ScreenRant's team of critics has reviewed a wide variety of movies while attending the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. The festival, which is also known as TIFF, is one of the most prestigious in the world and is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary.
A number of Toronto International Film Festival movies have gone on to huge success. A wide variety of Oscar-nominees and winners have premiered at TIFF, including 127 Hours, Slumdog Millionaire, Precious, The Fabelmans, Silver Linings Playbook, and The King's Speech.
While it remains to be seen which movies from this year's festival (which runs through September 14) will achieve such high honors, ScreenRant's reviews of some of the biggest titles that have already screened at TIFF 2025, which can be found below, can offer some insight into the way the tide is turning.
Bad Apples
This dark comedy stars Saoirse Ronan as a young teacher whose elementary classroom becomes a psychological battleground with a particularly unruly student. Read an excerpt from Mae Abdulbaki's unscored Bad Apples review below:
Bad Apples is daring, creatively handling Maria’s situation as it reaches unexpected heights. The film is genuinely funny, and the cast is up to the task as the story balances impending consequences for Maria’s actions and gasp-inducing comedic satire.
Blue Moon
Richard Linklater's new biopic stars Ethan Hawke as Lorenz Hart, the former writing partner of Richard Rodgers, who attempts to deal with his feelings at a bar on the opening night of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!. It earned a solid score of 7 out of 10 from Rachel Labonte. Read an excerpt from her Blue Moon review below:
As a character study, Blue Moon is imperfect, but its smart framing of a pivotal moment in Hart's life elevates it. I may not have been on board with every moment, but the ending has lingered in my brain since I first saw it, and for that reason alone, I think Linklater has pulled off something almost remarkable.
California Schemin'
This unusual music biopic, which is the directorial debut of Split star James McAvoy, stars Samuel Bottomley and Séamus McLean Ross as Silibil N' Brains, a Scottish rap duo who pretended to be American. The movie earned 7 out of 10 from Rachel Labonte. Read an excerpt from her California Schemin' review below:
It feels both nostalgic and charmingly down-to-earth, highlighting their humble origins to contrast with the privileged world they enter. In general, McAvoy seems to be drawing from his own upbringing in Scotland to shape the visual style of California Schemin', and it pays off, fully immersing the audience in the boys' world.
Carolina Caroline
This new romantic crime thriller features director Adam Carter Rehmeier reuniting with his Dinner in America collaborator Kyle Gallner, who co-stars with Ready or Not's Samara Weaving. It earned a score of 7 out of 10 from Graeme Guttman. Read an excerpt from his Carolina Caroline review below:
[Tom] Dean’s script often gestures as to the ways this story is relevant to our times, even if the film itself feels like it takes place outside of time. But that's the thing about Carolina Caroline — stories are told time and time again, but when they're told this well and with this much passion, it doesn't matter how many times you've heard it.
Christy
This anticipated sports biopic stars Euphoria and Anyone But You actor Sydney Sweeney as boxing legend Christy Martin, who is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. The movie earned 5 out of 10 from Rachel Labonte. Read an excerpt from her Christy review below:
Rather than being a well-rounded look at Martin's life, Christy offers a shallow, unbalanced perspective. It's light on its feet in some parts and heavy-handed in others, and though Sweeney gives a strong performance, I can't help but feel like she deserved a better showcase for her talents.
Driver's Ed
Driver's Ed, which was directed by Bobby Farrelly (There's Something About Mary), stars White Lotus season 3 breakout Sam Nivola as a teenager who decides to go on a road trip using a car he stole from his driver's ed teacher. It earned a score of 6 out of 10 from Rachel Labonte.
Read an excerpt from her Driver's Ed review below:
Driver's Ed hardly reinvents the wheel when it comes to the YA world, and it's far from perfect. Still, with its string of solid laughs and a very game cast, it makes for an entertaining adventure that goes down easy.
Good Boy
This new thriller stars Oscar nominee Andrea Riseborough and three-time Emmy nominee Stephen Graham as a couple who kidnaps a teenage delinquent in an attempt to make him a better person. It ultimately earned a score of 6 out of 10 from Graeme Guttman. Read an excerpt from his Good Boy review below:
There is hardly enough room in Good Boy for a meditation on the state of immigration in the United Kingdom, let alone the rest of the ideas the film is wrestling with. Thankfully, Boon, Graham, and Riseborough do enough to anchor the film and bring it home as it lands on a strangely poignant note both chilling and endearing.
Hamlet
The latest adaptation of one of William Shakespeare's most famous plays stars Riz Ahmed as the title character and transposes the action from Denmark to modern London. It earned 7 out of 10 from Mae Abdulbaki. Read an excerpt from her Hamlet review below:
The film won’t be for everyone. It’s long, and the film takes its time getting to the end. But even with its slower pace, there’s always something worth engaging with narratively. The use of Shakespearean dialogue isn’t always easy to understand, but the spirit of what is being said is felt. With an exceptional performance from Ahmed and style meets substance storytelling, Hamlet is a journey worth taking.
The Lost Bus
The Lost Bus, which takes place during the devastating 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California, was directed by Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy, Captain Phillips) and follows a school bus driver (Matthew McConaughey) and a teacher (America Ferrera) attempting to evacuate a stranded elementary class.
The movie earned a score of 6 out of 10 from Mae Abdulbaki. Read an excerpt from her The Lost Bus review below:
What it lacks is more than made up with a great cast, distressing moments, and some well-shot action. The Lost Bus is a reminder that there are always people in the world who are willing to put their lives on the line to keep others safe, especially in situations they have no control over, and Greengrass’ film is a heartwarming reminder of that.
The Man In My Basement
Nadia Latif’s feature directorial debut follows a down-on-his-luck Black man (Corey Hawkins) who receives an offer to rent the basement of a mysterious older businessman (Willem Dafoe). The movie, which also stars Anna Diop and Tamara Lawrance, earned 5 out of 10 from Mae Abdulbaki. Read an excerpt from her The Man in My Basement review below:
The Man in My Basement isn’t the most riveting film, and it’ll struggle to maintain your attention. Its themes have been better tackled in other films but it has its merits. A great cast and patience will prove only somewhat rewarding, even if the journey to get there is shaky and more than a bit confusing.
Mile End Kicks
This romantic comedy about a young woman named Grace (Barbie Ferreira) getting a job as a music critic at a male-dominated publication also stars Jay Baruchel, Devon Bostick, and Juliette Gariépy. Read an excerpt from Mae Abdulbaki's unscored Mile End Kicks review below:
Grace is a great protagonist and, though the romance element of her life could have been played up a tad more, there’s so much baked into her story that’s worth investing in. Filled with heartfelt moments and hardships amidst Grace’s growing young adulthood pains, [director Chandler] Levack’s film plays like a new music album that is familiar yet exciting.
No Other Choice
The new thriller from BAFTA winner Park Chan-wook (Oldboy, The Handmaiden) stars Squid Game's Lee Byung-hun as a man who is fired after 25 years and makes a desperate choice to target his competition for a new position. It earned a glowing 8 out of 10 from Graeme Guttman. Read an excerpt from his No Other Choice review below:
No Other Choice is a sprawling epic, one that feels like it’s threatening to burst at any second. Through sheer force of will, though, Park and Lee hold the proceedings together. It’s bleak and hysterical and violent — everything you’d want from a Park film. But it’s also devastatingly intimate and intensely relevant, both in the ways it tackles questions of identity and our place within an increasingly dangerous system, one that could feasibly lead people to murder.
Poetic License
This comedy about a love triangle between two college friends and an older woman is the feature directorial debut of Euphoria star Maude Apatow. Like many directorial efforts by actors, Poetic License boasts a star-studded cast. In this case, the gathered ensemble includes Leslie Mann, Andrew Barth Feldman, and Cooper Hoffman.
The movie, which also stars How to Train Your Dragon's Nico Parker and My Old Ass breakout Maisy Stella, earned 8 out of 10 from Rachel Labonte. Read an excerpt from her Poetic License review below.
Poetic License has a classic sort of feel that makes it a very enjoyable watch. It keeps a good pace, mixes the heart with the hilarious, and spotlights an incredible collection of performers. Apatow clearly knows what she's doing here, and I'll be excited to see what she does next behind the camera.
Rental Family
The new movie from Japanese director Hikari stars Oscar winner Brendan Fraser as a down-on-his-luck actor who takes a job as a real-life stand-in, whose life becomes complicated when he is cast to play a young girl's father. The movie earned a near-perfect 9 out of 10 from Mae Abdulbaki. Read an excerpt from her Rental Family review below:
Rental Family is practically poetic in its handling of its themes. It gets to the root of human emotions and how they’re affected by the world around us and the decisions made by others. It’s a heartwarming film that asks thoughtful questions, and I promise you won’t be disappointed by its answers.
Roofman
The new drama from Blue Valentine director Derek Cianfrance is based on a true story and stars Channing Tatum as Jeffrey Manchester, a robber with a heart of gold who spends time living in the walls of a Toys "R" Us. The movie earned a superb 8 out of 10 from Rachel Labonte. Read an excerpt from her Roofman review below:
[Roofman] is a great character study, one that takes its time with its subject and shows all of his strengths and flaws in great detail. It’s the kind of story that people can’t help but be entertained by, and even when it lags, you’ll want to stick around to see how it ends.
Sacrifice
The new movie from Athena director Romain Gavras stars Chris Evans as Mike Tyler, a movie star who is kidnapped by a group who thinks they can save the world by making a human sacrifice. The robust ensemble cast also includes Anya Taylor-Joy, Salma Hayek, Jeremy O. Harris, Charli XCX, Ambika Mod, Sam Richardson, Vincent Cassel, and John Malkovich.
The movie earned a mixed score of 4 out of 10 from Mae Abdulbaki. Read an excerpt from her Sacrifice review below:
Sacrifice has all the parts to make it intriguing, but it gets in its own way. Messy, strange, and somewhat baffling, Gavras’ film is chaos personified. For this sometimes funny film, I wish that were a good thing.
Steve
This upcoming Netflix movie, which follows a day in the life of a harried headteacher at a school for troubled boys, is Cillian Murphy's second movie after winning the Best Actor Oscar for Oppenheimer. The tense drama earned 6 out of 10 from Mae Abdulbaki. Read an excerpt from her Steve review below:
It’s a film where the characters are especially memorable, and that’s what makes it pop. It highlights the difficulties facing these schools, as well as the often tumultuous feelings that come with both being a student and a teacher there. Its focus may have needed some more fine-tuning, but Steve proves meaningful regardless.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Rian Johnson's third installment in the Knives Out franchise is one of the most anticipated debuts at TIFF. The whodunit stars Daniel Craig returning as detective Benoit Blanc, opposite a new star-studded ensemble cast that includes Josh O'Connor, Josh Brolin, Thomas Haden Church, Andrew Scott, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, and Glenn Close.
The movie earned a middling 6 out of 10 from Mae Abdulbaki. Read an excerpt from her Wake Up Dead Man review below:
Despite its pitfalls, Wake Up Dead Man is still enjoyable. It has its charming moments, there’s a lot to think about in terms of the story, and the cast is good, if not great, overall. It’s just hard to watch the movie and realize the mystery and excitement have waned.
The Wizard Of The Kremlin
The Wizard of the Kremlin is the latest film from Clouds of Sils Maria director Olivier Assayas. The satirical political thriller stars Paul Dano as Vadim Baranov, an artist turned corrupt politician in the 1990s Soviet Union whose story intersects with the rise of Vladimir Putin (Jude Law).
The Toronto International Film Festival movie, which also stars Alicia Vikander, Tom Sturridge, and Jeffrey Wright, earned a score of 4 out of 10 from Graeme Guttman. Read an excerpt from his The Wizard of the Kremlin review below:
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