Buckle up—2025 is looking to be a year to remember for science fiction. Whether your thing is galaxy-traversing adventures, rogue AI, or revivals of cinema legends, this year’s slate has something for every type of sci-fi enthusiast. From franchise reboots with major budgets to fascinating indie offerings, below are the top sci-fi movies illuminating screens in 2025.
Elio
Pixar returns to space with Elio, a coming-of-age journey with intergalactic flair. When 11-year-old Elio Solis is mistakenly declared Earth’s ambassador, he must survive a room full of aliens in the Communiverse. With voice talent from Yonas Kibreab, America Ferrera, and Jameela Jamil, and directed by Coco co-director Adrian Molina in his solo feature debut, Elio combines heart, humor, and interstellar awe in signature Pixar style.
Jurassic World: Rebirth
The dinosaurs are back again. Five years on from Dominion, Rebirth changes gears to focus on a mission to harvest dinosaur DNA for possible medical advances. Of course, things do not turn out as planned. With the cast headed by Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, Mahershala Ali, and Rupert Friend, this new installment promises new thrills, prehistoric peril, and plenty of classic Jurassic moments.
Superman
James Gunn is giving the Man of Steel a new beginning in the freshly rebooted DC Universe. David Corenswet is taking on the part of a younger, more earthy Clark Kent, joined by Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as a ruthless Lex Luthor. It’s not a direct sequel—it’s a fresh start, providing a more optimistic tone while setting up a wider DCU.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Marvel’s First Family is finally making it to the MCU, and they’re arriving with flair. Set in a retro-futuristic 1960s time period, this reboot sees the Fantastic Four facing down cosmic menaces, Galactus (Ralph Ineson), and the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). Pedro Pascal stars in the lead as Reed Richards, joined by Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. Fans have waited years to see how Marvel brings one of its most beloved teams back.
Mercy
Chris Pratt makes a dramatic departure in Mercy, a grounded sci-fi thriller from Wanted helmer Timur Bekmambetov. The story is largely kept under wraps, but we do know Pratt stars as a detective who is accused of a crime he didn’t commit. Co-starring Rebecca Ferguson and Annabelle Wallis, Mercy is generating buzz as one of the year’s most compelling original genre films.
Tron: Ares
The Grid comes back online in Tron: Ares, the long-gestation sequel to the Tron franchise. Jared Leto plays Ares, a software program unleashed into the “real” world as humanity’s first direct encounter with AI. The supporting cast also features Greta Lee, Gillian Anderson, Evan Peters, and Jeff Bridges returning as Kevin Flynn. Prepare to be wowed by visuals, digital-world battles, and a narrative that leaps between virtual and real-world consequences.
Predator: Badlands
Following the franchise booster Prey, director Dan Trachtenberg is back with Predator: Badlands. Little is known, but rumors have this installment putting the Predator in a more focal—and possibly more emotionally complex—position. Elle Fanning tops the cast, and the movie promises to reinvent the classic sci-fi killer.
Bugonia
Director Yorgos Lanthimos (The Favourite, Poor Things) applies his quirky sensibility to the science fiction genre with Bugonia. A reimagining of the Korean cult favorite Save the Green Planet!, the film tells the tale of two conspiracy theorists who abduct a corporate CEO they think is an alien plotting Earth’s destruction. Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, and Alicia Silverstone headline what promises to be a wild, genre-defying ride chock-full of dark humor and philosophical subtext.
The Running Man
Edgar Wright adapts Stephen King’s The Running Man again, this time more adhering to the original book than the 1987 take. Glen Powell plays Ben Richards, a man thrust into a deadly TV game show to secure his family’s survival. Josh Brolin, Katy M. O’Brian, and Lee Pace complete the cast. Get ready for a stylish, action-packed blend of social commentary and survival action.
Avatar: Fire and Ash
James Cameron is back in Pandora with Avatar: Fire and Ash, which delves into the Ash People—a fiery, fire-spewing Na’vi clan. Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, and Sigourney Weaver return, with David Thewlis and Oona Chaplin added to the mix. As with everything with Cameron, the details of the plot are kept at bay, but the visuals are bound to set a new standard again.
City Rush 4
For the indie sci-fi fan, City Rush 4 is the next chapter in the adventures of special agent Ace (George Tounas) fighting cybercrime, android assassins, and viral attacks in a hyper-digital universe. Eric Roberts and Anna Rezan reprise in this visually striking short-form series, the latest installment of which is just shy of an hour and available on a number of streaming platforms.
The Year Ahead in Sci-Fi
From blockbuster franchises and daring reboots to quirky originals and indie treasures, 2025 promises to be a flag-bearer year for science fiction. Whether you’re visiting old worlds or venturing into the unknown, these upcoming films are primed to push the limits of your imagination—and perhaps even make you reconsider what sci-fi can do.