*Barack Obama has once again shared his highly anticipated roundup of favorite cultural picks, unveiling the films, songs, and books that stood out to him in 2025.
As Deadline reports, the annual list highlights a wide range of storytelling, from cinema to popular music and contemporary nonfiction. Among Obama’s favorite films of the year are Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners,” Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another,” and Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet.” Other notable mentions include Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value” and Park Chan-wook’s “No Other Choice,” alongside a mix of indie and studio projects.
Music also played a major role in Obama’s cultural year, with a playlist that blends global sounds, pop hits, and introspective tracks. Kendrick Lamar appears on the list through his collaboration with SZA, while Drake is also among the featured artists. Songs by Chappell Roan, Olivia Dean, Rosalía, Burna Boy, and Bruce Springsteen further showcase the breadth of Obama’s musical tastes.
As 2025 comes to a close, I’m continuing a tradition that I started during my time in the White House: sharing my annual lists of favorite books, movies, and music. I hope you find something new to enjoy—and please send any recommendations for me to check out! pic.twitter.com/T9LFt5fnKG
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 18, 2025
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On the literary side, Obama’s favorite books list is led by Beth Macy’s memoir “Paper Girl.” Other selections include works by Jill Lepore, Susan Choi, Zadie Smith, Ian McEwan, and Michelle Obama’s “The Look.” The former president also noted several books he previously recommended during the summer, continuing his tradition of spotlighting impactful nonfiction and novels.
Below is the complete list of Barack Obama’s favorite titles of 2025.
Films
- One Battle After Another
- Sinners
- It Was Just An Accident
- Hamnet
- Sentimental Value
- No Other Choice
- The Secret Agent
- Train Dreams
- Jay Kelly
- Good Fortune
- Orwell: 2+2=5
Songs
- “Nice To Each Other” by Olivia Dean
- “Luther” by SZA and Kendrick Lamar
- “Tatata” by Burna Boy ft. Travis Scott
- “Jump” by BLACKPINK
- “Faithless” by Bruce Springsteen
- “Pasayadan” by Ganavya
- “99” by Olamidé ft. Daecolm, Seyi Vibez, Asake & Young John
- “Pending” by Lil Naay & Myke Towers
- “Sexo, Violencia Y Llantas” by Rosalía
- “Metal” by The Beths
- “Abracadabra” by Lady Gaga
- “Just Say Dat” by Gunna
- “The Giver” by Chappell Roan
- “Aurora” by Mora & De La Rose
- “Silver Lining” by Laufey
- “No More Old Men” by Chance the Rapper & Jamila Woods
- “Bury Me” by Jason Isbell
- “I Wish I Could Go Travelling Again” by Stacey Kent
- “Please Don’t Cry” by Kacy Hill
- “Stay” by Roe
- “Never Felt Better” by Everything is Recorded ft. Sampha & Florence Welch
- “In the Name of Love” by Victoria Noelle
Books
- Paper Girl by Beth Macy
- Flashlight by Susan Choi
- We the People by Jill Lepore
- The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy
- There Is No Place for Us by Brian Goldstone
- North Sun by Ethan Rutherford
- 1929 by Andrew Ross Sorkin
- The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai
- Dead And Alive by Zadie Smith
- What We Can Know by Ian McEwan
- The Look by Michelle Obama
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: Black Movie Hall of Fame Names Top 10 Films of 2025
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