Thank you very much, Elphaba and Galinda. Go get it, Moana. A big thumbs up to you too, Maximus. Though the box office was touch-and-go for most of 2024—in retrospect, maybe a grim Joker musical wasn’t the best idea—movie lovers of all ages came out in droves this holiday season, thanks to the appealing trifecta of Wicked, Moana 2 and Gladiator II. (In fact, this past Thanksgiving weekend was the most lucrative at Cineplexes ever.)

Now let’s carry those good tidings into 2025 with a fresh slate of potential blockbusters. As usual, say hello to characters you already know and love, from Captain America to Snow White. And yes, the future witches of Oz will return when the second part of Wicked is released on Nov. 21.

Those are just the familiar titles. Brad Pitt, Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon are some of the stars headlining original fare. And the Sundance Film Festival in January will deliver its 41st round of indie faves. Meanwhile, the festivals in the fall will unveil all those provocative and polarizing award contenders determined to test your bladder strength. So put popcorn on the brain with a preview of 10 upcoming big-screen movies poised for 2025 success. After all, it’s a great time to be popular!

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You’re Cordially Invited

You Re Cordially InvitedVia Amazon.com

Release date: Jan. 30, Prime Video

Given that January is traditionally a sluggish month for theatrical releases—it’s tough to get motivated to leave the house when there’s a windchill factor—we’re kicking things off with a romp of a rom-com that you can queue up from the couch. You’re Cordially Invited centers on a remote Georgia resort that accidentally double-books two weddings for the same weekend. (Reese Witherspoon plays the sister of one bride, Will Ferrell the father of the other.) After they reluctantly decide to share, wedding warfare ensues. Two comedic heavyweights = an easy yes on the RSVP.

Watch the Movie

Captain America: Brave New World

Release date: Feb. 14

Six long years after Chris Evans handed Anthony Mackie his Captain America shield in Avengers: Endgame, Mackie officially takes over the storied Marvel superhero role. This conspiracy thriller sees U.S. President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (Harrison Ford) longing to bring Sam Wilson/Captain America aboard in an official military position. But before Wilson can make a decision, he uncovers a nefarious global plot. He also takes on the evil Red Hulk (a transformed POTUS). Sounds intriguing—and likely more family friendly than 2024’s blockbuster comic book flick, Deadpool & Wolverine.

Snow White

Release date: March 21

No doubt the Disney animated classic from 1937 has been in desperate need of a refresh. In this live-action version, Snow White (Rachel Zegler from West Side Story) runs into the forest after learning that the jealous evil queen (Gal Gadot)—who also happens to be her stepmother—has ordered her murder. While hiding out, she meets the seven dwarfs. Perhaps you’ve heard the film has been under some scrutiny, starting with actor Peter Dinklage’s criticisms of the dwarfs, which are now CGI. Only time will tell if the end result will make Americans happy or grumpy.

Mickey 17

Release date: April 18

Deep in the future, an “expendable” employee named Mickey embarks on a human expedition to colonize an ice world. When one iteration of the expendable dies, a new body is regenerated with most of the previous employee’s memories intact. Robert Pattinson—playing the titular character, along with his past clones—takes on one of his most demanding acting challenges yet in a high-concept, big-budget sci-fi thriller from masterful Parasite and Snowpiercer writer-director Bong Joon-ho.

Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning

Release date: May 23

At 62 years old, Tom Cruise probably shouldn’t still be doing his own death-defying stunts. Perhaps that’s why this eighth installment of the pulse-pounding franchise is being promoted as the movie star’s last turn playing secret agent Ethan Hunt. Following the cliffhanger of 2023’s Dead Reckoning, Hunt and his allies (Simon Pegg, Hayley Atwell and Ving Rhames) try to take down the all-powerful A.I. “Entity.” Angela Bassett also returns as the CIA director, while Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso) joins the action movie in an unspecified role.

F1

Release date: June 27

Buckle up, baby. Brad Pitt stars as a former driver who returns to Formula One racing at APXGP, a fictional team on the grid. (Damson Idris from Snowfall plays his teammate.) The high-octane drama movie, from the director of Top Gun: Maverick, was made in collaboration with 10 Formula One teams and produced by seven-time F1 champ Lewis Hamilton. In case you’re wondering, Pitt actually drove the cars in front of hundreds of thousands of spectators between qualifying sessions at the Grand Prix.

Jurassic World Rebirth

Release date: July 2

In this context, “rebirth” means a new cast battling those deadly dinosaurs. It’s set five years after the events of Jurassic World: Dominion, when the planet has proven to be inhospitable to the dinos. Per the official summary, “the three most colossal creatures hold the key to a drug that will bring miraculous lifesaving benefits to humankind.” Scarlett Johansson plays a covert ops expert hired to lead the team extracting the DNA, while Mahershala Ali plays her partner. Also in the cast: Jonathan Bailey as a paleontologist and Rupert Friend as the representative of the drug conglomerate funding the expedition.

Sorry, no teaser yet! But the studio did reveal a few first-look images on its X account.

Superman

Release date: July 11

There’s a lot riding—er, flying?—on the latest iteration of the Man of Steel, the first of what’s purportedly a 10-project DC Studios plan. David Corenswet (from Twisters) is your new square-jawed superhero, and in a nod to Superman stories of the past, he must reconcile his Krypton-based heritage with his human upbringing. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel star Rachel Brosnahan is Lois Lane, and British actor Nicholas Hoult portrays villain Lex Luthor. Director James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) praised the cast and crew for their “commitment and hard work” upon the production’s completion last July. And he gave us a taste of what’s to come in an Instagram post announcing the flick.

Sorry, no teaser yet!

I Know What You Did Last Summer

Release date: July 18

A sequel to the 1997 slasher favorite finds a new group of teens trying to cover up a near-fatal car accident. Their plan backfires big time when the man they hit attempts to kill them one by one. The fresh-faced cast includes Chase Sui Wonders (Bodies Bodies Bodies), Madelyn Cline (Outer Banks), Sarah Pidgeon, Tyriq Wither and Jonah Haur-King. Now let’s cut to the chase: Original star Freddie Prinze Jr. is reprising his Ray Bronson role, and Jennifer Love Hewitt recently shared that she’s on the verge of signing on as well. Hooked yet?

Sorry, no teaser yet! But the studio did share a shot from production on its Instagram to pacify excited fans until a trailer is released.

Michael

MichaelCourtesy Lionsgate/Kevin Mazur

Release date: Oct. 3

Though this long-awaited Michael Jackson biopic was done in full cooperation with the executors of the King of Pop’s estate, the producers have stated that because it’s based on real life, it covers both his greatest hits and his biggest controversies. Indeed, even 15 years after his death, MJ’s legacy seems as complicated as ever. His own nephew, Jaafar Jackson, puts on the sparkly glove in the title role and will reprise many memorable performances—the film will showcase 30 songs overall! The cast also includes Miles Teller, Nia Long and Oscar nominee Colman Domingo.

Sorry, no teaser yet!

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Release date: Dec. 19

Love ’em or leave ’em, there’s no denying that James Cameron’s Avatar movies are massive on every scale. Part 3 focuses on the group of the blue-skinned Na’vi residing on the planet Pandora’s volcanic regions. Cameron also teased last year that “you’ll see a lot more Pandora that you never saw before. It’s an insane adventure and a feast for the eyes, but it’s also got very high emotional stakes, more than ever before.” If the concept art that the Disney D23 account shared on X is anything to go by, this is going to be another visually stunning film. Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang and the rest of the main cast return with new additions, including Oona Chaplin, Michelle Yeoh and David Thewlis.

Sorry, no teaser yet!

Why trust us

At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this story on the most-anticipated movies of 2025, Mara Reinstein tapped her two decades of experience as an entertainment journalist, film critic and pop culture expert. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources:

  • The Hollywood Reporter: “Reese Witherspoon, Will Ferrell Battle Over Wedding Venue in ‘You’re Cordially Invited’ Trailer”
  • The Hollywood Reporter: “Anthony Mackie Takes on the Red Hulk in New ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ Trailer”
  • Variety: “Disney Responds to Peter Dinklage’s ‘Snow White’ Outrage: We’re ‘Consulting with Dwarfism Community”
  • The Hollywood Reporter: “‘Mickey 17’ Trailer Kills Robert Pattinson Again (and Again)”
  • Variety: “‘Mission: Impossible 8’ Trailer: Tom Cruise Returns for ‘The Final Reckoning’ in Action-Packed First Footage”
  • Deadline: “Jerry Bruckheimer And Joseph Kosinski On ‘F1’: Filming At Grand Prix, The Bottom Line On The Budget, How Lewis Hamilton Helped Steer The Project And His Take On Brad Pitt’s Driving”
  • Variety: “‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ First Look: Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey Keep the Dinosaur Franchise Roaring”
  • The Hollywood Reporter: “James Gunn Celebrates ‘Superman’ Wrapping Its Shoot”
  • People: “I Know What You Did Last Summer Reboot Teases Fisherman’s Return in Scary First Photo”
  • The Hollywood Reporter: “Michael Jackson Biopic Dazzles with Surprise First Look at CinemaCon”
  • Variety: “‘Avatar 3’ Gets Official Title: ‘Fire and Ash'”
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Mara Reinstein
Mara is a contributor for Reader's Digest who specializes in entertainment. She has written for the New York Times, the Ringer, Vulture, Rolling Stone, CNN, Parade, Backstage, Architectural Digest, Esquire and the Hollywood Reporter, and is a longtime film critic. In 2023, Mara was nominated for a National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Award ...
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