Movies for the Holidays 2025: Zootopia 2, Eternity, Knives Out 3, Timothee Chalamet, and a Neil Diamond Tribute Duo
Posted on November 24, 2025 at 8:44 am
Copyright 2025 Disney
The holiday season always brings great movies, some destined for Oscar recognition, some for generations to enjoy together, some to make you laugh, and some to make you cry. There are sequels, big-budget extravaganzas, and even a few promising little indies. The ones I am most looking forward to include:
Zootopia 2 (November 26) Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) are now partners tracking down a mysterious reptile who arrives in Zootopia. And the sloth is back, too!
Eternity (November 26) If the legendary wit Noel Coward did a remake of Albert Brooks’ after-life fantasy “Defending Your Life,” it might look like this, with Elizabeth Olson as an elderly woman who arrives in heaven to find both of her husbands waiting for her: the one she married when they were young who was killed in the Korean War (Callum Turner), and the man she was later married to for more than 60 years (Miles Teller).
Hamnet (November 26) Jessie Buckley gives one of the most thrilling performances of the year as a woman married to an aspiring playwright named William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal). Based on the novel by Maggie O’Farrell, which itself was based on the true story of the death of Shakespeare’s young son.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (November 26) The third in the murder mystery series featuring master detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is another all-star treat, this time set in a church in upstate New York, with Josh O’Conner, Glenn Close, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, and Thomas Hayden Church.
Merrily We Roll Along (December 5) First it was a legendary flop by powerhouse duo George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. They were known for comedy but they experimented with a serious play told in reverse order, taking a trio of characters from middle age back to their early 20s. Then Stephen Sondheim decided to make it into a musical, where it flopped so badly there is a whole documentary about it, called “The Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened.” Then it was remounted on Broadway with Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez, and Krystal Joy Brown, where it finally was a huge hit and won Tonys for the two male actors. This is a film of that play.
Jay Kelly George Clooney stars as the title character, a huge movie star en route to a festival in Italy where he will receive a lifetime achievement award. He is accompanied by his manager (Adam Sandler) and publicist (Laura Dern) and tries to reconcile with his older daughter (Riley Keogh) and connect to his younger daughter (Grace Edwards), who would rather travel with her friends. This film, from writer/director Noah Baumbach, is one of my favorite of the year.
Dust Bunny (December 5) An eight-year-old girl asks her hitman neighbor for help in killing the monster under her bed that she thinks ate her family. Rogerbert.com’s Brian Tellerico calls it “playfully twisted.” Note: it is about a child but it is not for children: Rated R.
Merv Zooey Deschanel and Charlie Cox play a separated couple who still share love — and custody — of their dog, Merv. When the dog’s vet tells them their pet is depressed because they are not together, they join forces to take him on a vacation.
Ella McCay (December 12) This is one I’m especially looking forward to because it is from James L. Brooks, the writer/director of “Terms of Endearment” and “Broadcast News.” Emma Mackey plays a young politician who unexpectedly becomes governor of New York. the cast includes Albert Brooks, Julie Kavner, Woody Harrelson, and Jamie Lee Curtis.
Goodbye, June (December 12) Adult siblings who do not get along gather to be with their dying mother. Kate Winslet directed, based on a screenplay by her son. She also stars along with Toni Collette, Johnny Flynn, Andrea Riseborough, Timothy Spall, Helen Mirren, Stephen Merchant, and “Ted Lasso’s” Jeremy Swift.
Avatar: Fire and Ash (December 19) Writer/director James Cameron gives us another chapter in the saga of Pandora, again starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, and Stephen Lang, with Oona Chaplin as the new villain.
The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants (December 19) The residents of Bikini Bottom are back, this time with Mark Hamill providing the voice for the Flying Dutchman, who needs the world’s most innocent soul to break his curse. Who could that be?
Anaconda (December 25) Paul Rudd and Jack Black play bros who decide to remake their favorite movie, the cheesy 1997 film Anaconda. When their fake snake fails, of course they decide to get a real one. What could go wrong?
Marty Supreme (December 25) Timothée Chalamet (with a mustache) and Gwyneth Paltrow (as a movie star) appear in a film about a ping pong champion. Viewers at a recent surprise screening loved it. From the AP’s Jack Coyle: “A madcap ode to strivers. A great New York movie.”
Song Sung Blue (December 25) A documentary about a real life Neil Diamond tribute duo inspired this feature film starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson.
I didn’t have Astronomer Carl Sagan, who died almost 30 years ago, on my list of potential movie stars of summer 2025, but here we are. His voice plays an important role in two of my favorite films of the summer, “The Life of Chuck” and “Elio.”
Copyright 2025 Disney Pixar
Pedro Pascal is also on the list, with appearances in three major films, as the wealthy suitor for Dakota Johnson in “Materialists,” mayor of a small town in the dark political satire “Eddington,” and Reed Richards, the stretchable Mr. Fantastic in “Fantastic 4.”
Sarah Niles, who played Dr. Sharon in “Ted Lasso,” is also in there of the summer’s biggest films. in “F1” she plays the mother of the race car drive played by Damson Idris, in “Heads of State” she plays an aide to the President played by John Cena, and in “Fantastic 4” she plays a similar role for the title superheroes. It was a pleasure to see her and to hear her impressive facility with accents.
Happy 2025! Here’s What’s Coming to Our Screens This Year
Posted on January 1, 2025 at 2:31 pm
Happy New Year! Here are some of the films I’m looking forward to in 2025. As usual, we’re getting a lot of remakes, reboots, sequels, and superheroes. We have movies coming out about Frankenstein and about the bride of Frankenstein. And as usual, the best part of looking ahead is knowing that this time next year some filmmakers I’ve never heard of who will surprise and delight us. {Release dates and other information may change.)
JANUARY
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl(Netflix, Jan. 3) Aardman films are always a delight and the dim, cheese-loving inventor Wallace and his devoted (though sometimes exasperated) Gromit are my favorites. This one features warring robot garden gnomes and the return of Feathers McGraw.
Back in Action (Netflix, January 17) The primary interest in this action comedy is the return of two beloved stars, Jamie Foxx, back after the health crisis he describes in his new comedy special, and Cameron Diaz, back after taking a break to be home with her family.
One of Them Days (Theaters, January 17) A wild action comedy starring Keke Palmer and Sza? About roommates whose friendship is tested on a day where the landlord needs the rent, a job interview has to go perfectly, and everything seems to get in the way? And Issa Rae producing? Can’t wait!
Wish You Were Here (Theatrical, January 17) Julia Stiles makes her directorial debut in a film based on the bestselling novel by Renée Carlino, Wish You Were Here. Isabelle Fuhrman, Mena Massoud, Jennifer Grey and Kelsey Grammer star, When the perfect night with a perfect stranger ends suddenly the next morning, Charlotte searches for answers and meaning in her disappointing life until she uncovers a secret that changes everything.
Alarum (Theatrical and VOD, January 17) Sylvester Stallone, Scott Eastwood, Willa Fitzgerald, and Mike Colter star in a story about a couple, both spies, who go off the grid but are followed by some very dangerous people who feel strongly about getting a missing hard drive.
You’re Cordially Invited (Amazon, January 30) Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell head warring families who’ve mistakenly double-booked the same wedding venue. Written and directed by Nicholas Stoller (“The Five-Year Engagement), and co-starring two of my favorite up-and-coming comedy all-stars, Geraldine Viswanathan and Meredith Hagner.
Love Me (Theaters, January 31) “A postapocalyptic romance in which a buoy and a satellite meet online and fall in love after the end of human civilization.” They had me at buoy and satellite. The cast includes Kristen Stewart and Stephen Yeun.
FEBRUARY
Love Hurts (Theaters, February 7) Oscar-winners Ke Huy Quan and Ariana Debose team up in an action comedy about an apparently mild-mannered suburban realtor whose past as part of a ruthless crime syndicate. Former football player Marshawn Lynch, who was hilarious in “Bottoms,” co-stars.
Captain America: Brave New World (Theaters February 14) It’s a brave new Cap as Anthony Mackie takes over the role of the guy with the vibranium shield. IMDB lists Harrison Ford as “Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross / Red Hulk,” who is also the US President. Sounds great.
Paddington in Peru (Theaters, February 14) “Paddington 2” is still Rotten Tomatoes’ highest rated film. Will this one, with Paddington finally going to visit Aunt Lucy, do even better?
Cleaner (Theatrical, February 21) Activists take 300 hostages at a corporate gala to make a political point, but one of their group betrays them and plans to kill everyone. It happens that the window clear suspended 50 stories outside the building is ex-military and her younger brother is one of the hostages.
Old Guy (Theatrical and VOD, February 21) Christoph Waltz is the title character, a hitman who is forced to train his young replacement (Cooper Hoffman). When they learn they are being betrayed, the unlikely pair turns into a lethal team – with their double-crossing bosses in their sights. Lucy Liu co-stars in this action comedy from the director of “Con Air.”
The Unbreakable Boy (Theatrical, February 21) Zachary Levi and Meghann Fahy play the parents of a boy with autism and brittle bone disease but an unquenchable spirit.
Uppercut (Theatrical and on demand, February 28) Ving Rhames plays a boxing coach, with Luise Großmann as the woman he trains, who becomes the manager of an up-and-coming fighter (Jordan E. Cooper).
MARCH
The Electric State (Netflix, March 14) “Stranger Things'” and “Enola Holmes” Millie Bobby Brown plays the sister of a missing man who gets help from a robot. The stacked cast includes Chris Pratt, Ke Huy Quan, and Stanley Tucci.
MARCH
Snow White (Theaters, March 21) No one can convince me that Disney needs to make live-action versions of its classic animated films, but “West Side Story’s” Rachel Ziegler and Gal Gadot as the evil step-mother plus, I predict, a less passive heroine, will probably make this worth a look.
Mickey 17 (Theaters, March 17) Robert Pattinson plays an “expendable” who is rebooted every time he is no longer useful, from “Parasite” director Bong Joon Ho.
APRIL
The Accountant 2 (Theaters, April 25) I’m a fan of the 2016 original, with Ben Affleck as an accountant on the autism spectrum who has some very special skills. I’m not sure anyone was waiting for a sequel, but the original writer and director are returning so I’m sure they have something special in mind.
MAY
Thunderbolts (Theatrical, May 2) It’s tempting to call this Temu Avengers or the B-team of second-tier Marvel characters. many we’ve seen as villains, with Florence Pugh is back as Yelena Belova, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes and David Harbour as Red Guardian. This film adds Wyatt Russell as John Walker, Olga Kurylenko as Taskmaster and Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost.
Lilo & Stitch (Theatrical, May 23) Another live-action remake from Disney, this time about the impish alien befriended by a spirited Hawaiian girl. The cast includes Billy Magnussen, Zach Galifianakis and Courtney B. Vance.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (Theatrical, May 23) We’ve been waiting for this one since 2022 and I’m guessing Tom Cruise is going to deliver the best stunts of the year. “Ted Lasso’s” Hannah Waddington joins returning Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg and Vanessa Kirby.
JUNE
Ballerina (Theatrical, June 6) From the JWCU (John Wick Cinematic Universe) comes Ana de Armas as a ballet dancer turned assassin. I predict some very graceful and deadly pirouettes and tour jetes.
Elio (Theatrical. June 13) Pixar’s latest is about a boy who is mistaken by aliens for Earth’s leader. Voice talent includes Zoe Saldaña, Jameela Jamil, and Brad Garrett.
How to Train Your Dragon (Theatrical, June 13) ANOTHER live-action remake of a beloved animated film, this one from Universal. The writer and co-director of the original, Dean DeBlois is the writer/director and Gerard Butler returns as Stoick.
F1 (Theatrical, June 27) Brad Pitt and “Banshees of Inisherin” star Kerry Condon star in a film about Formula One racing.
JULY
(Theatrical, July 4) We don’t have a title or a teaser trailer, but what we do know is intriguing! Kendrick Lamar is producing and writers/directorsTrey Parker and Matt Stone (“South Park”) say this film is about a young Black man interning as a slave re-enactor at a living history museum who discovers that his white girlfriend’s ancestors once enslaved his ancestors.
Superman (Theatrical, July 11) The man from Krypton is back, this time played by David Corenswet, with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, the always-great Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, and Krypto the super-dog, and, maybe, the Fortress of Solitude. James Gunn writes and directs.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps (Theatrical, July 25)
I hope they’ve finally given the F4 the movie they deserve. It does have a great cast: Pedro Pascal as Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, Ralph Ineson as Galactus and Julia Garner as Silver Surfer.
AUGUST
The Bad Guys 2 (Theatrical, August 1)
Can the bad guys make it as good guys? That becomes especially challenging when they run into the Bad Girls, voiced by Maria Baklava, Natasha Lyonne, and Danielle Brooks.
The Naked Gun (Theatrical, August 1) This reboot of the Leslie Nielsen comedies, from “The Lonely Island’s” Akiva Schaffer, stars Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, and Paul Walter Hauser, with an appearance by Busta Rhymes.
The Naked Gun copyright 2025 Paramout
The Battle of Baktan Cross (Theatrical, August 8) The details are kept secret, but we do know this film is coming from P.T. Anderson and stars three Oscar winners; Sean Penn, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Benecio del Toro, along with Teyana Taylor and Regina Hall.
Freakier Friday (Theatrical, August 8) Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan are back and swapping bodies again. Mark Harmon and Chad Michael Murray return with newcomers Julia Butters and “The Good Place’s” Manny Jacinto.
Copyright Disney 2024
SEPTEMBER
Downton Abbey 3 (Theatrical, September 12) Come on, you didn’t think we’d miss the wedding of Tom Branson (Allen Leech) and Lucy Smith (Tuppence Middleton)!
The Bride (Theatrical, September 26) Maggie Gyllenhaal, who made a spectacular directing debut with “The Lost Daughter,” gives us a Frankenstein story set in 1930s Chicago. Her brother Jake is in the cast along with Christian Bale as the monster and Jessie Buckley as the murdered woman re-animated to be his bride. {No release information yet for the new Frankenstein, starring Oscar Isaac, with Jacob Elordi starring as the Monster, plus Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz and Felix Kammerer]
OCTOBER
Michael (Theatrical, October 3) Michael Jackson is portrayed by his nephew, Jaafar Jackson, in a film from Antoine Fuqua. Co-stars include Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Miles Teller and Colman Domingo.
Regretting You (Theatrical, October 24) Based on another novel by “It Ends With Us” author Colleen Hoover, this has Allison Williams and McKenna Grace as a mother and daughter with a strained relationship. Dave Franco co-stars in a story of love, loss, secrets, and regret.
NOVEMBER
Begonia (Theatrical, November 7) Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone (“Kinds of Kindness,” “Poor Things”) reunite for a story about the kidnapping of a CEO.
Now You See Me 3 (Theatrical, November 14) Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher and Lizzy Caplan are back as the endlessly clever magicians who also pull heists.
Wicked: For Good (Theatrical, November 21) I’m guessing people are already booking tickets for the sequel to one of 2024’s most beloved films. I predict the box office returns will defy gravity.
Zootopia 2 (Theatrical, November 26) The Oscar-winning original was a fresh, funny, and heartwarming surprise, so this one is high on my list. Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman are joined by the very busy Ke Huy Quan.
The Running Man (Theatrical, November 27) Did I think we needed a remake of the Arnold Schwarzenegger film about the wrongly accused cop who has to compete in a deadly game? Not really, until I heard who’s involved: Director Edgar Wright and star Glenn Powell.
DECEMBER
Avatar: Fire and Ash (Theatrical, December 19) We don’t know much about it, but we know it will look beautiful and sell a lot of tickets.
The Spongebob Movie: Search for SquarePants (Theatrical, December 19) More from the denizens of Bikini Bottom.
