The list of next year’s movies promises to please a diverse audience. With a mix of highly anticipated comic book reboots, adaptations from successful novels, and sequels to original projects from notable directors, producers hope that in 2025 they will continue to bring audiences back to cinemas, according to Variety.
Marvel is preparing „Captain America: Brave New World”, „Thunderbolts”, and „The Fantastic Four: First steps”. Other blockbuster franchises returning include „Jurassic World Rebirth”, „Superman”, and „Five Nights at Freddy’s 2”.
Movies like "Paddington in Peru", "A Minecraft Movie", "Elio", "Zootopia 2", and "The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squareparents" aim to bring both children and parents to the cinema. Fans of the musical can expect to see "Wicked: Part Two" on Thanksgiving Day.
Among the notable directors releasing films are Paul Thomas Anderson (with an untitled new project), Yorgos Lanthimos with "Bugonia", Bong Joon-ho with "Mickey 17", James Cameron with the third film "Avatar", Danny Boyle with "28 Years Later", and James Gunn with his new take on "Superman" that marks the start of a new era for DC films.
"Captain America: Brave New World" - February 14
This new approach to Marvel's first superhero, directed by Julius Onah, marks the first Captain America film since Chris Evans' departure. It's now Sam Wilson's turn (Anthony Mackie) to rise to the occasion as he finds himself in the midst of an international disaster and must protect the president (Harrison Ford), who also happens to be the Red Hulk. The cast also includes Rosa Salazar as Diamondback and Liv Tyler as Betty Ross.
"Paddington in Peru" - February 14
The third "Paddington" film follows the lovable English bear to a Retirement Home for Bears in the Peruvian Amazon jungle as he travels to find his lost aunt Lucy. The majority of the cast remains the same, with Ben Whishaw as Paddington and Emily Mortimer and Hugh Bonneville as Mr. and Mrs. Brown, along with Olivia Colman and Antonio Banderas.
"Mickey 17" - March 7
Robert Pattinson plays the space traveler Mickey 17 in Bong Joon-ho's sci-fi thriller. Mickey, a "disposable" employee, is sent on a deadly mission to colonize the ice world Niflheim. When an employee dies, he is cloned with the memories of the traveler who came before him. Mark Ruffalo and Toni Collette co-star.
"Snow White" - March 21
The live-action version of Disney's 1937 classic "Snow White" finally hits theaters after its initial release was postponed due to strikes. Directed by Marc Webb, the film stars Rachel Zegler as Snow White, Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, and Patrick Page as the Mirror. Andrew Burnap will play Jonathan, a version of the original prince. The musical fantasy is written by Greta Gerwig and Erin Cressida Wilson.
"A Minecraft Movie" - April 4
Jared Hess's semi-animated feature is based on the highly popular video game. The film follows four misfits: Jason Momoa, Emma Myers ("Wednesday"), Danielle Brooks ("Orange is the New Black"), and Sebastian Eugene Hansen, who are transported to a strangely symmetrical wonderland. Upon arrival, they meet Steve (Jack Black) and embark on a series of adventures to find their way back home.
"Thunderbolts" - May 2
The new Marvel antihero story follows a group of villains recruited to work for the US government. The new action film is directed by Jake Schreier ("Beef"), with Florence Pugh as Black Widow Yelena Belova, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov, Lewis Pullman as Robert Reynolds, Wyatt Russell as John Walker, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus as an American agent.
"Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" - May 23
Ethan Hunt and IMF conclude the current chapter of the franchise with "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning." Filmed concurrently with its predecessor, the movie stars Tom Cruise as a rogue secret agent racing against time to save the world from malevolent AI. Cruise leads a cast of franchise stars including Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Hayley Atwell, and Vanessa Kirby, along with Holt McCallany and Hannah Waddingham.
"Lilo & Stitch" - May 23
Experiment 626 will be unleashed again when "Lilo & Stitch," the live-action remake of the 2002 Disney animated classic, hits theaters. Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, the film features Maia Kealoha as Lilo, a lonely Hawaiian girl who befriends an alien who crash-landed on Earth, mistaking him for an "ugly dog." Sydney Agudong will play Lilo's older sister, Nani, while Billy Magnussen and Zach Galifinakis portray Pleakley and Jumba, a pair of aliens hunting Stitch.
"Karate Kid: Legends" - May 30
"Karate Kid: Legends" reunites franchise stars Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso and Jackie Chan as Mr. Han, with a new student played by Ben Wang. Daniel and Mr. Han must team up. The film is directed by Jonathan Entwistle (Netflix's "I Am Not Okay With This") with a screenplay by Rob Lieber ("Peter Rabbit").
"Ballerina" - June 6
The "John Wick" spinoff will follow Ana de Armas as an assassin trained in the traditions of the Ruska Roma. The most recent installment of the franchise, "John Wick: Chapter 4," became the highest-grossing film in the action series, earning critical acclaim with a 95% Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. Keanu Reeves will reprise his role as John Wick in the action spinoff, alongside Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, the late Lance Reddick, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Norman Reedus, and Ian McShane.
"Elio" - June 13
Pixar's latest original film is "Elio." Directed by Domee Shi and Madaline Sharafian (the latter making her directorial debut), the film follows an 11-year-old space-obsessed child (Yonas Kibreab) who is teleported to an interplanetary organization and mistaken for Earth's leader. The character voices will be provided by Jameela Jamil, Zoe Saldaña, and Brad Garrett.
"How to Train Your Dragon" - June 13
Fifteen years after the first "How to Train Your Dragon" film hit theaters, the beloved Dreamworks animated franchise makes the leap to live action in this fantasy/adventure remake. Written and produced by Dean DeBlois (the screenwriter of the first three animated "HTTYD" films), this live-action reimagining stars Mason Thomas as Hiccup, a misfit Nordic teenager who befriends a dragon, Toothless, and struggles to integrate despite his father (Gerard Butler) being the clan chief. The film also features Nico Parker as Astrid.
"28 Years Later" - June 20
Almost a decade after his first appearance in Danny Boyle and Alex Garland's iconic zombie film, Cillian Murphy returns to the franchise. The third film in the series and the first of a new trilogy, "28 Years Later" features Murphy as Jim, a bicycle courier struggling to survive a zombie apocalypse. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, and Erin Kellyman also star in this film.
"F1" - June 27
Following an extensive casting process and filming during the 2023 British Grand Prix, Brad Pitt's film "F1," a racing drama, finally hits theaters. The film stars Pitt as Sonny Hayes, a Formula 1 driver called out of retirement to mentor a prodigious newcomer (Damson Idris). Alongside Pitt and Idris, all 10 real-life Formula 1 teams and their drivers will appear in "F1" playing themselves.
"M3GAN 2.0" - June 27
In "M3GAN 2.0," Allison Williams and Violet McGraw reprise their roles as Gemma and Cady, an aunt and niece who join forces to battle an artificially intelligent doll (Amie Donald, Jenna Davis). Akela Cooper and Gerard Johnstone also return as writer and director.
"Jurassic World Rebirth" - July 2
The latest installment in the "Jurassic World" franchise stars Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali. Directed by Gareth Edwards ("Rogue One: A Star Wars Story") from a screenplay by David Koepp, who penned the original "Jurassic Park," this new film takes place five years after "Jurassic World Dominion." As the planet has become uninhabitable for dinosaurs, a team races to retrieve DNA samples from three massive creatures.
"Superman" - July 11
Audiences will soon look up to the skies as James Gunn brings Superman (David Corenswet) back to the big screen. Rachel Brosnahan plays Lois Lane, while Nicholas Hoult takes on the role of Lex Luthor.
"The Fantastic Four: First Steps" - July 25
The Fantastic Four are rebooted, this time led by Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/Thing. The film is set in 1960s New York, directed by Matt Shakman ("WandaVision").
"Michael" - October 3
Antoine Fuqua ("Training Day") directs Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson's nephew, as the King of Pop, with Colman Domingo portraying Joe Jackson, Michael Jackson's father. The cast also includes Miles Teller, Kat Graham, Laura Harrier, and Nia Long.
"The Black Phone 2" - October 17
Four years after Ethan Hawke terrified audiences as The Grabber, "The Black Phone 2" brings him back for more scares. While specific plot details are currently unknown, Universal and Blumhouse have stated that it aims to be "the launch of a new sinister franchise."
"Bugonia" - November 7
Conspiracy theories abound in "Bugonia," a sci-fi comedy following two young individuals who, motivated by a bizarre belief that she is secretly an extraterrestrial being intending to destroy the planet, kidnap a prominent CEO. Yorgos Lanthimos directs Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Cedric Dumornay, and others.
"Wicked: For Good" - November 21
Fans will return to Oz next fall with "Wicked: Part Two." The musical adaptation sequel by John M. Chu will feature a cast including Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Marissa Bode, Ethan Slater, Jeff Goldblum, and others. Chu returns as director, with a screenplay by Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox, and L. Frank Baum.
"Zootopia 2" - November 26
After a nine-year wait, police rabbit Judy Hopps returns to the big screen for "Zootopia 2." This sequel stars Jason Bateman, Fortune Feimster, Ginnifer Goodwin, Ke Huy Quan, and Shakira. While specific story details are still under wraps, the film will follow Judy as she teams up with Nick Wilde (Bateman) to solve a new and dangerous case.
"Five Nights at Freddy’s 2" - December 5
Josh Hutcherson, Matthew Lillard, and Elizabeth Lail star in the horror film "Five Nights at Freddy's 2." The previous film "Five Nights at Freddy's" was based on the 2014 video game of the same name and was directed by Emma Tammi. Tammi returns to helm this sequel, promising even more terrifying stakes than its predecessor.
"Avatar: Fire and Ash" - December 19
"Avatar: Fire and Ash" continues James Cameron's successful franchise that began with the 2009 blockbuster. The cast includes Zoe Saldana, Kate Winslet, Sigourney Weaver, Jemaine Clement, Matt Gerald, David Thewlis, Sam Worthington, Edie Falco, Cliff Curtis, and Oona Chaplin. This film follows the 2022 film "The Way of Water," although key plot details have not yet been announced.
"The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants" - December 19
SpongeBob faces the Flying Dutchman's ghost in "The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants." Written and directed by Derek Drymon, the film stars Clancy Brown as Mr. Krabs, Brian Doyle-Murray and Mark Hamill as the Flying Dutchman, Tom Kenny as SpongeBob SquarePants, and Bill Fagerbakke as Patrick Star.
