Truth be told, if you were under the impression that the film industry would ever backtrack on sequels, reboots, and cinematic universes, then 2025 has a great time showing you the opposite. It is a fact that all the major studios are going back to the past, and this year’s program is the evidence. Whether they are superheroes or spy agents, or even as different as talking bears and murdering dolls, theaters are full of characters we know but with stories we have not seen before. So, gather around, disconnect from the world, and get ready to experience some of your most beloved universes once again. The 10 most blockbuster sequels and franchise movies that will rule 2025—of course, a countdown for theatrical drama is here.
10. The Fantastic Four: First Steps
The Marvel “first family” finally gets a do-over, and this time they appear to have a chance to do it right. Starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach donning the legendary team’s uniforms, The Fantastic Four: First Steps explores their 1960s beginnings with a retro, cosmic flair. Galactus and the Silver Surfer threaten, and preliminary buzz indicates that this will get Marvel back on track. Fans have been waiting years for this one, and this cast, it just may be worth the wait.
9. Jurassic World: Rebirth
Since dinosaurs never actually became extinct, Jurassic World: Rebirth uncovers the franchise for another prehistoric wild ride. Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali star in a group sent on a mission to harvest dinosaur DNA for medical experimentation (spoiler alert: it doesn’t turn out so well). Gareth Edwards (Rogue One) directs this installment, which promises a darker tone and a reboot for the series. A combination of awe, pandemonium, and teeth, many, many teeth, is to be expected.
8. M3GAN 2.0
The scariest AI doll in film is returning, and she’s been upgraded. M3GAN 2.0 finds Jenna Davis reprising her role as the eerily realistic doll who learned that while friendship can indeed kill you, it can also make a killing at the box office. Details are scarce, but if the original’s viral popularity was any indicator, this sequel will double down on the camp, pandemonium, and tech horror cautionary tale. Sweet dreams.
7. Freakier Friday
Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan team up again to switch lives, this time with the mayhem spreading to two generations. Chad Michael Murray and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan join the cast, and Freakier Friday reworks the vintage body-swap comedy into a new, sentimental spin. There are laughs, there are lessons, and possibly a few tears to be shed—plus, it’s wonderful to have Curtis and Lohan together again after all these years.
6. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Tom Cruise comes back for one final impossible mission as Ethan Hunt, battling a rogue AI that puts humanity itself in danger. Everything’s riding higher than ever, and Cruise is said to be doing some of his craziest stunts ever (naturally, he is). Although the opening act is rumored to be a slow burn, The Final Reckoning guarantees an action-packed conclusion worthy of the franchise’s reputation.
5. Thunderbolts
So finally, the time has come for Marvel’s anti-hero team to get their time in the sun with the new Thunderbolts, which features a combination of such characters as Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), and Red Guardian (David Harbour). One can compare it to Marvel’s take on Suicide Squad, but with more heart and less chaos. Prepare to witness the team embarking on morally ambiguous missions, characters’ egos clashing, and a dark, gritty tone that invigorates the MCU in a refreshing and much-needed way.
4. The Accountant 2
It’s been almost ten years since the first movie, and Ben Affleck returns as Christian Wolff, the autistic genius with numbers, and a secretive hitman side business. This time, J.K. Simmons and Jon Bernthal also come on board to accompany him. The Accountant 2 aims to deliver more graphic violence, unexpected plot twists, and a deeper dive into the mysteries of Christian’s ethical compass. There are times when numbers do not lie, but in this case, they only kill.
3. Paddington in Peru
The bear who adores marmalade and who everyone loves is going back to his place after all this time. Paddington in Peru is about the little gentleman returning to South America for a new heartful, funny, and snack-filled adventure. If you sobbed at the screening of Paddington 2—which, the truth is, everyone did—then this new chapter might just break you again. Get ready for loving nonsense, touching life lessons, and the realization that kindness is never out of style.
2. Captain America: Brave New World
It’s official, Anthony Mackie is the new Captain America, the guy who is going to take on the political intrigues, global unrest, and the coming of the Red Hulk, played by none other than Harrison Ford. Brave New World is action, suspense, and a more down-to-earth take on superhero comics rolled into one. It’s a new era for Cap, but the earth he is saving has never looked so complicated.
1. Star Trek: Section 31
Once more, Michelle Yeoh is the shining light in the Star Trek universe, but this time with the very first streaming-only Trek film. Section 31 explores the depraved, morally ambiguous aspect of the Federati, with Yeoh’s Philippa Georgiou leading a secretive ops squad traveling the entire galaxy. Between Discovery and the original timeline, the film is promising to deliver all the classic Trek stuff plus the added elements of espionage, action, and complexity that fans always crave. It’s still Star Trek, but more like a spy thriller.
Sure, Hollywood is often criticized for relying too much on sequels, yet here’s the truth: these flicks, if done right, offer just the perfect blend of familiar and exciting to the fans. Of course, studios love the assured box office that comes with the territory, but audiences also love seeing the places that seem like home but are just a little bit different because the stakes are higher and the special effects are better. That means if you are a fan of superheroes, dinosaurs, or dancing bears, 2025 is going to be your year of cinematic déjà vu—the coolest kind.