Top 10 Movies To Look Forward to 2025. Not Everything Has To Be From Hollywood.

To make a list of top 10 films being released this year for the masses that are must-sees isn’t too tough, but when I want to know what’s being released abroad, to decide on what stands out, that’s harder! There are non-blockbuster movies that have caught my attention. When they don’t get the love they so deserve, I can say confidently that my list differs from others.

Leading the charge are the following (with release dates where possible.

A Whale
Date: Expected late 2025

When filmmakers bill a movie as “a cross between film noir, science fiction, and cosmic horror,” that’s a winning formula in my books. While I fully expect that it will hit film festivals first, all I can hope for is that Fantasia Film Festival will have it listed following its Spanish debut.

What’s known about this film is that it concerns an assassin whose boss comes from the stars! They give her the ability to vanish without a trace, but as for whether or not the connection is Lovecraftian, I hope more information will be revealed when it hits the International market.

Dracula: A Love Tale
Date: Expected 2025

When Luc Besson announced he will make his own adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel, just what he will do is anybody’s guess. This filmmaker is best known for The Fifth Element and Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.

Attached to play the leading roles are Caleb Landry Jones as Dracula and Christoph Waltz as a priest. Whether that’s Van Helsing or some other character, I’m going to want to know!

Del Toro’s Frankenstein
Date: Expected 2025

Not much is known about Guillermo del Toro’s take on Frankenstein, but I have to say I’m excited! Based on the logline, the story will be a continuation rather than look at the events all over again.

“Set in Eastern Europe in the 19th Century, the story of Dr. Pretorious, who needs to track down Frankenstein’s monster- who is believed to have died in a fire forty years before–in order to continue the experiments of Dr. Frankenstein”

Star Trek: Section 31 (Paramount+)
Date: Jan. 24

Anyone who has watched Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine will know this secret department will dirty their hands to do what’s right to keep the Federation safe! When Emperor Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) is leading the charge, many fans will be curious, and I want to know if I have to watch Discovery just to get caught up.

This film follows up on what happened there. She reinserted herself to a different point in time of this universe, and if that’s not confusing enough, I’m wondering if it’ll gel into what I loved from the Deep Space Nine episodes! Yes, I want Julien Brasshir back!

Ne Zha Zhi Mo Tong Nao Hai
哪吒之魔童闹海
Date: Jan 29

That Ne Zha sequel I’ve been waiting for will soon be here! Fans of the 2019 film can finally look at the next chapter of his reincarnation cycle. Although his and Aobing’s souls were saved, their bodies will soon “break,” and it’ll be up to another mythic figure to help them renew. Taiyi Zhenren is the kid’s sifu, and in order to save these young teens, will have to find the seven coloured lotus. This god plays a very important role in the Fengshen cycle, and hopefully there is a plan for an international release this coming Chinese New Year!

Mononoke: The Movie 2
Phantom in the Rain
Date: Mar 24

Fans of this anime series will be glad to find that the adventures of Medicine Seller are not over! Like the animated series, these independent tales simply follow where this individual finds himself at. More often than not, he will discover that some malignant force exists, and he’ll have to banish it from this mortal world!

The partially revealed plot concerns a harem that a local shogun insists on maintaining. Just what kind of evil connection exists will depend on the hero finding the truth.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Date: May 23

Fans will no doubt want to see how this two-parter will end. Instead of revealing what new stunts have been dreamt up, the producers have kept the media guessing. In this much expected continuation, just what Ethan needs is the last half to a key to stop a world-destroying AI. I’ve purposefully not looked at any talk regarding this film as I want the thrill of finding out on the big screen rather than being spoiled by publicity.

Jurassic World Rebirth
Date: July 2

When the synopsis reveals that five years after the events of Jurassic World: Dominion, the planet’s ecology has proven inhospitable to dinosaurs, they’ve gone into hiding. Those remaining exist in isolated equatorial environments with climates resembling the one in which they once thrived.

And when humanity remains aware of them, all they can do is monitor the situation. However, when a scientist realizes a DNA sampling from three of the strongest alphas can offer a miracle cure for humanity, nobody can resist the hunt now! Gareth Edwards reimagining of the basic story is at work here, and when he has a proven track record of delivering giant sized scares, this next entry to the franchise ought to be good.

TRON: Ares
Date: Oct. 10

Sadly, this third film is not a continuation of the last film. While some fans are upset at this change in direction with a standalone release, hopefully there will be enough referential material to offer some sort of continuity.

When Disney has been waffling between releases, and can’t find a writer to come up with the ideal story, the wait has been challenging to many. Here, all I want to see is how Kevin Flynn will save the day! Jeff Bridges looks more like a prophet than hero these days with that beard, and hopefully screenwriters Jesse Wigutow and Jack Thorne got a tale that’ll restore hope in reigniting the franchise.

Predator: Badlands
Date: Nov. 7

With a title like Badlands, I’m hoping this next cinematic instalment will borrow from Dark Horse Comics, namely Bad Blood and Strange Roux, and be a continuation of. All that’s known so far is that two sisters have to face off against the hunter in an alien world. This futuristic tale is the opposite of the last film, Prey, and hopefully what’s planned works to expand the lore than just be those random one shot encounters that most of the adventures take place in.