From action to animation, many new movies will release year. However, narrowing it down to the best movies can be hard, so here are my top ten most anticipated movies of 2025.
- Captain America: Brave New World – February 14, 2025
Nine years after the last Captain America movie, the hero returns. This time, it’s Sam Wilson (also known as the Falcon) instead of Steve Rodgers. Sam Wilson took Captain America’s mantle after Steve Rodgers’s death. Befriending President Thaddeus Ross, Sam finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must decide if President Ross is in it for good or for nefarious reasons. Actors Anthony Mackie and Harrison Ford plan to bring this film to life and jumpstart the next phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
- Dog Man – January 31, 2025
Based on the books written by Dav Pilkey, this story follows a cop and his best friend, who happens to be a dog. However, after a fateful injury, the only way to save the lives of both the dog and the cop was to surgically attach the head of the dog to the body of the man. This created the hero known as Dog Man. As a new villain, who calls himself Petey the Cat, emerges, Dog Man learns to embrace his new identity. This is leading up to be a fun, action-packed family watch.
- Thunderbolts* – May 2, 2025
A group of heroes not good enough for the Avengers, but who still want to make a difference in the world, band together to create the Thunderbolts. The team consists of Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, Yelena Belova (Black Widow), Bucky Barnes (Winter Soldier), Ava Starr (Ghost), Antonia Dreykov (Taskmaster), John Walker (U.S. Agent), and Alexei Shostakov (Red Guardian). Together this group of misfits must work to accomplish missions for the government. The uniqueness of this movie will make it a good watch.
- The Bad Guys 2 – August 1, 2025
Based on the books by Aaron Blabey, this story follows bad guys who have gone good. The original The Bad Guys was a success with an 88% from Rotten Tomatoes and hopefully the sequel will do just as well. The film follows reformed criminals Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Shark, and Ms. Tarantula. While trying their best to be the good guys, they get hijacked into doing a heist organized by a new team, the Bad Girls. Will this unexpected twist convince the Bad Guys to return to a life of crime?
- Lilo & Stitch – May 23, 2025
Every animated Disney movie is bound to have a live-action remake, and the beloved Lilo & Stitch is no different. The main character is Lilo, a lonely girl with a complicated relationship with her sister, Nani. To help Lilo’s loneliness, Nani takes Lilo to a dog shelter in hopes of finding her a new friend. However, what Nani did not expect was that Lilo was going to choose Stitch, the galaxy’s most wanted extraterrestrial, as their new pet. Through Lilo’s big heart and belief in Ohana (family), Lilo turns Stitch into a lovable friend. This is one of my favorite Disney movies, so I am interested in seeing the live-action take on the classic movie.
- The Conjuring: Last Rites – September 5, 2025
The ninth and final installment of the Conjuring universe is releasing this year. It is the fourth film in the main series (The Conjuring), following the last release, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga reprise their roles as Ed and Lorraine Warren, who are paranormal investigators. The couple takes one last case to help a family haunted by mysterious entities. After The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, which I thought was a flop, I hope this movie ends the universe with a bang.
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps – July 25, 2025
Ten years after the last Fantastic Four movie was released, the team will be making a long-anticipated revival. The Fantastic Four consists of Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic), Susan Storm (The Invisible Woman), Johnny Storm (Human Torch), and Ben Grimm (The Thing). The film will be set in the 1960s adding a unique aspect to the MCU. Most MCU movies take place in the present, so the setting of this film will be different. The past Fantastic Four movies have been underwhelming, but fans can anticipate a good film. With a great cast including Pedro Pascal, a different time period, and a new take on classic characters one can assume that The Fantastic Four: First Steps will be a success.
- How to Train Your Dragon– June 13, 2025
Dreamworks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon was released in 2010, and 15 years later it’s due for a live-action remake. The story follows Norse teenagers from the island of Berk. On this island, fighting dragons is their only way of life, but for Hiccup, fighting dragons seems wrong. One day he shoots down a Night Fury, the rarest dragon known to the Vikings. When he finds the Night Fury injured on the ground, he decides he can’t kill him. He finds a friend in the Night Fury, naming him Toothless. Together, he and Toothless try to change the views of the Vikings living on Berk. The animated movie was one of my favorite movies growing up, and I can’t wait to watch the live-action version.
- Avatar: Fire and Ash – December 19, 2025
The third installment of the Avatar movie franchise is finally here. Avatar was released in 2009 and Avatar: The Way of Water was released in 2022, 13 years later. Thankfully, the third film will be released just a short three years after the sequel. Not much is known about the plot as of now, but what you can expect is a breathtaking film. The movies are well known for their impeccable CGI, making the world of Pandora look real. The story will likely pick up following the story of Jake Sully’s family and their journey of finding more Na’vi tribes. Avatar is known for breaking the box office, and Avatar: Fire and Ash will likely do the same. The first two movies were not only beautiful but also had a deep plot, and I am excited to see where the third one takes the franchise.
- Superman: Legacy – July 11, 2025
Superman: Legacy is the first film to be released in James Gunn’s hard reboot of the DC Universe. After the Zack Snyder DCEU came to a crashing end, Gunn took matters into his own hands. With the success of The Suicide Squad under his belt, he is the perfect fit for the job. David Corenswet was cast as Superman and he fits the role perfectly. Unlike Henry Cavill’s Superman, Corenswet depicts Superman as lighthearted rather than dark and grim. In the comics, Superman is sweet and sensitive, which is what Gunn is aiming for. He will also be seen in the Daily Planet as Clark Kent. From behind-the-scenes photos, one can see how different Kent looks from Superman. They nailed the messiness of Kent, unlike the cleanliness of Superman. The plot will follow Superman diving deep into his Kryptonian heritage while balancing his human aspects. As one of DC’s biggest fans, I am so excited to see Superman: Legacy and the rest of Gunn’s reboot.
