Must-see movies, TV shows to catch during the holiday season

As the year came to a close, Bill Goodykoontz, Media Columnist at “The Arizona Republic,” joined “Arizona Horizon” to share his list of movies and television shows released in 2025 to catch this holiday season.

Goodykoontz’s must-see list includes the movies “One Battle After Another,” “Sinners,” and “Hamnet,” as well as television shows “Pluribus” and “The Lowdown.”

The first film Goodykoontz mentions is Paul Thomas Anderson’s newest film, “One Battle After Another,” with a star-studded cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio Del Toro, Sean Penn, and Regina Hall. The movie follows a former revolutionary who must get back into action in order save his daughter.

“The young woman who plays his daughter, Chase Infiniti, her first film, she is great,” Goodykoontz said, “…she’s got a pretty decent chance at winning the best supporting actress Oscar.”

The next film on the list is Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners,” which combines music, race, history, and vampires. The movie sees Michael B. Jordan act in a dual role as he plays twins, Smoke and Stack, who open a juke joint, only to confront vampires who are attracted to the music.

“It get’s into the idea of the other, the idea of the outsider, this sort of false inclusion,” Goodkoontz explained, “…the vampires come to these folks, and they’re like…be one of us, we will take care of you, and it’s like, will they…what price do you pay to be included…it is the absolute most fun you will have at the movies.”

The third film mentioned by Goodykoontz is the fictional story of Shakespeare titled “Hamnet,” starring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley.

“The movie really belongs to Jessie Buckley,” Goodykoontz said, “…it is maybe the best performance I’ve ever seen, certainly up there.”

Looking at television, there are a few shows mentioned on Goodykoontz’s list. From the same people who brought you “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul,” director Vince Gilligan brings you an entirely new show, “Pluribus.”

The story follows Rhea Seehorn’s character, Carol, who is in the midst of an event that leaves everybody in the world in a bizarre state except for a select few.

Another show that was included in this list is called “The Lowdown,” starring Ethan Hawke, who has a mission to expose the corruption occurring around him.