The Best of 2025
As the year comes to an end the Hinton team meditates on our favorite pieces of media. We bet you’ll find some books, music, movies, and more that you’ll love as much as we do!
Maggie’s picks:
Books
Marsha P Johnson is someone I’ve known about for a long time, she was a trans liberation activist and wearer of flower crowns in NYC in the late 60’s-80’s- but that’s about all I knew about her. I am deeply grateful to Tourmaline for her years of work researching this icon, and writing a beautiful narrative biography. I now know that Marsha P John was a performer, a gay activist, and a community builder/care taker. I deeply appreciate Marsha’s ability to dream big about her community’s future, while also doing the day to day work of meeting their material needs. We could all learn a lot from Marsha P Johnson.
Listen, I do not care, I love the Hunger Games. I think they are well written, character forward, nuanced stories that young readers will get a lot of important messages from. And in a sea of reboots/sequels/prequels/remakes that are meh at best, or a grotesque zombified dead horses at worst, I think both the Hunger Games prequels have revisited the world of Panam to explore new and powerful things. Sunrise on the Reaping tells the story of Haymitch’s quarter quell, and while we’ve seen certain plot points in the original trilogy, how you get to each one, and how the capitol frames them differently then how Haymitch experienced them will keep you on the edge of your seat.
In an alternate fantasy timeline where the accused witches in Salem, MA actually had magical powers, the patriarchal Church and state suppress magic and women in equal measure. Three sisters all wind up in Salem independently of each other, and through the stories their grandmother told them, their connections to other women in Salem, and a rigorous search of historical texts; these three women may be able to bring magic back…
Time travel has always existed in this world, machines that allow the practice have always existed, and humanity does not know why- but The Daughters of Harriet know what they’re going to do with it: change the timeline to make it feminist and anti-racist. Tess travels through time to affect key moments when patriarchal control was cemented in our history, and also tries to see if she can figure out a way to change the worst thing from happening in her own past. While the story itself is compelling, the themes of how history changes (great man vs. collective action), and how we can resist racist and misogynist back slides are powerful and illuminating.
I don’t know how Xiran Jay Zhao topped Iron Widow, the first book in this series which was a true literary feat, but they somehow did! Zhao, who was born and raised in China until they were about 10, used real stories from Chinese history to explore power, patriarchy, high control relationships, colonialism, through a fun action packed YA Fantasy SciFi story. The nuance they weave into the struggles that remind after the kingdom becomes communist rival The Mockingjay and Born in Flames. The way they pulls the rug out from under the enemy’s to lover troupe, turned it on its head, made it a feminist critique… transcendent… (and if you want to her Marcus and I interview Zhao about their other book series Zachary Ying, you can do so here).
Can somebody I know please read the Scolomance books? Please? I have been slowly dying over here with nobody to talk to about them! As a queer millennial with a regrettable Harry Potter tattoo, I have a hunger for magic school stories that address systems of power and oppression. At every turn of this series Novik does just that, exploring colonialism, caste systems, privilege and oppression- because honestly, for a group of people to have magic and keep it to themselves is pretty monstrous, no? In book three of the Scholomance series you finally learn how deep all monstrousness goes, it’s painful, and satisfying, and inexplicably true.
Movies
told through the perspective of a robot designed for human companionship, who is unaware she isn’t a regular girl (played exquisitely by Sophie Thatcher); Companion is a meditation on power and control in relationships, in particular high control or abusive relationships. While there’s quite a bit of death in the movie, the ending is uplifting, and something I found very cathartic both times I watched it.
Is a ghost story, told entirely from the POV of the ghost, the camera follows the humans in the house it’s inhabiting from the ghost’s eye view. Starring the legendary Lucy Liu as the mom, she is well matched by the less well known actors who play her family Chris Sullivan as the father, Callina Liang as the daughter, and Eddy Maday as the son. I don’t want to give too much away, but it’s a story centered around the family dynamics, and the danger the often ignored daughter is pushed towards.
If you don’t already know that Sinners was one of my favorite movies this year, hi! Welcome to our newsletter thanking you for subscribing more recently! This horror action movie manages to do what only Ryan Coogler can do, turn a sensational blockbuster into a poignant film about America, Race, Power, and so much more. This is a well made delightful movie to watch, with so many delicious layers you discover more and more with each watch. And of course Micheal B Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O'Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Benson Miller, and Delroy Lindo all deserve Oscars (if only the Academy had any objectivity).
This documentary was eye opening for me, a hearing person, to deaf culture and history. In 1988 Gallaudet University, a college for deaf students, had to appoint a new university president, it had never had a deaf president, and when the board of trustees appointed a hearing woman to the job students organized and protested until they got a deaf president. The story of the protests are great, and inspiring; but also learning about the student’s family’s histories with ableism was painfully and necessarily illuminating. I highly recommend pairing this movie with Crip Camp, and reading Being Seen by Elsa Sjunneson to get really revved up on disability justice (we have a great episode where Marcus and I interview Elsa on Hinton Cast).
The romcom is back baby! Just maybe not in Hollywood… A French book store employee, who is obsessed with Jane Austen, and has started but never finished her own beautiful love story; gets nominated for a Jane Austen writing residency by her best friend. Our heroine gets picked up by Jane Austen’s great great grand nephew, who she finds arrogant, and rude, down right insufferable… and I think you can see where it goes from there. A fun movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and just lets you get lost in a love story.
I have been hungering for a Disney movie as good as what I experienced in my youth, something with beautiful heroines in gorgeous outfits, a tight compelling script, and songs I could sing all day and night. Thank goodness KPop Demon Hunters came and finally filled that void in my life! The animation style is gorgeous, the main pop star heroines were the most popular halloween costumes this year, the soundtrack was one of the top charting KPop albums this year. It’s great, it’s fun, it’s about something, I love it.
This movie is a work of genius, it’s about a young woman’s nonlinear journey towards healing after she is sexually assaulted, so it’s dark, but it’s also hilarious. Eva Victor wrote, directed and starred in this movie, and thank goodness because I don’t think anyone else could have pulled off this vision. With a cast of characters both insufferable and delightful, and strange meandering vignettes shown out of chronological order, you cry, hold your breath and laugh your way through some real hard shit, much like real life in that way.
May this mark the ending of the dark cynical and moody superhero movie, may we experience idealism, hope, laughter, and deeply endearing heroes from now on. May we, most of all, HAVE FUN when telling super hero stories. To be completely honest, I would love it if we had a few less super hero movies in the next few years, but if we must, I want 2025’s Superman to be the new mold superhero movies are made in.
Music
While what I listen to the most is a playlist I made called “upbeat no words,” to keep me conscious and engaged with work, there are a few albums I wore out this year.
The Last Dinner Party
I compare them to Queen, which is very high praise, that I think they earn. The Last Dinner Party uses choral vocal arrangements, and song breaks that sound like they could have been written by mozart, as they rock the fuck out. They’re as angry as Bikini Kill, and as melodic as Florence + The Machine. I really enjoyed their first album Prelude to Ecstasy, and counted down the days until their newest album, From the Pyre, came out in October. It came as no surprise to me when my streaming app confirmed that they were my number one listened to album this year.
Plan It X was a DIY punk label, that called itself a distro, that put out folk punk music in the early 00’s. I would argue that Rosa, a band from Houston TX, was the best of what Plan It X put out. The hard thing about the music of my youth being so painstakingly independent, is it’s hard to find these days. Even if I hadn’t lost the cd I sent a money order in to get, what would I listen to it on? I was thrilled to discover that the album is up on the internet archive, and legitimately cried when I heard those songs again for the first time in years.
If you haven’t already heard of this album we live on entirely different internets. But I’ve got to tell you I’ve never related to an album more than this collection of dance hall pop songs, about being ravenously cheated on and suddenly needing to date again in your 40’s. It’s honestly mildly creepy how many of the songs hit me so deeply.
Content
Amber Horsburgh
Amber does really great cultural commentary from a feminist lens on short vertical videos. She’s done a number of series I’m obsessed with, I found her as she was posting one about how hard it is to balance work and motherhood, there’s one about what led to Britney Spear’s album Black Out and it’s social relevance, right now she’s posting one that’s songs about motherhood. She’s fabulous, frequently does her hair make up and costume to fit the theme of the videos, and she’s really well researched. (instagram, tiktok)
A Bit Fruity
Matt Bernstein, the host of the podcast A Bit Fruity, is one of the few forces in this world that gives me a bit of hope. Brilliant, hilarious, thick skinned, and always sporting acrylic nails I cannot imagine functioning in- he brings logic to some of the most strife discourse on the internet, as he cracks jokes, and really listens to the brilliant guests he brings onto the show. Another absurdly well researched commentator, when you cannot understand the lunacy of the rhetoric on the right, tune into A Bit Fruity for a dose of sanity. Also follow him on instagram and tiktok, his takes are always immaculate. (instagram A Bit Fruity, instagram Matt Bernstein, tiktok, YouTube, “A Bit Fruity” wherever you get your podcasts).
More Perfect Union
They are making the media we need right now, looking at issues that working Americans face from a class/anti-capitalist viewpoint. From pollution neighbors of datacenters face, to why the quality of consumer products is always getting worse, to in-depth coverage of specific union struggles; More Perfect Union tells the human stories of these topics, explains the systems that create the problem, and usually offers solutions that will help. As social media leans more and more right, follow and share media groups that are telling necessary stories, and sharing good ideas! (instagram, tiktok, YouTube)
Gen Z for Change
Another media making group that tells necessary stories and shares good ideas. The young people behind this account explain complex ideas in an accessible youth friendly way. They frequently encourage their followers to support campaigns, and pressure power holders to make the world more just. In a world where it can feel harder and harder to know what to do to push back against the rise of Christian Nationalism this is one place to tune into to get some direction. (instagram, tiktok)
Yanet’s Picks:
Movies
Sinners seems like it was everyone’s favorite movie this year, and to no one's surprise, it was also one of mine. In light of the recent news about Netflix acquiring Warner Bros. and the uncertain future of movie theaters as the Netflix CEO insists consumers want to stay home and that making films for the big screen is an “outdated” concept, Sinners proves why the movie-going experience will always remain relevant and essential. One of Hinton’s best events this year was a Sinners screening and panel discussion that brought in over 100 people to Majestic Bay Theatre. This film was a testament to the power of cinema!
Possibly the funniest movie released in 2025, One of Them Days stars Keke Palmer and SZA as they try to figure out how to make their rent money. Hilarious, witty, and actually really touching, One of Them Days has become my favorite buddy-comedy, and emulates the vibes in many 90s/2000s Black buddy-comedies. This movie also comes from producer Issa Rae, so seeing these three prominent female, Black Hollywood stars make something like this that was so good and so funny was such a treat.
Starring Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor, this period romance drama follows the two men from when they meet at the Boston Conservatory in 1917 to their ventures throughout rural Maine recording traditional folk songs. I love this film because it's all about preservation, connection, and impact. These two men become romantically connected through their love for music, but the music that they know and share with each other is music that has been passed down from memory rather than recording. The film’s present day version of Paul Mescal’s character, Lionel, reflects on the impact that his connection with Josh O’Connor’s character, David left on him, a love that has been preserved by the end of the century just like the songs they had recorded and preserved at the beginning of the century.
Poetry
The first stanza of this poem is absolutely captivating to me. “You’d never call the branches /arms, though in certain / lights don’t pine and man / look like hands,” and then everything that there is to come in this poem is absolutely stunning. I love the ideas that are explored here about breaking to heal being the requirement for love to be able to comfort, for proof of care, for connection and passion being able to rejoin. It kind of makes the idea of a lot of forms of grief, at least for me, feel a lot less scary.
Music
This is the third full length studio album from Portland (PNW rep!) rapper Aminé. I love this album because not only does he remain consistent in never forgetting his roots in the city he grew up in, he delves into his Ethiopian heritage in a deeper way than he ever has before. Ethiopian culture, music, family, etc. is the central motif on this record. From the title of the album referring to the famous Ethiopian slogan that references the 13 months in the Ethiopian calendar year, to the album cover displaying traditional Ethiopian religious and household items, to the voice memos of his father between tracks, to the sample of an Ethiopian song incorporated into one of the tracks, this album is all about heritage, and how where you come from has built you into the person you are now. It’s about belonging, both to his family, and to the world of stardom, that he deserves his success because of what it allows him to give back to his family.
“How Bad Do U Want Me” is my favorite song off of this album. It makes me feel like I’m in middle school again back in the mid-late 2010s listening to the radio in the back seat of every grown-up’s car. This album is pure nostalgia to me, it's new and fun and fresh but sounds so much like the old Lady Gaga that we all grew up with. It’s her signature, and it reminded all of us that she is, not was, one of the greatest pop stars of this century and she is here to stay!
Kehlani is doing the Lord’s work in bringing back the old school style of R&B! Everything about this song feels like it came out in 2000 yet a truly authentic progression to Kehlani’s discography. And the music video? This is some serious real-yearners-only-like-holding-a-boombox-outside-your-window kind of music and I need more. Where’s the album!