From movie theatres to home theatres: Our favorite 2025 watches

? In life, few things offer us the escapism we so often desire — yet we’ve come to know that a good film or a binge-able show often do the trick. Offering viewers a one-way ticket into a different reality across time and space, films are amongst our greatest treasures.

?FUN FACT- In case you were wondering, 2025 saw a total of 25k films and series released all across the world, 18k of which were films, according to IMDB. in Egypt, production was somewhat modest, with some 45 films released, compared to Hollywood’s 5k, and Bollywood’s 2k.

? THE BEST IN CINEMAS-

Many highly-anticipated films saw the light of day this year. That said, the first half of the year was somewhat disappointing, with a few films we’d been looking forward to missing the mark, such as Materialists and A Big Bold Beautiful Journey. But it wasn’t all rotten tomatoes and disappointed reviews — many releases hit a home run, granting audiences an enjoyable cinematic experience — and even setting some up for the 2026 awards season.

#1- Sinners: Directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan, Sinners exceeded even the highest of expectations. The film tells a terrifying story set in the US South in the ‘30s, somehow finding a common denominator between folk horror and R&B music in a powerful chronicle of Black suffering. The film spotlights Smoke and Stake, twins played by Jordan, and their cousin Sammy (Miles Keaton). The tight-knit crew open a juke joint, and horrors beyond comprehension ensue. Our verdict? Sinners earned a perfect score from us for its excellent direction, stellar performances, one-of-a-kind story, and unexpected and extreme horror.

#2- One Battle After Another: Adapted from 1990 postmodern novel Vineland, director Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest film was an incredibly gripping cinematic work that dissected the state of contemporary US politics. The film tackled questions of race, immigration, revolution, and counter-revolution in a mixture of action, thriller, and comedy, holding our undivided attention for its entire 2 hour and 40 minute runtime. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, rising star Chase Infiniti, and Sean Pean — who delivered an Oscar-worthy performance.

#3- F1: Hot on the (w)heels of a disappointing start to the cinematic season, director Joseph Kosinski raised the bar during what had been a lackluster mid-season for cinema. F1 dominated the box office race in the US and most countries worldwide upon its debut, and for good reason. The film garnered critical acclaim, leaving no room for boredom. Characters were fleshed out, the entire cast — particularly Brad Pitt and Javier Bardem — put forth their best work, and the movie’s score by Hans Zimmer left us putting it on repeat.

#4- Weapons: The 2025 season saw plenty of horror films to satisfy the macabre-inclined among us. Weapons in particular, however, is the one that stood out the most to us. In his second horror film, up-and-coming American comedian and director Zach Cregger delivers a disturbing story where horror stems not from jump scares (though there are a bunch), but from the spine-chilling concept itself.

#5- Bugonia: While a niche production, Bugonia is undisputedly one of the best films of the year. The film represents the fourth collaboration between Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos and the iconic Emma Stone, culminating in an experimental film that bridges between reality and absurdity — with a few hints of sci fi. The film stands out for its peculiar premise, its surreal sequence of events, and a shocking ending — factors that, in our opinion, made for an experience not to be forgotten any time soon.

HONORABLE MENTIONS-

• The Roses: Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch — need we say more?
• Wicked for Good: A stunning sequel to one of our favorite musicals, Elphaba and Glinda defied gravity with our hearts.
• Al Sada Al Afadel: A new direction for up-and-coming director Karim El Shennawy, this film was absurd in the best way possible.
• Bring Her Back: A horror that sees Sally Hawkins deliver one of her most powerful performances yet.
• Seko Seko: Familiar faces, an unfamiliar story, and signature Egyptian comedy all in one go.

?️ OUR FAVORITE 2025 SERIES-

Drama was alive and well in 2025, and the year saw a series of iconic shows — including in Ramadan — with works that managed to steal the spotlight with bold new ideas, exceptional performances, and suspenseful cliffhangers.

#1- The Studio: This comedy limited series essentially concocted the recipe for success, making it one of the best, if not the best, of the year. The Studio is both a love letter and a middle finger to Hollywood. Seth Rogen and Apple TV+ have crafted a satirical take on moviemaking that feels both timely and timeless — an ode to the Tinseltown filmmaking industry that isn’t afraid to point out all its warts.

WHERE TO WATCH IT- You can stream The Studio on AppleTV.

#2- Pluribus: From the very first episode, we knew we were in for another masterpiece by Vince Gilligan (creator of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul). While we won’t divulge much about the show, which is currently airing, we’ll simply note that it’s truly one of the most entertaining and engaging shows in science fiction — and one that touches upon several philosophical ideologies, brilliantly dissecting the complex human psyche. We’d wager that Pluribus will leave no crumbs at the 2026 Emmy Awards.

WHERE TO WATCH IT- You can stream Pluribus on AppleTV.

#3- Adolescence: Having topped Netflix charts upon its release earlier this year, amassing wide acclaim, Adolescence is a psychological crime drama tracing the murder of a suburban teenager, which leads to the arrest of her schoolmate. Not only is Adolescence a narrative masterpiece, but it’s a masterclass in cinematography. The film’s uncontested star is the young Owen Cooper, who walked away with an Emmy Award following the series’ release.

WHERE TO WATCH IT- You can stream Adolescence on Netflix.

#4- The Pitt: Despite a surplus in medical dramas, The Pitt still managed to stand out. The show carved out its own niche, earning it three Emmy Awards. Across 15 hour-long episodes, the season covers a single 15-hour shift with the doctors and nurses of the Pittsburgh Medical Center. The choice to have the entire show take place over one day set it apart, creating an atmosphere of suspense akin, giving viewers a front-row seat to all the action.

WHERE TO WATCH IT- You can stream The Pitt on OSN+.

#5- All Her Fault: A thrilling drama spanning eight episodes, All Her Fault takes viewers into a world shrouded in secrets where a mother discovers that her son has all but vanished into thin air after picking him up from a playdate. The series stars Sarah Snook, who played Shiv Roy in Succession.

WHERE TO WATCH IT- You can stream All Her Fault on OSN+.

HONORABLE MENTIONS-

• The BeastinMe: A suspenseful and powerful thriller you won’t be able to pause.
• Task: Starring Mark Ruffalo and penned by Brad Ingelsby, Task presents an incredibly gripping story.
• Severance: The second season of the hit AppleTV show doubled down on everything that made its debut stellar, and left us with even more questions.

? ON OUR RADAR IN 2026-

New year, new cinema. With the 2025 season now coming to an end, we’re looking forward to a stellar year in cinema in 2026. Here are the films we’re most excited for:

#1- The Odyssey: Christopher Nolan fans — us included — are gearing up for what we’re anticipating to be the biggest film of the year, according to the BBC. The film brings together A-listers Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Zenadaya, Tom Holland, and Robert Pattinson. Filming is currently underway in several locations, including Morocco and Sicily.

Expected release: 17 July 2026. Watch the trailer on YouTube (runtime: 2:14).

#2- The Devil Wears Prada II: It only took a 50-second teaser to dominate headlines globally, and that’s exactly the sort of impact The Devil Wears Prada Has. 20 years following its debut, we’re looking forward to walking right back into Runway Magazine with Miranda, Andrea, and Emily. Oh and, Meryl Streep — need we say more?

Expected release: 1 May 2026. Watch the teaser trailer on YouTube (runtime: 0:51).

#3- Spiderman: Brand New Day: Tom Holland and Zendaya are back for the latest installment in the Spiderman franchise. The film will star Stranger Things’ Sadie Sink, and is set to — hopefully — re-energize the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Expected release: 31 July 2026. Watch the trailer on YouTube (runtime: 1:25).

#4- The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping: Three years after the release of the last installment of the iconic dystopian franchise — The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes — we’re looking forward to a bigger, more intense round of the games: the 50th Quarter Quell. The film stars Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy, McKenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, and Glenn Close as Drusilla Sickle. Curious to know more? Read our review of the novel here.

Expected release:20 November 2026. Watch the trailer on YouTube (runtime: 2:11).

#5- Mother Mary: Starring Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel, the upcoming musical drama narrates the reunion between a famous pop star, Mother Mary, and her former stylist, as the former prepares herself for her biggest tour yet. The reunion, however, opens up quite the can of emotional worms.

Expected release: April 2026. Watch the trailer on YouTube (2:24).

#6- Michael: With no specific plot details revealed thus far, the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, starring his nephew Jaafar Jackson, is set to bring the iconic star’s life and rise to stardom to the big screen.

Expected release: 24 April 2026. Watch the trailer on YouTube (1:12).