Story perspectives

2025's Best Films: Politics Meets Spectacle in Cinema

12/26/2025

Summary

Story summary

Film critics Richard Brody and Justin Chang review the best movies of 2025, noting a year rich in political and spectacular cinema.
They praise films such as “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another” for grand themes and innovative spectacle.
Brody notes spectacle reflects audience preference for large-scale films, while Chang emphasizes political narratives in top titles.
They stress historical context, with “The Phoenician Scheme” and “My Undesirable Friends” standing out.

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Story summary

Film critics Richard Brody and Justin Chang review the best movies of 2025, noting a year rich in political and spectacular cinema.
They praise films such as “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another” for grand themes and innovative spectacle.
Brody notes spectacle reflects audience preference for large-scale films, while Chang emphasizes political narratives in top titles.
They stress historical context, with “The Phoenician Scheme” and “My Undesirable Friends” standing out.