Tag: 251225

It’s been a year

A look back at 2025 and what’s ahead in 2026

Local music kicked off with a twang in January when Modern Fools celebrated the release of Clearly Country, a record inspired by both Gram Parsons and a sign the Monadnock region band’s main songwriter found at a yard sale. Another band member, Ian Galipeau, made a great LP of his own, About A Horse, later in the year.

It was one of many original local music shows at BNH Stage, whose “Locally Sourced” music series regularly showcases regional talent. Another great one was the JamAntics reunion show in April, with fellow jamsters Superfrog providing a stellar opening set. The next Locally Sourced show is Fox & the Flamingos and Phoenix Syndicate on Jan. 23.

The Concord venue, along with the similarly sized Music Hall Lounge in Portsmouth and Manchester’s Rex Theatre, gave many area performers access to a big stage, pro lighting and sound. The January 603 Songwriters in the Round show at the Rex offered three of New Hampshire’s best: Miketon Graton, Ryan Jackson and Tristan Omand.

Tribute acts were prevalent. There were a few impressive ones, like Lotus Land playing the catalog of Rush, not an easy feat, and Shawn Barker’s Man In Black, a Johnny Cash revue that had audiences almost believing they were watching the real thing. Barker will be back in April to play Nashua’s Center for the Arts.

A few do more than one act, like Foreigner’s Journey, and Pink Talking Fish, a three-way fusion of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and a beloved Vermont jam band. Currently doing a New Year’s run from the Midwest to Buffalo with another blender band called Steely Dead, they’re also in Nashua, on Jan. 24.

Speaking of Phish, the group took over Manchester in late June for a three-night run at SNHU Arena, the first time they played that many dates in the city. To celebrate, a slew of activities popped up around the shows, including a Phan Art show at the Doubletree and more than a few pre- and post-show concerts at bars and restaurants.

Other favorite shows in 2025 included Ward Hayden & the Outliers doing an intimate show at Pembroke City Limits, a venue that continued to shine after opening in mid-2024, and Alison Krauss & Union Station at Meadowbrook, er, BankNH Pavilion, with Krauss singing and playing like an angel and Jerry Douglas’s dobro utterly sublime.

The regional comedy scene grew, with more places offering standup and a growing group of promoters. For the first time, Hampton Beach’s annual comedy festival happened without a set from its founder, Jimmy Dunn, who was focused on his lifelong dream — headlining Casino Ballroom, his hometown venue, for the first time — he killed.

Many big names came through town this season. Tom Papa, Brad Williams, David Cross and Kathleen Madigan all had summer shows. Newer comics included Joe Fenti (at the Rex in January), Zane Lamprey’s drink and joke schtick (he’s at two more breweries this spring) and Boston ex-pat Stacy Kendro, who returned post-pandemic and is rising fast.

It was a vibrant year and the scene shows no signs of slowing down in 2026. Many great shows have been announced; some have sold out, like Alison Krauss and her band’s New Hampshire return to a relatively smaller venue, Portsmouth’s Music Hall. Peter Wolf’s return to live shows is booked there as well, and ducats are almost gone at press time.

Featured photo: Rob Steen. Courtesy photo.

First Night laughs

New Year’s Eve is all about comedy

The best way to look back at a year like 2025 is with laughter.

Looking at New Year’s Eve in New Hampshire, that’s the prevailing wisdom. There are no fewer than 14 comedy events, 16 if you count Dueling Pianos. From the big rooms — Manchester has Jimmy Dunn, Bob Marley is in Rochester and Juston McKinney’s Year In Review is back in Nashua — to Underground Comedy on the Seacoast, it’s all about the funny.

Comedian Rob Steen recognized this idea a long time ago and has produced New Year’s Eve parties throughout the state for years. To ring in 2026, Steen’s Headliners Comedy is holding two bashes each in Manchester and Nashua and another in Concord, along with supplying a comic for a Dover show that he isn’t promoting.

The event in Manchester is a variety show with DJ dancing and Beatles tribute act Studio Two. New York comic magician Kevin Lee tops a bill including regional favorite Harrison Stebbins and newcomer Jolanda Logan, who hails from Derry and came up through a process that resembles minor-league baseball.

“I started booking her about a year and a half ago, and I’ve been giving her tons of work to kind of get her into … call it a farm system,” Steen said in a recent phone interview. It’s a process many newbies have endured, performing at the many places his production company books throughout New England.

From campsites to greenhouses, Steen will do a show pretty much anywhere.

“There’s no venue that’s not appropriate for comedy,” he said, which means new comics can experience a wide range of audiences. “I’ll give them, like, three Elks Clubs, four summer camps, a private, a corporate and a club gig, and see how they do. Because they’re all different.”

One of Steen’s newer venues is Concord’s Arts Alley. This year he’s doing a Dueling Pianos show on New Year’s Eve, and next year Frank Santorelli of Sopranos fame will launch standup there with a Valentine’s Day show, with others to come. He also launched comedy recently at nearby Pembroke City Limits in Suncook; it will return Feb. 18.

2026 will also mark four decades as a comic for Steen. He began as a teenager, telling jokes along with street performing as a juggler. Getting booked there was tough due to his age, so he headed north.

“I took a bus to Manchester and started doing shows at the Center of New Hampshire, when it was a Holiday Inn,” he said. “Been at that location ever since.”

Through a variety of name and ownership changes, Headliners Comedy Club has been a fixture at what’s now Doubletree Hotel on Elm Street in Manchester. For years, shows were held wherever space was available until the hotel restaurant was remodeled, becoming New Hampshire’s first venue dedicated to comedy.

Forty years is many lifetimes in entertainment promotion, and Rob Steen has seen many aspirants come and go along the way. Believing that while one effort was admirable, many meant a trend good for all, he’s wished each of them well.

“It’s refreshing to see the guys doing it,” he said, adding that he tries to offer guidance when he can. “I talk to them about the do’s and the don’ts [and urge them to] be ethical, I guess. To have a moral compass. Don’t go and put on crappy shows, and try to be nice to everybody.”

Featured photo: Rob Steen. Courtesy photo.

So long, 2025

New Year’s events abound

There are many ways to mark year’s end and ring in 2026, a couple for the morning after, and more than a few for folks who just don’t like staying up past midnight but enjoy a party nonetheless.

100 Club (100 Market St., Portsmouth, 766-4100) Reservations required, DJ James Fairchild provides the music with late-night snacks, dessert buffet, fireworks, party favors and dancing.

815 Cocktails & Provisions (815 Elm St., Manchester, eventbrite.com) Once Upon A Midnight party begins with a handcrafted, fairytale-inspired drink created exclusively for the event, burlesque by Siren of the Circle & Jazzy Belle, magic by Ben Hughes, dancing, themed photo booth and a curated menu of party-friendly bites designed to keep the energy high and the night flowing. $65.87

Alan’s (133 N. Main St., Boscawen, 753-6631) Whiskey Rain Band plays a mix of blues, classic and Southern rock.

American Legion Post 10 (24 Maple St., Wilton, 654-9996) The Boogie Men perform at a disco-themed party.

American Legion Post 4 (797 Court St., Keene, 352-9703) $30, MV19 rocks in the new year. Includes hors d’oeuvres, sandwich station, midnight toast and party favors.

American Legion Post 47 (551 Foundry St., Rollinsford, 742-5833) $10, Bad Breath Microphone Band performs, appetizers and pizza served throughout the night.

American Legion Post 8 (640 Central Ave., Dover, 742-9710) An annual tradition, Dancing Madly Backwards plays live music, with full bar, food and snacks, dance floor.

Arts Alley (20 S Main St, Concord, 406-5666, artsalleyconcordnh.com) The New Year’s Eve Gala runs from 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec.31 to 1 a.m., Thursday, Jan.1. Celebrate with an evening of dining, music, and dancing. There will be a festive cocktail hour with appetizers, followed by a dinner buffet. Dueling Pianos and a live DJ will provide music. Tickets are $151.23. 21+.

Ash Cigar Lounge (92A Route 125, Kingston, 347-5499) Diamonds and Gold party has Lu NH Music channeling the smooth charm of Frank Sinatra, with cigar discounts and appetizer buffet, Champagne at midnight.

Auspicious Brew (1 Washington St., Dover, 953-7240) Drag show with Raya Sunshine & Friends, live music by Cozy Throne and The Jerritones, dance beats from DJ XO and a collective tarot reading by Jezmina. $20 advance, $25 day of event.

Averill House Vineyard (21 Averill Road, Brookline, 244-3165) $79 in the winery, and $399 igloo and gazebo experiences are available. Evening includes a complimentary wine pairing and five-course Brazilian dinner. Ring in 2026 in Rio time.

Belknap Mill (25 Beacon St., Laconia, 524-8813) $100 and up. Mix and mingle in your finest cocktail attire while enjoying heavy hors d’oeuvres, an open bar, music, and dancing as we count down to midnight.

BNH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) Dress in James Bond attire at Ritz & Royale, a Casino Royale-style escape where elegance meets danger, cocktails meet espionage, and the crowd is dressed to kill — Bond-style tuxedos, silk gowns, pearls, feathers, gloves, velvet suits, and vintage glam encouraged. $50 and up.

Boards & Brews (941 Elm St., Manchester, eventbrite.com) Unlimited games for the night, an appetizer buffet, and an open bar with plenty of non-alcoholic options available. $81.88

Bogie’s (32 Depot Square, Hampton, 926-2202) Everlovin’ Rosie performs at a masquerade ball with prizes for best costumes. $25.

Bonfire (950 Elm St., Manchester, 663-7678) This downtown hub for country music would be having a big party, but they are closed due to flooding caused by a burst pipe above the bar. A GoFundMe to help with recovery costs was launched and has seen lots of support.

BrickHouse Restaurant & Brewery (241 Union Sq., Milford, 672-2270) Joppa Flats play rock covers.

Bridgewater Inn (367 Mayhew Turnpike, Bridgewater, 744-3518) Classic rock band No Shame performs downstairs, with DJ Di upstairs spinning all night long. $60 per person includes buffet (5:30-7:30 p.m.) and party; $20 for party only. Hats & tiaras, noisemakers, beads and Champagne toast.

Buckey’s (240 Governor Wentworth Highway, Moultonborough, 476-5485) The tradition continues with Red Hat Band performing.

Casey Magee’s Irish Pub (8 Temple St., Nashua, 484-7400) Annual New Year’s Eve Dance Party with music by DJ Bobby Lane starting at 9 p.m. leading into the countdown. No cover, 21+

Chop Shop (920 Lafayette Road, Seabrook, 760-7706) Inner Child plays classic rock covers, with a little black dress and best dressed contest to choose a queen and king

Copper Door (15 Leavy Drive, Bedford, 488-2677) Clint Lapointe plays from 7 to 10 p.m. and the restaurant stays open until 11 p.m.

Copper Door (41 S. Broadway, Salem, 458-2033) Dave Clark plays from 7 to 10 p.m. and the restaurant stays open until 11 p.m.

Derryfield (625 Mammoth Road, Manchester, 623-2880) $36. Once again the Chad LaMarsh Band, a high-energy dance combo with male and female lead vocals, entertains with tunes from the ’60s to now, with Champagne toast at midnight and party favors.

Epoch Restaurant & Bar (2 Pine St., Exeter, 778-EPOCH) Prix fixe dinner and a sparkling wine toast before midnight.

Fody’s (9 Clinton St., Nashua, 577-9015) $10. Massachusetts party rock band Sugarbush plays covers.

Fody’s Derry (187 1/2 Rockingham Road, Derry, 404-6946) $10. Rockingham Boys provide the music.

Forum Pub (15 Village St., Concord, 552-0137) Shaun McGyver & Friends provide the party music.

Foster’s Tavern (403 Main St., Alton Bay, 875-1234) Dan Fallon rings in the new year.

Fratello’s (155 Dow St., Manchester, 624-2022) Jamie Hughes plays early.

Fury’s Publick House (1 Washington St., Dover, 617-3633) Local favorite Tim Theriault plays a no-cover party.

Gate City Casino (55 Northeastern Blvd., Nashua, 943-5630) Disco Countdown is the theme this year, with free play prizes, giveaways, DJ, photo booth, hotel shuttle and more.

Giuseppe’s (312 DW Highway, Meredith, 279-3313) Jeffrey D. Mitchell sings and plays guitar early.

Goosefeathers Pub (Mt. Sunapee Resort, Newbury, 763-3500) New Year’s Bash has food and fun featuring the annual bonfire, S’moresmobile and live music in their Unplugged Den.

Governors Inn (78 Wakefield St., Rochester, 332-0107) Curmudjun plays rock covers following a grand buffet, with a midnight toast. $95.

Homestead (641 DW Highway, Merrimack, 429-2022) Lou Antonucci performing original material as well as the best of classic acoustic artists like Harry Chapin, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, James Taylor, Bob Dylan and many more.

Howlin’ Wolf Taqueria (40 Pleasant St., Portsmouth, 956-4566) $10 Chica-Chida Espresso Martinis and grab some Chica-Chida swag.

Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club (135 Congress St., Portsmouth, 603-5299) $54. NYE 2025 with BT ALC Big Band featuring special guest Nephrok. Since the group’s formation in 2011, BT ALC Big Band, led by trombonist Brian Thomas and trumpeter Alex Lee-Clark, has reshaped the depiction of the big band ensemble.

LaBelle Winery (345 Route 101, Amherst, 672-9898) Roaring ’20s Gatsby Party has four-course dinner with wine pairings, spectacle entertainment from Cirque de Light, 1920s themed-decor, and live Jazz Age music with an open dance floor.

Lake Estate (725 Laconia Road, Tilton, 202-3600) The party begins with a formal welcome reception from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. featuring hot and cold canapés and cash bar, followed by a festive dinner and dance from 8:15 p.m. to 12:15 a.m., complete with a refined three-course meal, live music from Soul City Band, and midnight Champagne toast.

Lakeport Opera House (781 Union Ave., Laconia, 519-7506) Eric Grant Band and DJ music, only general admission seats remain.

Local Street Eats (112 W. Pearl St., Nashua, 402-4435, local-streeteats.com) will host a Disco & Diamonds New Year’s Eve celebration Wednesday, Dec. 31, from 10 p.m. until midnight. Reservations are highly encouraged at local-streeteats.com/visit.

Loon Mountain (60 Loon Mountain Road, Lincoln, 745-8111) End-of-year celebration in the resort’s Paul Bunyan Room includes live music, a midnight toast, and hot and cold hors-d’oeuvres.

Looney Bin (564 Endicott St., Laconia, 366-2300) There’s no NYE bash, but on New Year’s Day there will be a hangover party.

Lynn’s 102 Tavern (76 Derry Road, Hudson, 943-7832) ’70s tribute band Time Bomb rings in the new year, coincidentally on its singer’s birthday.

McIntyre Ski Area (50 Chalet St., Manchester, 622-6159) Ring in the new year with a live DJ, take a shot at ski boot pong or spin our wheel for a chance to win some epic prizes. Included with the full price One Great Rate ticket is a tubing ticket to be redeemed during the 2025/26 winter season. All purchases include hot chocolate, coffee and appetizer buffet. Atlas Fireworks kick off at 9 p.m.

Music Hall Lounge (131 Congress St.., Portsmouth, 436-2400) Rockspring is a high-energy string band that has quickly gained a strong following in the New England region. This show will ring in the new year at midnight.

Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, 668-5588) Recycled Percussion.

Pat’s Peak Ski Area (686 Flanders Road, Henniker, 728-7732) New Year’s fireworks at 9:20 p.m., ski, ride and tube (lifts open until 8:45 p.m.) and dancing to Dave & Wally in the Sled Pub from 6 to 9 p.m. No traditional NYE party this year.

Peddler’s Daughter (48 Main St., Nashua, 821-7535) Dinner, party favors and Champagne toast.

Penuche’s Ale House (6 Pleasant St., Concord, 228-9833) Concord rockers Rosewood Park play the party in this beloved basement bar.

Portsmouth Gas Light (64 Market St., Portsmouth, 430-9122) Roaring Gatsby Prohibition Party, dress to impress (1920s attire encouraged). $65 and up.

Press Room (77 Daniel St., Portsmouth, 431-5186) Electric Abduction: New Year’s Eve at The Press Room Presented by the Portsmouth Rave Project in collaboration with Trigger(House feat. DJ Chad Banks, Jay Sync, Jam!n, & Rh3tt) $65 and up

Revo Casino (887B Central Ave., Dover, 742-9632) Stray Dog plays rock covers at this no-cover party.

Revo Casino (369 Miracle Mile, Lebanon, 678-5906) Project 416 plays rock covers at this no-cover party.

Riley’s Place (29 Mont Vernon St., Milford, 325-2177) Aces & Eights NYE party, $10 admission includes Champagne toast.

Rockingham Ballroom (22 Ash Swamp Road, Newmarket, eventbrite.com) DJs Johnny Groovy and Soul Sister Pamela with jazz piano opener, appetizers, finger foods, Champagne toast and prizes $50 and $75 BYOB.

Rooftop at the Envio (299 Vaughn St., Portsmouth, eventbrite.com) Masquerade-themed party includes a selection of passed hors d’oeuvres, an iced seafood raw bar, and a variety of appetizers to savor throughout the evening. Plus, enjoy two sparkling toasts — one to kick off the celebration as you arrive, and another at midnight to ring in the new year with friends. $130.

Rumor Tapas & Lounge (1055 Elm St., Manchester, 786-9277) EP’s All-White Takeover NYE hosted by Millyz “Blanco.” All-white affair, VIP bottle service, midnight vibes, extended liquor — last call 2 a.m. $45 at eventbrite.com.

Rumors Sports Bar (22 N. Main St., Newmarket, 659-2329) DJ Kelly Elliott rings in 2026. $23 at eventbrite.com.

Saddle Up Saloon (92 Route 125, Kingston, 369-6962) Early Ball Drop Bash is a family-friendly New Year’s Eve party.

Salt Hill Pub Lebanon (2 W. Park St., Lebanon, 448-4532) $10 DJ Tony Jagzx for a dance party & karaoke extravaganza.

Salt Hill Pub Newport (58 Main St., Newport, 863-7774) The AC/DC Experience has been bringing both Bon Scott- and Brian Johnson-era high voltage rock ’n’ roll to New England for years. Featuring Dean Celesia on vocals and Jonny Friday on lead guitar, they bring favorite hits for an intense, high-energy rock show with the swing, sound and passion of AC/DC.

Sawtooth Kitchen (Under Allen Street, Hanover, 643-5134) Canopy returns for their third consecutive NYE party — the last two years have sold out.

Shaskeen (909 Elm St., Manchester, 625-0246) $60. DJ Myth hosts an all-inclusive Epic New Year’s Bash with 200 tickets sold covering a dinner buffet, midnight Champagne toast, live DJ and open bar (no shots). The club will be closed to anyone without tickets (21+ only).

Sled Pub (24 Flanders Road, Henniker, 888-728-7732) New Year’s fireworks at 9:20 p.m. (lifts close at 8:45 p.m.) with Dave & Wally playing in the Sled Pub. No NYE party; night lift tickets start at 4 p.m., last call 10:30 p.m.

Soho Bistro (20 Old Granite St., Manchester, 222-1677) Welcome 2026 with fun, friends and food all night long, $12.50 at eventbrite.com.

Stone Church (5 Granite St., Newmarket, 659-7700) Cold Engines w/ Soul Rebel Project.

Strange Brew (88 Market St., Manchester, 666-4292) Glad Valley Record Release Party.

Stumble Inn (20 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, 432-3210) Slakas.

Sweeney Post (251 Maple St., Manchester, 623-9145) $10pp, Music is by The Hey Moe Band, 6:30 p.m. cocktails, 7 p.m. potluck.

Taverne on the Square (2 Pleasant St., Claremont, 287-4416) Jake McLaughlin and Friends perform. Music will start at 7:30 p.m. and run as long as you are willing to dance.

The Brook (319 New Zealand Road, Seabrook, livefreeandplay.com) Rat Pack Tribute $35/

The Goat MHT (50 Old Granite St., Manchester, 603-4628) Run For Covers plays rock covers to ring in 2026.

Thirsty Moose (21 Congress St, Portsmouth, 427-8645) Down By Ten.

Throwback Brewery (7 Hobbs Road, North Hampton, 379-2317) $55 From 5 to 8 p.m. it’s Bougie Beers & Bites, a ticketed culinary experience featuring a welcome spritzer, elevated small plates, paired Throwback brews and a sparkling 7 p.m. GMT toast.

Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, 437-5100) Adam Ezra Group w/ Jeff Kazee. Dinner at 5:30 p.m., show at 8:30 p.m. $50 and up.

Uno Pizzeria & Grill (15 Fort Eddy Road, Concord, 226-8667) Mikey G plays an early set.

Wally’s Pub (144 Ashworth Ave., Hampton, 926-6954) Fast Times plays music from the 1980s.

Ya Mas Greek Taverna & Bar (Mall at Rockingham Park, Salem, 635-4230) New Year’s Eve In Paris includes Moulin Rouge Burlesque performance and three-course dinner, $189 at eventbrite.com.

Featured photo: Superfrog. Courtesy photo.

The Music Roundup 25/12/25

• Vintage sound: A Lakes Region winery offers regular local music, including Garrett Smith, a singer, piano player and guitarist playing a range of pop and rock covers, including a convincing version of Hozier’s “Take Me to Church” and the Disturbed redo of Paul Simon’s “Sound of Silence.” Enjoy the tunes while sampling an interesting wine, like their maple-infused chardonnay. Friday, Dec. 26, at 4 p.m., Front Four Cellars, 13 Railroad Ave., Wolfeboro, frontfourcellars.com.

• Two stages: One encouraging story this year was Bungalow Bar & Grill’s return, where a Holiday Hardcore Festival is happening. Nine bands are announced for the all-day event, with 20 or more promised. They include Ratblood, with bullhorn vocals and storming intensity, and relatively new Claremont band Arms Like Teeth, with their mosh pit ready banger, “Counterparts.” Saturday, Dec. 27, noon, Bungalow Bar & Grill, 333 Valley St., Manchester, $18 at dice.fm.

• Hometown girl: New Hampshire native Natalie Coryea is now based in Nashville, completing a music business degree at Belmont University, but she’s back for the holidays and playing some area shows. Her latest song, “Meet Me At The Beach,” grooves like a good Van Morrison track, while “Male Manipulator,” released earlier this year, is a rowdy rocker that fans of Paramore will like. Saturday, Dec. 27, 7 p.m., Hare of the Dawg, 3 E. Broadway, Derry, nataliecoryea.com.

• Fear factor: Well known for his time with the hidden camera series Impractical Jokers, Sal Vulcano goes in a different direction with his standup. Terrified, his most recent special, focused on childhood and adult fears, including his irrational reaction to Gloria Estefan’s song “The Rhythm Is Gonna Get You.” Vulcano’s current Everything’s Fine tour stops in Concord. Saturday, Dec. 28, 5 p.m., Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, $49.75 and up at ccanh.com.

• Heavy preview: A sampling of bands from next year’s Backwoods Metal Fest appear at a music-friendly brewery. The afternoon show includes four acts from the two-day event, happening in the spring: Hobo Wizard, a brother duo that play what they call “New Hampshire Bum Doom,” the punk-leaning Street Trash, straight up rockers Crooked Cash and Dude Hell Yeah. Saturday, Dec. 28, 2 p.m., Henniker Brewing Co., 129 Centervale Road, Henniker, hennikerbrewing.com.

Best movie of ‘a’ year

2025 adds some films to the canon

Was the best movie of 2025 1992’s Sneakers?

I feel like it was very much in the air with people who write and podcast about movies and pop culture, especially after the passing of Robert Redford. And once you acclimate yourself to the relaxing warm bath of its pacing, it is a very good time (it’s available for rent or purchase and would make a fine holiday movie night movie).

Similarly, the recent death of Rob Reiner has brought some of his all-time greats back into the conversation: 1989’s When Harry Met Sally … (Starz, purchase and at Red River Theatres on Saturday, Dec. 27, at 10 a.m.); 1987’s The Princess Bride (Hulu or purchase) and 1984’s This Is Spinal Tap (HBO Max, rent or purchase).

The streaming era has created a flattening of time where sometimes a movie of an earlier era bubbles up into the culture. This year’s release of Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest had me spending some time with the always excellent Inside Man from 2006 (streaming on Netflix, rent or purchase) and the very evocative of its time The 25th Hour from 2002 (rent or purchase). As I write this in mid-December, Kevin Smith’s Dogma from 1999 is No. 2 in Apple’s TV store (it is available for purchase) recently rereleased after decades of ownership woes. (It is still very much itself and the CCD alums who had affection for it in all its janky, occasionally problematic glory will probably still enjoy a watch.)

But 2025 has its own releases that will one day be your comfort rewatches and rediscoveries. Here are some of the movies from this year worth checking out.

• Speaking of nostalgia. Adam Sandler brings you to a reunion of 1996 culture with Happy Gilmore 2 (Netflix). I deeply enjoyed the OG offenders of I Know What You Did Last Summer (Netflix, rent or purchase), particularly the former WB star who appears in a wins-the-whole-game cameo, but the new kids who commit vehicular manslaughter are nice too. Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning(Paramount+, purchase and rental) makes you sit through a lot of “remember X plot point from the previous movies” before you get to the Tom Cruise crazy stunts portion of the film but there were some fun looks back at the franchise, which is hopefully over, right? Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (Peacock, rent or purchase) calls it a wrap on the Crawleys, probably, with a movie that recalled the cozy fun of the series.

• The best horror is weird. Weapons (HBO Max, rent and purchase) feels like at least as much an object of camp as it is an object of horror. It’s like goofy plus jump scares? Shell (YouTube Primetime, rent and purchase) is super-goofy body horror (specifically the middle-aged lady body in the harsh light of Hollywood) and features a fun faceoff between Elisabeth Moss and Kate Hudson. Drop (Prime Video, rent and purchase) builds its tension by showing us a first date where a woman terrorized by a mysterious texter doesn’t know who to trust. The Long Walk (rent or purchase), of Stephen King origins and anchored by a strong performance by Cooper Hoffman, gets you right in the “humanity is the true horror” spot.

• The right kind of dumb. The Liam Neeson- and Pamela Anderson-led franchise restart/sequel The Naked Gun (MGM+, Paramount+, rental and purchase) had me from its first goofy minutes when a thief steals a P.L.O.T. Device. M3GAN 2.0(Peacock, rental and purchase) was more pleased with itself than is usually tolerable but I enjoyed the “get in, loser” vibe of it all. A Working Man(MGM+, Prime Video, rental and purchase) does not reach the glorious Jason Statham-badassery heights of 2024’s The Bee Keeper (treat yourself — it’s streaming on Prime Video and available for rent or purchase) but it is still a fun dumb action movie and the villains are played as if maybe in the sequel they’ll turn out to be vampires.

• More! Like! This! In the movie G20 (Prime Video), President Viola Davis has to rescue a bunch of world leaders and the world economy from Bad Guys whilst doing hand-to-hand combat in formalwear. Dumb? Yeah! Awesome? Heck yeah! More! Like! This!

• Marvel tried things. Yes, Thunderbolts* (Disney+, rent or purchase) is a superhero movie about depression where the Big Bad is nihilism but it worked for me — I liked the scrappy gang of misfits. The Fantastic Four: First Steps(Disney+, rent or purchase) was visually very fun and had a nice “future is optimistic” tone. And yes, it’s all in service of more Avengers movies and the return of Robert Downey Jr. in same but for now, for this one, I had fun.

• DC got a win. Speaking of optimism and a future tinged with hope, Superman (HBO Max, rent or purchase) brought shiny new life to the DC movies. This Metropolis had comic book flair (other supers, kitschy villains) and managed an upbeat tone without getting, like, weird about it. Also, “a bit with a dog.” (Speaking of which, find 1998’s Shakespeare in Love on Paramount+ and for rent or purchase, which I might do after I get to Hamnet, in theaters now, one of this year’s releases still on my eager-to-see list along with The Testament of Ann Lee, slated for a Christmas Day release, and The Secret Agent, opening at Red River Theatres on Christmas Eve along with Marty Supreme and Song Sung Blue.)

• Family movie night. I know this isn’t a popular opinion, but I enjoyed the, a-hem, “live action” Lilo & Stitch(Disney +, rent or purchase), having no particular loyalty to the 2002 cartoon (also on Disney+). This year’s movie was perfectly acceptable fare with a nice blend of goofiness and sweetness about family in all its forms. Likewise, Pixar’s latest Elio(Disney+, rent or purchase) seemed to be received with a shrug at best but as a movie to watch with kids it’s a visually fun tale about a lonely boy who finally starts making new connections when he is accidentally transported to a spaceship where he is mistaken for the leader of Earth. And I’m a fan of Dav Pilkey books — the Captain Underpants and the like — both for their tales of adventure told with boy-accessible emotional themes and for their stylistic choices (spellings such as “supa cop” and drawings that look, correctly, as though two elementary schoolers crafted them). This year’s Dog Man(Netflix, rent or purchase), based on books that are supposed to be written by the Captain Underpants kids, is another similar success with fun visuals and laugh out loud silliness.

• Perfectly cromulent movie-night movies. Maybe these movies aren’t the best of the best but they are perfectly serviceable for an evening’s or snow day’s entertainment and are helped by solid duos in the leads: The Lost Bus (Apple TV) is based on a true story from the 2018 Camp Fire in California and succeeds due to the steady work of Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera. Another Simple Favor (Prime Video, rent or purchase) didn’t quite sparkle like the 2018 original (available for rent or purchase) but it did have a fun telenovela quality and nice chemistry between Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively. Wicked: For Good (in theaters) suffers when it doesn’t put Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande together and is just generally darker than the first film but it is still a reasonably fun time. The Ballad of Wallis Island (Prime Video, rent or purchase) is a sweet melancholy tale about old friendship, longtime music fanship and trying to recapture a moment. Friendship is also a big part of My Dead Friend Zoe, which stars Sonequa Martin-Green trying to move on after time on the battlefield and the death of her friend played by Natalie Morales. The professional relationship that may or may not be a friendship between sad-charming George Clooney and sad-sweet Adam Sandler is the warm heart of Jay Kelly(Netflix). Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (HBO Max and rent or purchase) is a loose but fond jam session of comedy artists.

• Hot docs! Remember a very specific slice of the music of the 1990s with Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery (Disney+, Hulu), a very solid look back at the one-of-a-kind festival. Deaf President Now! (Apple TV) is a rousing look at a 1988 campus protest told by the now-middle-aged protesters. The Quilters(Netflix) and Final Finishers (Hulu) are two excellent shorts about, respectively, incarcerated quilt makers and the slowest finishers at the New York Marathon. The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix) is a chilling story, told through body cam footage, of a close-knit neighborhood and a difficult resident whose animosity for her neighbors has a tragic outcome. If you watch nothing else in this whole list, at least watch the first seven minutes of Ladies and Gentlemen … 50 Years of Saturday Night Life Music (Peacock), which is a delightfully-mixed tour (by Questlove) through SNL’s music performances. The meat of the documentary, equally excellent, digs into specific artists and how the music fits in with the show’s overall mission.

• Look for these. Rose Byrne is absolutely terrific in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You(rent or purchase), a movie full of people at their peak frustration points who are all wading through some kind of emergency. Byrne plays a mom looking after a sick daughter in the hotel room where they are waiting out repairs to their apartment after a burst water pipe.Her anger, fear, guilt and exhaustion are familiar to those who feel like they are forever failing at parenting — and funny! It’s funny! Sometimes! The Wedding Banquet (Paramount+, rent or purchase) is a sweet remake of the 1993 Ang Lee movie (which is available via Tubi, Pluto TV and Plex TV, according to Google) with solid performances from Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, Bowen Yang and Han Gi-chan. One of Them Days (Netflix, rent or purchase) was an early 2025 release that offered solid comedy and a nice buddies-in-a-jam duo in Keke Palmer and SZA. Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Peacock, rent and purchase) is a surprisingly sweet installment in the story of the romance between Bridget and her Mr. Darcy and what comes after happily ever after. Roofman (MGM+, rent or purchase) features a nicely askew performance by Channing Tatum. Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein (Netflix) is beautiful to look at and an interesting, Romantic in the 19th-century sense, treatment of the material. Highest 2 Lowest(Apple TV), Spike Lee’s movie based on Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low (HBO Max, Plex, rent and purchase) from 1963, features excellent performances, including by Jeffrey Wright in a supporting role and a return to Lee’s New York-as-character form. Train Dreams (Netflix) is quiet and beautiful and features a standout performance by Joel Edgerton as a mostly solitary woodsman born in the latter half of the 1800s and living long enough to see men go to space. Wake Up, Dead Man (Netflix) is an excellent third entry in the Knives Out franchise with Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc investigating both the mystery of a (sorta) locked room murder and the mystery of faith — solid performances and thoughtful examination of what religion is and can be at this moment in culture. I’m still not entirely certain what I thought about Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme (Prime Video, rent or purchase) or about Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another (rent or purchase). Both feature excellent, compelling performances by Benicio del Toro and both deserve credit for their visual styles. One Battle After Another was at its best for me in its lower-fi moments, particularly a set-piece car chase in the movie’s final third, which called to mind some of the scruffier films of the 1970s in look and tone. The movie is at the top of many a critic’s year end list, but for me, a different movie settled in that spot in April and never left.

• My favorite movie of the year is Sinners. Yes, there are still movies I haven’t seen (Avatar: Fire and Ash, in theaters now, for example), but I doubt any of them will hit me quite like Sinners, which actually gave me chills when I saw the “I Lied to You” scene in the theater. Director Ryan Coogler’s latest was a home run for me for its performances (the two Michael B. Jordans, Miles Caton, Wunmi Mosaku and Delroy Lindo among them), its ability to weave together its supernatural and its real world darkness, its standout production value including the way it used light and the overall point of view of the way it told its story. Seek it out on HBO Max, for rent or purchase.

Favorite books of ’25

Our reviewers read a lot of books this year; these are the ones they gave A grades to.

Fiction

The Magnificent Ruins, by Nayantara Roy, is “a beautiful, messy journey as Lila searches for her identity among two very different cultures and within a family defined by each other in the best and worst of ways.” A- —Meghan Siegler

Run for the Hills, by Kevin Wilson, is “a genuinely fun novel that strikes the right balance between poignancy and comedy…. If Hollywood options this … I’ll be at the theater on opening day.” A- —Jennifer Graham

The Road to Tender Hearts, by Annie Hartnett: “…at the core of this novel, there is a warmth and genuineness that breaks through its comically dark outer layer.” A- —M.S.

Culpability, by Bruce Holsinger, has “a deeply intelligent storyline that blends technology, philosophy and ethics…. Culpability moves slowly at times … [but] Holsinger, as it turns out, knows exactly what he’s doing, and his ending is nothing short of genius. A —J.G.

We Do Not Part, by Han Kang, translated by E. Yaewon and Paige Aniyah Morris, is “an achingly beautiful story that will send readers to Kang’s previous novels, which include 2017’s Human Acts and The Vegetarian, published in the U.S. in 2016. Bring on the K-lit.” A —J.G.

Heartwood, by Amity Gaige: “In simple and sparse narration that blooms with lyrical descriptions of New England landscapes, Heartwood manages to be part mystery, part thriller, part how-to-hike-the-Appalachian-Trail guidebook — or it might convince you to never set foot in the woods again. Either way, start Heartwood and you’ll likely be a thru-reader, all the way to the end.” A —J.G.

Tilt, by Emma Pattee, “is a novel about the end of the world as we know it, a species of the so-called ‘apocalypse genre,’ [but] it’s also about coming to grips with your life when your life has not turned out as you planned, when you are so dissatisfied with your lot that even an earthquake doesn’t mess up your plans.” The book “thrums with tension and is gorgeously written, with scenes and phrases that will long remain with the reader. … Tilt is a remarkable literary debut.” A —J.G.

Nonfiction

cover for The Ghost Lab, which has a green cover with illustrated scientific beakers
The Ghost Lab, by Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling

The Ghost Lab, by Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling, resulted from “a years-long investigation into paranormal enthusiasts and their work” and is “a fascinating book …. Regardless of how you feel about the paranormal, Hongoltz-Hetling is a first-rate reporter and storyteller, and The Ghost Lab is easy to love — as long as you’re not one of its subjects.” A+ —J.G.

Waste Wars, by Alexander Clapp, is “a sobering story that’s being compared to Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, which in 1962 launched the environmental movement with its examination of the devastating effects of pesticides. But Waste Wars is not so much about how America’s garbage is destroying us, but about how it’s trashing other countries. A —J.G.

Everything is Tuberculosis, by John Green: “We remember things not by memorizing facts but by hearing stories, and Green has amassed a medicine chest full of stories about tuberculosis, and about the evolution of medicine in general.” A —J.G.

All the Way to the River, by Elizabeth Gilbert, “is … a strange and often unsettling book that upends the myth of Elizabeth Gilbert given to us by Eat, Pray, Love.” A —J.G.

Aflame, by Pico Iyer: “In Aflame … Iyer writes lyrically and movingly about the gifts of solitude and quiet and why they matter, especially in a culture that seems determined to deprive us of them. And yes, he also writes about wildfires, inevitable because the setting is California, and death and suffering. But the title is a metaphor for burning in the heart, as well.” A —J.G.

Featured Photo: The Magnificent Ruins, by Nayantara Roy

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