Key Takeaways
- The 2025 movie year was marked by significant studio acquisition discussions involving Warner Brothers.
- Warner Brothers experienced a challenging year but released several critically acclaimed and commercially successful films.
- The box office saw both a notable slump in late 2025 and subsequent boosts from major releases.
- Concerns about industry consolidation were discussed, alongside the surprising success of original, non-IP films.
- Critics shared their top film recommendations and engaged in movie trivia covering international titles and studio history.
Deep Dive
- The final 'Sunday Special' episode of 2025 focused on the year in movies, featuring New York Times critics Alissa Wilkinson and Nicole Sperling.
- Discussions opened with speculation on whether 2025 marked the end for movies, swiftly moving to the potential acquisition of Warner Brothers by Netflix or Paramount.
- Alissa Wilkinson named Paul Thomas Anderson's 'One Battle After Another' her top film, praising its performances and storytelling on generational struggles.
- Nicole Sperling also lauded 'One Battle After Another,' noting its $70 million domestic and $200 million worldwide box office, anticipating its long cultural impact.
- Warner Brothers experienced a tumultuous year, marked by potential acquisition by Netflix or Paramount, yet achieved a surprising run of successful films.
- 'Minecraft Movie' was highlighted as the year's biggest hit.
- James Gunn's 'Superman' was critically acclaimed for its humor, visual gags, and clear fight scenes, emphasizing cinematic quality over strict release dates.
- The potential acquisition of Warner Brothers by Netflix or Paramount raised concerns regarding the value of the DC universe and Netflix's commitment to theatrical releases.
- The horror film 'Weapons,' directed by Zach Kreger and starring Julia Garner and Josh Brolin, was praised for its suspenseful mystery and original concept.
- Despite a strong year for Warner Brothers films, the latter half of 2025 saw a significant box office slump, with October recording the worst performance in nearly 30 years.
- The musical film 'Wicked: For Good' provided a much-needed boost around Thanksgiving, grossing $300 million domestically.
- 'Zootopia 2' also achieved significant box office success shortly before Thanksgiving, demonstrating surprising longevity and ability to draw families.
- Disney's 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' was noted as a significant release, prompting questions about the franchise's cultural relevance despite massive financial success and exploring themes of colonialism and family.
- Concerns over industry consolidation and its potential negative impact on artists were discussed, though original films not based on existing intellectual property performed well.
- Alissa Wilkinson recommended 'Marty Supreme,' a movie about a 1950s ping pong champion, starring Timothy Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Fran Drescher.
- Nicole Sperling highlighted 'It Was Just an Accident,' an Iranian film by Jafar Panahi that won the Palme d'Or at Cannes, depicting former prisoners seeking their torturer.
- Alissa Wilkinson discussed 'The Testament of Ann Lee,' a musical biopic about the founder of Shakerism, starring Amanda Seyfried, noted for its unique, strange nature.
- 'Come See Me in the Good Light,' a life-affirming documentary about the poet Andrea Gibson, who passed away from cancer, was also recommended for its ability to process tragedy.
- The biplane sequence in 'Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning' was praised as a standout, with a recommendation to watch the last half hour for Tom Cruise's stunts.
- A game segment began with 'Global Recall,' testing knowledge of international movie titles such as 'Jaws' (The Teeth of the Sea in France).
- The game also included 'Warner Brothers' Business Relationships,' quizzing historical ownership of entities like Rotten Tomatoes and Six Flags.
- A game round quizzed participants on companies historically owned by Warner Brothers, including Rotten Tomatoes (via Fandango), Six Flags, and the Atlanta Braves.
- Another trivia segment, 'The GCU,' involved identifying movies featuring host Gilbert Cruz, with 'A Minecraft Movie' correctly identified.
- Further movie trivia involved identifying 'Superman,' 'Sinners' (with actor Jack O'Connell), and 'Lilo & Stitch,' including the quote 'Ohana means family.'