A number of great films have come out in 2025, with new releases arriving almost every week. But viewers say one movie is better than all the others. It has only just appeared on Netflix yet is already being called the best film of the year by those who have watched it. The movie has also impressed critics, earning a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes, along with a strong 90% audience rating.

Fans say it is emotional, beautifully made and far more powerful than it first appears. Many people who have seen it describe it as a rare film that stays with you long after it ends. Others say the story is simple but incredibly moving, with performances that make it one of 2025’s standout releases.

The drama is based on a well-known novella and follows one man’s life during a time of huge change in America.

This film in question is Train Dreams, a new Netflix release starring Joel Edgerton.

One person said: “It’s a beautiful movie and frankly the best one released this year. It is real and deep and so sad, but in such a wonderful and human way.”

Another added: “I never write reviews, but this movie touched my soul. This movie is such a masterpiece. 

“Be warned: that story might wash all the tears out of you at the most expected moment yet without any warning, in the most delicate way.”

A third wrote: “What a wondrous film. It is hard to describe: it is a story of a life hard-lived but peaceful, knowing but unknowing, profound and yet simple. 

“Nothing Joel Edgerton ever does is bad – he is truly a marvellous actor and masterfully selective about what he appears in.”

Someone else said: “I just watched Train Dreams, and honestly, it’s one of the best films of 2025. At first glance, the story seems simple, but the way it’s told makes every moment deeply affecting. 

“What makes this film phenomenal is how it turns ordinary, quiet moments into something profoundly moving.”

Train Dreams is based on Denis Johnson’s 2011 novella and is directed by Clint Bentley.

It follows Robert Grainier, played by Edgerton, as he works in the forests of the Pacific Northwest helping expand America’s early railroads. 

He marries Gladys, played by Felicity Jones, and the couple build a life together, but his demanding job often keeps him away from home.

When tragedy strikes, Robert begins to see the world differently, finding both beauty and hardship in the life he has built. 

The film explores themes of loss, resilience and change during a transforming period in American history.

Train Dreams premiered at Sundance in January before arriving in selected US cinemas on November 7. 

It launched on Netflix globally on November 21 and has already received major acclaim, including a Golden Globe nomination for Edgerton.