As 2025 gets nearer and nearer, studios have announced a number of new movies that are coming to theaters and streaming, and as it turns out, a significant portion of these films are reboots of beloved stories and huge franchises. In recent years, Hollywood has entered a golden age of reboots and remakes. Countless franchises have started fresh with new casts and even new stories following familiar characters. While some reboots may seem unnecessary, others can truly revitalize a dying franchise. Thus, the many reboots coming to theaters in 2025 have the chance to be major successes.
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What makes 2025’s reboots even more exciting is that they cover a vast range of genres and forms. Some 2025 reboots are live-action adaptations of animated stories, while others are remakes of popular films of the past. Some of these reboots are the first instance of a story being rebooted, but others are the latest in a long line of remakes. However, these reboots almost all have the following in common: amazing casts, outstanding budgets, and the potential to be the highest-grossing movies released in 2025.
11 Wolf Man
1941’s The Wolf Man
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One of the very first reboots to premiere in 2025 is Wolf Man. Directed by Saw’s Leigh Whannell, this horror remake is based on the 1941 film, The Wolf Man, which follows a man who is attacked by a wolf and begins experiencing some horrifying changes. Although Wolf Man has made a few changes to the original story, giving the main character a wife and daughter, the general premise is the same. Christopher Abbott’s Blake starts to act strange after being attacked by a wolf.
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Wolf Man
is particularly exciting because its franchise isn’t as well known as some of the other 2025 reboots.
Wolf Man is particularly exciting because its franchise isn’t as well known as some of the other 2025 reboots. Audiences are likely familiar with stories like Wolf Man, but many probably have not seen the original The Wolf Man. In this way, Wolf Man has the opportunity to reintroduce viewers to this exciting story via its star-studded cast and crew, which also includes Ozark’s Julia Garner. Wolf Man is set to premiere on January 17, 2025.
10 Superman
DC’s Superman Franchise
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A reboot of particular importance that is coming in 2025 is Superman. Over the years, DC’s Superman franchise has had several adaptations with a number of different actors playing Superman, from Christopher Reeve to Henry Cavill. Now, the company is taking on their red-caped alien once again, with David Coreswet in the lead role. Rachel Brosnahan will play Lois Lane, Milly Alcock will play Supergirl, and Nicholas Hoult will take on the role of Lex Luthor.
Aside from being a massive IP, Superman is exciting because it is the first movie in James Gunn’s DCU, or DC Universe. Therefore, Superman will set the stage for a new era of DC that will, hopefully, end the company’s streak of poorly received superhero movies. Fortunately, Superman has many strengths going for it, including its incredible cast and its familiar story, which has yet to get old for viewers, even decades after its initial comic book release. Superman will premiere on July 11, 2025.
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9 How To Train Your Dragon
2010’s How To Train Your Dragon
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Another reboot project to look forward to in 2025 is How to Train Your Dragon. Based on the 2010 animated movie of the same name, 2025’s How to Train Your Dragon will be a live-action movie which follows Hiccup, a Viking teenager who begins to ask questions about whether the dragons his people fight are actually their enemies. In the process, he befriends a dragon, who he names Toothless. The film is being written and directed by the franchise’s original writer and director, Dean DeBlois.
DreamWorks is also returning to its roots by premiering
Shrek 5
in 2026.
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For many years now, Disney has been on a mission to create live-action adaptations of its most popular animated films. This endeavor has led to varying degrees of success. Now, it seems DreamWorks is taking the same approach, at least with one of its beloved films. There is no telling how successful 2025’s How to Train Your Dragon will be, but considering the success of the animated movies, the upcoming film has a strong foundation to leap from. How to Train Your Dragon is coming out on June 13, 2025.
8 The Smurfs Movie
The Smurfs Franchise
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The reboot that may have the biggest cast of the year is The Smurfs Movie. Though not much is known about the plot, The Smurfs Movie is a 2025 animated musical film that will follow the well-known blue characters, the Smurfs. The voice cast includes stars like Rihanna, Natasha Lyonne, Nick Kroll, Dan Levy, Octavia Spencer, James Corden, Kurt Russell, and more. Although the film was supposed to premiere at the end of 2024, it was pushed to its current release date, July 18, 2025.
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After such a long wait, hopes are high that The Smurfs Movie will end up being a fun and enjoyable adaptation. It will definitely feel like a fresh take, as the previous Smurfs movies were live-action adaptations. Now, with a focus on animation and music, The Smurfs Movie can provide a take on the beloved blue creatures that may hark back to the original on-screen adaptations. It will be interesting to see how The Smurfs Movie refreshes this long-running franchise.
7 The Bride!
1935’s Bride Of Frankenstein
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What may be one of the most unique reboots to be released in 2025 is The Bride! Directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, this movie will be a fresh take on the 1935 movie, Bride of Frankenstein, which sees Dr. Frankenstein forced to continue his experiments by creating a bride for his original monster, who is on the run from those who want to destroy him. The cast of The Bride! includes Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Penélope Cruz, and Peter Sarsgaard.
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Although not much is known yet about the plot of The Bride!, the movie looks like it will be an interesting watch. The first looks of Bale and Buckley as Frankenstein’s Monster and the Bride of Frankenstein show the movie’s colorful and chaotic style. Furthermore, Saragaard has mentioned that the film will include “big dance numbers” (The Hollywood Reporter), which is an even bigger hint that The Bride! will subvert expectations. The movie is slated to premiere on September 26, 2025.
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6 Lilo & Stitch
2002’s Lilo & Stitch
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It would not be a new year of movies without some live-action Disney adaptations, and one of these is 2025’s Lilo & Stitch. Based on the 2002 animated film of the same name, Lilo & Stitch follows a young Hawaiian girl named Lilo who befriends a strange yet adorable alien named Stitch. However, their friendship is disrupted by the fact that Stitch is being tracked down by the alien authorities. Lilo & Stitch is set to premiere on May 23, 2025.
Lilo & Stitch
stands out from other Disney live-action remakes because it isn’t necessarily the first movie audiences would think of when listing Disney’s most popular entries.
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Lilo & Stitch stands out from other Disney live-action remakes because it isn’t necessarily the first movie audiences would think of when listing Disney’s most popular entries. For the most part, Disney has focused on adapting its biggest IPs, from princess movies like Beauty and the Beast to icons like The Lion King. In this way, Lilo & Stitch is a bit different because it is more of an underrated gem. However, bringing an often forgotten Disney story into the limelight could mean amazing success for Disney, as they pull on audiences’ nostalgia.
5 Frankenstein
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
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Back in the horror genre, another 2025 reboot is Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein. Since the publication of Mary Shelley’s groundbreaking horror novel, Frankenstein, Hollywood has made several attempts at adapting the story, and in the early 1900s, they found quite a bit of success. Now, del Toro is reviving the monster movie with a star-studded cast, including Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, and Mia Goth. The movie will be released on Netflix, but has no release date yet.
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The most exciting thing about 2025’s Frankenstein is its director. Throughout his career, del Toro has proven his skill in creating unique atmospheres and unforgettable characters. The gothic ambiance of Crimson Peak and the sea monster in The Shape of Water are just two examples. Thus, putting such an iconic horror story in del Toro’s hands seems like the best-case scenario. There is little doubt that the director will put a special flair on his remake.
4 The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Fantastic Four Franchise
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One of the most highly anticipated reboots of 2025 is The Fantastic Four: First Steps. These Marvel superheroes are yet another IP that has seen a number of adaptations over the years, and just like DC with Superman, Marvel is now trying to start fresh with these characters. So far, their efforts are looking positive, as the cast includes beloved stars such as Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Vanessa Kirby, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. The movie will premiere in the summer, on July 25, 2025.
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There are a number of elements that make The Fantastic Four: First Steps a movie to look forward to. The Fantastic Four are a beloved sect of the MCU, though they have been overshadowed in recent years by The Avengers. However, the team will now get a second chance to shine. It also helps that the movie is set in a 1960s-inspired world that will make it stand out from other iterations. All in all, the movie looks like it could rescue Marvel from its recent streak of duds.
3 Snow White
1937 Snow White
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The second Disney live-action remake hitting theaters in 2025 is Snow White. This movie will adapt Disney’s very first princess movie, which follows a young woman named Snow White who is cast out by her wicked stepmother and finds solace with a group of friendly dwarves. Unlike Lilo & Stitch, Snow White is far from being underrated, and will likely pull in a number of interested viewers. Snow White’s cast includes Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot, and Andrew Burnap.
Snow White
will premiere on March 21, 2025.
Snow White is a 2025 remake that could either do very well or very poorly at the box office and among critics. On one hand, some of Disney’s live-action adaptations have been overwhelming successes, becoming the company’s highest-grossing movies ever. However, other adaptations have had less-than-stellar performances. Considering Snow White’s popularity, but also Snow White’s controversies, the movie could land on either side of the spectrum.
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2 The Running Man
1982’s The Running Man
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One 2025 reboot that is a bit different from the others is The Running Man. Based on the 1982 Stephen King novel and the 1987 movie adaptation, 2025’s The Running Man follows Ben Richards, a prisoner who gets pulled into a dystopian reality show which offers criminals a chance at freedom if they can survive against a group of deadly stalkers. The movie, which is set to premiere on November 21, 2025, will star Glen Powell as Richards, alongside Katy O’Brian, Josh Brolin, Michael Cera, and William H. Macy.
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The Running Man is another franchise that audiences may not be as familiar with, but that may be what helps boost this film to popularity. Despite being a remake, this is one movie that doesn’t feel like it is going over the same familiar territory. Instead, it feels fresh and interesting, and perhaps even socially relevant due to its dystopian ties. All in all, with Powell in the leading role, The Running Man has a chance at being an unexpected hit.
1 The Chronicles Of Narnia
C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles Of Narnia
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Finally, one of the most highly anticipated reboots of 2025 is Greta Gerwig’s The Chronicles of Narnia. After her success with Barbie, Gerwig is one of the most sought after directors in Hollywood, which makes her reboot of C.S. Lewis’s classic fantasy novels all the more exciting. Although Gerwig has only signed on to direct two movies out of a potential seven, this first entry in the reboot series could set the stage for an amazing return to the magical world of Narnia.
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|
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis |
|
|---|---|
|
Title |
Publication Date |
|
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe |
October 16, 1950 |
|
Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia |
October 15, 1951 |
|
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader |
September 15, 1952 |
|
The Silver Chair |
September 7, 1953 |
|
The Horse and His Boy |
September 6, 1954 |
|
The Magician’s Nephew |
May 2, 1955 |
|
The Last Battle |
September 4, 1956 |
The Chronicles of Narnia does not have a release date yet, but with filming starting in August 2024, many believe that the film could premiere by the end of 2025, around the holiday season. There are also rumors that Louis Partridge has joined the cast of The Chronicles of Narnia, though his role has yet to be confirmed. All in all, nostalgia alone could definitely boost this reboot to success, but if it ends up being a strong adaptation, it could completely revive a sleeping movie franchise.
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