Coming Soon: Working Title's Most Anticipated Movies of 2025
Let's talk about the upcoming year in film
Editor’s Note: This newsletter was originally supposed to be published on Friday, January 10th 2025. Due to the Eaton Fire near my home in Los Angeles (which I encourage you to still find ways to help with), it has been sitting in the drafts while we focused on recovery efforts and our Sundance recap. In the spirit of the exercise, we have decided to leave in a few movies that we were anticipating but may have since been released. Thank you, as always, for reading Working Title.
In our 2024 Year In Review newsletter, I mentioned that the phrase around the movie industry was “Survive ‘Til ‘25.” Well folks, for better or for worse (narrator with a full month of hindsight voice: definitely for worse) we have made it to 2025. We survived and now it appears we have a huge slate of movies coming our way from the backlog that was 2023 and 2024.
For last year’s most anticipated we gave a lot of context around both the release schedule due to the strikes and the state of streaming but I don’t think we need to do that. You know already know how annoying (and expensive) streaming is and the release schedule for this year is a lot more concrete that it was last year.
This year, I would simply like to encourage you to go see more movies in theaters. This is probably easier said than done and there are plenty of external factors that might prevent you from doing this. Price, time, people’s bad theater etiquette, etc… These are all very reasonable grounds for skipping the theater and watching at home, but I really think there’s something to be said about seeing a movie on a big screen and having a collective experience with your friends and other people. I’ve got a group of guys (shoutout to the Buffet, Stills, Nash, and Young Movie Group Chat) that I see movies with almost weekly and it’s one of the things I most look forward to when a new movie comes out. There’s a lot of stuff making it’s way to theaters this year, catch a few! I know I’m probably preaching to the choir if you’re reading this newsletter, but I never miss a chance to advocate for theatrical exhibition.
Joining me to look ahead to this year’s new releases are Steph Mill (as always) and James Lockhart, who you may remember from our 2024 year in review.
A couple of housekeeping notes before we begin.
1. Each movie listed will have their tentative release date, but those are always subject to change. Release dates can be a bit tricky; some are absolutely locked in while some movies won’t have a confirmed date outside of “2025.”
2. Some movies may have been released last year at festivals and things of that nature, but will be reaching larger audiences this year. We’ll include those for this year’s releases since that’s when most people will have access to them.
3. If available, trailers for will be linked in the movies title.
Let’s build the hype meter.
Movie: Den of Thieves 2: Pantera
Tentative Release Date: January 10th
I am an unapologetic fan of the first DEN OF THIEVES. I think it’s non-ironically good and I’m excited to see the continuing adventures of Big Nick (Gerard Butler) overseas while he breaks bad with Donnie (O’Shea Jackson Jr.) to steal some diamonds. Let’s absolutely go. - Saul
Movie: The Monkey
Tentative Release Date: February 21st
Following one of the best marketing promotions I’ve seen in recent memory with LONGLEGS, Perkins is on the right track yet again for THE MONKEY. The trailer released in early January, and quickly became the most watched independent horror film trailer… ever? That’s not the fun part though. Literally a week ago, Neon attempted to air a trailer for the film on four major TV networks, and all four rejected the studio, citing the film's "excessive violence". Neon released screenshots of that. Now THIS is how you market a movie. - Steph
While LONGLEGS didn’t live up to it’s crazy marketing campaign, it was a personal favorite of mine last year and it looks like THE MONKEY is headed down the same road. I enjoy Oz Perkins’ direction and Stephen King himself said this movie was a great adaptation of his work. It looks bloody and hilarious. - Saul
Movie: Mickey 17
Tentative Release Date: March 7th
Getting a bit worried about this one, which seemed to be an obvious box office banger when we first heard of it a couple of years ago, and has seen so many delays now that you have to wonder what’s been holding this thing up. But the trailer I’ve now seen roughly 6 times while catching up on awards movies in theaters over the past month seems promising, and Robert Pattinson can do no wrong. - James
I think this movie has been on my “most anticipated” list for like 3 years in a row now and it’s moved dates more than a guy from Tinder. I need it to finally come out. A Bong Joon Ho/Robert Pattinson collab? With Naomi Ackie, Mark Ruffalo, and Toni Collette? I’ve needed it since it was announced. Just a few weeks away. We can do this. - Saul
If this film gets delayed one more fucking time I swear to god………
(Side note: If you read this newsletter regularly and you don’t know anything about this, take this as a sign to go do your homework on the extended lore behind this release). - Steph
Movie: Black Bag
Tentative Release Date: March 14th
It’s spy movie starring Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett directed by Steven Soderberg. I’ll be there. - Saul
Movie: Opus
Tentative Release Date: March 14th
While I was at Sundance, this was one of the movies of the festival that was getting the most buzz. It stars John Malkovich and Ayo Ediberi and it’s a classic A24 horror tinged story. I’ve heard that it fell flat for some people, but I’m excited to check it out. - Saul
A young writer (Ayo Edebiri) is invited to the remote compound of a legendary pop star (John Malkovich?!?!) who mysteriously disappeared 30 years ago. This just hit Sundance and early reviews are not so hot, but that won’t stop me and my Ayo fan club! - Steph
Movie: Sinners
Tentative Release Date: April 18th
The last time Ryan Coogler directed a movie it was BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER and while I’m certainly one to enjoy a superhero movie, it’s nice to get him out of the Marvel Machine and back to original stories. Couple that with the fact that he’s teaming up with Michael B. Jordan (who’s playing twins) again to make a movie about vampires and baby you’ve got yourself a stew. - Saul
Movie: The Ritual
Tentative Release Date: April 18th
I am interested to see if Al Pacino the actor dies in this movie. - James
Movie: The Accountant 2
Tentative Release Date: April 25th
Very excited for another installment in this story, which gave equal parts John Wick ripoff and Disney Channel Original Movie. If they play their cards right, THE ACCOUNTANT franchise can have what the DEN OF THIEVES franchise has by the time the third movie rolls around. That’s a world I want to live in. - James
Movie: Another Simple Favor
Tentative Release Date: May 1st
If you haven’t seen A SIMPLE FAVOR I highly recommend it - a really, really good time of a movie that made absolutely no sense. Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick made out, and that was only like the fourth craziest thing that happened. I have no idea what the sequel could possibly be about, and for that reason, I’m in. - James
Sounds like I gotta fire up A SIMPLE FAVOR. - Saul
Movie: Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
Tentative Release Date: May 23rd
I’m going to sound like a Taylor Swift-level conspiracy theorist for a minute, but I am 99.999% convinced that the title of this film is suggesting that Tom Cruise is going to perform an actual life-threatening, final stunt so extreme that he may actually be recorded dying for his love of stunts. On IMAX. I am also one hundred percent convinced that he has something written in his will and film contracts about this, that if his death should occur on camera, that the people deserve to still enjoy a great time at the movies. No idea how this works with production insurance on the film, but that’s neither here nor there. - Steph
One of the best things about a new MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE movie coming out means I get to re-watch all of the other MISSION:IMPOSSIBLE movies leading up to it. I can’t believe this may really be it for a franchise I’ve loved watching for almost 30 years (!) now. Can’t wait to see how they bring together all the other IMF missions for one final ride and I’m positive Tom Cruise is going to die for real on screen as a final gift to cinema. See you at the movies! - Saul
Movie: Friendship
Tentative Release Date: May 2025
This one is kind of cheating because I actually saw it last year at a test screening, but I have been thinking about it pretty much ever since I saw it and I am genuinely excited to watch it again. If you like I Think You Should Leave or Tim Robinson’s whole deal, you’ll absolutely love this one. Paul Rudd is awesome in this as well and I laughed for the duration, it’s so good. - Saul
Movie: From The World Of John Wick: Ballerina
Tentative Release Date: June 6th
Ana de Armas was in the final Bond installment a few years ago and her fight sequence with Daniel Craig was maybe the most fun single scene in that entire film. She’s clearly got the chops for an action movie and I’m always game to return to the world of John Wick. - Saul
Movie: 28 Years Later
Tentative Release Date: June 20th
Something that was NoT On mY 2025 BiNgO CaRd was being stoked about a zombie movie filmed on an iPhone 15! - Steph
This is my favorite trailer of 2025 so far, it absolutely rocks. Enough to intrigue, but doesn’t give a ton away and it’s creepy as hell. It’s been a long time since we’ve been in the 28 Days/Weeks universe but I’m happy to return, especially with a cast like this and an Alex Garland script. We just might be back. - Saul
Movie: F1
Tentative Release Date: June 27th
This is allegedly the most expensive movie ever made and for that reason alone, I simply gotta see it. Also, after TOP GUN: MAVERICK, I really trust Joseph Kosinski to cook up some incredible high speed action scenes. Let’s go racing, bruv. - Saul
Movie: M3ghan 2.0
Tentative Release Date: June 27th
This movie was one of the best “in theater” experiences I had in 2022 and I’m so glad we’re getting our newest horror icon back in theaters. Brat summer is alive in 2025 and it’s because of M3GHAN. - Saul
Movie: Jurassic World: Rebirth
Tentative Release Date: July 2nd
Of all the IP/Legacy slop out there, I find it hardest to resist the siren song of the JURASSIC WORLD franchise. I like seeing big dinosaurs wreaking havoc, mayhem, things of that nature. I know this is like the second reboot of something that probably should just be left alone (like dinosaurs) but Mahershala Ali and Scarlett Johansson directed by Gareth Edwards gives me some hope. Plus, some of the dinosaurs in the trailer looked real fucked up, which is cool as hell. - Saul
Movie: Untitled Trey Parker Project
Tentative Release Date: July 4th
All I know about this is that it’s a movie written and directed by Trey Parker and (allegedly) stars Kendrick Lamar. Brother, I will be first in line. - Saul
Movie: Superman
Tentative Release Date: July 11th
I like the James Gunn experience for better or for worse. I think he’s got a knack for this “found family” type thing (see: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLS 1-3) and it’s obvious he cares about the character of Superman. I really liked Henry Cavill in the role, I just think he wasn’t given anything to do. There’s a lot of really fun young actors in this like David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, and my guy Nicholas Hoult. I want a good Superman movie and I think we might finally get one. - Saul
Movie: Fantastic Four: First Steps
Tentative Release Date: July 25th
Sorry to do two superhero movies back to back in here. I know we’re supposed to hate them because they (Marvel specifically) ruined theatrical moviegoing as we know it. I don’t disagree with you and I have cooled on Marvel significantly post ENDGAME. That said, I won’t pretend like I don’t think this looks good, it does! The cast is awesome and I’m hopeful we finally get a worthy Fantastic Four movie. This has potential - Saul
Movie: One Battle After Another (also potentially named The Battle of Baktan Cross)
Tentative Release Date: August 8th
They got Paul Thomas Anderson adapting another Pynchon novel with Leo and Regina King? With a big ass budget? Can I buy a ticket right now? - Saul
Zero information available at this one except that it stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina Hall, Sean Penn, Alana Haim, Benicio Del Toro annnnd Chase Infiniti (is this not the name of 2 banks?). Guess Daniel Day Lewis didn’t lie about retiring. Whatever. The film bro in me is thrilled either way. - Steph
The King is coming back. They gave him over a hundred mil to make another Pynchon adaptation. Couldn’t be more excited to see how this goes. One piece of this film that’s gone a bit under the radar that I really can’t wait to see is PTA working with Benicio del Toro - I know my guy Paul loves a crazy man, and there’s nobody crazier. - James
Movie: Caught Stealing
Tentative Release Date: August 29th
A former baseball player finds himself immersed in criminality in New York in the 1990s. That’s the log line of this new Darren Arnofsky joint starring the one and only Austin Butler. I’m on the Butler Bandwagon (still plenty of room, folks) and this sounds like a real heater. - Saul
Movie: Him
Tentative Release Date: September 19th
I heard they’re making a sports horror movie! Ok I’m in! Thanks! - James
Movie: The Bride!
Tentative Release Date: September 26th
A twist on a classic, THE BRIDE! follows, well, the bride of Frankenstein. Maggie Gyllenhaal enlists some icons including Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Penelope Cruz, Peter Sarsgaard, and Annette Bening. As a surprise to absolutely no one, I’m probably more excited for this than FRANKENSTEIN. That could be due to the fact that I believe THE BRIDE is expected to hit theatres while FRANKENSTEIN will be a Netflix release. And you know I’m a movie theatre bitch. Imagine Netflix didn’t ruin everything and both came out the same weekend? On da big screen? This is the Barbenheimer the people deserve!!! - Steph
Movie: Saw XI
Tentative Release Date: September 26th
Unfortunately I am still anticipating every new SAW release even though I haven’t rated a single one on Letterboxd over 3 stars since the first installment in 2004. Let me have my fun! - Steph
Movie: Roofman
Tentative Release Date: October 3rd
The true story of Jeffrey Manchester, commonly known simply as the titular ROOFMAN, played by Channing Tatum. Manchester has robbed anywhere between 40-60 McDonalds locations by drilling into the roof and dropping in. Yo, I bet he watched Mission Impossible. That’s SUCH a Mission Impossible move. Wonder if he would be in on my Tom Cruise theory. - Steph
Movie: Guilermo del Toro’s Frankenstein
Tentative Release Date: October 3rd (but also, maybe November?)
This is gonna be cool and all, but there’s like no way they can make Jacob Elordi a “horrifying monster,” right? I can feel the Nosferatu effect happening already. - Steph
Del Toro was cooking with his overlooked gothic horror CRIMSON PEAK, so I have hopes that this could be another banger. - Saul
Movie: The Running Man
Tentative Release Date: November 7th
I will almost always be seated for a Stephen King adaptation, this is no exception. Set in an (eerily not so foreign) future where the government controls the media, Ben (Glen Powell) signs up for a game show where he will be hunted by professional murderers over the course of 30 days. Survive and receive a handsome cash prize. Otherwise, be murdered. I am a new member of the Glen Powell hype train, but I’m happy to be here! - Steph
I’m especially intrigued by this movie for a few reasons. First, it’s a Stephen King adaptation. Second, I am the conductor of the Glen Powell hype train. And finally, Edgar Wright back behind the camera. More like man, I’m running to see this movi-
*I am shot in the chest 57 times* - Saul
Movie: Bugonia
Tentative Release Date: November 7th
Adapted from an early 2000s South Korean film entitled ‘SAVE THE GREEN PLANET!’, Lanthimos is back with his gun to Emma Stone’s temple. She plays a fancy pharmaceutical company CEO that is kidnapped by Jesse Plemons, who believes she is an alien intent on destroying the earth. Ari Aster produced this, which essentially doubles the nightmare fuel. I’m in. - Steph
Movie: Now You See Me 3
Tentative Release Date: November 14th
Now You 3 Me - Saul
Movie: Avatar: Fire and Ash
Tentative Release Date: December 16th
I gotta find out what happened to my boy Spider - Saul
Movie: Marty Supreme / The Smashing Machine
Tentative Release Date: December 25th (Marty Supreme) / 2025 (The Smashing Machine)
As I was Wikipedia-ing this, I was glancing through the cast - a few usual suspects (Timothee Chalamet, Gwenyth Paltrow) plus a pleasant surprise (Tyler the Creator). I clicked on the hyperlink of somebody I didn’t recognize - Penn Fraser Jillette. First line in his bio says he is an inventor and performer. ‘Cool!’ I thought. Continue reading for 2.4 more seconds to realize he is the first half of Penn & Teller, the world-famous magicians with a lifelong Vegas residency. What an idiot I am for assuming the film about the ping pong player wouldn’t have a world-famous magician in it. - Steph (Marty Supreme)
The Safdie Brothers have had a bizarre run since UNCUT GEMS. The two seemed to follow pretty clearly demarcated dovetails; Josh leaning more into his comedy bag with a further exploration of Adam Sandler, Benny going art house mode with a go-for-broke absurdist collab with Nathan Fielder. And now this year they’re releasing dueling sports movies respectively about a ping pong champ and a pro wrestler, and I’m hopeful each one has a bit more of what they were so good at doing together rather than what they seem interested in establishing on their own. - James
I like the route Timothee is taking with his career. He’s done the big blockbusters (DUNE 1 & 2), the fun biopic (A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, potential Oscar incoming), appeared in a Wes Anderson movie (THE FRENCH DISPATCH, good actually) and now he’s partnering with a Safdie brother for a movie about a dude who kicked ass at ping pong. The guy can do no wrong, he’s the star of his generation. Let him cook. - Saul (Marty Supreme)
Movie: Sentimental Value
Tentative Release Date: 2025 (will debut at Cannes Film Fest and be released later this year)
Renate Reinsve got my attention with THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD and has held it since (A DIFFERENT MAN being one of my favs of last year). This will mark her second collaboration with Trier, with some lovely additions of Stellan Skarsgard and Elle Fanning to boot. Genuinely don’t really care what this is going to be about, I will be there for it. - Steph
Movie: Eddington
Tentative Release Date: 2025
Ari Aster doing a western with Emma Stone, Austin Butler, and Joaquin Phoenix. Sounds like its going to be awesome and probably also gruesome. Can’t wait. - Saul
Another Joaquin Phoenix / Ari Aster horror show that I will be psyched as hell to watch one time in absolute agony and never wish to revisit ever again <3 - Steph
Movie: The Phoenician Scheme
Tentative Release Date: 2025 (Update: releasing May 30th)
I’ve long been saying that it was time for Michael Cera to get into the world of Wes Anderson and he seems to have finally received all my letters. The Phoenician Scheme is Wes’ spy movie and it’s got his usual absolutely stacked cast. I love to fulfill a stereotype, so I’m stoked for this one. - Saul
Movie: Hamnet
Tentative Release Date: 2025
Agnes Shakespeare (Jessie Buckley) - the wife of the world’s most famous writer (Paul Mescal) - struggles to come to terms with the loss of her only son. Uhhhhhh sorry this is going to become my personality when it drops. - Steph
Movie: No Other Choice
Tentative Release Date: 2025
A man (Lee Byung-hun aka the Front Man in SQUID GAME) devises a ‘plan’ to secure a new job after being fired - eliminate his competition of course. [Director] Park Chan-wook is a master of his craft, plain and simple - from OLDBOY to STOKER to THE HANDMAIDEN to DECISION TO LEAVE… I presume I’ll be foaming at the mouth for whatever is to come with this one. In this house, we bow to the altar of Park Chan-wook. - Steph
This is almost a lock for best cinematography you’ll see in a movie all year - Saul
Movie: Highest 2 Lowest
Tentative Release Date: 2025
One mildly spicy opinion I hold is that INSIDE MAN is my favorite Spike Lee joint. Some of his movies are objectively better. DO THE RIGHT THING is a literal landmark in cinema, but there’s just something about the Spike/Denzel combo doing a crime thriller that really gets me going. Well, luckily for me they’re teaming up again for HIGHEST 2 LOWEST, which is a remake of the Kurosawa film HIGH AND LOW. Don’t know what more you could possibly want in a movie, I’m stoked for this one. - Saul
Movie: After The Hunt
Tentative Release Date: 2025
There are some directors I anticipate releases from without even needing to know a plot and [Luca] Guadagnino has become one of those dudes. However, if you’re not a freak like me, Julia Roberts plays a college professor who finds herself at a crossroads (both professionally and personally) when her top student threatens an accusation against one of her colleagues. Ayo Edebiri, Andrew Garfield, and Chloe Sevigny star alongside Roberts. As they say: say no more. - Steph
Movie: Materialists
Tentative Release Date: 2025
Dakota Johnson love triangle with Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal! A New York City backdrop! Celine Song back at it again after ruining my life with PAST LIVES! Inject 5 romcoms into my veins every single calendar year until the end of tiiiiiime! - Steph
I think it’s good that Chris Evans is finally working on a movie that isn’t seemingly compete dogshit. We know he sometimes displays good taste and can act outside of Marvel (SNOWPIERCER, SCOTT PILGRIM, KNIVES OUT all come to mind along with THE PERFECT SCORE for the real heads). Sebastian Stan has been crushing using his Marvel capital to work on good projects with cool directors. Glad to see Evans finally doing the same - Saul
These are the team over at Working Title’s most anticipated movies for the year and we didn’t even get close to mentioning everything. There are a ton of movies we’re excited for that didn’t make the list and there are always movies we have no idea about that sneak up on us to become favorites, which is always the best part of going to the movies in the first place.
Thanks for reading, this is always one of our longer (but favorite) pieces of the year.
In the meantime you can find Saul on Letterboxd here.
You can find Steph on Letterboxd here.
You can find James on Letterboxd here.
We’ll see you soon!
I can't disagree with a single one of these. You had better sources than me when I wrote my most anticipated last last month (shameless, SHAMELESS plug: https://rratedmovieclub.substack.com/p/my-most-anticipated-r-rated-movies), because Friendship and Another Simple Favor were completely off my radar. But I knew about "Untitled Trey Parker Project"?! Weird. When I read people getting excited for Den of Thieves 2, Pantera, I thought they were talking about a video game. From what I've read, I may not be that far off, yes?