10 Future Movies Too Big To Fail

Summary

• Movie franchises dominate box office success, with adaptations and sequels leading the way.
• High anticipation can lead to surprising underperformers and flops when films are finally released.
• Franchises like Star Wars and Avatar continue to draw audiences despite long gaps between films.

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There are many highly-anticipated movie releases of 2025 and beyond that have garnered so much hype that they could be considered too big to fail. Despite complaints about how most films these days seem to be adaptations and sequels, box office numbers have shown that’s what works. The highest-grossing movies of 2024 so far include Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, and Dune: Part 2, as well as other films from established, successful franchises.

In the top 25 highest-grossing movies of all time, only Titanic and The Super Mario Bros. Movie aren’t part of a film franchise. Even then, they have source material, the historic real-life ship disaster, and the popular Nintendo video games. Thus, it shouldn’t be surprising that the films on this list follow the pattern/success formula that has been proven time and time again. However, with the pressure of being highly anticipated, there could be some surprising underperformers and flops in the bunch when they are finally released.

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10 Minecraft

April 4, 2025

Minecraft: The Movie

Based on the worldwide phenomenon Minecraft, the crafting, building, adventuring game from Mojang Studios, comes Minecraft the Movie. When a teenage girl and a ragtag group of misfits turn out to be their world’s only hope against the all powerful Ender Dragon, they’ll band together to save all of Overworld. The film is being directed by Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite, Nacho Libre) and so far Jason Momoa is the only rumored casting assigned. The film was originally slated for release on March 4 2022, but due to the ongoing pandemic, Warner Bros. has delayed the film indefinitely. Until now, the film has undergone several script revisions, with the original screenplay being handled by Jason Fuchs and Rob McElhenney. The film has since changed several writers and directors.

Director Jared Hess Writers Chris Bowman , Hubbel Palmer , Markus Persson , Allison Schroeder , Peter Sollett Cast Jason Momoa

Minecraft is an upcoming live-action adventure film based on the Mojang Studios video game that is set to be released on April 4, 2025 with a star-studded cast. The sandbox game was originally released in 2009, and it’s honestly surprising that it’s taken this long for a film adaptation. Multiple Minecraft game modes open up many possibilities for the film, and not much has been revealed about the plot yet.

Jack Black, fresh off the success of Kung Fu Panda 4 and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, will star as the Minecraft player character Steve. He is joined by Jason Momoa, Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Coolidge, Kate McKinnon, Emma Myers, and more. With the popularity of the Minecraft video games and the film’s stars, it’s hard to see the movie failing. Super Mario Bros, Pokemon Detective Pikachu, Uncharted, and Sonic the Hedgehog have all proven the viability of video game movies, and Minecraft will likely follow in their footsteps as a box-office hit.

9 28 Years Later

June 20, 2025

28 Years Later
Not Rated
Horror

28 Years Later is the tentative title for the third film in the “28 Days Later” franchise, initially conceived by Danny Boyle and Alex Garland. Originally expected to be titled “28 Months Later,” the film still hasn’t been officially confirmed, but preliminary work on a script has reportedly been underway.

Director Danny Boyle Cast Cillian Murphy Franchise(s) 28 Days Later prequel(s) 28 Weeks Later , 28 Days Later

23 years after 28 Days Later and 18 years after 28 Weeks Later comes the third film in the post-apocalyptic horror film series, 28 Years Later. The original film starred Oscar winner Cillian Murphy as a bike courier who wakes up from a coma to find there’s been an accidental release of a highly contagious, aggression-inducing virus that has brought on an apocalypse. Despite not appearing in 28 Weeks Later, which was a standalone sequel, Murphy is returning to his role as Jim for 28 Years Later.

The first two films were successful, and 28 Years Later is expected to be as well. With Murphy more popular than ever, joined by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, and Ralph Fiennes, the film has an all-star cast. What could hurt the movie is the length of time between releases. While audiences who saw the original films might be lining up outside the theaters, younger audiences could be unfamiliar with them. Hopefully, new audiences will still be drawn to 28 Years Later by its story and cast.

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8 Jurassic World 4

July 2, 2025

Following the Jurassic World trilogy, the Jurassic Park franchise is being rebooted again with an entirely new cast for Jurassic World 4. The Jurassic World movies found success with Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, but the franchise is moving in a new direction for the fourth film. There are no story details yet, but it will star Mahershala Ali, Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and more.

Even with all the changes, Jurassic World 4 will likely be a big box office draw. Jurassic World Dominion(2022) was a critical failure, but it still made over $1 billion. The changes could actually bring even more success, as viewers could be curious about what Jurassic Park 4 plans to do. Johannson has already led a major franchise, and she’s been missed as the MCU’s Black Widow, so it will be nice to see her in a huge film again.

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7 Superman

July 11, 2025

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Superman (2025)

Written and directed by James Gunn, Superman is the first movie in Warner Bros.’ rebooted DC Universe to center around the titular comic book hero. It introduces a new version of the Man of Steel after Henry Cavill’s departure from the role, honoring the character’s roots as “the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way.”

Director James Gunn Release Date July 11, 2025 Writers James Gunn Cast David Corenswet , Rachel Brosnahan , María Gabriela De Faría Franchise(s) DCU

The DCEU films experienced box office disappointment, with only Aquaman (2018) passing the $1 billion milestone. The DCEU is no more, partially due to the box office struggles, and viewers can look forward to the new, hopefully improved DCU, which will begin with Superman. A lot is riding on Superman, meaning it embodies both sides of the definition of “too big to fail.” If it fails, DC Studios will have even bigger problems than they thought.

Fortunately, it has a lot going for it. Experienced superhero film director and producer James Gunn will not just direct Superman, but he’s the new co-chairman and co-CEO of DC Studios with Peter Safran. A new actor, David Corenswet, is stepping into Superman’s tights after multiple films led by Henry Cavill. Corenswet’s supporting cast includes Rachel Brosnahan, Isabela Merced, Nathan Fillion, and Nicholas Hoult. Superman can be a box office hit on curiosity alone, with people eagerly waiting to see if the DCU reboot will succeed.

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6 Avatar 3

December 19, 2025

Avatar 3

Avatar 3 is the third entry in James Cameron’s five-movie franchise set in the fictional world of Pandora. Following Jake Sully and Neytiri’s first encounter in 2009’s Avatar and Colonel Miles Quaritch’s retaliation in 2022’s The Way of Water, Avatar 3 sees the Na’vi heroes come across a fire Na’vi tribe known as the Ash People.

Director James Cameron Release Date December 19, 2025 Writers Josh Friedman , James Cameron Cast Zoe Saldana , Sigourney Weaver , Sam Worthington , Stephen Lang Franchise(s) Avatar prequel(s) Avatar , Avatar: The Way of Water

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Avatar (2009) and its sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), are number one and number three on the list of highest-grossing movies of all time. Despite the 13 years between the two films and a great deal of skepticism that the sequel would be able to perform as well as it needed to (gross over $2 billion) to break even, Avatar: The Way of Water didn’t disappoint at the box office. Thus, there’s no reason Avatar 3 can’t follow in its footsteps.

Writer-director James Cameron plans to make five Avatar films, with Avatar 3 fitting perfectly in the middle. Cameron has also said Avatar 3 will have a “shocking twist” that builds excitement. Criticisms of Avatar’s plots haven’t stopped it from succeeding, and it won’t be surprising if Avatar 3 crosses that big $2 million mark like its predecessors.

5 Frozen III

November 25, 2026

Frozen 3
Not Yet Rated
Animation
Fantasy
Musical

Frozen 3 is the follow-up to the highly successful Frozen 2, released back in 2019 by Walt Disney Pictures and Animation Studios. The film was announced on February 8 2023, The film is a direct sequel to the second film’s events and also cast Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell to reprise their roles as Elsa and Anna.

Main Genre Fantasy

Frozen (2013) and Frozen II (2019) both make the list of the top 20 highest-grossing films of all time, making Elsa and Anna the most bankable Disney princesses. As was the case with many other sequels, many questioned the necessity of Frozen II and the cycle has repeated itself with the upcoming Frozen III. Another cycle that can repeat itself is massive box office success. Unfortunately, the many years between the films and Frozen 4’s announcement could hurt its chances.

However, thanks to Disney+, Frozen III appeals to more than those who saw the first two films in theaters. Kids who were too young at the time (or perhaps not even born) have since streamed it, helping it stay relevant and popular. One of Frozen III’s biggest positives is its soundtrack, which will once again be done by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. “Let It Go” was certified diamond in May 2024, with 10 million units sold, proving “Frozen fever” is alive and well.

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4 Star Wars Episode X: New Jedi Order

December 2026

Star Wars Episode 10

Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi is the first movie to follow the sequel trilogy, where Mark Hamill’s Luke, Carrie Fisher’s Leia, and Harrison Ford’s Han Solo gave their final farewell. After the release of The Rise of Skywalker, development on a direct sequel had become dormant as Disney shifted focus on other parts of the galaxy, namely, Disney+ shows such as The Mandalorian, Andor, and Ahsoka. However, a movie starring Daisy Ridley as Rey Skywalker was officially announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023.

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Director James Mangold Release Date 2025-00-00 Cast Daisy Ridley Franchise(s) Star Wars prequel(s) Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace , Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones , Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith , Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope , Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back , Return of the Jedi , Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens , Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi , Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker

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Star Wars is the most successful non-superhero franchise of all time, and it’s returning to movie theaters in 2026 with Star Wars Episode X: New Jedi Order. Star Wars has been set up as a series of trilogies, and New Jedi Order will take place 15 years after the end of the Sequel Trilogy with The Rise of Skywalker (2019). Despite some complaints about quality, the Star Wars franchise is still extremely successful, with its most recent film earning over $1 billion.

No matter how many films are made, Star Wars will always remain a box office draw. Additionally, Star Wars doesn’t have the problem some franchises do with the long gaps between films because fans can keep themselves occupied with the Star Wars TV shows Disney+ keeps cranking out. New Jedi Order will also bring back Daisy Ridley as Rey, a character many viewers have gotten attached to.

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3 Lord of the Rings: The Hunt For Gollum

2026

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum (2026)
Action
Adventure
Fantasy

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is an upcoming fantasy adventure film that delves into the story of Gollum’s obsession with the One Ring. The film takes place during the events of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, exploring Gollum’s tumultuous past and his relentless pursuit of the Ring. Set in Middle-earth, the story navigates the treacherous landscapes and dark forces that threaten the fate of the Ring.

Director Andy Serkis Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Fran Walsh , Philippa Boyens , Phoebe Gittins , Art Papageorgiou Cast Andy Serkis Franchise(s) The Lord of the Rings

Over 20 years since the original Lord of the Rings trilogy ended and 10 years since the end of The Hobbit trilogy, the franchise will return to the big screen in 2026 with Lord of The Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. Like others on this list, Lord of the Rings is an extremely popular and successful franchise that has remained culturally relevant even without constantly producing new projects. In 2022, Amazon Prime produced The Lord of the Rings: The Ring of Power television show that proved how eager viewers are for new LOTR content.

The iconic voice of Gollum, Andy Serkis, is returning as the star and director of The Hunt for Gollum. Serkis has seen recent success as a filmmaker with Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021). Peter Jackson, who directed every other Lord of the Rings movie, will remain involved as an executive producer. News about The Hunt for Gollum has been tightlipped, and once more details are released, there’s sure to be even more hype.

2 Avengers: Secret Wars

May 7, 2027

Avengers: Secret Wars

Avengers: Secret Wars is the sixth Avengers film and takes place during phase six of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe. The film will see several heroes from the prior phases return and battle against a cosmic threat to rival Thanos, and borrows elements of the Marvel Comics event of the same name.

Release Date May 7, 2027 Studio(s) Marvel Studios Writers Michael Waldron Cast Kathryn Newton , Jonathan Majors , Mark Ruffalo , Benedict Wong , Hailee Steinfeld , Dominique Thorne , Anthony Mackie , Brie Larson , Simu Liu , Benedict Cumberbatch , Iman Vellani , Chris Hemsworth , Xochitl Gomez prequel(s) Avengers: The Kang Dynasty Budget $500 million

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe has experienced many ups and downs in quality and success, with some films breaking box-office records while others wildly underperformed. Some have blamed the MCU’s failures on audience fatigue, as Marvel doesn’t just put multiple films in theaters a year, but there are television releases on Disney+ as well. This would suggest that Avengers: Secret Wars is just worsening this perceived fatigue.

However, Avengers: Secret Wars is what can save the MCU from its slump. Secret Wars is set to be the final film in the MCU Multiverse Saga and Phase 6. Most importantly, it also marks the return of the Avengers films. The most recent Avengers movie was Avengers: Endgame (2019), the highest-grossing MCU film. The Avengers films have been Marvel’s most successful, and casual fans who might have skipped out on other movies in the franchise are more likely to watch Secret Wars simply because it has the Avengers name attached.

1 X-Men

TBA

Marvel’s X-Men
Action
Superhero

Marvel’s X-Men is the tentative title for the future debut of the legendary Marvel mutant superhero team in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

Studio(s) Marvel Studios Writers Michael Lesslie Franchise(s) Marvel

The other major superhero movie to look forward to is Marvel’s X-Men, which currently doesn’t have a release date. There have been multiple X-Men movies, including the original trilogy to the Wolverine trilogy, the prequel films, the Deadpool movies, and the flop spinoff, The New Mutants (2020). Disney obtained 20th Century Fox’s rights to X-Men in the Fox acquisition in 2019. Before the X-Men reboot movie, Deadpool is joining the MCU with Deadpool & Wolverine (2024).

The only detail that’s been revealed about Marvel’s X-Men is its writer. According to Variety, Michael Lesslie, known for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, is in talks to write the film. More details will come with time, and Deadpool & Wolverine will surely provide some information and help build anticipation. Regardless of how viewers may feel about the X-Men joining the MCU, they’re likely to watch to see just how they’ll fit in and what changes will be made to their story.

Sources: Forbes, Variety

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Category: Entertainment