HPPH's Best Films of 2025

HPPH's Best Films of 2025 covers the period 01 Dec 2024 – 01 Dec 2025.

10. Frankenstein 

Starring Oscar Isaac as the egotistical and obsessive Victor Frankenstein, Guillermo del Toro's spectacular reimagining of Shelley'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 – 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 Philippou 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 that 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 (here's looking at you, Guy!).

Side note – we're big fans of the built-in intermission and hope The Brutalist may inspire a revival in this much-welcomed comfort break!

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's a film that managed to pull in audiences from across the city – from horror and music fans, to those who've enjoyed Michael B. Jordan and Coogler's past collabs (Fruitvale Station, Black Panther, Creed). This led to some fantastically mixed audiences, including many 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 – bringing people of different backgrounds for a wild ride together.

“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, whilst James Le Gros’ role as Chris feels like a companion to his performance in Kelly Reichardt's Certain Women – two films from two brilliant female directors, that we think 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, written by and starring Tim Key and Tom Basden, has been one of the great UK success stories of 2025 – charming audiences across country, including here at HPPH. The film had a long life at the Picture House, filling our 2nd screen week after week thanks to super strong word of mouth and broad appeal (not easy for a comedy!). We're sure it'll do well at the upcoming BAFTAs where it deserves all the awards it can get – and hope this leads to more great film work from Tim & Tom in the future.

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 separate but intertwined stories of two young black men, Elwood and Turner, and their horrific experiences at a 1960s Florida reform school (prison), 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 doc 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 real as it is ethereal, and a work that should be seen by as many people as possible. 

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 track, 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 received so positively by the HPPH team. It's a film we'd love more people to see – so keep your eyes peeled for 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 a particularly 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 Vineland to comment on where America is and what it could become. Sean Penn as the deeply insecure, terrifying but ultimately pathetic Colonel Lockjaw is hands down the best performance of the year.”

Ian, Volunteer

HPPH's Best Films of 2025 was voted for by the cinema's staff and volunteers team, and covers the period 01 Dec 2024 - 01 Dec 2025. 

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 seeing some of these films at HPPH, and for those you've not seen, it gives you some ideas to add to your watchlist. Speaking of watchlists, if you don't already follow us on Letterboxd, you can follow us here!