Top Whatevers of 2025
We survived. The end of this horrid year is nearly upon us, but you know how much I love to look back before we go forward. Carrying on this yearly tradition of mine, we'll be doing the Top Whatevers of 2025, a catch-all retrospective where I make some lists regarding my favorite things of the year. 2025 wasn't as bountiful as 2024, but we'll make do. Unless you're really invested in my opinions on these things, take this as a list of recommendations on what to seek out (or avoid) regarding 2025's offerings.
Off to the races, people
Favorite Songs of 2025:
10. "Just Two Girls" by Wolf Alice
9. "Twist the Knife" by Rebecca Black
8. "Ring, Ring, Ring," by Tyler, the Creator
7. "Delete Ya" by Djo
6. "Timeless" by The Weeknd and Playboi Carti
5. "MVP" by MICHELLE
4. "Rocky Road to Dublin" from the Sinners soundtrack
3. "Sideways" by Balu Brigada
2. "Dracula" by Tame Impala
1. "Stateside" by PinkPantheress
Worst Songs of 2025:
10. "Peanuts 2 N Elephant" by Lil Wayne
9. "YIPPEE-KI-YAY" by Kesha and T-Pain
8. "Ordinary" by Alex Warren
7. "Anxiety" by Doechii
6. "Fat Juicy & Wet" by Sexxy Red and Bruno Mars
5. "Bottomland" by HARDY
4. "Pretty Girls" by Will Smith
3. "Isn't She Country" by LOCASH
2. "Wood" by Taylor Swift
1. "MEET YOUR PADRE" by Drake, PARTY NEXT DOOR, Chino Pacas
Worst Lyrics of 2025:
5. "Moonbeam ice cream / taking off your blue jeans" from "Mystical Magical" by Benson Boone
4 "'Cause I'm tryna bust nuts in this huh" from "Just Us" by Jack Harlow and Doja Cat
3. "Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, lemon / Alright, fuck it, I like women" from "Pretty Girls" by Will Smith
2. "Good thing I like my friends cancelled / I like 'em cloaked in Gucci and in scandal" from
"CANCELLED!" by Taylor Swift
1. "I want your phone numero, por favor / I see your body like coca-cola" from MEET YOUR PADRE
Favorite Albums of 2025 (plus fav tracks):
Honorable Mention: SALVATION by Rebecca Black
5. DON'T TAP THE GLASS by Tyler, The Creator
"Sugar On My Tongue"
"Ring Ring Ring"
"I'll Take Care of You"
4. Bite Reality by Cafune
"Avid Athlete"
"Attack + Release"
3. Man's Best Friend by Sabrina Carpenter
"House Tour"
"When Did You Get Hot?"
2. Portal by Balu Brigada
"Sideways"
"4:25"
"What Do We Ever Really Know?"
1. Fancy That by PinkPantheress
"Stateside"
"Tonight"
"Romeo"
Favorite 2025 Needledrops:
Honorable Mention: "Everything is Romantic" by CharliXCX and Caroline Polachek in the Wuthering Heights trailer.
5. "Shout" by the Isley Brothers from Final Destination: Bloodlines
4. "Punkrocker" by Teddybears and Iggy Pop from Superman
3. "Fergalicious" by Fergie from The Naked Gun
2. "Bring Me To Life" by Evanescence in The Rehearsal
1. "Staring At The Sun" by TV on the Radio from Daredevil: Born Again
Favorite Original Soundtrack Songs of 2025:
Honorable Mention: "LuthorCorp" by John Murphy for Superman
5. "Nothing Neutron Under the Sun" by Michael Giacchino for Fantastic Four: First Steps
4. "Soda Pop" by Saja Boys for K-Pop Demon Hunters
3. "Rocky Road to Dublin" by Jack O'Connell, Brian Dunphy, and Darren Holden for Sinners
2. "NIAMOS! (Chandrillan Club Mix)" by Nicholas Britell and Brandon Roberts for Andor
1. "I Lied to You" by Miles Caton for Sinners
Favorite Films of 2025:
10. The Running Man
9. Companion
8. Weapons
7. 28 Years Later
6. Thunderbolts*
5. Wake Up Dead Man
4. Avatar: Fire and Ash
3. Superman
2. Sinners
1. Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein
Favorite Films I Saw in 2025:
5. Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation (2018)
4. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
3. The Princess Bride (1987)
2. Saw (2004)
1. The Mummy (1999)
Favorite Film Performances of 2025:
Honorable Mention: Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova in Thunderbolts*
5. Glen Powell as Ben Richards in The Running Man
4. Oona Chaplin as Varang in Avatar: Fire and Ash
3. Josh O'Conner as Father Jud in Wake Up Dead Man
2. Michael B. Jordan as Smoke and Stack in Sinners
1. Jacob Elordi as The Creature in Frankenstein
Favorite Shows of 2025:
Honorable Mention: Daredevil: Born Again (loved it but, come on.)
5. The Rehearsal
4. Alien: Earth
3. Castlevania: Nocturne
2. It: Welcome to Derry
1. Andor
Favorite Episodes of 2025:
5. Castlevania: Nocturne S2, E4, "Monstrous Things"
4. Daredevil: Born Again S1 Ep 9, "Speak of the Devil"
3. The Rehearsal S2 Ep 6, "Kissme"
2. It: Welcome to Derry S1 Ep 7, "The Black Spot"
1. Andor S2, Ep 9, "Welcome to the Rebellion"
Favorite TV Performances of 2025:
5. Marc M as Mr. Boss in Smiling Friends
4. Chris Chalk as Dick Hallorann in It: Welcome to Derry
3. Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock in Daredevil: Born Again
2. Diego Luna as Cassian Andor in Andor
1. Genevieve O'Reilly as Mon Mothma in Andor
Favorite Video Games of 2025:
1. Dispatch (the only new game I played this year.)
Favorite Comics of 2025:
5. Captain America by Chip Zdarsky and Valerio Schiti
4. Absolute Batman by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta
3. New Gods by Ram V and Evan Cagel
2. The Ultimates by Deniz Camp and Juan Frigeri
1. Absolute Martian Manhunter by Deniz Camp and Javier Rodriguez
Disappointments of 2025:
Honorable mention: Everything, really.
5. The end of Marvel's Ultimate Universe
4. The disappearance of Chappell Roan
3. Final Destination: Bloodlines
2. Peacemaker season 2 (James Gunn, you're pushing it)
1. Neil Gaiman
Surprises of 2025:
5. Thunderbolts*
4. It: Welcome to Derry
3. Ironheart
2. Zohran Mamdani's election
1. Tubi being the only ethical streaming service
Most Anticipated of 2026
Shows:
Honorable Mention: Bridgerton season 4
5. Daredevil Born Again: Season 2
4. Lanterns
3. The Vampire Lestat
2. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 7: Steel Ball Run anime
1. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Movies:
5. The Bride!
4. How to Makes a Killing
3. The Odyssey
2. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
1. Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
Comics:
Honorable Mention: Absolute Batman: Ark M Special
5. Superman/Spider-Man #1
4. Bleeding Hearts by Deniz Camp and Stipan Morian
3. Deathstroke: The Terminator by Tony Fleecs and Carmine DiGiandemenico
2. Daredevil by Stephanie Phillips and Lee Garbett
1. Cyclops by Alex Paknadel and Roge Antonio
Video Games:
5. Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight
4. Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls
3. Marvel's Wolverine
2. Control: Resonant
1. Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave
