Top 20 movies I watched this year (so far)
half yearly roundup
Welcome back to my very consistent newsletter where I’ve been active almost every week since I started this last year. Actually kind of crazy that it’s already been a year. Anyways let’s get straight into it and rank my top 20 movies I’ve seen this year so far. These are the movies which I’ve seen this year and not necessarily released this year, I figured I should make that clear at the start.
20. Materialists
Materialists is Celine Song’s second movie after her directorial debut Past Lives (2023) which was a huge success all over the world which is why almost everyone had huge expectations from Materialists as well and it did not disappoint. A very fun, classic rom-com with a modern twist of how the current dating scene is. It’s not as nuanced as Past Lives but still packs a punch. Heavily carried by it’s star cast who didn’t disappoint with well rounded performances all over the board and especially from Chris Evans who I thought was great in this movie. Check it out if it’s still in the theatres or when it’s available on OTT.
19. Theater Camp
This movie is about a scrappy theatre camp where every year many kids come for a summer camp but this summer, due to a sudden fate the founder falls ill so now each staff member has to work together with the founder’s son who knows nothing about running this camp. A very fun movie with great comedic moments complimented by a good storyline. A very good movie if you want to watch something light and fun.
18. Bad Times at the El Royale
This movie is HELLA fun, had such a good time watching this. Genre of movies where the movie takes place at only one location never disappoint and this is one of them. 7 strangers meet at this shady hotel, each of them having a different purpose but nothing goes as plan and everything goes haywire. A really good movie with all the elements of a good comedy, thriller and mystery.
17. Juror #2
Juror #2 is about a Juror as the name suggests who’s part of a jury where this particular case puts him in a fix because he is in a moral dilemma which would impact the verdict of this case. I can’t say much about this without spoiling it so go and find out for yourself and watch this movie on Hotstar.
16. A Real Pain
I knew this movie would be amazing as soon as I saw the trailer and thankfully it didn’t disappoint. I don’t need to say much about the cast, both of those guys are a good enough reason to watch it ASAP and have good time. It’ll make you laugh, it’ll make you sad and it’ll make you think that how can something be soo funny and sad at the same time. You can watch this on Hotstar as well so go and watch and have fun.
15. Conclave
I was so glad that I caught this in the theatres because the score of this movie goes hard and you can actually feel the tension building up. Conclave is highly praised and rightfully so for it’s engaging and gripping story with great all round performances by everyone. Loved every bit of this and if you haven’t watched it yet then you can watch it on Prime Video.
14. Mickey 17
This is Bong Joon Ho’s first movie after winning an Oscar for Parasite in 2019 so understandably everyone had great expectations from it. I found the story very cool and Robert Pattinson gave one hell of a performance playing a double role and Mark Ruffalo and Toni Collette never go wrong. It looked incredible from the trailer itself and it held up on it’s own pretty well. If it didn’t succeed Parasite then I think it would’ve gotten a better response but because of Parasite it had a lot riding on it which raised the expectations. All in all a very good watch and I had great time watching it.
13. F1
This was a proper THEATRE theatre movie only because of the racing sequences. The story is very straightforward nothing exceptional but it’s only carried because the racing moments and also because many prominent real F1 cameos by drivers and team directors. It doesn’t match the thrill of RUSH (2013) or the story of Ford vs Ferrari (2019) but still works well. I don’t think one would enjoy it that much if they choose to watch it on OTT because it’s definitely made for theatres. So catch it before it leaves the theatres and have fun.
12. His Girl Friday
My only complain about this movie is that it should’ve been longer because it’s sooo much fun. Watched it randomly while toggling through Prime Video and had a blast watching this. The film centers on the tumultuous relationship between a newspaper editor and his ex-wife and star reporter, as he schemes to win her back both professionally and romantically while she tries to leave journalism for a quieter life with her new fiancé.
11. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Lowkey watched this movie only because I found the name interesting, had not heard about it before nor did I watch a trailer or read a review just watched it because of the name and it didn’t disappoint at all. While watching the movie I thought this movie is very “Guy Ritchie-esque” if that makes sense and guess who’s the director of this movie, ITS FUCKIN Guy Ritchie itself AHAHAHAHAHA. It is a British Crime Comedy that follows four friends who get in over their heads after a rigged high-stakes poker game leaves them owing a lot of money to a ruthless gangster. You can rent this movie on Prime Video.
10. Nickel Boys
This deserved a theatrical release in India but it didn’t get one. The POV shots in this one are incredible I’ve never seen something like that before and it works amazingly well. It’s adapted from a novel of the same movie and tells a story of the abusive nickel academy in the 1960s somewhere in Florida. It’s definitely one of the best movies of 2024 and you can watch this movie on Prime Video.
9. Double Indemnity
Another masterpiece I discovered while toggling Prime Video. I’m telling you if you want to watch movies then Prime Video it is man, such a great collection and this is one of them. The story follows insurance salesman named Walter as he is seduced by the cunning Phyllis into a plot to murder her husband for insurance money.
8. Lost Highway
I watched this as a tribute to David Lynch who passed away this year and I had not seen it before so seemed like a good time to watch some LYNCH and of course it didn’t disappoint. The film follows a jazz musician whose life unravels after receiving mysterious videotapes and being accused of his wife's murder, only to morph into a different man living a parallel life. It was also good to see young Harmony Cobel from Severance in this movie AHAHAHAHA.
7. Frenzy
You obviously can’t go wrong with Hitchcock and this movie is no different. Watched it because a friend told me to and when I learnt it’s Hitchcock I was intrigued. The story centers on a officer wrongly accused of being the "necktie murderer" terrorizing London, as he desperately tries to clear his name while the real killer remains at large. It’s also notable for its explicit violence and dark humor , showcasing Hitchcock's mastery of suspense and psychological tension. You can rent this movie on Prime Video.
6. Fargo
Another classic which you can find on *DRUM ROLLS* YES YOU GUESSED RIGHT Prime Video, AGAIN. It’s a crime thriller that follows car salesman who hires two criminals to kidnap his wife to extort ransom from her wealthy father. The plan quickly spirals out of control which leads to multiple murders. I really like it’s snowy Midwestern setting and distinctive accents which add authenticity and a unique tone to the story. Did I mention that you can watch this on Prime Video?
5. Sinners
Loved this movie soo much that I watched it twice in the theatres. The film follows twin brothers both of which are played by Michael B. Jordan as they return home to open a juke joint which is exclusively for the black community but problem follows them to their door as vampires led by Remmick leads to a night of horror for their people. The story explores themes of racism, family and the power of music against a backdrop of supernatural horror. It also has 2 post credit scenes which gives us a teaser for a second part.
4. I’m Still Here
A beautiful beautiful which I loved a lot. It’s a Brazilian political drama which follows a wife whose husband is a former congressman and a critic of Brazil’s military dictatorship because of which he is forcibly disappeared by the regime. As the wife faces intimidation, detention and the trauma of loss, she must reinvent herself to protect and hold her family together amid the regime’s oppression. This movie also won an Oscar for Best International Feature Film this year.
3. Synecdoche, New York
I have no idea how to describe this movie because I just don’t know but I’ll try my best to tell you what’s it about. The film follows a theater director whose attempt to stage a life-sized replica of New York City becomes an all-consuming project that blurs the line between reality and fiction but it’s soo much more that no review will do justice you just need to watch it to understand.
2. The Empire Strikes Back
I don’t think I need to say anything about this movie which hasn’t already been said. I need to watch this in theatres somehow, I’ve seen the first 3 Star Wars movies till now and I will watch the rest soon and till now this has been the best. Very late to the party but yaa looking forward to the other movies. So if you were like me procrastinating on watching Star Wars then this is your cue to watch them all.
1. Stolen
No surprises on where you can watch the best movie I’ve seen so far in 2025. This was actually soo insane, it’s based on a true story with a few tweaks and it’s so sad that this didn’t get a theatrical release because this deserves so much more which is why everyone should go and watch this movie. It follows 2 brothers who are wound up in a kidnapping of a child whose mother isn’t that well to do so they decide to help her to find the kidnapper which turns into their greatest nightmare. Some of the camerawork in this has left me awe-struck. I could write a lot more about this but I want you to watch it so I won’t spoil it for you so GO and WATCH.
That brings us to the end of this list, let me know what you think and which movies I might have missed and you liked a lot, would love to add those to my watchlist. I’ll obviously make another at the end of the year to see which stay on this list and what new movies make an entry, maybe I’ll increase it to 30 movies but who knows?? for now these are the best 20 movies I’ve seen so far this year watch any of them and you won’t be disappointed. Until next time, GOODBYE :)