Sinners: Ryan Coogler 

A love letter to Black African American culture, “Sinners”, a horror-drama film directed by Ryan Coogler, became a global phenomenon and a box office success, earning over $368 million worldwide. Released April 18, 2025, the film has been nominated for many awards, including Best Male Lead Actor, Best Picture and Best Original Song.

The story follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack, both portrayed by Micheal B Jordan. After finishing their mob work in Chicago, the brothers return to their hometown of Clarksdale, Mississippi, during the 1930s. There, they purchase an abandoned slave slaughterhouse disguised as a sawmill and transform it into a junk joint meant to host a celebratory gathering for the local black community.

To bring their vision to life, Smoke and Stack travel around town recruiting old friends to help cook, play music and prepare for the grand opening. Once the party begins, however, the film shifts into horror as the celebration is haunted by a vampire named Remmick, portrayed by Jack O’Connell. Remmick seeks to reclaim his Irish heritage and sense of community by stealing a magical resonator guitar played by Sammie, the twins’ cousin, portrayed by first-time actor Myles Caton.

Before watching “Sinners”, I was unsure what to expect. Although I was familiar with Coogler’s previous work, including the critically acclaimed “Black Panther“, I was skeptical about how music and horror could blend together. Despite this hesitation, the film far exceeded my expectations. Jordan’s ability to play dual characters was also seamless, as he distinguished them perfectly. Caton’s singing was equally impressive, with his voice stealing every scene in which he appeared. However, the standout moment of the film was the “Juke Joint Dance Scene“, which guides the audience through the evolution of Black music and culture. The sequence was visually stunning and emotionally powerful, marking a pivotal moment in modern cinema.

The film explores themes including racial oppression, cultural identity, appropriation and religion. It is elevated by a beautiful original score composed by Ludwig Göransson that incorporates elements of blues, folk, R&B and gospel. Notable songs include “Last Time (I Seen The Sun)” and “I Lied to You”, both of which received award nominations.

Overall, as 2026 begins, “Sinners” stands as a strong contender for this Oscar season. It was a must-see last year and will undoubtedly be discussed for generations to come.

One Battle After Another: Paul Thomas Anderson

Considered by many to be the film of our time, “One Battle After Another”, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, made a major box office impact upon its release Sept. 26, 2025. With a heavy politically charged blend of action and drama, the film is loosely adapted from Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel “Vineland” and reimagines its ideas in a dystopian future America.

Set in 2041, the story depicts a world ruled by an authoritarian regime in which the military and white supremacist groups hunt down immigrants and revolutionaries. Opposing the regime is a revolutionary group called the French 75, which fights for equality and freedom. Notable members of the group include Bob, played by Academy Award winner Leonardo DiCaprio, and his partner Perfidia Beverly Hills, portrayed by Teyana Taylor. Their love story begins early in the film and continues to develop as Perfidia gives birth to their daughter, Willa, portrayed by first-time actor Chase Infiniti.

As the plot progresses Willa becomes the main target of the film’s antagonist, Steve Lockjaw, played by two-time Academy Award winner Sean Penn. Bob, determined to protect his daughter, sets out to find Willa before Lockjaw does, turning the film into an intense cat-and-mouse chase.

When I saw the film for the first time, I was lucky enough to experience it on one of the biggest screens in the United States, the 75-foot-tall, 97-foot-wide IMAX Laser screen in San Francisco. This greatly enhanced my experience, as the film’s visuals were striking on such a massive scale, and the powerful sound design kept me locked in from start to finish. DiCaprio once again delivered a powerful and hilarious performance, but the standout for me was Infiniti. She conveyed a remarkable sense of bravery and emotional commitment in her role. Penn also gave a memorable performance, making his character deeply hateable while maintaining a cartoonish edge.

One of the film’s strongest elements is its musical score, composed by Jonny Greenwood, which builds suspense and keeps audiences glued to their seats. In addition,”One Battle After Another” tackles timely themes including authoritarian corruption, immigration struggles, intergenerational conflicts and systemic racism. The film’s cinematography is equally compelling, shot on vintage VistaVision cameras across various Californian locations, including Cal Poly Humboldt, Sacramento and San Diego.

Overall, “One Battle After Another” has my vote for Best Picture at the upcoming Oscars. With incredible performances across the cast and a story that feels both urgent and original, the film stands out as something truly special. For those who missed it in theaters, I highly recommend watching it on the biggest screen possible.

Superman: James Gunn

With Zack Snyder’s DC Universe coming to an end, director James Gunn launches a new era with “Superman“. The film was highly anticipated, as it would set the foundation for years of future DC projects and address the lack of widely praised adaptation of the character for quite some time. However, with Gunn’s success directing the “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise, fans remained hopeful when the film was released July 11, 2025.

Rather than retelling Superman’s well-known origin story, the film establishes a world where metahumans (superheroes) already exist. David Corenswet stars as the iconic hero, alongside his love interest, Daily Planet journalist Lois Lane, played by Rachel Brosnahan. The story follows Superman as he faces his main antagonist, Lex Luthor, portrayed by Nicholas Hoult, who attempts to eliminate him by starting a war between the fictional countries of Boravia and Jarhanpur. Along the way, Superman must also stop Luthor from accidentally splitting Metropolis into two.

Gunn also introduces live-action adaptations of other iconic DC characters, including Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) and Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced). Together, they form the Justice Gang and assist Superman throughout the film. Gunn also includes Superman’s dog, Krypto, a surprise addition that all animal lovers adored.

As a longtime superhero fan and admirer of Gunn’s work, I was confident the film was going to succeed before stepping into the theater. That said, I felt some anxiety, as this movie would shape the future of the DC Universe and the direction of superhero films in general. Superman has never been my favorite DC hero, with Batman long holding that spot, which added to my uncertainty. Luckily, the film didn’t disappoint.

“Superman” takes a refreshing and unfamiliar approach to the character, portraying him as relatable and emotionally grounded. The film’s main message explores what it means to be a good person every day, even in the face of hardship. The cast delivered strong performances across the board, with Corenswet standing out for bringing charm and empathy to the role. Gunn also delivers another effective soundtrack, featuring only two songs, each placed perfectly. “Punkrocker” by Teddybears and Iggy Pop was particularly memorable, leaving me smiling as I exited the theater.

Overall, “Superman” was well worth the watch and signals a promising future for the DC Universe. With “Supergirl” set for release later this summer and Gunn already announcing a sequel titled “Superman: Man of Tomorrow,” the franchise appears to be on solid footing.

Zootopia 2: Jared Bush and Byron Howard

With the animated box office hit “Zootopia” approaching its 10 year anniversary, its sequel, “Zootopia 2,” was highly anticipated ahead of its release Nov. 23, 2025. That excitement was quickly noticeable, as the film has already earned over $1.5 billion worldwide and is now the highest-grossing animated film of all time, surpassing “Ne Zha 2“, which was released last year.

The story is simple yet effective, once again following the iconic good-cop, bad-cop duo of Judy Hopps, voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin, and Nick Wilde, voiced by Jason Bateman. Together, they work to prevent a species from being outcast by solving an old mystery. This time, the focus is on reptiles, specifically Gary De’Snake voiced by Academy Award winner Ke Huy Quan. Going into the film, I was excited but skeptical, as sequels often fail to live up to their originals. Still, I stayed optimistic, especially with Shakira returning to perform a new song for the film titled “Zoo“.

After watching, I found myself impressed. The film not only deepens Judy and Nick’s relationships but also tackles unexpected and mature themes, including the issue of redlining. It maintains the franchise’s signature humor through animal puns and playful Disney references while preserving the charm that made the original so beloved. The end credits even tease a third installment of the franchise, focusing on a new species, birds.

Overall, I think “Zootopia 2” definitely dethroned the original and stands out as a memorable sequel. It is a must-see for both longtime fans of the first and newcomers to the franchise. 

Marty Supreme: Josh Safdie 

“Marty Supreme” directed by Josh Safdie is also a top movie of 2025. Be sure to check out Emiliana Thacker’s review!