14 Movie Moments That Defined 2025

The 2025 film year was a powerful showcase of talent, delivering performances that seamlessly navigated the emotional spectrum from heartfelt drama to pure spectacle. George Clooney embodied the witty sorrow of a celebrity grappling with age in Jay Kelly, while Michael B. Jordan delivered a demanding, double-lead performance in the supernatural thriller Sinners. Jacob Elordi offered a transformative, deeply empathetic portrayal of the Creature in Frankenstein, and Paul Mescal moved critics with his raw, tear-jerking portrayal of grief as William Shakespeare in Hamnet. 

Balancing the drama were box office titans: Glen Powell solidified his action-hero status in the sci-fi spectacle The Running Man, and Jonathan Bailey charmed audiences globally, ascending as the year’s highest-grossing star through massive hits like Wicked: For Good and Jurassic World: Rebirth. Here are the movie moments that made 2025 a big screen spectacle. 

Michael B Jordan: Sinners

Michael B Jordan plays not one but two roles as twins in what many are rightfully calling it one of the best movies of the year, with Jordan turning in two incredibly layered performances. Sinners, now streaming on Crave, is already touted for best picture for Ryan Coogler and best actor for Jordan. It’s not only a rich showcase of Black artistry and Black talent, but also a shining moment for the horror genre — both of which have been historically overlooked at awards over the years. Stay tuned for our interview with Jordan and his co-star Delroy Lindo. 

George Clooney: Jay Kelly

George Clooney stars in Noah Baumbach’s comedy Jay Kelly, premiering on Netflix Dec. 5, playing a movie star who embarks on a journey of self-discovery across Europe as he confronts issues of aging, identity, legacy and his relationship with his family and manager (Adam Sandler). It certainly is one of the best performances of his career in the last decade, and he’s also in the race for best lead actor this awards run. He also earned a Tony Award nomination for his Broadway debut in Good Night, and Good Luck.

Glen Powell: The Running Man

SHARP cover alum Glen Powell is being called our generation’s Tom Cruise, and rightfully so. After Top Gun: Maverick, he started producing his own movies, co-writing with Richard Linlater for Hit Man and did his own stunts in Edgar Wright’s The Running Man. Read our conversation about The Running Man with Glen Powell. 

Keanu Reeves: Visionaries, Ballerina, Good Fortune

Keanu had quite the year. Starting with a Canada exclusive interview with SHARP for his Roku series Visionairies, which follows his long held love of biking. This series was followed by an appearance in the John Wick spin-off Ballerina and he then starred in the TIFF film, Good Fortune. 

Seth Rogen: The Studio

The year 2025 was a landmark for SHARP cover alum Seth Rogen, who stood out due to his massive success in television, where he took home multiple Emmy Awards for his work on The Studio, including Emmy wins for acting, producing, directing and writing. The series itself set a record for the most wins for a comedy series in a single season. It’s a sharp satire that paints a picture of the machine that is Hollywood. Read our cover story interview with Seth Rogen. 

Guillermo del Toro & Jacob Elordi: Frankenstein

Jacob Elordi started the year with the Australian Prime Video series The Narrow Road to the Deep North, and then starred in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, making it a significant year for both the director and its lead, Elordi. The actor’s restrained performance as the tragic monster has proven to be his breakout role and a showcase for his range, positioning him for major awards season contention, including a recent Vanguard Tribute at the Gotham Awards, alongside del Toro and co-star Oscar Isaac. Read our interview with Jacob Elordi for The Narrow Road to the Deep North.

Paul Mescal: Hamnet

For Paul Mescal, 2025 has been defined by the success of his work in director Chloé Zhao’s historical drama, Hamnet, in which he plays William Shakespeare. The film, an adaptation of the novel about the loss of Shakespeare’s son, has made a significant impact, earning several film festival awards, including the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival. Mescal is also in the running for lead actor of the year in of this year’s best movies. 

Jonathan Bailey: Wicked: For Good, Jurassic World: Rebirth

People magazine’s 2025 Sexiest Man Alive started the year by going viral for his slutty little glasses after starring in Jurassic World: Rebirth. The internet was obsessed with him and his wits. He then reprised his role in the Wicked: For Good, which is now playing in theatres and is getting awards buzz yet again. 

Brendan Fraser: Rental Family

Brendan Fraser’s 2025 was a continuation of his career resurgence following his Oscar win, defined by a highly anticipated, emotionally complex leading role and a return to the awards-season spotlight with Rental Family, which also premiered at TIFF. He brought depth and vulnerability to the role, making this an awards contender. Read our Book For Men cover story interview with Brendan Fraser. 

Timothée Chalamet: Marty Supreme

Chalamet’s major moment comes at the end of 2025 with his starring role as Marty Mauser in Josh Safdie’s high-energy comedy, Marty Supreme. Critics are raving about the film and Calamet’s performance in it. The actor leads into a manic performance, making the character endearing even in the character’s most frustrating moments. He is a strong contender for the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Joel Edgerton: Train Dreams

Lastly, an actor many critics are willing to bet on is Joel Edgerton for his quiet restrained performance as Robert Grainier in the drama film Train Dreams, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. He plays a soft-spoken logger and railroad worker in 20th-century America who grapples with grief following the death of his wife and child. He might just be the surprise candidate that makes his way to the Oscars. Read our interview with Joel Edgerton here. 

Channing Tatum: Roofman

Channing Tatum described his role in Roofman as one where he truly felt like he “earned a seat at the table.” He played Jeffrey Manchester, a former Army Reserve officer turned criminal who, after escaping prison, hid out for six months inside the wall of a Toys “R” Us store. The movie premiered at TIFF, where Tatum was honoured with the Tribute Actor Award. Read our interview with Channing Tatum here. 

Tom Cruise: Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning

Tom Cruise’s 2025 was dominated by the highly anticipated release of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which is said to be the final film in his eight-film run as the iconic agent Ethan Hunt. The high-octane spectacle continued to thrill fans and critics alike, and was a showcase of Cruise and his cast, including Simon Pegg. Read our interview with Pegg here. 

Wagner Moura: The Secret Agent

Wagner Moura’s 2025 was an award-winning year, largely defined by his critically acclaimed return to Brazilian cinema with the political thriller The Secret Agent, set in the the final years of the Brazilian military dictatorship. Moura won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor, making him the first South American actor to achieve that honour and his being touted for the Oscars too along with the film for Best International Feature for director Kleber Mendonça Filho. 

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