Hollywood brought us many things in 2024, from musicals to biopics to comedy duos, and 2025 looks to be a similarly packed year. Today, we look forward to what remakes, sequels and new scripts will be finally hitting our screens over the next 12 months.
January
We kick off the new year with a buddy-cop comedy, “One of Them Days,” starring Keke Palmer and SZA. The classic ‘race against the clock’ motif is sure to be boosted by Palmer and SZA’s natural chemistry. Hitting theaters on Friday, “One of Them Days” will hopefully be a bright spot in the coming days of cinema.
February
February will finally see the return of Marvel’s Sam Wilson to the big screen, and this time, officially(?) as Captain America. After six episodes of “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” on Disney+, Wilson (Anthony Mackie) seemingly disappeared from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Almost four years later, he finally returns in “Captain America: Brave New World” to take on an international threat following the election of Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford) to the presidency.
March
In a seemingly never-ending period of remakes and sequels, it’s no surprise that March will see a new live-action Disney remake gracing the screen. This year welcomes the long-anticipated “Snow White,” starring Rachel Zegler. The 2025 remake is set to deviate from the well-known classic, and Zegler is likely to bring new energy to the beloved character. Hopefully, Zegler’s stellar vocals, Pasek and Paul’s original music and Disney’s overwhelming budget will elevate this timeless story.
April
Who would have expected the new year would bring a Minecraft film to theaters? “A Minecraft Movie” will follow a group of four misfits who must master the cubic Overworld, befriend a curious man named Steve and find their way home. The cast, led by Jack Black, is packed with comedy stars, making the film a must-see this spring.
May
The world of Marvel simply keeps on giving this year, as “Thunderbolts*” releases on May 2. After Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) spent the last four years recruiting a team of supervillains, the Thunderbolts must come together to complete top-secret assignments for the government. Complete with all of our favorite villains (and the ones we all forgot about), the Thunderbolts may be a large step forward in bringing together Earth’s mightiest for their next big battle against Doctor Doom in Phase Six. With an ensemble cast led by Yelena (Florence Pugh) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), “Thunderbolts*” may be a new Marvel favorite.
June
The live-action remakes continue with a remake of “How to Train Your Dragon.” Following a young Viking, Hiccup, as he strives to make his family proud and hunt dragons, “How to Train Your Dragon” returns to the world of the 2010 animated classic. With an ensemble of dragons and Vikings, the film may bring about a new wave of live-action fantasy and will hopefully answer the question: Do we really need our childhoods remade?
July
In a world where the colors red, white and blue can cause alarm, Superman is here to (try to) remind us about truth, justice and the human way. Over 70 years after the first Superman film, Nicholas Hoult is set to take a stab at the titular superhero in James Gunn’s adequately titled “Superman.” Following Superman’s connection to his roots, his familiar friends and enemies, and our favorite dog Krypto, “Superman” may be a helpful reminder of why the superhero genre began and why it continues to be a fan favorite.
August
In a month of slow releases, one cannot help but be intrigued by the newest sequel to our family classics. “Freakier Friday,” the sequel to 2003’s “Freaky Friday” is set to see the return of Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan as Tess and Anna Coleman, respectively. In the sequel, Anna, now a mom herself, faces new familial struggles. Chance once again forces the characters to switch bodies in this new family comedy. However, the newest in a long line of Freaky Friday movie adaptations, “Freakier Friday” has much to live up to.
September
Returning to the early origins of the cinema classics, “The Bride” brings us back into the gothic world of Frankenstein. After asking his creator for a companion, Frankenstein’s monster is given a bride — the reanimated corpse of a deceased woman. Together, the bride and monster spark waves of societal change through their whirlwind romance. Ninety years after the “Bride of Frankenstein,” “The Bride” will hopefully bring a modern twist to this story, while preserving the themes and elements that made it classic in the first place.
October
After the seemingly never-ending biopic releases of the last few years, “Michael” finally makes its theatrical debut on Oct. 3. Following the King of Pop himself, played by his nephew Jaafar Jackson, “Michael” is sure to be a musical extravaganza. From the Jackson 5 to familial struggles to his most iconic performances, “Michael” is sure to be a must-watch for fans of the man or pop itself.
November
We cannot talk about the media in November without discussing the highly-anticipated release of “Wicked: For Good.” This movie musical sequel is set to drop on Nov. 21, almost exactly a year after the release of the first part. The sequel will follow Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) as they are forced to live with their choices and choose between good and evil. For fans of the original 2003 Broadway production, familiar storylines and characters are set to appear, but new songs and an all-star cast strive to keep the story fresh and innovative even for devoted fans.
December
Christmas Day will welcome the last of our anticipated films, “Sarah’s Oil.” Based on the 2014 book by Tonya Bolden, the story follows Sarah Rector, who was once the wealthiest Black woman in America. The biopic retells Sarah’s life in early 1900s Oklahoma, where she believed oil to lie under the land. Once proven correct and striking oil, Sarah’s story becomes a classic tale of rags to riches. Although perhaps a less widely-anticipated release, “Sarah’s Oil” may tell a powerful story of a woman in a time and place when their success was unexpected.
