The year 2024 was, in my opinion, a phenomenal year for movies. Though not many movies came out compared to previous years because of the Writer and Actor Strikes in 2023, there were many global hits at the box office, especially with the indie/arthouse flicks. Now, in 2025, cinema promises a comeback - and 2026 could get even bigger, possibly challenging to take down 2019 as the biggest year of wide releases in history.

I couldn't be more excited for the motion pictures that will be released onto the big screen this year. Below are two of my most anticipated films that will come out in 2025, along with some honorable mentions beforehand.

Honorable Mentions:

"Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning" (May 23), "Disney's Lilo & Stitch" (May 23), "How To Train Your Dragon" (June 13), "Formula 1 starring Brad Pitt" (June 27), "Jurassic World: Rebirth" (July 2), "Marvel Studios' The Fantastic Four: First Steps" (July 25), "The Conjuring: Last Rites" (September 5), "Michael" (October 3), "Wicked: Part 2" (November 21), "Disney's Zootopia 2" (November 26), & "Avatar: Fire amd Ash" (December 19).

Now, my two most anticipated 2025 releases:

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DC Studios' Superman

Had to be number 1, right? The most iconic superhero of all time is back on the big screen after almost a decade. This film has everything going for it.

The hype is building among audiences. The teaser trailer dropped back in mid-December, and in only 24 hours, had accumulated more than 250 million views, making it the fourth most-watched trailer of all time. Absolutely incredible, and deservingly so!

DC is rebooting its cinematic universe after the 'failure' of the old one. Henry Cavill's Superman will be missed but Superman is bigger than just one actor and perhaps it's time to move on. The brilliant and talented David Corenswet will take on the mantle of The Man of Steel now - arguably one of the best castings in recent history.

In 2023, James Gunn, the filmmaker responsible for writing and directing Marvel's best trilogy, "Guardians of the Galaxy", became the co-CEO of DC Studios alongside producer and longtime friend, Peter Safran. Gunn wrote and directed Superman, which will be released in theaters worldwide on July 11 as the first film of the new DC Cinematic Universe.

Normally, I wouldn't be so hyped about a Superman film as I've never been the biggest fan, but this is the start of a brand new cinematic universe. If successful, it will rival Marvel, and possibly take their crown as the biggest franchise in cinema history. I believe that Gunn, Safran, and Warner Bros will bring everything they can to the table for the next 10 to 12 years.

A well-made Justice League film produced in a few years from now (after having individual standalone films and shows with skilfully written characters and emotional stories), will likely dethrone The Avengers as the biggest brand in Hollywood. DC always had more iconic characters than Marvel - they just have to play their cards right.

For now, we await what Gunn has in store for us with Superman, which I'm sure will be nothing short of a masterpiece. As he calls it, "The Summer of Superman begins on July 11." I'm certain we will see David Corenswet's Superman and Robert Pattinson's Batman together in the near future.

Mickey 17

The new sci-fi epic directed by Bong Joon-Ho, director of the masterpiece "Parasite", which swept the Oscars in 2020, will release in theaters on March 7. Mickey 17 stars one of the biggest and most talented actors of this generation, Robert Pattinson. This guy is good at everything he does, except for Twilight, but I'm sure even Pattinson hated that role and those films.

There's simply just no denying he's one of the most versatile actors out there today. This new film promises a mix of sci-fi, black comedy, and drama. The story dives deep into themes such as cloning, advanced technology, and alien environments. Joon-Ho promised something we'd never seen before, and I'm sure he'll deliver.

I read on the internet that Joon-Ho already had Pattinson in mind for the role, but it was The Batman (2022) that made him definitively want Pattinson as the protagonist. Pattinson is known for his ability to portray different personalities within a singular character if needed. I've always believed that doing an original, science-fiction epic like Mickey 17 would be so fascinating to watch nowadays, especially in a world where movies are dominated by mostly sequels and remakes.

The concept behind Mickey 17 is brilliant: the idea of humans being treated as disposable assets, which would then begin raising questions about the value of life and the ethics of cloning technology in a futuristic setting. If there are two people in the industry who can make a very weird story concept work incredibly well, it is Pattinson and Joon-Ho. March 7th cannot come fast enough!

Final Thoughts

These are my picks as my most anticipated releases of this year. If you decide to check out any of the movies I listed above when they release, I hope you have a breathtaking cinematic experience. We all need an escape from the real world sometimes, and these films are sure to provide that. 2025 promises to be an unforgettable year for movies.