Thnks(gvng) Fr Th Mmrs
Things in movies (from 2025, kinda) to be thankful for...
There are few things I hate more than sitting around the Thanksgiving table and having to go in a circle in which everyone awkwardly stutters through something they’re thankful for. I’m hungry. Let’s get to the food.
Obviously, the idea behind it is nice, as is the ability to look back and appreciate who you are and what’s around you. And yet, there’s something about the performativeness that gives me the creeps. I’ll work on it in therapy. That’s not your problem.
With that said, it’s been a great year for movies. We have One Battle After Another, a horror movie about being sent too many memes and Dakota Johnson discussing (incessantly) how dating’s like math.
And so, here’s a list of things I’m thankful for from 2025 in the movie realm. A lot of these topics are from this year, sure. But there’s also a bunch of random stuff that I just so happened to see this year or that I want to write about. I don’t know. What is time anyway?
Also, a bunch of friends added in their own things that they’re thankful for. If you see a name at the end of the write-up, that’s them. If not, it’s mine. As always, I wrote too much.
Josh O’Connor
Running neck and neck with Timothée Chalamet, I think Josh O’Connor is the best young actor we have right now. I bought all the way in after La Chimera. Plus, he’s phenomenal in Challengers and Emma. AND he’s starring in a new movie, The Dish, from Steven Spielberg this year. He’s constantly playing different types of roles, as evidenced by 2025’s The Mastermind and Wake Up Dead Man. I’m a fan of the two, although I think The Mastermind is a more complete movie. And O’Connor is the best part of both. It’s not easy to upstage James Bond.
Steely Dan
One Battle After Another is pretty easily my favorite movie of the year, but I don’t need to write more about it right now. I’m sure there’ll be more from me at some point. I just want to thank the current king of needledrops, Paul Thomas Anderson, for “Dirty Work” by Steely Dan and “American Girl” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers showing up when they do. There’s also “Soldier Boy,” “Goosebumps,” “Mo Bamba,” “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,” “Shut Up and Dance,” and “Ready or Not Here I Come (Can’t Hide from Love).” Oh, also, I’ve been listening to more Steely Dan in general now.
Dolores in Jurassic World Rebirth
I’m thankful for Dolores from Jurassic World Rebirth. Even with Jonathan Bailey being in the cast, that movie would’ve been nothing without her. She’s a cutie, and I think she ended up helping save the day somehow? I don’t know, I only put myself through that movie the once. Anyways, love you, Dolores! —Erica Steward
Marmalade
Although my third favorite of the Paddington movies, I will watch this young bear’s exploits forever. Especially with stacked casts and a famous person hamming it up in the most prestigious villain role out there right now. Thank you, Paddington.
The Sorry, Baby Script
I read through the Sorry, Baby script, after seeing it twice, and it’s definititively one of the best movies of the year. Just phenomenal stuff from Eva Victor. Can’t wait to see what she makes next.
Ronan Day-Lewis
Okay, so Anemone, Ronan Day Lewis’s new movie starring father Daniel Day-Lewis, wasn’t “good” or “fun” or “memorable,” but Daniel Day-Lewis is acting again … so, we’ll take it. It seems like the three-time Oscar winner will be back on the big screen again, which is what we’ve been missing. So for that, thanks, Ronan.
Comedy —> Horror
I’m thankful for Zach Cregger and this movement of comedians becoming horror directors. He and Jordan Peele might be the two best horror directors of their era. Eagerly awaiting the Zach Fox adaptation of Creature from the Black Lagoon. —Jake Richards
Gross Stuff
It’s been a great year for gross stuff in movies. I mean, it usually is. But we must be grateful when we get a chance to show it. There was Weapons, Final Destination Bloodlines and Together and whatever the hell was happening in Bring Her Back. Plus bizarre, less-horrory stuff like Bugonia and If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. Oh, also a lot of “limb ripping in Frankenstein,” according to Lauren Saxe. One more thing: The fact that Freakier Friday exists.
Elle Fanning
Elle Fanning is having herself a year. She plays a big part in one of my 2025 favorites, Sentimental Value, and then seems to be having the time of her life in Predator: Badlands as a broken-down android. She’ll play young Effie Trinket in next year’s The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. And I enjoyed her Lie Detector Test video (or at least the clips I saw on TikTok) with her sister, Dakota.
Kill Bill
I’m thankful for Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair. I saw it a few months ago at the Vista on the 35mm print that was shown at Cannes in 2006 with French subtitles. Watching that over four-and-a-half-hour epic mixture of genres and tones, complete with intermission, was the best experience I had in a movie theater this year. The fact that it’s finally (finally!) getting a proper nationwide theatrical release, complete with brand new 35mm and 70mm prints, is so exciting. I’m grateful that the definitive cut of one of cinema’s best revenge sagas is going to be widely available for the first time. —Jesse Pasternack
Antartica
I finally watched The Thing (1982) for the first time. Hell yes. Please put this back in theaters.
Bewitching
Speaking of … I saw Pride & Prejudice for the first time, as well, as part of a 20th Anniversary screening through AMC. Also a five-star masterpiece. The yearning. So much yearning.
Chicago
This year, I am thankful that I finally watched the musical Chicago. I can’t believe I could have lived all these years knowing all the words to the “Cell Block Tango” but didn’t. Exceptional and flawless femme fatale movie. In 2026, I will only speak in Catherine Zeta-Jones lyrics and jazz hands. —Molly Longman
Aunt Gladys
Thank you to the aforementioned Zach Cregger for Aunt Gladys, a remarkably evil and supremely fun ne’er-do-well, who turns Weapons on its head. I didn’t know what I was going into, and never could’ve expected that someone who looks like that would be able to do [REDACTED].
Buncha Crunch
*cue the music*
Okay. Well, that’s a lot of stuff. Have a nice Thanksgiving! And go treat yourself to a post-family movie.