How busy will the next 12 months be? Well, we set out to make a simple top 10, which quickly ballooned to a top 25, and even that barely scratched the surface on the cinematic treats in store for us this year.
So, while this is a top 25, the number of movies we’ll be mentioning in this feature will go above and beyond. Pre-order your popcorn and start camping outside your local cinema, as you won’t want to miss any of these.
25. Lilo & Stitch
Why are we excited?One of Disney’s last traditional hand-drawn animated efforts before the studio’s switch to CG, Lilo & Stitch was only a modest success upon its release in 2002 (by the Mouse House’s blockbuster standards anyway). This is probably why this live-action remake was originally scheduled to premiere on Disney+, but once filming had wrapped, it was announced it was now getting a theatrical release – a promising sign that it lives up to its beloved predecessor.
When can we see it? In UK Cinemas 23rd May.
Shop our Lilo & Stitch merch.24. Wicked: For Good
Why are we excited? Many groaned when it was announced Wicked would be split into two movies, but after the success of Part One, anticipation for the film formerly known as Part Two couldn’t be any higher. For those of us who have seen the stage show, the anticipation is also largely down to wondering how some of the more bonkers plot developments will translate to the screen.
When can we see it? In UK cinemas 21st November.
23. Avatar: Fire and Ash
Why are we excited? People were skeptical about the prospects of The Way Of Water, arguing that Avatar left no cultural impact despite being the highest grossing movie of all time. More than 2 billion dollars later, and we’ve got yet more proof you should never bet against James Cameron.
In typically grandiose style, Cameron has said that the first two movies “were an introduction, a way to set the table before serving the meal”. If that’s anything to go by, expect action on a scale never seen before.
When can we see it? In UK cinemas 19th December.
22. Karate Kid: Legends
Why are we excited? The success of Netflix’s Cobra Kai revived interest in the Karate Kid franchise, and this legacy sequel merges the “Miyagi-verse” of the original timeline with the 2010 Jackie Chan reboot, which was inexplicably about kung fu. It’s a recipe to bring together different generations of fans, and the tone of the first trailer suggests the creative team are aiming to tone down the comedy to make a more sincere action epic.
When can we see it? In UK cinemas 30th May.
21. Marty Supreme
Why are we excited? In the six years since Uncut Gems, the Safdie brothers have disbanded their directorial partnership, and this year sees them both make their solo debuts. And while we’re still looking forward to Benny’s The Smashing Machine, starring Dwayne Johnson in a rare dramatic role, it’s Josh’s Marty Supreme which has our full attention.
Boasting the highest budget of any A24 production to date, Timothée Chalamet stars as a champion ping pong player in the 1950s, although action won’t be relegated to the table. Chalamet has teased that the movie features a lot of stunts, and recaptures the manic, stressful energy of Gems – we don't need to know any more than that to put it on our watchlist.
When can we see it? No UK release date just yet, but it’s released in the US on Christmas Day, so it should arrive on these shores soon after.
20. Scarlet
Why are we excited?Mamoru Hosoda is fast becoming one of the most internationally renowned anime directors, and following Belle, his 2021 cyberspace take on Beauty and the Beast, anticipation is high for what he’ll do next. So far, all that’s known aboutScarlet is that it’s about a “brave princess who transcends time and space” - which, if you’ve seen any Hosoda film, suggests this will be business as usual.
When can we see it? Sony are distributing the film outside of Japan and are planning a winter release in the US – it seems likely they’ll be releasing it on both sides of the Atlantic then.
19. Bugonia
Why are we excited? After The Favourite, Poor Things and Kinds of Kindness, Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone are reteaming for their fourth feature length collaboration, a loose remake of 2003 Korean black comedy Save The Green Planet!. Stone stars as a pharmaceutical company CEO kidnapped by two conspiracy theorists – led by another returning Lanthimos collaborator, Jesse Plemons – who believe she’s an alien intent on destroying Earth.
Add in Hereditary’s Ari Aster as a producer, and we expect something a lot bolder – and likely, far more controversial - than a straightforward English language retelling of a successful foreign language film.
When can we see it? In UK cinemas on 7th November.
18. Elio
Why are we excited? It’s a big year for animated sequels, with a return trip to Zootropolis and a second adventure with The Bad Guys on the way. However, the Hollywood animation we’re most most intrigued by is Pixar’s upcoming original effort Elio, a tale of a young boy who a ragtag group of aliens mistakenly beam up after assuming he’s the leader of Earth.
Pixar are hit-and-miss of late, but the creative team here are responsible for their best recent efforts, with Domee Shi (director of Turning Red) and Adrian Molina (co-writer and co-director of Coco) sharing directorial duties with first timer Madeline Sharafian, who worked as a storyboard artist on both of those efforts. We hope the magic of those movies will be found here.
When can we see it? In UK cinemas on 13th June.
Shop our Disney merch17. The Monkey
Why are we excited? Longlegs was one of the most surprising box office hits of 2024, and less than a year later, director Osgood Perkins is back with an even more ambitious horror effort. An adaptation of Stephen King’s early short story of the same name, Theo James stars as the twin brothers tasked with destroying the toy monkey they believe is connected to a string of sinister deaths around them.
After making a blockbuster hit out of a serial killer movie where (spoiler for Longlegs!) the murder weapons were toy dolls, this sounds like a match made in heaven between director and source material.
When can we see it? In UK cinemas 21st February.
16. Black Bag
Why are we excited? Just a couple of months after his experimental horror Presence arrives in cinemas, director Steven Soderbergh leaps back into the mainstream with this all-star spy thriller. Michael Fassbender stars as a British intelligence agent tasked with spying on his wife (Cate Blanchett), who has been suspected of leaking state secrets - Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Pierce Brosnan round out the irresistible ensemble.
When can we see it? In UK cinemas 14th March.
15. F1
Why are we excited? After bringing Top Gun back to our screens in 2022, director Joseph Kosinski is now channeling the spirit of another early Tom Cruise action vehicle, with the Days of Thunder inspired F1. However, he's still following the Maverick formula, with Brad Pitt playing the wildcard former Formula One driver coaxed out of retirement to mentor a newcomer (Damson Idris).
Another reason we’re excited? It’s reportedly one of the most expensive original films of all time, arriving with a reported $300 million price tag, largely thanks to filming at major F1 races for the past few years. This means that the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are confirmed to make appearances.
When can we see it? In UK cinemas 27th June.
14. Sinners
Why are we excited? After giving us Creed and Black Panther, Michael B. Jordan and director Ryan Coogler are back together for their first original project since Coogler’s debut Fruitvale Station. Naturally, this horror effort is on a scale far bigger than that indie drama, with Jordan starring as twin brothers during the American Depression, who discover a “great evil” has taken over their hometown.
The first trailer doesn’t give much away, but several reports have suggested that the “great evil” is an unholy alliance between vampires and the KKK. Whether or not this is true, you’re going to want to see it to find out regardless.
When can we see it? In UK cinemas 18th April.
13. Untitled Predator Movie & Predator: Badlands
Why are we excited? After breathing new life into the Predator franchise with prequel Prey, director Dan Trachtenberg has been hard at work on two very different follow ups. The first that will arrive was shot in secret, with no plot or cast announced – all we know is that it’ll debut prior to November, when we’ll see dystopian sequel Predator: Badlands, starring Elle Fanning.
As far as we’re concerned, the less we know going in, the better. With Prey being a Disney+ original, there’s a chance they could surprise release the eighth Predator film anytime soon...
When can we see it?Predator: Badlands arrives on 7th November.
Shop our Predator merch12. Untitled Trey Parker Movie
Why are we excited? This looks like the year the blockbuster comedy will make a comeback, with a Naked Gun reboot arriving just a few weeks after what will likely be the year’s most controversial effort. South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have teamed up with rap superstar Kendrick Lamar, who stars in this musical about a man who discovers his ancestors were slaves owned by his white girlfriend’s family.
Well, you weren’t expecting the guys who gave us Team America: World Police and The Book Of Mormon to make something that wouldn’t generate endless headlines, were you?
When can we see it? In UK cinemas 4th July.
11. From The World Of John Wick: Ballerina
Why are we excited? Despite the awkward title – if you must include “From the World of John Wick”, why is it not AFTER Ballerina?!? - there’s still plenty of reason to anticipate this ass-kicking spin-off. Not only is Keanu Reeves’ assassin alive again, with the story taking place before Chapter Four, but Ana de Amas is taking the lead, and after her scene-stealing turn in No Time to Die, we’ve been waiting too long to see her in full-blown action hero mode.
When can we see it? In UK cinemas 6th June.
Shop all things John Wick10. Jurassic World: Rebirth
Why are we excited? We heard through the grapevine recently that Universal are referring to 2025 as their “summer of Scales”, with a live-action remake of How To Train Your Dragon arriving just a few weeks before this return to Jurassic World. Scarlett Johannson, Jonathan Bailey and Mahershala Ali lead the human cast – the dinosaurs remain the big stars here – while The Creator’s Gareth Edwards takes over directorial duties, the most impressive pedigree for a Jurassic movie since, well, the first one.
When can we see it? In UK cinemas 2nd July.
Explore our Jurassic World merch9. Untitled Paul Thomas Anderson event film (possibly entitled The Battle of Baktan Cross)
Why are we excited? Any new Paul Thomas Anderson film is reason to be excited, and after he passed on Boogie Nights for Titanic, the director’s latest effort sees him finally collaborate with Leonardo DiCaprio. Not much is known about the plot, or even the confirmed title – let's not forget everybody assumed Licorice Pizza was called Soggy Bottom until far closer to release.
However, the anticipation this time is that while the story is a mystery – rumours have suggested everything from an adaptation of Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland to a KKK hostage thriller – the scale isn’t. PTA is filming with IMAX cameras for the first time, has apparently shot multiple action scenes, and the budget is close to $140 million; will this be his most mainstream movie yet, or an arthouse epic on a blockbuster scale?
When can we see it? In UK cinemas 8th August.
8. The Running Man
Why are we excited? Edgar Wright is one of our favourite directors, and he’s long insisted that if he ever remade a film, the only contender would be The Running Man. Well, now it’s time to see his reimagining, which is reportedly far closer to Stephen King’s dystopian short story than the Arnie action classic – Glen Powell, who has reliably helped breathe new life into old stories via Twisters and Top Gun: Maverick, takes the lead.
When can we see it? In UK cinemas 21st November.
7. Frankenstein
Why are we excited? We need another adaptation of Frankenstein like we needed another take on Pinocchio– ie, not at all, unless it came from the visionary mind of Guillermo Del Toro. The filmmaker has spent nearly two decades trying to bring his monster to life and has long been vocal that his take would be faithful to the inherent “tragedy” of Mary Shelley’s novel, rather than the countless monster movies it inspired.
Shot in Edinburgh last year, with Oscar Isaac as the doctor and Jacob Elordi as the monster, the director’s return to live-action gothic horror becomes even more exciting when you remember that he stayed in a haunted castle whilst filming it Hopefully that means we get the most unsettling take on this story to date.
When can we see it? Release date TBC, but it will likely be Netflix’s big awards contender for next year, so expect a late 2025 release.
6. Tron: Ares
Why are we excited? We’re finally returning to the Grid, 15 years after Tron: Legacy. This long in development sequel from director Joachim Rønning is intended as a partial reboot, with the digital world crossing over into the real one for the first time, with Jared Leto’s sentient AI crossing over as part of a dangerous mission.
Alongside this summer’s M3GAN 2.0, which reimagines the pint-sized doll as a hero against a larger robo-threat, is this the year the movies are getting us to root for the machines?
When can we see it? In UK cinemas 10th October.
5. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Why are we excited? It’s been a long two years since the film formerly known as Dead Reckoning: Part One, and this eighth and final film picks up with Ethan Hunt’s deadly battle to stop the destructive all-powerful AI known as The Entity. Unlike the last few films, Tom Cruise’s life-threatening stunts haven’t been extensively teased this time around - and knowing how much he puts his life on the line for our enjoyment, we assume he’ll be saving the best for last.
When can we see it? In UK cinemas 21st May.
4. Mickey 17
Why are we excited? If there’s one Mickey that’s so fine he’ll blow our mind, it’s Bong Joon-ho's long-awaited follow-up to his Oscar sweeping success Parasite. This satirical sci-fi stars Robert Pattinson in dual roles as an “expendable” employee on a dangerous space mission – meaning he’s the guinea pig in a dangerous experiment where he's sent on multiple deadly quests, then regenerated back to life each time.
The trailer suggests a return to the sheer bonkersness of Bong’s most recent English language effort, Okja, with Pattinson channeling Tweety Bird in his most bizarre accent choice since The Lighthouse, and will include a highly anticipated scene in which he has a threesome with another iteration of himself. The movies have never been more back.
When can we see it? Nearly a year after it was originally scheduled for release, it finally arrives in cinemas on 7th March.
3. The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Why are we excited? It's a big year for the MCU, with two big box office gambles in the form of a Chris Evans-less Captain America and the antihero Avengers of the Thunderbolts, but the film we’re most anticipating is the safest bet. Marvel’s first family are finally being inducted into the cinematic universe – and, as it’s set in the mid 1960s, looks likely to be the closest thing the studio has had to a standalone movie for quite some time.
It isn’t just this lack of homework that will pull in audiences beyond the faithful comic book fandom, as this retro-futuristic take comes courtesy of Matt Shakman, who directed all of WandaVision, and will likely bring a unique visual sensibility that’ll make this stand out from the rest of the universe. Oh, and Galactus and Silver Surfer will be the villains, so what more could you really want from a Fantastic Four movie?
When can we see it? In UK cinemas 25th July.
Shop all things Marvel2. 28 Years Later
Why are we excited? As always, there are plenty of horror sequels on the horizon this year, with new instalments in The Conjuring, Insidious, Saw, Black Phone and Five Nights At Freddy’s franchises on the way. However, few have caught our immediate attention quite like director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland’s return to the rage-fueled zombie apocalypse of 28 Days Later.
Shot on an iPhone, to mirror the first film’s grungy digital video camera aesthetic, Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes star as three different inhabitants of a secluded community which has managed to survive the plague for decades. Shot back-to-back with a 2026 sequel – The Bone Temple – the trailer doesn't just feel like a horror sequel, but a resuscitation of the zombie horror genre as a whole.
When can we see it? In UK cinemas 20th June.
1. Superman
Why are we excited? The fate of the DC cinematic universe lies on the shoulders of James Gunn’s reimagining of the most famous superhero of them all – no pressure. The director is also betting the house on this, as Head of DC Studios, and is eschewing the comic tone of his Guardians Of The Galaxy trilogy in favour of sheer earnestness.
Producer Peter Safran has described David Corenswet’s Man of Steel as the “embodiment of kindness in a world that thinks kindness is old fashioned”, while Gunn himself believes that the key is that he’s a hero who “you want to give a hug”. In a divided America, they’re hoping this embodiment of truth, justice and the American Way will unify and resonate – if they pull this off, it will prove that the greatest strength of comic book icons isn’t their superpowers.
When can we see it? In UK cinemas 11th July.
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