! I also rated it from 1 to 5 stars, so it would be easier to decide which were my favourites!! All of my top ten movies were the ones that I gave 5 stars.

     That being said, before we dive in, I want you to make careful note of the fact that I watched these edited. I won't vouch for them 100%, and I would definitely look into them before pushing play. Unfortunately, some movies today that have powerful messages also have questionable content. I personally believe that, if a movie is reasonably editable, it is worth watching if it has a important message in it. But if you are not comfortable with editing things out of the movie, then some of these probably aren't for you.

I want you to make careful note of the fact that I watched these edited.

     All of the movies that made it onto my top ten list this year strongly impacted me in some way or another. Most of them had a pretty powerful, Biblical message in them that encouraged me and brought me closer to God. Hold onto your hats, because starting at ten, I'm about to take you on the journey of my favourite films from 2025!

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10. 42 (2013)

    Whether you watch baseball or not, you’ve probably heard of Jackie Robinson. This year, I watched an incredible movie based on his journey to fame. 

     42 begins with young Jackie (Chadwick Boseman) in a group of other African Americans, playing baseball. When Mr. Rickey (Harrison Ford) owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, decides to end segregation in baseball, he picks Jackie to join the team. 

     While he gets to do what he loves at a professional level, Jackie faces intense hatred from other teams and coaches who refuse to play him. His wife (Nicole Beharie) and Rickey encourage him on the difficult journey. 

     This movie deals a lot with prejudice and hatred, and the Biblical way to respond. (Several of my top movies did, in fact.) Jackie endures prejudice before he enjoys fame, but he valiantly tries to keep himself under control. When his opponents try to take every opportunity to drag him down, he must ignore their taunts and threats. 

     It is difficult for anyone not to stand up for himself after a time, and Jackie Robinson obviously struggles. He is a motivating example to try to love your enemies as you love your neighbours.

9. Saving Mr. Banks (2013)

     Saving Mr. Banks is based on the true story of P. L. Travers (Emma Thompson) grappling with Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) over the making of the Mary Poppins film. This movie shows how much more was going on behind-the-scenes than most people realize. Emma Thompson is an amazing actor, and the character she steps into is interesting, stubborn and heart-breaking. Tom Hanks does a wonderful job portraying Walt Disney: impatient but kind, almost as stubborn and eager to get the book’s rights. 

     Besides good storytelling and acting, the movie has an emphasis on forgiveness, as well as the influence family has on your life. We learn the reasons that Travers is being so difficult with Disney, as the film flashes back and forth from past to present. The role that Travers’ father plays in the movie is profound, and for those who’ve always struggled with not liking Mr. Banks, the movie is especially enlightening.

    Even if you’ve never watched Mary Poppins, Saving Mr. Banks is relatable and inspirational. I highly recommend it.

8. West Side Story (1961)

     West Side Story was another famous movie that I watched this year. The storyline hardly needs to be recapped. If you have heard of or read Romeo and Juliet, you know what it is about. 

     This musical is set in the 1950s in New York City at a time when gangs ruled the rough parts of town. Rita Morena, Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer and George Chakiris create believable, heart-breaking characters whose worlds are shattered by their own prejudice, and the prejudice of others.  

     Just as Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is a lesson against feuding and pre-conceived ideas about others, so is West Side Story. The movie is undoubtedly a tragedy, but it teaches a valuable lesson. While some battles end well, others do not. It is important to guard against starting a pointless one in the first place.

     West Side Story could hardly have gotten its point across in a better movie, though. Of any Romeo and Juliet movie, this film is far superior. Leonard Bernstein wrote an incredible score, and the choreographers designed jaw-dropping dances. Undoubtedly, this is one of the best movie musicals ever written. 

     If you haven’t watched it yet, I definitely recommend it. 

7. Rocky (1976)

    Rocky was not a movie that I expected to be putting on my five-star list. It’s just a boxing movie. (So I thought.) It turned out that the story of a poor, lonely, Philadelphian boxer was about much more than fighting. 

     The movie starts out with Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) living in a rough part of town, so poor that he loses his locker in the local gym. But when the world heavyweight champion decides to celebrate the 4th of July by boxing with Rocky, a local, his life turns around.

      An important Biblical theme—your past does not define your future—comes out in this movie a lot. Rocky comes from the lowest part of town, but he works hard and rises to meet a wealthy champion, proving he is not restricted by his past.

     I also appreciated how Rocky treats his impossibly shy girlfriend Adrian (Talia Shire). He never gives up on her, showing her that her insecurities do not define her future either. He sees past her awkwardness and treats her like he treats anybody else. This movie was about relationships and hard work—so much more than boxing. I was very surprised and pleased to give it five stars. 

6. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

     Another anti-prejudice movie I watched this year was To Kill a Mockingbird. Gregory Peck stars as Atticus Finch, a lawyer defending Tom Robinson, an African American man who is said to have committed a heinous crime. 

     During the months before and after the trial, Finch’s own children Scout and Jem encounter hatred and prejudice. They are shunned because their father is defending Robinson, but they are also prejudiced against people of their own skin colour, showing what a nasty and illogical thing prejudice is.

     One of my favourite scenes in the movie is in the courtroom where Finch is defending Robinson. He gives a powerful speech, complete with incredible acting. Gregory Peck truly makes this movie. Though the story is told from his daughter Scout’s point of view, it is clear who the hero is—both to her and the story. 

     Peck plays a man who embodies a godly father and is persistent in the face of injustice. He does what he knows to be right, despite what other people think. Not only does he make a difference in his town, but as a single father, he teaches his children to do the same.

     This sixty-year-old, black-and-white movie holds ageless truths. 

5. The King's Speech (2010)

    The King’s Speech is an untold tale from the time of World War II. Europe has been taken by Herr Hitler, and King George VI (Colin Firth) needs to appear capable of a leadership thrust upon him. The only thing in the way? A humiliating speech impediment that created a strong impression of incompetence on the English people. In a last act of desperation, George turns to an unusual speech therapist named Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). 

     Lionel insists on being treated as an equal, and George must swallow his pride if he wants to show England that she is in the hands of a competent leader. Meanwhile, Lionel must ignore the patronizing behaviour of the king and do what he knows to be best.

     This movie deals with themes of humility, persistence and overcoming fear. It also promotes a godly example of marriage. Elizabeth (Helena Bonham-Carter), George’s wife, is an example of a loving, supportive spouse. Her character shines in the movie, and it is clear that she plays a great role in her husband’s life.

     I highly recommend this movie.

4. Yesterday (2019)

    Yesterday is a brilliant storyline, and a movie that revolves around music. (Unfortunately, it has the most cursing of this list—fortunately my dad edited out all of it.) When the rest of the world suddenly forgets who the Beatles are, it is up to an unknown English songwriter (Himesh Patel) to remember and record their songs. 

     To date, songwriter Jack Malik hasn’t had any success, despite the efforts of his small-town agent, Ellie (Lily James). But when he realizes that the world has forgotten the Beatles, he jumps at the opportunity, passing off the songs as his own. Even Ellie believes they are his. When he gets picked up by an influential agent, leaves for L. A. and becomes impossibly famous, she stays behind in England. 

     While music plays an important part, this movie’s theme is clearly about keeping priorities straight. Jack is whisked into a world where he doesn’t belong and is playing a lie. Here, this movie really stands out in its emphasis on relationships over success. (A good message for the world we live in.) If it weren’t for other movies that I watched later this year, Yesterday wouldn’t be fourth.

3. Hamlet (1996)

    Kenneth Branagh’s Hamlet barely made it onto the list since I just watched it. But when I had, everything except my top two had to make way for it. 

     The plot is pretty well known: a son tries to avenge his father’s death but ends up losing everyone he cares about and finally dies himself. It might as well be a headline. But when Shakespeare stole the plot, he changed it from a headline into a masterpiece. Branagh’s production does Hamlet incredible justice.

     The movie stars several well-known actors including Kenneth Branagh, Kate Winslet, Charlton Heston and Derek Jacobi. These actors know their trade well. Even if I couldn’t quite catch something amidst the difficult prose, I almost felt like I understood it because I knew they did. The movie is also beautiful, as are all of Branagh’s productions. (His 2015 Cinderella comes to mind). 

     As for the content of the movie itself…Hamlet is probably Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy, and tragedy it is. The movie’s themes deal with revenge, the destruction a wicked ruler can bring and the brevity of human life, to name a few. It is a sobering watch, but both an artistic one and a famous classic.

2. Amadeus (1984)

     I struggled with whether or not to put Amadeus as my top movie this year but eventually opted out when I asked myself how soon I would want to watch it again. This movie deals with a lot of heavy themes, and it probably won’t be until a third or fourth watch that I’ll begin to fully appreciate it. 

     Amadeus came out in 1984, winning movie of the year. The story is narrated by an elderly Salieri (F. Murray Abraham) who, in real life, was Austria’s Court Composer during the time of Mozart. He starts with his first meeting with Mozart (Tom Hulce). Despite having loved Mozart’s music for years, he is horrified. Great Wolfgang acts like a spoiled boy. He is childish and bawdy in spite of his genius. Salieri’s jealousy and disgust build and eventually, he murders Mozart.

     Last year I did an article on Mozart’s untimely death where I shared the theory that Salieri really did kill Mozart, but in reality I find it unlikely. True or not, however, this movie is powerful. Like I said, it requires far more than a single watch to begin to appreciate all the themes going on in the movie. 

     I’ll touch on one that stood out to me, though: bitterness. Salieri lets his anger and jealousy turn into a bitterness that corrupts his life. He devotes little time to anything else, becoming obsessed with wanting to see Mozart fall. When he finally kills Mozart, he does not find rest. Mozart’s work is everywhere. Years later, Mozart is a giant and Salieri’s own work has been forgotten. As an old man, Salieri has gone mad, due mostly to his bitterness. Just as the Bible teaches us, bitterness is more dangerous to the one holding onto it than the one against whom it is directed. 

     One of my favourite parts about this film was the music. (Something I understand pretty well.) I found it especially impactful how certain operas were tied to events in Mozart’s life. Don Giovanni, for example, is probably most famous for being a picture of how Mozart’s own father still haunted him, even after death. 

     There are so many other reasons that I enjoyed this movie, but to write a good movie review, I would need to rewatch it. I recommend it if you are prepared for a heavy, impactful watch. 

1. Seabiscuit (2003)

     My top movie this past year was Seabiscuit, the story of broken pasts and incredible friendships. I watched this last January, and it remained my favourite throughout a year of new movies.

    One of the reasons? Horses. I’ve always loved them, but this past year I’ve grown especially comfortable with them as I’ve gotten opportunities to ride and care for them. They are beautiful creatures with incredible personalities. Something I enjoyed most about this movie was its focus on Seabiscuit’s personality and his bond with people. It was believable and beautiful. 

     I also loved this movie because of its stellar storytelling. It focuses on three main characters (besides Seabiscuit): the trainer Tom Smith (Chris Cooper), Charles Howard (Jeff Bridges), who is Seabiscuit’s owner, and Red Pollard (Toby Maguire) the jockey. At the start of the movie, the viewer doesn’t know who they are, and neither do any of the other characters. The movie interweaves the storylines of each character very well. I felt no frustration upon unexplained meetings with new characters. The pacing is wonderful, and it is easy to sense that soon you will know who each character is. 

     This leads to my favourite part of the movie: the characters. Each of them was well-cast and incredibly fleshed-out. Each of them had a broken past and had lost something very dear. Even Seabiscuit himself faced a pointless future. “He’ll never race,” experts said.

     Howard lost his son, and his wife left him. Smith’s heart was broken by the horse-killing march of Progress, and Pollard deals with anger, rooted in him when his father left him, forcing him to support himself during the Great Depression. 

     The strongest theme in this movie is that your past does not define you. As a Christian, this is an especially powerful reminder that our past does not matter to God. He made you into a new creation when you accepted His salvation.

     This message, on a less spiritual level, is what shone out to the crowds of destitute people, affected by the Great Depression. The jockey was too big, the horse was too small, the owner seemed broken by his son’s death…yet somehow they won race after race.

     Each character in the movie (and in real life) is proof that the odds don’t matter…that you can rise above your past. Seabiscuit was an incredible symbol in the 1930s, and this movie has miraculously captured that spirit.

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I hope you enjoyed reading this post! It was one of my favourites that I've written in a while! Let me know if you have watched any of these movies and what you thought about them. I'm anxious to share opinions with you. Thank you for reading. :)