Editors note: This opinion-piece does not represent the opinion of Beaver’s Digest but rather it reflects the personal opinions and observations of the writer.
Award season has arrived, which means rating red carpet looks, hyperfixating on celebrity interactions, and looking up what movies are contending this year and saying, “wait…what?”
2025 was a big year for the movie industry, and while a lot of releases are obvious award magnets, others raise a big head-scratching question: how did this get nominated at all?
Here’s a look at the movies that truly earned their buzz this year, well-known or not, and the ones that didn’t.
- Sinners (2025)
What would this list be without mentioning the major critically acclaimed film that left audiences buzzing for months after its initial release?
Ryan Coogler’s genre-melding horror-musical “Sinners” shocked and amazed critics and average viewers alike after its initial April 2025 release.
Set in 1932, Mississippi, the film follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan), who return to their hometown after years living in Chicago with the dream of opening a roadhouse. What begins as a fresh start for the two men quickly turns dark when a mysterious and malicious force threatens the small community, blurring the lines between supernatural horror and deeply rooted cultural tensions.
The film is endlessly praised for its visuals and cinematography, as well as the powerful performances skillfully done by Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, and other acclaimed actors. “Sinners” expertly blends entertaining supernatural horror and social commentary on identity, heritage, and human connection.
This movie is nominated for several awards, and I don’t think the majority would be upset if this film held an award or two.
- How To Train Your Dragon (2025)
“How To Train Your Dragon (2025)”: truly a liberation of live-action remakes.
Whether you grew up adoring the classic Dreamworks films or simply wanted to know what the buzz was about, it’s impossible to deny that “How to Train Your Dragon” was a spectacular film. \
“How to Train Your Dragon” is a live-action reimagining of the beloved animated film by the same name, directed by Dean DeBlois. Set in the Viking village of Blerk, the story follows Hiccup (played by heart-throb, Mason Thames). This misfit goes against generations of dragon-slaying traditions after befriending a dragon he named Toothless. As their bond grows, so does Hiccup’s initiative to challenge his community’s fear-driven beliefs, proving that dragons can be friends just as much as they made them to be enemies.
The film combines epic fantasy, an amazing soundtrack, and packed action, while remaining emotionally grounded and relatable to familiar audiences.
If you haven’t seen this amazing film, you don’t want to miss it. I promise you, it isn’t like any other remake.
- The History of Sound (2025)
If there were a prestigious award for films that had emotional impact rather than visibility or hype, “The History of Sound” would be a serious contender. With so many films coming out at the box office, many films are simply overlooked despite delivering one of the most quietly devastating stories of the year.
“The History of Sound,” directed by Oliver Hermanus, is a quiet, distant, and emotionally resonant drama that follows two men, Lionel and David (played by Paul Mescal and Josh O’ Connor), who form a deep connection through their shared love of music and sound in the early 20th century. Spanning many years and many distances, the film explores how memory, intimacy, and identity are shaped by the sounds and music we carry with us. Subtle, human, and deeply emotional, “The History of Sound” prioritizes human feelings over spectacle, offering a tender look at love, loss, and the traces of people left behind long after they’ve been gone.
Although leaving a small mark at the box office, if you’re looking for beauty, love, and life, “The History of Sound” cannot fly under your radar.
- Snow White
Much like “Marty Supreme” being the obvious choice for a movie that deserves awards, this one is on the opposite spectrum, being the most obvious choice for a movie that doesn’t necessarily come to mind when you mention the upcoming awards.
“Snow White,” directed by Marc Webb, has become somewhat of a meme on the internet.
The live-action reimagining of Disney’s iconic motion picture has received several critiques for the character decisions, lack of musical whimsy, and poor execution of the modern retelling.
In this story of Snow White, after the King’s disappearance, the palace is overthrown by the Evil Queen (Gal Gadot). In a flee, Snow White runs into the seven dwarves and a young bandit, Jonathan. Together, they endevor a new mission to overthrow the tyranny of the Evil Queen and take back the palace once and for all, focusing on Snow White’s personal journey rather than the classic premise in the original Snow White.
Although great in theory, the internet made this movie into a spectacle, changing the outcome of this story into rants of several critiques towards everything. From costuming and CGI to performances and storytelling, there wasn’t necessarily any positive feedback on the film, marking it as one of the worst-perceived films of 2025.
- Superman
Yes, there’s another Superman movie. Yes, it’s amazing. Who’s surprised it made it on the list of
the best 2025 movies?
Directed by renowned creator James Gunn, “Superman” reintroduces the iconic DC superhero through a different lens, one that’s primarily focused through a hopeful and character-driven perspective. The film follows Clark Kent (played by David Corenswet) as he balances his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing and identity, striving to find what it means to be an alien superhero in a skeptical modern world.
Although a predictable premise at first, this movie expertly delivered applicable critiques on modern politics, profit-driven industries, and disinformation. “Superman” explores themes of truth throughout the film, challenging superhero binaries and reflecting societal anxieties about leadership, ethics, and hope.
This movie is the pick-me-up that everyone needs and definitely deserves that award nomination.
- Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere
What would this list be without a biopic?
“Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere,” directed by Scott Cooper, tells the story of Bruce Springsteen and the accidental creation of his album “Nebraska.”
Unlike most biopics, this film focuses on a period of Springsteen’s life, both before and after his rise to fame, including beautiful shots of his childhood that contrast with the man he has become. Anchored by a raw, commanding performance from Jeremy Allan White, “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere” captures a vulnerable chapter of the rock icon’s life, one defined by isolation and introspection.
With beautiful cinematography and careful storytelling, this biopic paints a beautiful picture of mental health and overcoming, leaving audiences with inspiration and hope as they walk out of the theater.
Whether you’re a die-hard Springsteen fan or have never heard of him in your life, this film is a compelling, deeply human story about creativity, connection, and self-discovery that deserves recognition for years to come.
- After the Hunt
“After the Hunt” had so many things going for it, it was bound to be one of the best films of the year. With an acclaimed director like Luca Guadagnino and a strong cast with actors like Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri, and Andrew Garfield, and a tense premise. Yet somehow, this film didn’t hit the mark the way audiences were hoping.
“After the Hunt” is a 2025 psychological drama where Alma (Julia Roberts) finds herself at a crossroads, where she can’t necessarily keep her personal and professional life separate, when her gold star student (Ayo Edebiri) accuses one of her colleagues (Andrew Garfield) of something very serious, her own past creeping at the surface as everything is put out in the open.
Although a challenging premise about an issue as deep as it is, audiences found the film to be confusing and out of order. When walking out of the theater, many people left, finding it difficult to decipher what the film’s motive was.
Just because a film has amazing people attached to it doesn’t mean that it’s guaranteed to be an award-winner, and this film is a perfect example of that.
- Marty Supreme
Much like the obviousness of Snow White being put on the list, I have a feeling this is an obvious positive regarding 2025 films. Sometimes, having a stacked cast, amazing marketing tactics, and a misleading storyline is the perfect formula to make an Academy Award-winning film.
“Marty Supreme,” directed by Josh Safdie, stars Timothee Chalamet as Marty Meisner, a legendary American table-tennis player. Set largely in the mid-20th century, the movie begins with the average sports movie retelling, but quickly paints Meisner as an unconventional hustler, trying to make money in any way possible to make it to the table tennis world championship in Tokyo. Through every twist and turn, you sit on the edge of your seat as you watch Marty navigate one problem after another. Energetic, suspenseful, and character-focused, “Marty Supreme” turns an unlikely sports figure into a vivid picture of ambition, ego, and pride – sending the message to “dream big” no matter what it takes.
If you’ve made it this far without being absolutely captured by “Marty Supreme,” you’re in a small minority of people who are missing out on one of the greatest films of the year.
With that, whether you’re excited for this awards season, dreading it, or are completely uneducated in the film realm, there is no denying the impact of the movies. So if you feel a little left out this year, watch those movies, and join us next time.
