The scenario is all too familiar. It’s the end of a long day: the fire is on, the blankets are out and your loved ones want to watch something on the television. But the options feel endless—as you scroll through prequels, sequels, remakes and reboots, you begin to lose hope. The amount of time the average viewer spends searching for what to watch has doubled since 2019, according to Nielsen, a research firm. 

If you want to get those precious minutes back, read our lists of the best films and TV shows of the year. Our critics’ choices will transport you from Oslo to Ohio, Mississippi to the Midlands. They feature comedians (“Is This Thing On?”), office workers (“The Chair Company”, “Severance”) and dramatists (“Hamnet”), as well as revolutionaries on Earth (“One Battle After Another”) and in another galaxy (“Andor”). There is something for everyone, so you can spend the holidays watching instead of scrolling.

Once you have worked your way through those lists, be sure to check out out favourite books and video games of 2025.