As the Toronto International Film Festival celebrates its 50th anniversary, the lineup of films is every bit as remarkable as the festival’s enduring legacy. While there are countless outstanding titles to choose from, a select few stand out as must-sees. After carefully reviewing this year’s slate, our website has picked twenty films we are confident will generate plenty of buzz.
The Smashing Machine – One of TIFF’s most surprising collaborations, Benny Safdie and Dwayne Johnson deliver a raw, gripping portrait of MMA pioneer Mark Kerr. With Emily Blunt in a powerful supporting role and cameos from UFC legends, this quasi-documentary drama breaks away from sports film clichés, offering an unflinching look at the price of greatness inside and outside the ring.
Eleanor the Great, Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut, brings an intriguing concept to life. The film follows Eleanor (June Squibb), who, after the death of her best friend and longtime roommate Bessie (Rita Zohar), leaves her home behind to join a group of Holocaust survivors and finally share her own story.
Eternity – From director David Freyne (The Cured), this enchanting afterlife drama stars Elizabeth Olsen, Miles Teller, and Callum Turner in a love triangle that spans lifetimes. Souls are given one week in the hereafter to decide who they will spend eternity with, forcing Joan (Olsen) to choose between her first great love and the partner who stood by her for decades. Ingenious, heartfelt, and deeply moving, Eternity is my personal favorite TIFF pick — a film I feel I’ll love even before seeing it.
Nuremberg – James Vanderbilt (Truth) returns with a gripping World Premiere anchored by powerhouse performances from Russell Crowe and Rami Malek. Set in 1945, as the world reckons with the aftermath of World War II, the film follows the Allied effort to bring Nazi leaders to justice and the psychological battle to expose Hermann Göring’s true nature. Elevated by an outstanding ensemble, Nuremberg is one of the TIFF films I feel drawn to most — a personal favorite I know I’ll appreciate even before seeing it.
She Has No Name – Inspired by a notorious true case, Peter Ho-Sun Chan (American Dreams in China) delivers a riveting crime drama set in 1940s Shanghai. Zhang Ziyi (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) plays Zhan-Zhou, a woman accused of murdering and dismembering her abusive husband, known as Big Bear. With little evidence beyond circumstantial clues, her fate seems sealed until a bold journalist (Zhao Liying) begins raising questions that shake public opinion. Against the backdrop of a city caught between the end of Japanese occupation and the rise of revolution, the film layers intimate tragedy with sweeping historical change. Richly staged and emotionally charged, She Has No Name promises one of Zhang’s most striking performances to date — and it’s a TIFF title I already feel will stand out as a favorite.
Swiped – Rachel Lee Goldenberg (Unpregnant) directs this inspiring World Premiere, with Lily James delivering a standout performance as Whitney Wolfe Herd, the visionary who transformed online dating and became the youngest female billionaire. Set against the male-dominated tech world of the 2010s, the film charts Whitney’s rise from her early work on Tinder to her bold decision to create Bumble, a platform built on women’s empowerment. With Dan Stevens co-starring, Swiped blends energy, vulnerability, and determination, making it more than a biopic — it’s a story about resilience, innovation, and breaking barriers. This is one TIFF title I already feel drawn to and expect to deeply admire.
Motor City – Potsy Ponciroli’s Motor City is a fierce revenge tale set in the industrial grit of 1970s Detroit. Alan Ritchson stars as John Miller, a factory worker whose life is shattered when he’s framed by a ruthless gangster (Ben Foster) and thrown into prison. Years later, Miller emerges hardened and unrelenting, determined to reclaim his life and lost love (Shailene Woodley) — no matter the cost. With stylized visuals, brutal action, and a propulsive rock score curated by Detroit legend Jack White, the film pulses with raw energy. Blending the operatic scale of tragedy with the adrenaline of an action epic, Motor City is one TIFF title I feel will be an instant favorite even before seeing it.
Bad Apples – Jonatan Etzler’s Bad Apples is a biting satirical thriller that pushes moral boundaries while asking uncomfortable questions about community, conformity, and denial. Saoirse Ronan delivers one of her boldest performances as Maria, a private school teacher faced with a foul-mouthed, violent student whose sudden disappearance exposes how far parents and educators will go to preserve their illusion of harmony. Blending sharp Nordic humour with unsettling genre elements, the film challenges audiences to consider how quickly values can collapse when tested. With Ronan at the center of this fearless story, Bad Apples is a TIFF standout I already feel will be among my personal favorites.
Ballad of a Small Player – Directed by Oscar winner Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front), this atmospheric drama stars Colin Farrell as Lord Freddy Doyle, a gambler living it up in Macao while secretly drowning in debt and desperation. Tilda Swinton plays the detective determined to expose his past, pulling him deeper into a web of mystery and obsession. Adapted from Lawrence Osborne’s novel, the film blends dreamlike visuals with Farrell’s haunting performance, making it one of TIFF’s most anticipated premieres.
Christy – David Michôd (Animal Kingdom) brings the powerful true story of trailblazing boxer Christy Martin to the screen, with Sydney Sweeney delivering what may be her finest performance yet. Known as the “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” Christy rose from small-town roots to become a star in women’s boxing, all while enduring a turbulent and abusive marriage to her trainer (Ben Foster). Both devastating and inspiring, Christy is a raw portrait of resilience, survival, and the fight for self-identity in and out of the ring.
Dead Man’s Wire – Gus Van Sant returns with a gripping true-crime drama about the bizarre 1977 kidnapping that turned struggling Indianapolis entrepreneur Tony Kiritsis into an unlikely folk hero. Bill Skarsgård leads as Kiritsis, alongside Dacre Montgomery, Colman Domingo, and Al Pacino in a story that mixes dark humor, social tension, and the fight against corporate power. Both strange and fascinating, Dead Man’s Wire feels just as timely today, making it one of TIFF’s most compelling premieres.
Frankenstein – Guillermo del Toro finally brings his long-awaited vision of Mary Shelley’s gothic classic to life, with Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as his haunting creation. This North American premiere blends del Toro’s signature beauty and darkness, balancing horror, tragedy, and humanity. With Mia Goth as Elizabeth and lavish production shot in Toronto and Scotland, Frankenstein feels like the director’s magnum opus — a grand, emotional tale of ambition, madness, and the monster within us all.
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You – Rose Byrne always delivers masterpieces, and I’m sure this will be no different. In Mary Bronstein’s intense drama, Byrne plays a mother under crushing pressure as she cares for her sick daughter while her home — and her mental health — begin to collapse. A raw, claustrophobic portrait of anxiety and resilience, this Canadian premiere is one of TIFF’s most unmissable highlights.
Rental Family – Brendan Fraser shines once again in this heartfelt dramedy from HIKARI (37 Seconds). Playing an American actor in Tokyo who stumbles into the world of surrogate roles — even hired to stand in at funerals — Fraser brings humor, vulnerability, and depth to a story about identity, belonging, and what it means to truly be yourself. Wise, whimsical, and visually stunning, Rental Family already feels like one of TIFF’s most luminous premieres.
The Lost Bus – Paul Greengrass (United 93) delivers a gripping true story of courage in the face of disaster. Matthew McConaughey stars as a school bus driver who risks everything to save 23 children trapped during California’s devastating 2018 Camp Fire. With America Ferrera in a powerful supporting role, this tense, emotional drama recreates the chaos and humanity of one of the deadliest wildfires in U.S. history. A must-see TIFF premiere that promises both heartbreak and hope.
The Secret Agent – Kleber Mendonça Filho (Aquarius, Bacurau) returns with a gripping, genre-blending political thriller that won multiple awards at Cannes. Wagner Moura stars as Marcelo, a technology expert on the run during Brazil’s military dictatorship, who seeks refuge in Recife while paranoia and corruption close in around him. Told in shifting timelines and steeped in 1970s style, the film is both a chilling portrait of authoritarianism and a love letter to cinema itself. One of the most acclaimed titles of the year, The Secret Agent is essential TIFF viewing.
The Wizard of the Kremlin – Olivier Assayas (Personal Shopper) delivers an ambitious political drama adapted from Giuliano da Empoli’s acclaimed novel. With Paul Dano as Vadim Baranov, a shadowy advisor dubbed “the new Rasputin,” Jude Law as Vladimir Putin, Alicia Vikander, and Jeffrey Wright, the film traces post–Cold War Russia through corruption, power, and manipulation at the highest level. Spanning decades of intrigue, from the Chechen war to foreign interference, Assayas crafts a chilling portrait of how governance becomes theater. Bold, unsettling, and superbly acted, The Wizard of the Kremlin is one of TIFF’s most provocative premieres.
The Testament of Ann Lee – Mona Fastvold (The World to Come) delivers a powerful portrait of Ann Lee, the visionary founder of the Shaker movement, played with intensity by Amanda Seyfried. Set in pre-Revolutionary America, the film explores Lee’s personal traumas, spiritual revelations, and radical ideas that shaped a community devoted to equality, simplicity, and ecstatic worship. With striking cinematography, original music, and a strong supporting cast including Christopher Abbott, Tim Blake Nelson, and Lewis Pullman, The Testament of Ann Lee is a haunting and deeply relevant story of faith, resilience, and influence that still resonates today.
Sentimental Value – Joachim Trier (The Worst Person in the World) returns with a moving family drama that won the Grand Prix at Cannes. Stellan Skarsgård plays Gustav, a once-great filmmaker trying to revive his career while repairing strained bonds with his daughters, played by Renate Reinsve and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas. When a Hollywood star (Elle Fanning) takes interest in his work, old wounds resurface, forcing the family to confront their shared history. Intimate, emotional, and beautifully acted, Sentimental Value is one of Trier’s most personal and powerful films yet.
Hamnet – Academy Award–winning director Chloé Zhao (Nomadland) brings a lush and intimate vision to Maggie O’Farrell’s acclaimed novel. Starring Jessie Buckley as Agnes, the thoughtful and resilient wife of William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal), the film explores grief, love, and the family tragedy that may have shaped one of the Bard’s greatest works, Hamlet. More than a portrait of genius, Hamnet is a tender story of marriage, loss, and the quiet strength of a woman too often overlooked in history.