So you’re stuck in scrolling purgatory again, huh? Endlessly thumbing through HBO Max, hoping something jumps out. We’ve been there. That’s why we pulled together the Top 10 Movies you would actually want to watch this week—no fluff, no filler. Whether you’re into thrillers, rom-coms, or indie gems, there’s something worth hitting play on. Here’s your movie cheat sheet for May 25–31, 2025—because your time is too valuable for another “meh” movie night.
Problemista (2023)
Julio Torres is doing something totally different with Problemista, and honestly? It works. This surreal, bittersweet comedy follows Julio, an aspiring toy designer from El Salvador, as he tries to stay in the U.S. and chase his weird, wonderful ideas. The problem? His work visa is about to expire. Cue Tilda Swinton, who crashes into his life as a hilariously intense, flame-haired art world relic trying to keep her late husband’s legacy alive. Together, they form this chaotic little alliance that’s equal parts funny, sad, and quietly profound.
Torres (who also directs and stars) brings that same offbeat energy you might remember from Los Espookys—everything’s a little askew, but in a good way. The film’s full of bureaucratic nightmares, deeply weird side characters, and moments that make you laugh and flinch at the same time. Swinton is in full goblin mode here and it’s glorious. And while it’s packed with absurdity, there’s something very real underneath about immigration, dreams, and trying to be seen in a world that doesn’t know what to do with you.
If you’re into stuff like The Science of Sleep or Eternal Sunshine, you’ll probably vibe with this. It’s quirky but not try-hard, emotional without being preachy. Plus, it’s got that A24 magic touch—gorgeous visuals, great music, and an underdog story that sneaks up on you. Trust: you haven’t seen anything quite like Problemista.
Am I OK? (2022)
Sometimes you hit your 30s and realize… wait, maybe I don’t actually know myself at all. That’s where we meet Lucy in Am I OK?, a sweet and messy coming-out story directed by real-life couple Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne. Dakota Johnson plays Lucy, who’s figuring out her sexuality later than she—or anyone else—expected. Her best friend Jane (played by the effortlessly cool Sonoya Mizuno) is her ride-or-die, but when Lucy starts coming to terms with who she really is, even their unbreakable friendship hits a few cracks.
What makes this one land is how small and human it all feels. It’s not some big dramatic “moment”—it’s awkward dates, teary confessions, weird therapy sessions, and just… life. Dakota Johnson is quietly amazing here, doing that vulnerable, funny thing she does so well. And the script (by SNL alum Lauren Pomerantz) feels lived-in, like it was written by someone who’s been through all of it—because, well, it kinda was.
If you loved Booksmart or The Half of It, this is your jam. It’s low-key and heartfelt, with a killer supporting cast and a tone that’s more real talk than rom-com. Come for the queer self-discovery vibes, stay for the warm hug of a friendship you didn’t know you needed to cry over.
Priscilla (2023)
If Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis was all sequins and swagger, Priscilla is the quiet, aching B-side. Sofia Coppola directs this one like she’s flipping through a heartbreak diary, and it’s so much better for it. Cailee Spaeny plays Priscilla Presley from her teenage years to the end of her marriage to Elvis, and she’s incredible—fragile, poised, and slowly unraveling under the weight of life at Graceland. Jacob Elordi’s Elvis is charming and magnetic, but also controlling in a way that creeps in slowly and then takes over.
This isn’t a movie about Elvis the icon—it’s about Priscilla the girl, the woman, the person trying to find herself while living in someone else’s spotlight. Coppola strips away all the glitz and zeroes in on the isolation, the weirdness, and the longing. It’s got her signature dreamy style—soft light, vintage interiors, long silences—and it works perfectly for this kind of emotional excavation.
It feels like Jackie meets Marie Antoinette (another Coppola gem), but with its own tragic rhythm. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be the supporting character in someone else’s epic, Priscilla is here to tell you—and it hurts in all the right ways.
The Zone of Interest (2023)
This one’s not easy, and it’s not supposed to be. The Zone of Interest takes you right up to the gates of Auschwitz—and then never takes you inside. Instead, it stays focused on the family of Rudolf Höss, the Nazi commandant, living an idyllic suburban life literally next door to mass murder. You hear the screams. You see the smoke. But the family? They’re gardening, going to birthday parties, and playing with their kids. It’s absolutely chilling.
Director Jonathan Glazer (Under the Skin) turns the volume way down, and somehow that makes everything feel louder. The horror isn’t in what you see—it’s in what you don’t. Christian Friedel and Sandra Hüller are disturbingly convincing as the couple who look the other way, embodying the kind of moral rot that doesn’t scream—it whispers. The film picked up Best International Feature at the 2024 Oscars, and for good reason: it’s unflinching, unique, and completely unforgettable.
If you’ve seen Son of Saul or Come and See, you know the kind of emotional gut punch we’re talking about. This one’s about complicity, comfort, and the evil that grows when no one wants to look. It’s artful, yes, but also a brutal mirror. Watch it when you’re ready to sit with something heavy.
Dream Scenario (2023)
Ever dreamed of Nicolas Cage? No really—actually dreamed of him? In Dream Scenario, he plays a perfectly average, slightly awkward professor who suddenly starts showing up in people’s dreams. And not just a few people—like, everyone. At first, it’s hilarious and surreal. He’s famous. People love him. Then things start to get dark. The dreams turn nightmarish. The public turns. And this weird little story becomes a wild commentary on fame, cancel culture, and how we project our crap onto people we don’t really know.
Nicolas Cage is absolutely in his zone here—deadpan, dorky, and oddly moving. Director Kristoffer Borgli (Sick of Myself) keeps things just grounded enough that when it goes off the rails, it still feels totally plausible. Julianne Nicholson and Michael Cera pop up in great supporting roles, but this is Cage’s show, and he delivers something way more layered than you’d expect from a movie that sounds like a meme.
Think Being John Malkovich meets The Truman Show, with a dash of Black Mirror. It’s funny, sad, and unsettling all at once. If you like your social satire with a side of existential dread (and a lot of awkward silences), this one’s a dream you won’t want to wake up from.
Wonka (2023)
Look, we’ve seen Willy Wonka before—twice, actually—but this version? It’s something else. Directed by Paul King (yep, the Paddington guy), Wonka rewinds the clock and introduces us to a young, hopeful chocolatier played by the endlessly charming Timothée Chalamet. This isn’t the creepy, eccentric loner of previous versions. This Wonka is bright-eyed, full of wild ideas, and dead set on making the world just a little sweeter—even if the world isn’t exactly rooting for him.
From the first scene, it’s clear this movie has heart. It’s silly and musical, sure, but it’s also a story about believing in your weird dreams no matter how many doors get slammed in your face. The visuals pop like candy, the songs are catchy without being annoying, and Chalamet leans into the whimsy with surprising warmth. Plus, Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa? Absolute chaos. In the best way.
If you loved the Paddington movies or just want to feel good for two hours, Wonka delivers. It’s pure comfort food cinema—ideal for kids, nostalgic adults, or anyone who wants to root for a guy who thinks chocolate can fix the world. And honestly? He might be onto something.
The Color Purple (2023)
This new Color Purple hits different. It’s not a remake of the 1985 Spielberg classic—it’s an adaptation of the Broadway musical version, and it’s loud, joyful, and deeply moving. Directed by Blitz Bazawule (of The Burial of Kojo), the film centers on Celie, a Black woman in early 20th-century Georgia who’s been through more pain than anyone should ever have to carry. But the beauty is in how she survives it—and eventually thrives.
Fantasia Barrino makes her big-screen debut here, and she crushes it. Like, chill-down-your-spine levels of power. Taraji P. Henson and Danielle Brooks round out the cast with performances that balance grit, fire, and so much soul. The music doesn’t just lift the story—it becomes the story. The film moves through trauma and joy, rage and forgiveness, all while somehow feeling vibrant and full of life.
It’s big, bold, and unapologetically emotional. If you liked Fences, Dreamgirls, or anything where the performances are as unforgettable as the message, you need to watch this. Bring tissues. And maybe someone to hug after.
Barbie (2023)
Barbie isn’t just a movie—it’s a cultural moment wrapped in glitter and existential angst. Greta Gerwig’s take on the most iconic doll of all time is smart, subversive, and surprisingly moving. Margot Robbie’s Barbie starts off in a perfect pink world where every day is amazing—until she starts thinking about death, flat feet, and the real world. What follows is a wild ride through identity, feminism, and what it even means to be “Barbie” in the first place.
It’s got all the neon and sparkle you’d expect, but underneath the surface, it’s sharp. Gerwig and co-writer Noah Baumbach pull off something kind of genius—balancing campy humor with biting commentary. Ryan Gosling’s Ken steals every scene with his full commitment to beach and patriarchy (you’ll see), but it’s Robbie who grounds the chaos with this quiet vulnerability that sneaks up on you.
If you’re into movies that feel like pop art with a point—think The Truman Show meets Legally Blonde—you’ll eat this up. It’s funny, weird, and way more honest than it had to be. Plus, it gave us that monologue from America Ferrera. You know the one.
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (2022)
This one hits hard—in a quiet, devastating, and utterly necessary way. All the Beauty and the Bloodshed is a documentary about legendary photographer Nan Goldin, but it’s not just about her art. It’s about her life, her trauma, and how she took on one of the most powerful families in America: the Sacklers. You know, the ones behind the opioid crisis. Through her activist group PAIN, she led a campaign to get their name off museum walls, and this doc shows you exactly how she did it.
Director Laura Poitras (Citizenfour) weaves Goldin’s activism with her personal history—abuse, addiction, grief, resilience—and the result is both a portrait and a protest. It’s raw and intimate, filled with Goldin’s haunting photography and brutally honest narration. No glossy true crime stuff here—just a woman trying to make sense of her pain by changing the world.
If you care about justice, art, or just want to see what bravery looks like in real life, you’ve gotta watch this. It’s one of those docs that doesn’t just inform—it lingers. And maybe makes you want to do something, too.
Navalny (2022)
Navalny is the kind of documentary that feels more like a thriller—except it’s all true, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. It follows Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny as he investigates the attempt on his life in 2020, when he was poisoned with a military-grade nerve agent. What starts as a whodunit turns into a jaw-dropping deep dive into Putin’s regime, political resistance, and the insane courage it takes to speak up when the entire system wants you dead.
Director Daniel Roher gets crazy access—there’s real-time phone calls with the guys who probably tried to kill him, digital sleuthing, and moments where you’re just like, “Wait… this actually happened?” Navalny himself is magnetic—funny, defiant, deeply human. His wife, Yulia, is just as fierce. Together, they make this not just a story of politics, but of love, family, and sacrifice.
This one took home the Oscar for Best Documentary, and it absolutely earned it. If you liked Citizenfour, The Dissident, or anything that makes your jaw hit the floor in disbelief, don’t miss this. It’s not just powerful—it’s necessary viewing for understanding the world right now.
Wrap Up
That’s the lineup—ten films that couldn’t be more different, yet every single one hits in its own way. Whether you’re into dreamy immigrant comedies (Problemista), slow-burn queer awakenings (Am I OK?), devastating historical reckonings (The Zone of Interest), or candy-colored cultural resets (Barbie), there’s something here that’ll grab you, shake you, or maybe just give you something to think about on your next long walk.
These aren’t just good movies. They’re alive. They’ve got something to say, something to make you feel, and something you’ll probably end up texting someone about halfway through watching. So go ahead—dive into a surreal dream world with Nic Cage, belt out a showstopper with The Color Purple, or just sit in stunned silence after Navalny wraps up. Whatever your vibe, you’re covered.
And hey, if one of these hits you in the gut or cracks something open, come back and talk about it. We love film recs, hot takes, and all the unexpected feelings that come with a great watch.
