"Maybe it's because Marvel movies no longer dominated the cultural conversation. Or maybe it's because box office worries have lead to a little more risk-taking by Hollywood producers. Whatever the reason, big screen releases haven't had a such a variety of genres, styles, and stories like this since 1999: We had everything from music-driven vampiric period pieces to demon-driven animated musicals; pitch-black alien invasions to sunshine-y alien superheroes;"
"Even the weakest Mission: Impossible movie lands somewhere among the best action films of all time. Its last installment, The Final Reckoning, isn't as ironclad as its predecessors, but it makes up for shaky pacing and shallow character work with jaw-dropping set pieces and stunts so deranged one can't help but smile at the guts required to pull them off. If the franchise must end here, at least it does so pushing its limits. - Lyvie Scott"
2025 produced an unusually diverse and daring cinematic year with films spanning music-driven vampiric period pieces, demon-driven animated musicals, pitch-black alien invasions, sunshine-y alien superheroes, paranoid revolutionary epics, and retro-futuristic family affairs. Reduced Marvel dominance and box office anxiety encouraged more risk-taking from studios and producers. Multiple films achieved masterpiece status while many others became instant classics, creating an embarrassment of riches for cinephiles. A ranked top-25 roster emerged but still felt incomplete amid abundant high-quality contenders. Select films combined audacious stunts, bold tonal balances, and inventive storytelling that pushed franchise and genre boundaries.
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