Ranking my Top 12 Television Shows of 2025: Which Shows Made The Cut?

It’s that time of year again! As we get closer and closer to approaching 2026, I thought it would be the perfect time to count down my Top 12 TV Shows of 2025.

While some returning shows continued strong, others fell off slightly. Meanwhile, some other new shows completely hooked me, making their way into my top 12. There are also still a lot of amazing series I have not watched yet, but I’m hoping to catch up on them in early 2026 so keep those recommendations coming!

Without any further delay, let’s get to my list!

My Top 12 Television Shows of 2025 are:

12

The Better Sister

A gripping drama thriller that hooked me from the first episode starring the fantastic Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks. I was worried there would be too much fluff in this one, but the pacing was great and the reveals were satisfying, leading to some shocking outcomes in the end.

11

The Girlfriend

A guilty pleasure thriller filled with juicy secrets and jaw-dropping moments well worth you time. Olivia Cooke’s wardrobe was FANTASTIC and I loved how campy and sleazy this one was while still delivering on some genuine thrills. More shows like this please!

10

The Bondsman

Kevin Bacon was absolutely wonderful in this fun horror comedy series that had some Ash vs Evil Dead vibes. I’m still really annoyed that Prime decided to cancel this one. I think it flew under the radar and deserved a chance, but the first season truly delivered and then some!

9

The Night Agent (season 2)

While not as compelling as the first season, I still thoroughly enjoyed my watch of The Night Agent (season 2). If you enjoy action spy thrillers, this one is for you and there’s plenty to uncover the second time around.

8

All Her Fault

I just binge-watched this one over the weekend after getting a few recommendations on it. I wasn’t really aware of this show but once I started it, I couldn’t stop watching until the end. I watched all eight episodes in one day…

This one really surprised me. There was some fluff to get through, but I did not see the reveal coming and I’m still shocked over everything that transpired. Wow…what a show!

7

Squid Game (third and final season)

Squid Game (season 1) was one of the best things I had witnessed on television in a very long time. Season 2 still held my attention and season 3 did just enough to give us a jam-packed conclusion. There were quite a few things that didn’t make sense, but this crazy show always kept me invested with plenty of gory and extreme moments and absolutely deserves a spot on the list.

6

The Hunting Wives

I love soapy drama thrillers like this so much! This show really wasn’t afraid to push the envelope with some over-the-top scenes, but it all just kind of worked with the vibe it was going for. Our leads were dynamic and the chemistry between these characters was off the charts. I can’t wait to see what season 2 has in store for us after that insane season finale.

5

The Summer I Turned Pretty (third and final season)

Look, this show didn’t write the book on love triangles, but it did a really great job of pulling us back and forth, waiting for Belly to make her final decision once and for all between Conrad and Jeremiah.

I thought the final season allowed Belly to find her own way on her journey, leading to a heartwarming conclusion. I’m psyched to watch the final movie whenever that releases!

4

The Beast In Me

Welcome back to the small screen, Claire Danes! Wow, this show was so fantastic. Claire Danes was brilliant, which should come as no surprise. This series had so many twists and turns, keeping the audience on an adrenaline filled ride until the very end. I loved every second of it!

3

Dexter: Resurrection

Welcome back, Dexter Morgan! Look, I’ve watched every spin-off of the original Dexter series, but this one takes the cake. This series was EXCEPTIONAL! It had everything I wanted in a series and more. Dexter’s back and better than ever!

2

Stranger Things (fifth and final season)

OK, I still have one episode to go, which will air on 12/31/25, but it’s safe to say that Stranger Things absolutely deserves one of the top spots on my list. It’s been many years since the last season aired, but I was hooked once again. The characters are all so wonderful and it’s been an honor watching their journey over the years. I can’t wait to see how it all ends!

Some honorable mentions:

Paradise

Only Murders in the Building (season 5)

Wayward

Sirens

The White Lotus (season 3)

School Spirits (season 2)

Daredevil: Born Again

You (season 5 , final season)

Yellowjackets (season 3)

Harlan Coben’s Missing You

Drum roll please…

1

The Pitt

I’m not normally into medical dramas at all, but this series was on another level. Each episode drew me in more and more and I was anxiously waiting for new episodes to drop each week, bringing me back to a time when television shows used to feel like an event. The acting was incredible, the moments were real and heartbreaking and there was so much drama based in reality that kept me completely hooked. I can’t wait for season 2!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post some of YOUR favorite television shows of 2025. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing in the new year!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking my Top 12 Films of 2025: Which Movies Made The Cut?

It’s that time of year again! As we get closer and closer to approaching 2026, I thought it would be the perfect time to count down my Top 12 Films of 2025.

There are still a lot of movies that I have not seen yet, but I wanted to highlight some of my favorites of the year so far!

My Top 12 Films of 2025 are:

12

The Housemaid

Wow, this movie was a trip in the best possible way! I loved the twist. If you love guilty pleasure thrillers, there are plenty of juicy and shocking moments in this one to indulge in. Plus, Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney are dynamic on screen together.

11

Materialists

Written and directed by Celine Song (who wrote and directed one of my favorite films, Past Lives), this movie was so beautifully done. It was intelligent without being overbearing and it really captured what’s important when it comes to relationships and the standards we are often held to.

This was such a thought-provoking watch and I loved every second of it.

10

Final Destination: Bloodlines

It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of the Final Destination franchise and I have been waiting years for this film to be released. Well…it was worth the wait. This movie was gory, shocking, and an absolute blast, featuring one of the best openings I have ever seen in a Final Destination movie.

9

Companion

This movie was so entertaining! It had the right blend of humor and violence, making this a blood-soaked horror comedy worth your time. Sophie Thatcher was absolutely terrific in this!

8

Heart Eyes

Image courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing

A slasher that delivers and then some! I’m a huge fan of 90’s slashers and this film really tapped into that in a lot of ways. It wasn’t afraid to be campy and silly while delivering on some extreme gore and the chemistry between our two main leads was off the charts!

7

The Long Walk

Based on the novel by Stephen King, this film was a gut-wrenching and emotional movie that really moved me and destroyed me at the same time. This is one of those movies that completely sucks you into its world and when you are finished watching, you’re forever changed.

6

Bone Lake

I can’t stop talking about how much I loved this movie! It had such an insane final act that really popped. It’s a bit of a slow burn, but the payoff is worth it. Trust me!

5

Influencers

A sequel that somehow manages to top the original film (which I’m a huge fan of). This movie was batshit crazy in the best way possible. It really found its voice in this one, delivering in so many ways. Our two female leads were OUTSTANDING and weren’t afraid to go all out here, making this such a an entertaining popcorn watch. I really hope they make a third film!

4

Dangerous Animals

I saw this movie a few weeks before it released at a movie mystery night and I was beyond excited. I love shark movies and this quickly became my favorite one after Jaws. Sharks plus a deranged serial killer is quite the combo and Jai Courtney gave his best performance to date in my opinion. He was bloody brilliant!

3

Weapons

This was such an insane ride and I loved every second of it. It’s best to go into this movie completely blind. I thought it was so fantastic and the second half was jaw-dropping and shocking. I can’t say enough good things about this movie.

2

Sinners

When I think about cinema and what films should really achieve, I think of this movie. It had EVERYTHING in it. The music was amazing, the time period just worked seamlessly, the performances were out of this world, and the thrills kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. An absolute masterpiece!

Honorable Mentions:

Together

The Conjuring: Last Rites

Freakier Friday

Bring Her Back

Black Phone 2

Night Always Comes

The Monkey

Drum roll please…

1

DROP

I love simple, fast-paced thrillers like this. I had a feeling I would love this movie when I first saw the trailer and it exceeded my expectations.

Meghann Fahy is one to watch. She was such a bad-ass lead. This movie kept me guessing until the last moments and I loved the humor sprinkled in. This film was definitely my kind of movie and I absolutely fell in love with it.

I hope to see more films from 2025 soon, but I hope you enjoyed the list!

Did you have a favorite film of 2025? If so, drop it in the comments!

I wish you all a happy and healthy new year and can’t wait to review more new films in 2026! Happy viewing!

Spoiler-Free Review of “The Housemaid” in Theaters: A Soapy & Campy Thriller Worth your Time!

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“Would you like to see what you’re getting yourself into?”

The Housemaid premiered in theaters on December 19th 2025. The mystery thriller film (based on the novel of the same name) stars Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, and Brandon Sklenar. It runs for approximately two hours and ten minutes.

Millie has a troubled past and is looking for a fresh start by interviewing for a live-in housemaid position in an extravagant home, but she soon discovers that her new bosses may be hiding deadly secrets that put her in danger.

Here is the trailer:

The Housemaid is a guilty pleasure thriller with plenty of juicy and shocking moments built in. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Sweeney and Seyfried are a dream duo!

I thought both actresses did a really great job here. Amanda Seyfried is such an exceptional actress and she really went all out here. Sweeney kept up with her as well and I loved the back-and-forth between them.

Brandon Sklenar is popping up quite a bit now in movies (It Ends With Us, Drop) and I hope to see him in more as well. His wardrobe was fantastic…among other things.

This movie was very pretty to look at from the gorgeous cast to the beautiful Long Island home they were living in. I love pleasing aesthetics like this that tend to hide something dangerous and sinister beneath them.

Entertaining reveals.

I wouldn’t say that they were that shocking. I sort of saw the main twist coming a mile away. That being said, it was still so much fun to watch unfold on screen. I had a packed audience with me in the theater and they were cheering along during certain parts, which made this a blast to watch. In a lot of ways, this felt like an elevated Lifetime movie…but that’s my favorite kind of guilty pleasure thriller so I’m not complaining here.

The ending was satisfying as well.

The Cons:

A little too long…

I was never bored, but I think things could have been wrapped up a little bit sooner. I like my movies to hover around 90 minutes or so. There were a few parts in the middle that were drawn out, but luckily things turned around for the explosive conclusion.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!!

THE HOUSEMAID is sultry, satisfying, and so much fun to indulge in.

Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried go all out here in the best possible way!

Loved it!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Housemaid in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

This competition is killer…

When former friends, Shay and Adriana team up to participate in a Halloween scavenger hunt with a cash prize, they temporarily put their differences aside to outsmart their opponents. However, they soon start to realize that a dangerous threat is playing their own version of the game, stalking them during each hunt.

Winning is now a necessity as their lives are at stake. As old wounds and memories re-surface, Shay and Adriana attempt to unmask the threat before the night is over, but soon learn that Scream Hunt is not done with them just yet…

My young adult horror thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe. Thanks for your support!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Influencers” on Shudder: A Bloody Entertaining Sequel that somehow Surpasses the Original!

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“You don’t get lonely traveling all alone?”

Influencers premiered on Shudder on December 12th 2025. The horror-thriller sequel stars Cassandra Naud, Emily Tennant, Georgina Campbell, Veronica Long, and Jonathan Whitesell. It runs for approximately an hour and fifty minutes.

After the events of Influencer, CW is enjoying carefree life in the south of France with her girlfriend, but when they go away for the weekend she meets a new social media influencer who gets under her skin as the old CW quickly returns.

Here is the trailer:

Influencers takes things further than the original film, proving to be even more shocking and bloodier than before with two dynamic female leads at the center of it all. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Cassandra Naud is incredible!

She was fantastic in the original film, which I watched recently again to get ready for the sequel, but she took things up a notch in the sequel. She was an unstoppable force of nature. I loved how unhinged she was. It really complimented the overall tone of the film so well, mirroring the camp of it all in such a wild way. I enjoyed every second of it.

Emily Tennant was fabulous as well and kept up with her. Honestly I expected nothing less after that insane ending, but wow these two were amazing.

There will be no spoilers in this review, but can we somehow get a third film out of this? I’ll be waiting…

Finds its identity and OWNS it!

I loved the first film. I thought it was such a fresh take on the social media angle, which I have seen butchered to death by other films. However, after watching the first film again, it seemed like it was still finding its way even though it was terrific overall.

Well, I can definitely report that the sequel found its identity and just went for it in the best way possible. This film didn’t hold back at all. It was bold, extreme, and so incredible to watch unfold on the screen. I loved how campy and cunty it was. Honestly, I was surprised by how well executed this sequel was and that ending…wow! It was incredible.

There was so much buildup after the first film and I thought the sequel did an amazing job of giving the audience what they were craving.

The Cons:

A few unanswered questions.

I know this was intentional, but I had a few lingering questions by the time I got to the end. There was one that stood out the most and they even poked fun at it during the film, but I need to know what happened there! I’m hoping we get a prequel as well with some of these answers because I am officially obsessed with these films!

So am I in or out?

I’m in 100 percent!!!

INFLUENCERS is a satisfying sequel that doesn’t hold back, delivering on camp, gore, and insane moments galore.

One of my favorite films of the year!

I’m a big fan of the vacation gone wrong genre and this one just moved to the top of that list. Bring on the third film!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Influencers in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

This competition is killer…

My young adult horror thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe. Thanks for your support!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” in Theaters: An Underwhelming Sequel

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“Are you ready to start the show?”

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 released in theaters on December 5th 2025. Based on the popular video game, the horror film stars Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio, Mckenna Grace, Skeet Ulrich and Matthew Lillard. The film runs for an hour and forty-five minutes.

After the horrific events at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria, Mike, Abby, and Vanessa learn that a new threat has emerged at the original Freddy’s, threatening to destroy them all.

Here is the trailer:

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is an exhausting sequel with little charm, but it does feature two legendary scream kings on the big screen. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Billy and Stu are back! Well…kind of.

Look, I’ll take what I can get! I really didn’t enjoy the first film that much, but I was happy that Matthew Lillard was in it. The only reason I showed up to see the second one was to witness both Matthew Lillard AND Skeet Ulrich on screen. I mean…talk about a dream come true!

Sure…they needed more screen time, but it was fun seeing them both in this even though I’m pretty sure that the majority of the audience (kids under 14) had no idea who they were.

A cool new addition.

I thought the addition of the Marionette worked well for the most part. This movie didn’t have any major scares to it, but the creepy factor was there and I think that she was a cool character to explore. Things would have felt completely stale if we were just dealing with the same exact characters again so there’s that.

Unfortunately the pros stop here…

The Cons:

Forced character side plots…

This is one of those sequels that would have benefited from a completely new cast. Having Mike, Vanessa, and Abby back in the mix may have seemed like a good idea, but the execution didn’t come across well. Everything felt exhausting, boring, and drawn out. Every major plot point had a convenient solution and I lost the partial investment I had in these characters from the first film.

Silly scares.

I know this is more of a kid-friendly horror film, but it’s still horror so I would have liked a few more authentic scares. The jump scares felt gimmicky and I think they wasted the potential of the Marionette. The reveals at the end felt so desperate and I honestly couldn’t wait for this to be over. I sprinted out of the theater…

So am I in or out?

Unfortunately I’m out on this one…

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 exhausts everything from the original film, proving to be a completely unnecessary sequel with not much to say at all…

Sure, there were a few fun moments and I loved seeing Lillard and Ulrich in this, but this was lacking in some major fun.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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