Top 20 Must-Watch Movies You Overlooked in 2025
The film industry is full of hidden gems that often go unnoticed amid the buzz of blockbuster productions. As 2025 comes to a close, El-Balad highlights the top 20 must-watch movies you may have overlooked this year, featuring a diverse lineup from various genres and countries.
Top 20 Must-Watch Movies You Overlooked in 2025
1. Afternoons of Solitude
This immersive documentary by Catalan director Albert Serra offers a contemplative look at Andrés Roca Rey, a young Peruvian bullfighter. Serra utilizes long takes and silences, creating a hypnotic study of ego and mortality in the brutal world of bullfighting.
2. Dragonfly
Starring Andrea Riseborough and Brenda Blethyn, this British kitchen-sink drama by Paul Andrew Williams transforms into a horror experience. It follows Elsie, an elderly woman, and her neighbor Colleen as tensions arise with Elsie’s son, culminating in a shocking twist.
3. Drowning Dry
Lithuanian director Laurynas Bareiša presents a powerful story about two sisters on a lakeside retreat, where a minor conflict spirals into a devastating tragedy. This award-winning film excels in its fragmented narrative style.
4. Ghost Trail
In his debut feature, Jonathan Millet delivers a slow-burning thriller about a Syrian professor seeking justice. Adam Bessa’s performance as Hamid effectively portrays the psychological depths of survivor’s guilt in a high-stress moral landscape.
5. Holy Cow
Louise Courvoisier’s coming-of-age story follows Totone, a teenager navigating adulthood while trying to maintain his family dairy farm. Blending humor and heartfelt moments, this film captures the essence of France’s Jura region.
6. It Ends
A conceptual horror film, It Ends explores a group of friends trapped in an infinite drive filled with existential challenges. Director Alexander Ullom cleverly utilizes limited locations and characters to comment on a generation’s fears.
7. Kabul Between Prayers
Dutch-Afghan filmmaker Aboozar Amini tells a poignant story set against the backdrop of post-U.S. withdrawal Afghanistan. The documentary centers on Samim, a soldier, and his younger brother, revealing the complex human landscape in a time of crisis.
8. Lesbian Space Princess
This animated Australian indie film combines humor and romance in a sci-fi adventure. An introverted space princess must save her ex-girlfriend from a toxic extraterrestrial race, making for a unique exploration of identity.
9. My Father’s Shadow
Akinola Davies Jr. explores family dynamics against the backdrop of Nigeria’s first election in 1993. The film balances personal and political themes as a father attempts to connect with his sons amid escalating tensions.
10. Oslo Trilogy
Norwegian director Dag Johan Haugerud presents a trilogy that thoughtfully examines intimate relationships and sexual identity through three interconnected films that can be enjoyed in any order.
11. Room Temperature
Directed by Zac Farley and Dennis Cooper, this quirky film chronicles a family’s Halloween tradition that turns into a bizarre, moving project exploring creativity and obsession in the California desert.
12. Steve
Cillian Murphy stars as a beleaguered school headmaster facing personal and professional challenges in this deeply moving drama from Tim Mielants. The film highlights the struggles of caring for at-risk youth.
13. The Ballad of Wallis Island
In this charming film by James Griffiths, a widowed millionaire seeks to reunite a disbanded folk duo. The story intertwines romance and nostalgia against the stunning backdrop of Wallis Island.
14. The Baltimorons
Jay Duplass’s solo directorial debut explores the unconventional romance between a dentist and her patient during a chaotic Christmas Eve. The film captures the quirky essence of holiday storytelling.
15. The Botanist
In this coming-of-age tale set in northern China, aspiring botanist Arsin navigates first love and personal growth amidst the stunning natural landscape, offering a nostalgic exploration of youth.
16. The Girl in the Snow
Filmmaker Louise Hémon’s visually captivating drama portrays superstitions in a snowbound 1899 village. As a new teacher arrives, calamities unfold, highlighting fears and communal beliefs.
17. The Last Viking
Danish director Anders Thomas Jensen blends absurdity and humor in this black comedy. When a bank robber’s brother believes he is John Lennon, the plot spirals into a wild journey of misadventures.
18. The Ugly Stepsister
This reimagined fairytale offers a gory perspective on beauty standards. Emilie Blichfeldt’s film incorporates horror elements into Cinderella’s story, tackling themes of violence and social pressures on women.
19. Twinless
Dark comedy meets emotional depth in James Sweeney’s film about a tech-savvy young man coping with the loss of his twin brother. This Sundance gem blends humor with poignant moments.
20. Who by Fire
Philippe Lesage’s film explores male relationships and aspirations as two generations of filmmakers grapple with their dreams during a retreat in the Canadian wilderness, leading to unraveling friendships.
These twenty films showcase diverse storytelling, unique perspectives, and creative filmmaking that deserved more attention this year. As we look back to 2025, don’t miss the chance to discover these hidden cinematic treasures.
