Welcome back to Daily Grindhouse’s mostly-annual feature where we celebrate lots of stuff that goes overlooked by the normal-people Oscars. We like a lot of the same things they do, but we also like a whole lot of stuff that go unmentioned over there. You’ll see us mentioning a ton of horror movies, for example. Every year, elements of the horror community start belly-aching about horror being under-represented at the Oscars. Oh yeah? You want the rawest of disreputable outlaw genres to put on a tuxedo? Horror is supposed to push the envelope, not to wait on bated breath for it to be opened. Also: Who gives a shit? Don’t wait for anybody else to validate the stuff you love. The fact that you love it is enough. Shout it out! Share it with others! Make your own “Oscars” if you have to. This one is ours. Hope you enjoy it!
This is the Somethingth Annual Bizarros — an exact “annual” count is dodgy since we skipped a year somewhere in there (although here’s 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024!). We will keep it up until DC Comics sends a cease-and-desist!
Now why am I doing this one alone? Easy to answer, not so easy to admit: I blew it in 2025. I made too many promises I couldn’t keep. I broke too many promises I didn’t have time or energy to offer or agree to. I failed. I let too many good people down. I sort of let Daily Grindhouse take a back seat to all the awful stuff I was dealing with in “real life,” and unfortunately I’m not really the type who keeps much of my life on view online, so nobody knew why I was being so unreachable. Would it help to be more open? Maybe. How much heartbreak and loss do you want to hear about? I got more than my share, lately. But I’m not unique and I’m not much to complain. Anyway, I’ve brought Daily Grindhouse back from the dead before and I’ll do it again, hopefully not alone. But at the moment, I am all there is for the Bizarros. We usually all share our nominations, and the nominations by themselves are the win. Today, I guess my choices stand as the champs. But feel so free to knock me off my perch and to add your lists in the comments or online!
BEST POST-CREDITS SEQUENCE
THE TOXIC AVENGER
The Toxic Avenger (voiced by Peter Dinklage) teaches you how to make a great grilled cheese!
BEST END CREDITS NEEDLE DROP
“Punkrocker” by Teddybears featuring Iggy Pop
This song was in heavy rotation in my iPod back in 2006, 2007, and I hadn’t heard it in quite a while until it popped up at the end of SUPERMAN. Surprise! Great pop song. Of course the bit about kindness being “the real punk rock” was dated the second it came out of the guy’s mouth in the movie… (Nice idea, but…) …But anyway, it was redeemed by the unexpected needle drop. Iggy Pop is the real punk rock.
For further study, I really recommend (and probably prefer) this remix.
BEST FINAL SCENE
This one goes to SINNERS. Beyond just simply being a great scene, you simply cannot imagine how hyped I was to see Buddy Guy, as Sammie in his elder years. I guess it’s how a slightly different kind of nerd might feel when they’re watching the Flash movie and Aquaman stumbles in.
BEST MOVIE MOST PEOPLE PROBABLY DIDN’T SEE
I’ll give you ten:
BEAST OF WAR
DANGEROUS ANIMALS
DIABLO
EDDINGTON
HEDDA
IN THE LOST LANDS
NOBODY 2
SHE RIDES SHOTGUN
THE WOMAN IN THE YARD
BEST SCORE
MARTY SUPREME by Daniel Lopatin
runner-up:
SHE RIDES SHOTGUN by Blanck Mass
PRETTIEST MOVIE
28 YEARS LATER
shot by Anthony Dod Mantle
(all stills credited to Film-Grab.com)
Prettiest Movie, documentary division:
THE TALE OF SILYAN
Prone to “documentary-itis,” in the sense that it has scenes that I’d bet are likely retakes or even staged, this movie still tells a lovely story, and mainly, they got the footage. Moments of beauty that will linger with anyone who takes a look.
BEST “BAD” MOVIE
IN THE LOST LANDS
This movie was nominated for “Razzies.” By who? I’m guessing people who didn’t see it. To me, the Razzies are like drinking on July 4th. Amateur hour. I’m a professional, son. You don’t know what “bad” is. IN THE LOST LANDS isn’t it.
BEST VILLAIN
Sharon Stone as Lendina in NOBODY 2
Just a joy of a bad-guy performance from a star who looks like she’s having a blast doing it.
BEST EVIL HENCHMAN
Michelle Waterson as The Assassin in HAVOC
I liked this movie more than most, but I hope that one thing we can all agree on is that mixed martial artist Michelle Waterson was fierce as hell in her few scenes.
BEST HORROR-MOVIE MASK
The Heart Eyes Killer in HEART EYES
runner-up:
The Reaper in NIGHT OF THE REAPER
BEST GIANT MONSTER
The Shark in BEAST OF WAR
Horrifying. And practical!
runner-up:
The Unicorn in DEATH OF A UNICORN
The movie was a touch more forgettable than I was hoping, but major points for originality.
WORST GIANT MONSTER
The Bears from BEARS ON A SHIP.
Don’t watch a movie based solely on a poster. Never do that. I know this is good advice, essential advice, but… I was weak.
BEST ALIEN
Galactus
in FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS
I can’t put my finger on why I was underwhelmed by this movie, because there was a lot about it that felt right. For example, putting Ralph Ineson in a big purple helmet and making him walk around a Toho-like set of New York is beautiful and hilarious.
BEST WEREWOLF
It’s infuriating to realize that there was so little competition in 2025 that WOLF MAN is able to win by default. I wanted to like that movie so bad and it did have one or two nice moments, but man, what a disappointment. And now I will show you the Wolf Man from WOLF MAN.
I should have more choices. I should be offered five to ten different werewolves a year. I should not be limited to one werewolf movie in a year so that this werewolf wins by running unopposed. This is why the dipshit Republicans are winning. It shouldn’t be hard to beat people this useless, and yet.
BEST VAMPIRE
Jack O’Connell as Remmick in SINNERS.
Goddamn. Has there ever been a category that had a clearer winner? See also: Jack O’Connell as Lord Jimmy Crystal in 28 YEARS LATER (and in particular, THE BONE TEMPLE). Still sort of vampiric and definitely Hell-sent.
BEST SKELETON(s)
The Dreadites
in DEATHSTALKER
I am just so fucking keyed-into the vibe that writer-director Steven Kostanski is shooting for. God bless this very strange man and his collaborators for gifting me with a skeleton fight in a year where I needed to see one very badly.
BEST SUPERHERO COSTUME
I liked the baby-blue FF costumes, and how each has those minor variations. It’s a neat look.
BEST CHARACTER ACTOR
John Carroll Lynch, SHE RIDES SHOTGUN
This man deserves so much more praise for what he did in this movie. Even from me! I should have put him in the running for Best Villain. As many times as this versatile character actor has played evil before (when he is just as convincing as purely good when he plays that note), this was something unbelievable and scary. I can honestly say that I didn’t even recognize him at first, and it’s not like he was buried under makeup effects. He is just that goddamn good. Man he was scary. There are people exactly like this all over America. Just look at Trump’s list of pardons.
Dean Winters, HIGHEST 2 LOWEST
Mainly just happy to see one of my favorite character actors doing something other than insurance commercials, although I appreciate that those probably pay the bills. Also happy to note that the other people in that image above, LaChanze and John Douglas Thompson, are equally great in this movie. And Jeffrey Wright is, of course, the finest actor in America.
Pamela Anderson, THE NAKED GUN
Anybody who’s been a fan of Pam for real knows that her being funny isn’t anything new. I was happy to see all the reviews celebrating her, but baffled by the way they treated this performance like some kind of fresh revelation. Pam has always been much more clever and knowing about her image and more deadpan hilarious in her acting work than most people seem to have noticed before 2025. She’s great. Also: She has always been great!
DISCOVERY OF THE YEAR
Miles Caton, SINNERS
very close runner-up:
Chase Infiniti, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
I’m fascinated by those casting choices that make or break a movie, like “Without this one guy or gal walking through the door, this movie just does not happen.” Miles Caton as Sammie isn’t just the soul and the center of SINNERS, carrying the whole picture so that the better known and more widely celebrated actors can shine, but he’s got to be able to play the blues like a motherfucker. And he does! What a find.
BEST TAG TEAM
Milla Jovovich and Dave Bautista from IN THE LOST LANDS
non-action-movie edition:
Paul Rudd and Tim Robinson from FRIENDSHIP
not-of-this-Earth edition:
Deathstalker (Daniel Bernhardt) and Doodad (voice of Patton Oswalt) in DEATHSTALKER
BEST DESERVES-HER-OWN-MOVIE CHARACTER
Tânia Maria as Dona Sebastiana from THE SECRET AGENT
Give her a movie of her own. Then team her up with Hobbs and Shaw. Then have her square off against Jason and Freddy. Then send her into space to have adventures with the Mighty Thor. Just keep her working in movies, please, for the love of all that is holy.
MOST ASS-KICKING SHITKICKERS IN ONE PLACE
Scott Adkins and Marko Zaror in DIABLO
Yeah, that’s only two guys. Think you need more than those two?
BEST CATCHPHRASE, OR BEST OUGHT-TO-BE-A-CATCHPHRASE
“I gotta get my dick out.” — The Toxic Avenger (Peter Dinklage)
BEST MICHAEL SHANNON
The only movie Michael Shannon appeared in during 2025 was NUREMBERG, but here instead is a picture of him as James A. Garfield in Death By Lightning. Look at that beard!!!
Oh, and here is Michael Shannon while visiting the Wieners Circle in Chicago recently. Just because it brings me joy.
BEST NICOLAS CAGE MOVIE
THE CARPENTER’S SON
(believe it or not, this one ran unopposed)
BEST STUNT SEQUENCE
the boat fight in NOBODY 2
Only because this is the scene that first came to mind. There’s a lot of great work in this move.
BEST FIGHT
the rap battle between Denzel (as David King) and A$AP Rocky as Yung Felon in HIGHEST 2 LOWEST
BEST CAR
the 1915 C.R. Patterson & Sons touring car in SINNERS
Please read about the history.
So worth your time.
BEST CAR CHASE
DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA
BEST DOG
Sulo the Bedlington Terrier
from SISU: ROAD TO REVENGE
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Ralphie, the official Dog of Daily Grindhouse
BEST ANIMAL PERFORMANCE BY AN ANIMAL ACTOR
Indy the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
in GOOD BOY
BEST HERO MOMENT
quiet category:
28 YEARS LATER
when you find out what Dr. Kelson is really doing with all those human bones
loud category:
BEAST OF WAR
what Leo does to try to stop that shark goes so hard
BEST OPENING SCENE
The Teletubbies!
28 YEARS LATER
The opening scene introduces a character who we will not see again until the final scene. Insanity! Bold, brilliant insanity.
runner-up:
DANGEROUS ANIMALS
Captain Tucker is a right evil bastard…
BEST OPENING CREDITS SEQUENCE
Denzel’s introduction in HIGHEST 2 LOWEST
“Oh what a beautiful morning…”
ARE YOU VISITING THEATERS REGULARLY? IF SO, WHAT MOVIES BRING YOU OUT OF THE HOUSE?
I enjoy going to movies. I prefer it. It’s too easy to get distracted (or, as is more usually the case, to fall asleep) at home. So I was very happy that Ryan Coogler and his team worked so hard to make SINNERS a theatrical event. It doesn’t take an event to get me personally into theaters, but it was nice to see the house so packed.
AND WHAT WAS YOUR BEST BIG-SCREEN EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR? (NEW RELEASE AND/OR REPERTORY)
Seeing SINNERS on IMAX with two buddies was a pretty good one. Seeing SUPERMAN with my buddy and his boys was super sweet. Seeing THE TOXIC AVENGER alone out of necessity, since seeing it in the theater took such crackerjack timing and precision. (Justice for THE TOXIC AVENGER!)
WHAT STREAMING RELEASE DO YOU WISH YOU SAW ON THE BIG SCREEN WITH AN AUDIENCE?
FRANKENSTEIN. I tried! I live in New York, and I’ve been to the Paris Theater, but I couldn’t make it in the window it was playing there. And while I really dug the movie at home, I know that I’d have dug it a lot more up on a big screen.
WAS THERE ANY STUDIO FEATURE YOU FELT ACTUALLY BENEFITTED FROM WATCHING AT HOME?
I’ll say NIGHT ALWAYS COMES, and I say that mainly because I happened to read the book. Since I read the book at home, it felt reasonably appropriate to watch the movie there too.
DID YOU HAVE A GO-TO 2025 SUB-GENRE? I.E. CONTAGION HORROR, NICOLAS CAGE, NINJAS, ZOMBIE-APOCALYPSE, SHARK MOVIES, ETC.
Y’all know me. Know how I earn a livin’. I watch shark movies. I don’t know why. Don’t much need to know. It’s just what I do.
Usually I see a ton of garbage shark movies, so thank you to Kiah Roche-Turner and Sean Byrne and their casts and crews for going the mile and making two of the best movies of the year, which just so happened to be about sharks that eat people.
WHAT MOVIE GAVE YOU HOPE FOR THE FUTURE IN 2025?
Weirdly enough, MARTY SUPREME, which is arguably the most misunderstood movie of 2025. Maybe the knives were out from the jump, but I heard and saw mystifying things from people who supposedly should know better, people who claim to know better, people who are paid to know better. I saw a whole onslaught of reviews and Tweets that complained about the supposed “happy ending.” All due respect, but I feel like I saw a different movie than you did. I saw a movie about a kid who did nothing but try to win, and ultimately failed. Marty Mauser wanted to be the international ping-pong champion. Spoiler warnings for those who haven’t seen it, but Marty fucking failed. Yeah, he beat Endo in a match that meant nothing to the actual standings, and yeah, he went home to see the baby who made him a father. We can agree that it’s nice that Marty got to win one last match, even though his career was totally over by then, but do you think that this was a happy ending just because it had a baby in it? You think Marty was crying because he was happy? And you get paid to write about movies and I don’t?
I suppose we can read the ending as a happy one if we choose to, but we’d have to disregard everything that came before the final moments, or we’d have to imagine that Marty, a character who shows plenty of ingenuity but little ability to learn from his mistakes, suddenly changes so much that he decides he is going to hang it up on his big dreams and be a father to this kid that he was pretty clear he didn’t want. Out of the goodness of his heart. Yeah, in the end he is doing the right thing, but I don’t think he is crying with joy about doing the right thing. But many of this nation’s leading critics do! Just because he saw a fucking baby.
Rant about modern critical failures in reading the fucking text aside, I saw hope at the end of MARTY SUPREME. Not for Marty, but for myself. Everybody wants to rule the world, but not everybody gets the chance they fought for, the chance they were hoping against hope for, maybe even, dare I say it, the chance they deserve. I had dreams. I’m at an age where I have to start to accept that maybe my dreams won’t come true. Maybe they still can, but the odds grow longer with each passing year. And I’m okay with that. I really am okay with that. I may sound a little grouchy sometimes, but my mind is clear. I made certain sacrifices, and I made plenty of mistakes, and sometimes the moment passes. Sometimes another moment comes, but often it doesn’t.
Seeing this movie, and I saw it twice in a week, I took a moment to think about the dreams of my youth, and how some have left me already, and how some have changed, and how I’m ready to give up on some, and how I’m not quite ready to give up on others. I happen to like the movie, but I think this isn’t about the movie, not really. This was a train of thought that departed from the movie and took on a life of its own. It was a train of thought that I needed to follow. So many movies end with the main character winning the big game, or becoming the father he always dreamed of being, or something or other like that. But in real life, whether you win or lose, you have to go on living, and you have to make some kind of peace with whether you won or lost, even if you never got a fair chance to play, even if you just plain fucked up along the way. That’s life.
The movie may end, but life goes on.
WHAT MOVIE(s) ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2026?
So glad you asked! Click here, baby!
WHICH SONGS SAVED YOUR LIFE IN 2025? BONUS POINTS IF IT CAME FROM A MOVIE SOUNDTRACK.
I didn’t watch the TV series this came from, and I don’t intend to, but this song affected me a lot, as many of Kacey’s songs do.
I had to end a relationship towards the end of 2025, which was uncharted territory. I have never before been the one to end it. I was resolved to being the dumpee, so this was new and horrible. I had to do it, but I didn’t want to. Truth is, I loved her. But sometimes that isn’t enough. Sometimes it has to end. And when it ends, it feels there will never be another chance. Time will tell, I guess. For now, it sucks real bad.
The world is already burning down. More than ever, I hope she knows she was it for me.
WHICH BELOVED CELEBRITY WE LOST IN 2025 WOULD YOU CHEER FOR LOUDEST DURING THE BIZARRO ‘IN MEMORIAM’ TRIBUTE? AND WHY? CLICK HERE FOR A VERY SAD REMINDER OF WHO WE LOST.
I’m not sure where this category came from, originally. Pretty sure I’m the one who added it at first. I think the goal was to remind people of the massive memorial tribute we do every year, and also to allow our contributors to talk about who they admire and why. I’m against clapping louder for some than others. Every life matters. Everyone matters to someone.
All of that said, I will go with Claudia Cardinale. It breaks my heart that this world is without her. Beyond the fact that I’ve gone on record to say that she’s the most beautiful woman ever to be put on film, I also just admire her so much as an artist and as an activist. She was pretty great. Nobody’s perfect, and insisting on making idols out of strangers just because we see them in movies is a fool’s game, but I admired her very much and I’m sorry she’s left us.
WHAT CATEGORY SHOULD THE REAL OSCARS HAVE THAT THEY DON’T?
Best Giant Monster. I just want to see Godzilla get up there to accept.
SEE YOU LAST YEAR!
- [THE BIG QUESTION] WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE FEMALE ENSEMBLE IN MOVIES? - July 22, 2016
- [IN THEATERS NOW] THE BOY (2016) - January 24, 2016
- Cult Movie Mania Releases Lucio Fulci Limited Edition VHS Sets - January 5, 2016
Tags: 2025, Action Film, Action Movies, Aliens, Bears, Benicio Del Toro, Birds, Bizarro, Bizarro Oscars, Bob Odenkirk, Books, Buddy Guy, Cars, Chase Infiniti, Daniel Bernhardt, Dave Bautista, Dean Winters, Delroy Lindo, Denzel Washington, Dogs, Explosions, frankenstein, Gerard Butler, GODZILLA, guillermo del toro, Horror, Iggy Pop, Jack O’Connell, Jai Courtney, Jeffrey Wright, Jenna Ortega, John Carroll Lynch, Jon Abrams, Kacey Musgraves, Marko Zaror, Michael Shannon, Miles Caton, Monkeys, music, Nicolas Cage, Pamela Anderson, Patton Oswalt, Paul Rudd, Peter Dinklage, Punk, Robots, scott adkins, Sharks, Sharon Stone, Skeletons, spike lee, Superheroes, Tessa Thompson, The Thing, Unicorns, vampires, Vanessa Kirby, Werewolves, Zombies
No Comments