Movies and TV shows of 2025

 Movies and TV shows of 2025

What blew me away!

Andor Season 2 -  5/5

A show about rebellion, politics, david vs goliath. The ending of Andor is known because of the Star Wars movie that came before it. But the show is a beauty on its own. Set in Starwars universe with no mentoion of the force, that is how it should be. Just humans trying their best to push back against the evils of the empire. Characters taking their next logical step. Very well acted, directed, written with set design that is the best that has been there so far!

One Battle After Another - 4.5/5 or 4/5

I keep on oscillating between the two ratings. It is definitely good. The title itself is 5/5. The movie has a momentum and it never slows. It is so typically PTA - so original, very difficult to predict what is going to happen, and things do happen. It could be today's times or it could be 70s or 80s, such is the amazing part of the movie. Plus, the ending car chase scene on the highway - maintains tension that is amazingly well done. 

Homebound - 5/5

What a sad but hauntingly beautiful movie. It is one of those real life commentary movies that you just wish was not true but you realize deep down is that this movie is actually a better side of how bad the truth is. The ending hurts, the middle hurts, the start hurts but there is a beauty between them. A tale of friendship, love, idealism, hope is there - captures the spirit of India that very few movies can. A must see film by Neeraj Ghaywan of Masaan fame!

Adolescence - 4.5/5

A kid is murdered by another kid, both young early teenagers. How does it happen, impact on parents, how police handles it, how the school reacts. All this happens in a 4 part short series that is extremely gripping. 

Anora - 4.5/5

I did not expect Anora to be this much funny as it was. Yes, it was tragic, with a lot of sex but it had so much humanity under the hood. Humanity came from unexpected places and it was heart warming. Plus, the social commentary that comes with the subject matter itself was very well handled. 

What was good!

Sinners - 4/5 

Horror movie with a lot of oomph! Also, a lot of music. It is the music that carries the film. Ryan Coogler - Michael Jordan duo never disappoints. 

Slow Horses season 5 - 4/5 

I love the humor of Slow Horses. That it is a thriller action series is bonus. Love the characters, love the arcs, extremely well done. It is amazing that I do not mind re-watching the series as well. 

A man on the inside - season 1 & 2 - 4/5

Sign me up for anything that Michael Shur (of Brooklyn 99 fame) makes. And if it has Ted Danson in it, then it has to be savored. Everything about this show is good. Michael Shur has a unique talent of creating fictional situations and then having characters have honest dialogue with each other. Such honesty and absurdity combination is a treat to watch. 

Bear season 4 - 3.5/5

At this point, the Bear seems to be on auto-pilot. We know the characters, we know what drives them, their backstory etc. So, all the Bear has to do is to make them follow the next logical step and each one is doing that. This season was a redemption season - Bear goes to Molly, goes to his mom, Sydney says no to new restaurant offer etc etc. They didn't screw it up, so overall a good watch. 

A house of dynamite - 3.5/5

I have a soft spot for political thrillers. In AHOD, there is a missile coming to US, of unknown origin. What happens next ? How does military react, how does politicians react, it is done in a Rashomon setting. A good time one-time watch. 

Blackbag - 3.5/5

Steven Soderbergh has an art of making films and I dig his art. Marriage + espionage has been tackled in the series The Americans, in a action-comedy like Mr and Mrs Smith. In Blackbag, Steven brings his own flavor of style and grace and makes it a really good one time watch. 

Weapons - 3.5/5

There are very few actors which make you watch a film because they are in it. Julia Garner for some reason does it for me - she brings mystery to her portrayal that it is difficult to ignore. Weapons is a horror film in which in one one night kids run away from their apartment and disappear. All kids belong to the class where Julia Garner is the teacher. Amazing premise for a horror film. 

The last stop in Yuma county - 3.5/5

I love these kind of diner pulp fiction movies. Ordinary characters (played mostly by unknown actors) thrown where things happen on its own, but driven by a basic human emotion, in this case, it is greed. 

Masala 

Fallout - 3/5

Wake up dead man - 3/5

Ballerina from John wick universe - 3/5

Superman - 3/5

Thunderbolts - 3/5

Lokah - 2.5/5 (could have been much better)