18 Upcoming Movies From Female Directors We’re Excited To See

While more and more groundbreaking films are being directed by women, they still represent a smaller portion of overall releases. Fortunately, the next year promises a wealth of new films by women filmmakers. It’s fantastic to see so many women directing movies in diverse genres throughout the rest of 2025 and into 2026. Let’s take a look at what’s coming up.

Rental Family – Hikari (November 21, 2025)

Hikari, a Japanese filmmaker known for her movie 37 Seconds and directing three episodes of the Netflix series Beef, makes her English-language feature film debut with Rental Family. She also co-wrote the screenplay. The film stars Brendan Fraser and tells the story of an American actor in Tokyo who takes a job with a unique service: renting himself out as family member.

Hamnet – Chloé Zhao (November 26, 2025)

Chloé Zhao is an acclaimed director and one of only three women to have won the Oscar for Best Director, an award she received for her 2020 film, Nomadland, which also won Best Picture. While known for independent films, she also directed the Marvel movie Eternals. Her latest film, Hamnet, is based on a novel and tells the story of William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes, as they grieve the death of their young son.

Five Nights At Freddy’s 2 – Emma Tammi (December 5, 2025)

Emma Tammi’s 2023 film, Five Nights at Freddy’s, was a major success for Blumhouse, and she’s been asked to direct the next installment. We’re excited to see her continued work with the franchise. It’s also fantastic to see a female director like Tammi gaining prominence in the horror genre, where there’s a lack of female representation.

100 Nights Of Hero – Julia Jackson (December 5, 2025)

In 2016, the graphic novel The One Hundred Nights of Hero reimagined the classic One Thousand and One Nights story through a woman’s eyes. Now, writer and director Julia Jackman has turned it into a film, featuring a talented cast including Emma Corrin, Maika Monroe, and Charli XCX. The movie promises a new and imaginative spin on this beloved Middle Eastern tale.

Merv – Jessica Swale (December 10, 2025)

Though romantic comedies are often labeled as movies for women, surprisingly few are directed by women. If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll want to check out Merv, directed by Jessica Swale, a well-known British playwright and director. The film features Zooey Deschanel and Charlie Cox as a couple who recently split up and take a trip together for the sake of their dog.

Atropia – Hailey Gates (December 12, 2025)

Hailey Gates’ first feature film, Atropia, will be released in theaters this December. It premiered at Sundance, where it won the Grand Jury Prize. Written and directed by Gates, the film stars Alia Shawkat and Callum Turner in a satirical take on war, centering around an actress training at a military simulation facility.

The Testament of Ann Lee – Mona Fastvold (December 25, 2025)

Following their collaboration on the ten-time Oscar-nominated film The Brutalist, the writers have teamed up again for The Testament Of Ann Lee. This time, however, Josephine Fastvold directs. The film is a musical starring Amanda Seyfried and tells the story of Ann Lee, the founder of the Shakers religious group in the 1700s.

SOULM8TE – Kate Dolan (January 9, 2026)

A new movie called SOULM8TE, a spin-off of M3GAN, is coming out this year. It will be directed by Kate Dolan, who previously made You Are Not My Mother, and marks her biggest project in the genre so far. The film, produced by James Wan and Jason Blum, tells the story of a man who purchases an android companion after the loss of his wife.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple – Nia DaCosta (January 16, 2026)

Nia DaCosta is a rising star in filmmaking, and her latest project, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, continues to prove why. Following her work on films like the recent Candyman, The Marvels, and Hedda, she directs a new screenplay by Alex Garland, building on the story from this summer’s 28 Years Later.

Wuthering Heights – Emerald Fennell (February 13, 2026)

Emerald Fennell, the director of films like Promising Young Woman and Saltburn, is known for creating movies that spark discussion and aren’t afraid to be provocative. Her upcoming take on Wuthering Heights looks set to continue this trend, promising a sensual and unconventional reimagining of the classic story.

The Bride! – Maggie Gyllenhaal (March 6, 2026)

Maggie Gyllenhaal, who impressed audiences with her first film, The Lost Daughter in 2021, is now directing The Bride! This new movie reimagines the story of Frankenstein, drawing heavily from the classic 1935 film Bride of Frankenstein. The film features performances by Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale.

Reminders Of Him – Vanessa Caswill (March 14, 2026)

While a few of Colleen Hoover’s books have been adapted into movies, Reminders of Him will be the first directed by a woman. Vanessa Caswill, known for the 2023 Netflix romantic comedy Love at First Sight, is directing the film, which tells the story of a woman returning to her hometown after serving seven years in prison.

Italianna – Kat Coiro (April 10, 2026)

Okay, rom-com fans, get ready! This spring, I’m really looking forward to Italianna, starring Halle Bailey and the ever-charming Regé-Jean Page. It’s a destination wedding story set in Italy, and it’s being directed by Kat Coiro – you might know her work from Marry Me, A Case of You, and even a bunch of episodes of She-Hulk. Sounds like a fun, fast-paced romance is heading our way!

4 Kids Walk Into A Bank – Frankie Shaw (April 17, 2026)

Frankie Shaw, a veteran actor of twenty years, is making her debut as a director with the upcoming black comedy, 4 Kids Walk Into A Bank. The film features a cast including Liam Neeson, Talia Ryder, Whitney Peak, Jack Dylan Grazer, Spike Fearn, and Jim Sturgess.

Is God Is – Aleshea Harris (May 15, 2026)

It’s unusual for a playwright to also direct the film adaptation of their own work, but that’s happening with Aleshea Harris’s play, Is God Is. This movie will be Harris’s directorial debut, and features a talented cast including Sterling K. Brown, Vivica A. Fox, and Janelle Monáe. The story centers on twin sisters who are tasked by their mother with killing their father, who was abusive.

Poetic License – Maude Apatow (May 15, 2026)

Maude Apatow, whose parents are Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann, is starring in her first film, Poetic License. The movie features Leslie Mann as a retired therapist whose grown children have left home, and it follows her involvement with two college seniors and best friends, played by Cooper Hoffman and Andrew Barth Feldman. Early reviews from critics have been positive.

Practical Magic 2 – Susanne Bier (September 18, 2026)

Nearly twenty years after starring as witches in Practical Magic, Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman are revisiting the story, and this time, a woman is directing. Suzanne Bier has a long list of directing credits, and she’s previously worked with both stars – she directed Bullock in Bird Box and Kidman in The Perfect Couple.

The Legend Of Aang – Lauren Montgomery (October 9, 2026)

Finally, we want to mention The Legend of Aang, the animated Avatar: The Last Airbender movie. Director Lauren Montgomery has worked for two decades as a storyboard artist and director, mainly on DC animated projects, but this film is her most prominent work yet. We’ll be featuring more films by women directors soon!

We’ll continue to share updates as this list evolves. Please check out and support these projects led by women!

2025-11-13 19:14