2025 is here! Oh boy, is this a big year for movies. This is going to be the biggest year of superhero movies since 2019 and the biggest year of horror movies since I don't know when. There are so many exciting films coming out. Some of my favorite directors who haven't made movies in a few years are coming back. The MCU is giving us the Fantastic Four. James Gunn is officially kicking off his DCU. There's so much happening this year. That said, here are my top fifteen most anticipated films of 2025.
15. Companion
I don't really know much about Companion, but I saw the trailer in the theater a few months ago and thought it looked wild. I know this is a horror movie with a weird supernatural or psychological element that just looks insane. Part of what makes me excited is how little I know about this movie. I like it when a film is not afraid to get weird, and it looks like that is what Companion will be.
14. Mickey 17
This film has been delayed a few times, but we have a trailer and an official release date, so I think it's pretty safe to say that this is coming out in March. Mickey 17 is Bong Joon-ho's first film since the massive hit that was Parasite, so I am very interested to see what he brings to the table here. Robert Pattinson is continuing to show his versatility as an actor, because he's going to play a bunch of different versions of himself in this film. So a high concept sci-fi film from the director of Parasite starring Batman? I'm in.
13. The Monkey
The Monkey is another Stephen King adaptation, this time from the director of Longlegs. I thought Longlegs was a great little horror film that put director Oz Perkins on the map. The Monkey looks like another really creepy, gory outing by Perkins. The trailer looked so unsettling with these horrific images backed by this creepy old-timey song, and it got me hooked. Fingers crossed for this being one of horror's best films this year.
12. The Black Phone 2
Speaking of horror, we are getting a sequel to The Black Phone. 2022 was a very strong year for horror. It brought us X, Smile, and The Black Phone, all of which are turning into franchises. Both X and Smile had solid sequels, so here's to hoping that The Black Phone is no different. I don't know where you go with The Black Phone 2, because Ethan Hawke's The Grabber was killed in the first one, but whatever direction they take it, I am curious. I trust Scott Derrickson, so hopefully, we get another cool horror film.
11. Frankenstein
Frankenstein was actually a movie I found out about a few days ago, but it is absolutely now one of my most anticipated films of the year. Guillermo del Toro, master of Gothic horror, is making a true adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic starring Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Christian Bale, Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz, Charles Dance, and more. An absolutely insane cast plus a top-tier director making a Frankenstein movie? Sign me up.
10. The Life of Chuck
I see a trend so far in this ranking; it's been a lot of horror and a lot of Stephen King. This is not horror, but it the third Stephen King adaptation to appear on this list. This one is a science fiction adaptation of a short story by King starring Tom Hiddleston and Mark Hamill. As a massive MCU and Star Wars fan, I will watch anything with either of those actors, and to have both of them will be very cool. But the major selling point is Mike Flanagan. Flanagan is one of the best directors working today, and he specializes in horror. This is his first foray into non-horror, so that has my curiosity. I am so, so excited to see this film. I hope it's great.
9. The Conjuring: Last Rites
Man, there are a lot of horror movies on this list so far. I haven't seen the Conjuring spin-offs, but I'm a big fan of the main Conjuring movies. I was not crazy about The Devil Made Me Do It, but I am still excited to see the finale of these movies. Ed and Lorraine Warren are fun characters to watch, so hopefully, this film sees them off well. I'm a little miffed that James Wan isn't directing; if he was, this film would probably be a few spots higher. However, I still expect this to be a solid finale to one of the most iconic horror franchises of the 21st century.
8. Captain America: Brave New World
Captain America: The Winter Soldier is my second favorite film in the MCU, and the trailers for Brave New World have given me Winter Soldier vibes. I have my reservations about this movie, because test screenings have reportedly been very negative and the MCU is not in the best state right now, but I am always going to be excited about a new Captain America movie. This feels like a true opportunity to get back on track. We are following characters we know post-Endgame and Cap has always been the centerpiece to the Avengers, so I'm hoping we get some idea of where this Multiverse Saga is headed. Please, please, please be good.
7. Thunderbolts*
It has been ten years since we were introduced to a new Marvel team in a good movie (Guardians of the Galaxy). The MCU is introducing two new teams next year, and the Thunderbolts are one of them. Marvel's version of the Suicide Squad is made up of these great vigilantes that we've seen sprinkled throughout the last few years, and I am excited to see them finally come together. This feels like one of the major things that they have actually done a solid job of setting up, so it'll be nice to have some payoff for a plot that we've seen developing with Julia Louis-Dreyfus's character since The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The trailers have won me over. The concept and characters are good. This should be another hopeful win for the MCU this year.
6. How to Train Your Dragon
I am not really for the live-action remakes of animated films, but How to Train Your Dragon lends itself beautifully to live-action and Disney is not making this movie. I was (and still am) a bit skeptical about this film, but the trailer looked pretty good. Toothless looks like a great blend of the cartoon and live-action, and that was one of the most important things for them to get. I am only rooting for this movie. I hope it breaks the trend of mediocre live-action remakes of animated movies.
5. Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
I don't know if this is technically the final Mission: Impossible film, but it sure seems like it. Regardless, I am always excited for these movies. Tom Cruise just makes films with a different energy than everybody else. These action movies, whether it be Maverick or Dead Reckoning, are always just so much fun to experience on the big screen. Final Reckoning looks like it's going bigger and bolder than the previous Mission: Impossible films, and I just cannot wait to experience it on the big screen.
4. The Fantastic Four: First Steps
This is probably the most exciting top four most anticipated films I've had since starting my blog. I adore the Fantastic Four, but they've never gotten proper cinematic treatment. Likewise, the MCU has never touched either the Fantastic Four or the X-Men (I'm not counting Multiverse of Madness). This is the movie that is going to make or break the future of the MCU. The Multiverse Saga already seems like a little bit of a lost cause, but the Fantastic Four and X-Men are the future of Marvel after the Avengers inevitably fade out. This movie is massive. There is so much riding on its shoulders, and I really, really hope it can live up to the expectations. We need a proper cinematic Fantastic Four and we need a proper MCU Fantastic Four. This movie can kill two birds with one stone. I am so excited (but also really nervous).
3. Avatar: Fire and Ash
The Avatar movies are the only movies that really feel like original storytelling right now. We've had great movies the past few years, but they are almost always sequels or based off of books or TV shows or something of the sort. Avatar is a massive franchise that comes completely from James Cameron's brain. There's something fun about that. These movies are always theatrical experiences. The Avatar franchise is designed to be seen in a movie theater, so having another one just gets me excited to get back to the movie theater. I love everything that Cameron has said about the film so far. Exploring more of the Na'vi and introducing some different villains sounds like a great direction to go with the franchise. I cannot wait.
2. Wicked: For Good
Wicked was my favorite film of the past year, so, naturally, I am over-the-moon excited for the second part. I am curious how they are going to do it, because there are so many questions that I have. Dorothy doesn't really appear in the musical, but as you can see in the shot above, she is there. Supposedly they have added two new songs for the second part. I don't know what they are going to do with For Good, but I have all the faith in the world in Jon M. Chu and this cast and crew. They absolutely killed it with Wicked, so I honestly expect Wicked: For Good to be a great second (and final) chapter.
1. Superman
I don't think I have ever been more nervous and excited for a film at the same time. DC has just never been able to get its movies right. Obviously there are great DC movies - The Dark Knight is my favorite film of all time. But it just feels like DC has never been able to succeed in the way that Marvel has. Superman is that opportunity. James Gunn has promised us a true, faithful, exciting DC universe...and it all starts here. Beyond just the weight of the entire DCU resting on its shoulders, Superman ushers in a new version of the Man of Steel. I think we do not have a quintessential modern Superman. Obviously Christopher Reeves is the quintessential Superman. He is fantastic and will always be iconic in that role, but those movies have aged. They don't hold up as well. I respect Henry Cavill and respect that they took his version in a different direction, but I am just not a fan of the DCEU's Superman. James Gunn and David Corenswet have promised us a hopeful, kind, uplifting hero that feels authentically good. The trailer had that feel to it. Everything that has been said has me entirely on board. My expectations for this are through the roof. I am so excited for this film. I have been ever since they announced it. I hope that this is able to kickstart a new era for DC and a new era for superhero movies...because it really, really could.
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