‘Sinners’

“Sinners” was my favorite film of 2025 because of how boldly it uses genre, blending Southern Gothic horror with historical drama. Set in the Jim Crow South, the film treats its supernatural elements not as a spectacle but as extensions of real societal violence. What makes this especially striking is that such a singular vision comes from a major studio release, at a time when originality at that scale often feels compromised. Director Ryan Coogler utilizes a controlled, confident approach, balancing suspense with a historical weight that never feels indulgent. Michael B. Jordan delivers lead performances as identical twins with both restraint and intensity, grounding the film’s larger themes with lived and embodied emotion. Ludwig Göransson’s haunting yet unintrusive blues-driven score further elevates the atmosphere, sharpening the tension and mood. Together, direction, performance, and music create a film that feels intentional, cohesive, and genuinely boundary pushing. 

– Amrutha Ravi, Senior Staff Writer

‘Dancing with the Stars’

As division and controversy spread throughout 2025, one television show carved out a sense of unity in the nationwide community. After 20 years on the air, reality competition series “Dancing with the Stars” scored some of its highest ratings yet in its 34th season and counting, with good reason.

This season’s broad appeal shows one thing: The people crave monoculture. Featuring celebrity contestants like Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles and conservationist Robert Irwin, as well as themed competitions like “Wicked Night” and “One Hit Wonders Night,” this year’s edition had something for everyone. Regardless of which contestant they were rooting for, over 6 million viewers tuned in every Tuesday to see what celebrity-pro pairing would win the elusive Mirrorball Trophy.

And me? I eagerly awaited this weekly ritual during Fall Quarter, sitting on the edge of my seat with my friends and hoping that comedian Andy Richter would survive another week’s elimination.

– Tara Vatandoust, Senior Staff Writer

‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ — Suzanne Collins

When “Sunrise on the Reaping,” Suzanne Collins’ most recent installment in her “Hunger Games” universe, first came out, I initially feared this book and its manufactured pomp of excitement was just another cash grab. I began my read cautiously, hoping this prequel wouldn’t spoil my thrilling experience with the original trilogy. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised: The hype was justified.

Collins writes an incredibly in-depth story about Haymitch Abernathy, Katniss Everdeen’s cynical Games mentor in this prequel. Though “Hunger Games” fans already received a brief summary of his Games in “Catching Fire,” Collins manages to twist the dramatic irony of its end in her favor, balancing new and old characters to deliver an Easter egg-filled novel with a bitter twist at the end.

Not many authors can successfully pull off two prequels, but in 2025, Collins proved once again that she can push the boundaries of her fictional world and still top the bestseller list.

– Avery Heid, Staff Writer

‘Summer in the City’ — Alex Aster

After gaining major traction across BookTok, romantasy author Alex Aster’s debut contemporary romance novel “Summer in the City” quickly became one of 2025’s most highly anticipated romance releases. The story follows Elle, a screenwriter battling writer’s block, who returns to New York City for the summer only to discover her new neighbor is her former-hookup-turned-enemy, tech CEO Parker Warren. 

What starts as forced proximity and fake dating tropes slowly turn into something much more real. The novel is fast-paced, funny, and easy to get lost in, all while capturing the relatable pressures of ambition and burnout. Aster’s writing excels in capturing the chemistry between Parker and Elle, creating a slow-burn romance that pulls the reader in. 

As romance continues to dominate all forms of pop culture, “Summer in the City” stood out to me as a fun, fresh addition to the genre. 

– Kaitlyn Lots, Staff Writer

‘Music’ — underscores

An exhilarating tribute to her passion for music and a love letter to an unnamed crush, American DJ underscores’ single “Music” has cemented itself as my favorite song released in 2025. The track’s punchy intro conjures the fluttering pulse of an enraptured heart, which then serves as a bassline for the rest of the song. Like a lovesick teen gushing in their diary, its lyrics perfectly distill the melodramatic emotions often accompanying such an infatuation: “When you walk into the room / It’s like you have a theme song / … / It’s just, when I’m with you it feels like / Music.” Spanning genres by weaving staples of electronica with crescendoing string harmonies, underscores masterfully delivers a euphoric climax that captures the fervor of an all-consuming obsession. 

“It’s everything (it’s everything) / It’s everything to me,” underscores sings in the outro, leaving uncertain which subject of her adoration she’s praising. A love so spellbinding that for underscores, love is music, and that is everything.

– Nicole Huynh, Staff Writer

‘George’ — Jake Minch

No album released in 2025 has moved me quite like singer-songwriter Jake Minch’s debut, “George.” Discussing his battles with grief, heartbreak, and nostalgia after leaving home, Minch’s raw and vulnerable lyricism encapsulates the human experience. Guitar-driven instrumentals layered under Minch’s strong vocals powerfully convey each track’s emotional depths.

My personal favorite lyrics from “George” are in the closing track, “Twice,” where Minch sings: “World was a clogged straw / And you and me were sucking from both ends, no.” He uses a poetic metaphor to describe how, sometimes, no matter how much effort partners may put into making their relationship work, it simply is not meant to be. 

In documenting the difficult journey of self-discovery, Minch has created a library of music that has served as a great comfort to me this year as I, too, am growing, changing, and finding independence.

– Baran Bashar, Staff Writer