25 massive movies coming to UAE screens in 2025
It’s going to be a blockbuster year…
Buckle up film fans, 2025 looks like it’s going to be a blockbuster year for quality cinema – whatever your genre predilection. We’ve got knee-high reboots, sequinny sequels, and some Oscar-calibre original screenplays. These are just a few of the biggest future hits coming to UAE box offices *checks calendar* relatively soon.
28 Years Later
Avatar Fire and Ash
Ballerina
Captain America Brave New World
Sinners
Elio
F1
Fantastic Four: First Steps
Alto Knights
How to Train Your Dragon
Jurassic World Rebirth
Karate kid: Legends
Lillo & Stitch
Michael
Mickey 17
Minecraft
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Snow White
Superman
In The Grey
The Naked Gun
The Running Man
Thunderbolts
Wicked Part 2
Wolf Man
In The Grey
Expected Release Date: January 17
The plot details for this new Guy Ritchie project have been locked down tighter than a bare-knuckle boxing, intermittently comprehensible, itinerant traveller’s periwinkle-coloured caravan. We do know it’s based on an extraction story, essentially a human heist, which feels well within Ritchie’s unashamedly cockney action wheelhouse. The cast list is a thick spread of talent mustard too, with appearances from Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal, Eiza Gonzalez, Rosamund Pike, and Jason long.
Wolf Man
Expected Release Date: January 17
Writer-director Leigh Whannell received just acclaim for his soft reboot of gothic horror feature, The Invisible Man. For his next cinematic trick, he’s taking another classic monochrome monster – the eponymous Wolf Man – and giving it a new set of fangs, fit for the 21st Century. It stars the magnificent Julia ‘if-you-want-to-stop-me’ Garner, and Christopher Abbott, who we’ll be seeing a lot more of in the very near future.
Captain America: Brave New World
Expected Release Date: February 14
He’s back, no cap. We’re now in the Sam Wilson (Anthony ‘Clarence’ Mackie) era of Captain America, after Steve’s emotional Vibranium baton pass at the end of last The Avengers saga. The world is on the precipice of all-out war once again, a situation likely to be hampered by the fact US President-elect (played by Harrison Ford) moonlights as a beetroot-faced, hair-triggered, violently obstinate, smash-fetishist. Red Hulk, wait, who did you think we were talking about?
Sinners
Expected Release Date: March 7
Black Panther and Creed director Ryan Coogler places his celluloid muse, Micheal B. Jordan, in a period American horror piece against an unspecified – but pretty harrowing if the trailer is anything to go by (which it absolutely, necessarily is) – evil. Jordan plays twin brothers trying to make peace with their troubled past by returning to their hometown. But as the VO explains in the trailer, “If you keep dancing with the devil, he’s going to follow you home”.
Disney’s Snow White
Expected Release Date: March 21
Mirror mirror on the wall, what’s the riskiest Disney live-action remake of them all? Doing a film about dwarfs in 2025 maybe? Still, the makers of Snow White must have been surprised to see the extent to which the controversy blizzard has raged around creative decisions, and certain cast member comments in the past year. Despite the internet outrage (which now seems to be an integral part of the House of Mouse publicity cycle) I hope it doesn’t put cinema-goers off seeing what I’ve been led to believe is a more female-forward reimaging of the 1937 classic. A reboot that stars West Side Story’s Rachel Zegler as Snow White, and is directed by The Amazing Spider-Man helmsman Marc Webb. Seriously, Webb.
Alto Knights
Expected Release Date: March 21
2025 really must be the dawning of the Age of Gemini, or split personality disorder (same same), because this is the second film on the list where the lead actor plays two roles. And it’s only March. This time around it’s double Oscar-winner, Robert De Niro in a movie where he plays both antagonists in the narrativisation of the real-life mob war between Italian American crime bosses Vito Genovese and Frank Costello.
A Minecraft Movie (2025)
Expected Release Date: April 4
Skibidi your rizzlers, and fanum tax your Ohios (I’m pretty sure that’s correct terminology usage) because the cultural keystone of Gen Alpha, Minecraft, is getting a big-screen live-action adaptation. I know what you’re thinking, that game has no storyline and the graphics are blocky. But if you can build a successful franchise from the blank cheque narrative world of LEGO, anything is possible. This film stars Jack Black as craft table kingpin Steve, Jason Momoa, Jennifer ‘Stiffler’s mom’ Coolidge, and Matt Berry, with a plot synopsis that sounds eerily like a Jumanji homage.
Mickey 17
Expected Release Date: April 18
It’s been four long years since we last saw directorial work from Oscar-winning Bong Joon-ho and this next notch on his filmography (starring Robert Pattinson) IMDB post already feels destined for celluloidal immortality. It’s the adaptation of a highly praised 2022 sci-fi book, Mickey7 – which syncs its cybernetic teeth into the subject of uploaded consciousness. Mickey is on a one-way trip to colonise a distant ice world, a mission fraught with inter-planetary peril. But it’s ok, each time he dies, a new clone is spawned complete with the prior incarnation’s memories. Synthesised immortality in purgatory, sweet.
Thunderbolts
Expected Release Date: May 5
Marvel’s second big release for 2025, Thunderbolts is very much the MCU’s version of DC’s Suicide Squad. I’m not getting into who was first, or which version is better, save your outrage for ComicCon panel talks. But it is worth noting, that the success of The Suicide Squad led, in no small part, to James Gunn being extracted from Marvel to chair the DCU. The premise of Thunderbolts is simple, a rag-tag bunch of surly antiheroes have been banded together to go on a secret government mission that entails almost certain death. A team that includes Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, Wyatt Russell, the Red Guardian. Revengers assemble.
Lilo & Stitch
Expected Release Date: May 23
Disney’s next (mostly) live-action remake, is a Hawaiian tale of ohana (family). It’s about looking past the faults of those dear to us, of not always having to fit in with societal norms, and the dire consequences of a lab-engineered weapons-grade space koala discovering Elvis Presley, the ukulele and coconut cake. This remake sees original cast members Chris Sanders (Stitch), Tia Carrere (Mrs. Kekoa), Amy Hill (Tūtū), and Jason Scott Lee (David) reprising their roles, alongside some exciting new additions, including Zach Galifianakis.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Expected Release Date: May 23
The final mission. Probably. It’s not clear. But the smart money is on this likely be the last time this particular IMF squad gets wheeled out to face seemingly insurmountable odds, only to surmount them. Once more unto the rubber masks my friends. We know the formula now – twists, epic stunts, apocalyptic peril, characters you think are dead turning up unannounced, betrayal, gadgets, AI and Tom Cruise running along a landmark he shouldn’t be running on. We can’t wait. However that appears to be our mission, so we’ll have to accept it.
Karate Kid: Legends
Expected Release Date: May 30
Netflix hit, Kobra Kai has seemingly re-stoked the public’s appetite for the sweep-the-leg-verse. This, the sixth film in the franchise, takes place in the same universe as the original trilogy, the 2010 remake and the Kobra Kai series. A timeline that even on paper gives me eye-twitch migraines. Mr Han (Jackie Chan) and Daniel ‘San’ LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) must find a way to wax on and wax off in harmony, so that their young prodigy, Li Fong (Ben Wang) can – and I’m just working off past material here – either restore slighted honour, or batter a band of bullies.
Ballerina
Expected Release Date: June 6
Set between the events of John Wick 3 and 4, this is the story of Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) a young ballerina and deadly assassin trained by the Ruska Roma crime family, Baba Yaga’s previous employers. We got a snapshot of her character arc in John Wick Parabellum, but plot details on this character study are scarce. It’s believed that we’ll find Macarro hiding out in the ostensibly safe space of the New York Continental Hotel, preparing to avenge the murder of her father. Keanu Reeves is also on the cast list, so expect a triple-figure body count. And guns, lots of guns.
Elio
Expected Release Date: June 13
After travelling to the innermost depths of the soul in the last few movies, the next Pixar film concentrates on outer space. Elio (which is derived from the Latin and Ancient Greek words for ‘sun’ if you’re a fan of prematurely jumping to conclusions) is a young boy possessed by contemplation of the ethereal mysteries of the universe. It’s perhaps his curiosity in these matters that leads him to being identified as the official head of state for earth and invited to attend an intergalactic parliament of space oddities. Voice acting comes from a cast that includes Yonas Kibreab, Jameela Jamil, Brad Garrett and Zoe Saldaña.
How to Train Your Dragon
Expected Release Date: June 13
Not content with sitting on the sidelines and watching Disney have all the live-action remake fun, DreamWorks have opened their own account with the ballard of Hiccup and Toothless, How to Train Your Dragon. And yes, that means in all likelihood there probably will be a Shrek remake, that will either galvanise or pulverise our collective cherished memories. The location shoot of the first instalment of this Vikings vs Dragons saga wrapped, in Belfast in May and the great news is Gerad Butler, has retained his role as village chief, Stoick the Vast.
28 Years Later
Expected Release Date: June 20
The next chapter in the zombie chronicles of Alex Garland (writer) and Danny Boyle (director) is 28 Years Later. This end-of-days bleakquel (because, perhaps more than any other cinematic dystopia, the 28 franchise just oozes apocalyptic melancholy), was shot entirely on iPhone to really hammer home POV reliability. The “I definitely didn’t get bitten” action here is chaired by actors Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, and Jack O’Connell.
F1
Expected Release Date: June 27
Before he gets to work on Top Gun 3, Maverick director Joseph Kosinski is gearing up for the release of F1. The film stars Brad Pitt as a retired Formula One driver (spotted filming in racing fatigues at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix), who’s lured back into the sport to coach a promising young motorist (Damson Idris). Expect drama on and off the track with appearances from a grid of real-world F1 drivers including Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, Fernando Alonso and Pierre Gasly.
Jurassic World Rebirth
Expected Release Date: July 2
Next on the summer blockbuster blockchain, is the seventh instalment in the Jurassic Park collection of movies. This iteration was directed by Gareth Edwards (Monsters, Godzilla (2014), Rogue One and The Creator), and stars Scarlett Johanson and Mahershala Ali. It’s set several years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion, and involves a team heading to an island (uh oh), to secure genetic material (here we go again), from several giant murder lizards (RIP). But what they find there, is even more disturbing than discovering a velociraptor in your pantry.
Superman
Expected Release Date: July 11
This is it. The temperature check. Just how good will James Gunn’s DCU actually be? Based on his previous work, and looking at the individual ingredients (including David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman), I’m going to stick my head above the predictive parapet and venture this: Superman has within it the makings of one of the greatest superhero movies of all time. One exciting element is the impressive range of hitherto cinematically underrepresented superheroes and villains to look forward to. The only potential Kryptonite I could envisage, is Gunn’s favoured humour-heavy dialogue approach, jarring with how the son of Jor-El has traditionally been framed. Fun bit of trivia for you: Nicholas Hoult who plays Lex Luthor, auditioned for the DCU versions of both Superman and Batman. If at first you don’t succeed, watch the world burn.
Fantastic Four: First Steps
This film actually marks the second reboot of Marvel’s Fantastic Four. And the MCU isn’t taking any chances, they’ve roped in some big acting guns. Casting for the eponymous team includes Pedro Pascal who plays Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby is Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn plays Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (cousin Richie from The Bear) takes on the role of The Thing. Elsewhere, you’ve got tantalising prospects in Julia Garner confirmed as the Silver Surfer, Ralph Ineson as Galactus, John Malkovich in an undisclosed role, and we can probably assume a credit scene for Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom. How the turn tables.
The Naked Gun
Expected Release Date: August 1
Did you know there’s a Naked Gun sequel in the works starring Liam Neeson as the lead (and on-screen son of Leslie Nielsen’s Detective Frank Drubin)? Looks like the cows have finally come home to roost. This next-gen Naked Gun will be directed by Akiva ‘Hot Rod’ Schaffer, and features writing credits for Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane.
Michael
Expected Release Date: October 3
If you were thinking it was just a matter of time before Michael Jackson got a posthumous biopic, You Are Not Alone. It comes to us directed by Antoine Fuqua of The Equalizer Trilogy and stars Micheal’s real-life nephew, Jaafar Jackson (son of Jermaine). Nepo-baby casting… you can’t Beat It for authenticity. The film covers a long stretch of the King of Pop’s life, from his childhood Jackson 5 days right up until his death. Whatever your opinion on Michael, good or Bad, this film will be Moonwalking into theatres this October, and has the potential to be an edge-of-the-seat, musical Thriller.
The Running Man
Expected Release Date: November 21
This second adaptation of the Stephen King book of the same name will likely feel eerily more prescient after several decades of escalatingly bizarre reality TV shows. The role of Ben Richards, previously played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, has been filled by in-demand leading man Glen Powell. Richards is “the Running Man” in a Squid Game-esque, spandex-clad, inordinately chainsaw-heavy game show where contestants must dodge the murderous attention of Hunters. Expect satirical swipes at the anything-for-entertainment culture that seems to have insidiously taken over TV scheduling.
Wicked: For Good
Expected Release Date: November 21
It appears there really is no rest for the Wicked cast, because they’re chasing down a sequel release date precisely one year after the first instalment. In truth though, the movie – which is essentially the stage musical’s second act – was shot alongside the original, and it’s Jon M. Chu and the post-production team that won’t be getting any rest. Love spoilers? Can’t wait for the concluding chapter of cinema’s most melodic ‘villain’ origin story? The Wicked stage show is still running on Broadway and the West End.
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Expected Release Date: December 19
The third (in what will likely be a five-or-more-part series) outing for the Smurf-Pocahontas sci-fi mash-up sees a lot of the surviving cast members returning (most notably Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña). These movies are works of art and really have to be watched on the largest available cinema screens for maximum effect. Director James Cameron hasn’t shared much detail about the plot, other than Fire and Ash will explore populations within the Na’avi Pandora diaspora that aren’t so necessarily good-willed or are at least a little more complicated in their cultural morality. He’s also stated that there are some big upcoming twists to the story, and an exponential growth in the richness of characters and worlds as the series progresses. Fair warning: the release date has already been moved nine times, so maybe don’t get too attached to the 2025 release date.
