Thu Dec 25 22:50:00 UTC 2025: Top Films of 2025 Offer Unique, Yet Universal Experiences, Says Local Critic
MINNESOTA – Local film critic Hunter Friesen has released his list of the top 10 films of 2025, highlighting a diverse range of stories that resonate on both a specific and universal level. Friesen, who runs the website The Cinema Dispatch and serves as the film critic for the Woodbury News Net, emphasizes the power of film to connect with audiences long after they leave the theater.
“Each film on this list, while seemingly disparate on the surface, possesses an uncanny ability to tell a story that is both specific and universal,” Friesen notes. “They are crafted by artists working at the height of their powers, offering viewers an experience that becomes a part of them for the rest of time.”
Friesen’s list includes films of various genres, from a comedy about an aging movie star to a reexamination of the Frankenstein myth. He lauded George Clooney’s performance in “Jay Kelly,” directed by Noah Baumbach, as well as Park Chan-wook’s adaptation of “The Ax” and Bradley Cooper’s “Is This Thing On?”
Other films making the list include Bi Gan’s dreamlike “Unnamed Film”, Clint Bentley’s “Robert Grainier,” Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value,” Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein,” Josh Safdie’s “Marty Supreme,” Dea Kulumbegashvili’s “Banned Film”, and Chloé Zhao’s “William.”
Friesen also included an extensive list of honorable mentions, including “Black Bag,” “Blue Moon,” and “The Testament of Ann Lee.”
Friesen’s reviews can be found on The Cinema Dispatch website and Instagram page. He is currently the president of the Minnesota Film Critics Association.
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