The silver screen is set to explode in 2025 with an incredible lineup of highly anticipated films, promising something for every moviegoer. From superhero spectacles and animated adventures to spine-tingling horrors and thought-provoking dramas, the year is shaping up to be a truly memorable one for cinema. Get ready to mark your calendars for these upcoming movies 2025.
The Return of Beloved Franchises (and some new entries!)
Fans of established franchises have much to look forward to, with some exciting additions and confirmed details among the upcoming movies 2025. The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand with Captain America: Brave New World (February 14) and Thunderbolts* (May 2), bringing new heroes and anti-heroes to the forefront. DC’s cinematic universe gets a fresh start with James Gunn’s highly anticipated reboot, Superman (July 11), starring David Corenswet as Clark Kent.
Dinosaurs will once again roam the Earth in Jurassic World: Rebirth (July 2), a new installment directed by Gareth Edwards and starring Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali. The action-packed world of Ethan Hunt continues with Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (May 23), where Tom Cruise is set to deliver more death-defying stunts. Animation enthusiasts can rejoice with sequels like Zootopia 2 (November 28) and The Bad Guys 2 (August 1).
Horror aficionados will be thrilled by The Conjuring: Last Rites (September 5) and Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (December 5). The chilling sequel The Strangers: Chapter 2 is set for September 26, while the next installment of a classic slasher, I Know What You Did Last Summer, hits theaters on July 18, with original stars Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. returning. Horror fans also have Wolf Man (January 17) from Leigh Whannell and the anticipated M3GAN 2.0 (June 27) to look forward to.
The popular “Knives Out” series returns with Daniel Craig in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (December 12).
Exciting Originals and Adaptations Flourish
Beyond sequels, 2025 offers a diverse array of original stories and fresh adaptations. Sci-fi fans can anticipate Bong Joon-ho’s Mickey 17 (March 7), starring Robert Pattinson, and the long-awaited TRON: Ares (October 10) with Jared Leto. Another intriguing sci-fi entry is The Electric State (March 14), directed by the Russo brothers and starring Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt.
Live-action remakes continue with Disney’s Snow White (March 21) starring Rachel Zegler, and a live-action How to Train Your Dragon (June 13) with Dean DeBlois returning to direct. The beloved bear from Peru makes his return in Paddington in Peru (February 14).
For those who enjoy a good laugh, Adam Sandler is back in Happy Gilmore 2 (July 25), and a new take on a classic comedy is on the horizon with The Naked Gun (August 1) starring Liam Neeson. Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan reunite for Freakier Friday (August 8).
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Emily Blunt team up in Benny Safdie’s highly anticipated drama The Smashing Machine (October 3), which follows MMA legend Mark Kerr. Guillermo del Toro will bring his unique vision to Frankenstein (November), promising a fresh take on the classic monster. These and many more constitute the thrilling upcoming movies 2025.
Other exciting new films include:
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 25): Marvel’s first family gets a reboot with Pedro Pascal as Mr. Fantastic and a 60s-set storyline.
- A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (September 19): A romantic fantasy starring Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell.
- The Roses (August 29): A dark comedy starring Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch, based on The War of the Roses.
- Nobody 2 (August 15): Bob Odenkirk returns as the unlikely action hero.
- Warfare (April 11): From Alex Garland, co-directed with Ray Mendoza, a star-studded military drama.
- Mortal Kombat 2 (October 24): The martial arts fantasy continues.
- The Black Phone 2 (October 17): The sequel to the chilling horror hit.
Other Notable Releases
- A Minecraft Movie (April 4): A video game adaptation bringing blocky adventures to the big screen with Jason Momoa and Jack Black.
- Wicked: For Good (November 21): The second part of the musical fantasy.
- Avatar: Fire and Ash (December 19): James Cameron’s continuation of the Pandora saga.
- The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants (December 19): A new animated adventure for the absorbent, yellow, and porous friend.
- Anaconda (December 25): A comedic re-imagining of the classic creature feature.
- Den of Thieves 2: Pantera (January 10): Gerard Butler returns for the action-crime sequel.
- The Damned (January 3): A new horror film.
- Ballerina (June 6): A “John Wick” spinoff starring Ana de Armas.
- 28 Years Later (June 20): Danny Boyle and Alex Garland return for the next chapter in their acclaimed horror series, with Cillian Murphy.
- F1 (June 25): Brad Pitt stars in this Formula One racing drama from the Top Gun: Maverick team.
- Elio (June 20): Pixar’s next animated feature.
- Smurfs (July 18): A musical animated film with Rihanna voicing Smurfette.
- The Home (August 1): A new horror film.
- Weapons (August 8): A new horror from Zach Cregger, the director of Barbarian.
- Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (September 12): The beloved period drama gets its cinematic conclusion.
- Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (September 12): A sequel to the iconic mockumentary.
- Michael (October 3): Antoine Fuqua’s biopic about Michael Jackson.
- Good Fortune (October 17): A comedy starring and directed by Aziz Ansari.
- The Running Man (November 7): A new adaptation of the Stephen King novel.
This expanded list offers an even more exciting preview of the cinematic landscape of 2025. With so many diverse and thrilling films among the upcoming movies 2025 on the horizon, moviegoers are truly in for a treat, proving that the magic of the film is alive and well. Be sure to check local listings and streaming schedules closer to release dates for the most up-to-date information.
