These are already the most popular movies of 2025

The year isn't even over yet, and there's already a list of the most popular movies of 2025. At least, the prediction of that. We have been quite spoiled this year with movies like ‘Inside Out 2’, ‘Gladiator’, and especially ‘Wicked’ is a huge success. Of course, we already know well in advance which movies will be released in the coming year, and based on the previous success stories, there is a handy list of movies that are expected to keep the theaters permanently full.

Spoiler alert: you really have to love action.

And sequels. Because the list is full of them. Also logical: it's easier to predict that a movie will attract a lot of audiences if the first part was a big success. But on the other hand, ‘Gladiator’ was indeed popular in terms of visitor numbers, only the reviews did show that the reactions were somewhat less positive. Okay, so it remains a guess. But with titles like ‘Captain America: Brave New World’, ‘Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning’, ‘From the World of John Wick: Ballerina’, ’The Fantastic Four: First Steps’, ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’, and ‘Superman’, any fool can predict that the tickets will be sold out in no time. The fanbase of these franchises is super loyal: even if they didn't like the previous film, they will be ready with popcorn on their laps in the first week.

A little less predictable maybe?

So I was under the impression that the hype around Jurassic Park was over, but there is yet another ‘Jurassic World’ sequel planned for 2025. I wouldn't know what else we could come up with about dinosaurs eating everyone, but then again: the same goes for action movies. I just don't understand what is so fun about people shooting at each other in different landscapes and situations. There is little talking, mostly shooting and screaming, and you can be sure that your main character survives everything. Well, maybe action lovers say the same about romcoms, but at least there is something recognizable in the storylines. I hope this doesn't apply to the shootouts in movies like ’The Accountant 2’ (where Ben Affleck plays the lead role, his love life is indeed as tumultuous as his films). And something like ’28 Years Later'... I just really don't like that. I watch movies for relaxation. The last thing I need is constant adrenaline shots from the visuals on the screen, only to lie awake all night worrying that there might be an aggressive kind of corona pandemic that would make everyone want to kill each other.

And then that one movie that I can't wait to see again

Earlier, I had to confessthat I didn't know the whole story of ‘Wicked’, and that maybe makes it logical that I had no idea that a second part was supposed to come. I really only understood that when the cinema screen filled with the text ‘To be continued…’ But anyway, the fact is now that I have to gather all my patience again until Wicked part 2 appears in theaters. Again, I will not look up how the story goes, it's just too nice to be surprised by a movie where you can't outline the whole plot after the first five words.