Another year for the history books. As we look back on the last 365 days, we can happily and confidently say that 2025 was pretty great when it comes to entertainment. Movies thrived with a healthy mix of original stories and established IP, with major winners on both sides. Meanwhile, television offered some of the best new and returning shows, be it ambitious science fiction stories or Canadian hockey romances.
However, only a few of these TV and movie events truly cemented themselves as the most defining of 2025. These pop culture landmarks will become emblematic when future audiences look back at this passing year, whether because of their sheer impact on audiences or the more profound legacies in their respective mediums. They broke the internet, drove the conversation, and even shifted the culture overall — such is the power of these now-iconic and flawless entertainment moments.
10
Dr. Robby’s Breakdown – ‘The Pitt’
Many of 2025’s greatest TV hits came seemingly out of the blue, starting in January with HBO Max’s The Pitt starring medical drama veteran Noah Wyle. Reuniting Wyle with ER scribe Scott Gemmill, the show follows the emergency department staff at the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center as they navigate numerous conflicts during a single 15-hour shift. Each episode covers about an hour of the work shift, adding urgency to an already hectic plot.
The Pitt became 2025’s first major breakthrough hit, driving the conversation on social media and receiving enthusiastic responses from industry insiders and medical professionals. A significant amount of praise went to Wyle’s committed, intense performance, which peaked during the season’s thirteenth episode, “7:00 P.M.” Following an active shooting and his inability to save lives, Wyle’s Dr. Robby experiences a breakdown during the episode’s closing moments. It’s a remarkable acting feat from Wyle, one of television’s most underappreciated and long-overdue performers. His raw, profoundly affecting turn came to embody The Pitt‘s overall approach — uncompromising, desperate, devastating, and ultimately powerful.
9
“Maybe That’s the Real Punk Rock” – ‘Superman’
James Gunn‘s Superman was the most anticipated superhero movie of 2025, and it mostly lived up to the lofty expectations. David Corenswet steps into the suit of Big Blue in a story that sees the hero go against his mortal enemy, Nicholas Hoult‘s Lex Luthor. Contrary to the most recent big-screen adaptation of the Man of Steel, Gunn’s Superman showcases the character’s innate kindness and his desire to do good, no matter what.
No scene better captures this philosophy than Superman’s heart-to-heart with Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), where he refers to her claim that he trusts everyone and believes them to be beautiful as “the real punk rock.” It’s a heartwarming sentiment, one of those perfectly crafted emotional moments that Gunn excels at. He further drives the message home during the film’s closing scene, scored to the tune of Teddybears and Iggy Pop’s “Punkrocker.” The line perfectly distills the film’s desire to bring Superman back to basics and remind everyone that he is, undoubtedly, the kindest and most humane of all superheroes. Not for nothing, the words “cause I’m a punk rocker, yes I am” quickly went viral, taking over everything from TikToks to water cooler conversations.
8
Glen’s Towel – ‘The Running Man’
Edgar Wright‘s The Running Man didn’t exactly set the box office on fire, but it was yet another solid entry into his now-iconic filmography. The film, which adapts Stephen King‘s 1983 eponymous novel, centers on Ben Richards (Glen Powell), a desperate man living in a dystopian version of the USA, who enters into a contest where he must evade deadly hunters for thirty days to claim a cash prize of $1 billion.
Sadly, The Running Man crashed and burned at the box office, becoming one of the year’s most notorious flops. Still, if there’s one scene that captured everyone’s attention, it was the one where Powell rappelled down a wall wearing nothing but a towel. The moment went viral and became The Running Man‘s most discussed scene, not only because it’s actually the film’s best and most original action sequence but also because of the undeniable appeal of seeing Glen Powell in peak shape. The Running Man actually has many other memorable setpieces, including the escape from Michael Cera‘s house, but not one stood a chance against Powell’s towel.
7
Bros Will Be Bros – ‘The White Lotus’
HBO’s sensation The White Lotus returned for its third season over two years after its previous installment. This time set in Thailand, the season was an exploration of faith, religion, and the often tenuous and confrontational bonds between people who love each other but can’t quite connect. Within its large ensemble, perhaps no duo gave audiences more to talk about than the Ratliff siblings, Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) and Lochlan (Sam Nivola).
Ever unafraid to ruffle feathers and explore taboo subjects, creator and writer Mike White laced the siblings’ dynamic with latent tension and homoeroticism, culminating in a quasi-threesome where Lochlan masturbates Saxon while having sex with a woman. The sequence was shocking by itself, but it was actually seeing the story’s progression and how it shaped the characters’ arcs that became the most interesting aspect. There was an admittedly voyeuristic element to the whole affair, but The White Lotus has always thrived on finding the soft spot between the morbidly alluring and the genuinely revealing. The Ratliffs’ story walked that fine line incredibly well, becoming the most talked-about aspect of a season full of them.
6
Marvel’s Chair Reveal
Much has been said about the current state of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Is the franchise dead or merely going through a particularly harsh bump? The truth probably lies somewhere in between; the studio’s latest efforts have doubtless underperformed, be it critically, commercially, or both, and interest in its titles is nowhere near the levels it achieved at its peak in the late 2010s.
And yet, how many other studios can claim to have paralyzed the entertainment landscape simply by announcing the cast for their upcoming crossover movie? On March 26, everyone and their mother watched an hours-long livestream where Marvel announced the absurdly long ensemble of the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, one chair at a time. Over 5 hours, names like Pedro Pascal, Florence Pugh, and Robert Downey Jr. appeared on the back of director’s chairs, and everyone ate it up. There were a few genuine surprises — the return of the 20th Century Studios’ X-Men, especially — but the chair gimmick was largely Marvel flexing its muscles and proving that it still had what it took to dominate the conversation like only it can.
5
“Episode 3” – ‘Adolescence’
The first half of 2025 had no shortage of incredible television, but one particular miniseries took the world by storm. Netflix’s Adolescence seemingly came out of nowhere and climbed the streamer’s charts, becoming one of 2025’s most-watched shows. The psychological drama miniseries follows Jamie (Owen Cooper), a 13-year-old boy who is arrested after the murder of a girl in his school. What follows is an eerie and insightful exploration of the consequences of today’s divided and polarizing culture in young boys’ minds.
The show is overall excellent, but its third hour, simply titled “Episode 3,” is the undeniable highlight and the main topic of conversation surrounding Adolescence. A one-take, anxiety-induced hour and a masterclass in tension, the episode is basically one long chess match between Jamie and forensic psychologist Briony (Erin Doherty). Harnessing the terror that comes with the unnatural prospect of a child killer into an extended game of one-upmanship, “Episode 3” quickly became a cultural event, both thanks to the superb performances from Cooper and Doherty and for its place as Adolescence‘s boiling point. At its core, “Episode 3” is an examination of masculinity, especially in a world that seems to have lost track of the word’s meaning.
4
Aunt Gladys’ Arrival – ‘Weapons’
Horror is definitely the genre of this generation. Few others can compare with the sheer level of consistently audacious, intriguing, and acclaimed efforts that horror delivers every year, and 2025 was no exception. Out of the many celebrated terrors that haunted cinema this year, few were better received or influential than Zach Cregger‘s Weapons, a peculiar mix of mystery, horror, and humor about a group of schoolchildren who suddenly run away from home one fateful night.
Perhaps the film’s greatest contribution to the entertainment landscape was the introduction of Amy Madigan‘s Aunt Gladys, an eccentric and one-of-a-kind villain and worthy heir to the hagsploitation lunatics of yore. Madigan’s acclaimed and (hopefully) soon-to-be-Oscar-nominated performance was among 2025’s most discussed topics, thanks to the actress’ unique blend of gonzo horror and unadulterated camp. Indeed, Gladys has fully entered the pop culture lexicon in a way that only true horror icons can. This Halloween already saw a considerable amount of Gladyses at countless parties, and considering a prequel of the character has been discussed, her legacy will only increase in the years to come.
3
“Golden” – ‘Kpop Demon Hunters’
In a shocking twist — although one that’s becoming more usual as we go deeper into the streaming age — the best animated movie of 2025 didn’t come from Disney, DreamWorks, or even Illumination, but rather from Netflix. Kpop Demon Hunters follows a world-famous girl group who doubles as demon destroyers tasked with protecting a barrier separating Earth from the demon realm.
Kpop Demon Hunter‘s spectacular success came from a mix of factors: a steady finger on the cultural pulse, vibrant and inspired animation, and catchy tunes that tickle every major K-pop box. Out of the movie’s many bangers, none dominated 2025 more than “Golden,” an explosive and outright irresistible electropop masterpiece that took over the cultural space with the strength of a thousand Blackpinks. “Golden” didn’t just conquer the charts; it obliterated them with an intensity that would make Disney’s “Let It Go” tremble in fear. There was simply no escaping “Golden,” and mind you, we didn’t want to. The song is so joyful, so infectious, so expertly engineered to conquer as many hearts as possible that one has no option other surrender to its charms. Gonna be, gonna be golden, indeed.
2
“The Cottage” – ‘Heated Rivalry’
Few, if anyone, expected Crave’s Heated Rivalry to become such a cultural milestone in 2025. Yet, since its debut, the adaptation of Rachel Reid‘s best-selling novels has arguably become the defining television event of 2025, taking over the conversation beyond the LGBTQ+ community, entering the pop culture lexicon, and launching its two young stars, Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams, into mainstream recognition.
The story of two rival hockey players who enter a years-long secret affair resonated with all types of audiences, leading to a cathartic final episode where long-gestating feelings finally come to the forefront. The show’s sixth and final hour, “The Cottage,” features the perfect balance of the show’s two key ingredients: explicit, erotically charged sex scenes and a tender, genuine, intimate connection between two young men trying to find themselves while navigating a difficult situation and uncertain emotions. The show’s fast-paced, emotional fifth hour might’ve made the most headlines, quickly entering IMDb’s highest-ranked episodes. However, it’s “The Cottage,” with its raw honesty and cathartic climax, that best represents and explains Heated Rivalry‘s impact as a genuine cultural phenomenon.
1
The Musical Sequence – ‘Sinners’
It really wouldn’t be an overstatement to say Ryan Coogler‘s Sinners was the movie event of 2025. Premiering in April, the film stars Michael B. Jordan as twin brothers defending their newly inaugurated juke joint from a band of fearsome vampires. Sinners exists on the crossroads between horror and action, with a heavy dose of supernatural elements. Both spirituality and music play major roles in the narrative, and all these elements come to a resounding crescendo during the film’s most celebrated sequence.
As promising musician Sammy (Miles Catton) plays his new song for the club, the tune transcends the barriers of time and space, summoning spirits from both past and present into the scene. It’s an exhilarating piece of cinematic art, an electrifying celebration of music and its power to connect individuals beyond their background, race, and beliefs. Beautifully staged by Coogler at the peak of his abilities, the scene is arguably the peak of 2025 cinema — indeed, it might just be the peak of 2020s cinema overall. Sinners is among the best movies of 2025, and this scene perfectly encapsulates its essence, distilling its genre elements into a perfect display of artistry. 2025 couldn’t have asked for a better showcase.