Jason Bateman Picks His No. 1 Movie of 2025 — From a Former Costar

Jason Bateman just crowned his favorite movie of 2025, and it lines up neatly with his own TV history: he picked the one starring his Ozark partner, Julia Garner. He liked it so much he went back two more times within a week. Respect.

Bateman’s pick: Weapons

During a recent cover shoot interview, Bateman ran through the year’s standouts and didn’t hold back on the praise.

"The films this year were stunning."

He rattled off admiration for two big swings from directors he clearly keeps an eye on: Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another and Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme. He even said he wished he could have just hung around some of these sets to watch the teams work. But the movie that hit him hardest? Weapons.

"I watched it three times in five days... it was Weapons."

Bateman credited director Zach Cregger with steering something that could have played simple into a sharpened, stylish knockout that lined up cleanly with his own taste.

"That could have been something much simpler than it ended up being... it was just a blast from beginning to end, in really tasteful ways."

Why this one stands out

Weapons is a 2025 mystery-horror film from Zach Cregger that’s already pulling in rave reviews. It also boasts a cast that knows how to swing for the fences, including one familiar face from Bateman’s world.

• Josh Brolin
• Alden Ehrenreich
• Amy Madigan
• Julia Garner

That Garner connection matters here. She and Bateman went several intense seasons together on Ozark, so his enthusiasm for a project she anchors lands with extra weight. And while he tipped his cap to PTA and Safdie this year, Bateman made it clear Cregger’s film is the one he kept thinking about—and quickly rewatching. If you’re keeping score on 2025’s heavy hitters, add this straight to the top of the list.