It’s been almost five years, since I decided to sit down in front of the TV after Sunday lunch, and watch Greenland! The significance of that moment, is that it was the very first film I watched on Sunday afternoons, which in turn lead me to watch many more, on almost every Sunday afternoon since.
Having a movie watching slot like this, has really helped me to explore and discover films, that I had never seen before, and expand my movie horizons. Before then, I was totally reliant on finding a random day/time of the week/month, and watch something out of the blue.
But since Greenland I have watched a lot of films, and discovered some truly memorable pieces (both Great, and Awful). And now as the year comes to a close, it’s time for a retrospective look back on the films I enjoyed watching most on Sunday afternoons from 2025.
But as is always the way of things, there’s too many to choose from, and a very limited amount of space in a Top 10. So, just to give a brief mention to those that deserve some praise, here are the others that I liked, just not as much as a few others (but liked far more than several bad films I have also watched this year…like Epic Movie:
Madame Web, Safety Not Guaranteed, The Electric State, Grave Of The Fireflies, Boy Kills World, and The Accountant.
And now, with all the admin work out of the way; here are My Top 10 Favourite Films that I watched on Sunday Afternoons over the year simply known as 2025; Enjoy!
10. Chronicle – An interesting blend to kick off the list, with a superhero inspired movie, but one told in the form of a found footage piece. It’s sort of like Brightburn in a sense, as it goes into the realm of wondering what late school teens would do if they gain supernatural abilities. So to begin with, there are plenty of pranks, and silly jokes. But as one of them is dealing with a sad family life, school bullies, and an abusive father; he begins to use the power to get his revenge, which leads down a terrifying road; which can only end, in the worst way possible!
9. Doctor Strange – Another superhero movie for you now (and one other still to come), this time focussing on the tragedy of a highly skilled surgeon, who after losing his ability to operate, goes on a mystical journey, to gain greater abilities. First off, the film is frequently blurry in it’s fight scenes, as it bends the reality of the setting. But the story and characters surrounding these moments are really interesting, and is overall a really fun watch!
8. Gamera vs. Barugon – I have always been put off watching the classic Gamera movies, due to the…you know…terrible quality of the suits. The effects in the original Gamera films really do make the ones in Godzilla films from the same period, look like Jurassic Park. But once you accept the effects aren’t up to par, you can really start to enjoy them. This one for instance, features a more grown up story, as Gamera fights an ancient monster capable of producing rainbow’s. Add to this the two lead (human) characters are so well developed, you will be disappointed when you discover they aren’t in any future installments!
7. Sonic The Hedgehog 2 – The first Sonic the Hedgehog movie, felt a little too awkward, given the title stars constant stream of bad jokes. In the second film however, Sonic does tone down the vocals, whilst allowing more time for two more classic characters (Tails and Knuckles) a chance to flourish. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a great improvement over the first film, allowing the level of silliness to come across more like general fun. Plus the giant robot at the end is super impressive!
6. Black Panther – I have been putting off watching this film for years, as I was too terrified to consider what might happen, if I didn’t like it?! Well, I decided to be brave, watched, and liked it, so I could breathe a sigh of relief. Black Panther was a very enjoyable movie, even if it doesn’t come across as your average superhero movie. I mean for a start, the villains, are rather small in character and nature, and work on a much more personal level, rather than an epically sized one. OK, some of the story’s later narrative is rather predictable, but that doesn’t detract too much away from what was a seriously cool, and engaging movie. So yeah, I did like it!
5. Troll 2 – I was super excited for the release of Troll 2, as the first Troll was spectacularly awesome. Well, I’m glad to say, Troll 2 did not disappoint. Troll 2 takes place a few years after the first film, and sees the return of most of the cast, whilst adding in some new ones. Once again, another Troll is on the loose. But much like the first time, the answer to the situation isn’t found in science, or weaponry, but in the realms of ancient Norwegian folklore, and the sudden appearance of a second troll also!
4. Gamera vs. Gyaos – Having overcome my issues with watching the Gamera classics of old, I decided to watch another one; and it was Awesome. I did not once think about the shoddy quality of the effects, as I was thoroughly engrossed, in this amazing story, featuring the debut of long time Gamera adversary Gyaos. Gyaos is represented so well in this entry, as he is presented to the audience as being virtually unstoppable, as nothing seems to break his barriers. But once they do know how to defeat Gyaos, how will they get the assistance of Gamera to enact out their plan?!
3. Under Paris – When I discovered this film on Netflix, I though it was just going to be another cheap as chips, low rent, made for TV monster movie. Well I am so glad I was wrong, because it’s Awesome! I absolutely loved it. The effects frequently switch between good quality, and poor quality, but it never stopped being impressive, engaging, or violent. It takes place during the 2024 Paris Olympics, and sees a team led by a researcher, trying to prevent a massacre, as a very large Shark finds itself in the Seine. I was so over the moon after I finished watching it. I just loved every minute of it (which is why I am glad to discover that a sequel is currently in pre-production)!
2. The Killer – Ever wondered how an expert assassin plans out his attacks, and manages to escape into the shadows? Well David Fincher has provided a terrific insight into how this may be achievable. Michael Fassbender is a top assassin, looking for revenge, but instead of loosing his cool, he plans a string of methodical assisnation attempts. It may not feature high speed car chases, or the goriest blood baths, but the cool and collected approach, with the constant stream of monologue’s explaining the approach, plus the level of tension that comes with it, makes this a very interesting film!
1. Frankenstein – Guillermo del Toro has done it again, producing a top of the range future classic, with a trademark gothic feel. Frankenstein was Amazing! It didn’t tell just one story, but three. It was almost like Oppenheimer, choosing to follow the life of the creator…at least to begin with. It told the story of Victor Frankenstein, and how he ventured into the unknown, to attempt never before seen science. How he received the funding, built his dream, and created life, only for things to go sour very quickly. Then the scene changes, focussing on the life of the Monster. From creation, to survival, and it’s life beyond it’s creator. And then, it all comes to a head, as the two meet once more, and conclude their stories. It was an epic story, combined with a visual treat, a top quality cast, and all helmed by one of cinema’s greatest visionaries!
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