Today and tomorrow I’ll list the movies at #11-20 on my 2025 year-end list, before getting to the top ten next week.

#20. Nouvelle Vague
Richard Linklater continues to cement his legacy as one of the most versatile and fascinating film directors. This loving recreation of the French New Wave movement is one of his most audaciously creative works yet.

#19. Rental Family
I just watched this film so it might benefit from recency bias, but nevertheless I found it incredibly sweet and heartwarming. Director Hikari does a beautiful job portraying modern Tokyo in ways both expected and unexpected.

#18. Avatar: Fire and Ash
Nobody stages large-scale action like James Cameron, and few have his gift for populist storytelling. There is surprisingly little bloat in this 3+ hour epic and a handful of instantly iconic images.

#17. Blue Moon
Like so many of his films, Richard Linklater’s other great movie of 2025 proves that he knows few cinematic pyrotechnics can compete with the drama of an authentic human conversation.

#16. Kpop Demon Hunters
A movie that deserves its status as an instant tween classic. The film combines visual wit, banging songs, and exciting action set pieces with refreshingly resonant thematic storytelling.