Sunday Special: The Best Movies of 2025

December 28, 2025

54 min episode · 2 min read

Alyssa Wilkinson,Nicole Sperling,Gilbert Cruz

Episode

54 min

Read time

2 min

AI-Generated Summary

Published Dec 28, 2025

Key Takeaways

✓Original film success: Warner Brothers scored with non-IP films including One Battle After Another (200M worldwide), Sinners (280M domestic), and Weapons, proving audiences respond to auteur-driven original stories when studios take creative risks on established directors like Paul Thomas Anderson and Ryan Coogler.
✓Box office volatility: October 2025 marked the worst box office performance in thirty years, with star-driven films from Margot Robbie, Colin Farrell, and Austin Butler all flopping, demonstrating that traditional movie star power no longer guarantees theatrical success in the streaming era.
✓Family film scarcity: Zootopia 2 and Minecraft became massive hits partly because parents desperately need theatrical options for children, yet studios release far fewer kids' movies than previous decades, creating untapped demand whenever quality family content reaches theaters with consistent weekend availability.
✓Theatrical champions: Directors James Cameron, Christopher Nolan, and James Gunn remain committed to theatrical-first releases with films like Avatar Fire and Ash and Superman, positioning themselves as essential defenders of cinema exhibition against streaming platforms prioritizing direct-to-platform content strategies.

What It Covers

The New York Times critics review 2025's best films, focusing on Warner Brothers' exceptional year with hits like One Battle After Another and Sinners, while examining the studio's uncertain future amid potential acquisition by Netflix or Paramount.

Key Questions Answered

•Original film success: Warner Brothers scored with non-IP films including One Battle After Another (200M worldwide), Sinners (280M domestic), and Weapons, proving audiences respond to auteur-driven original stories when studios take creative risks on established directors like Paul Thomas Anderson and Ryan Coogler.
•Box office volatility: October 2025 marked the worst box office performance in thirty years, with star-driven films from Margot Robbie, Colin Farrell, and Austin Butler all flopping, demonstrating that traditional movie star power no longer guarantees theatrical success in the streaming era.
•Family film scarcity: Zootopia 2 and Minecraft became massive hits partly because parents desperately need theatrical options for children, yet studios release far fewer kids' movies than previous decades, creating untapped demand whenever quality family content reaches theaters with consistent weekend availability.
•Theatrical champions: Directors James Cameron, Christopher Nolan, and James Gunn remain committed to theatrical-first releases with films like Avatar Fire and Ash and Superman, positioning themselves as essential defenders of cinema exhibition against streaming platforms prioritizing direct-to-platform content strategies.

Notable Moment

The discussion reveals Zach Cregger's horror film Weapons generated such intense audience reactions that viewers stood and applauded during home screenings, while wine bars played it for patrons, demonstrating how suspense films create communal viewing experiences beyond traditional theaters.

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