As some of you already know, I'm a huge movie buff. I love going to the movies, watching movies, talking about movies and then re-watching certain movies over and over that never get old! One of my first real jobs I loved was working at a movie store in high school, and that's where my real passion for movies started. There's just something special about going to the movie theater, grabbing that popcorn bucket and watching the same movie on the big screen with hundreds of other movie fans. Here are seven of the most anticipated movies to hit the big screen (and Netflix) this summer and the rest of 2025.
Superman
Theatrical Release: July 11th, 2025
One of the biggest reasons I’m excited about going to see this movie is because James Gunn is involved. I loved the Guardian’s of the Galaxy movies, and personally think they were/ are some of the most important movies that Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) ever created. Now, James has moved over to the DC Universe (DCU) and his rebooting Superman while putting his stamp on one of the most famous superheroes of all time! After the challenges the previous DCEU faced, this reboot offers a fresh start and a chance to build a successful superhero universe under Gunn, similar to what the MCU has built over the last decade or so. In addition to Superman, Louis Lane and Lex Luther, we also will get introduced (or re-introduced) to Mister Terrific, the Green Lantern, Hawkgirl and Metamorpho. Get your popcorn ready!!
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Theatrical Release: July 24th, 2025
Out of all the remaining films coming out in 2025, this is the one I’m most looking forward to, and the movie I’m most excited about! Yes, this is another superhero movie remake/reboot, but this feels really important within the MCU world, as it is the first film in the Phase 6 series, with Spiderman: Brand New Day, Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars following 2026 and 2027. Following the failure of the 2015 release of Fantastic Four, this franchise was in desperate need of a remake. The cast is really exciting, with Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Julia Garner, Paul Walter Hauser and (reportedly) John Malcovich. I’m a huge fan of both Joseph Quinn and Julia Garner, as two of my favorite shows of all time are Ozark and Stranger Things. Do you think we are going to get Johnny Storm to say, “Flame On”? Either way, I’ll be there on opening night, souvenir popcorn bucket and all!
Happy Gilmore 2
Netflix Release: July 25th, 2025
It looks like the summer of 2025 is shaping up to the be the summer of the sequel! The last time we saw Happy Gilmore on the big screen was almost 30 years ago, when it was released in theaters in 1996. Now, Happy is back and the long-awaited sequel is being released directly on Netflix on July 25th. Due to the enduring popularity of the cult classic original and the return of Adam Sandler and much of the original cast, the sequel has already generated quite the buzz amongst Happy fans. A lot of the old gang is back, including Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald), Virginia Venit (Julie Bowen) and Hal L. (Ben Stiller). Joining the mix are Bad Bunny, Eric Andre, Margaret Qualley, Nick Swardson, Eminem, Post Malone and a ton of professional golfers, including John Daly, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Scottie Scheffler and many more! I’m not sure if anything can top the original, but like one user on YouTube states, “watching this felt like seeing an old friend after a long, long time.”
Freakier Friday
Theatrical Release: August 8th, 2025
Speaking of sequels, Freakier Friday reunites Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis after 22 years since we last saw them as the mom and daughter duo who ended up inadvertently switching bodies for a day in Freaky Friday. The sequel looks to go bigger and more exciting, while serving up the nostalgia by bringing back everyone from the original movie! Including Lohan and Curtis, the movie brings back the whole family, Anna’s two best friends, Chad Michael Murry (Jake), Pei-Pei, Pei-Pei’s mom and Mr. Bates, the teacher who infamously had a grudge against Anna in the first movie. Nostalgia aside, this is also the type of movie that anyone can go see and just have fun! As someone who both grew up watching the original and now has kids of my own, this is the perfect summer movie for the whole family!
Wicked: For Good
Theatrical Release: November 21st, 2025
When I previewed all of the anticipated movies for 2024 a year ago, I said that the original movie trailer was one of the greatest movie trailers I had ever seen. Fast forward one year and I honestly think the trailer for Wicked 2, or Wicked: For Good, is even better than the first time. Honestly, it was such a good decision for the filmmakers to split the movie into two parts. First, the broadway play is split into two parts, so it just makes sense to follow the play. Second, there's so much to this musical that it needed two parts, and the anticipation can build even more in between the two movies. The trailer gives us so much: Elphaba and Glinda reunited, a preview of the yellow brick road, a potential wedding, Dorothy and Toto, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, the Wizard of Oz, a tornado, the famous slippers and what looks like an epic battle between humans and the animals. This will be the perfect movie to go see with friends and family around the holidays, and who knows, we might all be changed for good.
Zootopia 2
Theatrical Release: November 26th, 2025
Our family LOVED the first Zootopia. The first movie was popular around the same time our son was a toddler, so it holds a special place in our family’s heart. It’s been almost 10 years, and we finally get the sequel we have all been waiting and asking for! In my opinion, Zootopia is one of the best Disney films in recent memory and it's definitely one of the best animated movies that Disney has ever put out. Zootopia was just a great movie. It was funny, well-written, clever, entertaining, compelling and super meaningful and relevant. The voice cast was also amazing, including actors like Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Bonnie Hunt, Tommy Chong, J.K. Simmons, Octavia Spencer, Alan Tudyk and Shakira. This time around, Ke Huy Quan, Fortune Feimster and Quinta Brunson have joined the cast. Quan plays Gary De'Snake, who is a pit viper being pursued by Judy and Nick. Quinta Brunson voices a quokka named Dr. Fuzzby and Feistier voices a beaver named Nibbles Maplestick. Our kids are going to absolutely love this movie, which makes the anticipation even that much better!
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Theatrical Release: December 12th, 2025
This is the third installment in the Knives Out film franchise, and the standalone sequel to Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. Our favorite private detective, Benoit Blanc (played by Daniel Craig) is back, and as is the case with the Knives Out movies, there is a brand new troupe of characters. Joining Craig will be Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Jeremy Renner, Mila Kunis, Kerry Washington, Thomas Haden Church and what looks to be a great ensemble cast. While we don't know a ton about this movie yet, it looks to be darker than the original two, and a bit more sinister? I personally loved the first two "whodunit" mystery movies, so I'm fully excited to see where this goes next, and what Benoit Blanc will be up to this time!
What movie or movies are you looking forward to seeing? Didn't see a movie on the list that you think should be? Shoot me a message and I'll add it to the next list. See you at the movies!