The 23 Most Anticipated Films Releasing in 2025

2025 is poised to be a landmark year for cinema, characterised by its variety, ambition, and the return of major theatrical releases across multiple genres. After years of adapting to shifts in the industry, 2025 reflects a renewed confidence in filmmaking, with studios, streaming platforms, and independent creators all striving to deliver unforgettable experiences. Audiences can expect a blend of blockbuster spectacles, smaller independent movies, a rise in specific genre movies and innovative storytelling that pushes the boundaries of what films can achieve. Find out our most anticipated films of 2025 below.

This year stands out because of its focus on diversity, not just in terms of representation on screen but also in the kinds of stories being told. From epic adventures to intimate character studies, and groundbreaking animation to heartwarming family tales, 2025’s film slate promises something for every type of moviegoer. The year is also full of continuations of beloved franchises, as well as daring original concepts that aim to redefine genres.

Technological advancements in visual effects, combined with an increased emphasis on practical filmmaking techniques, suggest that 2025 will deliver films that are both visually stunning and emotionally resonant. The industry’s embrace of bold, creative voices ensures that the cinematic landscape will remain dynamic and exciting. Whether it’s through large-scale theatrical releases or innovative streaming debuts, 2025 will be a year that reaffirms the power of movies to captivate and inspire audiences worldwide. 

To help you refine your watchlist and know where to look, we have compiled this list of the 23 most anticipated movies coming this year that you should look out for:

Klara and The Sun (dir. Taika Waititi)

Starring Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams. Taika Waititi’s sci-fi follows Klara, an “Artificial Friend” designed to prevent loneliness purchased by a mother and her bright teen daughter, Josie. Josie, who suffers from a mysterious illness, adores her new robot companion. On a quest to save Josie and those who love her from heartbreak, Klara learns the power of human love.

Bugonia (dir. Yorgos Lanthimos)

Starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons. Yorgos Lanthimos’ remake of Save the Green Planet! follows 2 conspiracy-obsessed young men who kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth.

The Drama (dir. Kristoffer Borgil)

Starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson. Kristoffer Borgli’s romance drama follows a couple, in the days leading up to their wedding facing a crisis when unexpected revelations derail what one of them thought they knew about the other.

Sinners (dir. Ryan Coogler)

Starring Michael B. Jordan and Hailee Steinfeld. Ryan Coogler’s horror follows twin brothers, who try to leave their troubled lives behind only to return to their hometown to start again and discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.

Caught Stealing (dir. Darren Aronofsky)

Starring Austin Butler, Zoë Kravitz, Matt Smith, and Bad Bunny. Darren Aronofsky’s thriller follows Hank Thompson, a burned-out former baseball player, who is unwittingly plunged into a wild fight for survival in the downtown criminal underworld of ’90s NYC.

Mother Mary (dir. David Lowery)

Starring Anne Hathaway, Michaela Coel, Hunter Schafer, FKA twigs, and Kaia Gerber. David Lowery’s musical drama follows an epic pop melodrama following a fictional musician and her relationship with an iconic fashion designer.

Superman (dir. James Gunn)

Starring David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, and Nicholas Hoult. Follows Superman, a cub reporter in Metropolis, who embarks on a journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent.

Highest 2 Lowest (dir. Spike Lee)

Starring A$AP Rocky, Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, and Ice Spice. Spike Lee’s re-adaptation of Akira Kurosawa’s crime thriller High and Low follows a powerhouse executive hit with a huge ransom demand when his chauffeur’s son is kidnapped by mistake.

Nouvelle Vague (dir. Richard Linklater)

Starring Guillaume Marbeck and Zoey Deutch. Richard Linklater’s drama follows the production of Jean-Luc Godard’s French New Wave classic Breathless. The director’s second film about the making of cinema, following Me & Orson Welles. 

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (dir. Christopher McQuarrie)

Starring Tom Cruise, Vanessa Kirby, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, and many more. Christopher McQuarrie’s action thriller is the supposed final instalment of the Mission: Impossible franchise which revolves around Ethan Hunt realizing that AI terrorist The Entity is stashed aboard an old Russian submarine, but a foe from his past is also on the trail.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps (dir. Matt Shakman)

Starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. Follows Marvel’s First Family, against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired retro-futuristic world, forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, while defending Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner).

The Running Man (dir. Edgar Wright)

Starring Glen Powell, Katy O’Brian, Josh Brolin, Lee Pace, Emilia Jones, Colman Domingo William H. Macy. Edgar Wright’s adaptation of Stephen King’s novel follows Ben Richards who volunteers to participate in a deadly game show, which will see him hunted by professional killers over 30 days. Should he survive, he’ll win a cash prize that will help save his sick child and lift his family out of a horrid living situation.

The Battle of Baktan Cross (dir. Paul Thomas Anderson)

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina Hall, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Teyana Taylor, & Alana Haim. Paul Thomas Anderson’s drama has the plot yet to be announced, though it is heavily rumoured to be a modern interpretation of Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland.

Avatar: Fire and Ash (dir. James Cameron)

Starring Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña. James Cameron’s sequel to Avatar: The Way of Water follows Jake Sully and Neytiri facing a new threat on Pandora: the Ash People, a violent and power-hungry Na’vi tribe led by the ruthless Varang. Jake’s family must fight for their survival and the future of Pandora in a conflict that pushes them to their emotional and physical limits.

Mickey 17 (dir. Bong Joon-ho)

Starring Robert Pattinson, Steven Yeun, Mark Ruffalo, and Naomi Ackie. Bong Joon-ho’s sci-fi comedy follows Mickey Barnes finding himself in the extraordinary circumstance of working for an employer who demands the ultimate commitment to the job… to die, for a living.

Materialists (dir. Celine Song)

Starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans. Celine Song’s rom-com follows a high-end matchmaker getting involved with a wealthy man who still harbors feelings for the broke actor-waiter she left behind

Eddington (dir. Ari Aster)

Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Pedro Pascal, and Austin Butler. Ari Aster’s horror comedy western follows a a couple stranded in a small New Mexico town during the pandemic. Initially welcomed, the town takes a sinister turn by nightfall.

Frankenstein (dir. Guillermo Del Toro)

Starring Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, and Christoph Waltz. Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation of Mary Shelley’s novel follows Dr. Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist who brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.

The Phoenician Scheme (dir. Wes Anderson)

Starring Benicio del Toro, Michael Cera, Scarlett Johansson, Bryan Cranston and more. Wes Anderson’s comedy is a dark tale of espionage following a strained father-daughter relationship within a family business. Twists revolve around betrayal and morally grey choices.

After The Hunt (dir. Luca Guadagnino)

Starring Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri and Andrew Garfield. Luca Guadagnino’s drama follows a college professor who finds herself at a personal and professional crossroads when a star pupil levels an accusation against one of her colleagues, and a dark secret from her own past threatens to come to light.

Jurassic World: Rebirth (dir. Gareth Edwards)

Starring Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and Jonathan Bailey. Gareth Edwards’ sequel, set 5 years after Jurassic World: Dominion, follows covert operations expert Zora Bennett contracted to lead a skilled team on a top-secret mission to secure genetic material from the world’s three most massive dinosaurs. When Zora’s operation intersects with a civilian family whose boating expedition was capsized, they all find themselves stranded on an island where they come face-to-face with a sinister, shocking discovery that’s been hidden from the world for decades.

Marty Supreme (dir. Josh Safdie)

Starring Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tyler, the Creator, and Odessa A’zion. Josh Safdie’s fictional drama is a story set in the world of 1950s ping pong culture, loosely inspired by the life of professional ping pong player Marty Reisman.

Evidently, 2025 is looking to be very exciting and if this slate ends up being anywhere as good as it appears to be, this could easily be the best year for films of the decade.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this article on the most anticipated films of 2025, make sure to keep up with our coverage throughout the year and check out more news here at Feature First.