The 16th annual edition of this list may have been the most difficult to put together. I assumed after the major Covid precautions had ended and the movie theater industry had survived that this would be a relatively stable process of selecting movies. Then the dual writers/actors strike happened over the summer and movie studios had to move a ton of movies to 2025 in order to complete them in time. As a result, this list is missing much of the Marvel/big action movies that would normally be on this list. While it made selecting this list a little harder, it also allowed me to have fresh eyes on what stood out to me in the pool of movies to come. While there are plenty of sequels/prequels here there are also a few original movies that I think will be fun to see how they turn out. I hope you enjoy the list!
1. Inside Out 2 (June 14th)
There are movies that are simply too good to require a sequel and the original Inside Out is one of them. Pete Docter made what might be his best film, the story resolves nicely and it is easily rewatchable. The reason that this sequel is still on top of this list is that even if it is unnecessary, a world was created that there is so much room to explore in this one. The best movies don't need a sequel but also create places in which you want to return.
2. Dune: Part Two (March 1st)
Dune: Part One was one of those movies that was great on the IMAX and not as great on the back of the airplane seat in front of me. I imagine for people who read and enjoyed the books that they might also enjoy watching it on an airplane but as someone who made it through half of the book, the first time I saw it was when I really enjoyed it. It feels like Star Wars if Star Wars were 6 hours long and mostly about needing water in the desert but it is something that has the ability to transport you to another place. I may only see this movie one time but I guarantee when I do see it, it'll be on an IMAX screen.
3. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (May 24th)
This fits the "big action" film that I love putting on these lists. The previous Apes trilogy that served as prequels to the classic films were known for being fun, thoughtful and feeling fresh. While a new director is coming in this time, this trailer was enough to draw me in. I'm hopeful that this movie will continue the streak that the franchise has been on.
4. IF (May 17th)
Here's the first original movie on the list. John Krasinski, who played Jim on The Office and directed the first two Quiet Place movies stepped away from directing those to make a movie that looks like a lot of fun. The general premise: "What if you could see the imaginary friends you had when you were a kid?" The imaginary friend concept was actually my favorite part of Inside Out so I'm looking forward to see what Krasinski does with it here.
5. Wicked (November 27th)
The Broadway musical is so much fun and I have fond memories of seeing it multiple times when I lived in Chicago. (The secret to winning the ticket lottery is to crumple up your entry slip a little bit) While there's always a difference when you move from live theater to a movie and there's a risk that the changes won't be good ones, the source material is too good to be too bad.
6. Unsung Hero (April 26th)
"Christian movies" have a bad wrap because there are a lot of them that are clearly made to be only watched by Christians and place the personal application of the story above the storytelling itself. One movie that did not fall into that trap was 2016's Priceless which was made by Christian band For King & Country and I'd argue is the movie you should watch if you're concerned about stopping human trafficking from a Christian perspective. I've heard their life story in bits before and this trailer makes this look like a story that puts the storytelling first. I'm looking forward to it!
7. Twisters (July 19th)
8. A Quiet Place: Day One (June 28th)
In 2021 when movies were hardly coming out at all and when you did go to the movies it was likely with 4 other people in a mostly empty movie theater, I went to go see A Quiet Place Part II. The catch? I hadn't seen the original A Quiet Place. I was so desperate for a trip to a mostly full movie theater that I went to go see it and I thought it was great. I hate scary movies but it walked the line between thrilling and just scary enough. While John Krasinski was the director of those two, this spinoff only boasts a story co-written by Krasinski. While it might not stand up to those two movies, I'm hopeful this will be another mostly fun, not too scary trip to the movies with a full movie theater audience reacting together.
9. Mufasa: The Lion King (December 20th)
This movie could be on a list along with Twisters for movies that the directors make an unnecessary sequel more interesting. After Jon Favreau's The Lion King made a billion dollars and Favreau moved on to the brighter pastures of The Mandalorian. In comes Barry Jackson, a director normally known for directing movies that are trying to win Oscars with a prequel rather than a sequel. The best kind of movie is one where the director has a vision that they feel strongly about creating and I'm hopeful this transcends standard "live-action Disney remake" to a movie worth watching.
10. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (April 12th)
