10 Anticipated Films and Television Series of 2025
Written by Andreas Babiolakis
2024 is done.
We are halfway through the 2020s decade and 2025 has just begun. It always feels weird to look so far ahead when the previous year literally just ended, but, then again, dates are just ideas humans came up with, so what’s the harm in anticipating what’s to come as if it were any other day or occasion? However, what I will say is that it is becoming increasingly difficult to look forward to feature films considering how quickly some motion pictures can be made in this day and age, as well as how flooded calendars are with franchises, blockbuster flicks, sequels, prequels, and et cetera (you know, the kinds of films I look forward to the least, although I will shout out Wicked: For Good since I do think the first Wicked is quite good and wouldn’t mind seeing how these two films close out). There is never too much to say about works I am looking forward to, so I’ll just keep it brief this year (if combining both my lists for films and television series didn’t already indicate this). Which returning series am I excited to continue watching? Which new projects will keep me going this year? Here are the ten films and television series I am looking forward to the most this year.
Note: I won’t be including works I’ve already hyped up in past lists which happened to be postponed, nor will I focus on works that I guarantee will not come out this year (I want to keep this list focused on 2025 titles).
Films
The Battle of Baktan Cross
Paul Thomas Anderson returns with a crime thriller film; in typical PTA fashion, he’s got a great cast (Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina Hall, Benicio Del Toro, Teyana Taylor, just to name a few). Slated for an August release right now, we can only hope that Anderson’s latest in his already illustrious career is as good as it appears to be on paper.
Bugonia
Yorgos Lanthimos has become quite a prolific director. 2023 saw the release of Poor Things, and Kinds of Kindness came out the following year. Already, the third Lanthimos project in as many years is underway production, with a slated November release date. Bugonia is a science fiction black comedy that already promises to be thrilling and bonkers.
Caught Stealing
I’ll always anticipate a new Darren Aronofsky film, and his latest effort, Caught Stealing, shows much promise. Aronofsky places Austin Butler as a retired baseball player in the nineties, as the former athlete gets caught up in a life of crime. It sounds as anxiety inducing as anything else Aronofsky has ever crafted.
Hamnet
Chloé Zhao has deserved redemption after Marvel left her out to dry with Eternals. With Hamnet, Zhao creates a new take on the life of William Shakespeare, particularly the time period surrounding his marriage with Agnes and the birth and death of son Hamnet (the film is reportedly highly fictional and is meant to be a fable more than a history lesson). This sounds as ambitious as Zhao has ever been.
I Love Boosters
After the success of Sorry to Bother You, I trust Boots Riley with any project. That is the case with I Love Boosters: a dark comedy involving shoplifters and their target (a fashion mogul). With a star studded cast (Demi Moore, LaKeith Stanfield, Naomi Ackie, Keke Palmer), Riley aims to deliver another strong satire during a time where we could desperately use one.
In the Hands of Dante
Julian Schnabel is usually known for his unorthodox — yet brilliant — biographical depictions of icons, but his latest project, In the Hand of Dante, is a weaving of two separate stories: one being a period in Dante Alighieri’s life when he was writing The Divine Comedy, and the other being the author Nick Tosches reflecting on said text (this film is an adaptation of Tosches’ novel of the same name). This can only be fascinating.
Judy
Alejandro González Iñárritu’s latest film is — oddly enough — an action film titled Judy, starring Tom Cruise (who better in this business, anyway), alongside acting heavyweights like Sandra Hüller, Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, and Jesse Plemons. Knowing that Iñárritu is one of the riskiest filmmakers working today, I am champing at the bit to know what an action film directed by him will look like.
Vie Privée
Rebecca Zlotowski continues to be an underrated director, but hopefully that will change with her upcoming project, Vie privée: a mystery thriller. The last time she made an English-speaking film, she released Planetarium: a well-intentioned dud. Hopefully this time around, with Jodie Foster at the forefront, we’ll have something that’s comparable with her best, French works.
Warfare
Alex Garland has had quite a career as a director and a screenwriter. His last film as a director (for now) is Warfare: a work he co-directed and co-wrote with real war veteran Ray Mendoza. Knowing the capabilities of how candid such a film can be (given who helped make this war epic) and how relentless Garland’s visions are, Warfare promises to be a must-watch by a contemporary great.
The Way of the Wind
Whether The Way of the Wind actually gets released in 2025 or not is up in the air (this is Terrence Malick after all: an auteur who takes his time). Having said that, considering that he has a perfect career (I said what I said), I feel like The Way of the Wind — which is slated for the 2025 Cannes Film Festival (let’s hope that sticks) — will only prove once again why Malick’s one of the great American filmmakers; he could direct a motion picture about a man suffering from constipation, and I’m sure he’d do a damn fine job.
Television Series
Apple Cider Vinegar
An upcoming miniseries starring the always-reliable Kaitlyn Dever, Apple Cider Vinegar is based on the scamming escapades of Belle Gibson. Considering how twisted the real story is, I can only hope that this miniseries upholds the potential available.
The Bear (Season 4)
Of course, I have to feature The Bear. Even though season 3 was the weakest one thus far (although it is still a great season), I feel like these last episodes were all build up for this forth season: one which promises major drama, considering what the previous finale forewarned. It’s time to stress out and age ourselves with one of television’s most intense series.
Dope Thief
Here is a new series about a heist gone wrong, when criminals accidentally intercept a narcotics operation’s supply (instead of the DEA). Dope Thief sees Brian Tyree Henry of Atlanta fame returning to the small screen, which is reason enough to want to watch (let alone the promising concept).
Government Cheese
Government Cheese is an upcoming dramedy starring David Oyelowo as a man who wants to be a better man after he is released from prison, including deepening his connection with God through the act of divine intervention. Considering how the series apparently weaves reality with visions and the past, this could be a highly interesting series.
The Last of Us (Season 2)
Alas, we are finally reaching the second season of the coveted series, The Last of Us. Seeing as the first season is based on, well, the first game, and that the second game would be split up into multiple seasons, I’m curious to see how this second season will play out, if the series will fix its pacing issues (its only main concern, really), and how different the series will be from the game (considering that most liberties taken so far have been strong choices).
The Rehearsal (Season 2)
I don’t even know how Nathan Fielder is going to follow-up the first season of The Rehearsal, which already felt like an experiment gone perfectly wrong (considering what Fielder set out to achieve versus the far greater, eye-opening end result which was way off course). Having said that, I believe that Fielder only commits to what he believes is worthwhile, so there must be a just cause to have a second season, and I’m here for it.
Severance (Season 2)
Severance felt like it came out of nowhere; it is easily one of the best series on television right now. Since this was a sleeper hit surprise, the second season of Severance has felt like it has taken many years to come out. It’s finally almost here. While teaser materials promise a little bit of backpedaling, which concerns me a little bit given how strongly season 1 concluded, I have faith in what will transpire here; let’s hope it’s worth the wait.
Stranger Things (Season 5)
I won’t pretend like Stranger Things is my favourite series on television, but I also feel quite intrigued with how they will finally end this long, ambitious series. No matter how you feel about this show, you cannot deny that blood, sweat, and tears get put into each and every season. I am curious about how this project will end, how epic it’ll set out to be, and if there will be more episodes that are way too damn long (the answer to the latter thought is probably “yes”). Let’s hope it ends on a bang.
“Wycaro 339”
Well, “Wycaro 339” doesn’t technically exist, but this is the project name for the upcoming, untitled series created by Vince Gilligan and starring Better Call Saul titan Rhea Seehorn. It’s allegedly a science fiction project, which would have Gilligan returning to his The X-Files roots (which is also exciting). Look. The series could be about grass growing; as long as it involves Gilligan and Seehorn, I’m on board.
Your Friends and Neighbors
Have you ever wanted to see Jon Hamm return to television dramas, then your wish has been granted. Here’s Your Friends and Neighbours: a business drama involving a hedge fund manager who explores illegal means to get by. Could this series have come out yesterday?
Andreas Babiolakis has a Masters degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from Ryerson University, as well as a Bachelors degree in Cinema Studies from York University. His favourite times of year are the Criterion Collection flash sales and the annual Toronto International Film Festival.