Oman today_ The release of Rolling Stone’s list of the 20 best films of 2025 sparked widespread reactions, with the controversy surrounding the selections drawing more attention than the rankings themselves. The main source of criticism was the absence of Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, a film many critics and audiences consider one of the year’s most successful and widely acclaimed releases.
The list was compiled by David Fear, with One Battle After Another, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, taking the top spot. However, the omission of Sinners led many social media users to question the fairness of the list, with some voicing strong criticism. For them, overlooking such a film while including titles like Eddington by Ari Aster was difficult to justify.
The backlash was not limited to general audiences. Simu Liu, the actor known for Shang Chi, also weighed in on X, expressing his surprise and pointing to Sinners as a film that clearly deserved a place among the year’s top titles.
In recent years, end-of-year lists have become increasingly sensitive topics, and the exclusion of popular or critically praised films often triggers intense debate. In this context, World of Reel reported that some critics admit concerns over public backlash can influence their choices when compiling such rankings. This comes despite the fact that Rolling Stone itself had described Sinners at the time of its release as “messy but entertaining.”
Among the notable inclusions on the list is It Was Just an Accident by Jafar Panahi, which recently won several major honors, including awards from the Gotham Awards and the New York Film Critics Circle. The film ranks sixth and stands out as one of the list’s most widely praised selections.
Overall, Rolling Stone’s list of the 20 best films of 2025 once again highlights the gap that can exist between critical opinion and popular taste. It is precisely these differences in perspective that turn such rankings into some of the most talked-about and controversial topics in the world of cinema each year.