There is a lot on the calendar for 2025 film releases, with some notable sequels, live action remakes and of course the few originals sprinkled in there. I naively thought that my previous year’s list would be pretty comprehensive and all the films I spoke about it on it would be released by now, however that has not been the case. So for this list, I stand by my excitement for those, but I have scoured the internet for 20 more films that I am excited for, that may or may not come out in 2025. I haven’t put the list in order or excitement, just shuffled my list and here we go.
1. The Long Walk
Based on the 1979 Stephen King novel, this adaptation comes from Hunger Games director, Francis Lawrence and stars David Jonsson, Cooper Hoffman and Mark Hamill. Mark Hamill is a safe bet that you are going to get a pretty solid performance, and both Jonsson and Hoffman have really impressed me in what I have seen them in recently (Alien: Romulus and Saturday Night respectively). The story itself is a dystopian one, wherein teenage boys have to compete in a 100 day walking contest. Which of course, sounds boring but hopefully with this cast and a good script, we can get some really good character development and a story that does justice to the novel.
2. The Running Man
Sort of a theme going on here, but Edgar Wright is directing this Glen Powell led remake of the 1987 sci-fi action-thriller. The story is one of a game show, where Glen’s character, Ben Richards competes in a 30 day contest where he will be hunted down by professional killers. Sounds like a classic 80s film that I’m sure will be modernised with classic Wright energy and humour. Katy O’Brien is also starring in this after her 2024 breakout in Love Lies Bleeding, so that will be exciting to see her again and hopefully more and more.
3. Sentimental Value
Sentimental Value is the latest film from Norwegian born filmmaker, Joachim Trier, with his previous work, The Worst Person in the World coming close to my favourite film of 2022. His writing and character work is so interesting that I can’t wait to see what he does with this story. Nora, an actor, and her sister Agnes, are grieving the loss of their mother when their father Gustav reappears in their lives after a long absence. The rest of the story seems to deal with legacy, pride and the mending of this neglected relationship.
4. Weapons
From the director of Barbarian, Zach Cregger comes back with a mystery horror in Weapons. There is not much details out about this one, making me think it will be later 2025 or more likely 2026, but the cast of Josh Brolin, Julia Garner and Alden Ehrenreich make me think that its going to be one to watch. Barbarian did such a great job of building atmosphere and intrigue in its first two acts that I feel having Cregger’s next film set in a mystery will hopefully continue that knack he seems to have for it.
5. Frankenstein
I have only had the pleasure of seeing four of Guillermo del Toro’s works but I have yet to be let down by them. They are top to tail filled with atmosphere and care. I think this retelling of Frankenstein will be no different. With Nosfeatu releasing today in the UK, I think the hype around this film will only grow for these old classics being brought into the modern era. The film also stars Jacob Elordi and Mia Goth which is such a bizarre and exciting duo to lead this film.
6. Hedda
While Nia Decosta may have lost a few points with The Marvels, her adaptation of Candyman in 2021 goes down as one of the better horror films of this decade for me. So I am locked into anything she comes out with, including this film, based on the play by Henrik Ibsen. It will star Tess Thompson as Hedda Gabler as she navigates a house she does not want, a marriage she feels trapped in, and an ex-lover who has reappeared in her life. The film also stars Eve Hewson, who I love, so that’s reason enough for me.
7. Why Don’t You Love Me
Very few details about this Jennifer Lawerence led film surrounding A miserable couple, Claire and Mark, as they struggle through their marriage while “feeling like something is not quite right in their reality.” It is based on the graphic novel by Paul B. Rainey, and is being produced by Herridtarry’s Ari Aster. While not much has been revealed about the film itself, from the crew and the source material, we can assume it is going to follow the same dark comedy style of the novel and have some heartfelt moments sprinkled in.
8. After the Hunt
Luca Guadagnino has delivered (most of the time) for me, especially with both 2024 films, Challengers and Queer. While he is also working on an remake of American Psycho, I am intrigued by this thriller staring Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri and Andrew Garfield. The story looks to follow a college professor who finds herself at a crossroads when there is an accusation made against one of her colleagues, and a dark secret from her own past threatens to come to light. This comes from first time screenwriter Nora Garrett and composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross who did the soundtrack to Challengers.
9. I Love Boosters
“A ring of enterprising boosters (aka shoplifters, equal opportunists) take aim at a cutthroat fashion maven.” is the description given to the upcoming Boots Riley film, who you may know from the 2018 Sorry to Bother You. Basing it on that, I think we can expect a pretty exciting and entertaining viewpoint of this story. It also stars Keke Palmer who can make reading a shopping list entertaining so we seem to be in safe hands.
10. Tracy Flick Can’t Win
Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers was one of my favourites from last year, and this follow up to his 1999 film, Election looks to continue his hot streak. Reprising her role, Reese Witherspoon plays Tracy Flick, an assistant principal in a New jersey high school who is fighting her way to the top, and struggling to do so. Both this film and Election are based on books by Tom Perrotta so will likely follow the same style as Election going into this film. So far, I can only seem to see that Witherspoon is back to reprise her role and none of the other cast may be involved in this continuation.
11. Resurrection ‘狂野时代’
I haven’t yet seen a Bi Gan film but Resurrection sounds like its going to be one I have to see. Here is the description from online, “A woman whose consciousness falls into the “eternal time zone” during a surgical procedure. Trapped in many dreams, she finds an android corpse and tries to wake it up by telling endless stories. The android then wanders within her stories and its senses gradually awaken.”. No real idea what to expect from the film except probably some very interesting conversations and some stunning visuals, nothing more needed.
12. The Mastermind
Kelly Reichardt’s style is not one I had experienced until early 2024 when I finally got to see Showing Up, which took a long time to make it’s way to the UK. Her slow and thoughtful style really worked for me and her next film, staring Josh O’Connor sounds like one I have to see too, hopefully not waiting as long as I did for the previous film. The story sounds like it has a bit of action to it, set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War and the women’s liberation movement. James Mooney (Josh O’Connor) plans an art heist while navigating this quickly changing world.
13. The Drama
Zendaya and Robert Pattinson in anything will make me want to watch it, but the fact it is Sick of Myself and Dream Scenario’s Kristoffer Borgli behind it, makes it all the more interesting to me. The film follows the two leads in the days coming up to their wedding when one of them finds something out about the other, putting their relationship into question. Borgli’s writing is so good that I can’t wait to see what he does with this cast. We also have Arseni Khachaturan returning as the cinematographer from Dream Scenario and also Guadagnino’s Bones and All which is very reassuring that we are going to get a very nice looking film.
14. A Big Bold Beautiful Journey
Kogonada continues their work with Colin Farell from After Yang, adding Margot Robbie to the team in this “imaginative tale of two strangers and the extraordinary emotional journey that connects them”. There have been some on set photos leaked from this film but not much else surrounding it so I am excited to see what details come out as we get closer to the release date. It is written by Seth Reiss though, who wrote The Menu and upcoming film 42.6 Years, so to me that’s a pretty big plus.
15. F1
This one I’m not so sure about, but I also wasn’t sure walking into Joseph Kosinski’s previous film, Top Gun: Maverick and I wanted to stand up and clap at the end of that one, so I have to have some trust in this filmmaking team. The story follows Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) as he is coaxed out of retirement to lead a struggling Formula 1 team, boosting his younger teammate and having one last chance at glory. I think the story itself sounds compelling but I am more looking forward to the technical side as they have been shooting with real F1 cars and driving at real F1 speeds. It is going to be action packed, and has proven to be pretty expensive too.
16. Animal Farm
I don’t think I would have really been interested in this Andy Serkis project before this year when I finally read Animal Farm. The film is said to be an animated retelling of the book, adapted by The Muppets and Bros writer, Nicholas Stoller. I am not so confident this will live up to the book for me, but I am very intrigued to see how it will be handled in the context of a film made in today's age.
17. The Smashing Machine
Another one that I am unsure about quality and more intrigued by the idea of it. Dwayne Johnson is stepping away from the box office to star in this A24 film directed by Benny Safdie. Johnson is playing Mark Kerr, a former MMA athlete who is struggling to deal with addiction at the peak of his athletic career. I think this is exactly the move for Dwayne Johnson, something different to show his dramatic acting but still in a world that he’s believable in. I’m a fan of Safdie, and if he can conjure at least half of the stress of Uncut Gems, then I will be heavy breathing in the cinema seat.
18. Die, My Love
Robert Pattinson is back in the anticipated list, this time teaming up with another repeat actor, Jennifer Lawrence. In this adaptation of the 2017 novel by Ariana Harwicz, we see the breakup of a marriage and the state of mental health of a housewife in the Montana countryside. Sounds like it’s going to be a heavy one, with actors who know what they’re doing too. The creative team behind it, with Lynne Ramsay (We Need to Talk About Kevin) set to direct and Martin Scorsese set to produce, it seems like its in the hands of people who know what they’re doing, and I’m excited about it.
19. Chronicles of Narnia
This one is sort of a cheat, because its technically untitled and without a release date at all, but I felt like I had to include the adaptation of these beloved C.S Lewis books here as its being spearheaded by Barbie and Little Women’s Greta Gerwig. She is being given the budget by Netflix for these films and as someone I have seen do a perfect coming of age film (Ladybird), I have very little doubts that she can’t tackle all those themes, with the added fantasy in the world of Narnia. So, they may be a way off, but I am very interested in what they have to offer.
20. Wicked: For Good
The Part Two, now For Good to the Jon M. Chu Wicked Part One is probably my most anticipated film for the year, as it has a release date and a proven success with me, I am very much awaiting this film’s release. I still haven’t seen the play and after having seen the film, I don’t think i want to. For me, this medium is how I feel I want my introduction to this story to be. I have heard that the songs are not as plentiful in the second act but with some rumoured original songs, we may be able to get Cynthia Erivo her EGOT by the time the 2026 Academy Awards roll around.
That’s it, my 2025 (and likely beyond) list. I do have some from my 2024 list that I am still very much looking forward to, so if you would like to familiarise yourself with that list, please do so here. Other than that, I am once again hoping that I don’t embarrass myself with my excitement like I did for Joker 2 and all of these films deliver on the hype that I have given to them without them asking.
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