2025 Most Anticipated
There is a certain joy to learning that a film that you know (or at least hope) is right up your alley and is going to be a wonderful viewing experience. For the longest time I’ve loved knowing of upcoming films, anticipating for weeks, months, sometimes years, and finally sitting down and taking in the cinema experience.
So let’s be in that hope together. Here’s a preview of the exciting and interesting films coming in 2025. This isn’t an extensive list, merely ones I wanted to highlight. For all US releases, please see this website here.
For a breakdown of films coming in January, please see my article here.
This will be continuously updated as films are announced and we get deeper into the year. A lot of known releases are sequels or spin-offs, so stay tuned as this is updated with exciting original films. I am also omitting films announced for 2025 that don’t have a solid date as of yet.
JANUARY
Better Man - January 10th
A singular profile of British pop superstar Robbie Williams.
Let’s not forget that he is depicted as a chimp, an interesting and strange detail that sets this biopic apart. Going by a recent clip, this is going to lean on the musical side with big dance numbers and not just songs Robbie sings in concert.
Wolf Man - January 17th
A family at a remote farmhouse is attacked by an unseen animal, but as the night stretches on, the father begins to transform into something unrecognizable.
If you enjoyed Leigh Whannell’s The Invisible Man (2020), this looks like it is taking a similar 180 degree take on the original Universal Monsters’ film.
Presence - January 24th
A family becomes convinced they are not alone after moving into their new home in the suburbs.
This film stands out as the camera is the eyes of the ghost that is haunting the family, making the audience the presence.
FEBRUARY
Captain America: Brave New World - February 14th
Sam Wilson, who's officially taken up the mantle of Captain America, finds himself in the middle of an international incident.
Marvel looks to be getting back to schedule this year with this first of three releases.
Paddington in Peru - February 14th
Paddington returns to Peru to visit his beloved Aunt Lucy, who now resides at the Home for Retired Bears. With the Brown Family in tow, a thrilling adventure ensues when a mystery plunges them into an unexpected journey through the Amazon rainforest and up to the mountain peaks of Peru.
This third installment of the Paddington bear franchise has been out for a while overseas, and the consensus seems to be that although it isn’t nearly as lovely as the first two films, it is still a sweet as marmalade movie worth a watch.
The Monkey - February 21st
When twin brothers Bill and Hal find their father's old monkey toy in the attic, a series of gruesome deaths start. The siblings decide to throw the toy away and move on with their lives, growing apart over the years.
With the success of Longlegs last year, Osgood Perkins has become the horror director to watch for. This film is high up on the most anticipated list for horror fans, and is sure to be a crazy ride.
MARCH
Mickey 17 - March 7th
Mickey 17, known as an "expendable," goes on a dangerous journey to colonize an ice planet.
This one has been anticipated for awhile, with Parasite director Bong Joon Ho at the helm and the incredible Robert Pattinson. If it’s anywhere close to being as good as its trailer, we are in for some fun.
Novocaine - March 14th
When the girl of his dreams is kidnapped, a man incapable of feeling physical pain turns his rare condition into an unexpected advantage in the fight to rescue her.
With a fun concept and the charismatic Jack Quaid in the lead role, this seems like it’s going to be a blast that won’t hurt a bit.
Disney’s Snow White - March 21st
Live-action adaptation of the 1937 Disney animated film 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'.
Disney is continuing with their live-action adaptations, and we’ll see how this goes.
APRIL
A Minecraft Movie - April 4th
Four misfits are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination. To get back home, they'll have to master this world while embarking on a quest with an unexpected, expert crafter.
While the second trailer above is much less of a disaster than the first trailer was, it’s hard to say whether this film is going to be worthy to Minecraft fans. I think it has potential (hopefully) to surprise viewers with a good time.
The Amateur - April 11th
A CIA cryptographer manages to blackmail his agency into training him to let him go after a group of terrorists who killed his wife.
While I’m not the biggest fan of these types of action thrillers, this one intrigues me. I enjoy the idea of a guy in the form of Rami Malek taking on a mission like this, and using his particular strengths (even if that isn’t fighting) to his advantage.
Sinners - April 18th
Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.
Another potential horror hit for the first half of the year is Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler. The trailer keeps a lot of things a mystery (though this supposedly about vampires), and the mystery is part of the charm, especially for a horror film.
Until Dawn - April 25th
NOTE: The above is the trailer for the game’s recent re-release, not the movie trailer. This will be updated when that is released.
A group spends the weekend in a ski lodge on the anniversary of their friends' disappearance, unaware that they are not alone.
The long awaited adaptation of the beloved video game of the same name. It’s hard to say how this will go, as Until Dawn is known for being a ‘choose-your-path’ game, so unless this film will have multiple releases with different cuts (unlikely), we don’t know how or if they will even bother to pull it off. Even without this feature, if they get the atmosphere correct and the characters have the right personality and chemistry, it could be one of the better video game adaptations.
The Accountant 2 - April 25th
Plot details under wraps.
MAY
Thunderbolts* - May 2nd
A group of supervillains are recruited to go on missions for the government.
This is the sort of Suicide Squad for the Marvel Universe, featuring an excellent cast from various past Marvel projects.
Lilo & Stitch - May 23rd
Live-action remake of Disney's animated classic 'Lilo and Stitch'.
As a fan of the original animated film, I’m not particularly excited for what I’ve seen so far. However, there isn’t even a full trailer out yet (we haven’t even seen Lilo and sister Nani in action), and I hold a lot of hope with Dean Fleischer Camp (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2021)) as the director.
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning - May 23rd
After escaping a calamitous train crash, Ethan realizes The Entity is stashed aboard an old Russian submarine, but a foe from his past named Gabriel is also on the trail.
The final installment of the beloved Mission: Impossible series starring Mr. I-Do-My-Own-Stunts Tom Cruise. Here’s to going out with a bang on this last run.
Karate Kid: Legends - May 30th
Daniel arrives in Beijing, where Mr. Han has been seeking him out. Han has a new protege, Li Fong. The two mentors must collaborate to instruct Li Fong, but it remains to be seen if their instructional approaches will be compatible.
An interesting mash up of the original Karate Kid franchise and the 2010 version with Jackie Chan.
The Life of Chuck - May 30th
A life-affirming, genre-bending story based on Stephen King's novella about three chapters in the life of an ordinary man named Charles Krantz.
After the surprise win of Toronto International Film Festival’s 2024 TIFF People’s Choice Award, many thought this film would go on to take its rightful place in the 2025 awards season. However, it isn’t getting an official release until next May. I’m looking forward to it, as I’m a fan of its star Tom Hiddleston, and I trust in most of what director Mike Flanagan gets his hands on.
JUNE
Ballerina - June 6th
A young female assassin seeks revenge against the people who killed her family.
A spin off of the much loved John Wicks films.
Elio - June 13th
Elio, a space fanatic with an active imagination, finds himself on a cosmic misadventure where he must form new bonds with alien lifeforms, navigate a crisis of intergalactic proportions and somehow discover who he is truly meant to be.
There’s nothing like an original Pixar film, whose track record is high for the most part, and this film looks potentially incredible with its awesome visuals and interesting plot.
How to Train Your Dragon - June 13th
Follows a young Viking as he aspires to hunt dragons, and how he unexpectedly becomes a friend of a young dragon.
After only ten years from the original animated film, we will see this live action remake. The trailer here has some strengths, and some weaknesses, however I am holding hope that with director Dean DeBlois (who helped co-directed the original film) this could still be a knockout. Hopefully, Dreamworks has learned what not to do in a live action remake from Disney.
28 Years Later - June 20th
A group of survivors of the rage virus lives on a small island. When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors.
With an excellent trailer, featuring a chilling reading of the Rudyard Kipling poem ‘Boots’, and the fact that fans of the franchise have been waiting years and years for this third installment, excitement is high for this one.
F1 - June 27th
Follows a Formula One driver who comes out of retirement to mentor and team with a younger driver.
From director Joseph Kosinski, who has a knack for films that feature things that go really fast (Tron: Legacy (2010), and even more successfully Top Gun: Maverick (2022)), this could be one thrilling ride.
M3GAN 2.0 - June 27th
Plot detail under wraps.
JULY
Jurassic World Rebirth - July 2nd
NOTE: No trailer yet, only this logo announcement. It seems like it could be coming any day now.
Five years post-Jurassic World Dominion, an expedition braves isolated equatorial regions to extract DNA from three massive prehistoric creatures for a groundbreaking medical breakthrough.
While the past Jurassic World films haven’t been considered fantastic (to most), this one holds promise as it includes the writer of the original Jurassic Park (1993) screenplay (David Koepp), and an excellent cast of Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and personal favorite and breakout star Jonathan Bailey.
Superman - July 11th
Follows the titular superhero as he reconciles his heritage with his human upbringing. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way in a world that views this as old-fashioned.
This is James Gunn’s reboot of the DC universe favorite Superman, no longer played by Henry Cavill, but by David Corenswet, who you might recognize as the Projectionist in Pearl (2022). With this teaser, it seems that we may have something special on our hands. We shall see.
I Know What You Did Last Summer - July 18th
A group of friends is terrorized by a stalker who knows about a gruesome incident from their past.
Since it includes members from the original cast such as Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr., this seems to be reboot/requel somewhere in line with 2022’s Scream. Whether it’ll be just as good as that, we’ll just have to see.
The Smurfs Movie - July 18th
An animated musical film revolving around the iconic creations of Peyo.
Besides a stacked cast list, not much is known about this film except that it is another reboot of the Smurfs franchise.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps - July 25th
One of Marvel's most iconic families makes it back to the big screen, the Fantastic Four.
While this has been tried twice before, once in 2005, and again in 2015, they will attempt to reboot this again after another ten year break. Promise is high for this one however, as not only is it an official part of the MCU, it features a fantastic cast with Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm.
AUGUST
The Bad Guys 2 - August 1st
The Bad Guys are struggling to find trust and acceptance in their newly minted lives as Good Guys, when they are pulled out of retirement and forced to do "one last job" by an all-female squad of criminals.
With an early trailer for this August release, it looks to be that this follow up to the 2022 film has a chance of being as fun and action-packed as the first one.
After this point, all the future releases have no trailers and barely any plots.
Naked Gun - August 1st
Based off the widely popular comedy franchise The Naked Gun and television series "Police Squad!" by Jim Abrahams and David Zucker and Jerry Zucker.
Liam Neeson will be starring in this reboot of the 80’s/90’s films.
The Battle of Baktan Cross - August 8th
Plot details under wraps.
Not much is known about the film, however, Paul Thomas Anderson is a director with an incredible track record, so we can be rest assured this film will probably be good.
Freakier Friday - August 8th
Years after Tess and Anna endured an identity crisis, Anna now has a daughter and a soon-to-be stepdaughter. As they navigate the challenges that come when two families merge, Tess and Anna discover that lightning might strike twice.
Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan return for a sequel to the 2003 film Freaky Friday.
Thread: An Insidious Tale - August 29th
A couple resorts to a spell to travel back in time, hoping to prevent their daughter's tragic death.
A sixth installment in the Insidious franchise, starring Mandy Moore and Kumail Nanjiani.
SEPTEMBER
The Conjuring: Last Rites - September 5th
Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren take on one last terrifying case involving mysterious entities they must confront.
This is supposedly the final film in the Conjuring franchise.
Saw XI - September 26th
Plot details under wraps.
The Bride - September 26th
In 1930s Chicago, Frankenstein asks Dr. Euphronius to help create a companion. They give life to a murdered woman as the Bride, sparking romance, police interest, and radical social change.
With Maggie Gyllenhaal at the helm, it looks like we are going to be getting quite the original take on the Bride of Frankenstein story. I have high hopes for this one.
OCTOBER
Michael - October 3rd
The story of the famous musician Michael Jackson, known as the King of Pop.
Originally slated for an April release, this movie has me hoping the film will be solid if they are planning to gain Oscar recognition with a fall release instead.
Tron: Ares - October 10th
A highly sophisticated Program, Ares, is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission.
From what footage was released at D23, it seems this film might take a horror inspired turn. If so, this third film in the Tron franchise could be something to behold.
Animal Friends - October 10th
Plot details under wraps. Described as an R-rated road trip adventure combining live-action and animated characters.
This film features an all star cast with Ryan Reynolds, Aubrey Plaza, Dan Levy, Lil Rel Howery, Jason Momoa, and more, though we don’t know who is physically in the film or doing a voice for an animated character.
The Black Phone 2 - October 17th
Plot details under wraps.
Mortal Kombat 2 - October 24th
Plot details under wraps.
NOVEMBER
Bugonia - November 7th
Two conspiracy-obsessed young men kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth.
For fans of Yorgos Lanthimos and his eccentric films, particularly ones starring Emma Stone.
Predator: Badlands - November 7th
Plot is under wraps.
Not much is known, but it stars Elle Fanning and is being directed by Dan Trachtenberg, who directed the highly praised Predator prequel Prey from 2022.
The Running Man - November 7th
The futuristic United States of 2025 when the world has become a dystopia.
An adaptation of Stephen King’s The Running Man that will be closer to the book than the 1987 version. Directed by Edgar Wright and featuring Mr. Charisma Glen Powell and Katy O’Brian, this could be a real winner.
Now You See Me 3 - November 14th
Plot details under wraps.
Wicked: For Good - November 21st
Follows Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West and her relationship with Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. The second of a two-part feature film adaptation of the Broadway musical.
After the wonderful adaptation that was Act One, I am over-the-moon excited to see how they handle the darker second half.
Zootopia 2 - November 26th
Brave rabbit cop Judy Hopps and her friend, the fox Nick Wilde, team up again to crack a new case, the most perilous and intricate of their careers.
DECEMBER
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 - December 5th
Plot details under wraps.
Avatar: Fire and Ash - December 19th
Plot details under wraps.
The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants - December 19th
Follow SpongeBob as he travels to the depths of the ocean to face the ghost of the Flying Dutchman.
Keep checking in as this page is updated as more information comes out.
