2026 has already begun on a fantastic note with the incredible “Song Sung Blue”. Hopefully this marks the start of another strong year for cinema.
In the last quarter of 2025, I watched a lot of cinema to write film reviews. While I’ve forgotten the exact scores I gave them, I thought I’d reflect on my enjoyment of the films and list my best and worst films. The only requirement for a film to be included is that it was shown in cinemas during the last quarter of 2025. Of course, if I’d reviewed films throughout the year these lists would have been very different. This will no doubt highlight how varied all our tastes are and that box office takings aren’t always a reliable indicator of a film’s quality.
Top 5 – Best Films (Oct-Dec 25)
1. Wicked: Back for Good – much better than the first film, in my opinion. I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel and watched it twice in the cinema. The storytelling and character development are deeper. Seeing it twice also enhanced my appreciation for the music. It’s modern yet reminiscent of old Hollywood.
2. Housemaid – is an entertaining film that’s a fun watch. The three main leads deliver excellent performances and the film is based on a book. It’s quite the opposite of a typical thriller and was another strong film for Christmas 2025.
3. Tron: Ares – I saw Tron: Ares twice in the cinema and it was an underrated film that despite being good, underperformed at the box office. It’s likely to gain cult status with Tron fans. The music was particularly excellent and really enhanced the film.
4. Anaconda – a sleeper hit that’s sure to be a success. I thoroughly enjoyed this feel-good comedy; it was a lot of fun. Jack Black is the main attraction but the film boasts a very strong cast.
5. Predator Badlands – while I’m not a huge fan of the Predator franchise, I thoroughly enjoyed Predator Badlands. As a sci-fi enthusiast, I appreciated the film’s unique approach and the story focus from a predator’s perspective.
Top 3 – Worst Films (Oct-Dec 25)
1. Five Nights At Freddy’s 2 – was simply dreadful. It’s beyond me how a first film that was okay could be followed by this extremely poor offering. It’s a must-miss and a real disappointment.
2. Bugonia – this might be an unpopular choice but it really divided opinion with reviews. I guess a little Marmite and I fell into the dislike camp. The ending just ruined the film for me, while the first section was okay.
3. Now You See Me Now You Don’t – memorable for all the wrong reasons, I wasn’t particularly impressed. In my opinion, I am surprised that they even attempted a follow up/reboot.
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