Film Comment unveiled the results of its annual critics’ survey at a live event at Film at Lincoln Center last night, celebrating the standout cinema of 2025. Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, Kelly Reichardt’s The Mastermind, and Kleber Mendonça Filho’s The Secret Agent emerged as the top three films released in the U.S. this year, while Kamal Aljafari’s With Hasan in Gaza, Lucrecia Martel’s Nuestra Tierra (Landmarks), and Ross McElwee’s Remake were recognized as the year’s best undistributed films.
The survey, voted on by 125 Film Comment contributors and international colleagues, reflects a global perspective on the year’s cinema. Notable critics and filmmakers, including Richard Brody, Edo Choi, Molly Haskell, Radu Jude, Jonathan Rosenbaum, and Matías Piñeiro, participated in the poll, lending their insights on films that captured both critical acclaim and cultural resonance.
The top 20 released films were revealed in a countdown hosted by editors Devika Girish and Clinton Krute, with critics Amy Taubin and Bilge Ebiri providing commentary. Filmmakers Paul Thomas Anderson, Kleber Mendonça Filho, and Jia Zhangke sent video messages expressing gratitude for the recognition, while Kelly Reichardt and Jafar Panahi contributed written remarks. Anderson noted, “It’s Film Comment so it means a lot…There’s a special place in all of our hearts for Film Comment.”
Krute highlighted the thematic throughline of the year’s selections, emphasizing narratives shaped by history, social forces, and human struggle. From the fractured family in One Battle After Another to the contemplative criminal in The Mastermind and the lone bullfighter in Albert Serra’s Afternoons of Solitude, many top films examined individuals navigating turbulent worlds.
Film Comment also celebrated undistributed films, acknowledging works that have yet to secure U.S. distribution. Girish remarked, “Polling critics on the year’s best undistributed films is one of our cherished traditions…The presence of masters like Aljafari, Martel, and McElwee underscores the challenges and importance of bringing independent cinema to wider audiences.”
The top 20 released films of 2025 included titles such as Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident, Jia Zhangke’s Caught by the Tides, Albert Serra’s Afternoons of Solitude, David Cronenberg’s The Shrouds, and Ryan Coogler’s Sinners. Among undistributed films, Aljafari’s With Hasan in Gaza, Martel’s Nuestra Tierra, and McElwee’s Remake led a list showcasing international and independent voices poised for U.S. premieres.
Since 1962, Film Comment has served as a cornerstone of independent film journalism, publishing critical analysis and celebrating cinematic excellence worldwide. Through its surveys, podcasts, and events at Film at Lincoln Center, the publication continues to champion both established and emerging filmmakers, highlighting cinema’s enduring power to provoke, inspire, and connect audiences across the globe.