60. “Warfare”
While “Civil War” writer/director Alex Garland says he’s stepping down from directing gigs for the foreseeable future, he’s helping out his buddy, Ray Mendoza, who was the military supervisor on “Civil War.” Co-written by the duo, not much is known about it other than that it is based on Mendoza’s real-life experiences as a Navy Seal during the Iraq War. It also has quite a cast, including Charles Melton, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Joseph Quinn, Kit Connor, Cosmo Jarvis, Will Poulter, Noah Centineo, and Finn Bennett.
Release Date: TBD via A24 and maybe late in the year.
59. “RIP”
Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and action director Joe Carnahan don’t necessarily sound like the most obvious fit, but after the Damon/Casey Affleck action comedy, “The Instigators,” maybe everyone involved feels like trying new things. The thriller centers on a group of Miami cops who discover millions in cash, leading to distrust as outsiders learn about the huge seizure, making them question who to rely on. The cast also features Catalina Sandino Moreno, Sasha Calle, Kyle Chandler, Scott Adkins, Teyana Taylor, and more.
Release Date: TBD, but it’s in production, and Netflix has dibs.
58. “Night Always Comes”
Directed by Benjamin Caron (known for directing Lucasfilm’s “Andor”), this crime drama thriller focuses on a woman who sets out on a dangerous odyssey, confronting her own dark past throughout one propulsive night to secure a future for herself and her brother. Vanessa Kirby stars alongside Jennifer Jason Leigh, Stephan James, Julia Fox, Randall Park, Michael Kelly, and more.
Release Date: TBD via Netflix, but it’s in post-production now.
57. “The Running Man”
A dystopian thriller based on the same Stephen King novel that launched the 1985 version with Arnold Schwarzenegger, filmmaker Edgar Wright will put a newer spin on the movie that is seemingly less faithful to that ‘80s movie. The all-star cast features breakout stars Glen Powell in the lead alongside Josh Brolin, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, Katy O’Brian, Daniel Ezra, Karl Glusman, Jayme Lawson, and William H. Macy.
Release Date: November 21, 2025, via Paramount.
56. “The Way Of The Wind”
Auteur Terrence Malick takes years in the editing room, but maybe his latest— a retelling of several episodes in the life of Christ— will manifest in 2025. Starring Mark Rylance (as Satan), Matthias Schoenaerts (Apostle Peter), Geza Rohrig (“Son of Saul,” as Jesus), Joseph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley, Tawfeek Barhom, Ori Pfeffer, and more, given Malick’s spiritual tendencies, it’s a bit surprising it has taken this long to tackle this subject matter.
Release Date: TBD, and we’ve had it on this list for about three years running now, so who knows?
55. “Hope”
While he’s starring in a rare series this fall (“The Agency”), Michael Fassbender seemingly doesn’t get out of bed for anything other than racing or auteurs like David Fincher. But apparently, the needle does move for South Korean filmmaker Na Hong-jin, known for the horror “The Wailing,” His latest is a science fiction thriller about a mysterious discovery in a remote harbor town that leads to a fight for survival (which started as a collaboration with Alfonso Cuarón). Fassbender’s partner Alicia Vikander co-stars along with Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, HoYeon Jung, Taylor Russell and Cameron Britton.
Release Date: TBD, but it sounds like something that will appear at the fall film festival circuit.
54. “Rosebush Pruning”
An adaptation of Marco Bellocchio‘s 1965 debut feature “Fists in the Pocket,” about a man who plots the murders of his dysfunctional family, this will be three films in three years for Brazilian filmmaker Karim Aïnouz (“Firebrand”). This one features quite the cast, too, including the starring trio of Riley Keough, Callum Turner, and Elle Fanning, plus Jamie Bell, Lukas Gage, Tracy Letts, Elena Anaya, and Pamela Anderson.
Release Date: TBD, but it shot late in the year, so could do the festival circuit in the fall. Cannes also loves this guy if he’s fast.
53. “Eternity”
A fantastical romantic comedy directed by Irish filmmaker David Freyne (“Dating Amber”), the setting of this one is a world where, after death, everybody gets one week to choose where to spend eternity. One woman has to choose the man who got away or the man she built a life with. Elizabeth Olsen, Miles Teller, and Callum Turner star alongside Da’Vine Joy Randolph and John Early.
Release Date: TBD via A24.
52. “The History Of Sound”
Based on “The History of Sound” by Ben Shattuck, “Living” director Oliver Hermanus returns with a historical romantic drama featuring two of the moment leading men: “Gladiator” star Paul Mescal and “Challengers” lead Josh O’Connor. Already apparently aiming for Cannes, the gay romance centers on two men who meet in 1916 and then travel together in the summer of 1919 to record the folk songs of their countrymen in rural New England. Molly Price, Alison Bartlet, and Michael Schantz co-star.
Release Date: TBD.
51. “The Wedding Banquet”
Known for acclaimed indies like “Driveways” and “Fire Island,” filmmaker Andrew Ahn’s latest is ambitious: a remake of Ang Lee’s 1993 romantic comedy “The Wedding Banquet” co-written by James Schamus, the writer (and producer) of the original film. The film stars Lily Gladstone, Bowen Yang, Kelly Marie Tran, Joan Chen, Han Gi-chan, and Youn Yuh-jung. It feels like something that could appear at Sundance or Cannes, and first-look images were just revealed in November of this year.
Release Date: TBD
