We’re a few months into 2025, and things are finally heating up at the movie theater. The early part of the year—January and February, often called “Dumpuary”—is when studios quietly release the stuff they’re not too confident in. It’s too late for awards buzz, and most people are still recovering from the holidays. It’s cold, money’s tight, and theaters tend to be quiet.
But that phase is over. Spring is here, and the release calendar is starting to get exciting. I’ve been looking ahead at what’s coming this year, and honestly—there’s a lot to be hyped about. Big directors, A-list actors, and some under-the-radar films that feel like they could really break through.
I like to keep my ear to the ground when it comes to upcoming releases. I look at trailers, directors, casts, studios—and what kind of momentum each project has. Are they on a hot streak? Are they bouncing back? Do they have something to prove?
So I put together a list—not just blockbusters or obvious picks—but movies I genuinely think could be great. I especially want to highlight original stories from great directors and actors. It’s not complicated: if good people are involved, the odds of the movie being good go way up. I still enjoy big franchise stuff from time to time (we’re getting a new Jurassic Park this year, let’s not forget), but if we don’t show up for smaller, original films, all we’ll get are sequels and remakes.
In the golden ‘90s, we had both—original movies like Forrest Gump that also crushed at the box office. We need that balance again. And that starts with supporting creative storytelling.
Sinners
Director: Ryan Cooglar
Stars: Michael B Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Omar Benson Miller, Li Jun Li
Genre: American Period Supernatural Horror Film
Release Date: April 18th 2025
Synopsis: Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7joulECTx_U
Why I am Interested: Ryan Coogler is one of Hollywood’s brightest young directors. At just 38, he’s already made huge waves with Creed and Black Panther—two successful major franchise films that still managed to satisfy both broad audiences and film lovers alike. One constant in his career so far has been his collaboration with Michael B. Jordan. They have created a partnership that feels like it has the makings of a modern-day Scorsese and De Niro. He is tapping Jordan again here and we already know they have a great working relationship and chemistry.
Sinners are not something you see every day. A director with a lot of juice and power in Hollywood taking a hard turn and making an original horror film. You love to see it. This is a period piece set in the American South and the trailer looks incredible. With everything about this film screaming “potential,” it’s easily one of my most anticipated movies this year. And it’s coming out this month—can’t wait!
Warfare
Director: Alex Garland
Stars: Kit Connor, Will Poulter, Joseph Quinn, Michael Gandolfini
Genre: War- Action Film
Release Date: April 11th, 2025
Synopsis: A surveillance mission goes wrong for a platoon of American Navy SEALs in insurgent territory in Iraq.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt271muEZ08
Why I am Interested: Most war movies are filled with camaraderie and action—sometimes, they even make it seem kinda fun and exciting. Creedence Clearwater Revival plays while the men and women of a unit joke around and poke fun at each other. Maybe they lose a person or two, or someone gets badly injured, but they complete the mission, and everyone ends up shouting “USA!” at the end.
But there’s something these movies often miss: the tension and fear that must come with being at war. From moment to moment, it’s completely unpredictable, with danger potentially lurking around every corner. These movies should be terrifying—because honestly, war seems scarier than anything you could find in your basement.
I usually skip trailers, but the one for Warfare really grabbed me. It feels raw, tense, and honestly pretty frightening. The film is co-written and co-directed by Ray Mendoza, a former Navy SEAL, and draws from his real experiences in Iraq. He teams up with Alex Garland (Civil War), who’s a master at building dread and making shootouts feel extremely real.
This movie probably isn’t for everyone. But if you’re into intense, grounded war films—or just want to feel something in a theater—I think Warfare is going to hit hard.
One Battle After Another
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Stars: Leonardo Di Caprio, Sean Penn, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor
Genre: Satirical Black Comedy Action Film
Release Date: September 26th 2025
Synopsis: When their evil enemy resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunites to rescue one of their own’s daughter.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg8AGTyYMBA&t=2s
Why I am Interested: This one’s simple: Paul Thomas Anderson (our greatest living director) is finally teaming up with Leonardo DiCaprio (our best actor). It’s their first collaboration—and PTA’s biggest budget yet, at $150 million.
It’s a loose take on Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland, shot on VistaVision cameras (think Hitchcock, or The Brutalist), and headed to IMAX screens. Can’t wait to see what PTA does with all that firepower. Buckle up.
Friendship
Director: Andrew DeYoung
Stars: Tim Robinson, Paul Rudd
Genre: Comedy
Release Date: May 2025
Synopsis: A man tries to befriend his charismatic neighbour but it soon threatens to ruin both of their lives.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmSPwZIZu6Y
Why I am Interested: Comedy in movies has been in a weird place lately. There hasn’t been a breakout star like Sandler or Ferrell in years, and the SNL pipeline isn’t what it used to be. A lot of today’s funniest people are on YouTube or TikTok—not the big screen.
Enter Tim Robinson – a beacon of hope, the one man with the potential to restore movie comedies to their former glory. He’s best known for his absurd, brilliant Netflix sketch show, and nobody’s made me laugh more consistently in the past few years.
Friendship is produced by A24 and pairs Tim with Paul Rudd – a proven commodity in Hollywood – in what almost feels like a torch passing moment. If comedy is going to make a comeback in theaters, this could be the one that kicks it off.
Weapons
Director: Zach Cregger
Stars: Josh Brolin, Julie Garner
Genre: Horror
Release Date: August 8th 2025
Synopsis: The film revolves around multi-related plots marked by the disappearance of school kids in the middle of the night, police corruption, generational trauma, witchcraft, blood rituals, and religious abuse in a small Florida community.
Why I am Interested: Zach Cregger, originally of The Whitest Kids U’ Know, shocked horror fans in 2022 with his debut Barbarian. It was one of the most surprising and original scary movies in recent years – making his follow up highly anticipated.
Like Jordan Peele, Cregger’s has made the transition from comedy to horror with ease. I think there are some similarities between the two genres. They both rely heavily on timing, tension and visceral audience reactions. Cregger clearly is a student of horror and really gets it in terms of how to set up and subvert our expectations.
There’s no trailer yet, but buzz from CinemaCon is strong. People who saw early footage say it’s deeply unsettling—some are calling it a “horror Magnolia.” With a stacked cast and serious hype, this could be one of the best horror films of the year.
Marty Supreme
Director: Josh Safdie
Stars: Timothee Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tyler the Creator
Genre: Sports Adventure Comedy-Drama
Release Date: December 25, 2025
Synopsis: Marty Mauser, a young man with a dream no one respects, goes to hell and back in pursuit of greatness.
Why I am Interested: When Timothée Chalamet accepted his SAG Award, he said he was “in pursuit of greatness.” And honestly, he’s backing it up. After leading Dune: Part Two and earning an Oscar nom for his role as Bob Dylan, he’s clearly one of the best working today.
In Marty Supreme, he plays a table tennis player also chasing greatness. It feels personal—and a great way to demonstrate the drive he has in real life and translate it to an on screen character.
Josh Safdie (of the Safdie Brothers) is going solo on this one, which adds another layer of intrigue. He’s got something to prove, too. Plus, Tyler, the Creator has a supporting role which will be interesting – certainly someone with a lot of personality and a love for cool outfits.
The Phoenician Scheme
Director: Wes Anderson
Stars: Michael Cera, Tom Hanks, Benicio del Toro, Bryan Cranston, Scarlett Johansson
Genre: Espionage Thriller
Release Date: May 30th, 2025
Synopsis: Only info available is – “a story of a family and a family business”
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEuMnPl2WI4
Why I am Interested: Like PTA, Wes Anderson rarely misses. His style is so dialed in—gorgeous sets, charming stories, and a tone no one else can replicate. Even when his films don’t totally land (Asteroid City felt a bit flat to me), his floor is still incredibly high.
This one looks like a return to form. The trailer just dropped, and it’s everything you’d expect visually. The cast is stacked as always—Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Bill Murray—and one new addition that feels perfect for Anderson: Michael Cera. His delivery and awkward charm seem like a natural fit.
We don’t know much else, and honestly, I’m fine keeping it that way. Just get me to a theater.
Good Fortune
Director: Aziz Ansari
Stars: Aziz Ansari, Keanu Reeves, Keke Palmer, Seth Rogan
Genre: Comedy
Release Date: October 17th 2025
Synopsis: It follows an angel named Gabriel (Reeves), whose failed attempt to show a struggling man (Ansari) that money doesn’t solve one’s problems.
Why I am Interested: Like I mentioned with Tim Robinson, comedy on the big screen needs a comeback—and Aziz Ansari might be the one to help make it happen. He’s teaming up with Seth Rogen, arguably the last big comedy movie star, which feels like the right pairing.
Aziz has the talent, and Rogen knows how to bring ideas to life—just like Judd Apatow did for him. The concept sounds fun, the cast is strong, and this could be the kind of comedy that actually gets people back to theaters to laugh like we used to.
Caught Stealing
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Stars: Austin Butler, Zoe Kravitz, Regina King, Bad Bunny
Genre: Crime Thriller
Release Date: August 29th 2025
Synopsis: A former baseball player finds himself immersed in criminality in New York in the 90’s
Why I am Interested: Darren Aronofsky is known for surreal, intense, sometimes disturbing films—but this one looks a bit more grounded in reality. It follows an ex-baseball player pulled into the world of crime—a unique premise I haven’t really seen before. Aronofsky, working in a more traditional story, while still adding his signature edge, has a lot of potential.
Add in Austin Butler, who always goes all-in on his roles, and this has all the ingredients to be one of the year’s most interesting movies.
The Smashing Machine
Director: Benny Safdie
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt
Genre: Biographical Sports Drama
Release Date: October 3rd, 2025
Synopsis: The Smashing Machine follows Mark Kerr, the legendary MMA fighter from the no-holds-barred era of the UFC at the peak of his career. He struggles with addiction, winning, love and friendship in the year 2000.
Why I am Interested: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s career has been off track lately—lots of big roles, but not many great ones. He has felt more like a brand than a performer. But this could be the reset he needs.
The Smashing Machine is a gritty, character-driven story set in the world of professional fighting—something The Rock knows inside and out. It looks like a serious pivot, and I think he might surprise people.
It’s also the solo directorial debut of Benny Safdie (one half of the Safdie brothers behind Uncut Gems and Good Time), which makes this even more exciting. With A24 distributing, all the right pieces are in place. Don’t sleep on this one.
