HPPH's Best Films of 2025

10. Frankenstein 

Starring Oscar Isaac as the egotistical and obsessive Victor Frankenstein, Guillermo del Toro's spectacular reimagining of Shelly's classic was a firm favourite with HPPH staff and volunteers. It's a film we were especially pleased to give audiences an opportunity to experience on the big screen before its Netflix release. 

Read more: Hyde Park Pick: Frankenstein.

“Frankenstein envelops you in luxurious textures and tragic characters, until Del Toro finally transforms the suffocation into catharsis, releasing you from the prison of your own fate, a drowning metamorphosed into a rebirth. A vivid and brooding gothic masterpiece.”

Matt, Projectionist

9. Bring Her Back

Great horror never goes unappreciated at HPPH, and the Philippou Brothers' follow-up to the acclaimed Talk To Me is no exception. Unnerving and disturbing in equal measure – with an incredible performance from Sally Hawkins – Bring Her Back has earned a rightful place in our top-10 list and we hope it'll continue to unsettle audiences for years to come...

Read more: Aaron Recommends Bring Her Back. 

“There's amazing acting from everyone, especially Sally Hawkins as Laura, who shifts easily from charming to sinister, which is truly terrifying. The slow build keeps you hooked. With this and Talk to Me, the Phillippou brothers are a force to be reckoned with.”

Han, Venue Coordinator

8. Pillion

Winner of BIFA's prestigious Best British Independent Film award, Harry Lighton's Pillion was for many their film of the year, and one a number of our team really loved. Complex, surprising and uncomfortable at times, it's fair to say Pillion also divided opinion, which for us is always a sign of a film that's pushing boundaries and refusing to play safe.

Read more: Pervert Pictures' review of Pillion.

“Lighton shows BDSM as neither an essentially positive nor negative act, not pathologising its protagonists, and allowing audiences to figure things out for themselves, showing a side to kink we rarely get to see in the mainstream.”

 Katherine, Venue Coordinator

7. The Brutalist

Despite feeling like a lifetime ago, Brady Corbet's 215min epic was released at the start of 2025, and went on to be nominated for 10 Oscars, including best film. The story of the American dream turned on its head, The Brutalist is not only a film full of incredible technical achievements, but one responsible for a number of career-best performances, including from Adrian Brody and Guy Pearce. It might have only gone on to win three of its Oscar noms, but it's clearly resonated with the HPPH team, who have given it the far more prestigious 7th best film of 2025. Who needs gongs! 

Read more: Leeds Modernist Society on The Brutalist.

“A reminder of the strength our country (or any country) can derive from not only embracing but also consciously building an international community here at home. One which particularly welcomes, celebrates and makes a safe space for refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants in all forms.”

Wendy, Head of Cinema

6. Sinners

Ryan Coogler's Sinners was the surprise hit of the year for us, and a film that continued to play and play thanks to great word of mouth and a long-run of sell-out shows. It did that thing not many films manage to achieve, which is to connect with audiences in a multitude of ways, bringing together a diverse range of people of different ages, backgrounds and experiences, including many who were visiting HPPH for the first time. It's these unexpected successes that we absolutely love, and really speak to the heart of what community cinema is all about – so we're thrilled the film has made our top-10 and it's one I'm sure we'll revisit many times in the years to come.

“As a big music fan, the idea that musical talent could be the source of such chaos really appealed to me. Ghostly gospel and stirring blues play a huge role in Sinners – not just my favourite horror of the year, but my favourite horror film ever.”

Martha, Digital Marketing Coordinator

5. Good One

India Donaldson's insightful, piercing debut, which follows 17-year-old Sam as she embarks on a three-day backpacking trip in the Catskills with her dad and his friend, was a sure fire hit here at HPPH – and the sort of quiet yet beautifully powerful film we absolutely love. Lily Collias is excellent in the film’s central role, wielding a beautifully natural performance in which subtle sideways glances and gestures within the space of the film all speak as loudly as the words spoken. James Le Gros’ performance as Chris feels like a companion to his role in Kelly Reichardt's Certain Women – two films from two brilliant female directors, that would make a great double-bill. 

Read more: Hyde Park Pick: Good One.

“A meditative, beautifully crafted gem that doesn’t require a long runtime, elaborate set design or dense dialogue to convey the ruminations and growing frustrations of a perceptive teenage girl.”

Fran, Venue Coordinator

4. The Ballad of Wallis Island

This small British indie from Tim Key and Tom Basden has been one of the great success stories of 2025 – charming audiences across the UK, including here at HPPH. The film had a long life at the Picture House thanks to super strong word of mouth and lots of audiences seeing the films multiple times with us. We're sure it'll do well at the upcoming BAFTAs where it deserves all the awards it can get. And you never know, if we can persuade Tim and Tom to join us for a Q&A, there might be another opportunity to see it at HPPH again soon (if you're reading this Tim/Tom, let's make it happen!).

Read more: Hyde Park Pick: The Ballad of Wallis Island. 

“This is exactly the kind of film I love to watch at the cinema: charming, low-key and a little bit odd in places. Carey Mulligan was breathtaking both in performance and wardrobe. Not only was this one of my fave films of the year, it was also one of my fave screenings at the cinema – a sold-out Screen Two of belly laughs.”

Cat, Deputy Operations Manager

3. Nickel Boys

Released at the very start of 2025, we knew straight away that Nickel Boys was going to be one of the strongest films of the year. Following the stories of two young black men, Elwood and Turner, and their horrendous experiences at a corrupt 1960s reform school in Florida, the film was adapted from Colson Whitehead’s acclaimed Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by director RaMell Ross, who follows the same intimate and soulful approach taken with his previous 2018 documentary Hale County, This Morning, This Evening – another HPPH favourite. Nickel Boys is one of those films that's as beautiful as it is heartbreaking; and as truthful as it is ethereal, and a film we'd urge everyone to see. 

Read more: Hyde Park Pick: Nickel Boys. 

“Nickel Boys manages to do something artistically bold, breaking cinematic conventions and pushing new boundaries to help us connect with the story on an even more human, emotional and spiritual level.”

Ollie, Marketing & Communications Manager

2. Sorry, Baby

Produced by Oscar-winning director Barry Jenkins (Moonlight), Sorry Baby is the confident and remarkable debut from writer and comedian Eva Victor. Told in nonlinear chapters, it follows five years in the life of Agnes, tracing her transition from grad student to tenure, and the before and after of a sexual assault, as she navigates the healing process supported by her best friend, Lydie. The film is an incredible study on living with trauma, and one we're delighted to see has been recieved so positively by the HPPH team. It's a film we'd love more people to see – so keep your eyes peeled on some repeat screenings in the new year.

Read more: Dispatches from Cannes.

“It's a much-needed, kind and empathetic film, like a good friend putting their arm around you and just saying 'I know'. Here, Eva Victor establishes themselves as a really special artistic voice, both as a director and an actor, and I can't wait to see what they do in the future!”

Vivienne, Volunteer

1. One Battle After Another

As big Paul Thomas Anderson fans, it's perhaps no surprise that his latest (near-perfect) outing – loosely based on Thomas Pynchon's 1990 novel Vineland – was going to take the top-spot, and we're thrilled it has. From its excellent cast (special shout out to an especially iconic Benicio del Toro) to some truly thrilling set-pieces, it's a film that feels genuinely fresh and exciting, and not afraid to speak its mind about the existential challenges America faces today. It's a film made for the big screen, and we hope it will get a 2nd wind this upcoming awards-season. 

One Battle After Another will return to HPPH early next year. Details of any repeat screenings will be available here. 

“The most outrageous and radical American studio film since Fight Club. Paul Thomas Anderson repurposes elements of Thomas Pynchon's Viceland to comment on where America is and what it could become. Sean Penn as the deeply insecure, terrifying but ultimately pathetic Colonel Lovkhaw is hands down the best performance of the year.”

Ian, Volunteer

Big thanks to the all the HPPH staff and volunteers who voted for their favourite films, and shared contributions for this piece. Other films which received lots of love from the team and very nearly made it into our top 10 include:

28 Years Later, A House of Dynamite, A Real Pain, Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story, Bugonia, Die My Love, Dying, Train Dreams, Flow, Four Mothers, Hard Truths, Holy Cow, How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, I Swear, I’m Still Here, Islands, Memoir of a Snail, Savages, Sister Midnight, The Last Showgirl, The Mastermind and Urchin.

We hope you enjoyed reading about our highlights of the year and that this list gives you some more ideas for your watchlist on Letterboxd. Speaking of which, if you don't already follow us on Letterboxd, you can follow us here.