It’s turkey time! The 12 worst films of 2025

This year has brought us some great movies – and also at least a dozen dire-one star disasters. Here are the Guardian’s critics on the pick of the year’s cinematic calamities

‘The best thing I have ever witnessed on stage’: readers’ favourite theatre of 2025

A transcendent new take on King Lear, a thrilling Evita and a show at Glasgow’s revamped Citizens that reduced one viewer to a ‘blubbering wreck’ are among your highlights More on the best culture of 2025

The Room in the Tower: A Ghost Story for Christmas review

The understated lead in this year’s creepy festive drama is ideal for the whispered dread it drips with. Be warned, though: it verges on horror – young kids may well be terrified

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants review

With a turn by Mark Hamill and a saltily suggestive catchphrase for Patrick, the fourth SpongeBob film shows that anything can still happen in Bikini Bottom

A Boy Called Christmas review

Chichester Festival theatreA musical adaptation of Matt Haig’s children’s book is visually delightful and heroically performed by Chichester Festival Youth Theatre but the songs are humdrum

From The Gruffalo to Tabby McTat: Julia Donaldson’s TV adaptations ... from best to worst

Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s heartwarming kids’ tales have become a cosy festive fixture on the BBC. Ahead of this year’s offering of The Scarecrows’ Wedding, we ask: which is the all-time Christmas cracker?