There have been quite a few major releases in the last few weeks. So, instead of doing full reviews for each, let’s welcome 2026 by doing mini-reviews for a handful of noteworthy (and still relevant) films and shows from 2025.
Bugonia (2025)
When Forrest Gump said that you never know what you’re getting from a box of chocolates, he may as well have said that about director Yorgos Lanthimos. Arriving right on the heels of Poor Things (2023) and Kinds of Kindness (2024), Lanthimos once again teams with Emma Stone for the black comedy Bugonia (2025), based on the South Korean film Save the Green Planet (2003). Stone portrays Michelle Fuller, a no-nonsense CEO of a pharmaceutical megacorporation. After a fairly standard day at the top of the corporate ladder, Michelle is kidnapped by Teddy (Jesse Plemons), a basement dwelling conspiracy theorist who believes that Michelle is secretly an alien plotting to force the human race into subservience. With its wonderfully bizarre concept, Lanthimos mines Bugonia for every ounce of its darkly comedic gold. Stone and Plemons make for an strong double act, as the pair play off each other excellently, delivering interesting (and in some cases surprising) social commentary.
8.5/10
Best way to watch it: For debate club.
The Running Man (2025)
Based on the 1982 Stephen King dystopian novel of the same name, The Running Man (2025) is the second adaptation of the famed author’s book. That being said, this new take has very little in common with the 1987 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. This time, Glen Powell has been cast as Ben Richards, the working man forced to take part in a gladiatorial reality TV show where he must evade being killed by a hoard of gimmicky hunters. Considering that the original is hardly a perfect film, and that Ben Richards is probably King’s least compelling protagonist, the main selling point was to see this world in the hands of fan-favourite director Edgar Wright. Surely the man who brought us Shaun of the Dead (2004), Hot Fuzz (2007) and Baby Driver (2017) would deliver the goods? Unfortunately, the result is a perfectly competent yet uninspired slog. Where Wright’s previous efforts let his imagination run wild, The Running Man has Wright creatively reigned in. The most frustrating part is that an action extravaganza such as this would’ve been worthwhile if Wright was let off the leash.
4.5/10
Best way to watch it: In a morning session so you have the cinema to yourself. Thus, you and your friends can make fun of it without shame.
Wicked: For Good (2025)
Director John M. Chu delivered a wonderful cinematic experience with Wicked (2024), pleasing fans of the stage production, and garnering new fans across all ages. Following a riveting and surprisingly breezy three hours, the words “To Be Continued” emerged. Wicked: For Good (2025) picks up after Elphaba Thropp’s (Cynthia Erivo) heroic defiance of The Wizard (Jeff Goldblum), resulting in her being slanderously branded as The Wicked Witch of The West. Elphaba’s old friend Glinda (Ariana Grande) is being propped up as ‘The Good Witch’, despite having no magical power. The two friends can’t bring themselves to be true enemies, despite being played against each other by The Wizard and Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh). Where Part One felt like a complete story despite ending on a cliffhanger, Wicked: For Good feels as though it’s missing huge sections of it’s narrative. Like the stage production before it, this is by design, as the omitted scenes are the events of The Wizard of Oz (1939). Wicked: For Good effectively and enjoyably shows the unseen perspective of the “villain”, but you still have to keep the classic Oz film in mind in order to feel this story’s full breadth of emotion. Thus, despite being a well made and enjoyable experience, Wicked: For Good requires homework to be fully appreciated.
6.5/10
Best way to watch it: In a triple feature. The Wizard of Oz, then Wicked, then this.
The Housemaid (2025)
For some time now, there’s been a steady stream of neo-noir mystery thrillers set in and around domesticity. Often based on popular novels, works such as Gone Girl (2014), Dark Places (2015), The Girl on the Train (2016) and A Simple Favour (2018) all filled this niche, delivering pulpy thrills, all while commenting on gender, class and abuse. Paul Fieg (who brought us A Simple Favour) returns to this genre with The Housemaid (2025), which follows the story of a young woman named Millie (Sydney Sweeney) who takes a job as the help to a wealthy couple, Andrew (Brandon Sklenar) and Nina (Amanda Seyfried). Andrew appears nice enough, but Nina is terrifying, constantly keeping Millie on edge due to her foreboding and threatening presence. As Millie digs deeper into Andrew and Nina’s relationship, things turn out to be even creepier than first expected. While the various twists aren’t overly surprising to anyone familiar with this genre, The Housemaid is still a fun ride, making you look forward to all the lurid story turns. As an added bonus, Fieg uses The Housemaid to riff on some outdated tropes of the film noir genre.
7.5/10
Best way to watch it: After book club.
Nuremberg (2025)
Someone in Hollywood has been told that people today have either forgotten about, are unaware of, or don’t believe in the enormity of The Holocaust. You would think the subject would still be common knowledge, given the sheer amount of films, art, books and museums covering the subject, but alas, here we are. Thus, it appears that the world sadly needs a refresher course on one of the worst atrocities ever committed by man. Director/Writer James Vanderbilt offers his services with Nuremberg (2025), yet another retelling (this makes number six) of the criminal trials which brought the remaining Nazi war criminals to justice. Russell Crowe stars as Herman Göring, Hitler’s successor and Commander of The Luftwaffe, while Rami Malek portrays Dr. Douglas Kelley, the Chief Psychiatrist assigned to study Göring and his comrades. While Nuremberg does indeed say all the right things, and correctly acknowledges how this dark period of history connects to today, it sadly doesn’t hit as powerfully as it should. It’s telling that a film from 1961 covering the same story hits much harder. That being said, Vanderbilt does an admirable job educating novice viewers on all the important information, names, dates and tragedies. It’s richly detailed, competently (if unremarkably) produced, and adheres very closely to recorded history.
7/10
Best way to watch it: For year 9 history class.
Stranger Things: Season Five (2025)
There’s always one single TV show which everyone must watch if they wish to engage in the cultural conversation. Right now, that TV show is Netflix’s smash hit Stranger Things (2016 – 2025), which concluded its fifth and final season. Following the gang’s confrontation with the malevolent otherworldly being Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), the town of Hawkins is occupied by the military. The ruthless Dr. Kay (Linda Hamilton) leads the soldiers in an attempt to capture Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) for her supernatural gifts. Eleven, Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), Will (Noah Schnapp), Hopper (David Harbour), Joyce (Winona Ryder) and all the rest work to enter the alternate dimension known as The Upside Down, and defeat Vecna once and for all. The first season of Stranger Things remains one of the greatest seasons of TV ever produced, yet none of the following seasons came anywhere close. Granted, every year delivered memorable action, creative concepts, emotional moments and engaging characters, but we also saw bizarre story choices, poor pacing, questionable performances and nostalgia baiting in place of storytelling. With that in mind, Stranger Things’ final season successfully matches the highs and lows that have defined the show for the majority of its run. Not a home run, not a disappointment, but instead meeting the standard of ‘good enough’.
5.5/10
Best way to watch it: Would’ve been nice to see this only five years after the first season, not ten.
Pluribus: Season One (2025)
Veteran showrunner Vince Gilligan has a resume rivalled by very few. With Breaking Bad (2008 – 2013) and Better Call Saul (2015 – 2022) under his belt, anything Gilligan produces is something of interest. His latest offering is Pluribus (2025), an AppleTV original drama series. Set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, we are introduced to Carol Sturka (Rhea Seehorn), a successful author of fantasy romance novels. Despite her successful career, Carol lives an apathetic existence, with only her manager and spouse Helen (Miriam Shor) adding light to her life. Without warning, the entire planet is infected with an extraterrestrial virus, transforming humanity into a seemingly peaceful hive mind. No single person is an individual anymore, as everyone on earth shares the same consciousness. Carol is one of 12 individual people who couldn’t be assimilated, which the hive mind hopes to correct. Carol is horrified by ‘The Joining’ and wants to put the world back the way it was, but this may be easier said than done. Even though Pluribus is born from high concept science fiction, Gilligan has kept the story firmly on the ground, with every episode unpacking the meaning, effects and emotions surrounding such a monumental event. Those hoping for a plot driven thriller may be disappointed by the slow pace, but if you’re willing to take the time observing extended character development and interesting themes, Pluribus has plenty to offer.
9/10
Best way to watch it: When you’re looking for something a little different.
Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025)
Despite every film critic claiming that James Cameron’s Avatar (2009) had no cultural impact, everyone can still reference the likes of “Hometree”, “Unobtainium” and “Jake Sully”. As such, Avatar had enough cultural impact to cross $2 billion at the global box office, not once, but twice. Now, Cameron is back for a third time, with Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025). Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), their family, and the clans of Na’vi are readying themselves to save Pandora from Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) and his army of human colonisers. Things are complicated by the arrival of Varang (Oona Chaplin), the leader of a blood thirsty Na’vi fire clan intent on dominating the planet. Love them or hate them, Cameron has made a career out of delivering three hour blockbuster movies which aren’t boring, and are never repetitive. This is what has made him feel like a God among other directors. Ironically, Avatar: Fire and Ash is the first sign that Cameron is a mere mortal. As expected, the production is masterful on every level and is a testament to the spectacular power of the cinematic experience. Narratively, this is the first entry which feels like a rehash of what we’ve already seen. Granted, none of these films have been at the forefront of screenwriting, but unlike its predecessors, Avatar: Fire and Ash is the only one which fails to deliver on its promise. That being said, if you still wish to spend time immersed in Cameron’s unique escapist fantasy, it’s worth the trip.
6.5/10
Best way to watch it: In IMAX but with two intermissions.
