FandomWire Previews the 25 Most Anticipated Movies of 2025 

2025 is here! Which means, it’s time for yet another 365 days of exciting movies and watching your favorite actors pop up on the silver screen. And undoubtedly, this year is even more stacked than usual, thanks to studios delaying and rescheduling a few of the titles to 2025.

Therefore, browsing through a bunch of long-awaited sequels to iconic originals, we at FandomWire have come up with the 25 most anticipated movies of 2025. Whether you prefer superhero films or animation, our skilfully crafted list has a fair share of everything. So, buckle up for a thrilling ride. 

1. 28 Years Later 

Director: Danny Boyle

Cast: Cillian Murphy, Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, Erin Kellyman 

Release date: 20th June 2025 

Revisiting Danny Boyle and Alex Garland’s 28 Days Later franchise, the new installment is set to be the beginning of a planned trilogy. I mean, while there’s still a lot of mystery going on about how the film series is continuing, the brief glimpses provided in 28 Years Later seemed pretty promising. 

But while these little tensions are building anticipation among fans, I cannot stress enough how Cillian Murphy single-handedly steered the whole hype surrounding the film. Expected to appear in a grotesque and disfigured shape, the actor is all over news headlines and meme pages, busy attracting people’s attention towards the upcoming installment. 

2. The Black Phone 2

Director: Scott Derrickson

Cast: Mason Thames, Miguel Mora, Ethan Hawke, Jeremy Davies. 

Release date: 17th October 2025

After Scott Derrickson and longtime collaborator C. Robert Cargill turned The Black Phone into one of the best horror movies of 2021, I couldn’t skip out on their upcoming installment The Black Phone 2, that’s quite likely to terrify audiences once again. 

Do you know what is garnering attention about the sequel? Well, the idea of Ethan Hawke reprising his role as The Grabber, alongside Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw’s return seemed quite anticipatory. Also, I can’t wait to see how Derrickson would steer the storyline of the horror flick, around the idea conceived by the original short’s writer, Joe Hill. 

3. Deliver Me From Nowhere 

Director: Scott Cooper 

Cast: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong, Stephen Graham 

Release date: 2025

Scott Cooper’s upcoming biographical musical drama film, Deliver Me From Nowhere, about the American rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist Bruce Springsteen, is yet another film that got me hyped for the fresh batch of theatrical releases in 2025. 

Given how biographical films are quite difficult to make, there are great expectations from this one to get Bruce Springsteen’s life and music right. Moreover, who can forget about Jeremy Allen White’s appearance as the titular character? After the actor delivered an impeccable performance in The Bear and built off his success with Shameless, it’s time to see how he tackles the challenge of appearing in a biographical film. 

4. Die, My Love

Director: Lynne Ramsay

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Pattinson, LaKeith Stanfield

Release date: 2025

Adapted from the 2017 novel by Ariana Harwicz about a new mother who develops postpartum depression and enters psychosis, Lynne Ramsay’s upcoming dark comedy Die, My Love owns the challenge of addressing issues that are often overlooked by society.  

But while the plot is interesting enough to attract people’s attention, there’s also Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson, whose screentime together has become a potential entertainment factor. Given how the two megastars have fan-favorite icons for years and have developed enough experience with book-to-movie franchises, it will be rather exciting to see them unite in Die, My Love. 

5. Marty Supreme

Director: Josh Safdie

Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin O’Leary, Abel Ferrara

Release date: December 25, 2025

Loosely based on Marty Reisman’s life, set in the world of 1950s ping-pong culture, Josh Safdie’s upcoming sports drama couldn’t skip my attention, especially since Timothée Chalamet is set to appear in the titular role. 

Fresh from the double hits Dune: Part Two and A Complete Unknown in 2024, Chalamet’s appearance in yet another biographical film has become a big deal for fans, especially since he could win an Oscar for the latter. But for me, it’s all about the actor’s much-publicized mustache for this ping-pong-focused film that became an anticipatory factor. 

6. F1

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Cast: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem 

Release date: June 25, 2024

Guys, Brad Pitt is doing an F1 racing movie. I think this is intriguing enough to market the film without further details. But guess what’s even more exciting? The film is being helmed by Tom Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski. 

After turning the piloting sequences in Tom Cruise’s sequel spectacular, especially on the big screen, I think we can expect him to do the same with F1‘s racing scenes. Anticipation remains solid surrounding the exhilarating in-theater experience of watching Pitt as an F1 racer. 

7. Superman 

Director: James Gunn 

Cast: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Milly Alcock 

Release date: July 11, 2025

Now, this upcoming DC film doesn’t require any explanation as to why it’s on the list of 2025’s most highly anticipated movies—the trailer spoke for itself. After James Gunn gave the taste of his new DC universe with Creature Commandos, we can undoubtedly expect great things from his scheduled Superman movie. 

Overall, with the storyline revolving around Clark Kent, Lois Lane, and Lex Luthor, as Gunn promised an emotional, action-packed superhero film about humanity and hope, I cannot stress more how similar this movie could be to that of Christopher Reeve’s Superman. With that being said, there’s heightened excitement surrounding how David Corenswet might pull off the character after Henry Cavill’s gritty performance. 

8. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Cast: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Hayley Atwell

Release date: May 23, 2025

Being one of the greatest action franchises of all time, as Tom Cruise‘s Mission: Impossible films have garnered positive reviews, it goes without saying that people are so excited for the next installment in the series. Meanwhile, although the upcoming film was initially billed to be the end of Ethan Hunt, Cruise and McQuarrie later promised otherwise. 

So now, there’s even more anticipation surrounding the movie as to what might befall the franchise and the titular character after this installment. Overall, the film has built curiosity surrounding the “final” in the title, which now seems to hint at the end of the plot surrounding “the Entity,” introduced in Dead Reckoning. Well, whatever might be awaiting fans in the theaters, I think it’s a classic case of marketing done right. 

9. Sinners

Director: Ryan Coogler

Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Hailee Steinfeld

Release date: March 7, 2025

After spending significant years of his career on MCU’s Black Panther films alongside Michael B. Jordan, Ryan Coogler is returning with his original horror film, Sinners in 2025. Starring Jordan in twin roles of brothers who return to their childhood hometown to find a mysterious evil awaiting them, Coogler’s movie has already caught people’s attention. 

But overall I believe the sheer fact that Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler have teamed up has become the selling point of the movie. Further, considering how the duo have repeatedly delivered memorable action flicks, their collaboration in the horror film that’s a potential franchise starter, is only making anticipation grow for Sinners.

10. Mickey 17

Director: Bong Joon-ho

Cast: Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, Mark Ruffalo 

Release date: March 7, 2025

My personal most anticipated film of 2025 has got to be Bong Joon-ho’s Mickey 17. Starring Hollywood heartthrob Robert Pattinson in not just a singular role, but in multiple versions of himself, the movie from the maker of the Best Picture-winning Parasite is poised to be the next great sci-fi epic. 

Meanwhile, anticipation is mounting since Mickey 17 appears a lot like the combination of Okja‘s tone and Snowpiercer‘s icy sci-fi setting. Perhaps with the best of both, alongside Joon-ho’s vision, and an impressive collection of cast, the upcoming movie is set to be one of a kind. 

11. Frankenstein

Director: Guillermo del Toro

Cast: Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Oscar Isaac, Christopher Waltz

Release date: 2025

Following the popularity of Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio and the Oscar-winning The Shape of Water, the filmmaker has become one of the great directors of modern times, raising the bar for his films. And now 2025 seems to be his chance to take on some of the most iconic characters in history: Frankenstein and his monster. 

Previously delivering fans with his Netflix horror series Cabinet of Curiosities, he’s now set to bag a theatrical release for his film Frankenstein, from the streamer. Meanwhile, if you ask what’s so interesting about the project, well, the idea of watching the teen heartthrob Jacob Elordi turn into Frankenstein’s monster is fascinating enough to fill the theaters’ seats. 

Often appearing in rom-coms and teen dramas, Frankenstein could turn into a big break for Elordi, exploring his potential alongside the likes of seasoned actors Oscar Isaac and Christopher Waltz. 

12. Zootopia 2

Director: Jared Bush, Byron Howard

Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Ke Huy Quan, Idris Elba, Shakira

Release date: November 26, 2025

After Zootopia became a bigger hit than expected, Disney planned to extend it with a sequel, bringing back the same great characters and voice actors from the first film. But this time there will also be new ones, like Ke Huy Quan as a snake.

Can you believe the legendary actor famously known for his Oscar-winning role in Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) is set to play a snake? Yes, that became the big anticipatory thing for me to look forward to in Zootopia 2. Meanwhile, there’s also a surge in curiosity over how Encanto‘s directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard might tackle the upcoming movie.  

13. The Running Man 

Director: Edgar Wright

Cast: Glen Powell, Katy O’Brian, Daniel Ezra, Josh Brolin, Lee Pace 

Release date: November 7, 2025

Decades after Arnold Schwarzenegger had taken on the lead role of Ben Richards in the adaptation of Stephen King’s The Running Man, Glen Powell teamed up with Edgar Wright to offer his fresh take. Now that’s what we call exciting. 

The collaboration between Powell and Wright over King’s source material makes the film already exciting for fans. But what I’m more curious about is to see how Powell might tackle the role that was previously portrayed by veteran legend Schwarzenegger. Will the Twisters star be able to secure his spot as a modern movie star, or will Schwarzenegger’s shoes turn out to be ginormous for him to fill in? 

14. Warfare

Director: Ray Mendoza, Alex Garland

Cast: Charles Melton, Joseph Quinn, Will Poulter, Noah Centineo 

Release date: 2025

After Alex Garland previously delivered his 2024 hit sci-fi war movie Civil War, it’s delightful to see that he’s coming up with another war-related film so quickly. Now, while Garland’s movies are always known for keeping us on the edge of our seats, this time there’s more to it. 

Considering how Garland co-wrote Warfare with Ray Mendoza, who filled the film with his real-life experiences from fighting in Iraq, there’s no doubt that the film will be politically and technically accurate. Overall, with a real-time story and soldier-focused narrative, it’s Will Poulter, Joseph Quinn, and Noah Centineo’s collaboration that got me excited. 

15. The Amateur

Director: James Hawes 

Cast: Rami Malek, Rachel Brosnahan, Jon Bernthal, Laurence Fishburne

Release date: April 11, 2025

Coming up with America’s fan-favorite genre of “someone kidnapped my wife” action film, director James Hawes surprisingly offered the titular role to Oscar winner Rami Malek, rather than the usual Hollywood staple Sylvester Stallone or Liam Neeson, who are known for such masculine roles. 

Now this could easily turn into something horrendous since Malek isn’t known for appearing in action flicks. So if this doesn’t cause you to bite your nails, maybe the star cast will. Surprisingly Jon Bernthal, who’s known for tackling sci-fi action roles in Marvel’s Punisher and Daredevil has been sidelined to offer Malek with the action hero role. Well, with such jumbling casting, only time will tell what might become of this film. 

16. Thunderbolts*

Director: Jake Schreier

Cast: Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Sebastian Stan, Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Release date: May 2, 2025

After a fairly light 2024 for the MCU, with only Deadpool & Wolverine hitting the big screen, they are back with three blockbuster films in 2025 including Captain America: Brave New World and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. But for me, it’s the “bad guys teaming up” film Thunderbolts* that grabbed my attention. 

Considering how it’s almost like DC’s Suicide Squad, which had unfortunately garnered mixed reception—it got me all worked up to see how Marvel’s Thunderbolts* might turn out. Additionally, given that the upcoming movie is filled with anti-heroes, it became another curious thing to see whether they manage to gain the same sympathy from fans that heroes often get. 

17. Ballerina

Director: Len Wiseman

Cast: Ana De Armas, Keanu Reeves, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Gabriel Byrne

Release date: June 6, 2025

Being the first John Wick spinoff movie, Ana De Armas’ Ballerina has already become one of the most anticipated movies of this year. Although it was expected to be released in 2024, the delays and reshoots not only postponed the release date but also got fans excited to see the improvements made to the film. 

While the first Ballerina trailer was already encouraging, the reshoots done to amplify the action further became an anticipatory factor for fans, as it got the movie on par with Keanu Reeves’ main John Wick films. Moreover, with Chad Stahelski’s involvement, I know in my heart that anything is possible. 

18. M3GAN 2.0

Director: Gerard Johnstone

Cast: Jenna Davis, Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Joshua Bassett 

Release date: June 27, 2025

I know, that adding M3GAN 2.0 to our list of 2025’s most anticipated movies is rather personal because only the ones who have watched the prequel will be excited for the upcoming sequel. But if you haven’t watched the OG sci-fi horror movie that’s somewhat Black Mirror-ish, then we recommend you to watch it, while waiting for the sequel’s release. 

After the first film offered a bloody and grotesque plot, the sequel is set to return with the creepy doll to offer an even bloodier storyline that might be tough for the faint of hearts. So if you’re anything like me, you might be super hyped to see what the marvel of AI might unleash this time on the audiences. 

19. Jurassic World Rebirth

Director: Gareth Edwards

Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend 

Release date: July 2, 2025

Following the abysmal reviews for both Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Jurassic World Dominion, it’s a bit shocking to see that we’re still getting a fourth Jurassic World film. But then again, given how they all made a staggering sum at the box office, who am I to judge? 

So anyway, after the last Jurassic World movie was billed as the final installment, it became partially true for Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, and the original Jurassic Park stars, cause the franchise is still running, with or without them. But overall I believe, this upcoming movie might finally set the record straight with director Gareth Edwards—famously known for Godzilla and Rogue One—helming the project. 

20. Bugonia

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

Cast: Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Alicia Silverstone 

Release date: November 7, 2025

From the maker of the award-winning Poor Things, and the anthology film Kinds of Kindness, the upcoming 2025 movie Bugonia is set to be another big hit of the year, starring Yorgos Lanthimos’ previous collaborators Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons, alongside Alicia Silverstone. 

Narrating the bizarre tale of how two men kidnap the CEO of a major pharmaceutical company when they become convinced that she’s an alien who wants to destroy Earth, this sci-fi comedy is said to be based on a South Korean film. But overall guess what made me put this movie on the list of highly anticipated films? Emma Stone’s shaved head for her role in this film. 

21. Now You See Me 3

Director: Ruben Fleischer

Cast: Dave Franco, Jesse Eisenberg, Lizzy Caplan, Daniel Radcliffe 

Release date: November 14, 2025

It’s been nearly a decade since we got the sequel to Now You See Me, and honestly speaking, no one had expected to get this follow-up after all. But it’s always fascinating to see the whole squad, including Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, and Dave Franco, return for another magic-themed heist.

But this time what made this threequel rather exciting is Isla Fisher’s return, especially after she was previously absent from the sequel. Meanwhile, it’s always interesting to see some of the coolest magicians rob a bank and turn into low-key Robin Hoods. 

22. Wicked: For Good

Director: Jon M. Chu

Cast: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater 

Release date: November 21, 2025

It’s needless to say after Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo‘s initial installment Wicked became a massive success, their sequel ought to be THE MOST anticipated movie of 2025. Retitled Wicked: For Good after one of the musical’s Act II songs, the sequel is set to be an amalgamation of the original Gregory Maguire novel and general Oz lore. 

Now, given how Jon M. Chu strategically left many of the great moments and songs from the Broadway musical to appear in Wicked 2, I think the sequel deserves our anticipation and excitement. 

23. Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron 

Cast: Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Sam Worthington, Stephen Lang

Release date: December 19, 2025

After the first two Avatar films introduce us to the air and water tribes living on Pandora, the threequel will introduce the volcano-dwelling fire tribe. Meanwhile, although the plot is largely under wraps, I can’t wait to explore the darker side of the Na’vi and Pandora. 

Meanwhile, James Cameron has already announced that this upcoming installment won’t be the end of the series, for there are two more films slated to be released later. But for now, given how Cameron has hooked people to the screen with his epic visual, world-building, and story perspective in each installment, the threequel is undoubtedly poised to be exciting. 

24. Lilo & Stitch

Director: Dean Fleischer Camp

Cast: Chris Sanders, Maia Kealoha, Sydney Agudong, Zach Galifianakis 

Release date: May 23, 2025

From kids to adults, everyone knows or is somewhat familiar with the Disney character Stitch, the adorable and mischievous genetically engineered, extraterrestrial life-form resembling a blue koala. So now, being one of Disney’s most popular creations, Stitch is set to return to the big screen in the 2025 live-action Lilo & Stitch. 

If that doesn’t qualify as inherently exciting then I don’t know what would. Although the film will be somewhat familiar, based on how closely it sticks to the original animated film—still there’s an opportunity for new and young audiences to fall in love with Lilo and Stitch. Overall, with Dean Fleischer Camp being tied to the project, the film is going to be quite promising. 

25. Karate Kid: Legends

Director: Jonathan Entwistle

Cast: Ralph Macchio, Jackie Chan, Ben Wang, Joshua Jackson 

Release date: May 30, 2025

After the OG Karate Kid installments lit the flame of success for Jaden Smith’s Karate Kid, as well as the spinoff series Cobra Kai, we can all agree that the franchise was born to be popular. So now, after we all thought that the Netflix show might mark the end of the films, Karate Kid: Legends reinstated people’s faith by bringing the series back to movie theaters. 

For someone like me, who grew up watching Ralph Macchio’s 80s classic, followed by the 2010 movie, nothing could be more exciting than seeing Daniel LaRusso come face to face with Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han. Given how Daniel was trained under Pat Morita’s Mr. Miyagi, it will be rather interesting to see how the upcoming film might tie the two characters into one storyline.