The 6 Best TV Shows of 2025

 

The small screen ran the gamut of genres and settings in 2025. From real-world past wars to future encounters with aliens, there was a little something for everyone on streaming and broadcast. Here are the best:  

6. Fallout (Season 2)

Lucy MacLean (not the one from Die Hard) continues her search for her father through the wastelands, alongside the Ghoul in the latest chapter of the popular video game adaptation. While not quite as good as the inaugural season, Fallout still sits among the best dramas inspired by video games.

5. Task

An FBI pencil-pusher is ordered back into the field to lead a team sent to catch a crew of armed robbers who've been targeting a Philly biker gang's trap-houses.

4. The American Revolution

The War for Independence gets the Ken Burns treatment in this expansive docuseries that chronicles the efforts of General George Washington himself to unsung heroes such as the former enslaved Americans who joined the fight.

3. Slow Horses (Season 5)

Following Louisa's exit for mental health reasons, the remaining members of Slough House find themselves embroiled in a mass-shooting linked to Roddy Ho's unbelievably (especially for him) gorgeous new (first) girlfriend and an old MI5 destabilization strategy. Though placed under watch themselves, the Badnews Bears of British Intelligence can't help but to accept their latest impossible mission.

2. Alien: Earth

Against all odds, the Alien franchise has redeemed itself on, of all places, the small screen. As the title suggests, this time around the xenomorphs are brought to the Big Blue Marble and, shockingly enough, the new venue works. Cyborgs, androids and even other extra-terrestrial creatures are thrown into the mix as the Weyland-Yutani corporation once again vies to control the aggressive title-beasties.

1. Paradise

The second of two post-apocalyptic tales to appear on this list features Secret Service agent --- as he unravels the machinations of billionaires and covert operatives living in a high-tech bunker deep underground in Colorado. 

The 15 Biggest Flops of 2025

 

While 2025 has already yielded a billion-dollar grossing movie (Lilo & Stitch) and a near billion selling film (A Minecraft Movie), there have also been some huge misses. From Disney to the John Wick franchise and, not one, but three high-profile A.I.-gone wrong thrillers, the box-office body count has been piling up quite steadily throughout the year.

Flight Risk

Loss: $4 million

It's been years since audiences were consistently interested in Mark Wahlberg's movies; that goes double for Mel Gibson. Nevertheless, the first time this toxic duo collaborated on a film (Father Stu), the result was marginally profitable. Naturally, they gave it another shot -- and pushed theatergoers' patience -- and their own luck -- straight into the red zone.

M3GAN 2.0

Loss: $7 million

M3GAN was a surprise hit that stunned both industry analysts and moviegoers. So how do the filmmakers respond? They produce a Terminator 2 homage that leans away from the horror and further into the silliness of its predecessor and release it during the busy summer season as opposed to, say, the January dumping ground (like the original) or October. And fans stayed home. Which is a shame because M3GAN 2.0 is freaking hilarious.

Death of a Unicorn

Loss: $7 million

Wolf Man

Loss: $8 million

Though it should've been a no-brainer, director/co-writer Leigh Whannell learned the hard way that moviegoers generally want their werewolves to bear some resemblance to wolves. Chalk up another incredibly avoidable "L" for the Universal monsters cinematic universe.

Love Hurts

Loss: $10 million

It's nice to see Ke Huy Quan finally headline a movie, but he deserves more than this. 

The Amateur

Loss: $12 million

This isn't the first movie featuring a middle-aged white-collar guy undergoing combat training in order to avenge his family against criminals. But part of the reason that the last high-profile movie in this vein (Sicario) worked is because it featured an avenger who lived up to the challenge that he set for himself confidently and effectively -- instead of a gunshy pu$$y.

Companion

Loss: $21 million

Moviegoers were apparently not too enthused about seeing the umpteenth robot-gone-rogue story so soon after M3GAN, which would explain Companion's arrival on digital a mere 18 days after its theatrical debut. 

Ballerina

Loss: $24 million

Apparently, audiences weren't interest in watching Jane Wick shoot -- and burn -- through dozens of goons.

The Accountant 2

Loss: $29 million

The Accountant is an action-thriller that features a sincere tone and a wholly unconventional main character doling out street justice. Its sequel is a buddy comedy full of unfunny jokes that doubles as a sort of supervillain origin story. The lower box office reflects audience reception to the tonal and genre changes.

Black Bag

Loss: $39 million

Thunderbolts*

Loss: $43 - $89 million

This Suicide Squad ripoff is brimming with potential but, ultimately, falls short of the similarly-themed DCEU movies about a team of scumbags assembled by a rogue female government official -- and its own trailers. If only they'd killed off John Walker instead of Taskmaster. Well. at least Valentina Allegra de Fontaine's hair no longer looks ridiculous.

Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning

Loss: $108 million

While Ethan Hunt (and, unfortunately, Benji) walked away from this final Mission in one piece, the long-running franchise managed to kill off both fan-favorite Luther Stickel and itself with this disapointing eighth installment.

Tron: Ares

Loss: $132 million

Lackluster interest in a boring second sequel was no match for a $220 production bill and over $102.5 million spent on promo.

Elio

Loss: $141 million

Snow White

Loss: $238 million

The filmmakers behind the live-action remake of Disney's first animated-feature certainly made mistakes but Snow White was doomed before it was even released due to bad press. And while its financial losses may indicate otherwise, it is most definitely not the worst big-budget movie of the year. It's not even the Mouse House's worst live-action remake.

The Best Movie Prospects for 2025 (with Trailers)

 

Marvel Studios has way too many movies scheduled for release this year but a couple of them look pretty promising. We've also got another Robert De Niro mob flick and Ryan Coogler's fifth film together to look forward to. Here are those four along with the other top prospects for eager cinephiles this year: 

Captain America: Brave New World

Release Date: February 14

Sam Wilson headlines his first mission in the MCU's comeback film (Admit it, Deadpool & Wolverine was more a sendoff for the 20th Century Fox Universe than anything else). The last good Marvel Studios movie (the streaming series are distractions at best) to follow that universe's storyline was 2023's Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3, so it's high time that Kevin Feige and company got back on track. The Falcon & the Winter Soldier should've been a full-length feature to begin with, so we know that the new Cap has the goods. LFG.

The Alto Knights

Release Date: March 21

Robert De Niro plays dual roles as mob bosses Frank Costello and Vito Genovese in director Barry Levinson's return to the gangster genre (after 1991's Bugsy).

The Amateur

Release Date: April 11

With shades of Sicario, Rami Malek portrays a pencil-pusher who trains to be a CIA field operative in order to get revenge on the terrorists who killed his wife.

Warfare

Release Date: April 11

This true-to-life story follows a platoon of Navy SEALs behind enemy lines in 2006 Iraq.

Sinners

Release Date: April 18

Good things always happen when critically-acclaimed director Ryan Coogler teams up with Michael B. Jordan. This time they've collaborated on a vampire thriller, which sounds like a cinematic slam-dunk.

Sneaks

Release Date: April 18

Anthony Mackie headlines an all-Black voice cast which includes Martin Lawrence, Laurence Fishburne, and even DJ Mustard, for this animated feature.

The Accountant 2

Release Date: April 25

We'll never see a solo Batfleck movie but at least we'll get Christian Wolff back behind a rifle scope in this long-awaited follow-up to the 2016 original.

Thunderbolts*

Release Date: May 2

The members of the Marvel brain trust deliver their version of the Suicide Squad in this team-up featuring Bucky "The Winter Soldier" Barnes, Alexei "The Red Guardian" Shostakov, Antonia "Taskmaster" Dreykov, Ava "Ghost" Starr, Yelena Belova and John "U.S. Agent" Walker. 

F1

Release Date: June 27

Brad Pitt passes the torch to Damson Idris in this sports drama centering around a retired Formula One driver who mentors a talented rookie.

Nobody 2

Release Date: August 15

Seemingly mild-mannered retired wet work operative Hutch Mansell is back in another ageism-defying mission. Hopefully, this long-awaited sequel doesn't suffer from bigger and louder-itis and instead gives us a continuation of what we loved the first time around.

Tron: Ares

Release Date: October 10

Though Tron's first stab at a sequel (2010's Tron: Legacy) was a spectacular disappointment, the 1982 original was good enough to inspire confidence in another attempt. 

The Black Phone 2

Release Date: October 17

Ethan Hawke's creepy serial killer is back, apparently, in a sequel to one of the best horror movies of the decade. 

The Running Man

Release Date: November 7

Can Glrn Powell fill Arnold's huge, muscle-bound shoes? If Top Gun: Maverick and Twisters are  any indication, the up-and-comer's more than capable of carrying an action movie. And having a more human-looking guy in the lead is a welcome change.

The 22 Best TV Shows of 2024

 

There's nothing like a great theatrical experience. But some stories are only available on the small screen(s). And I'm not talking about streaming-exclusive movies. Though some previously strong shows had disappointing follow-up seasons (The Bear, Halo, The Rings of Power, Slow Horses), we've gotten some pretty decent television moments in 2024. Here are the 22 best series released this year:

22. The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping

Former "students" of the Academy at Ivy Ridge reveal the appalling mistreatment they experienced while incarcerated at the behavior modification facility.

21. Mr. Bates vs. The Post Office: The Real Story

It's odd that this documentary was preceded by a scripted miniseries about the same events but it works as the perfect companion piece to said show depicting the fight against widespread corruption within England's postal system.

Dinner with the Parents

20. Unlocked: A Jail Experiment

This docuseries makes Oz a reality -- minus the rape and musical numbers. Pulaski County, Arkansas' sheriff Eric Higgins conducts an experiment in one of his jail's units wherein the inmates are not only allowed to freely roam their pod without locked doors or guards for six weeks but they're also provided free telephone calls. 

19. Iwaju

This Nigeria-set streaming series is a showcase of Afrofuturism reminiscent of Wakanda Forever. Co-produced by Kugali Media, a British-based studio founded by African artists, Iwaju is Walt Disney Animation Studios' first original animated series. 

18. The Vince Staples Show

The eponymous rapper's dramedy series is often described as Long Beach's version of Donald "Childish Gambino" Glover's Atlanta. But that reductive characterization is an insult to this much better show.

17. Dynasty: New England Patriots

This docuseries chronicles the rise and fall of the winningest NFL team of the 21st century, while exposing the head coach and members' cheating scandals, criminal behavior and unsavory political stances.

16. Murder Is Easy

I love that this 1954-set mystery adapts the racist Agatha Christie and not only touches on race and colonialism but also features a Black lead. The Rings of Power's Morfydd Clark co-stars in this, her first period (but non-magical) drama of the year.  

15. Mr. Bates vs. the Post Office

After a glitch caused by accounting software leads to his being falsely accused of embezzlement, British sub-postmaster Alan Bates wages a near 20-year campaign to clear his name and to obtain justice for hundreds of his fellow sub-postmasters victimized by a national cover-up led by Post Office Limited CEO Paula Vennells.

14. Masters of the Universe: Revolution

Greatly improving upon the incarnations that came before (especially its immediate predecessor), this season of an animated series focusing on a beloved Mattel toy explores Skeletor's origin as well as the clash between sorcerers and technology practitioners. 

13. Avatar: The Last Airbender

Fourteen years after a disastrous movie release, Nickelodeon's famed animated series has a live-action adaptation that does the source material justice. Not only were the characters appropriately cast with minority actors, but the production values are sky-high and theater-worthy. 

Aang, Sokka and Kitara face off against Ozai and his firebenders for the fate of the world.

12. Criminal Record

This British series examines racism and police corruption and the effects they have on the community.

11. Parish

Reformed criminal Gray Parish makes one of the oldest underworld mistakes: he agrees to help his crimey with a last-minute, "easy" score. Of course, the "piece-of-cake" safe heist goes sideways and before long, the retired car thief and wheelman is neck-deep in human traffickers and hit squads.   

10. Clipped

Chronicling the racism scandal that hit the Los Angeles Clippers a decade ago, this miniseries gives LA's other NBA team one up on the Lakers and their inferior streaming show "Winning Time". The downfall of the team's former owner, Donald Sterling, is seen through the eyes of head coach Doc Rivers, Sterling's sugar baby, V. Stiviano, and a handful of starters. 

9. How Music Got Free

Music executives, rappers and computer whizzes chronicle the music industry's spectacular crash due to the rise and normalization of digital file-sharing in the early 2000s. Bigwigs such as Steve Stout and Jimmy Iovine provide their accounts while Method Man narrates.  

8. Teacup

With its cast of rounded characters trapped in one location together and faced with unexplained mysteries, Teacup is a worthy successor to Lost. Having said that, it's probably best that you know nothing when you sit down to watch.

7. Dune: Prophecy

While the first two entries in the Dune cinematic trilogy are critically-acclaimed, this prequel series has them both beat. And the production values are shockingly high (This thing must've cost a fortune). Set more than 10,000 years prior to the events of the films, the latest small screen adaptation focuses on the early days of the Bene Gesserit order and the beginnings of the group's sinister machinations and its influence on the galaxy as the Harkonnen and Atreides clans clash yet again.

6. Ice Age

The seventh episode of the television adaptation of Time Bandits stands head and shoulders above all of the rest -- which is probably why the series has been cancelled.

5. Unprisoned (Season 2)

All three generations of the Alexander family (and Nadine) begin overdue group therapy, which is ironic, and a bit humiliating for Paige, given her status as a well-known psychiatrist herself -- especially since their chosen analyst is a famous therapist who showed her up on camera during a talk show appearance together. Meanwhile, Mal has moved on to a new relationship and Finn seeks one with the dad that he's never met. In that same vein, Esti yearns to learn more about her Korean heritage.

4. Fallout

The best live-action series adapted from a video game to date, Fallout follows the quest to retrieve a cold fusion device, specifically focusing on three very different survivors of a nuclear holocaust in the distant future. The showrunners of HBO's Westworld have upped their sci-fi game considerably. Hopefully, this series doesn't fall apart after the first season the way that one did. And it would behoove them to steer clear of further bestiality references in upcoming seasons.   

3. Shogun

This adaptation of the classic 1975 book overwhelmingly eclipses the 1980 miniseries while proving that prestige TV is alive and well with its silver screen-worthy production values, cinematography and overall craftsmanship.

2. We Were the Lucky Ones

Following Shogun, Little Fires Everywhere and The Sister, Hulu continues their streak of  prestige miniseries with this true tale of one Polish family's experiences during WWII. The Kurc clan face stunning antisemitism, imprisonment and brutality in this chronicle of their wartime ordeals, separately and together, from Poland to Siberia to Brazil to the Italian Alps.

1. The Gentlemen

Contrary to Quentin Tarantino's belief, some directors improve drastically with time. And surprisingly enough, one such auteur happens to be Guy Ritchie (along with Martin Scorcese, for his stupendous Killers of the Flower Moon). The small screen adaptation of his 2019 film of the same name is a massive improvement on its disappointing namesake. It's also leaps and bounds better than his past stories centered around modern British crime organizations.