It’s time to close the book on 2025. In this special year-in-review episode of After the Frame, we break down the biggest movies, boldest swings, and messiest misfires the year had to offer, no safe takes allowed.

We kick things off with a cold open featuring the entertainment headlines that defined the year, then dive headfirst into a full 2025 round-up packed with games and debates: Tenable, Recast It, Fix One Thing, Blind Rankings, Trailer Lies, Aged Like Milk vs. Aged Like Wine, One Scene Saves It, and Big Swing, Missed. If it sparked an argument in 2025, it’s probably here.

From there, we hit the categories, unpopular opinions, critic darlings that didn’t work for us, movies critics trashed that we defended, shocks of the year, disappointments, franchise fatigue moments, standout directors, and the films that should’ve been series instead.

Finally, we count down our Top 10 Worst Movies of 2025 (with dishonorable mentions) before flipping the script and revealing our Top 10 Best Movies of the Year, complete with debates, surprises, and the one movie that grew on us the most.

Whether you agreed with the consensus or spent all year yelling at it, this episode is our definitive look back at the movies that defined 2025, for better or worse.

This week on After the Frame, we head back to the vibrant city of Zootopia — breaking down why Zootopia 2 works as a thoughtful, funny, and visually stunning sequel that respects the original while confidently expanding its world. From the gorgeous animation to the heartwarming story and smart restraint with nostalgia, there’s a lot Disney gets right this time around.

Along the way, we take a brief detour into Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 — a sequel that takes the opposite approach, doubling down on fan service and lore at the expense of accessibility and storytelling. It’s a quick comparison that highlights how different franchises handle sequels, audiences, and expectations.

Join us as we unpack a sequel done right, a sequel gone off the rails, and what both say about how studios choose to serve their audiences.

The Knives Out franchise is back — and somehow still finding new ways to surprise. Wake Up Dead Man delivers a fresh vibe, a clever mystery, and one of the strongest ensembles the series has seen yet. It’s funny, thoughtful, unpredictable, and proof that this franchise still has plenty of gas left in the tank.

In this episode of After the Frame, we break down what worked and what didn’t: the sharp writing, the genre subversion, the standout performances (especially Josh O’Connor), and why Daniel Craig continues to feel perfectly at home as Benoit Blanc. We also dive into the film’s unexpected thematic depth and how it manages to weave religion into a murder mystery without losing its edge.

Join us as we unpack one of the most satisfying whodunits in recent years — clever, confident, and endlessly entertaining.

Sony’s animation hot streak continues with KPop Demon Hunters — a movie that fully embraces its wild premise and runs with it. Vibrant animation, fun characters, and just the right level of chaos make this one an easy crowd-pleaser and a film that sticks with you more than you might expect.

In this episode of After the Frame, we break down what worked and what didn’t: the slick animation style, the confident tone, the surprisingly strong story, and why this blend of action, humor, and music clicks so well. We also talk about the film’s franchise potential and why Sony’s willingness to take big creative swings is paying off in animation right now.

Join us as we unpack one of 2025’s most entertaining animated releases — colorful, chaotic, and packed with personality.

Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone team up once again for Bugonia, delivering another dose of beautifully strange filmmaking — intense, darkly funny, and unmistakably their style. It’s gripping, it’s bold, and it’s filled with standout performances… even if a few ideas simmer a little too long.

In this episode of After the Frame, we break down what worked and what didn’t: the magnetic performances, Lanthimos’ bizarre humor, the unsettling world-building, and the moments where the themes feel more overcooked than sharp. We dive into why the film still stands out as one of 2025’s most distinctive releases, even if it doesn’t quite reach the heights of their previous collaborations.

Join us as we explore a movie that’s mesmerizing, offbeat, and undeniably Lanthimos — a cinematic feast with just a bit too much on the plate.

Edgar Wright takes a big swing with The Running Man — a frantic, stylish reimagining loaded with spectacle, satire, and one of Glen Powell’s most magnetic performances yet. It doesn’t stick every landing, but the ride getting there? An absolute blast.

In this episode of After the Frame, we break down what worked and what didn’t: Wright’s hyper-kinetic direction, the action-comedy rhythm, the world-building, and the way the third act hits a few bumps on the way out. We dig into why the movie still succeeds despite its stumbles and why Powell feels like a full-blown movie star in this role.

Join us as we unpack a remake that actually feels fresh — fast on its feet, fun as hell, and just messy enough to keep the conversation interesting.

Osgood Perkins has a gift for eerie, beautifully crafted horror — the kind that settles under your skin and stays there. Keeper continues that visual tradition, but this time the story doesn’t quite follow through. The atmosphere is rich, the mood is chilling… but the narrative never truly wakes up.

In this episode of After the Frame, we break down what worked and what didn’t: the haunting cinematography, the suffocating tension, and the signature Perkins style — contrasted against a plot that stalls before it ever begins. We dig into the thin character work, the missing emotional core, and why even the best horror tone can’t carry a film without a story behind it.

Join us as we explore a movie that looks the part but can’t sustain its own dread — a reminder that sometimes, atmosphere alone isn’t enough.

The first Wicked movie surprised everyone - vibrant, emotional, and full of heart. Its sequel, Wicked: For Good, arrives with big expectations, powerhouse leads, and a story that’s trying to juggle a lot at once. Some of it lands. Some of it… melts on contact.

In this episode of After the Frame, we dive into what worked and what didn’t: the stellar performances from Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, the lush world-building, the musical highs, and the places where the storytelling buckles under its own weight. We unpack the pacing issues, the overstuffed plot, the adaptation constraints, and what ultimately keeps this chapter from soaring like its predecessor.

Join us as we break down the spectacle, the emotion, and the growing pains of a sequel that shines in moments but struggles to fully find its voice.