With 2025 just around the corner, the time has never been better to look ahead to next year’s sprawling landscape of cinematic wonderment. Josh and Allison have cherry-picked 25 most anticipated films that are sure to leave their mark. Check out our choices after the jump!
Here are our 25 most anticipated movies for 2025, in alphabetical order.
28 YEARS LATER
Release date: June 20th
The third entry in the 28 Days Later franchise has been in the talks stage for what seems like an eternity, languishing and, at times, feeling more dead than a shambling corpse. Finally, Danny Boyle and Alex Garland return in an ambitious series revamp that should leave a toxic bite on the horror of 2025. That mysterious trailer revealed enough of a tease to keep us waiting in anticipation before 28 Years Later drops next summer.
AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH
Release date: December 19th
Barring any sudden production delays, the third Avatar film finally arrives, on the heels of the billion-dollar success story of its breathtakingly beautiful predecessor, Avatar: The Way of Water. From what we have heard from the lips of James Cameron himself, Fire and Ash will recalibrate the conflict from the humans to an antagonistic tribe of Na’vi referred to as “The Ash People.” If destined to carry any of the stunning staying power of the previous two entries, Cameron may have another instant classic under his belt.
THE BLACK PHONE 2
Release date: October 17th
The first Black Phone was one of the biggest surprises Blumhouse has released thus far, a compelling and sadistic twist on the ‘children in peril’ subgenre of horror. Spoiler alert: considering “The Grabber” was dead by the end, there’s currently no telling how Ethan Hawke will return. My best guess is that this entry will lean even further into the supernatural. Either way, we can’t wait to see what Scott Derrickson cooks up next.
COMPANION
Release date: January 31st
We won’t have to wait long for this unique horror/thriller—arriving right at the end of January, Companion promises a compelling cat-and-mouse anti-love story. The teaser trailer feels like a mix of Barbarian and 2020’s The Invisible Man. Starring Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid, this one should be a great pick for Valentine’s Day.
THE CONJURING: LAST RITES
Release date: September 5th
The final entry in the long-running Conjuring universe, bringing back Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson for one last hurrah? Yes, please. While saying goodbye to the Warrens will not be easy, their mark on the genre has forever changed the way we see possession movies, post-The Exorcist.
ELIO
Release date: June 13th
Despite facing multiple delays, Disney/Pixar’s next collaboration still comes with a cosmic-sized set of expectations. Adrian Molina, screenwriter of Pixar tearjerkers Coco and The Good Dinosaur, both pens and directs this animated journey, set in space. Expect some adorable aliens and an emotional core that will make grown men weep.
THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS
Release date: July 25th
While it may seem like we have done this story to death by now—was anyone really clamoring for another Fantastic Four after the absolutely dreadful 2015 attempt?—director Matt Shakman has something to say. Set in the 60s and focusing on a retro version of our lovable characters, the cast honestly could not be more perfect. Joseph Quinn as the Human Torch may just spark the sexual awakening of a whole new generation of little gays.
FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES
Release date: May 16th
2011’s Final Destination 5 beautifully brought the series full circle, and seemingly ended it with a perfect bow. Now, over a decade later, Final Destination returns from its watery grave. With a script co-written by Guy Busick (Scream 5 and VI, Ready or Not) and an intriguing cast of up-and-coming actors (Brec Bassinger, Richard Harmon, Teo Briones, Owen Patrick), one has to assume they found a multi-generational story worth telling. A major plus here is the return of mainstay Tony Todd in one of his final theatrical performances. How will Bludworth play into the macabre plot, and will they pay tribute to Todd’s legacy?
FRANKENSTEIN
Release date: TBA
Jacob Elordi as The Monster? Mia Goth, Oscar Isaac, and Christoph Waltz filling out the cast? Guillermo del Toro in the director’s chair? Who cares if we have seen Mary Shelley’s work adapted a thousand times before—we’re in.
FREAKIER FRIDAY
Release date: August 8th
Freaky Friday gets a much-needed follow up, with the sweet addition of Lindsay Lohan returning to theaters in a major way. Predicting whether a long-belated sequel will be a flop or a delightful nostalgia rush remains difficult, but the returning cast at least signals Disney has faith in the property. Body swapping chaos and actors leaning into the overt silliness should make for an outrageously entertaining burst of fun.
HEART EYES
Release date: February 7th
Led by Mason Gooding and Olivia Holt, this Valentines Day slasher movie—co-written by Freaky scribes Michael Kennedy and Christopher Landon—promises a modern day maniac, and plenty of chase scenes. The “Heart Eyes Killer” looks menacing, almost exactly emulating the familiar heart eyes emoji. Throw in some gory kills (and some Devon Sawa), and Heart Eyes may end up a thrilling entry in the genre canon.
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
Release date: June 13th
Yeah yeah, another live action remake. What sets How to Train Your Dragon apart from its Disney brothers and sisters? Perhaps its the olde-time fantasy feel, akin to Game of Thrones. A gorgeous teaser trailer suggests the possibilities of bringing this Dreamworks favorite to a new medium, with Mason Thames in particular very much looking the part as Hiccup.
I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER
Release date: July 18th
As cast announcements trickled in little by little, each name more exciting than the last, any fan of the original duology of 90s slashers had one question for Jennifer Love Hewitt: “what are you waiting for, huh? WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?” It turns out, she was only waiting for her schedule to properly align, and to make sure returning to final girl Julie James so many decades later would be for a meaty role. With Hewitt and original star Freddie Prinze Jr. officially in place, I Know What You Did Last Summer has potential to be a potent commentary on modern-day bullying. If Do Revenge director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson can deliver a chase scene even halfway as good as Sarah Michelle Gellar’s in the 1997 original, it could be an all-timer.
JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH
Release date: July 2nd
With the last “era” of Jurassic World officially over thanks to the disappointing Dominion, Rebirth recalibrates the story in a major way. All the dinosaurs are dying out, wasting the potential introduced in Fallen Kingdom. However, the three largest dinosaurs of land, sea, and air may contain genetic material to create a life-saving drug for humanity. Concern about the series stepping away from apocalyptic potential all but vanishes when considering the new faces: Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali. Just one request: please forgo the giant bugs.
MICKEY 17
Release date: April 18th
Robert Pattinson dying over and over and over again, for the sake of humanity. Leave it to Oscar-winning director Bong Joon Ho (Parasite, Okja) to make any sense of it with his singular sensibilities.
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: THE FINAL RECKONING
Release date: May 23rd
Potentially the *final* Mission: Impossible movie, at least with Ethan Hunt. Not sure what happened to the title Dead Reckoning Part 2, but I digress. Whatever Christopher McQuarrie and Tom Cruise have in store for this installment, expect it to be death-defying and visually stunning.
THE MONKEY
Release date: February 21st
Osgood Perkins (Longlegs, Blackcoat’s Daughter) plus Stephen King (It, Carrie, The Shining, etc.) equals instant home run? Theo James, Elijah Wood, Rohan Campbell, and Tatiana Maslany are quite the all-star cast, so here’s to hoping that the material matches their combined supernova of talent. Be careful what you wish for…
MORTAL KOMBAT 2
Release date: October 24th
2021’s iteration of the brutal video game was an easter-egg filled, R-rated extravaganza that finally lived up to the promise of previous adaptations. This sequel, on paper anyway, appears to have significantly upped the ante. The additions of Tati Gabrielle as Jade and Karl Urban as Johnny Cage should flesh out the roster in an impressive way. Round 2: FIGHT!
THE RUNNING MAN
Release date: November 21st
A futuristic dystopia, based on a novel by Stephen King, starring charasmatic leading man Glen Powell (Twisters, Top Gun: Maverick), and directed by visionary Edgar Wright (Baby Driver, Shaun of the Dead)—if none of these descriptors are cause for excitement, do you even have a pulse?
THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2
Release date: TBA
The Strangers: Chapter 1 did major business last year, and with the next two chapters already filmed and ready to go, it’s only a matter of time before they both hit theaters. I seem to be among the few who actually loved the update/remake/reboot—in particular, Madelaine Petsch’s performance as the final girl was excellent. Chapter 2 should open up the scope, and provide plenty more thrills and chills for rabid audiences.
SUPERMAN
Release date: July 11th
James Gunn reinvents the superhero franchise with two particularly impressive casting choices: Ryan Murphy mainstay, David Corenswet (The Politician, Hollywood) as the titular Superman, and always-reliable Nicholas Hoult (The Great, Nosferatu) as archnemesis Lex Luthor. The eye-popping trailer suggests bold action and an adorable doggy, which already gives it a leg up over some prior attempts. DC needs a win, and Gunn has enough goodwill under his belt to command the attention of comic faithful and casual fans alike.
THANKSGIVING 2
Release date: TBA
Eli Roth’s sequel to his long-awaited smash hit Thanksgiving is already in pre-production, with supposedly major things in store for one of the final girls, Gaby (Addison Rae, He’s All That). Outlandish, creative kills, potent social commentary, and a surprising reveal colored the first entry in proper shades of gory red. Will Thanksgiving 2 focus on a different holiday, or return to the John Carver well once more? In Eli Roth we trust.
WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY
Release date: TBA
Rian Johnson. Daniel Craig. Josh Brolin. Mila Kunis. Jeremy Renner. Andrew Scott. Josh O’Connor. Kerry Washington. Glenn Close. Knives Out 3! Enough said.
WICKED: FOR GOOD
Release date: November 21st
Part two of Wicked arrives almost exactly one year after the first installment, set to close out the big screen adaptation of the stage musical in vibrant fireworks. Filmed back to back with the previous movie, those who loved it will probably find more of the same here. As an admirer of all things Oz, I am excited to see new songs and expanded stories for sections that the show was forced to rush through. If Part One contained the overall best tunes, For Good should be filled with enough narrative to drive home the larger themes—and give Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, and Jonathan Bailey plenty more material. Stage to screen adaptations have certainly been changed For Good.
ZOOTOPIA 2
Release date: November 26th
Even as Moana and Frozen got animated follow-ups, we have been waiting in the wings for the true unsung gem of recent Disney Animation output: Zootopia. Featuring memorable characters and a harrowing mystery, the original movie became a huge hit. Slower than a sloth smiling, Zootopia 2‘s arrival will be a godsend for families everywhere, so long as it contains a modicum of the same sweetness and charm.
Are there any other 2025 releases that should be on our radar? Let us know in the comments below! Note: Saw XI would be on this list, if not for some puzzling backstage drama that resulted in longtime franchise director Kevin Greutert hinting at its cancellation (and abruptly deleting his own Twitter in the process.)