In the tradition of another beautiful end of year list, it’s time for Culture Fix’s Top 10 Films of 2025. As we reflect on another year of cinema, 2025 has stood out for its eclectic mix of unsettling horrors, opulent biopics, and unconventional romances. From the depths of auteur minds to the neon lights of Las Vegas, these films delve into a range of genres and as always capture the eclectic taste of the team at Culture Fix.
The following list looks back at the standout titles from the past year – based on their UK release dates.
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10. Dangerous Animals
Jai Courtney delivers a performance of demented genius in this genuinely thrilling Australian B-movie horror. Centred on a serial killer who abducts victims and revels in filming them being fed to sharks, this is a good, old-fashioned thriller. Director Sean Byrne captures the dark side of the human psyche in nail-biting fashion.
9. The Shrouds
David Cronenberg’s deliciously messed-up The Shrouds examines grief in the 21st century. Vincent Cassel plays a tormented tech entrepreneur who crafts voyeuristic technology to maintain a visual link with the deceased. Refreshingly strange and quietly absorbing, this is a feature that could only have emerged from the depths of Cronenberg’s mind. Ending with the iconic, camp line, “You have me now. And together, we’ll be in Gravetech Budapest”, the film needs to be seen to be believed.
8. Together
Dave Franco and Alison Brie are magnetic in Michael Shanks’ Together, a film where grisly body horror meets introspective relationship drama. With a plot that gradually unveils occult secrets, this slow-burning narrative is peppered with shocking visuals that make for an unforgettable watch.
7. Babygirl
The destructive power of lust and warped power dynamics allow Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson to deliver some of their finest work in writer-director Halina Reijn’s Babygirl. Provocative and titillating, the film remains gripping due to a taut emotional tension that makes it a must-see.
6. Pillion
This unconventional romance from director and co-writer Harry Lighton offers an amusing yet touching examination of queer biker power dynamics. Alexander Skarsgård is compelling, while Harry Melling delivers a complex, beautifully pitched performance as the submissive Colin.
5. Weapons
Like many others, we joined the “Cult of Gladys” in Zach Cregger’s horrifying mystery Weapons. Constructed through the lenses of various narrators, the film grips audiences by gradually revealing its twisted cards and warped jigsaw pieces. Cregger may well be a new master of horror.
4. The Ugly Stepsister
Emilie Blichfeldt’s The Ugly Stepsister captures the gothic gore of classic fairy tales with a punky, subversive flavour. Tackling the societal pressure to adhere to set beauty standards, Blichfeldt tears them apart with a hammer and chisel amidst gleeful gristle.
3. Maria
Masterfully elegant and compelling, Maria from Pablo Larraín is an opulent examination of the toll fame took on the late Maria Callas. Angelina Jolie brings the famous opera diva back to life with a beautifully pitched performance that delves into the emotional and physical pains that plagued the performer, filmed with true grace.
2. Sebastian
Finnish director Mikko Mäkelä presents an entertaining, intelligently complex, and sexy character study of a young sex worker balancing an aspiring career as a novelist. Delving into refreshing explorations of creation and companionship, Sebastian moves viewers through the grounded performances of Ruaridh Mollica and Jonathan Hyde.
1. The Last Showgirl
Pamela Anderson soars in The Last Showgirl, delivering a naturally compelling performance. Meanwhile, Gia Coppola crafts an intimate yet commanding portrait of a Las Vegas legend fighting to stay in the spotlight.
Let us know your favourites on our social channels:
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