While 2024 is still in motion with the ongoing awards season, the industry remains focused on celebrating last year’s cinematic achievements. From the Golden Globes on January 5 to the Oscars on March 2, the next two months will spotlight a familiar selection of films. However, amid this recognition of 2024’s finest, there’s an invigorating shift toward what lies ahead in 2025—bringing fresh narratives, innovative storytelling, and highly anticipated releases into the spotlight.
Some of IndieWire’s 50 most anticipated films of the year are bound to dominate the awards circuit by this time next year. With a mix of highly awaited festival gems from 2024, long-delayed productions impacted by industry strikes, and eagerly anticipated franchise installments—this year’s lineup promises an exciting cinematic journey. From visionary originals to long-awaited sequels, these films have already generated immense buzz, making them the ones to watch in the months ahead.
While they’ve already begun curating a list of the Best Films of 2025 based on what they’ve seen so far (with some inevitable overlaps), there’s still much to anticipate. The coming year promises a cinematic feast, with highly awaited releases from visionary filmmakers like Paul Thomas Anderson, Ryan Coogler, Celine Song, and Yorgos Lanthimos. As these celebrated auteurs gear up to unveil their latest works on the big screen, the excitement surrounding 2025’s theatrical lineup continues to build, offering cinephiles a glimpse into the artistry and storytelling that will define the year in film.
Although they aimed to focus on films with confirmed distribution, they couldn’t resist making a few exceptions— no list of most-anticipated releases would be complete without acknowledging upcoming works from cinematic visionaries like Lynne Ramsay and Wes Anderson. Ramsay, whose creative journey has seen its share of delays, hasn’t helmed a feature since her 2017 masterpiece You Were Never Really Here. Despite lacking a U.S. distributor for now, films such as her Die, My Love and Anderson’s star-studded espionage thriller The Phoenician Scheme are bound to make waves at major festivals. With their undeniable allure, these projects are likely to secure theatrical releases soon—either before or shortly after their festival debuts.
The horror genre is making waves this year, particularly with A24 leading the charge through anticipated films like Opus and Bring Her Back, the latter directed by Talk to Me filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou. Meanwhile, the start of the year—typically a quieter period for releases—holds promise with Leigh Whannell’s Wolf Man, featuring Christopher Abbott in a contemporary take on the classic Universal monster. Adding to the excitement, Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, starring Michael B. Jordan, is generating significant buzz under Warner Bros., which is also backing Mickey 17 and an upcoming Paul Thomas Anderson project. Horror enthusiasts have plenty to look forward to with the return of beloved franchises, as new installments of Saw and Final Destination promise to reignite fan nostalgia. Beyond horror, the cinematic landscape is brimming with sequels and reimaginings, including fresh takes on Mission: Impossible, Jurassic World, 28 Years Later, Freakier Friday, and a new Superman film, ensuring an exhilarating lineup for audiences in the months ahead.
Explore IndieWire’s highly anticipated list of upcoming releases, keeping in mind that while several titles are already confirmed for this year, their exact premiere dates remain unannounced.
“Wolf Man” (January 17)
Blumhouse’s latest horror venture, Wolf Man, brings Christopher Abbott into the fold under the direction of Leigh Whannell (The Invisible Man). This fresh take on the 1941 Gothic classic transports the legend to the misty, eerie setting of the Pacific Northwest. Co-starring Julia Garner, the film follows a family already battling personal turmoil when a full-moon night unleashes an unspeakable terror. Abbott plays Blake, whose monstrous transformation after a werewolf attack puts his wife and daughter, played by Matilda Firth, in grave danger. The film’s journey to the screen has been eventful—initially, Ryan Gosling was set to star, with Blue Valentine and The Place Beyond the Pines director Derek Cianfrance at the helm. While January horror releases often come with skepticism, the powerhouse duo of Abbott and Garner could elevate this chilling tale with their emotional depth and gripping performances.
‘Companion’ (January 31)
Roy Lee, the powerhouse producer behind standout genre hits like Barbarian and Strange Darling, delivers another triumph with this electrifying thriller—marking the feature directorial debut of screenwriter Drew Hancock. A wickedly twisted love story gone disastrously awry, the film thrives on its unpredictable turns, making it best experienced with as little prior knowledge as possible. Hancock’s meticulous command of color, framing, and editing signals the arrival of an exciting new filmmaker, while Jack Quaid and Sophie Thatcher deliver razor-sharp performances that balance humor and tension with remarkable precision. With backing from BoulderLight Pictures, Vertigo Entertainment, and New Line, this film is a must-watch—one that grips you from the first frame and never lets go.
“Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy” (February 13)
After an eight-year hiatus, Bridget Jones is back—this time navigating motherhood, widowhood, and the ever-chaotic world of dating in Mad About the Boy, a direct-to-Peacock sequel to Bridget Jones’s Baby. Life has changed drastically for London’s most delightfully frazzled TV producer: she now has two children but has lost her beloved husband, Mark Darcy. As she reenters the dating scene, hilarity ensues—from getting stuck in a tree (which, conveniently, attracts handsome strangers) to accidentally oversharing about her love life on live television.
But just as one chapter closes, another takes an unexpected twist. Hugh Grant’s roguish Daniel Cleaver, long presumed dead, resurfaces—having faked his demise in the previous film. Has he truly reformed, or is he still the charmingly unreliable heartbreaker of old? While the odds aren’t in his favor, if Cleaver can change, then perhaps anything is possible. Familiar faces return as well, including Jim Broadbent as Bridget’s ever-supportive dad and her iconic trio of best friends—played by Sally Phillips, Shirley Henderson, and James Callis—proving once again that Bridget Jones remains a beloved, timeless rom-com heroine.
The Dead Thing
Elric Kane’s latest erotic thriller, a standout on the 2024 horror festival circuit, is set to captivate audiences worldwide when it premieres on Shudder this Valentine’s Day. Known to cinephiles as the co-host of the New Beverly’s Pure Cinema podcast, Kane brings his deep appreciation for genre filmmaking to this gripping tale, blending horror with the atmospheric tension of films like Michael Mann’s Collateral. Set against the neon-drenched backdrop of nocturnal Los Angeles, the film explores the sinister underbelly of modern relationships shaped by dating apps. But Kane’s vision is anything but a mere homage—his mastery of cinematic language allows him to transform his influences into something entirely fresh, delivering a bold and original perspective on desire, danger, and the dark corners of human connection.
The Monkey
Oz Perkins returns to the director’s chair with The Monkey, his first horror venture since Longlegs shattered records as Neon’s highest-grossing film and one of 2024’s biggest horror hits. This blood-soaked adaptation of Stephen King’s 1980 short story follows Theo James in a dual role as twin brothers, Haal and Bill, who become entangled in a series of gruesome deaths—each seemingly linked to an eerie toy monkey. With a stellar supporting cast including Elijah Wood, Tatiana Maslany, and Sarah Levy, Perkins not only directs but also pens the script, promising a fresh twist: a more playful, darkly comedic edge compared to the chilling serial killer narrative of Longlegs.
The Legend of Ochi
Isaiah Saxon’s The Legend of Ochi is making waves, and not just for its breathtaking visuals—despite some misguided claims on social media, the film’s effects were crafted without AI. This fantasy adventure, which premiered to growing buzz at Sundance, sees A24 venturing into territory reminiscent of The NeverEnding Story. Starring Helena Zengel (News of the World), the story follows a young girl from a remote mountain village who defies her upbringing by befriending an ochi—a mysterious, endearing forest creature she was taught to fear. Determined to reunite the creature with its family, she embarks on a journey that’s as emotional as it is magical. Backed by a stellar cast, including Willem Dafoe, Finn Wolfhard, and Emily Watson, the film’s standout creative force may be composer Dave Longstreth of Dirty Projectors, whose score promises to elevate the storytelling to new heights.
Eephus
Frederick Wiseman’s unexpected foray into acting sets the tone for Carson Lund’s Eephus, a refreshingly unconventional take on the sports genre. More than just a baseball film, it’s a heartfelt ode to the camaraderie fostered by amateur leagues, capturing the final game of a group of middle-aged men before their beloved New England stadium is demolished. Set in the 1990s and unfolding almost in real time, the film carries an unmistakable air of nostalgia and loss—echoing the wistful atmosphere of Goodbye, Dragon Inn, which Lund cites as an influence. As Christian Zilko observed in his Cannes review, the film poignantly highlights the fragile threads that hold friendships together, raising larger questions about the decline of community in modern society. With its quiet yet powerful commentary on isolation, Eephus offers a striking meditation on the loneliness epidemic, making its impact resonate far beyond the baseball field.
Mickey 17
Bong Joon-ho returns to the director’s chair after his Parasite Oscar triumph with Mickey 17, a sci-fi comedy packed with dark humor and mind-bending twists. Based on Edward Ashton’s novel Mickey7, the film stars Robert Pattinson as a man who volunteers for the ultimate sacrifice—becoming an “expendable,” where every time he dies, a new version of him is regenerated with all his memories intact. But when a glitch in the process leaves two iterations of Pattinson’s character coexisting, an existential crisis spirals into a gripping, high-stakes conflict. With a powerhouse cast that includes Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette, Steven Yeun, and Mark Ruffalo, the film promises to deliver Bong’s signature genre-blending brilliance, mixing sharp satire, suspense, and sly humor into an unforgettable cinematic experience.
Black Bag
Steven Soderbergh is kicking off 2025 with a one-two punch, delivering both the haunted-house thriller Presence (January 24, Neon) and the high-stakes espionage drama Black Bag (March 14, Focus Features). The latter marks a much-anticipated reunion between Soderbergh and Cate Blanchett, who last collaborated on The Good German in 2006. Joining her is Michael Fassbender, revisiting Soderbergh’s world of intrigue after starring in 2011’s Haywire.
Described by Focus Features as a “gripping spy drama,” Black Bag follows legendary intelligence operative George Woodhouse, whose unwavering patriotism is tested when his wife, Kathryn, is accused of treason. Forced to choose between love and duty, he must navigate a web of deception where nothing is as it seems. The film boasts a star-studded ensemble, including Regé-Jean Page, Marisa Abela, Naomie Harris, Pierce Brosnan, and Tom Burke. Shot in London last year, it’s produced by Casey Silver and Gregory Jacobs, with a screenplay by veteran screenwriter David Koepp (Kimi, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Jurassic World Rebirth). With Soderbergh at the helm and a stellar cast, Black Bag is shaping up to be a must-watch spy thriller of 2025.
Opus
A24 expands its horror repertoire with Opus, Mark Anthony Green’s eerie feature debut set to premiere at Sundance. The film stars Ayo Edebiri as a young writer drawn into the secluded world of a once-iconic pop star who mysteriously disappeared three decades ago. As she arrives at the artist’s remote compound, she soon finds herself entangled in a sinister scheme orchestrated by the star’s devoted followers. With a powerhouse supporting cast including John Malkovich, Juliette Lewis, Murray Bartlett, and Amber Midthunder, Opus promises a chilling descent into obsession and manipulation. Shot against the haunting landscapes of New Mexico, Green’s vision teases a stylish and unsettling thriller, further solidifying A24’s dominance in boundary-pushing horror.
Warfare
Fresh off the success of Civil War, which turned a politically charged premise into indie box office gold, Alex Garland is diving back into the world of military thrillers—this time with a trusted ally. Teaming up with Ray Mendoza, a former Navy SEAL and Iraq War veteran who advised on Civil War, Garland co-writes and co-directs Warfare, an upcoming A24 film that brings an intense, real-time perspective to modern combat. The story follows a platoon of Navy SEALs stationed in the home of an Iraqi family, tracking U.S. troop movements through insurgent territory. Billed as a raw, immersive experience, the film draws from firsthand memories of those who lived it, offering a fresh take on war storytelling. The ensemble cast includes D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Kit Connor, and Joseph Quinn, among others. Notably, Warfare marks Garland’s first co-directing credit and comes as he prepares to step back from directing to refocus on screenwriting—a shift he hinted at during the Civil War press tour.
Sinners
After redefining blockbuster cinema with Black Panther and revitalizing the Rocky franchise, Ryan Coogler is finally bringing an entirely original vision to the big screen. Sinners, a period-set vampire thriller, sees Coogler reuniting with longtime collaborator Michael B. Jordan, who takes on dual roles as twin brothers navigating a dangerous homecoming in the 1930s South. The project, rumored to be deeply influenced by Coogler and Jordan’s shared passion for anime, ignited a fierce bidding war among studios eager to secure it. With Coogler’s masterful storytelling and Jordan delivering double the intensity, Sinners is shaping up to be an unmissable cinematic event.
The Accountant 2
Your perception of CPAs is about to change—again. In The Accountant (2016), Ben Affleck’s Christian Wolff was every bit as lethal as his Bruce Wayne in Batman v. Superman, proving that number-crunching can be just as intense as crime-fighting. While Affleck’s Batman may never get his own solo film, fans can rejoice because The Accountant 2 is officially on the way. Mark your calendars—this long-awaited sequel arrives just 10 days after tax season wraps up, making it the perfect way to unwind after crunching numbers of your own.
Thunderbolts
There’s no sugarcoating it—Marvel has been struggling in recent years, with Deadpool & Wolverine feeling more like the closing chapter of a rough patch than the dawn of a new era. However, some of the MCU’s strongest entries have come from directors with TV backgrounds (think the Russo Brothers), which makes Jake Schreier’s involvement in Thunderbolts an intriguing choice. Fresh off the acclaim of Beef, Schreier is stepping into Marvel’s answer to Suicide Squad, assembling a powerhouse cast that includes Sebastian Stan, Florence Pugh, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Of course, Marvel’s recent track record invites skepticism—but with this talent on board, what could possibly go wrong?
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey
Kogonada, known for his meditative storytelling in Columbus and After Yang, makes his much-anticipated return to feature filmmaking with A Big Bold Beautiful Journey. This romantic fantasy, penned by The Menu co-writer Seth Reiss, draws inspiration from films like 500 Days of Summer, La La Land, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Starring Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie, the project first gained attention when its script appeared on The Black List in 2020. Produced by Imperative Entertainment alongside Chapel Place Productions and Original Films, and financed by 30West, the film was shot in California and is set for a May 9, 2025 release under Sony Pictures Releasing. Marking Robbie’s return to the big screen post-Barbie and her first child’s birth, the film boasts a stellar supporting cast, including Lily Rabe, Jodie Turner-Smith, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Billy Magnussen, Brandon Perea, and Hamish Linklater. With Kogonada’s signature visual elegance and a script brimming with emotional depth, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey promises to be a cinematic experience both intimate and grand.
Golden
Formerly known as Atlantis, the long-anticipated coming-of-age musical Golden has been in development since 2017, drawing inspiration from Pharrell Williams’ childhood in Virginia Beach’s Atlantis Apartments during the 1970s. Initially set up at 20th Century Fox with Martin Hynes writing and Michael Mayer directing, the project later transitioned to Universal Pictures, with Mayer shifting to an executive producer role and visionary filmmaker Michel Gondry stepping in to direct. The script has also evolved, now co-written by Dear Evan Hansen scribe Stephen Levenson alongside Hynes.
Boasting a star-studded cast, Golden features Kelvin Harrison Jr., Halle Bailey, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Quinta Brunson, and Brian Tyree Henry, alongside an impressive lineup of musical talent, including Janelle Monáe, Anderson .Paak, André 3000, and Missy Elliott. The film marks Gondry’s return to Hollywood features after The Green Hornet (2011), though he has remained active in French cinema and helmed Showtime’s Kidding starring Jim Carrey. With original songs composed by Williams and The Greatest Showman duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, along with a score by Despicable Me composer Hector Pereira, Golden is set to dazzle audiences when it hits theaters on May 9, 2025.
Final Destination: Bloodlines
In an age where no franchise ever truly rests, it was only a matter of time before Final Destination returned to claim more victims. For 25 years, New Line Cinema’s cult-favorite horror series has stuck to its signature formula: a horrifying mass-casualty event—a plane crash, rollercoaster disaster, or highway pile-up—is narrowly averted by someone’s eerie premonition. But fate doesn’t take kindly to interference, and one by one, the survivors meet their gruesome, Rube Goldberg-style demise as Death course-corrects in increasingly bizarre ways. As the late, great Tony Todd’s ominous mortician once put it, “Death’s design” cannot be escaped. Now, the cycle begins anew with Final Destination: Bloodlines, co-directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein, set to deliver another round of eerie suspense, shocking kills, and (hopefully) some clarity on the time-loop twist left dangling since the last film in 2011.
Lilo & Stitch
Even Barry Jenkins’ artistry couldn’t elevate Mufasa: The Lion King beyond Disney’s well-worn remake formula, but there’s real reason to be optimistic about next year’s Lilo & Stitch. Embracing the eccentric charm of Disney’s early 2000s era, this reimagining avoids the pitfalls of hyper-realism, opting instead for a lively hybrid of live-action and CGI. Director Dean Fleischer Camp (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On) brings his unique sensibility to the beloved tale of a mischievous alien “dog” and an unexpected Hawaiian family. With a cast featuring Maia Kealoha, Sydney Agudong, Hannah Waddingham, Billy Magnussen, and Zach Galifianakis—plus original co-creator Chris Sanders returning as the voice of Stitch—this new take on Lilo & Stitch has all the ingredients for a fresh and spirited adventure.
Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning
There’s no denying it—any year with a Tom Cruise blockbuster instantly feels more exciting. His presence in the summer movie lineup isn’t just tradition; it’s a cinematic event. While Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One may not have hit the same heights as Fallout, it still delivered the kind of high-stakes, meticulously crafted action that feels increasingly rare in modern Hollywood. Now, with The Final Reckoning on the horizon, audiences can expect more heart-pounding spectacle, answers to lingering questions, and, of course, Cruise risking life and limb for the thrill of it. Whether he’s clinging to an ancient aircraft or pushing the franchise’s emotional core further than ever, one thing’s for sure—this is blockbuster filmmaking at its finest.
The Phoenician Scheme
Wes Anderson’s latest venture, The Phoenician Scheme, a star-studded espionage comedy filmed in Germany in 2024, is still awaiting a distributor. Anderson has previously alternated between Searchlight and Focus—most recently teaming with the latter for Asteroid City—and typically debuts his films at major festivals. Fresh off his first Oscar win for The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, the filmmaker returns with a cast stacked with both longtime collaborators and fresh faces, including Benicio del Toro, Benedict Cumberbatch, Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Rupert Friend, Willem Dafoe, Bryan Cranston, Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, and Charlotte Gainsbourg. Blending Anderson’s signature style with thriller elements, the film explores a father-daughter relationship tested by the weight of a family business.
Ballerina
Ana de Armas has been poised for a leading action role ever since her electrifying turn in No Time to Die, and now she’s stepping into one of the genre’s most celebrated franchises—the John Wick universe. Ballerina, a long-anticipated spinoff, began as an original screenplay by Shay Hatten in 2017 before being reworked to fit seamlessly into the world of elite assassins. First teased in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, the film follows the deadly ballerina in a story set between the third and fourth installments of the main saga. Unlike Peacock’s prequel series The Continental, Ballerina directly ties into Wick’s timeline and even features appearances from Keanu Reeves and the late Lance Reddick, making it an essential chapter in the ever-expanding John Wick mythos.
28 Years Later
The first trailer for Danny Boyle’s highly anticipated sequel—and possible trilogy finale—poses a chilling question: What will humanity become? Nearly 30 years after the outbreak that first ravaged the world in 28 Days Later, the answer remains as unsettling as ever. With a script by Alex Garland, this next chapter suggests that even after decades of horror, we are still woefully unprepared for what’s coming.
Boyle returns to direct, reuniting with original star Cillian Murphy, whose fate remains tantalizingly uncertain—human or infected? He’s joined by a powerhouse cast, including Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, Erin Kellyman, and Edvin Ryding. While plot details remain scarce, Fiennes has teased that the story follows a young boy searching for a doctor to save his dying mother, navigating the hauntingly beautiful landscapes of northern England—where danger lurks in the forests and hills. And that doctor? A man who might seem mysterious at first but ultimately emerges as a force for good.
Do we need to know more to be all in? Not really. Boyle’s return, a stellar cast, and the franchise’s signature mix of raw intensity and existential dread are more than enough to make this an unmissable event.
F1
Joseph Kosinski is once again betting on the winning formula of an iconic leading man and pulse-pounding action, this time swapping fighter jets for Formula 1 cars. Following the massive success of Top Gun: Maverick, his latest high-octane venture, F1, stars Brad Pitt as a retired racing legend drawn back to the track to mentor an up-and-coming driver. Filmed in collaboration with the F1 league, the movie features real Grand Prix events as its backdrop, adding an extra layer of authenticity to the spectacle. With a staggering budget reportedly exceeding $300 million, F1 isn’t just another sports drama—it’s a high-stakes test for Apple’s theatrical ambitions. If Kosinski can bring the same adrenaline rush to racing as he did to aerial combat, F1 could set a new gold standard for sports cinema when it speeds into theaters this May.
M3GAN 2.0
If M3GAN didn’t win you over the first time, you might just be allergic to fun. The AI-powered terror doll is making her highly anticipated return in Gerard Johnstone and Akela Cooper’s sequel to the wildly entertaining 2022 horror hit. Details are scarce, but one thing is certain: M3GAN is back—and that’s all we need to know.
Reuniting with Allison Williams as the brilliant but overburdened Gemma and Violet McGraw as her niece Cady, the film brings M3GAN back from the “dead” (because, let’s be honest, a little thing like destruction won’t stop this tech-savvy nightmare). With a fresh upgrade and new victims in her sights, the real questions remain: Who’s next on her hit list? What viral-worthy moves will she bust out this time? And just how gloriously unhinged will this ride be? Buckle up—it’s going to be a killer sequel.
Jurassic World: Rebirth
Gareth Edwards returns to the realm of colossal cinematic creatures with Jurassic World: Rebirth, marking his return to IMAX-scale monster mayhem after helming Godzilla (2014) and the critically acclaimed The Creator (2023). This latest chapter in the Jurassic World saga unfolds five years after Dominion, bringing fresh faces into the prehistoric fray. Jonathan Bailey, coming off a stellar year with Wicked and Fellow Travelers, makes his franchise debut alongside Scarlett Johansson, who takes on the role of a dinosaur specialist opposite Bailey’s paleontologist. Adding to the star power, Mahershala Ali and Rupert Friend join the cast as the film expands the series’ universe with even more fearsome prehistoric threats. With Edwards at the helm, expect a visually stunning, high-stakes adventure that breathes new life into the beloved franchise.
Untitled Kendrick Lamar/Trey Parker Movie
Kendrick Lamar’s dominance in 2024—from the cultural impact of Not Like Us to his triumphant album GNX—was nothing short of historic. But 2025 is shaping up to be just as monumental, with the highly anticipated debut feature from his creative collective, PGLang. Teaming up with longtime collaborator Dave Free, Lamar is producing Trey Parker’s latest film, an audacious comedy that follows a young Black man working as a slavery re-enactor at a museum—only to discover that his white girlfriend’s ancestors once enslaved his own. Paramount’s film chief Brian Robbins called the script “one of the funniest and most original” he’s ever read, and with a bold July 4th release date, the film is poised to be one of the summer’s most talked-about events.
Superman
James Gunn’s Superman carries the immense responsibility of launching the new DC Universe, wiping the slate clean from the Snyderverse era, and setting the tone for Warner Bros.’ future superhero slate. That’s a lot to shoulder—even for the Man of Steel. But if the recently released teaser is anything to go by, there’s reason to be optimistic. Despite some questionable lighting, the film looks grand in scope and refreshingly true to Superman’s origins as a beacon of hope and unwavering heroism. David Corenswet embodies the classic Superman look effortlessly, Rachel Brosnahan is a pitch-perfect choice for a sharp and spirited Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult’s brooding intensity makes him an exciting pick for Lex Luthor. If all goes well, Superman might just recapture that timeless Christopher Reeve magic and remind us once again that a man can fly.
