Winter break was, for many students, a much-needed reprieve from the hustle and bustle of finishing classes, finals, and maybe even working all at the same time.
For some, it was an opportunity to travel and spend time with loved ones and/or pets.
For others, it was an excuse to catch up on the newest movies–or their long-neglected watchlists.
One reporter from Voyager, a member of the latter group, has decided to do the former and rank them, from least to most watchable.
Note: Not all were released this year and there may be spoilers ahead.
- Saw V (2008; dir: David Hacki)
Following the death of John Kramer, best known as Jigsaw and played by Tobin Bell, the infamous puppeteer/murderer is killed, a cop named Mark Hoffman, played by Costas Mandylor, continues his legacy. Meanwhile, fellow cop, Peter Strahm, portrayed by Scott Patterson, begins to unravel the truth. Despite no previous setup, Hoffman is shoehorned in as an excuse to keep the grisly saw traps, what the series is known for, going. The traps in question, intended to teach the lesson of “teamwork,” are silly and easily solvable by those at home, making it frustrating when the characters go out of their way to make every possible bad decision. And, to top it off, the acting from every cast member except Tobin Bell was on par with a low-budget student film. A shockingly boring, yet frustrating, watch despite all the twists and turns of the plot.
- Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (2025; dir. Emma Tammi)
The second installment of the Five Nights at Freddy’s films follows the original Freddy Fazbear Pizza location, which was shut down after a little girl, Charlotte, played by Audrey Lynn Marie, was killed by an animatronic during a birthday party held at the pizzeria. Abby, played by Piper Rubio, the little girl from the first installment, wanting to fix the animatronics, accidentally helps Charlotte, now the Marionette puppet, begin her scheme of murdering all parents. Yes, the storyline is confusing, and no, the film doesn’t do much to help the viewer with that. If you want to watch this and understand what is going on, you need to understand the lore of the games. However, despite its confusing story, it is still a very fun film when it kicks into full gear in the second-half, after Abby becomes involved with the Marionette.
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989; dir. Jeremiah S. Chechik)
This is a Christmas classic for a reason. Clark Griswold, portrayed by Chevy Chase, decides he wants to have a perfect Christmas with the entire family. It goes about as well as you can imagine. Great gags, clever quips, and one of the most justified crash-outs from a main character when Clark discovers his holiday bonus from his job is a monthly jam delivery service, make for a great movie. However, cousin Eddie, played by Randy Quaid, is just too gross to the point where he makes certain parts nearly unwatchable, and upon a rewatch, it is much raunchier than one would assume from a family-themed Christmas movie. Not a movie you can show to your elementary-aged kids.
- Hamnet (2025; dir. Chloe Zhao)
A historical semi-fictional drama about Shakespeare, it follows his family and how a tragedy surrounding his children inspires him to write Hamlet. Jessie Buckley, who plays Agnes, Shakespeare’s wife, is the emotional core of the film. Watching her try her best to overcome her own traumas while also trying to be a good wife and mother kits close to home. Meanwhile, Paul Mescal as Shakespeare, does a fantastic job at balancing both the stoic and emotional parts of his role, as his character also battles with his own family traumas. Despite the heavy nature of the film and the slow pacing, it feels appropriate that a film about one of the most, if not the most, famous writers in history would feel like a book coming to life. Definitely worth watching, even if you have no interest in Shakespeare itself and just need a good movie to cry to.
Honorable mention:
The End of an Era (2025; dir. Don Argott)
This is not a movie, hence being in honorable mentions, nor is it fictional. No, this is the docuseries about Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour. Following the behind-the-scenes of the last few Eras Tour dates, it follows Taylor and her crew discussing how they made the shows come alive, backstage stories, and how the tour personally impacted them. While the technical details aren’t the primary focus, Taylor’s background dancers and singers, and her touring band, being given the chance to talk about their own narratives and lives was a nice change from the usual tour documentary, which would only focus on the artist themselves. For anyone who has any interest in learning more about The Eras Tour, this one is for you.
1. Marty Supreme (2025; dir. Josh Safdie)
Give Timothee Chalamet the Oscar already. Marty Mauser, portrayed by Chalamet, a professional table tennis player in 1952 New York City, is trying to get to the finals in Japan and ruins the lives of every single person around him in the process. The film is hilarious, with some of the quips being worthy of their own top five list (“I’m going to do to Kletzki what Auschwitz couldn’t,” being one of the best ones, as an example). However, this is a thriller at its core, as it’s one of those movies where everything goes wrong, and you just don’t know when the turning point will be. This feeling of anxiety would not be possible without how amazing all the performances are. Chalamet manages to simultaneously be one of the most charming, but also one of the most infuriating, characters on the big screen. He is Ferris Bueller for the new generation. Meanwhile, Odessa A’Zion, who plays Rachel, Mauser’s pregnant girlfriend, adds heart while also being a strong, multi-layered female protagonist. Incredibly good movie that will be thought and discussed for a very long time.
