By Mark Pukalo
Some tremendous individual performances, four outstanding foreign films, a few more laughs, chills and plenty of tears describe most of the recommended 61 films in my high honorable mention category for 2025.
You could add 10-13 movies to this list from my blog on the best documentaries of last year as well, but these films either just missed my top 25 or entertained me enough to urge people to take a look.
The "Joe Lunardi's first 5 or 6 out" category has been retired. Thanks for the memories Joe. Without being able to come up with another catchy name, we'll go with the "Sky High Five Honorable Mentions" this time to recognize those films that narrowly missed my top 25.
It's just one old man's opinion. However, I enjoy recommending films that I enjoyed in one way or another. Some people like a lot of action, chilling horror, good clean fun or goofy comedy. I like movies that make me laugh, think and cry - or a lot of the first two.
On this list, you have a great variety for your viewing pleasure.
*The Blockbusters - "Frankenstein" (left) was better than expected on Netflix, "Avatar: Fire and Ash" is quite a visual experience, "Superman" is a great renewal for the series, "The Naked Gun" provided plenty of gags while "Jurassic Park: Rebirth" and "Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning" did not disappoint.
*The Performances - Rose Byrne thoroughly deserved her Golden Globe for "If I Had Legs, I'd Kick You" (also the best name for a film this year), Ethan Hawke ruled the big stage in "Blue Moon," Adam Sandler and George Clooney shined in "Jay Kelly" and the Rock did himself proud in "The Smashing Machine." Zoey Deutch is also fantastic in "Nouvelle Vague."
*Animated Standouts - This was not as good a year for animated films as 2024, but "Zootopia 2" (I want to hang with Judy Hopps) and "Lilo & Stitch" (Stitch, too) were a lot of fun.
*The Emotional - Have plenty of tissues available for the end of both "Bob Trevino Likes It" and "The Voice of Hind Rajab," along with parts of "My Dead Friend Zoe," "The Friend," "Sketch," "Rebuilding," "The Long Walk," "The Lost Bus" and "The Wedding Banquet."
*The Near Misses - "Relay" had potential for the top 10-15 overall until the script went a bit off the rails near the end (and I don't mean the twist, which was good) while "Is This Thing On?" had a few bumps in the storyline but was ultimately quite entertaining.
*The Shocking - "Vulcanizadora" (right) has one soul-crushing scene, but is a really dark, fascinating movie overall about depression and guilt. There are some eye-grabbing moments in foreign films "Cloud," "It Was Just an Accident" and "No Other Choice." You could put the body horror film "Together" and the Iraq War story "Warfare" in this category as well.
*The Offbeat - There are plenty of these on the list, including the wacky "Magic Farm," along with "The Mastermind," "Sharp Corner," the old-style "Dead Mail," "Mickey 17" and the crazy, but smart, "A Useful Ghost."
*LOLs- Along with "The Naked Gun," you had plenty of laughs from "One of Them Days," "The Phoenician Scheme" with a strong performance from Michael Cera, and even "The Roses" - however it would have been better if the best laughs were not all in the trailer.
*The Surprising - "Vulcanizadora" certainly belongs in this category as well because I did not expect to be pulled into the story as I was. "Fairyland" is a solid under-the-radar film about life before and during the Aids epidemic in San Francisco for a father and daughter, "Love, Brooklyn" is a unique relationship story, "Presence" a unique ghost tale and "Twinless" a unique buddy story. I can also say I was surprised at how much I liked "Final Destination: Bloodlines" because I had never seen the others in the series until the week before and thought most were average or bad.
*The Embarrassing? - Critics, including some of my favorites that I follow, will rip me for this pick. However, I enjoyed "Song Sung Blue." I went in with low expectations and was entertained for 90+ minutes. It may not be technically better than some of the best of the medium honorable mentions if you nitpick the film. I don't care. I had fun with it while Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson (left) each did a solid job.
There are so many more to mention.
The Sky High Five all spent time in my top 25 at one point. Some of the films I saw in the past few months just pushed them out. Three are emotional journeys while "Jay Kelly" asks the question - what is the price of stardom?
"Materialists" also examined the different ways on how people try to find the right match. As Dakota Johnson's character says, "Dating takes a lot of effort. A lot of trial and error. A ton of risk and pain. Love is easy."
My top 25 films of 2025 will be posted around March 1 - two weeks from Oscar Night. Until then, enjoy this recommendation list and pick out the ones you want to try.
Remember what Luther said in "Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning," - "Our lives are not defined by any one action. Our lives are the sum of our choices."
The Sky High Five Honorable Mentions
Jay Kelly - A successful movie star (George Clooney) does some soul searching as his career enters its late stages and realizes he missed a lot of important things in life. Adam Sandler provides an Oscar-worthy performance as Kelly's manager.
Materialists - Dakota Johnson plays a New York City matchmaker who must find what's in her heart after running into her old boyfriend (Chris Evans) and meeting a seemingly perfect single man (Pedro Pascal). Celine Song's follow up to "Past Lives" is just as well written.
My Dead Friend Zoe (right) - An Afghanistan veteran (Sonequa Martin-Green) struggles with trauma and her estranged veteran grandfather (Ed Harris) while dealing with the ghost of her best friend (Natalie Morales) in the military. It is a very good watch in many ways.
Rebuilding - Josh O'Connor stars as Dusty, a divorced cowboy who is trying to put his life together after a fire levels his farm. Meghann Fahy (Drop) stars as his ex-wife and Lilly LaTorre is sweet as Dusty's young daughter. It is sad, sweet and inspiring.
The Voice of Hind Rajab - Gut-wrenching dramatization based on the true story of a rescue attempt for a five-year-old girl trapped in a car with dead bodies in Gaza. It is emotional and maddening. It reminds of the film "United 93" in the way it was made. There is a special place in Hell for Netanyahu, the Israeli Army and their supporters.
High Honorable Mention
The Accountant 2 - Autistic genius Christian Wolf (Ben Affleck) and his brother (Jon Bernthal) use their special powers to team up for good in this entertaining action sequel.
A Useful Ghost - A truly bonkers dark comedy about the ghost of a young woman (Nat) who possesses a vacuum to visit and take care of her grieving husband March. However, this "good ghost" is used by his family and the local minister to vanquish other ghosts from people's memories in this ultimately thought-provoking Thai film.
Avatar: Fire and Ash - A new dangerous Na'Vi tribe threatens the peace on Pandora. The third edition of the series is too long at 195 minutes, but gets better as it goes on. I liked the first two a little better.
Ballerina - Anna de Armas is beautiful and fierce as an assassin trained by John Wick's company who leaves the group to find her father's killers. Better than expected.
Black Bag - A long-time secret agent is tested when his co-worker and wife is accused of espionage. It's a finely crafted mystery with terrific acting from Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender and especially Marisa Abela in a supporting role.
Blue Moon - Ethan Hawke (left) is amazing for 100 minutes as Lorenz Hart, a former collaborator with Richard Rogers on musicals before his drinking problem becomes an issue. Hart visits the after party of Oklahoma!, which Rogers has written with Oscar Hammerstein. Hart holds court with several people, including a 20-year-old he wishes to be his muse (Margaret Qualley). Very well written.
Bob Trevino Likes It - A young woman connects with a man on social media with the same name as her awful father and they build a sweet relationship. You need a pile of tissues for the ending of this emotional film.
Caught Stealing - A former high school baseball star (Austin Butler), now working as a bartender in NYC after a career-ending injury, has his world go into turmoil after gangsters come looking for his neighbor. It's a thrill a minute with some humor.
Cloud - Japanese thriller centers on Yoshii, a young man trying to make money as a reseller of goods at markups. His increasingly shady dealings cause problems with former employers, suppliers and buyers who eventually hunt him down. But he finds help from an unlikely source.
Dead Mail - Creepy Indy based on a true story about a kidnapped man who is able to escape for just enough time to put a plea for help in the mailbox, setting off a series of events with the post office in Peoria. It is dark and chilling. It just needed a slightly better ending.
Ella McCay - A smart, young woman (Emma Mackey) deals with scandal and family issues while she is elevated from Lieutenant to Governor. It is a nice, pleasant story with a few laughs. Just not a top 25 caliber film.
Fairyland - Sophia Coppola produces this story about a gay man who moves a young daughter to San Francisco after his wife dies suddenly. Alycia Abbott grows up in an unusual, yet educational, environment as she navigates life. Emilia Jones (right) graces the screen as the older Alycia in the film based on a true story about writer Steve Abbott.
Final Destination Bloodlines - The sixth in the series is probably the best, with a few twists and turns, including an apt ending. While they are kind of inventive at times, I found all six closer to comedies than horror films.
Frankenstein - Director Guillermo del Toro's new depiction of the monster story, which centers on Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac) and his dilemma after bringing the body to life without knowing what to do next. It was better than expected and Mia Goth stands out in a supporting role.
The Friend - A writer (Naomi Watts) receives custody of a dead colleague's Great Dane and slowly builds a relationship with the big guy. It's an enjoyable 90 minutes.
The Gorge - It's a little hokey at times, but the science fiction action story is entertaining from start to finish. American Miles Teller and Russian Anya Taylor-Joy play expert snipers guarding a mystical gorge, who fall in love.
If I Had Legs, I'd Kick You - A mother (Rose Byrne) tries to manage life's issues with a handicapped child, a husband thousands of miles away and an adversarial relationship with a fellow therapist (Conan O'Brien). Byrne (left) is amazing and should battle Jessie Buckley for the Oscar.
Is This Thing On? - Will Arnett plays a man going through a divorce who finds comfort in stand-up comedy after trying it at a club to get in free. There are a few confusing parts of the script, but you leave with a good feeling.
It Was Just an Accident - Iranian film about a man who runs into a former prison torturer, who victimized people with minor offenses. Vahid eventually has doubts about the man's identity and what to do with him, bringing the body around to others tortured by peg-legged Egbal. The ending reminds of "The Blair Witch Project."
Jane Austen Wrecked My Life - A young bookstore worker is forced to follow her dreams at a writer's retreat and begins to find herself. It's one of those under-the-radar, unique stories that pulls you in because the lead (Camille Rutherford) is so likeable.
Jurassic World Rebirth - In the latest edition of the series, a brave crew travels to an island where experimental dinosaurs were created that proved too dangerous for the park. Scarlett Johansson leads the mission to collect samples that will help cure diseases. It's illogical, yet entertaining.
Lilo & Stitch - A sweet young girl befriends a lost, trouble-making alien in Hawaii. I enjoyed this new story of Stitch from start to finish. The little guy is awesome.
The Long Walk - Stephen King's story of a dystopian society where young men make a long winner-take-all, loser-loses-all walk. It is way better than I expected with an ending left to your interpretation.
The Lost Bus - Matthew McConaughey stars as a new bus driver, who must try to save a load of kids when a California fire erupts around them. It is intense, emotional and well shot.
Love, Brooklyn - A writer (Andre Holland) juggles relationships with his ex and a new love interest - a widowed single mother. Holland (Exhibiting Forgiveness, Moonlight) provides another solid performance in this interesting slice of city life (right).
Magic Farm - Quirky is the word for this film that follows a documentary film crew, which travels to the wrong country to interview a strange musical group. The characters make it entertaining.
The Mastermind - A failed architect goes on the run after his heist of four paintings with three lowlifes goes bad. J.B. (Josh O'Connor) continues to compound his troubles along his journey in this entertaining and simple film directed by Kelly Reichardt (First Cow).
Mickey 17 - Director Bong Joo Ho (Parasite) has fun with this off-beat comedy about a man who agrees to be cloned (Robert Pattinson) and die many times for research. One of them survives. Oops.
Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning - Similar to the previous film in the series with stunts, but it is a little more confusing and a little less fun. The film is too long, but Tom Cruise and beautiful Hayley Atwell make it fun enough.
The Naked Gun - There were some really good gags and Liam Neeson was fine as Frank Dreben Jr., but it did not quite live up to the hype overall. It still climbed to the bottom of this level on second viewing.
No Other Choice - A murder/comedy? Park Chan-wook's follow up to "Decision to Leave" centers on a man who gets desperate after losing his job to AI. It wasn't quite as funny as I expected with Man-su trying to eliminate candidates for a job he wants with Moon Paper. Son Ye-jin is wonderful as Man-su's wife.
Nouvelle Vague (left) - Director Frank Lickliter's film about the birth of French new wave film making, centering on former critic Jean-Luc Godard's work "Breathless." Zoey Deutch is delightful as the female star in the film (Jean Seberg).
Now You See Me, Now You Don't - A magician group re-unites for one last job - or is it - joining up with three young guns. It's just an entertaining film, with a few illogical moments.
Nuremberg - An Army psychiatrist Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek) examines Nazis before the Nuremburg Trials. Outstanding performances from Russell Crowe as Hermann Goring and Michael Shannon as Justice Robert H. Jackson bring this movie home.
One of Them Days - Roommates race to try and make money after one of their daffy boyfriends blows the rent money on a bad business deal. Keke Palmer and SZA make it work in plenty of wacky scenes.
The Phoenician Scheme - Another quirky film from director Wes Anderson with an amazing cast. The story involves a scheme by a maligned wealthy businessman (Benicio del Toro). Mia Threapleton (Kate Winslet's daughter) and Michael Cera shine the brightest in this dark comedy.
Presence - Director Steven Soderbergh's stirring ghost story is carefully shot and told. I loved the pacing and the subtleness of the film about a family that moves into a house with a unique ghost.
Relay - This is a classic thriller until the final 20-25 minutes becomes illogical and unnecessarily physical. Riz Ahmed deserved Oscar nomination consideration as a recovering alcoholic working to help whistle blowers through a special service.
Roofman - An affable criminal hides away in a toy store after escaping prison and finds love through his new identity. The film, based on the true story, is quite entertaining and Channing Tatum along with Kirsten Dunst have good chemistry.
The Roses - Funny remake of "The War of the Roses" finds Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch fighting throughout with plenty of funny lines and situations. However, I saw all the hilarious parts in the trailer.
Sharp Corner - Ben Foster (right) stars as a middle-aged man whose idyllic family life falls apart after buying a house on a dangerous curve. The accidents that occur take over his mind and cause him to make poor decisions.
Sketch - A young girl's sketchbook falls into a magical pond and her drawings come to life, separating and eventually bringing together a pair of siblings with a father hurting from the mother's death.
The Smashing Machine - The Rock is great as UFC legend Mark Kerr in this stirring drama about his rise and fall. Emily Blunt stars as his companion, who becomes a big part of the story. There are a few parts where it lost me, but it is a strong film overall - partially about the beginnings of UFC.
Song Sung Blue - Likeable story about two down-on-their-luck performers coming together to form a wonderful duo playing Neil Diamond music. Every time it starts getting hokey, it recovers. Kate Hudson is wonderful and Hugh Jackman does a good job impersonating Neil.
Summer of 69 - Abby (Sam Morelos) is a young high school senior who hires a stripper to teach her tricks to impress a dream boy. SNL's Chloe Fineman is funny as Santa Monica, the stripper. It's just a fun ride.
Superman - The new version of the superhero story is told very well by director James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) with Nicholas Hoult taking on the Lex Luther role. I bought in to the entertainment. Crypto (left) is cool, too.
Thunderbolts - The "new" Avengers emerge to try and save the world in this deeper-than-it-seems action drama with fewer laughs than expected. Some of the characters are good, but I was not thrilled with the Sentry.
Together - Mystical, horror, drama about a couple (Dave Franco and Allison Brie) who move to the country and get infected by an ancient potion that draws them together in horrible ways. It's creative enough to get into this category.
Twinless - Two young men meet at a twins support group and form a friendship, but there is a secret looming in one's past. It's a creative, thought-provoking film that works from start to finish.
Vulcanizadora - I was told not to start or end the day by watching this dark film and that advice was correct. It has a horrific scene or two. Two down-on-their luck men venture into the forest to carry out a heinous act, but the surrounding story makes it an intense, unique work.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery - The third in the series brings Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) to a church where radical priest Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin) is murdered. Josh O'Connor is great as the young priest who arrives before the murder. It's the second best of the three.
Warfare - A brutal depiction of the Iraq War as a platoon of Navy Seals is ambushed in a small town. Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland direct this detailed account of a true story, which shows how pointless the military missions were.
The Wedding Banquet - A gay son makes a deal with a lesbian friend to get married and fool his Korean mother, who makes a surprise visit. It is an entertaining story with a few laughs and a nice ending.
A Working Man - Levon Cade (Jason Statham) returns to his old profession as a counter terrorist when a local girl is kidnapped (Arianna Rivas). It's "The Beekeeper" with a little more violence. But it has a heart and Rivas is good.
Zootopia 2 - Not sure why the sequel took nine years, but Judy Hopps (right) and Nick Wilde team up to save the city again. It is probably my pick for the best animated film of the year.
28 Years Later - Almost three decades after a plague forces survivors to a small island, a father and son journey into dangerous lands. It starts slow, but the family drama and the discoveries make it more compelling as time goes on.
