This is an edition of The Wonder Reader, a newsletter in which our editors recommend a set of stories to spark your curiosity and fill you with delight. Sign up here to get it every Saturday morning.
The year 2025 was hard for the film industry but good for movies. “Looking back at this turbulent year, rife with the usual industry concerns over the viability of the theatrical experience, young people’s slipping attention spans, and Hollywood’s overreliance on franchises, unearths a diverse crop of gems,” my colleague David Sims wrote this week.
Spend time with his list of the year’s 10 best films, and when you’re done reflecting on the year that was, spare a moment for some of our critics’ other recommendations. Maybe you’ll return to a beloved favorite or find something new.
On Movies
The 10 Best Movies of 2025
By David Sims
The standout films that helped cinema survive another turbulent year
Read the article.
Five Movies Worth a Repeat Watch
By Stephanie Bai
Our writers and editors share which films they can enjoy over and over again.
Read the article.
25 Feel-Good Films You’ll Want to Watch Again—And Again
By David Sims
Anxious? Here are some of the best and most rewatch-friendly movies to soothe your mind. (From 2020)
Read the article.
Still Curious?
- The best albums of the year: Although we may be on the cusp of a major shift in how music is made, achieving excellent results will always require a human approach, our critic Spencer Kornhaber writes.
- Hopeful images from 2025: Photos that recognize some of the abundant joy and kindness present in the world around us
Other Diversions
PS
Courtesy of CB
I recently asked readers to share a photo of something that sparks their sense of awe in the world. C.B., age 68, sent this photo of Vancouver, Canada.
I’ll continue to feature your responses in the coming weeks.
— Isabel
