If you’re an avowed cinephile, 2025 is guaranteed to be a big year for you, as many movies across many different genres will be released this year. Whether you’re a fan of franchises or would like to watch something completely new, there’ll be something for you out there. With that in mind, let’s have a look at a non-exhaustive list of titles that will come to a cinema next to you this year.
Witch Hat Atelier
Anime fans are always thrilled about new titles, and are known to be among the most dedicated fandoms. Official merch is a big thing for fans, with most collecting various Anime & Manga products of their favorite series. One of the most widely anticipated new shows at the moment is Witch Hat Atelier, a fantasy story following a young girl who wants to become a witch but happens to live in a world in which magic isn’t accessible to regular people. The fans who are familiar with the manga (which has been ongoing since 2016) are excited about the anime’s worldbuilding, as well as the main character’s adventures.
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
Fans of the romcom genre will rejoice to learn that the latest Bridget Jones movie is expected to have an international release on February 14th. The titular character, who first appeared in a 1996 novel titled Bridget Jones’s Diary which was later adapted into a very successful film in 2001, has become a British cultural icon over the years, and given her frequent romantic woes, it only makes sense that the film would be released on Valentine’s Day. It has been almost a decade since the last installment of the series, so the fans are more than ready to delve into the adventures of the quintessential frazzled British woman once more.
Mickey 17
This upcoming sci-fi black comedy is directed by Bong Joon-ho (known for Snowpiercer and Parasite) and is based on the 2022 novel of the same name. The plot follows Mickey Barnes (played by Robert Pattinson), who agrees to become a disposable employee in order to leave Earth. This means that after he dies, a new iteration of him will be created that has most of his previous memories. Mickey 17 survives a daunting expedition to colonize an ice planet and has to confront a newer version of himself, Mickey 18. The film will premiere at the 75th Berlinale in February, have a theatrical release on February 28th in South Korea, and then come to the United States on March 7th.
Death of a Unicorn
The name of this film isn’t a metaphor but the actual premise of this supernatural comedy horror. A man and his teenage daughter crash into a unicorn while on the way to meet his boss and his family. It is later discovered that the unicorn has healing properties, which the father’s billionaire boss seeks to exploit. At the same time, the unicorn’s mate also arrives in order to take revenge.
Snow White
Disney fans of all ages will definitely flock to watch Snow White when it premieres on March 21st. Snow White is one of the most iconic Disney princesses in the world, and the well-known fairytale requires no introduction. The live action rendition has very big shoes to fill given the fact that its predecessor is such a beloved classic that so many people have fond childhood memories of. You can definitely expect stunning costumes and visuals, as well as otherworldly vocals.
Lilo & Stitch
Another release that will be popular with both children and adults is the upcoming Lilo & Stitch movie, set for a May 23rd release. The film will follow the bond between Lilo and her new best friend, Stitch (also known as Experiment 626). Stitch goes from being a destructive force to becoming a member of Lilo’s family as the duo fights aliens and deals with the troubles that are part of living on Earth, becoming inseparable in the process.
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is a romantic fantasy starring Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell. The plot involves time travel, and the lead characters are strangers who meet at a wedding and end up on a road-trip under the guidance of a very special GPS system. The journey doesn’t just allow their relationship to develop and unfold, it also serves as a way for them to explore their pasts.
Opus
If you’re a horror fan, you’ll be happy to hear that you don’t have to wait much longer for Opus, a motion picture distributed by the well-known A24. Ayo Edebiri, known for playing Sydney Adamu in the psychological dramedy The Bear, stars as Ariel Ecton, a young writer invited to the compound of a pop star who went missing three decades ago. She finds herself surrounded by a disquieting mix of journalists and yes-men and thrown in the middle of a warped plan.
Frankenstein
If you prefer watching movies from the comfort of your own home instead of at the cinema, Frankenstein is for you, as the production is set to be released on Netflix. The basic premise is the same as that of the iconic 1818 Gothic novel, telling the tale of Victor Frankenstein, a scientist played by Oscar Isaac who’s attempting to bring the dead back to life and succeeds in creating a sapient being.
Predator: Badlands
Action aficionados will have to wait until November 7th for the latest film of the Predator franchise. This film’s storyline involves multiple characters played by the same actress (Elle Fanning), as well as a Yautja who is the hero of the story instead of the antagonist. Some have already compared it with the 2022 “Prey”, set in the Northern Great Plains in the early 1700s, and which follows Naru, a young Comanche woman who has to survive an encounter with a Predator whom she refers to as Mupitsi, a mythological being from the Comanche folklore.
Avatar: Fire and Ash
The first Avatar movie was released in 2009, and it took thirteen years for a sequel to be released. The Way of Water was released in 2022, and Fire and Ash is now set for a December 19th release. The film has so far been subjected to nine delays, with the latest occurring in June 2023. The film will follow the adventures of Jake Sully and Neytiri once again, and while the full plot isn’t known yet, fans know that this movie will introduce the Mangkwan Clan, also known as the Ash people. This violent clan is unlike the other Na’vi, as they are disconnected from the natural world and have fire as the centerpiece of their culture.
There are many films that are set to be released this year that you should definitely have on your list if you’re known as a big lover of the cinema.
