• Netflix placed four films on a favorite 2025 movies list, showing streaming’s growing cinematic clout.
• Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly were among Netflix’s notable entries.
• Streamers pushed into awards-season conversation even as theatrical tentpoles and indie darlings thrived.
Netflix leads streaming surge in 2025 movies
Netflix finished 2025 with more than a few high-profile hits, landing four titles on a local critic’s year-end favorites list. The streaming giant’s showing underlines a larger trend: streamers are producing films that compete with theatrical releases for critical attention and awards-season buzz.
The Netflix quartet: prestige and variety
Netflix’s entries reflected range and star power. Frankenstein, adapted by Guillermo del Toro and anchored by Oscar Isaac, drew praise for a poetic take on Mary Shelley’s classic. Jay Kelly, directed by Noah Baumbach and starring George Clooney and Adam Sandler, blended comedy and melancholy in a bro-dramedy that resonated with critics.
Other Netflix picks included Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, which brought Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc back to a new streaming audience, and Train Dreams, featuring Joel Edgerton in a quiet, character-driven drama. Together they demonstrate Netflix’s dual strategy: big-name, auteur-driven projects alongside franchise extensions designed to draw subscribers.
Awards season and industry moves
The year also saw Netflix deepen its industry footprint beyond content. The company was reported to be a bidder for Warner Bros. Discovery’s film and TV assets, a move that would further reshape how studios and streamers compete. With films like Frankenstein and Jay Kelly in awards-season conversations, Netflix’s push into prestige filmmaking looks poised to continue.
A strong year across formats
2025 wasn’t just a streamer story. Theatrical releases and indie films held their ground. Standouts included Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet (Focus Features), Ryan Coogler’s Sinners (Warner Bros.), Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.) and family-friendly hits like Zootopia 2 (Disney). Big-budget tentpoles — from James Gunn’s Superman reboot to the action spectacle F1 — also anchored box office seasons.
Critics noted that the year began early with notable films such as Stephen Soderbergh’s Black Bag, and continued through the summer and holiday season with both crowd-pleasing franchises and awards-oriented fare like Marty Supreme (A24).
What 2025 means for 2026 movies
The mix of streaming prestige titles and strong theatrical offerings signals a competitive 2026 ahead. Streamers are investing in auteur voices and high-profile stars, while traditional studios still control valuable franchise and seasonal releases. For moviegoers, that means more choices: intimate dramas and awards contenders on streaming, and spectacle-driven films at theaters.
For now, Netflix’s four-film showing on this year’s favorites list is a clear marker: in 2025 movies, streaming is no longer a consolation prize — it’s a leading player in cinematic conversation.
Image Referance: https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/entertainment/movies/2025/12/26/best-movies-2025-streaming-makes-inroads/87723362007/
