My Top 20 Favorite Films of 2025

Alas, the moment you've all been looking for. I'm sure you've been waiting on pins and needles, or with baited breath, or however you wait. But the wait is over, because here is your list:

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

- Fackham Hall - Amber Alert - Paddington in Peru - Wolf Man - The Rule of Jenny Pen - Novocaine - Companion - Magazine Dreams - Truth & Treason - Frankenstein

Top 20 of 2025

20. Superman

19. Presence

18. Last Breath

17. Memoir of a Snail

16. My Dead Friend Zoe

15. F1

14. Dead of Winter

13. The Naked Gun

12. Sovereign 11. Bring Her Back

10. Sinners

9. 28 Years Later

8. The Ballad of Wallis Island 7. Weapons

6. Hamnet

5. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

4. Warfare

3. Code 3

2. One Battle After Another

AND MY FAVORITE MOVIE OF 2025 IS...

1. The Life of Chuck

2024

10. The Boy in the Woods

9. Speak No Evil

8. Heretic

7. His Three Daughters

6. The Wild Robot

5. Wicked

4. Sing Sing

3. A Real Pain

2. The Promised Land

1. Conclave

2023

10. Self Reliance 9. Killers of the Flower Moon 8. My Sailor, My Love 7. The Holdovers 6. Story Ave 5. The Iron Claw 4. Boys in the Boat 3. Scrapper 2. The Quiet Girl 1. Oppenheimer

2022 10. The Banshes of Insherin 9. The Phantom of the Open 8. To Leslie 7. A Man Called Otto 6. The Fallout 5. Cha Cha Real Smooth 4. Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical 3. RRR 2. Top Gun: Maverick 1. All Quiet on the Western Front 2021

10. C'mon C'mon 9. Mass 8. A Quiet Place Part II 7. On the Rocks 6. Encanto 5. Last Night in Soho 4. Belfast 3. Blue Bayou 2. Coda 1. Cyrano

2020: 
10. News of the World 9. The Wolf of Snow Hollow 8. Manari 7. Nomadland 6. The Father 5. The Invisible Man 4. The Little Things 3. Princess of the Row 2. Sound of Metal 1. Promising Young Women

2019: 10. Parisite 9. Rocketman 8. The Art Of Self Defense

7. Greener Grass 6. The Mustang 5. A Marriage Story 4. Richard Jewell 3. 1917 2. Peanut Butter Falcon 1. JoJo Rabbit

2018:

10. Upgrade 9. What They Had 8. Leave No Trace 7. Three Identical Strangers 6. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs 5. Free Solo 4. A Quiet Place 3. Green Book 2. Won't You Be My Neighbor 1. Eighth Grade

2017:

10. Dunkirk

9. Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi

8. The Shape of Water

7. Get Out

6. The Big Sick

5. Logan Lucky

4. Lady Bird

3. It

2. Brigsby Bear

1. Only the Brave

2016: 10. 10 Cloverfield Lane 9. Sully

8. Eye In The Sky

7. La La Land

6. Life, Animated

5. Pete's Dragon

4. Hidden Figures

3. Hacksaw Ridge

2. Arrival

1. Lion 2015
10. Spotlight
9. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
8. The Martian
7. The Revenant
6. Ex Machina
5. Ant Man
4. Inside Out
3. The Walk
2. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
1. Room

2014
10. The Hobbit
9. Alexander and the Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
8. The Theory of Everything
7. Joe
6. Big Hero 6
5. Boyhood
4. The Imitation Game
3. Big Eyes
2. Whiplash
1. St. Vincent

2013

10. The Heat

9. Mud

8. The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug

7. Despicable Me 2

6. Gravity

5. Short Term 12

4. Nebraska

3. 12 Years a Slave

2. Philomena

1. The Kings of Summer

2012

10. Premium Rush

9. Moonrise Kingdom

8. The Amazing Spiderman

7. Looper

6. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

5. Argo

4. Frankenweenie

3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower

2. Sleepwalk With Me

1. Safety Not Guaranteed

My Top Ten Albums of 2025

 It's a little late but here is my top ten favorite music albums of 2025, followed by every year's top ten list since 2009.

2024

1. Matt Berninger - Get Sunk

2. Of Monsters and Men - All is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade

3. We Are Scientists - Qualifying Miles
4. The Head and the Heart - Aperture 

5. The Lumineers - Automatic
6. The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes are the Ghost Nation
7. Bahamas - My Second Last Album
8. Big Thief - Double Infinity
9. Tennis - Face Down in the Garden
10. Bon Iver - Sable, fable

2024
1. Blind Pilot - In the Shadow of the Holy Mountain
2. WHY? - The Well I Fell Into
3. The Decemberists - As it Ever Was, So Will it Be Again
4. Elbow - Audio Vertigo
5. Islands - What Occurs
6. Vampire Weekend - Only God Was Above Us
7. Eels - Eels Time!
8. The Avett Brothers - The Avett Brothers
9. Future Islands - People That Aren’t There Anymore
10. Foster the People - Paradise State of Mind

2023
1. Belle & Sebastian - Late Developers
2. Islands - And That’s Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs
3. The National - The First Two Pages of Frankenstein
4. Bombay Bicycle Club - My Big Day
5. Metric - Formentera II
6. Portugal. The Man. - Chris Black Changed My Life
7. We Are Scientists - Lobes
8. The Gaslight Anthem - History Books
9. Blondshell - Blondshell
10. Boygenius - The Record

2022
1. Shout Out Louds - House
2. Stars - From Capelton Hill
3. Arcade Fire - WE
4. Death Cab for Cutie - Asphalt Meadows
5. Metric - Formentera
6. Andrew Bird - Inside Problems
7. The Head and The Heart - Every Shade of Blue
8. Belle & Sabastian - A Bit of Previous
9. Band of Horses - Things Are Great
10. Tegan and Sara - Crybaby

2021
1. Islands - Islomania
2. Manchester Orchestra - The Million Masks of God
3. CHVRCHES - Screen Violence
4. The War On Drugs - I Don't Live Here Anymore
5. Twenty One Pilots - Scaled And Icy
6. The Killers - Pressure Machine
7. The Fratellis - Half Drunk Under A Full Moon
8. tUnE-yArDs - Sketchy
9. St. Vincent - Daddy's Home
10. The Black Keys - Delta Kream

2020
1. Future Islands - As Long As You Are
2. The Killers - Imploding the Mirage
3. Plants And Animals - The Jungle
4. Surfer Blood - Carefree Theater
5. Tennis - Swimmer
6. Bahamas - Sad Hunk
7. Wolf Parade - Thin Mind
8. Grouplove - The Healer
9. The Front Bottoms - In Sickness And In Flames
10. CocoRosie - Put The Shine On

2019
1. Andrew Bird - My Finest Work Yet
2. Metronomy - Metronomy Forever
3. The National - I Am Easy To Find
4. Vampire Weekend - Father of the Bride
5. Tegan & Sarah - Hey, I'm Just Like You
6. Generationals - Reader As Detective
7. The Head and the Heart - Living Mirage
8. Mumford and Sons - Delta
9. Silversun Pickups - Widow's Weeds
10. Two Door Cinema Club - False Alarm

2018
1. Matt & Kim - Almost Everyday
2. Chvurches - Love Is Dead
3. Death Cab for Cutie - Thank You For Today
4. Metric - Art of Doubt
5. Moon Taxi - Let The Record Play
6. The Decemberists - I'll Be Your Girl
7. Pale Waves - My Mind Makes Noises
8. The Rural Alberta Advantage - The Wild
9. Okkerville River - In The Rainbow Rain
10. Belle and Sabastian - How to Solve Our Human Problems

2017
1. Manchester Orchestra - A Black Mile to the Surface
2. Future Islands - The Far Field
3. Mew - Visuals
4. Alt-J - Relaxer
5. The Shins - Heartworms
6. Portugal. The Man - Woodstock
7. Foster the People - The Sacred Hearts Club
8. The National - Sleep Well Beasts
9. Shout Out Louds - Ease My Mind
10. Arcade Fire - Everything Now

2016
1. Radical Face - The Leaves
2. Cloud Cult - The Seeker
3. Islands - Taste
4. The Strumbellas - Hope
5. Tegan and Sara - Love You To Death
6. The Head And The Heart - Signs Of Light
7. The Avett Brothers - True Sadness
8. The Lumineers - Cleopatra
9. Frightened Rabbit - Painting of a Panic Attack
10. Empire of the Sun - Two Vines

2015
1. Mowgli's - Kids In Love
2. Twenty One Pilots - Blurry Face
3. Matt And Kim - New Glow
4. Metric - Pagans In Vegas
5. Death Cab For Cutie - Kintsugi
6. Belle And Sabastian - Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance
7. Walk Off The Earth - Sing It All Away
8. Mew - + -
9. Decemberists - What A Terrible World, What A Wonderful World
10. Chvurches - Every Open Eye

2014
1. Future Islands - Singles
2. Passenger - Whispers
3. Bishop Allen - Lights Out
4. Tokyo Police Club - Forcefield
5. The Rural Alberta Advantage - Mended With Gold
6. Bombay Bicycle Club - So Long, See You Tomorrow
7. Spoon - The Want My Soul
8. Foster the People - Supermodel
9. Broken Bells - After the Disco
10. Manchester Orchestra - Cope

2013
1. Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City
2. Radical Face - Family Tree: The Branches
3. Twenty One Pilots - Vessel
4. The National - Trouble Will Find Me
5. Arcade Fire - Reflektor
6. Shout Out Louds - Optica
7. Crystal Fighters - Cave Rave
8. The Sounds - Weekend
9. Tegan & Sara - Heartthrob
10. Little Green Cars - Absolute Zero

2012
1. Radical Face – The Family Tree: The Roots
2. Passion Pit - Gossamer
3. Mumford And Son – Babel
4. Miike Snow – Happy To You
5. Imagine Dragons – Night Visions
6. Two Door Cinema Club – Beacon
7. Metric – Sythetica
8. Dr. Dog – Be The Void
9. Of Monsters And Men – My Head Is An Animal
10. The Avett Brothers – The Carpenter

2011
1. Death Cab For Cutie – Codes And Keys
2. The Sounds – Something To Die For
3. Architecture In Helsinki – Moment Bends
4. Decemberists – The King Is Dead
5. The Strokes – Angles
6. The Head And The Heart – The Head And The Heart
7. Brett Dennen – Loverboy
8. Manchester Orchestra – Simple Math
9. I’m From Barcelona – Forever Today
10. The Rural Alberta Advantage – Departing

2010
1. The National – High Violet
2. Vampire Weekend – Contra
3. Shout Out Louds – Work
4. Mumford And Sons – Sigh No More
5. Mates Of State – Crushes
6. Dr. Dog – Shame Shame
7. Rogue Wave – Permalight
8. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
9. Matt & Kim – Sidewalks
10. Tokyo Police Club – Champ

2009
1. The Sounds – Crossing The Rubicon
2. Passion Pit – Manners
3. Metric – Fantasies
4. Animal Collective – Merryweather Post Pavilion
5. Empire Of The Sun – Walking On A Dream
6. The Rural Alberta Advantage – Hometowns
7. Silversun Pickups – Swoon
8. We Were Promised Jetpacks – These Four Walls
9. Islands – Vapours
10. Mew – No More Stories Are Told…

Top 20 TV Shows I Watched in 2025

  BEST TV SHOWS OF 2025

Here is my yearly list of the top 20 TV shows I watched this year. Please note, I will be waiting to watch the remainder of "Stranger Things" Season 5 as it is released. I have no doubt it will be near the top of next year's list, as it might have actually been #1 on this year's list.

I might add that I've found that Apple TV has the best overall quality of TV show of all the streamers. Almost everything they release is great.

Another show that I am currently watching that will likely be in next year's Top Ten is Apple TV's "Pluribus." I'm two episodes in and it's great. So, without further ado, I give you this year's list:

HONORABLE MENTIONS

- Paradise (Season 1) - Hulu

- Surface (Season 2) - Apple TV

- Cobra Kai (Season 6) - Netflix

- Good American Family (Season 1) - Hulu

- King of the Hill (Season 14) - Hulu

- Squid Game (Season 2) - Netflix

- The Four Seasons (Season 1) - Netflix

- The Morning Show (Season 4) - Apple TV

- You (Season 5) - Netflix

- Boots (Season 1) - Netflix

TOP 20

20. The Residence (Season 1) - Netflix - Mystery unfolds in White House, secrets intertwine lives.

19. The Handmaid's Tale (Season 6) - DVD - the ongoing struggle for freedom intensifies.

18. The Studio (Season 1) - Apple TV - Young artists find creativity and friendship in challenges.

17. Dickinson (Seasons 1-3) - Apple TV - Emily Dickinson explores life, love, fame, and identity.

16. Gilmore Girls (Seasons 1-7) - Netflix - Mother-daughter duo navigate life, love, and friendship.

15. 1923 (Season 2) - DVD - Dutton family faces challenges during turbulent historical period.

14. The Act (Season 1) - Hulu - True crime drama about Gypsy Blanchard's life deception.

13. Silo (Season 2) - Apple TV - Secrets unravel, trust tested, survival stakes dramatically rise.

12. Government Cheese (Season 1) - Apple TV - The chaos from a Chambers family burglary.

11. Your Friends & Neighbors (Season 1) - Apple TV - Suburban antics and humor and thievery. 

10. The White Lotus (Season 3) - DVD - New destinations, complex relationships, unexpected twists, emotional revelations.

9. Only Murderers in the Building (Season 4) - Hulu - Unexpected alliances unravel secrets in the beloved building.

8. Smoke (Season 1) - Apple TV - Mysterious arsonist investigation reveals dark, hidden secrets.

7. Landman (Season 1) - DVD - Oil rush and a lawyer navigates complex cases in urban landscapes. 

6. Platonic (Season 2) - Apple TV - Friendship dynamics evolve amidst life's unexpected comedic twists.

5. Black Mirror (Season 7) - Netflix - Dark future tales exploring technology's societal impact deeply.

4. Dope Thief (Season 1) - Apple TV - Thief impersonates DEA agents to steal from criminals.

3. The Bear (Season 4) - Hulu - Chef faces new challenges and personal growth journey.

2. Severance (Season 2) - Apple TV - Tense revelations unravel mysteries in corporate mind-bending saga.

1. Adolescence (Season 1) - Netflix - Teen struggles, growth, friendships, and identity challenges explored.

 

MY TOP 20 FAVORITE MOVIES OF 2024

MY TOP 20 FAVORITE MOVIES OF 2024 

It's very late, but alas, the moment you've all been looking for. I'm sure you've been waiting on pins and needles, or with baited breath, or however you wait. But the wait is over, because here is your list:

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

- Mothers' Instinct

- White Bird

- Young Woman and the Sea

- Juror #2

- The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

- Hold Your Breath

- Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

- Emilia Perez (sorry haters!)

- The End We Start From

- The Order

TOP 20:

22. Sling Shot

21. Woman of the Hour

20. Coup!

19. Gladiator II

18. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

17. Inside Out 2

16. A Quiet Place: Day One

15. Saturday Night

14. Thelma

13. One Life

12. What You Wish For

11. Late Night with the Devil

10. The Boy in the Woods

9. Speak No Evil

8. Heretic

7. His Three Daughters

6. The Wild Robot

5. Wicked

4. Sing Sing

3. A Real Pain

2. The Promised Land

1. Conclave

2023

10. Self Reliance 9. Killers of the Flower Moon 8. My Sailor, My Love 7. The Holdovers 6. Story Ave 5. The Iron Claw 4. Boys in the Boat 3. Scrapper 2. The Quiet Girl 1. Oppenheimer

2022 10. The Banshes of Insherin 9. The Phantom of the Open 8. To Leslie 7. A Man Called Otto 6. The Fallout 5. Cha Cha Real Smooth 4. Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical 3. RRR 2. Top Gun: Maverick 1. All Quiet on the Western Front 2021

10. C'mon C'mon 9. Mass 8. A Quiet Place Part II 7. On the Rocks 6. Encanto 5. Last Night in Soho 4. Belfast 3. Blue Bayou 2. Coda 1. Cyrano

2020: 
10. News of the World 9. The Wolf of Snow Hollow 8. Manari 7. Nomadland 6. The Father 5. The Invisible Man 4. The Little Things 3. Princess of the Row 2. Sound of Metal 1. Promising Young Women

2019: 10. Parisite 9. Rocketman 8. The Art Of Self Defense

7. Greener Grass 6. The Mustang 5. A Marriage Story 4. Richard Jewell 3. 1917 2. Peanut Butter Falcon 1. JoJo Rabbit

2018:

10. Upgrade 9. What They Had 8. Leave No Trace 7. Three Identical Strangers 6. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs 5. Free Solo 4. A Quiet Place 3. Green Book 2. Won't You Be My Neighbor 1. Eighth Grade

2017:

10. Dunkirk

9. Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi

8. The Shape of Water

7. Get Out

6. The Big Sick

5. Logan Lucky

4. Lady Bird

3. It

2. Brigsby Bear

1. Only the Brave

2016: 10. 10 Cloverfield Lane 9. Sully

8. Eye In The Sky

7. La La Land

6. Life, Animated

5. Pete's Dragon

4. Hidden Figures

3. Hacksaw Ridge

2. Arrival

1. Lion 2015
10. Spotlight
9. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
8. The Martian
7. The Revenant
6. Ex Machina
5. Ant Man
4. Inside Out
3. The Walk
2. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
1. Room

2014
10. The Hobbit
9. Alexander and the Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
8. The Theory of Everything
7. Joe
6. Big Hero 6
5. Boyhood
4. The Imitation Game
3. Big Eyes
2. Whiplash
1. St. Vincent

2013

10. The Heat

9. Mud

8. The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug

7. Despicable Me 2

6. Gravity

5. Short Term 12

4. Nebraska

3. 12 Years a Slave

2. Philomena

1. The Kings of Summer

2012

10. Premium Rush

9. Moonrise Kingdom

8. The Amazing Spiderman

7. Looper

6. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

5. Argo

4. Frankenweenie

3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower

2. Sleepwalk With Me

1. Safety Not Guaranteed