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Digital Trends writer Anthony Orlando’s eight recommended movies of 2025 span vampire horror, superhero adventure, animation and more. His December 19 year-end list draws on 47 new films he watched, but it is a personal selection—not a ranked verdict or a consensus list. The films are Sinners, Weapons, The Life of Chuck, Superman, Frankenstein, 28 Years Later, One Battle After Another and KPop Demon Hunters.
What makes these eight films different?
Orlando’s recommendations range from intimate, emotional stories to horror and action. The descriptions below reflect the reasons he highlights each film; they are not independent reviews.
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| Film | Story and appeal highlighted by Orlando |
|---|---|
| Sinners | Ryan Coogler’s horror film follows gangster brothers and their friends in 1932 as they open a juke joint and encounter vampires. Orlando points to its mix of original storytelling, performances, imagery, music and vampire horror. |
| Weapons | When 17 children from one classroom disappear at 2:17 a.m., the story unfolds through the perspectives of Maybrook residents. Orlando singles out its interwoven storytelling and dark, surprising tone. |
| The Life of Chuck | This Stephen King adaptation follows Charles Krantz through different stages of his life, beginning with an apparent apocalypse before moving into the past. Its themes include existence, loss and pursuing a passion. |
| Superman | James Gunn’s DC Universe film follows a week in Superman’s life as he protects Earth and confronts his Kryptonian heritage and a conspiracy involving Lex Luthor. Orlando describes its tone as hopeful and playful, with an approach faithful to the comic-book material. |
| Frankenstein | Guillermo del Toro adapts Mary Shelley’s story through Victor Frankenstein’s fraught relationship with his creation. Orlando emphasizes themes of parenthood and familial abuse, alongside del Toro’s sympathetic treatment of monsters. |
| 28 Years Later | Danny Boyle and Alex Garland return to the franchise with a story about survivors of a zombie pandemic in the U.K. The focus is young Spike’s journey with his ill mother; Orlando praises the action, imagery and emotional core. |
| One Battle After Another | Paul Thomas Anderson’s action comedy follows Bob Ferguson as he tries to protect his daughter while they are pursued by Col. Lockjaw. Its hooks are political satire and a father-daughter adventure. |
| KPop Demon Hunters | The animated musical follows K-pop group Huntrix as its members fight demons with music, while the group’s leader confronts her heritage. Orlando highlights the songs, animation, humor and emotional story. |
How to choose what to watch
Start with the kind of story you want, rather than treating the list as a ranking. For horror, Sinners and Weapons offer markedly different setups: a 1932 juke joint facing vampires, and a community reckoning with children’s unexplained disappearance. For a more emotionally reflective story, The Life of Chuck moves backward through one man’s life from an apparent apocalypse. Frankenstein centers on a creator and his creation, while 28 Years Later pairs a pandemic-survival setting with a family journey.
If you want comic-book adventure, Orlando’s pick is Superman. For action with political satire and a family relationship at its center, consider One Battle After Another. KPop Demon Hunters is the animated musical choice, combining demon-fighting with songs and comedy.
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Where to watch these movies
Digital Trends listed streaming destinations in its December 19, 2025 article. Those are publication-time availability statements, not a guarantee of what is in a service’s catalog now. Streaming rights and catalogs can differ by date and territory, so check the current listing in your country before subscribing or renting.
| Film | Service named by Digital Trends on December 19, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Sinners | HBO Max |
| Weapons | HBO Max |
| The Life of Chuck | Prime Video or Apple TV |
| Superman | HBO Max |
| Frankenstein | Netflix |
| 28 Years Later | Netflix |
| One Battle After Another | Prime Video |
| KPop Demon Hunters | Netflix |
Are these objectively the eight best movies of 2025?
No. They are Anthony Orlando’s personal recommendations, presented by Digital Trends after he said he watched 47 new films. The article does not rank the eight against one another or establish an objective measure of “best.” Treat the selection as a guide to films Orlando particularly recommends, not a definitive industry consensus.
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