Looking Back: Best Movies of 2025 Illustrations by James Chapman

by Alex Billington
December 31, 2025
Source: Instagram

“You know what freedom is?” “What?” “No fear.” Another year is over, which means it’s time to look back at the best films released over the last 12 months. Artist James Chapman, based in Leeds, UK, posted his Top 10 Films of 2025 list on Instagram – by drawing the cutest little illustration for each & every favorite film. I’ve been an avid follower of Chapman for a few years already (we also posted his illustrations for 2022 and for 2023 and for 2024) and I am a big fan of his artistic style. He draws and colors images in a notepad which represent his style and his favorite aspects of each film vividly recreated. They make me smile every time. Always so adorable, he really loves movies. Many of films are my faves, too (Sentimental Value and OBAA and Sinners and Train Dreams are also in my Top 10). A few of these seen below are also 2024 films that were only released in the UK in 2025 so they made his list this year (mainly Nosferatu & Nickel Boys). This year he posted images for 30 of his favorite films of 2025, but I’ve featured only his top 10 below. Click on his IG for even more. His mini reviews for each film can be read on Letterboxd. Check his Top 10 below.

“Time doesn’t exist yet it controls us anyway.” I love One Battle After Another! Sensei and Bob and Willa and Lockjaw – it rules. You can find Chapman’s images for his favorites #30 – 20 here and #20 – 10 here along with the full list of his final 10 here. It’s really hard to disagree with any of these films on his list. Even Ballad of Wallis Island is a charmer, despite not appearing on most people’s Top 10 it’s worth a watch. Mary Bronstein’s film If I Had Legs I’d Kick You with Rose Byrne is also a must watch if you haven’t seen it yet. More eccentric films like Bugonia, Friendship, Sorry, Baby, Weapons, Memoir of a Snail and others are in his Top 20 – also some of the best from this year. One of the reasons we keep posting Best of the Year lists like this is to encourage watching any of these films that you haven’t seen yet. James’ intro for 2025: “A lot of incredible films this year (I painted 42 of them!) but for me there was one undeniable favourite. So glad I got to see it on a ridiculously big cinema screen… I love sharing art and movies with you x” He also sells many of his illustrations in his shop on Etsy, and you can find more of his work on his official website or support his Patreon. As always, if there are any films you haven’t seen yet from these annual end-of-the-year recaps, add them to your Watch List/Queue and make time to enjoy. Which of these drawings do you love?

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