What do the next Greatest DVDs of 2025 share in frequent? They embrace a Belgian existential puzzler that includes Orson Welles and Greek gods, a Japanese Nineteen Eighties romance centered on a motorcycle-loving man, a Seventies love story set in opposition to racial and non secular unrest in Suriname, a silent movie depicting the lifetime of Christ, a Lithuanian rock opera about fallen demons, a stop-motion fairy story of the Pied Piper, a noir thriller from Fifties Egypt, and a wild British narrative involving a gangster who switches lives with Mick Jagger.
Nonetheless not sure? Every of those offbeat movies, which you in all probability haven’t seen, underwent Blu-ray restorations in 2025 and made our record of the 12 months’s Greatest DVDs.
You would possibly discern different connections, akin to the truth that these are the creations of great auteurs showcasing distinctive types and themes. Most of them delve into the area of interest paths of cinema, far faraway from mainstream business releases. Slightly than fading rapidly like popcorn at a film, these movies depart an imprint in your thoughts—much like a haunting melody or a shard of glass.
Some could surprise, “Are you continue to investing in bodily media fairly than simply funneling money into streaming providers?” Whereas it’s true you would possibly entry a few of these movies with out proudly owning the discs, boutique labels like Criterion and Kino Lorber supply their very own streaming providers. Sadly, you could not all the time discover the enriching bonus supplies that accompany bodily copies, so relying solely on streaming may be dangerous.
Streaming providers usually license their content material from numerous corporations. For instance, Kanopy streams quite a few releases from Deaf Crocodile, a number of of which function in our record. However right here’s the kicker: until these corporations take the initiative to revive and launch bodily variations of obscurities, you will have no probability to stream them. This alone makes a powerful case for supporting these labels.
Take into account Kanopy’s entry to the East German DEFA catalog, together with sensible movies like these by Konrad Wolf. How does Kanopy supply these movies? The DEFA Movie Library, established in 1993 on the College of Massachusetts Amherst, goals to make East German cinema obtainable within the U.S., persevering with to distribute these movies on bodily media. No discs, no streaming.
Furthermore, simply because a bodily label has launched one thing doesn’t guarantee will probably be obtainable for streaming, nor does it assure a license will not expire. Are you conversant in the frustration of seeing a movie in your “to stream” record disappear simply days later? If it is safely saved in your shelf, you gained’t have to rush.
Tubi supplies free streaming (with advertisements) of a various assortment, together with a channel devoted to titles licensed by Shout! Manufacturing unit. Nonetheless, this nonetheless doesn’t assure entry to the official Shout! Manufacturing unit version. Take, for instance, Stephanie Rothman’s The Velvet Vampire (1971). The streaming model isn’t their polished Blu-ray version, however an outdated pan-and-scan switch from an previous VHS. Streaming is sweet when it really works, but it surely’s unpredictable. Lesson? Seize that disc earlier than it disappears.
Now that we’ve made the case for bodily media, let’s dive into the Greatest DVDs of 2025, listed in alphabetical order by movie title. – Michael Barrett
Alaraune + The Scholar of Prague – Director: Henrik Galeen (Deaf Crocodile)
Dabbling in gothic, fantasy, and melodrama, Alraune (1928) tells the story of a girl born from a hanged legal, a mandrake plant, and scientific experimentation—a story mixing greed and promiscuity beneath the expert course of Henrik Galeen. The movie’s gorgeous visuals create an otherworldly ambiance that feels alien.
Starring Brigitte Helm, finest identified for her function in Fritz Lang’s Metropolis, Alraune chronicles her character’s harmful escape from her power-hungry father. Though it treads into pulp territory, the movie stays a stunningly elegant and intellectually partaking piece.
Galeen’s 1926 movie, The Scholar of Prague, reimagines the Faust legend, providing a memorable character improvement and narrative nonetheless refreshing a century later. Famend for his expressionistic type, Galeen renders psychic trauma and fever goals with spectacular bravura.
This double function from Deaf Crocodile presents a superbly remastered assortment of each movies with lush soundtracks, audio commentaries, and a complete function that sheds gentle on Galeen’s cinematic preservation. – Imran Khan
The Murderer of the Tsar – Director: Karen Shakhnazarov (Deaf Crocodile)
This movie, 1991’s The Murderer of the Tsar, could not swimsuit these looking for motion, as it is a slow-paced Russian drama that includes an inmate in a psychological hospital who believes he reincarnates a revolutionary who assassinated two tsars.
Director Karen Shakhnazarov explores the guilt and grief of Soviet life within the late twentieth century, superbly framing his narrative by way of the visible richness impressed by the works of Caravaggio and Rubens. Shot in heat, earthy tones, the movie elicits an almost tactile expertise, that includes Malcolm McDowell in a compellingly subdued function.
The Blu-ray version from Deaf Crocodile showcases a powerful remaster that presents sharp visuals and vibrant colours, full with bilingual variations and in-depth interviews with each McDowell and Shakhnazarov, accompanied by an essay booklet. – Imran Khan
See additionally “Russian Director Karen Shakhnazarov Retains It Surreal in These Absurdist Movies“, by Imran Khan.
Basquiat – Director: Julian Schnabel (Criterion)
In Basquiat, launched in 1996, director Julian Schnabel masterfully weaves collectively the fragments of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s life, illustrating his rise from the gritty depths of downtown New York to world recognition. Eschewing a typical documentary type, Schnabel gives a nostalgic, introspective take a look at an artist battling inspiration and habit.
Jeffrey Wright shines within the main function, bringing a posh combination of allure and introspection. Co-starring David Bowie as a delightfully eccentric Andy Warhol, Wright’s efficiency ensures that the movie resonates emotionally with viewers.
Criterion’s Blu-ray gives Basquiat in each a 2024 black-and-white version and the unique vibrant 1996 colour model. Accompanied by a vivid 4K restoration, the discharge additionally supplies insightful audio commentary and interviews with the forged, enriching the viewing expertise. – Imran Khan
The Betrayal – Director: Tokuzo Tanaka (Radiance)
Recognized primarily for his contributions to beloved movie collection like Shinobi, Zatoichi, and Sleepy Eyes of Demise, director Tokuzô Tanaka delivers a standout work in The Betrayal. Though usually overshadowed by extra common samurai movies, this revealing launch brings the movie to deserved consideration.
Ichikawa Raizô’s bodily highly effective efficiency because the conflicted fundamental character showcases exhilarating motion sequences, drawing viewers into an interesting narrative unfolding in opposition to Japan’s historic backdrop. The movie grapples with philosophical themes that linger lengthy after viewing, difficult audiences to ponder its deeper questions. – Matt Mahler
See additionally “‘The Betrayal’ Returns in All Its Nihilistic Glory“, by Matt Mahler.
Lucio Fulci’s The Past (1981)—a surreal masterpiece mixing fashionable horror with historical themes—grew to become the centerpiece of a six-disc reissue by Grindhouse in 2025, marking its first 4K UHD launch. This assortment options hours of recent and archival interviews, making it a vital addition for horror fans. – Matt Mahler
The Large Warmth – Director: Fritz Lang (Criterion)
Fritz Lang’s oeuvre is crammed with darkish, fatalistic narratives. His 1953 basic, The Large Warmth, delivers a relentless barrage of shocks, showcasing the brutality of flawed characters caught in tragic circumstances. Initially controversial, this movie has now attained basic standing, exemplified by the compelling performances of Glenn Ford, Gloria Grahame, and Lee Marvin. – Michael Barrett
See additionally “The Large Warmth’s Resting Gun“, by Michael Barrett.
Breaking Glass – Director: Brian Gibson (Enjoyable Metropolis Editions)
A quintessential new wave movie, Breaking Glass showcases Hazel O’Connor as Kate, a punk rock sensation embracing the highs and lows of sudden fame within the early Nineteen Eighties. Amidst the type and pleasure, the movie tells a gripping story of a younger girl rising by way of the punk scene, capturing the struggles and triumphs of her journey.
Enjoyable Metropolis Editions presents a panoramic Blu-ray switch, that includes each the unique UK lower and the edited US model, alongside enriching interviews and audio commentaries that improve the movie’s context. – Imran Khan
Cairo Station/Bāb al-Ḥadīd – Director: Youssef Chahine (Criterion)
On this compelling melodrama set within the bustling backdrop of a railroad station, Cairo Station explores advanced themes of intercourse, jealousy, and violence. Regardless of its preliminary failure in 1958, this movie deserves recognition for its richly layered storytelling and its distinctive place inside Egyptian cinema. Chahine’s character embodies a combination of humor and despair, evoking classical themes by way of a contemporary lens. – Michael Barrett
See additionally “‘Cairo Station’ Jumbles Intercourse, Politics, and Noir“, by Michael Barrett.
Champagne & Caviar: 4 Weimar Comedies (Flicker Alley)
Among the many most enjoyable rediscoveries in our seek for Greatest DVDs of 2025 are 4 early talkies from Weimar Germany compiled on this two-disc set. These movies are infused with music, romance, stylistic innovation, and social satire whereas that includes notable abilities quickly to depart Germany, akin to actors Peter Lorre and Hedy Lamarr, alongside African-American dancer Rose Poindexter, who would marry novelist Ralph Ellison.
A standout function is Ludwig Berger’s 1932 movie I By Day, You By Evening (Ich bei Tag und du bei Nacht), combining escapism and musical components whereas accompanied by wonderful commentary. – Michael Barrett
See additionally “Weimar Comedies Have Us Laughing on the Precipice“, by Michael Barrett.
Select Me – Director: Alan Rudolph (Criterion)
Alan Rudolph’s Select Me, launched in 1984, presents a romantic drama that artfully embodies the aesthetics of the time whereas sustaining depth. Set in a brightly lit, neon-infused Los Angeles, the movie follows a group of troubled people navigating love and connection. Keith Carradine stars because the enigmatic Mickey, who, after assembly barmaid Eve (Lesley Ann Warren), attracts her right into a tempestuous romance, difficult by the presence of Nancy, the town’s common radio intercourse therapist, performed by Geneviève Bujold.
The movie artfully intertwines components of Nineteen Forties noir with a trendy ’80s backdrop, brilliantly bridging romance, suspense, and humor. Bujold delivers an particularly wealthy efficiency, capturing the nuances of her character’s twin life. Criterion’s Blu-ray boasts a surprising visible switch and contains interviews the place Rudolph discusses the movie’s artistic course of. – Imran Khan
