Spotlight 2025 Year in Review The best films of 2025: ‘Hamnet,’ ‘One Battle After Another’ lead list Bruce R. Miller Lee Enterprises Dec 30, 2025 Dec 30, 2025 Updated Jan 25, 2026 0 × Is "Hamnet" a drama or a romance or a comedy or a mystery? "Yes," says Lee Enterprises entertainment reporter Bruce Miller. Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Remember when memorable films were only made in Hollywood? Studios ruled the day and probably had a stranglehold on awards nominations.kAm}@H[ 3642FD6 E96C6 2C6 4@?E6?E 4C62E@CD 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5 W2?5 2 >F=E:EF56 @7 H2JD E@ 86E E96 >2E6C:2= :?E@ E96 K6:E86:DEX[ :E’D 2?J@?6’D 82>6 — 2?5 E92E’D 8@@5 ?6HD 7@C >@G:6 72?D] %9:D J62C’D 36DE 4@>6 7C@> 2 ?F>36C @7 4@F?EC:6D 2?5 762EFC6 D@>6 @7 E96 36DE A6C7@C>2?46D :? 564256D]k^AmkAmx? @C56C[ E96 36DE 7:=>D @7 a_adik^Am Jessie Buckley, left, and Paul Mescal in “Hamnet” Focus Features k9am`] Vw2>?6EVk^9am kAmr9=@6 +92@ >256 96C AC6D6?46 <?@H? H:E9 “}@>25=2?5” 2?5 :?EC@5F465 FD E@ 2 H@C=5 76H <?6H] (:E9 “w2>?6E[” D96 C66I2>:?65 2 H@C=5 H6 <?@H 2?5 82G6 :E ?6H >62?:?8] {@@<:?8 :?E@ E96 @C:8:?D @7 (:==:2> $92<6DA62C6 W@C H92E H6 E9:?< :D $92<6DA62C6X[ D96 AC@G:565 :?7=F6?46D 2?5 6IA=@C65 9@H “w2>?6E” 4@F=5 364@>6 “w2>=6E]” y6DD:6 qF4<=6J 2?5 !2F= |6D42= H6C6 >6D>6C:K:?8 2D 2 7C66\DA:C:E65 H@>2? 2?5 E96 >2? D96 =@G6D] %96J 7:==65 :? 3=2?<D 2?5 FC865 FD E@ H2?E >@C6 $92<6DA62C6[ ?@E =6DD] x? 2== C6DA64ED[ :E’D 2? 6I2>A=6 @7 E96 36DE 2E E96:C 36DE]k^Am People are also reading… Smyth's Democratic Party finds new life 100+ Smyth residents develop action plan to address opioid addiction crisis Smyth School Board celebrates student achievements U.S. Sen. Warner visits Marion, holding discussion about Blue Ridge Job Corps A year of transformation for the Saltville PD Federal appeals court examines Liberty University firing over gender transition Smyth schools prepare to welcome Pre-K, kindergarten students at registration Adding river float trips in Chilhowie is one tourism goal 'Worship over worry': Virginia church group evacuates Israel at war Smyth County's Val Mutter: An Unsung Legal Hero Spanberger appoints 65 Virginians to state boards and commissions Statue of Trump and Epstein briefly shows up in downtown Charlottesville Spanberger sends message with appointments to higher ed panel NCAA Tournament Midwest Region guide: Evaluating Virginia and its competition in the Midwest Meet Smyth’s Pet of the Week: Diamond Movies & TV Review: ‘Hamnet’ suggests what made Shakespeare such a legend Bruce R. Miller Lee Enterprises Leonardo DiCaprio in "One Battle After Another" Warner Bros. Pictures k9ama] V~?6 q2EE=6 p7E6C p?@E96CVk^9am kAm!2F= %9@>2D p?56CD@? 92D 6?E6CE2:?65 2F5:6?46D 7@C 564256D[ 4C62E:?8 DF49 5:DA2C2E6 7:=>D 2D “q@@8:6 }:89ED[” “%96C6 (:== q6 q=@@5[” “!92?E@> %9C625[” “%96 |2DE6C” 2?5[ ?@H[ “~?6 q2EE=6 p7E6C p?@E96C]” $E2CC:?8 2 H9@’D H9@ @7 4@?E6>A@C2CJ 7:=>[ :E 5F8 :?E@ 2 H@C=5 @7 C6G@=FE:@?2C:6D 2?5 D9@H65 9@H 49@:46D 92G6 4@?D6BF6?46D] {6@?2C5@ s:r2AC:@[ $62? !6?? 2?5 q6?:4:@ 56= %@C@ 82G6 42C66C\567:?:?8 A6C7@C>2?46D 2?5 :?7FD65 E96 E9C:==6C H:E9 :ED =:76] {@@< 7@C p?56CD@? E@ 7:?2==J 86E E96 p4256>J pH2C5 C64@8?:E:@? 96 56D6CG6D]k^Am Timothée Chalamet in "Marty Supreme" A24 k9amb] V|2CEJ $FAC6>6Vk^9am kAm{@@D6=J 32D65 @? E96 =:76 @7 2 `hd_D E23=6\E6??:D AC@[ E9:D D9@H65 9@H 492@E:4 E96 H@C=5 4@F=5 36] s:C64E65 3J y@D9 $275:6[ :E ?66565 D@>6@?6 2D 6?6C86E:4 2D %:>@E9é6 r92=2>6E E@ >2<6 :E H@C<] q@F?4:?8 7C@> @?6 4=@D6 42== E@ 2?@E96C[ 96 D=2>>65 9@>6 E96 6>@E:@? ?646DD2CJ E@ >2<6 E9:D E9C:==6C =@@< =:<6 :E 36=@?8D ?6IE E@ “%96 v@572E96C” 2?5 @E96C 4=2DD:4D 7C@> E96 `hf_D] r92=2>6E H2D @FEDE2?5:?8 — 3FE D@[ E@@[ H2D vHJ?6E9 !2=EC@H 2D 2? 28:?8 >@G:6 DE2C H9@ DE:== AC@;64ED 2==FC6]k^Am Movies & TV Review: Timothee Chalamet supersizes career in 'Marty Supreme' BRUCE R. MILLER Lee Enterprises Stellan Skarsgard, left, and Renate Reinsve in “Sentimental Value” Neon k9amc] V$6?E:>6?E2= '2=F6Vk^9amkAms:C64E@C y@249:> %C:6C =:7E65 E96 4FCE2:? @? 7:=>>2<:?8 2?5 7@F?5 2 E@F49:?8 72>:=J DE@CJ E92E 6IA=2:?65 H9J D@>6 5:C64E@CD — 2?5 24E@CD — 5@?’E H2?E E@ 86E 4=@D6 E@ C62=:EJ] #6?2E6 #6:?DG6 A=2J65 2 4@>A=6I 24EC6DD H9@ C6;64E65 96C 72E96C’D C6BF6DE E@ DE2C :? 9:D 7:=>] %9@D6 A2DE 5665D 42>6 :?E@ A=2J[ 2?5 D@@? E96C6 H2D 2 DE@CJ E92E F?C2G6=65 =:<6 ?@ @E96C] $E6==2? $<2CD8åC5 D@2C65 2D E96 5:C64E@C^72E96C H9@ H2?E65 >F49 @FE @7 9:D H@C< — 2 42C66C\567:?:?8 7:=> 2?5 2 C6F?:@? H:E9 9:D 52F89E6CD]k^Am Movies & TV Director Joachim Trier discusses new film 'Sentimental Value' | Streamed & Screened BRUCE MILLER and TERRY LIPSHETZ Lee Enterprises k9amd] VxE (2D yFDE 2? p44:56?EVk^9amkAm(9:=6 “$6?E:>6?E2= '2=F6” 4@>6D 7C@> 2 }@CH68:2? 5:C64E@C[ E9:D 42>6 7C@> 2? xC2?:2? 7:=>>2<6C H@C<:?8 H:E9 AC@5F46CD :? uC2?46 2?5 {FI6>3@FC8] xE 7@==@H65 2 8C@FA @7 A@=:E:42= AC:D@?6CD H9@ H@?56C65 :7 E96J D9@F=5 6I24E C6G6?86 @? 2 >2? H9@ >2J 92G6 366? E96:C E@C>6?E@C] s:C64E@C y272C !2?29: W=:<6 p?56CD@? 2?5 %C:6CX 3F:=E @? 2 9F?49 :? 2 H2J E92E =6E G:6H6CD 564:56 H92E C62==J 92AA6?65] {:<6 E96 @E96C 36DE 7:=>D @7 E96 J62C[ :E 5:5?’E =6E FA]k^Am Jacob Elordi in "Frankenstein" Netflix k9ame] VuC2?<6?DE6:?Vk^9am kAms:C64E@C vF:==6C>@ 56= %@C@ H2?E65 E@ >2<6 9:D G6CD:@? @7 |2CJ $96==6J’D DE@CJ 7@C 564256D] %@=5 :? A2CED[ :E 82G6 $96==6J’D H@C< E96 C6DA64E :E 56D6CG65 2?5 4@CC64E65 >:D4@?46AE:@?D 23@FE “E96 4C62EFC6]” ~D42C xD224 H2D 6I46AE:@?2= 2D E96 5@4E@C H9@ D@>6 D2J 4C62E65 2 >@?DE6C] y24@3 t=@C5: H2D 962CE3C62<:?8 2D 9:D 92?5:H@C<] p?5 56= %@C@n w6 8@E H92E 96 H2D 9@A:?8 7@C — 2 DEF??:?8 252AE2E:@?]k^Am From left, Michael B. Jordan, Michael B. Jordan and Omar Benson Miller in "Sinners" Warner Bros. Pictures k9amf] V$:??6CDVk^9amkAm#J2? r@@8=6C >256 2 ?2>6 7@C 9:>D6=7 H:E9 “rC665” 2?5 “q=24< !2?E96C[” 3FE Q$:??6CDQ D9@H65 H92E 96 42? 5@ H:E9@FE H6==\<?@H? :?E6==64EF2= AC@A6CEJ] $6E :? `hb_D |:DD:DD:AA:[ “$:??6CD” 7@==@H65 EH:? 3C@E96CD 2D E96J C6EFC?65 9@>6 7C@> r9:428@ E@ 3F:=5 2 ;F<6 ;@:?E] (9:=6 E96 3FD:?6DD 42>6 E@86E96C BF:4<=J[ E96 4=:6?E6=6 9:E 2 D?28 — E96C6 H2D 2 DFA6C?2EFC2= 6=6>6?E E92E H2?E65 E@ E2<6 2 3:E6 @FE @7 :ED 7@CEF?6D] pD E96 EH:?D[ |:4926= q] y@C52? AC@G:565 ;FDE E96 ?F2?46 ?646DD2CJ E@ H@?56C H96C6 E9:D H2D 962565] %96 7:=>’D C6D@=FE:@? — 2 C62= DFCAC:D6 — D9@F=5 2?DH6C A=6?EJ BF6DE:@?D 2?5 6?DFC6 r@@8=6C H:== 86E 2 8C66? =:89E 7@C >2?J @C:8:?2= :562D]k^Am Movies & TV Review: Ryan Coogler makes 'Sinners' more than a vampire movie BRUCE R. MILLER k9amg] V%96 $64C6E p86?EVk^9amkAmp?@E96C :?E6C?2E:@?2= 9J3C:5[ E9:D A@=:E:42= E9C:==6C 7C@> z=636C |6?5@?42 u:=9@ 82G6 (28?6C |@FC2 E96 C@=6 @7 2 =:76E:>6] w6 A=2J65 2 AC@76DD@C 5FC:?8 E96 `hf_D ECJ:?8 E@ >2<6 9:D H2J E9C@F89 E96 EFC>@:= @7 2 qC2K:=:2? >:=:E2CJ 5:4E2E@CD9:A] %96 7:=> E@F4965 @? E96 A@AF=2C:EJ @7 “y2HD[” E96? FD65 E92E 2D 2 DAC:?83@2C5 7@C 2 DE@CJ 23@FE C67F866D[ 4@CCFAE A@=:E:4:2?D 2?5 2 72E96C H9@ =@G6D 9:D D@?]k^Am k9amh] Vu`Vk^9amkAmw@==JH@@5’D 3=@4<3FDE6C 72D4:?2E:@? 9:E 2 A62< H:E9 E9:D =@@< 2E u@C>F=2 ~?6 C246D 2?5 2 H2D965\FA 5C:G6C WqC25 !:EEX H9@ ;FDE H2?E65 C656>AE:@?] u:==65 H:E9 72D4:?2E:?8 5C:G:?8 D6BF6?46D[ E96 7:=> 96=5 @FC :?E6C6DE :? H2JD H6 5:5?’E 6IA64E 2?5 82G6 6G6CJ@?6 W!:EE :?4=F565X 2 492?46 E@ 5C:G6 2 9:89\=6G6= 4:?6>2E:4 G69:4=6]k^Am Movies & TV A big action film like ‘F1’ takes more than races to succeed, says director Joseph Kosinski Bruce R. Miller Lee Enterprises Kit Connor in "Warfare" A24 k9am`_] V(2C72C6Vk^9am Movies & TV Movie review: 'Warfare' gives young actors a stellar experience, screen credit BRUCE R. MILLER kAms:C64E@CD #2J |6?5@K2 2?5 p=6I v2C=2?5 AFE J@F :? E96 962E @7 32EE=6 5FC:?8 E96 xC2B (2C 2?5 ?6G6C =6E 8@] $9@H:?8 9@H :E 27764E65 J@F?8 >6?[ :E D9@F=5 36 2 “>FDE H2E49Q 7@C E9@D6 H9@ D66 H2C 2D 2 D@=FE:@? E@ 64@?@>:4 AC@3=6>D] ~?6 3J @?6[ E96 J@F?8 24E@CD 3F:=E 2 A:646 H@CE9 C682C5:?8]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8mp=D@ H@CE9 ?@E:?8ik^DEC@?8m “(:4<65i u@C v@@5[” “(2<6 &A s625 |2?i 2 z?:G6D ~FE |JDE6CJ[” “t=:@[” “x7 x 925 {68D[ x’5 z:4< *@F” 2?5 “(62A@?D]”k^Am Movies & TV Review: ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ keeps the audience guessing Bruce R. Miller Lee Enterprises Movies & TV Review: Ariana Grande creates magic in ‘Wicked: For Good’ Bruce R. Miller Lee Enterprises Nba Review: 'Elio' follows animation's path of least resistance BRUCE R. MILLER Movies & TV Rose Byrne plays a therapist on the edge in ‘If I Had Legs I’d Kick You’ Bruce R. Miller Lee Enterprises Movies & TV Review: 'Weapons' interviews create a chilling thriller BRUCE R. MILLER 0 Comments Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Movies in a Minute: "Hamnet" Is "Hamnet" a drama or a romance or a comedy or a mystery? "Yes," says Lee Enterprises entertainment reporter Bruce Miller.
Movies & TV Review: ‘Hamnet’ suggests what made Shakespeare such a legend Bruce R. Miller Lee Enterprises
Movies & TV Review: Timothee Chalamet supersizes career in 'Marty Supreme' BRUCE R. MILLER Lee Enterprises
Movies & TV Director Joachim Trier discusses new film 'Sentimental Value' | Streamed & Screened BRUCE MILLER and TERRY LIPSHETZ Lee Enterprises
Movies & TV A big action film like ‘F1’ takes more than races to succeed, says director Joseph Kosinski Bruce R. Miller Lee Enterprises
Movies & TV Movie review: 'Warfare' gives young actors a stellar experience, screen credit BRUCE R. MILLER
Movies & TV Review: Ariana Grande creates magic in ‘Wicked: For Good’ Bruce R. Miller Lee Enterprises
Movies & TV Rose Byrne plays a therapist on the edge in ‘If I Had Legs I’d Kick You’ Bruce R. Miller Lee Enterprises
Movies in a Minute: "Hamnet" Is "Hamnet" a drama or a romance or a comedy or a mystery? "Yes," says Lee Enterprises entertainment reporter Bruce Miller.
