Sunday, 23 February 2025
Hello and welcome back to 2025's final post from the Hot List. This week we will be looking at the most exciting new movies set to hit the big screen in 2025, after the cutoff point for this year's awards season.
I often say that cinema is a funny medium, in that you can typically predict success with far greater ease than other mediums. If you look back at my previous previews you will see I can often tell the big awards contenders more than a year in advance. Partly this comes down to a certain predictable stagnancy present in the industry, sure, but also because this, more than many industries, is a medium where talent counts for a lot. Combine a good filmmaker with a good writer and cast, and they will rarely miss.
This time last year, however, I said that 2024 looked set to be an uncharacteristically unpredictable year. Looking back, this prediction of unpredictability proved to be accurate. Partly, this is because 2024 was, if we're being honest, quite a weak year in film. There were few noteworthy surprises, and most of the expected big hitters ended up disappointing. For 2025, I don't see the same problem. There is some big talent coming back to the big screen this year, and more than a few projects that seem genuinely fresh and interesting. I predict that 2025 will be a stronger year for cinema, and with the below list I have fine tuned this down to a rundown of the best of the best.
So without further delay, the key films to keep an eye on in the coming year (trailers linked in the title where available), starting with number 15:
15. The Roses
First up we have The Roses, a reimagining of the 1989 Danny DeVito black comedy. This new version comes from Jay Roach, a director once best known for silly (but often good) comedies like Austin Powers and Meet the Parents, more recently turned hard-hitting political filmmaker with titles such as Trumbo and Bombshell to his name. The Roses is a satirical black comedy-drama that delves into the unraveling of a seemingly perfect marriage. Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman star as Theo and Ivy Rose, a couple whose idyllic facade begins to crumble when Theo's professional life takes a downturn, igniting deep-seated competition and resentment. As their relationship deteriorates, the film explores the lengths to which each will go in a battle of wills.
Supported by an exciting cast including Kate McKinnon, Andy Samberg, Ncuti Gatwa, and Zoë Chao, The Roses is completed filming in summer 2024, and is expected to release in the second half of the year.
Release Date: TBA 2025
14. Deliver Me From Nowhere
Next we have this year's musical biopic, with the added twist that it actually looks pretty good. Deliver Me From Nowhere is the upcoming biographical drama directed by Scott Cooper, chronicling the creation of Bruce Springsteen's seminal 1982 album, Nebraska.
The film stars Jeremy Allen White as Springsteen (pitch perfect casting in my opinion), capturing the raw and intimate process of recording the album solo on a four-track recorder in his New Jersey home. The ensemble cast includes Jeremy Strong as manager Jon Landau, Paul Walter Hauser as engineer Mike Batlan, and Stephen Graham as Douglas Springsteen, Bruce's father.
Notably, Springsteen and Landau are actively involved in the production, ensuring authenticity in the portrayal of this pivotal moment in music history. Filming commenced in October 2024, with a release expected this summer.
Release Date: Summer 2025
13. Caught Stealing
A new film from director Darren Aronofsky is always a cinematic event, and in 2025 we have Caught Stealing, his first picture since 2022's The Whale.
This latest is a new American crime thriller starring Austin Butler as Hank Thompson, a former baseball player who becomes entangled in New York City's criminal underworld during the 1990s. The impressive ensemble cast includes Zoë Kravitz, Regina King, Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, and Bad Bunny.
Based on Charlie Huston's novel, who also adapted the screenplay, the story delves into themes of survival and moral ambiguity. The film is produced by Columbia Pictures, slated for release on August 29, 2025.
Release Date: August 2025
12. Friendship
This one should be a treat for fans of offbeat comedy and surreal humour. Friendship is an upcoming American comedy film directed by Andrew DeYoung, marking his feature directorial debut.
The film stars Tim Robinson, of I Think You Should Leave fame, as Craig Waterman, a suburban father whose life is upended by the arrival of his charismatic new neighbor, Austin Carmichael, portrayed by Paul Rudd. As Craig becomes increasingly infatuated with Austin, his attempts to forge a meaningful adult friendship lead to unexpected and humorous consequences, threatening to unravel both their lives.
Friendship premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2024, as part of the Midnight Madness program, where it garnered positive reviews for its sharp humor and poignant exploration of male relationships. The film is slated for a theatrical release on May 9, 2025.
11. Train Dreams
Train Dreams is a new American drama film and directorial debut for Clint Bentley, adapted from Denis Johnson's 2011 novella.
The film stars Joel Edgerton as Robert Grainier, a logger in the early 20th-century American Northwest, whose life is marked by profound personal loss and the relentless march of industrial progress. Felicity Jones portrays his wife, Gladys, with supporting roles by Kerry Condon, William H. Macy, and Clifton Collins Jr. The narrative delves into themes of isolation, transformation, and the human connection to nature.
Premiering at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, Train Dreams received critical acclaim for its evocative storytelling and Edgerton's compelling performance. The film was subsequently acquired by Netflix for distribution, with a wide release expected in the second half of 2025.
Release Date: TBA 2025
Unpopular opinion, but I was fairly underwhelmed by the first Knives Out movie. I appreciated what it was trying to do, but felt it was neither campy enough for a laugh, nor compelling enough for a good mystery film. The second, however, Glass Onion, was deliciously good fun. So it is with anticipation that I await the 2025 release of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.
This is the anticipated third installment in Rian Johnson's acclaimed mystery series, featuring Daniel Craig reprising his role as the astute detective Benoit Blanc. Set to premiere on Netflix in fall 2025, the film boasts a typically star-studded ensemble cast, including Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, and Thomas Haden Church.
While specific plot details remain under wraps, a first-look image reveals Blanc alongside O'Connor's character in a dimly lit church, hinting at a mystery imbued with religious undertones. The title, inspired by a U2 song, suggests themes of seeking salvation and confronting apocalyptic challenges.
Release Date: Fall 2025
9. Michael
Now we have a biopic that was as inevitable as it will surely be controversial. Michael is an upcoming American biographical musical drama chronicling the life of the legendary entertainer Michael Jackson. The film aims to provide an in-depth portrayal of Jackson's complex journey, from his early days with the Jackson 5 to his unprecedented solo career and personal challenges, yes, his legal troubles included.
A decision which is certain to turn heads is the casting of the man himself. Michael is set to be played by Michael's real life nephew, Jaafar Jackson, in his first ever big screen roll. It's a bold choice for what is likely to be a very big release. But make no mistake, this is no family-led hagiography, and the lead actor aside, there is some real bona fide Hollywood star power behind this, from director Antoine Fuqua, best known for the critically acclaimed film Training Day, to the oscar nominated screenwriter John Logan, which films such as Gladiatior, The Aviator and Hugo to his name.
The studio clearly has high hopes for Michael, with an awards-friendly release date scheduled for October 3, 2025.
Release Date: October 2025
"Better late than never" I suppose is the how the saying goes. The DC Cinematic Universe was a mess right from the start, a lazy attempt to replicate the success of Marvel without taking the time to lay the groundwork or put in place a worthwhile vision to justify the mega franchise's existence. It should have been put out of its misery years ago.
Well, after a decade of consistently panned releases, DC have finally decided to do something about it, with the reboot that we were all hoping for. The first step is 2025's Superman, a reimagining of, you know who. This rebooted Man of Steel, and indeed the refreshed DCU as a whole, comes courtesy of James Gunn, the creator of perhaps Marvel's best cinematic product to date, The Guardians of the Galaxy. So the DCU would appear to be in good hands, now we just have to hope that the powers that be let Gunn be Gunn and imbue this new start with the type of energy and adventure for which he is known.
The title role will be played by up and comer David Coronswet, with a supporting cast that includes the wonderful Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult and Nathan Fillion. Superman releases in July. Fingers crossed they get it right this time.
Release Date: July 2025
7. Marty Supreme
Coming back down to Earth, we have Marty Supreme, an upcoming American sports drama directed by Josh Safdie and co-written with Ronald Bronstein, best known for their previous collaboration on the really-quite-good 2019 film, Uncut Gems.
The film stars Timothée Chalamet as Marty, a character loosely inspired by professional table tennis player Marty Reisman. Set in the 1950s, the narrative delves into the vibrant ping pong subculture of New York City, exploring themes of ambition and the pursuit of excellence. The ensemble cast includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Tyler, the Creator, Penn Jillette, Kevin O'Leary, Abel Ferrara, and Fran Drescher.
Principal photography commenced in New York City on September 23, 2024, with a very awards-friendly scheduled release date of December 25, 2025.
Release Date: December 2025
6. One Battle After Another
Another Hollywood heavy hitter coming up, with the latest film from director Paul Thomas Anderson, a man with a frankly absurd 11 Oscar nominations without a win.
One Battle After Another is is an adaptation of Thomas Pynchon's 1990 novel Vineland, updated to a contemporary setting. The story centers on a burnt-out hippie navigating life in Ronald Reagan's dystopian America, intertwining with themes of federal prosecution, underground organizations, and cultural references to government acronyms, UFOs, and TV cults. Anderson's adaptation is rumored to blend elements from 1980s films like Something Wild and Repo Man.
Slated for release on August 8, 2025, by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film features a star-studded cast, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina Hall, Sean Penn, Alana Haim, and Benicio del Toro. Notably, it marks Anderson's first collaboration with DiCaprio. As anticipation builds, One Battle After Another is expected to make its mark as a high-action, star-studded film, blending Anderson's distinctive storytelling with Pynchon's complex narrative.
Never say never. 23 years after the release of the brilliant 28 Days Later, written by the legendary Alex Garland and directed by the equally legendary Danny Boyle, we are getting a proper sequel with 28 Years Later.
True, we did get the forgettable 28 Weeks Later back in 2007. The difference this time is that both Garland and Boyle are returning, making 28 Years Later a proper sequel in a way that Weeks never was.
The film features a cast including Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes. The narrative unfolds nearly three decades after the initial Rage Virus outbreak, focusing on a group of survivors residing on a quarantined island in Britain. When one member ventures to the mainland, they uncover new horrors and secrets. Notably, while Cillian Murphy, star of the original "28 Days Later," does not reprise his role as Jim, he serves as an executive producer and is slated to appear in future projects within this new trilogy.
28 Years Later is set to release in June 2025.
Release Date: June 2025
4. Highest 2 Lowest
Next up, the latest Spike Lee joint. Highest 2 Lowest is a crime thriller, serving as an English-language reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa's 1963 film High and Low.
The narrative centers on a high-stakes kidnapping, exploring themes of class disparity and moral dilemmas, resonating with contemporary societal issues.
The film stars Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, Ice Spice, and A$AP Rocky, with Rocky taking on the main role, as confirmed by Lee. This project marks the fifth collaboration between Lee and Washington, their most recent being Inside Man. The film is slated for a theatrical release by A24 in the summer of 2025.
Release Date: Summer 2025
3. Frankenstein
On paper, this one would seem to be a match made in heaven. Frankenstein is a new adaptation of the Mary Shelley novel, this time brought to us by the master of heavily stylised gothicism, Guillermo del Toro.
The cast of this new adaptation features Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as Frankenstein's monster. The ensemble cast also includes Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz, Felix Kammerer, Lars Mikkelsen, Charles Dance, and Ralph Ineson.
Few filmmakers have an eye for a "creature feature" like del Toro. Frankenstein is more or less the father of the genre, and I can think of no one better to realise the mix of horror, drama, and philosophical inquiry into the nature of creation and humanity. This is slated for release on Netflix in November 2025.
Release Date: November 2025
2. Klara and the Sun
This is one for all the readers out there. Klara and the Sun is an upcoming adaptation of the acclaimed Kazuo Ishiguro novel of the same name.
This adaptation is directed by Taika Waititi, whose satirical sensibilities make for a perfect match with the speculative dystopian themes of the source material, while the screenplay is penned by Dahvi Waller, with Ishiguro serving as an executive producer. The story centers on Klara, an Artificial Friend designed to alleviate loneliness in teenagers, who becomes determined to save the human family she resides with from heartbreak.
The cast includes Jenna Ortega, Amy Adams, Natasha Lyonne, and Steve Buscemi. As of now, a specific release date has not been announced, but the film is expected to premiere in late 2025.
Release Date: TBA 2025
1. The Running Man
And lastly, we have the return of Edgar Wright, a filmmaker who has moved far beyond schlocky comedies to become a director of some renown with his most recent releases Baby Driver and Last Night in Soho. This lastest, The Running Man, is a fresh adaptation of Stephen King's 1982 novel.
Set in a dystopian 2025, the story centers on a game show called "The Running Man," where contestants are pursued by lethal Hunters across the globe for a chance to win substantial monetary rewards. The narrative explores themes of societal decay, media manipulation, and the human will to survive.
The cast stars Glen Powell as Ben Richards, the protagonist forced into the deadly game show to secure funds for his daughter's medical treatment, with supporting performances from Josh Brolin, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, William H. Macy, Sean Hayes, and Colman Domingo in supporting roles. The Running Man is scheduled for a theatrical release on November 7, 2025.
Release Date: November 2025
So there you have it folks: The 2025 Hot List. I will be back with many more articles in due course, but for now let's make 2025 a great year together.
So there you have it folks: The 2025 Hot List. I will be back with many more articles in due course, but for now let's make 2025 a great year together.
