2025 in Review: 10 Best Screen Creatures

by Nathaniel R

The following list is dedicated to the unnamed squirrel Kal-el (David Corenswet) saves in Superman, a good-hearted hit that made for a respectable relaunch of the DCU under director/producer James Gunn. The squirrel's scant seconds of screentime proved a perfect blockbuster moment: broad but suprisingly non-generic, funny but heartwarming, and above all else memorable.

While cats (led by Flow) were ruling the movies a year ago, their eternal rivals for human affection came roaring back dominant in 2025 cinema. We've included three canines in the following "Best" list but there wasn't room for everyone so our apologies to funny showdogs Honey & Sterling (Fixed), sadly rehomed dogs Si-Two & Ri-Two (No Other Choice), and other creatures great and small. Leash on. Door open. Here we go...

TEN BEST SCREEN ANIMALS OF 2025
(alpha order by film)  

BUD in Caught Stealing
Between the limp paw and the perpetual endangerment of being a passed around / innocent bystander in a chaotic mob war, you've every reason to be worried for this cutey (played by famous cat actor "Tonic" who is also in Pet Sematary and Thanskgiving) . To those triggered by animals in peril onscreen, please note that Bud survives and his reluctant catsitter Hank Thompson (Austin Butler) officially becomes a cat person.

INDY in Good Boy / PANDA in The Love That Remains
Usually when we talk about the symbiotic relationship between great auteurs and their movie star vessels, we're talking about actresses. In a four-legged turn of events in 2025, these two novice dog actors are serving the vision of men they also go home with for treats, belly rubs, walks, and naps after the camera's stop rolling. Ben Leonberg's cleverly staged indie horror flick Good Boy relies enormously on his pup's expressive face as the leading character. By contrast Panda is a supporting character in his Icelandic daddy Hylnur Palmasson's inventive memoir-like film, which traces a changing family dynamic as the husband and wife separate. Limited screentime doesn’t deter Panda from making an impact; He won the Palm Dog at Cannes this past summer. 

HAWK in Hamnet
While we wanted this majestic feathered character to have more scenes, there's something perfectly judged about its fleeting appearances. The unnamed hawk's loyalty to Agnes (Jessie Buckley) and its inherent unknowability add to the film's rich primordial undercurrents. The hawk’s passing and a lovely animal funeral scene led by Agnes provides her children and the audience with a gently affecting gesture to acknowledge both death and the ephemeral wonderment of life. 

 

GOOGOO (meercat) in Left-Handed Girl
Anything might happen from the child's eye perspective that dominates the bustling Taiwanese night market atmosphere of Taiwan’s Best International Feature finalist. Unfortunately that also includes the unthinkable when it comes this adorable curious wild animal, beloved by the titular character who is too young to be responsible for it.

MAMMA CREEPER in Mickey 17
Creeper, the word invented for this species by humans, sounds just about right when you first see them. By the last act of the film the smug disgust of the naming feels wholly ignorant. These are intelligent, kind, and harmless (unless you cross them) creatures and their queen (expertly voiced via translation device, by Anna Mougalis) is majestic. 'Death to all humans,' indeed! 

(janus cat) in The Secret Agent
We’re still contemplating the inclusion of this literally two-faced cat in Brazil's Oscar submission wherein so many places, people, and things are often not what they’re called or take on additional meanings contextually. Still contemplating but not complaining. What a sight! 

OLGA (cat) in Sorry, Baby
What were the chances of having two lead heroines named Agnes this year (see also Hamnet), each with a beloved familiar that gives the movie one of its very best scenes!? Olga pops in and out of this sad-eyed comedy in the background (cats are so restless) but she’s the co-star of the film’s funniest scene. Agnes sneaks her into a grocery store, and promptly denies she’s done so, despite the little floof playing very visible peek-a-boo from underneath her jacket.

 

KRYPTO (super dog) in Superman
While Indy and Panda are fairly well behaved doggies, it was a treat for this cat person to see an absolute terror of a pup onscreen. Krypto has clearly never been through obedience training but those yellow sun derived super-powers sure are useful in a pinch. What will he get up to in 2026's Supergirl? 

 

TAPEWORM in The Ugly Stepsister
You can't blame a creature for simplying obeying its nature. Whatever the year's breakthrough body-horror star may lack in consciousness -- it makes up for in scene-stealing. First introduced as an exotic weight loss panacea in egg form, it grows quickly and works as promised. Those side effects though! By the time its fully grown it provides this grim Norwegian fairy tale with an unforgettable (unfortunately!) gross-out climax.

AND THE NOMINEES ARE...

Yes, this means the 26th annual Film Bitch Awards have begun. Come back daily until we’re done with all 42 categories!