Year Ender 2025: From Heists To Heart-Stoppers: Lionsgate Play’s Best Of The Year

Every great story leaves a mark, one that thrills, challenges, and moves us. This year, Lionsgate Play delivered a power-packed selection of films that pushed boundaries and captured imaginations. From pulse-racing heist sequels and haunting moral dilemmas to emotionally charged dramas and edge-of-your-seat thrillers, these standout titles prove that powerful storytelling never goes out of style. Here are six must-watch films of 2025 that defined the year in entertainment.

Movies

Maria

A haunting portrait of fame, solitude, and legacy, Maria brings to life the final days of legendary opera singer Maria Callas as she retreats to 1970s Paris. Directed by Pablo Larraín, the film captures the quiet vulnerability behind a world-famous voice. Angelina Jolie transforms into Callas with striking emotional depth, portraying the diva's inner turmoil and grace. Pierfrancesco Favino and Alba Rohrwacher lend powerful support in this atmospheric drama. Premiering to a 10-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, Maria is an unforgettable ode to an icon's final chapter.

Den of Thieves 2

Gerard Butler returns in this explosive sequel that raises the stakes to an international scale. The chase intensifies as "Big Nick" O'Brien tracks down the elusive criminal mastermind Donnie Wilson across Europe. With heart-stopping action, tactical brilliance, and the high-octane energy fans loved from the first film, Den of Thieves 2 cements itself as one of the most exhilarating crime sagas of the year.

Roofman

Inspired by true events, Roofman offers a masterclass in suspense. It follows an audacious thief whose ingenious rooftop break-ins make him both a criminal legend and an enigma. What begins as a tale of burglary soon transforms into a character study of obsession, freedom, and moral choice, making Roofman as thought-provoking as it is thrilling.

Inheritance

In Neil Burger's espionage thriller, Inheritance, Phoebe Dynevor stars as Maya, a woman thrust into a world of international intrigue after uncovering her father's secret past as a spy. The film tracks Maya's gripping transformation as she races across continents, decoding clues and dodging danger at every turn. As layers of deception unravel, she's forced to question everything she thought she knew, including herself. A sleek, high-stakes thriller where legacy is a deadly game!

Fight or Flight

At 30,000 feet, there's no room for error! Fight or Flight takes action to new heights in this pulse-pounding thriller. Mercenary Lucas Reyes, played by Josh Hartnett, boards a transatlantic flight for one last mission. But when he uncovers a deadly conspiracy, he teams up with Isha (Charithra Chandran), to survive a plane full of assassins. With nowhere to run and time running out, every move is a fight for survival. Buckle up for turbulence, twists, and high-altitude mayhem!

The Apprentice

The Apprentice features Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, and Jeremy Strong in a riveting political drama with a sly, sharp edge. The film traces the rise of a young Donald Trump, mentored by the ruthless Roy Cohn, as ambition, power, and morality collide. Blending tense drama with biting irony, it peels back the glossy façade of wealth to reveal the chaos beneath. Unpredictable, fast-paced, and darkly entertaining, The Apprentice is as wild as it is eye-opening.

Soothravakyam

Soothravakyam centers on Circle Inspector Christo Xavier (Shine Tom Chacko), whose quiet village life is upended after an incident involving his students sends shockwaves through the community. As he and teacher Nimisha (Vincy Aloshious) seek the truth, they confront suspicion and shifting loyalties. The film also stars Deepak Parambol and Meenakshi Madhavi, weaving a heartfelt tale of trust and responsibility.

Series

Code of Silence

Code of Silence follows Alison Woods, a deaf canteen worker whose exceptional lip-reading abilities turn her into a crucial asset for a police investigation targeting a dangerous gang. As Alison goes undercover to help unravel a criminal plot, she finds herself drawn into a web of deception and peril, especially as she forms a risky connection with the hacker Liam Barlow. Torn between the demands of her secret work and her growing personal feelings, Alison must navigate danger on every side-all while redefining her sense of self and courage.

Four Years Later

Directed by Mitali, Shahana Goswami and Akshay Ajit Singh star as Sridevi and Yash, newlyweds whose marriage is tested when Yash moves to Australia for a four-year medical traineeship. What begins with hope soon gives way to silence, as distance, time, and growing responsibilities start to pull them in different directions. Sridevi faces mounting pressure at home, while Yash struggles to stay afloat in an unfamiliar world. With each passing year, their bond is stretched thin by the weight of things unsaid. Four Years Later is a quietly powerful portrait of love, longing, and the spaces in between.

Kabul

Kabul is a gripping drama set in Afghanistan's capital under Taliban rule, exploring survival and moral dilemmas. As American troops withdraw, the Taliban enter the city. The Nazany family, like many civilians, is forced to flee, fearing retaliation. In this desperate and chaotic situation, shadowed by the looming threat of an attack by ISIS, French police officers, Italian diplomats, German military personnel, and American intelligence services must somehow coordinate to manage the influx of civilians. How will each of them manage to save their own lives? The series highlights the themes of hope, resilience, and the human cost of conflict offering a powerful and emotional look at life in a war-torn city.

Rematch

In 1997, the world watched as chess legend Garry Kasparov took on IBM's Deep Blue in a battle that blurred the line between man and machine. Christian Cooke captures Kasparov's brilliance and inner turmoil, while Sarah Bolger brings heart to the emotional storm behind the scenes. This was more than just a match; it was a test of pride, intelligence, and what it means to be human. As pressure mounts and trust falters, the game turns into something far bigger. Rematch dives deep into a defining moment where logic met legacy, and the clock never stopped ticking.