London Film Festival 2025 Ranked
- Jack Aling
- Oct 24, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
In October 2025, Escape Film Club attended BFI's London Film Festival to experience the most exciting upcoming independent and major releases.
Here's our ranked list of every film we saw at the 2025 festival and links to our full reviews.
List and reviews by Jack Aling.
36) FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER
Though the talent is front and centre on screen, it all feels for nothing as it repeats a cycle of agonisingly dull storytelling that moves on before it allows any real connection to the characters.
35) HIGH WIRE
Ambitious for a film of its size, High Wire has a strong visual identity and tries to do a lot in the time it has.
34) THE CHRONOLOGY OF WATER
Kristen Stewart's directorial debut delivers a confident yet horribly misguided vision. Imogen Poots gives a strong performance as a woman stuck in a self-destructive pattern whose memories and trauma are displayed in a disorientating and abstract manner.
33) THE MASTERMIND
The Mastermind sees Josh O'Connor very slowly… And passively… Go on the run after a simple heist goes wrong. An interesting character study of a man coming undone - even if it's dramatically uneventful.
32) THE TRAVELERS
There's no expanding on the larger situation at hand, no investigative twist, just documenting an experience to share with the world. To show the risks that ordinary people take just for a chance of a new life.
31) SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE
Challenges typical biopic expectations and instead focuses on a pivotal moment in Springsteen's life and career, but like the Nebraska album, so much was stripped away that I was left wanting more.
30) ANEMONE
Daniel Day-Lewis returning to our screens to prove why he's the master of the monologue. Regrettably, the highs are quickly washed away by a mundane and inconsistent family drama that does not equal the sum of its parts.
29) AFTER THE HUNT
There are recognisable faces, strong performances and expert cinematography to distract you from the fact that it seems scared to answer any of the questions it lays out. Wildly cryptic considering the talent and subject matter at play.
28) RENTAL FAMILY
An exploration of Japan's complex social culture; there are so many directions this could have gone but unfortunately Rental Family plays it all very safe with no real stakes or consequences despite the involvement in people's intimate lives.
27) THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE
Many films aim to promise a 'unique cinematic experience' and few actually deliver on that promise. But for better or for worse, I have never experienced anything like The Testament of Ann Lee.
26) SOUND OF FALLING
A foreboding look into the past, following different generations living in the same space. But this isn't an uplifting celebration of life; it's an obsession with death.
25) WHAT MARIELLE KNOWS
A black comedy that takes a fantastical concept and turns it into a paranoia-fuelled look at the difference in how we act when we don't think people are watching. There is a calm confusion and wicked sense of humour throughout, despite some brutal home truths.
24) CALLE MÁLAGA
A real hidden gem at this year's London Film Festival, Calle Málaga slowly reveals itself as a later in life coming of age story. A heartwarming exploration of what it means to be home and a reminder to never get too comfortable.
23) ROSE OF NEVADA
Jenkin's most accessible film to date with recognisable stars and a tangible narrative, Rose of Nevada is still very much an acquired taste - blending Cornish folk horror with a nostalgic coming of age drama.
22) GIANT
Giant leans on many of the sports underdog stereotypes, like Rocky but with a notably 1990's British personality. Following the rise and career of boxer Prince Naseem Hamed, Giant is uplifting and motivating, but ultimately lacks a punch.
21) LURKER
A modern look into the perils of fame, Lurker's antisocial antagonist manipulates his way to the top in this striking cautionary tale. Delivers enough second-hand embarrassment to leave a lasting impact.
20) THE SECRET AGENT
A deeply patriotic thriller, The Secret Agent's urgently paranoid pace builds the landscape of 70's Brazil so vividly that it feels like a documentary, where the violence and corruption of a classic political thriller collide with masterful modern filmmaking.
19) GOOD BOY
With a premise as dark as this, my biggest surprise is how heartfelt The Good Boy is. After a sinister first act, the layers are peeled back on a mysterious family dynamic, taking the film in unexpected directions.
18) TUNER
A welcome dose of energy thanks to its fast pace and editing; the result is a blend of Whiplash meets Baby Driver. A fantastic first narrative feature from Navalny director Daniel Roher.
17) CHRISTY
The story of Christy Martin begins and plays out for the most part like the inspiring sports dramas that we've seen time and time again, but what surprised me was the power of her story outside of the ring.
16) TWINLESS
Honest and unafraid, Twinless begins as a simple and heartfelt exploration of grief but quickly evolves into something more compulsive and intriguing. It's rare to see such honest and unafraid storytelling.
15) IS THIS THING ON?
Far more informal and relaxed than A Star is Born and Maestro, this combines the chaos of modern family life with a later in life coming of age story. A charming story of self-discovery that feels very mature and honest despite the comedic themes.
14) ALPHA
Less of a spectacle than Raw or Titane, Julia Ducournau's latest feels more personal and intimate while keeping traces of her signature flair. Alpha will no doubt be more divisive, but its themes stayed with me longer than any nauseating gore Ducournau has created before.
13) THE THING WITH FEATHERS
An ethereal take on a deeply personal story, Cumberbatch's performance and surrealist visuals paint a darkly sentimental portrait of a man tormented by the joys of his past, the pain of his present and the fear of his future.
12) RESURRECTION
I have never seen a Bi Gan film before and had no idea what to expect walking in - Resurrection plays on the senses by allowing different styles and techniques to blend together, an extravagant tribute to cinema.
11) DIE MY LOVE
You don't go into a Lynne Ramsay film expecting a heartfelt comedy, but even given her filmography, Die My Love delves into the darkest of places. An untamed psychosexual drama that turns abandonment into a claustrophobic cacophony of emotions.
10) JAY KELLY
Baumbach and Clooney do a great job of slowly stripping back the character of Jay Kelly. Full of heart, incredible dialogue and one too many cheesecakes, Jay Kelly is a celebration of life on and off the screen.
9) BUGONIA
Bugonia is an absolute riot that keeps you guessing and attempting to solve its riddles until its final moments. A wonderfully surreal look at conspiracies, the lasting impact of trauma and organisational greed.
8) NO OTHER CHOICE
Park Chan-wook returns with his precise directorial style for a corporate story of revenge and pride, following a man who has No Other Choice. A striking, sobering and hilarious social commentary that stares corporate life and consumerism right in the face.
7) WASTEMAN
As gritty as a British prison drama can get, this claustrophobic thriller is shot in tight close-ups, making the violence, rage, and despair inescapable. A story of survival by any means necessary, packed with ambition and overflowing with aggression.
6) WAKE UP DEAD MAN
Rian Johnson's Knives Out Trilogy are wonderful and diverse puzzle boxes - blending different genres and personalities whilst consistently keeping audiences on their toes with original and unpredictable mysteries.
5) THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB
Blurring the line between documentary and drama, The Voice of Hind Rajab is tough and blisteringly relevant. Using real footage and voice recordings throughout adds a sobering and often overwhelming layer to an already distressing story.
4) FRANKENSTEIN
Unapologetically atmospheric, Frankenstein is proof that we should hand the rights to all the gothic classics over to Guillermo del Toro. Approaching classic monster horror with medical-grade precision, the care and attention to detail in every shot, set and sequence is a sight to behold
3) SENTIMENTAL VALUE
You can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family. Sentimental Value is beautifully layered with characters and perspectives to unpack, paired with multifaceted performances as the ways their differing relationships shape and evolve feel so intimate.
2) TRAIN DREAMS
A tranquil exploration of one man's life, Train Dreams captures the comforting highs and harrowing lows of life set against the rich forests of the Pacific Northwest.
1) HAMNET
The story of loss that birthed William Shakespeare's Hamlet is an unsurprisingly sobering one, but Chloé Zhao's directorial flair brings an ethereal quality that helps find a sense of calm amidst the hysteria.
Join the discussion: Share posts and stories using #ESCfilmclub on Instagram Review and discuss your thoughts by tagging ESCfilmclub on Letterboxd.
Comments