Another year of sequels: Paddington, Superman, Minecraft, Fantastic Four and other cash grabs

From left: A combination of movies, Sinners, Superman and Paddington in Peru, set to be released in 2025.

Photo credit: Pool

Los Angeles, California, the home of Hollywood, is off to a tough start in 2025.

The city is grappling with some of the worst wildfires it has ever faced. It’s a challenging time for both the film industry and the people who call Los Angeles home. While we hope these events don’t impact the slate of films set to release this year, our thoughts are with everyone affected.

Now, let’s take a look at some of the movies I’m personally looking forward to in 2025.

Highly Anticipated

Basically, I can't wait to see these.

Paddington in Peru (Director: Dougal Wilson)

I’m so excited this is happening! If you haven’t seen the first two Paddington movies, do yourself a favour. They’re charming, feel-good, and enduring. Dougal steps into Paul King’s shoes, and while that’s a big leap, I have high hopes that the franchise’s heart and charm will remain intact.

Sinners

Written, produced, and directed by Ryan Coogler, starring Michael B. Jordan in a dual role. I really liked the first trailer simply because it did what all trailers should do: generate curiosity without giving away too much.

Fully Invested

These movies have my full attention but am still not totally sold.

Superman (Director: James Gunn)

The first official DCU movie, written and directed by Gunn, the trailer promises optimism and heartfelt storytelling. Gunn’s track record (Guardians of the Galaxy, Creature Commandos) speaks for itself, making this fresh take on Superman exciting. But this is DC and the studio has a lot to prove

Knives Out 3: Wake Up Dead Man (Director: Rian Johnson)

Rian Johnson returns with another sharp mystery, bringing back Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc. With his ability to elevate the murder-mystery genre, plus a cast including Josh Brolin and Mila Kunis, this looks to be a strong addition to the series. But it's a Netflix movie.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s Untitled Film (Director: Paul Thomas Anderson)

Leonardo DiCaprio teams up with Paul Thomas Anderson. I think that enough to excite any cinephile.

Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning (Director: Christopher McQuarrie)

McQuarrie and Tom Cruise team up for what promises to be a thrilling $400-million conclusion to Ethan Hunt’s journey. The trailer hints at high-stakes espionage, though I doubt this is the final chapter.

Predator: Badlands (Director: Dan Trachtenberg)

This franchise is unpredictable, but Prey was so good that it set a new bar. With Trachtenberg returning and a theatrical release this time, I’m fully invested.

The Monkey (Director: Osgood Perkins)

A Stephen King adaptation directed by Osgood Perkins. His eerie style should perfectly complement this story of a cursed, cymbal-banging monkey. But Steven King adaptation have been historical hit or miss.

Mickey 17 (Director: Bong Joon-ho)

Bong Joon-ho’s first movie since Parasite, starring Robert Pattinson, is a sci-fi exploration of cloning and survival. It looks visually stunning, and Bong’s genre-blending brilliance makes this a must-watch.

Cautiously Optimistic

Zero expectations, but I will watch.

F1 (Director: Joseph Kosinski)

Kosinski (Tron: Legacy, Oblivion, Top Gun: Maverick) is known for spectacle, so a Formula 1 film starring Brad Pitt is intriguing. But Apple Originals have been hit or miss, so my expectations are tempered.

Fantastic Four: First Steps (Director: Matt Shakman)

Marvel’s first family joins the MCU under Matt Shakman’s (WandaVision) direction. While this has potential, Marvel’s recent inconsistencies make me very wary.

Wicked Part Two: For Good (Director: Jon M. Chu)

The first part was solid, but not labeling it “Part One” even after release felt deceptive. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) knows musicals, so I’m hopeful the conclusion delivers.

Love Hurts (Director: Jonathan Yousefio)

Ke Huy Quan stars in this action-comedy directed by newcomer Jonathan Yousefio. It sounds fun, but it's a new director.

Death of a Unicorn (Director: Alex Scharfman)

An A24 film starring Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega about unicorns sounds fascinating. The trailer looks promising, but like most A24 movie it could be too artsy for it's own good.

Ballerina (Director: Len Wiseman)

A John Wick spin-off starring Ana de Armas sounds like a win, right? While spin-offs often feel like cash grabs, Wiseman’s underrated action direction is a reason to be optimistic.

Let’s Wait and See

I just have to see them first .

Final Destination: Bloodlines (Director: TBD)

I’ll probably watch this nostalgia bait? Yes. Cash grab? Most likely. With the success of the modern Scream movies, it’s likely more of these are on their way.

Saw 11 (Director: Kevin Greutert)

Eleven Saw movies! The 10th was decent, but I’m not confident about what’s next. Just look up the director.

Thunderbolts (Director: Jake Schreier)

Jake Schreier (Robot & Frank) could bring a different tone to Marvel’s antihero team. But let’s be honest—Marvel hasn’t been the same since Endgame.

Until Dawn (Director: David F. Sandberg)

A video game adaptation by Sandberg (Lights Out) has promise, this could easily go well, the director is incredible, but with modern video game adaptations you just never know.

I Know What You Did Last Summer (Director: TBD)

The success of Scream has revived ‘90s teenage victim slasher/horror movies. This could be another nostalgia cash grab, but like Scream, it might work.

How to Train Your Dragon (Live-Action) (Director: Dean DeBlois)

This is from Dreamworks but with Disney’s live-action adaptations have been a disappointment, I can only see how this will follow suit.

The first trailer looks decent, I’d prefer they went for 2D animation inspired by Spider-Verse rather than live-action.

Minecraft (Director: Kyle Hass)

A star-studded animated adaptation of Minecraft sounds ambitious. The trailer is “creative,” but this could either succeed big or fall flat.

Megan 2.0 (Director: Gerard Johnstone)

The first Megan was solid, but sequels are tricky. A summer release shows studio confidence, but expectations are mixed.

Zootopia 2 (Directors: Jared Bush and Byron Howard)

Disney’s recent sequels (Frozen II, Moana 2) have felt like cash grabs. This will definetly make money, but I’m skeptical about its quality.

TV Shows

A random thought: most TV shows are designed to hold the viewer hostage for a set duration of time. That’s why they have never been my cup of tea. Anyway, here are some series coming 2025.

Invincible (Season 3), The Handmaid's Tale (Season 6), Severance (Season 2), Wednesday (Season 2), Suits: L.A., Hacks (Season 4), The Last of Us (Season 2), A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (for Game of Thrones fans), The Night Agent (Season 2), Welcome to Derry (IT universe), Cobra Kai (Season 6, Part 3), The Righteous Gemstones (Season 4), Stranger Things (Season 5).

Conclusion

With such an exciting slate of movies and shows, 2025 is shaping up to be an interesting year for entertainment but hopefully, we will be here for the good and most importantly for the bad and the flops.

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