Don’t Just Scroll: 4 Better Ways for Picking Movies in 2025
You can call yourself a film lover whether you watch a movie every day or just a dozen throughout the year. What truly matters isn’t the quantity—it’s the curation.
But choosing the perfect film for the evening can be tricky. With endless options on streaming services (or maybe in your DVD collection), the sheer number of possibilities can feel overwhelming. Before you know it, half the night has slipped away in indecision and you watch an episode of Seinfeld.
This year, let’s turn your movie nights into adventures rather than chores. Here are some fresh approaches to help you pick the perfect film every time.
1) Mood based
This approach is all about matching the film to how you’re feeling in the moment.
If you’re craving a laugh, a comedy can work wonders to lift your spirits. On introspective days, a thoughtful documentary or emotional drama might feel more fitting. After all, even a masterpiece can fall flat if it’s watched on the wrong day. Sometimes, it’s better to revisit an old favorite—a comforting, familiar choice—while saving new releases for a time when you’re truly ready to dive into something fresh.
Here what your four mood based movie nights could include:
Meshes of the Afternoon (1943) — experimentally inclined
Home Alone (1990) — craving a comfort watch
The Social Dilemma (2020) — in need of thought-provoking material
Seven Pounds (2008) — when you need a good cry
2) Theme nights
Theme nights add a sense of fun and purpose to your movie choices by building each viewing session around a specific idea.
Imagine watching movies set in space, culinary-themed films, or classics from your childhood. By narrowing your options to fit a theme, you’ll find it easier to pick a film. You can make these nights even more memorable by decorating or dressing up to match the theme—especially if you’re watching with friends.
Your four culinary movie nights could look like this (just be warned: you’ll probably get hungry watching them):
No Reservations (2007)
The Taste of Things (2023)
Babette's Feast (1987)
Big Night (1996)
3) Premiere anniversaries
Celebrate film anniversaries by choosing movies based on the date they premiered.
Whether it’s a 7th, 25th, or 50th anniversary, revisiting a film on its “birthday” adds a special sense of occasion to your viewing. It’s a fun way to reconnect with beloved classics or uncover hidden gems. For the extra-nerdy cinephiles, the 2025 Film Calendar recently published by Cinephilia & Beyond is a perfect companion—it’s packed with premiere dates to inspire your next movie night.
Your four movie nights in June based on premiere dates could include:
Un Chien Andalou (1929) — premiered on June 6th
The Shining (1980) — premiered on June 13th
Jaws (1975) — premiered on June 20th
The Stunt Man (1980) — premiered on June 27th
4) Special challenges
Challenges are a great way to make your film-watching more intentional.
Set a goal to dive into a specific micro-genre like European folk horror or road movies directed by women. You could also focus on a particular decade of filmmaking or explore lists such as past Oscar winners for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. These challenges push you out of your comfort zone, helping you discover films you might otherwise overlook.
Here what your four movie nights of Best Makeup and Hairstyling Oscar winners could include:
Amadeus (1984)
Ed Wood (1994)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
5) Film connections
For a fun, gamified approach, use film connections to decide on your next watch.
Start with an online film randomiser to pick the first title—let the randomness add an element of surprise. From there, set your own rules: you could pick a movie by the same director, screenwriter or an actor in the cast. The key is to stick to your rule, using this cinematic chain reaction to explore the vastness of cinema.
Here’s what your four movie nights using the connections approach could look like:
Forrest Gump (1994) | Robin Wright also starred in…
A Most Wanted Man (2014) | Anton Corbijn also directed…
Control (2007) | Sam Riley also starred in…
Sometimes Always Never (2018) | And so on :)
Whether you’ll be following your mood, premiere dates or film connections (or this inspires you to invent your own special approach), there are countless ways to turn your movie nights into a ritual of discovery. True cinephiles aren’t film snobs—they’re driven by curiosity and love for the art of cinema. Let your 2025 watchlist reflect that passion.
Here’s to a year filled with great films, however you may come to them! 🎥