2025 has a major line-up of fantasy movies set for release, including some heavy-hitting franchises and a few wholly original films. January starts off strong with Wolf Man, a reinvention of the classic Universal Horror monster movie directed by Saw co-creator Leigh Wannel. February will be absolutely packed, with the feature-length animated spinoff of Netflix’s The Witcher, Sirens of the Deep, as well as the George R. R. Martin-derived In the Lost Lands and A24’s fantasy adventure The Legend of Ochi.
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Spring will blossom with even more excitement as the animal-zombie-comedy Night of the Zoopocalypse and new live-action Disney adaptation Snow White hit in March, followed by A Minecraft Movie in April and A Big Bold Beautiful Journey in May. Summer brings another live-action update of a classic with How to Train Your Dragon, while the back half of the year is packed with Maggie Gyllenhaal’s musical of Frankenstein The Bride!, plus a new Mortal Kombat, Wicked Part 2, and the third Avatar.
Release dates are subject to change; the following dates are for United States releases only and may vary by region.
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|
Movie Title |
Release Date |
|---|---|
|
Wolf Man |
1/17/2025 |
|
The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep |
2/11/2025 |
|
Into the Lost Lands |
2/28/2025 |
|
The Legend of Ochi |
2/28/2025 |
|
Night of the Zoopocalypse |
3/7/2025 |
|
Disney’s Snow White |
3/21/2025 |
|
A Minecraft Movie |
4/4/2025 |
|
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey |
5/9/2025 |
|
How To Train Your Dragon |
6/13/2025 |
|
The Bride! |
9/26/2025 |
|
Mortal Kombat 2 |
10/24/2025 |
|
Wicked: Part 2 |
11/21/2025 |
|
Avatar: Fire and Ash |
12/19/2025 |
|
The Carnival at the End of the World |
TBD |
|
The Chronicles of Narnia |
TBD |
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1 Wolf Man
January 17, 2025
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Wolf Man
Wolfman is a reboot of the classic Universal Monsters movie The Wolfman. Christopher Abbott stars in the lead role and is helmed by The Invisible Man director Leigh Whannell. The film follows the same premise as the original and the 2010 reboot, focusing on a man who becomes a werewolf after falling victim to an ancient curse.
Universal Studio’s plan for a new unified cinematic universe for their classic horror movie monsters fizzled when 2017’s The Mummy tanked, but their 2020 The Invisible Man remake performed well enough that they decided to take a looser approach to future monster mashes. As a result, Ryan Gosling is producing the new Wolf Man, which is being directed and co-written by Saw mastermind Leigh Wannell.
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Starring Christopher Abbot (Catch-22) after Gosling backed out of the lead role, this new take on the classic horror film promises to be particularly hair-raising, with the film’s stars saying the new design of the werewolf shocked them with how realistic and horrifying it was. With little else to stand in its way on the release schedule, Wolf Man is likely to leave audiences howling for more.
2 The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep
February 11, 2025
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The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep
Based on the hit novel and video game series, The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep is an animated film directed by Kang Hei Chul for Netflix. Series protagonist Geralt of Rivia takes center stage once more as he is hired for a nearly impossible task- to ease tensions between humans and merpeople before they break out into an all-out war.
While the next season of Netflix’s The Witcher has yet to get a release date, its animated spinoff The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep promises to land with a splash in early February. Interestingly, neither the original live-action Geralt, Henry Cavill, or his season 4 replacement Liam Hemsworth will be playing the titular witcher; instead, the role will be played by Doug Cockle, the actor who provided Geralt’s voice for all of CD Projekt Red’s Witcher video games.
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Sirens of the Deep will be set in the relative past of Netflix’s version of the series timeline, between episodes 5 and 6 of the first season. As it fits into their version of the timeline, it’s only appropriate that series stars Anya Cholatra and Joey Batey will be voicing their respective characters of Yennifer of Vengeberg and Jaskier, although it isn’t clear yet how the film’s plot will interface with the live-action series. The original Andrzej Sapkowski story it’s based on, “A Little Sacrifice,” was a standalone part of the Sword of Destiny compliation.
3 In the Lost Lands
February 28, 2025
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10/10 In the Lost Lands
A queen seeks to obtain the power to shape-shift and enlists the sorceress Gray Alys to venture into the perilous Lost Lands to retrieve it. Gray Alys, accompanied by a guide named Boyce, faces deadly creatures and treacherous landscapes. The journey challenges their resolve and reveals the true cost of the queen’s desire.
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Starring action-movie veterans Dave Bautista (Dune: Part Two) and Milla Jovovich (Resident Evil), In the Lost Lands adapts a George R. R. Martin short story by the same name that was first published in the 1982 fantasy anthology Amazons II. Jovovich plays Grey Alys, a witch charged by a queen to bring her the power of shape-shifting, and who sets out into the Lost Lands to find what she needs to grant the queen’s wish. Along the way, she is aided by the enigmatic hunter Boyce (Bautista) in fights against the Lost Lands’ monstrous inhabitants.
While the most successful adaptations of Martin’s work, namely
Game of Thrones
, have all been set in Westeros,
In the Lost Lands
has its own original post-apocalyptic setting.
While the most successful adaptations of Martin’s work, namely Game of Thrones, have all been set in Westeros, In the Lost Lands has its own original post-apocalyptic setting. The film is directed by Paul W. S. Anderson, who has worked with Jovovich extensively on the Resident Evil franchise and other films, as well as being married to her; he described the film as “set in a post-apocalyptic land, so on the surface it’s not a western, but at its heart it is most definitely a western” (via Cinema Retro).
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4 The Legend of Ochi
February 28, 2025
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The Legend of Ochi
The Legend of Ochi, directed by Isaiah Saxon, explores a young girl’s journey as she uncovers the mysteries of animal communication. This adventure embarks on a fantastical quest, bringing themes of discovery and connection to the forefront of her world.
Independent studio A24 continues to expand their wheelhouse with whimsical fantasy adventure The Legend of Ochi, starring Helena Zengel, Stranger Things‘ Finn Wolfhard, and A24 casting mainstay Willem Dafoe. The film is also the feature debut of director Isaiah Saxon, who has received copious critical acclaim for his work directing music videos for various artists.
Some artists Saxon has worked with are Björk, Grizzly Bear, and Panda Bear (no relation).
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In The Legend of Ochi, Yuri (Zengel) discovers a young Ochi, a mysterious forest creature that she has been taught to fear by the members of her isolated island community. When the small creature proves to be much less dangerous than she was told, Yuri makes it her mission to return the Ochi to its family, despite everything her monster-hunting father says. While the visuals of the film look epic, it still looks to be very much an A24 film, with a deep focus on personal connection.
5 Night of the Zoopocalypse
March 7, 2025
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Night of the Zoopocalypse
Night of the Zoopocalypse is a sci-fi thriller set in 2025, where a meteor-induced virus turns zoo animals into zombies. A wolf and a mountain lion join forces with other survivors to reclaim the zoo and thwart the plans of a deranged mutant leader seeking to spread the virus.
Inspired by a short story by horror legend Clive Barker (Hellraiser) and directed by animation veterans Ricardo Curtis (The Incredibles) and Rodrigo Perez-Castro (The Book of Life), this family-friendly zombie apocalypse takes place in a zoo that has been struck by a strange meteor which releases a virus that turns the zoo animals into zombies. A group of plucky animals band together in order to prevent the virus from spreading and destroying the world.
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With voice work from Stranger Things‘s David Harbour and The Mandalorian‘s Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Night of the Zoopocalypse promises to be an interesting film, with much of the production using gimmicks from horror films but dressing them up in more kid-appropriate garb. This zombie in sheep’s clothing had its film festival premiere in October 2024, and will have its theatrical release in the U.S. and Canada in March of 2025.
6 Disney’s Snow White
March 21, 2025
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Disney’s Snow White
Snow White is a live-action adaptation of the 1937 classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Directed by Marc Webb, this newest iteration of the iconic character stars Rachel Zegler as Snow White alongside Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen. Originally slated to release in 2024, Snow White was delayed a year to 2025 partly due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
Disney’s latest in their series of live-action remakes of their Golden Age animated hits, Snow White stars Rachel Zegler in the title role, fresh off her princess debut in competitor Netflix’s Spellbound. The Evil Queen, Disney’s very first villain, will be played by Gal Godot (Wonder Woman).
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The adaptation promises to change some things from the original, with at least one new song from songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who also wrote the new songs for Disney’s live-action 2019 Aladdin, although original Snow White classic tunes “Heigh-Ho” and “Whistle While You Work” will still feature in the film. With numerous controversies and delays dogging the production since 2020, and Snow White‘s budget possibly nearing an absurd $270 million, Disney’s new Snow White will have a lot to prove at the box office when it releases in March.
7 A Minecraft Movie
April 4, 2025
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A Minecraft Movie
Based on the worldwide phenomenon Minecraft, the crafting, building, adventuring game from Mojang Studios, comes A Minecraft 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.
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Minecraft has become one of the most popular video games of all time, and so it’s no surprise that it’s getting a big-screen adaptation, although the project has actually been in development since 2014. A Minecraft Movie will follow a group of four misfit Minecraft players who somehow find their way into the video game’s literally cubist world and be confronted with challenges that will help them succeed in their lives if and when they can make it back to the real world.
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With an all-star cast including Jason Momoa (Dune), Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple), Jennifer Coolidge (Shotgun Wedding), Matt Berry (the What We Do In The Shadows series), and Jack Black (Borderlands), A Minecraft Movie will be a fascinating exploration of the source game’s open world. Although the Minecraft game is fairly light on story, the trailers for A Minecraft Movie promise epic adventure and a world of possibility.
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8 A Big Bold Beautiful Journey
May 9, 2025
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A Big Bold Beautiful Journey
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is a cinematic narrative that follows the transformative experiences of individuals seeking personal growth against the backdrop of diverse global landscapes. The film’s exploration of self-discovery and resilience is portrayed through its characters’ interactions and adventures throughout their travels.
While very little information about A Big Bold Beautiful Journey‘s story has come to light, it’s clear that the film is a real passion project for director Kogonada (After Yang). Described as a “romantic fantasy” and an “exploration of self-discovery and resilience,” the film was written by Upright Citizens Brigade and late-night talk show writers’ room veteran Seth Reiss.
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey stars Margot Robbie in her first role since 2022’s Barbie, with Colin Farrell alongside her, and an impressive supporting cast. With this much talent both in front of and behind the camera, this enigmatic film may yet prove to be an award-winner once it releases in late spring 2025.
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9 How To Train Your Dragon
June 13, 2025
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How to Train Your Dragon
How to Train Your Dragon, set on the Viking island of Berk, follows Hiccup, a young Viking who challenges tradition by befriending a Night Fury dragon named Toothless. Their bond reveals new insights about dragons and transforms Viking society’s understanding of these creatures.
DreamWorks has jumped on the live-action adaptation bandwagon with How to Train Your Dragon, based on the hit 2010 CGI fantasy adventure. Like the original, the film will follow young Viking misfit Hiccup, here played by Mason Thames instead of Jay Baruchel, as he discovers that the dragons that have been plaguing his village of Berk maybe aren’t such a menace as his community thinks.
People were split between praise for the faithful recreation of the beloved film and concerns that the adaptation would be too derivative.
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Gerard Butler will be reprising his role as Hiccup’s father, Stoick the Vast, but none of the other actors from the original film are slated to return. After the first trailer for the live-action How to Train Your Dragon revealed a significant number of frame-for-frame recreations of shots from the original, people were split between praise for the faithful recreation of the beloved film and concerns that the adaptation would be too derivative. Audiences will be able to find out for themselves in June.
10 The Bride!
September 26, 2025
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The Bride!
The Bride! is a 2025 horror romance film written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal. The film is set in 1930s Chicago, where Dr. Euphronius creates Frankenstein a companion. Christian Bale stars as Frankenstein alongside Annette Benning, Jessie Buckley, Penélope Cruz, and Peter Sarsgaard.
The Bride! promises to be one of the most unique and strange films hitting movie theaters in 2025, and that’s even accounting for the fact that it’s not the only Frankenstein-related film coming out that year. Yet while monster-movie mastermind Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein promises to be as full of sympathy for the monstrous as any of his other films, The Bride! has an even more unique take thanks to director Maggie Gyllenhaal.
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Related This Universal Monsters Detail Makes Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Upcoming Frankenstein Movie Even More Exciting
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Unlike other Frankenstein films (excepting Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein on a technicality), The Bride! will be a musical — a genre that star Christian Bale has plenty of experience with, considering one of his first starring roles in a film was in 1992’s musical Newsies. With additional star power from Jessie Buckley (Wicked Little Letters) as the titular Bride, Annette Benning (Nyad), and Peter Sarsgaard (September 5), this song-and-dance spin on the classic Bride of Frankenstein is potentially one of the most exciting films of 2025.
11 Mortal Kombat 2
October 24, 2025
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10/10 Mortal Kombat 2
The sequel to the Mortal Kombat 2021 film franchise reboot, Mortal Kombat 2, will follow the original cast and new faces as they prepare for the Mortal Kombat tournament. Cole Young and his allies will continue training and enlisting new warriors to prepare for the contest between Earthrealm and Outworld, which will determine the fate of humanity.
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The Mortal Kombat film franchise has always struggled to find its feet, with 1997’s particularly pungent Mortal Kombat: Annihilation shunting any chance of a sequel into development hell until James Wan managed to get his own entry to the series off the ground; Wan’s Mortal Kombat released in 2021 in theaters and on streaming to mixed but positive responses, and managed to perform well enough that a sequel was greenlit.
Like its predecessor, Mortal Kombat 2 will be an R-rated take on the video games, which were so unprecedentedly violent that they led to the creation of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (via Polygon), the gaming equivalent of the MPAA. With most of the original cast returning, including Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Mehcad Brooks, and Tadanobu Asano, and several new stars – most notably Karl Urban as fan-favorite Kombatant Johnny Cage – Mortal Kombat 2 looks like it will be the most violent cinematic trip to Outworld yet.
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12 Wicked: Part Two
November 21, 2025
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Wicked: Part Two
Wicked: Part Two is the sequel to the 2024 film adaptation of the popular Broadway stage musical. The film explores the origins of the Wicked Witch of the West, known as Elphaba, as the world of Oz is told from a brand new perspective.
The film adaptation of Broadway smash Wicked, itself adapted from the book of the same title that was a spin on the classic The Wizard of Oz (which was also a book first), was initially meant to be a single film, but its long development time and extremely large ruby slippers to fill meant that it was split into two parts in order to avoid having to cut anything important for character development. The first part has already been lauded with numerous awards; Wicked even had the largest box office opening ever for a film based on a Broadway musical.
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Wicked: Part Two is still in post-production and on schedule for its release on November 21, 2025; if audience opinions about the first part are any indication, Part Two may well exceed its predecessor at the box office. The film will adapt the Broadway musical’s second act, following on from Part One‘s explosive finale and showing the consequences of Elphaba’s departure from the Emerald City.
13 Avatar: Fire and Ash
December 19, 2025
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Avatar: Fire and Ash
Avatar: Fire and Ash 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: Fire and Ash sees the Na’vi heroes come across a fire Na’vi tribe known as the Ash People.
James Cameron’s titanic Avatar franchise will continue in 2025 as the third film, Avatar: Fire and Ash, continues to explore the wildness of Pandora. Blending science-fiction and fantasy elements, with just a dash of Dances with Wolves, the films follow former U.S. Marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) as he sides with Pandora’s indigenous inhabitants, the Na’vi, in a power struggle against the greedy predations of Earth’s military and megacorporations.
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While Avatar released in 2009, its first sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water didn’t come out until 2022 due to delays caused by needing to develop new ways of filming the movie’s extreme underwater motion-capture action sequences. Fire and Ash will continue with Jake’s story as he and his Na’vi family encounter a new tribe of Na’vi, the Ash People, and also must defend themselves as Earth’s Resources Development Administration continues its attempt to strip Pandora of its resources.
14 The Carnival at the End of Days
TBD
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The Carnival at the End of Days (2025)
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British absurdist filmmaker Terry Gilliam’s first project since 2018’s The Man Who Killed Don Quixote still lacks a definitive premiere date, but may manage to make a 2025 release depending on how well the production sticks to its shooting schedule. The Carnival at the End of Days will be a dark comedy, as most of Gilliam’s work is, that explores apocalyptic themes that are designed to subvert audience expectations.
Starring Johnny Depp as Satan and Jeff Bridges as God, Carnival will tell a story of God deciding the apocalypse needs to begin, but finds that Satan objects to the end of the world, and has picked a pair of mortals to demonstrate that humanity hasn’t squandered their potential. With Asa Butterfield, Adam Driver, and Jason Momoa also reportedly attached, but little other details available, this may prove to be an interesting film, or it may wind up in the same two-decade development hell as The Man Who Killed Don Quixote.
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15 The Chronicles of Narnia
TBD
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The Chronicles of Narnia
The Chronicles of Narnia is a fantasy franchise based on the seven-book series written by C.S. Lewis between 1950 and 1956. The series is set in the magical world of Narnia, where children from our world are transported to fulfill prophecies, battle evil forces, and restore peace under the guidance of Aslan, a mystical lion. The franchise has seen multiple adaptations, including a BBC television series in the late 1980s, three major Hollywood films between 2005 and 2010, and an upcoming reboot by Netflix, which has generated significant anticipation. The franchise is beloved for its rich allegorical storytelling, blending Christian themes with epic fantasy elements.
The first of two Narnia films from director Greta Gerwig will begin shooting in 2025, and given the important role that Christmas plays in at least one of the original Narnia books, it’s possible that a Christmas-season release may be in the cards for the latest adaptation of the series. Streaming giant Netflix is producing, but beyond that, very little information has been made available about these movies.
A recent slip in an interview with actor Jason Isaacs indicates that the first film in production may not be The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, which Narnia adaptations usually start with, but instead The Magician’s Nephew, which is the first book in the series’ timeline (although it was the sixth released). Another comment from producer Amy Pascal said Gerwig’s Narnia films would be “all about rock and roll,” which is confusing given the Narnia series is about as far from rock and roll as it’s possible to be.
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