My Most Anticipated Releases of 2025
I really started getting ‘into movies’ in 2023 & 2023 was a great year for film. 2024 was a great year for film. And I think 2025 will be… a great year for film. There are many films I am excited for, or at least curious in, with 43 films currently sitting in my ‘2025 Watchlist'. I’m sure this list will grow & some of these films will inevitably fall off of it, but these are the 10 movies I am most excited for. Some honorable mentions I’d like to honorably mention are:
The Battle of Baktan Cross directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. A crime drama thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio (enough said), Regina Hall, Sean Penn, & Benicio del Toro. Releasing August 8, 2025.
F1 directed by Joseph Kosinski. A sports action film starring Brad Pitt. Just seems like a cool one. Releasing June 27, 2025.
The Gorge directed by Scott Derrickson. A survival action film starring Miles Teller & Anya Taylor-Joy as snipers assigned to guard the sides of a mysterious gorge. Releasing February 14, 2025 on Apple TV+.
Karate Kid: Legends directed by Jonathan Entwistle. Starring Jackie Chan, Ralph Macchio, & Ben Wang in a film that will combine the two different sides of ‘The Karate Kid’ franchise. Releasing May 30, 2025.
Love Hurts directed by Jonathan Eusebio. An action comedy starring Ke Huy Quan in his first lead role, also starring Ariana DeBose, Daniel Wu, & Marshawn Lynch. Releasing February 7, 2025.
The Smashing Machine directed by Benny Safdie. Starring Dwayne Johnson as Mark Kerr, an aged MMA fighter, in what will be one of Johnson’s first dramatic roles. Also starring Emily Blunt as Kerr’s wife. Release date TBD.
Now getting into the list we have:
Avatar: Fire and Ash directed by James Cameron. The third film of the ‘Avatar’ franchise that has been decades in the making. I’ve often chronicled how I didn’t really like ‘Avatar,’ but I LOVED ‘Avatar: The Way of Water,’ which has made me incredibly excited for this next entry in the world of Pandora. Returning to their roles in the franchise are Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, & others. New actors joining the fray are Oona Chaplin, who will play Varang, the leader of the Na’vi Ash People & David Thewlis, playing a Na’vi named Peylak. Though I am excited for this film, the anticipation is slightly stalled that parts 4 & 5 won’t becoming until 2029 & 2031. Keep in mind I was 8 when the first film came out and will be 30 when the fifth finally comes out. Releasing December 19, 2025.
Jurassic World Rebirth directed by Gareth Edwards. I’m not ashamed to say dinosaurs are cool. And every time a new ‘Jurassic Park’ movie comes out, I will watch it. Simply because (as previously stated) dinosaurs are cool. The film is set to be the first in a new trilogy of films and features an all new ensemble. Scarlett Johansson as a covert ops expert, Mahershala Ali as her team leader, Rupert Friend as a pharmaceutical rep, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as the father of a ship wrecked family, Ed Skrein in a yet to be announced role, & in what I’m most excited about, Jonathan Bailey as a paleontologist. Releasing July 2, 2025.
MCU Releases- The Marvel Cinematic Universe is getting three new films in 2025, each of which I am excited about, though to varying degrees. I have high hopes for these films, so we will see how it goes since many fans feel Marvel is in a rough patch (which is weird since their only 2024 release became the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever).
The one I am least excited about is Thunderbolts* directed by Jake Schreier. Starring a variety of MCU actors (Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, Hannah John-Kamen, & Julia Louis-Dreyfus) returning to their villain/anti-hero roles to form a new team, as well the debut of a new character, Sentry (Lewis Pullman). Releasing May 2, 2025.
Next up is Captain America: Brave New World directed by Julius Onah. Anthony Mackie’s first film outing in his new mantle as Captain America, this film will be a political thriller of sorts. The film will also star Danny Ramirez as the new Falcon, Carl Lumbly as an aged Super Soldier, Shira Haas, Xosha Roquemore, & Giancarlo Esposito in new roles, and the MCU return of ‘The Incredible Hulk’ stars Liv Tyler & Tim Blake Nelson as Betty Ross & Samuel Sterns. The film will also feature Harrison Ford taking over the mantle of Thunderbolt Ross, who is now both President of the US & the Red Hulk. Releasing February 14, 2025.
And what I am most excited for is The Fantastic Four: First Steps directed by Matt Shakman. The long awaited debut of Marvel’s first family will kick off Phase Six of the MCU and will star Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, & Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the Four. Ralph Ineson will star as Galactus, Julia Garner as Silver Surfer, & Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich, & Natasha Lyonne will appear in TBA roles. Releasing July 25, 2025.
Mickey 17 directed by Bong Joon-ho. A sci-fi black comedy starring Robert Pattinson as Mickey, a man who is considered disposable. Mickey often dies and they just bring regenerate him a new body, with this film focusing on his 17th iteration, who accidentally survives. A great concept based in a 2022 novel, this film is releasing April 18, 2025.
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning directed by Christopher McQuarrie. Tom Cruise’s final mission as Ethan Hunt, the eighth film in the franchise will feature many returning cast members & I’m sure will see Cruise riding off into the sunset (or dying). I have no doubt Tom will go all out for his final venture & I can’t wait to see what he has in store. Releasing May 23, 2025.
The Running Man directed by Edgar Wright. A dystopian action thriller based on Stephen King’s 1982 novel, this is a remake of the 1987 film starring Arnold Schwarznegger. I’ve never seen that film, but I understand the general plot of the story. People participate in a game show where they are chased by bounty hunter and win money if they survive. The ensemble cast features Katy O’Brian, Daniel Ezra, Josh Brolin, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, & William H. Macy, but really the sole reason I am excited for this film is because of its star: Glen Powell. Releasing November 7, 2025.
Sinners directed by Ryan Coogler. A period horror film starring Michael B. Jordan in a dual role as twins who return home to deal with a great evil (which I think is a vampire). The movie also features Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, & Delroy Lindo. This film is the seventh collaboration between Coogler & Jordan, and their track record is pretty good so I have faith this film will be great. Releasing March 7, 2025.
Superman directed by James Gunn. The film that will properly kick start the new DC Universe. James Gunn is at the helm & DC’s golden boy will headline, played by David Corenswet. Everything about this movie is pointing in the right direction & I will be eagerly awaiting Corenswet’s Superman. The film features many other DC characters including Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi), Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan), The Engineer (María Gabriela de Faría), Eve Teschmacher (Sara Sampaio), Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo), Perry White (Wendell Pierce), Supergirl (Milly Alcock), Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo), Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn), Krypto the Superdog, & Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult). If that seems crowded, that’s because it is, but James Gunn has assured fans that many of these appearances will be minor. Releasing July 11, 2025.
Wake Up Dead Man directed by Rian Johnson. The newest ‘Knives Out’ mystery is set to hit screens in 2025 and I am INCREDIBLY hyped. The first two films are both brilliant and there is no reason to believe the 5th won’t be just as fun. Daniel Craig is returning as Benoit Blanc and the ensemble is filled out by Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, & Thomas Haden Church. Who do you think did it? Releasing on Netflix, date TBD.
Wicked: For Good directed by Jon M. Chu. Though I don’t love the new title, this film follows 2024’s ‘Wicked’ which I thought was spectacular. I can’t wait to see where the story goes & how it concludes. I anticipate more great songs (with 2 new songs for the film), fun sets & costumes, and more great performances from the cast returning from the first. Releasing November 21, 2025.
I also am retroactively adding in Marty Supreme directed by Josh Safdie. My wife & I were discussing this list and she noted its exclusion. Starting my main man Mr. Timmy Chalamet as a table tennis pro, it is definitely top 10, but was neglected by yours truly. Releasing Christmas Day, 2025.
