A lot of great movies played during SXSW 2025. Here are all the SXSW movies I watched ranked from worst to best.
SXSW 2025 featured a lot of incredible films this year. From The Accountant 2 to Together, here are of the movies I watched, ranked from worst to best.
The Accountant 2
If you like the first The Accountant film because it is a spy thriller with a lot of great action, temper your expectations going into The Accountant 2. This time it leans more into the comedic side of things and while there is still some action, it is secondary to everything else. Whenever Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal are together on screen, it is clear they are having a blast, but something about this movie just does not live up to the original.
Another Simple Favor
Another Simple Favor is more or less exactly what I expected it to be. The first movie is better, lets get that out of the way first, but it is still a good movie. Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively continue the awkward chemistry of the first movie that boarders on obsession and sexual tension. It is funnier than I anticipated and the mystery aspect kept me entertained, but it is not without its issues.
The Surrender
Everyone deals with grief in their own way, which is a central theme in The Surrender. However, I highly doubt many people have gone the route that Barbara (Kate Burton) goes after she loses her husband. Much to her daughter Megan’s (Colby Minifie) surprise, she brings in a man to do a ritual that will supposedly bring him back from the dead.
The Astronaut
On paper, The Astronaut sounds like a fantastic Science Fiction film. Kate Mara stars in a movie filled to the brim with paranoia as an astronaut who returns to space and becomes fairly confident an alien creature has followed her back. While it doesn’t really do anything new, and is often predictable, Mara’s stellar performance makes The Astronaut worth checking out.
Ash
Some movies are made to be seen on the big screen – Ash is one of them. This twisted, trippy, psychological thriller is best experienced in a dark theater with no distractions so that you can become fully immersed in it. Right from the opening sequence, I was all in, finding myself on the edge of my seat, going on a journey with Riya (Eiza Gonzalez) as she tries to rediscover who she is.
The Surfer
I am always down for a Nicolas Cage movie. I don’t even have to look at the synopsis or trailer, I will watch it. Tell me Nicolas Cage is in it and I am seated. And that is exactly what happened with The Surfer at SXSW.
The Dutchman
If you love a twisted movie that will make you think, The Dutchman is for you. This film follows a man named Clay (André Holland) who is struggling to make things work with his wife Kaya (Zazie Beetz) when one of the worst possible things that could happen to them does – a strange woman (Kate Mara) takes an interest in Clay when she meets him on a subway train.
Friendship
Admittedly I am not the biggest fan of Tim Robinson’s I Think You Should Leave. Sometimes the jokes land for me and sometimes they don’t. Because of this I went into Friendship cautiously optimistic. I love Paul Rudd’s work so that is what initial sparked my interest in the movie. Surprisingly, this ended up being one of my favorite films to come out of SXSW 2025.
O’Dessa
O’Dessa is truly like nothing you have ever seen before. It is, by definition, an epic rock opera, but it is so much more. Sadie Sink is phenomenal in the lead role not only proving her acting chops, but her sining skills as well. This film delivers many unforgettable moments with its vibrant storytelling.
Holland
If you have seen the trailer for Holland and thought that it has shown too much, have no fear, that is not the case at all. I went into this movie thinking that I knew exactly what was going to happen and boy was I wrong. While it is a bit of a slowburn at first, once the third act hits, the results are so satisfying that you will forget the time it took to get there. That said, I would have loved for the big reveal to happen a little bit earlier simply so we could spend a little more time in that juicy spot of knowing everything.
Death Of A Unicorn
From the first moment I saw the trailer for Death of a Unicorn, I knew it was right up my alley. Thankfully, it did not disappoint. This film is over the top and absolutely ridiculous, which is to be expected when you know it about killer unicorns.
Clown In A Cornfield
I need to preface this review by stating that I hate clowns. Ever since I watched IT when I was way too young, they absolutely terrify me. So why would I subject myself to Clown In A Cornfield? Honestly, I have no idea. I just love a good slasher and this one seemed like it was going to be a lot of fun. Thankfully, it is a blast and has everything that I love in a slasher – well, except for the clowns.
The Ballad Of Wallis Island
Every once in a while, a movie comes along that just touches you in a way you did not expect going into it. The Ballad of Wallis Island is one of those movies.
Because of the world’s current climate, and so many heavy movies coming out, it was nice to sit back and enjoy a refreshing, charming, feel-good film. Yes, there are some deeper moments, and I am not afraid to admit that I teared up more than once, but overall this movie is a celebration of humanity, relationships, and music. It is something we all could use right now, trust me.
Drop
Blumhouse’s Drop is exactly the movie I wanted it to be. A brisk, albeit intense, thriller that will have audiences on the edge of their seats. It takes place in one setting, for the most part, adding to the claustrophobic feeling, which keeps the heart rate elevated.
Together
I came into SXSW 2025 having heard that Together was the best film to come out of Sundance, which made it one of my most anticipated movies of the fest. I went in as blind as possible, literally only knowing it was a horror movie starring Dave Franco and Alison Brie, who are married in real life. They are both incredible actors, who have worked together before, but I was excited to see where this movie was going to take us.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.