Movies

45 Movie Sequels That Will Rule the Box Office in 2025

BBG News

Among the Top 14 highest-grossing films of 2024, only one wasn’t a continuation or follow-up. That unique exception was “Wicked”, the much-anticipated cinematic version of the immensely popular Broadway musical. Surprisingly, there will be a sequel to “Wicked” hitting the big screen in 2025 as well.

Absolutely! Sequels seem to be the big earners in Hollywood these days. A staggering number of around 40 sequels, prequels, remakes, or films from existing franchises are planned for release in 2025. Here are some you might want to mark down on your calendar:

1. The Matrix Resurrections (Sequel)
2. Indiana Jones 5 (Sequel)
3. Jurassic World: Dominion (Sequel)
4. The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride (Sequel to the live-action remake)
5. Mad Max: Furiosa’s Road (Prequel)
6. Top Gun: Maverick (Sequel)
7. Avatar 2 (Sequel)
8. Fast & Furious 10 (Sequel)
9. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Sequel)
10. The Batman Sequel (Sequel to 2022’s The Batman)

Star Trek: Section 31 (Jan. 24th on Paramount+)

Michelle Yeoh features in the initial television film titled “Star Trek,” which is a spin-off from the “Star Trek: Discovery” series. This standalone movie takes place within a timeline that bridges the gap between the original “Star Trek” films starring William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy, and the “Star Trek: The Next Generation” series led by Patrick Stewart. It appears to be exciting, and we’re keeping our fingers crossed for another fourth film featuring Chris Pine as Kirk at some point in the future.

Captain America: Brave New World (Feb. 14)

In the 35th Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Anthony Mackie’s character Sam Wilson, previously known as Falcon, steps into the role of Captain America. From what we see in the trailer, it appears he will find himself entangled in a significant political enigma, with Harrison Ford portraying the President of the United States, who seems to be a very angry version of the Red Hulk?

Paddington in Peru (Feb. 14)

“The movie Paddington 2 is simply amazing!”

– I couldn’t help but shed tears throughout, and it truly inspired me to strive for personal improvement.

– I was absolutely right about it! If the third film in this series is even half as impressive as the second one, it will undoubtedly be a worthwhile investment of your time.

– Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal are definitely onto something. The quality of the third movie in this series should it match the greatness of the second installment, would make it a must-watch for sure!

The Accountant 2 (April 25)

In the ninth year since the initial release, Ben Affleck returns to portray the dual roles of both an autistic accountant and a lethal enforcer named Christian Wolff. Accompanying him in this venture are Jon Bernthal and J.K. Simmons.

Thunderbolts* (May 2)

In a different phrase, we can say that the unconventional characters from the Marvel Universe, such as Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova and David Harbour’s Red Guardian – who captured hearts in 2021’s Black Widow – are compelled to team up and confront… Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ character.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (May 23)

I really need your faith in me – just this one more time.” It’s unclear whether that’s Tom Cruise or Ethan Hunt speaking at the end of this trailer, but we hope that 2023’s Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One will signal a return to the series’ usual quality after the surprising disappointment.

Read More: 50 Movies Turning 50 in 2025

Karate Kids: Legends (May 30)

In 2025, the worlds of The Karate Kid will merge as Ralph Macchio from the original show and Jackie Chan from the martial arts-focused 2010 remake join forces for a fresh new storyline, three years after the end of Ralph’s successful Cobra Kai series.

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina (June 6)

Following her captivating 10-minute performance in the 2021 James Bond film “No Time to Die”, Ana de Armas steps into the spotlight as the central character in the initial John Wick franchise spin-off on the big screen. This upcoming production promises a cameo from Keanu Reeves, who is famously known as the Baba Yaga.

28 Years Later (June 20)

18 years since the previous film, director Danny Boyle re-enters the post-apocalyptic world of “28 Days Later” in collaboration with writer Alex Garland, launching “28 Years Later”, the initial installment of a freshly promised trilogy from the groundbreaking zombie series.

M3GAN 2.0 (June 27)

1. An unstoppable AI doll returns for another round of terror, given its success in 2022 with a staggering gross of $181 million. M3GAN has returned to haunt the people who initially shunned her in the original film. A follow-up titled SOULM8TE is slated for release in 2026.

You can’t keep a good AI-powered doll down, and you can’t resist a sequel to a horror movie that grossed $181 million in 2022. So M3GAN is back to torment the human beings who [rightfully] rejected her in the first movie. A spin-off, SOULM8TE, is already lined up for 2026.)

Jurassic World: Rebirth (July 2)

It’s quite clear that this association resembles an abusive one. Let me put it frankly: While the initial Jurassic Park movie was indeed impressive, the final five minutes and every sequel since have been increasingly unbelievable and less engaging. However, the allure of a new beginning is hard to resist, and the involvement of Gareth “Monsters / Rogue One” Edwards brings a genuine sense of optimism.

Superman (July 11)

Recognizing that Marvel was significantly outperforming them, DC decided to bring in James Gunn, the architect behind Guardians of the Galaxy, to revitalize their film series. He’s taking the helm from the beginning, penning and directing a fresh Superman movie. While it looks promising based on the trailer, we’ll remain firm in our belief that Superman Returns was exceptional and they should have continued its narrative.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 25)

Is the fourth attempt the lucky one for the Fantastic Four? After three unsuccessful attempts, Marvel finally gets their chance with the comic book series on the big screen. The upcoming movie, set in the ’60s, is also anticipated to introduce Robert Downey Jr., known for his role as Iron Man, in a new character – Doctor Doom.

The Naked Gun (Aug. 1)

Approximately three decades since Leslie Nielsen last portrayed the bumbling detective Frank Deblin, Liam Neeson will assume the role in a revival of the popular Naked Gun franchise. Following her impressive resurgence in The Last Showgirl, Pamela Anderson and WWE Champion Cody Rhodes are also part of the cast.

Freakier Friday (Aug. 8)

22 years following the popular 2003 remake of “Freaky Friday,” Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsey Lohan will once more exchange bodies and hectic lifestyles in “Freakier Friday.” According to Curtis, speaking with People, it wasn’t possible to create this movie until now since Lohan had to reach an age where she could portray a 15-year-old.

Nobody 2 (Aug. 15)

2021’s “Nobody” saw Bob Odenkirk deliver an outstanding performance as a retired assassin, who, despite attempts at domestic bliss, was drawn back into action against a ruthless Russian mobster on cocaine. Joining the cast from the original are Christopher Lloyd, RZA, Connie Nielsen, and Michael Ironside, with Sharon Stone and Chris Pine also making appearances as new co-stars.

Tron: Ares (Oct. 10)

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but share my excitement about the third installment in the Tron saga from my perspective. Unlike the previous films where humans ventured into the digital universe, this time around, it’s a humanoid AI-driven computer program (portrayed by Jared Leo) who finds himself thrust into our world on a perilous quest!

Predator: Badlands (Nov. 7) and Untitled Sequel (TBA)

In the last 20 years, two underrated masterpieces have been added to the Predator series. The 2010 release, titled Predators, and the 2022 film set in 1719, named Prey, are definitely worth your viewing time. Interestingly, the only misstep during this run was taken by Shane Black, with his 2018 production, The Predator. The director of Prey, Dan Trachtenberg, is set to return with not one but two new Predator movies: Predator: Badlands and another secretly produced film that will be released prior to Badlands.

The Running Man (Nov. 7)

As a dedicated cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that Glenn Powell steps into Arnold Schwarzenegger’s iconic boots in Edgar Wright’s remake of “The Running Man”. With the life-or-death game show at the heart of the story seemingly just around the corner from becoming a reality, his timing couldn’t be more perfect.

Wicked: For Good (Nov. 21)

It’s hard for us to grasp why the extended three-hour musical adaptation of Wicked needed to be split into two films, with the initial part lasting 160 minutes. However, if our children could have endured another five hours in one go during the first film, then perhaps the movie makers have some secret insight that we don’t.

Zootopia 2 (Nov. 26)

For nearly a decade now, the witty and amusing film “Zootopia” has graced movie screens. In this latest installment, Jason Bateman and Ginnifer Goodwin reprise their roles as the fox and rabbit detective duo, investigating a mystery involving a snake character portrayed by Ke Huy Quan. It’s not hard to guess that the sloth character steals each scene he appears in.

Avatar: Fire and Ash (Dec. 19)

Three years following James Cameron’s somewhat uninspiring re-imagining of the original Avatar film and Titanic with Avatar: The Way of Water, the world’s most acclaimed director is back to Pandora with the sequel titled Avatar: Fire and Ash. Similar to Jurassic World: Dominion, we seem destined to watch this movie despite reservations about our decision.

Anaconda (Dec. 25)

17 years after the original “Anaconda” movie featuring Ice Cube and Jennifer Lopez, a new installment of the franchise starring Jack Black and Paul Rudd is set to release by Christmas 2025. Given the comedic talent of the lead actors, it’s likely that this sequel will bring a more intentional dose of humor.

Happy Gilmore 2 (TBA)

In a highly anticipated comeback, Adam Sandler reprises his character, Happy Gilmore – a former hockey player turned golf sensation with an inevitable confrontation brewing with Christopher McDonald’s Shooter McGavin once more. The movie promises appearances from renowned golf professionals and famous faces, but it’s likely that Maxwell Jacob Friedman of AEW will outshine them all. After all, he’s superior to everyone, and you can’t deny it.

The Old Guard 2 (TBA)

Engaging Charlize Theron for roles that require action-packed performances is a guaranteed strategy to make us happily part with our cash and leisure time. In the upcoming film The Old Guard 2, she returns as the (possibly?) immortal leader of a team of mercenaries, alongside Uma Thurman.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (TBA)

Daniel Craig will reprise his role as the eccentric private detective Benoit Blanc in the third installment of Knives Out, boasting another impressive ensemble of actors. In this outing, he’ll go head-to-head with Mila Kunis, Josh Brolin, Jeremy Renner, and Glenn Close. (A bold guess: Glenn might be the culprit.)

Here are some upcoming sequels and franchise films slated for release in 2025:

* Den of Thieves 2 (January 10)
* Wolf Man (January 17)
* The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep (February 11)
* Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (February 13)
* Snow White (March 21)
* Final Destination: Blood Lines (May 16)
* Lilo & Stitch (May 23)
* How to Train Your Dragon (June 13)
* The Smurfs Movie (July 18)
* An untitled I Know What You Did Last Summer sequel (July 18)
* The Conjuring: Last Rites (September 5)
* An untitled Downton Abbey: A New Era sequel (September 12)
* Saw XI (September 26)
* The Black Phone 2 (October 17)
* Mortal Kombat 2 (October 24)
* Now You See Me 3 (November 14)
* Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (December 5)
* The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants (December 19)

The 25 Best Sequel Titles

25. Halloween H20: 20 Years Later

The movie titled “Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later” was released twenty years following the initial “Halloween”. Despite being a bit repetitive, it’s quite bold that they went with “H20”. Surprisingly, this film doesn’t take place on a beach.

The movie called “Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later” came out 20 years after the original “Halloween”. It’s catchy that they named it “H20”, but you might be surprised to learn that this film isn’t set on a beach.

24. 2 Fast 2 Furious

In order to surpass the highly energetic “The Fast and the Furious”, you create something that might even be considered excessively fast and intense – or simply “2 Fast 2 Furious”. It’s amusing and memorable, which is precisely what you aim for when naming a movie about handsome undercover cops in the realm of illicit street racing.

23. Ocean’s Twelve

Titling a sequel can be tricky when it already includes a number in its title. Coming up with something like “Ocean’s Eleven 2” isn’t ideal. Instead, Steven Soderbergh cleverly opted for “Ocean’s Twelve” (followed by “Ocean’s Thirteen”) for the sequels. This approach seems obvious, but sometimes the obvious choice is the right one.

22. Book Club: The Next Chapter

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but appreciate the clever titling strategy in the case of “Book Club” sequel. Instead of going for the predictable route with titles like “Second Book Club” or “Chapter 2,” they chose “The Next Chapter.” This everyday phrase not only adds a touch of realism but also subtly hints at the story’s progression, making it feel more organic and less like just another sequel.

21. Oh, God! You Devil

As a movie enthusiast, I must say, “Oh, God!” is an intriguing title for a film featuring George Burns as the Almighty. Titling the sequel where Burns portrays not only God but also the Devil as “Oh God! You Devil” seems fittingly clever. (The sequel, “Oh God! Book II,” isn’t half bad either.)

20. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me

The long-running James Bond series provided a vast array of content for Austin Powers to satirize. Initially, the first movie didn’t aim to directly mock any specific Bond film, but the second one did; specifically, “The Spy Who Loved Me” was parodied and renamed as “The Spy Who Shagged Me.” Frankly, it’s hard to imagine how they could have handled something like “Octopussy.

19. Three Men and a Little Lady

In another scenario, they might’ve introduced an additional male character and titled the follow-up “Four Men, One Baby.” However, coming up with a more fitting title for the sequel to “Three Men and a Baby” than “Three Men and a Little Lady” seems quite challenging. This sequel continues the story of the original trio, now facing the challenge of raising the five-year-old girl who was once the baby in their care. (It’s lucky she wasn’t a boy; that would have disrupted the entire rhyme scheme.)

18. Disenchanted

The term “disenchanted” proved to be a valuable asset for the creators of the Enchanted sequel. It was already there, ripe for the picking. In addition, it perfectly encapsulates the plot of the sequel, where Amy Adams’ character Giselle grows discontented with her mundane life in the real world.

17. Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay

If a comedy sequel’s title is humorous on its own, it’s usually a good indication that the rest of the movie will be funny too. The title Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay, as the follow-up to something called Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle , is already a very amusing play on words.

16. Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan

In contrast to the mostly straightforward titles of the earlier Friday the 13th movies such as Part 2, The Final Chapter, The New Beginning, and The New Blood, the eighth film carried a noticeably more playful Jason Takes Manhattan. While it may have been a cheeky reference to The Muppets Take Manhattan, the name itself exudes an infectious enthusiasm – suggesting that this movie is meant to be enjoyed. (Unfortunately, the film didn’t live up to its entertaining subtitle.)

15. Piranha 3DD

As a movie enthusiast, I must admit that “Piranha 3DD” isn’t a film that I would wholeheartedly recommend. It’s not great, and it might even be considered below average. However, the title of this sequel to a cheeky exploitation horror with fish attacking scantily-clad women is almost genius.

14. Addams Family Values

Instead of titling “The Addams Family” sequel as “The Addams Family 2”, they could have opted for a more intriguing and culturally relevant title like “Addams Family Values” in the early 1990s. This would have been a clever play on words, given the popular phrase “family values” during that time, and it would have added an ironic twist to the dark humor of the Addams family.

13. I Still Know What You Did Last Summer

Ah, those relentless slasher villains, they can be quite tough to eliminate! So if the disturbed fisherman from ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ decided to continue his murderous rampage in another film, it would only make sense to call it ‘I Still Know What You Did Last Summer.’ Although the sequel does take place a year after the original story, using the title ‘I Still Know What You Did Two Summers Ago’ might sound a bit odd or unconventional for a movie name.

12. The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

This title not only makes an excellent choice for a follow-up to “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” but it also serves effectively as a positive appraisal of the movie, requiring no further critique.

11. Happy Death Day 2U

The “Happy Death Day” film series revolves around a woman who finds herself in a time loop, similar to “Groundhog Day,” where she must uncover her own murder by repeating the day of her death (which also happens to be her birthday). The clever addition of the letter ‘U’ at the end of “Happy Death Day 2″‘s title was an inspired touch. To top it off, the rest of the movie is quite good too!

10. Next Friday

The sequence goes like this: Every Friday brought about the next one, and the next one after that was again a Friday. Over time, rumors surfaced about Ice Cube producing a fourth film, but due to the lack of a clear way to maintain the naming pattern (like Friday After Next), it has yet to materialize.

9. Dumb and Dumber To

Regardless of whether you adore or abhor this film (personally, I find it underappreciated), there’s no disputing this fact: The title is quite silly.

8. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

In this new development, the unveiling of the title for the sequel has given us a hint that it could be worth the wait since the original “Beetlejuice”. Naming it twice, in tribute to the unique method to banish its character, was a truly brilliant move. If they release a third movie and it’s not titled “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”, we should consider filing a class action lawsuit against Warner Bros. for false advertising.

7. Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

A sequel to “Mamma Mia!” with the subtitle borrowed from ABBA’s “Mamma Mia!”: “Can’t Help Falling for You”? That’s quite a temptation to pass up!

6. Arthur 2: On the Rocks

The film titled “Arthur 2,” which centered around Dudley Moore’s endearing, alcohol-fueled millionaire character, seemed to serve no purpose other than generating revenue, and unfortunately, it didn’t do particularly well in that regard. However, one must concede that naming the sequel to a movie about a tormented drunk “On the Rocks” was a brilliant move, as it was a surefire hit.

5. When a Stranger Calls Back

In 1979, the horror film “When a Stranger Calls” was released, drawing inspiration from the chilling urban tale of a babysitter being tormented by a deranged caller whose phone calls seemed to originate within the very house itself. Fast forward nearly 15 years, and lo and behold, a TV sequel hit the screens, aptly titled “When a Stranger Calls Back.” A round of applause, much like that in “Citizen Kane,” would be fitting here.

4. Before Sunset

Titlewise, “Before Sunset” aptly fits as a sequel to “Before Sunrise,” but it also encapsulates the movie’s essence in both a literal and symbolic sense. In Paris, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy’s characters reconnect for a single afternoon, pondering whether their meeting will be as fleeting as their initial encounter. As the hours tick by, Jesse (Hawke) must prepare to leave, with the sun setting as a reminder that their time together could be limited. The moment is now or never.

3. Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit

If “Sister Act 2” were essentially a 90-minute scene of Whoopi Goldberg peacefully sleeping, the clever title “Back in the Habit” (AS IF SHE WERE A NUN AGAIN!) would certainly make the film’s creation worthwhile.

2. House II: The Second Story

Title of the spooky follow-up to the haunted house tale: “House II: Another Scary Tale”

And for a catchy slogan, how about this: “Terror doubles!

1. Aliens

In a recent confirmation, filmmaker James Cameron validated an iconic ’80s Hollywood rumor about his approach for the Alien sequel: He allegedly sealed the deal with 20th Century Fox by scribbling “ALIEN” on a whiteboard, followed by a “$” symbol. As promised, Cameron significantly increased the alien count in a movie that originally had only one, and in turn, generated a substantial amount of revenue for the studio. That’s a clever way to name a sequel!

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2025-01-14 03:27

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