The upcoming year’s slate of films promises a little something for everyone. With a mix of highly anticipated comic book reboots, adaptations from best-selling novels and sequels to original projects from notable directors, 2025 is hoping to continue bringing audiences back to theaters.
If you are interested in seeing what Marvel has in store, look no further than “Captain America: Brave New World,” “Thunderbolts*” or “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” Other blockbuster franchises are back for popcorn entertainment, including “Jurassic World Rebirth,” “Superman” and “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2.”
For families, films like “Paddington in Peru,” “A Minecraft Movie,” “Elio,” “Zootopia 2” and “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squareparents” are aiming to bring both kids and parents to the cinema. And of course, with the box office sensation of the first “Wicked,” musical fans can expect to see “Wicked: Part Two” for another Thanksgiving outing.
Notable filmmakers who have films coming out include Paul Thomas Anderson (with an untitled new project), Yorgos Lanthimos with “Bugonia,” Bong Joon-ho with “Mickey 17,” James Cameron with the third “Avatar” film, Danny Boyle with “28 Years Later” and James Gunn with his new take on “Superman” kicking off a new era of DC films.
No matter where audience interests may lie, there’s plenty of blockbusters to look forward to in 2025.
Wolf Man (Jan. 17)
Leigh Whannell’s new horror movie is set in a remote farmhouse where a small family: Charlotte (Julia Garner), her husband Blake (Christopher Abbott) and their young daughter Ginger (Matilda Firth) are attacked by a strange monster. As they they discover Blake has been infected, he begins to transform into something unrecognizable. The story is a new take on the classic Universal Pictures monster that first appeared in 1941 feature “The Wolf Man.”
Captain America: Brave New World (Feb. 14)
This new take on Marvel’s first superhero, directed by Julius Onah, marks the first Captain America film since Chris Evan’s departure. This is Sam Wilson’s (Anthony Mackie) turn to live up to the name as he finds himself in the midst of an international debacle, having to protect the president (Harrison Ford), who also happens to be the Red Hulk. Among the cast is Rosa Salazar as Diamondback and Liv Tyler as Betty Ross.
Paddington in Peru (Feb. 14)
The third Paddington movie follows the endearing English bear to a Home for Retired Bears in the Amazonian Peruvian jungle as he journeys to find his lost Aunt Lucy. Much of the cast remains the same with Ben Whishaw as Paddington and Emily Mortimer and Hugh Bonneville as Mr. and Mrs. Brown, as well as new additions like Olivia Colman and Antonio Banderas.
Mickey 17 (March 7)
Robert Pattinson stars as space traveler Mickey 17 in Bong Joon-ho’s sci fi thriller. Mickey, a “disposable” employee, is sent on a deadly mission to colonize the ice world Niflheim. When one employee dies, he’s cloned with the memories of the traveler who comes before him. Mark Ruffalo and Toni Collette co-star.
Snow White (March 21)
The live-action version of the 1937 Disney classic is finally coming to theaters after its original release was postponed due to the strike. Directed by Marc Webb, the movie stars Rachel Zegler as Snow White, Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, and Patrick Page as the Mirror on The Wall. Andrew Burnap will play Jonathan, a version of the original prince. The musical fantasy is written by Greta Gerwig and Erin Cressida Wilson, with credit to Dorothy Ann Blank from the original animated version.
A Minecraft Movie (April 4)
Jared Hess’ semi-animated feature is based on the extremely popular cubic video game. The movie follows four “misfits:” Jason Momoa, Emma Myers (“Wednesday”), Danielle Brooks (“Orange is the New Black”), and newcomer Sebastian Eugene Hansen, who get transported into a strangely symmetrical wonderland. Upon their arrival, they encounter Steve (Jack Black), embarking together on a series of adventures in order to return home.
Sinners (April 18)
Michael B. Jordan plays twin brothers in the Ryan Coogler horror thriller. The duo come across a great evil as they attempt to start over their lives by returning to their hometown. The trailer ends on the eerie note: “You keep dancing with the devil… one day he’s gonna follow you home.” The feature, which is written and directed by Coogler (“Creed” and “Black Panther”), also stars Hailee Steinfeld, Wunmi Mosaku, Li Jun Li and Omar Benson Miller.
Thunderbolts* (May 2)
Marvel’s new antihero story follows a group of villains recruited to work for the U.S. government. The new action and star-packed film comes from director Jake Schreier (“Beef”), featuring Florence Pugh as Black Widow Yelena Belova, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov, Lewis Pullman as Robert Reynolds, Wyatt Russell as John Walker, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus as a U.S. agent.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (May 23)
It could be his last mission: Ethan Hunt and the IMF bring the current chapter of the “Mission: Impossible” franchise to a close with “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning.” Shot at the same time as its predecessor, the film stars Tom Cruise as a renegade secret agent in a race against time to save the world from evil AI. Cruise leads an all-star cast of franchise returnees including Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Hayley Atwell, and Vanessa Kirby, alongside newcomers Holt McCallany and Hannah Waddingham.
Lilo & Stitch (May 23)
Experiment 626 will once again be unleashed when “Lilo & Stitch,” the live-action remake of Disney’s 2002 animated classic, surfs into theaters. Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, the film stars Maia Kealoha as Lilo, a lonely Hawaiian girl who befriends an alien who has crash-landed on Earth after mistaking him for an “ugly dog.” Sydney Agudong will play Lilo’s older sister Nani, while Billy Magnussen and Zach Galifinakis will play Pleakley and Jumba, a pair of aliens hunting Stitch.
Ballerina (June 6)
The “John Wick” spinoff will follow Ana de Armas as an assassin trained in the traditions of the Ruska Roma. The franchise’s latest feature “John Wick: Chapter 4” became the highest-grossing entry in the action series, also earning critical acclaim with a score of 95% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. Keanu Reeves will reprise his role as John Wick in the spinoff action film, joined by Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, the late Lance Reddick, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Norman Reedus and Ian McShane.
Elio (June 13)
Pixar’s latest original film is “Elio.” Directed by Domee Shi and Madaline Sharafian (the latter of whom is making her feature directorial debut), the film follows a space-obsessed 11-year-old (Yonas Kibreab) who’s beamed up to an interplanetary organization and mistaken for Earth’s leader. “Elio”’s voice cast includes Jameela Jamil, Zoe Saldaña, and Brad Garrett.
How to Train Your Dragon (June 13)
15 years after the first “How to Train Your Dragon” soared into theaters, Dreamworks’ beloved animated franchise is making the jump to live action in this fantasy/adventure remake. Written and produced by Dean DeBlois (scribe of the first three animated “HTTYD” films), this live action reimagining stars Mason Thomas as Hiccup, a misfit Norse teenager who befriends a dragon, Toothless, and struggles to fit in despite the fact that his father (Gerard Butler) is chief of the clan. The film also stars Nico Parker as Astrid.
28 Years Later (June 20)
Nearly a decade after he first starred in Danny Boyle and Alex Garland’s now-iconic zombie flick, Cillian Murphy is returning to the “28 Days Later” franchise with threequel “28 Years Later.” The third film in the series and the first in a new trilogy, “28 Years Later” sees Murphy reprise his role as Jim, a bike courier who struggles to survive a zombie apocalypse. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, and Erin Kellyman also star.
F1 (June 27)
Following a bidding war, a lengthy casting process, and principal photography that included filming during the 2023 British Grand Prix, Brad Pitt’s high-octane racing drama “F1” is finally pulling into theaters. The film stars Pitt as Sonny Hayes, a Formula One driver called out of retirement to mentor a rookie prodigy (Damson Idris). In addition to Pit and Idris, all 10 real-life Formula One teams and their drivers will appear in “F1” as themselves.
M3GAN 2.0 (June 27)
She sings, she tells bedtime stories, and soon she’s back for blood: M3GAN dances her way back into theaters in “M3GAN 2.0” this summer. Picking up in the aftermath of the first film, “M3GAN 2.0” sees Allison Williams and Violet McGraw reprise their roles as Gemma and Cady, an aunt and niece who join forces to battle an artificially intelligent doll (Amie Donald, Jenna Davis) with a mind of her own. Akela Cooper and Gerard Johnstone also return as writer and director.
Jurassic World Rebirth (July 2)
The newest addition in the “Jurassic World” franchise stars Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey and Mahershala Ali. With Gareth Edwards (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”) directing a script from David Koepp, who wrote the original “Jurassic Park,” this latest film is set to take place five years after “Jurassic World Dominion.” After the planet’s ecology has become unlivable for dinosaurs, an intrepid team races to find DNA samples from three massive creatures.
Superman (July 11)
Audiences can soon look to the sky as James Gunn is bringing Superman (David Corenswet) back to the big screen as part of Gunn and Peter Safran’s newly rebooted DC Universe. The plot follows Superman as he undergoes a journey to reconcile his heritage with how he was brought up in the human world. Rachel Brosnahan stars as Lois Lane, while Nicholas Hoult will take on the mantle of Lex Luthor.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 25)
The Fantastic Four is being rebooted once again, this time assembled by Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch, Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing. The film will reportedly take place in 1960s New York City with Matt Shakman (“WandaVision”) directing.
Untitled Paul Thomas Anderson Film (Aug. 8)
While plot details are still under wraps, Paul Thomas Anderson is once again directing his own script with Warner Bros producing. Alongside stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn, other names in the cast include Alana Haim, Teyana Taylor (“A Thousand and One”), Wood Harris (“Creed”), rapper Shayna McHayle and newcomer Chase Infiniti.
Freakier Friday (Aug. 8)
Are you ready to get freaky? “Freakier Friday,” the sequel to the 2003 comedy “Freaky Friday,” is reuniting Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan as the mother-daughter duo of Tess and Anna. The sequel reportedly features a “multigenerational twist” as both Tess and Anna have to navigate the challenges of two families coming together.
The Bride (Sept. 26)
After the box office success of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” Warner Bros. is once again banking on bringing the dead to life with Maggie Gyllenhaal’s “The Bride.” Christian Bale is set to play Frankenstein’s monster while Jessie Buckley, who previously starred in Gyllenhaal’s “The Lost Daughter,” will portray the bride. The story is set in 1930s Chicago and aims to twist the Frankenstein story on its head.
Michael (Oct. 3)
Michael Jackson is the latest celebrity to be given the biopic treatment, raising questions of just how much attention the film will pay to the sexual misconduct allegations against the megastar. Antoine Fuqua (“Training Day”) directs Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew, as the King of Pop while Colman Domingo will play Joe Jackson, Michael Jackson’s father. The cast also includes Miles Teller, Kat Graham, Laura Harrier and Nia Long.
Tron Ares (Oct. 10)
Fifteen years after “Tron: Legacy” blasted into theaters, the video game characters will notably be returning to Planet Earth in the latest “Tron Ares.” Jared Leto is set to play Ares, a digital programmer challenged to join the real world. Evan Peters will be playing Julian Dillinger, who is named after the villain in the 1982 “Tron,” alongside Greta Lee and Jeff Bridges.
The Black Phone 2 (Oct. 17)
Four years after Ethan Hawke frightened audiences with his portrayal of The Grabber, “The Black Phone 2” brings him back for some more scares. While major plot details aren’t currently known, Universal and Blumhouse have said that this aims to be the “launch of a sinister new franchise.”
Predator: Badlands (Nov. 7)
Following the Hulu streaming success of “Prey” in 2022, director Dan Trachtenberg is returning to the world of “Predator” with “Predator: Badlands.” While plot details remain vague, it was reported last summer that Elle Fanning is in talks to star in the 20th Century Studios blockbuster.
Bugonia (Nov. 7)
Conspiracy theories abound in “Bugonia,” a science fiction comedy film following two young men who, motivated by a strange belief that she is secretly an extraterrestrial being intent on destroying the planet, kidnap a prominent CEO. Yorgos Lanthimos directs Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Cedric Dumornay and more.
Wicked: For Good (Nov. 21)
Fans will be able to return to Oz next fall with “Wicked: Part Two.” The sequel to John M. Chu’s musical adaptation will boast a returning cast of Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Marissa Bode, Ethan Slater, Jeff Goldblum and more. Chu is also returning as director, with a script from “Wicked: Part One” writers Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox as well as L. Frank Baum.
The Running Man (Nov. 21)
Following Glen Powell’s starring turn in “Hit Man,” the actor will be joining Josh Brolin on-screen for the dystopian thriller “The Running Man.” Set in a futuristic United States, it’s based on Stephen King’s 1982 novel that was also adapted as the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. King wrote the script for the feature alongside Michael Bacall and Edgar Wright, with Wright directing. In addition to Powell and Brolin, the cast of “The Running Man” includes Michael Cera, Lee Pace, Lee Charles and Katy O’Brian.
Zootopia 2 (Nov. 26)
After a nine-year wait, everyone’s favorite rabbit cop Judy Hopps will return to the big screen for “Zootopia 2.” This sequel stars Jason Bateman, Fortune Feimster, Ginnifer Goodwin, Ke Huy Quan and Shakira. Although specific plot details are still under wraps, the movie is set to follow Judy as she teams up with Nick Wilde (Bateman) to crack a new and dangerous case.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (Dec. 5)
Josh Hutcherson, Matthew Lillard and Elizabeth Lail star in the horror feature “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2.” The previous film “Five Nights at Freddy’s” was based on the 2014 video game of the same name and was directed by Emma Tammi. Tammi returns to helm this sequel, which teases even more terrifying stakes than its predecessor.
Avatar: Fire and Ash (Dec. 19)
“Avatar: Fire and Ash” continues James Cameron’s hit franchise that got started with blockbuster “Avatar” in 2009. Rounding out the cast is Zoe Saldana, Kate Winslet, Sigourney Weaver, Jemaine Clement, Matt Gerald, David Thewlis, Sam Worthington, Edie Falco, Cliff Curtis and Oona Chaplin. This film marks the sequel to 2022’s “The Way of Water” although key plot details have yet to be announced.
The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants (Dec. 19)
Venture down into the Bikini Bottom to watch SpongeBob face off against the ghost of the Flying Dutchman in “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants.” The film, written and directed by Derek Drymon, stars Clancy Brown as Mr. Krabs, Brian Doyle-Murray and Mark Hamill as The Flying Dutchman, Tom Kenny as SpongeBob SquarePants and Bill Fagerbakke as Patrick Star.