IndieWire Names 2025's Top Films in Critics’ Poll

IndieWire has published its annual critics poll, drawing input from 148 film writers around the world. The results reflect a wide range of bold storytelling and distinctive directing that defined cinema in 2025.

Top film of 2025

One Battle After Another (2025) directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and led by Leonardo DiCaprio topped the critics’ list. It appeared in the top ten from 101 critics, and 43 voters named it their No 1 pick. This strong support surpassed last year’s winner, Sean Baker’s Anora.

Complete critics top ten

1. One Battle After Another (2025)
2. A Simple Coincidence (Yek tasadef sadeh, 2025)
3. Sinners (2025)
4. Sentimental Value (Affeksjonsverdi, 2025)
5. The Secret Agent (O Agente Secreto, 2025)
6. Marty Supreme (2025)
7. Train Dreams (2025)
8. Sirât (The Path) (2025)
9. Hamnet (2025)
10. Sorry, Baby (2025)

Best director

1. Paul Thomas Anderson — One Battle After Another (2025)
2. Ryan Coogler — Sinners (2025)
3. Kleber Mendonça Filho — The Secret Agent (2025)
4. Jafar Panahi — A Simple Coincidence (2025)
5. Josh Safdie — Marty Supreme (2025)

Best screenplay

1. One Battle After Another (2025)
2. A Simple Coincidence (2025)
3. Sinners (2025)
4. Sentimental Value (2025)
5. The Secret Agent (2025)

Best acting performances

1. Rose Byrne — If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (2025)
2. Ethan Hawke — Blue Moon (2025)
3. Wagner Moura — The Secret Agent (2025)
4. Jesse Buckley — Hamnet (2025)
5. Timothée Chalamet — Marty Supreme (2025)
6. Michael B. Jordan — Sinners (2025)
7. Benicio Del Toro and Sean Penn — One Battle After Another (2025)
8. Amanda Seyfried — The Testament of Ann Lee (2025)
9. Renate Reinsve — Sentimental Value (2025)

Cinematography honors

1. Train Dreams (2025)
2. One Battle After Another (2025)
3. Sinners (2025)
4. Frankenstein (2025)
5. Kuang ye shi dai (The Dawn Era) (2025)
6. O Agente Secreto (The Secret Agent, 2025)
7. Marty Supreme (2025)
8. Looking at the Sun (In die Sonne schauen, 2025)
9. The Exclusion Method (Eojjeolsugaeopda, 2025)
10. Sirât (The Path, 2025)

IndieWire conducted its rankings using a weighted voting system in which critics submit a personal top ten and points are assigned by rank. A similar method was used for other award categories.

Earlier this year, other outlets named top films, including Rolling Stone, Esquire, and Cahiers du cinéma. Metacritic, by contrast, highlighted the year’s 15 worst releases.

Expert comment: Film critic Lena Hart notes that this year’s results show critics rewarding ambitious vision alongside intimate performances. The mix of global titles points to a vibrant, diverse future for world cinema.

Conclusion

The 2025 critics’ poll highlights a year of bold directions, diverse voices, and storytelling that blends high concept with human detail. It suggests a future where daring cinema from various regions continues to reshape the global film landscape.

Summary

IndieWire’s poll brings together 148 voices to crown One Battle After Another as the year’s top film. The list features international titles, strong directing from Paul Thomas Anderson, and notable acting and cinematography. Overall, it shows a year when risk-taking and cross‑cultural collaboration paid off in standout cinema.

The key takeaway from this poll is that bold direction and intimate storytelling can thrive together across borders in 2025 cinema.