2025 Preview: 18 Films Worthy of Your Optimism

Maybe these won't suck?

I’m still not entirely convinced I won’t be in a “re-education” camp this time next year. But assuming I make it to 2026 without being murdered by MAGA, there are going to be 18 films that, as far as I’m concerned, should just take my money already.

These are those films.

Wolf Man (January 17)

Directed by Leigh Whannell, written by Leigh Whannell & Corbett Tuck

Leigh Whannell, co-creator of Saw and writer/director of Upgrade, returns to Universal Monster territory after his most excellent 2020 iteration of The Invisible Man. Having Julia Garner (The Royal Hotel, Ozark) as the titular beast’s imperiled wife is also very encouraging.

Heart Eyes (February 7)

Directed by Josh Ruben, written by Phillip Murphy and Christopher Landon & Michael Kennedy

Ruben, who helmed the ultra-fun horror flicks Scare Me and Werewolf Within, directing a Valentine’s Day slasher flick co-written by Christopher Landon (Happy Death Day)? Yes, please!

The Monkey (February 7)

Written and directed by Osgood Perkins

Longlegs mastermind Perkins returns with an adaptation of a Stephen King story. Fingers crossed the movie is as much fun as the trailer.

Sinners (March 7)

Written and directed by Ryan Coogler

Ryan Coogler’s first movie not based on pre-existing IP since 2013’s Fruitvale Station, Sinners is about vampires fighting the KKK. If that premise alone doesn’t get you excited, I dunno what will. Michael B. Jordan, the De Niro to Coogler’s Scorsese, stars.

Mickey 17 (April 18)

Written and directed by Bong Joon-ho, based on the novel Mickey7 by Edward Ashton

This was supposed to come out in 2024. I dunno why it got delayed, but my faith in its quality remains unwavering: Bong Joon-ho (Parasite, Snowpiercer, The Host, etc.) hasn’t made a bad movie yet. Bonus: Robert Pattinson doing a funny voice!

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (May 23)

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, written by Erik Jendresen & Christopher McQuarrie

The latest (and possibly last?) entry into the Tom Cruise Almost Kills Himself for Our Amusement franchise finds the world’s most famous Scientologist hanging off a bi-plane while it does a 360. I’m sold.

28 Years Later (June 20)

Directed by Danny Boyle, written by Alex Garland

Danny Boyle and Alex Garland make a proper follow-up to their 2003 masterpiece, 28 Days Later. Granted, the last time Boyle did a legacy sequel, it was the underwhelming T2 Trainspotting. But that movie didn’t have a script by Garland, sooooo…

M3GAN 2.0 (June 27)

Directed by Gerard Johnstone, written by Akela Cooper

M3GAN seems poised to join Art the Clown as one of this generation’s greatest slashers.

F1 (June 27)

Directed by Joseph Kosinski, written by Ehren Kruger

The director, producer, and co-writer of Top Gun: Maverick re-team for what appears to ostensibly be Days of Thunder: Maverick. Which is fine by me!

Superman (July 11)

Written and directed by James Gunn

There hasn’t been a good Superman movie in almost 50 years, but if anyone can restore the Big Blue Boy Scout to his former cinematic glory, it’s Gunn.

Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 25)

Directed by Matt Shakman, written by Peter Cameron and Josh Friedman and Jeff Kaplan and Eric Pearson and Ian Springer

There’s never been a good Fantastic Four movie. Marvel’s First Family is due… and everything we’ve seen from the picture so far sure does look like they’re on the right track. Plus, Shakman directed WandaVision, which remains one of the MCU’s strongest streaming series.

The Battle of Baktan Cross (August 8)

Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

Love him or hate him, PTA has never made a film that wasn’t at least worth seeing and considering. And this one has his biggest budget to date by, like, a lot, which is interesting. Leonardo DiCaprio stars.

Saw XI (September 26)

Directed by Kevin Greutert

I dunno how anyone who saw Saw X could not be excited for the next installment in the franchise, especially because Greutert - who directed Saw X and Saw VI, the two best movies in the series - is returning.

Marty Supreme (December 25)

Directed by Josh Safdie, written by Ronald Bronstein & Josh Safdie

The Safdie Brothers’ Josh Safdie makes his solo debut with a biopic about professional table tennis player Marty Reisman (played here by Timothée Chalamet). You’re telling me you’re not at least kinda curious???

Frankenstein (TBD)

Written and directed by Guillermo del Toro

It’s Guillermo del Toro. Doing his version of Frankenstein. With Oscar Isaac as Victor Von Frankenstein. What else do you need to know?

Huntington (TBD)

Written and directed by John Patton Ford

Ford established himself as a talent to watch with Emily the Criminal, which may have been 2022’s single best film. I have no idea what this movie is about and I don’t care; I am going opening day. It also a great cast, including The Substance’s Margaret Qualley, Hit Man’s Glen Powell, The Royal Hotel’s Jessica Henwick, and American goddamn treasure Bill Camp.

The Smashing Machine (TBD)

Written and directed by Benny Safdie

The OTHER half of the Safdie Brothers (and co-creator of The Curse) is making HIS solo debut, also with a sports biopic, this one of MMA fighter Mark Kerr. After Red One, Benny Safdie is the only person in the world who could get me to see anything starring The Rock again.

Wake Up Dead Man (TBD)

Written and directed by Rian Johnson

The latest entry in Johnson’s delightful Knives Out series brings back Daniel Craig as master sleuth Benoit Blanc. The cast also includes Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Josh O’Connor, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, and Thomas Haden Church. Hopefully Netflix gives this one a bigger theatrical release than they did for Glass Onion, because watching these movies with a packed house is a total blast.