There are a lot of films I’m looking forward to in 2025. And there will probably be many more movies (including animated films, docs and awards season contenders that haven’t been officially announced or dated yet) that I’ll add to this list. But right now these are my Top 11.
“PARTHENOPE” (A24; In Select Theaters Feb. 7) — Oscar-winning “The Great Beauty” director Paolo Sorrentino’s “Youth” was my No. 1 movie of 2015. And I also really liked his 2021 Netflix drama “The Hand of God”. “Parthenope” could be just as captivating.
“THE ACCOUNTANT 2” (Amazon-MGM; In Theaters Apr. 25) — The 2016 original blended so many genres very well. Star Ben Affleck, writer Bill Dubuque and director Gavin O’Connor return for this sequel.
“LILO & STITCH” (Disney; In Theaters May 23) — I grew-up with the original, which had a groundbreaking Mouse House marketing campaign, along with iconic characters and scenes. Rooting for director Dean Fleischer Camp (“Marcel the Shell with Shoes On”) to make this one of the best Disney live-action/animation remakes yet.
“BALLERINA” (Lionsgate; In Theaters June 6) — Ana de Armas headlines this “John Wick” franchise action spinoff, which also features appearances by Keanu Reeves and the late Lance Reddick.
“F1” (Warner Bros.; In Theaters June 27) — Brad Pitt’s long-awaited Formula One movie could be one of the most thrilling cinematic experiences of the year. “Top Gun: Maverick”‘s Joseph Kosinski is in the director’s chair.
“Downton Abbey 3” (Focus; In Theaters Sept. 12) — 2022 sequel “A New Era” is one of my favorite films of the past five years. An emotional powerhouse. Paul Giamatti joins the ensemble of this third, and likely final, movie chapter.
“TRON: Ares” (Disney; In Theaters Oct. 10) — I liked the original “TRON” but wasn’t a big fan of 2010’s “Legacy”. However, with Jared Leto leading the way, alongside director Joachim Ronning (of 2024’s second-best film, “Young Woman and the Sea”), I’m confident this could be special.
“Zootopia 2” (Disney; In Theaters Nov. 26) — It’s been nearly a decade since the Academy Award-winning original installment, with one of the most complex screenplays for a Disney animated movie ever. This will be a blockbuster, and hopefully fun and poignant.
“The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants” (Paramount; In Theaters Dec. 19) — The fourth theatrical SpongeBob feature should be, like its predecessors, an event.
“The Luckiest Man in America” (IFC; Date TBA) — A depiction of one of the most iconic game show moments of all-time, with Paul Walter Hauser as “Press Your Luck” contestant Michael Larson and Walton Goggins as legendary host Peter Tomarken.
“The Smashing Machine” (A24; Date TBA) — Dwayne Johnson could deliver an Oscar-caliber, dramatic performance as MMA/UFC champ Mark Kerr, alongside his “Jungle Cruise” co-star Emily Blunt.