Toronto Film Fest 2025 Preview: 35 Must-See Movies To Watch

“The Good Boy”
Polish filmmaker Jan Komasa (“Corpus Christi”) directs the psychological thriller “The Good Boy,” written by Bartek Bartosik and Naqqash Khalid. The cast features Stephen Graham, Andrea Riseborough, and Anson Boon (currently one of the actors stealing the show in the Tom Hardy series “MobLand”). The story follows a 19-year-old hooligan abducted by a suburban family who set out to “reform” his violent ways through relentless psychological manipulation, pushing him toward compliance or escape at any cost.

“Mile End Kicks”
Canadian filmmaker Chandler Levack (“I Like Movies”) writes and directs the coming-of-age drama “Mile End Kicks.” The film stars Barbie Ferreira, Jay Baruchel, Devon Bostick, Juliette Gariépy, Stanley Simons, Robert Naylor, Emily Lê, Hasani Freeman and Magi Merlin. Set in Montreal’s indie music scene, the story follows a young critic navigating ambition, relationships, and artistic identity.

“Rose of Nevada”
British director Mark Jenkin (“Bait”) writes and directs the poetic mystery “Rose of Nevada.” The cast includes George MacKay, Callum Turner, Rosalind Eleazar, Francis Magee, Edward Rowe, and Mary Woodvine. In a Cornish fishing village, a boat reappears thirty years after vanishing, bringing its crew back as if time had stood still, unsettling the community with myth and memory.

“Nuremberg”
American filmmaker James Vanderbilt (“Truth”) writes and directs the historical courtroom drama “Nuremberg.” Rami Malek stars as a psychiatrist opposite Russell Crowe, Leo Woodall, John Slattery, Mark O’Brien, Colin Hanks, Wrenn Schmidt, Lydia Peckham, Richard E. Grant, and Michael Shannon. The film revisits the Nuremberg trials, dramatizing the moral and psychological battles that defined post–World War II justice.

“The Ugly”
South Korean director Yeon Sang-ho (“Train to Busan”) directs the psychological thriller “The Ugly,” co-written with Ryu Yong-jae. The cast features Park Shin-Hye, Lee Jung-Jae, Kim Hye-soo, Song Kang, Bae Doona, and Choi Woo-shik. The story follows a blind painter whose disturbing visions begin to reveal unsettling truths tied to her past, blending horror and mystery with emotional depth.

“Steve”
Belgian filmmaker Tim Mielants (“Small Things Like These”) directs the drama “Steve,” written by Max Porter from his 2023 novella Shy. The cast includes Cillian Murphy, Tracey Ullman, Jay Lycurgo, Simbi Ajikawo, and Emily Watson. Murphy stars as a headteacher overseeing a residential school for boys with societal and behavioral difficulties, where one troubled teenager faces a turbulent night that exposes anger, shame, and fragile hope.

“Steal Away”
Canadian director Clement Virgo (“Brother”) helms the family drama “Steal Away,” which he co-wrote with collaborators. The cast includes Angourie Rice, Mallori Johnson, Lauren Lee Smith, and Idrissa Sanogo. Centered on themes of identity, grief, and generational heritage, the story examines how memory and history shape a family’s present.

“The Smashing Machine”
American filmmaker Benny Safdie directs the biographical sports drama “The Smashing Machine,” co-written with Justin Saunders. Dwayne Johnson stars as MMA legend Mark Kerr, joined by Emily Blunt, Lyndsey Gavin, Oleksandr Usyk, and Ryan Bader. The film charts Kerr’s rise, triumphs, and struggles, portraying life’s personal and professional toll inside the cage.

“The Testament of Ann Lee”
Norwegian filmmaker Mona Fastvold (“The World to Come”) directs the historical drama-musical “The Testament of Ann Lee,” co-written with Brady Corbet. The cast includes Amanda Seyfried, Thomasin McKenzie, Lewis Pullman, Stacy Martin, Tim Blake Nelson, Christopher Abbott, Matthew Beard, Jamie Bogyo, Viola Prettejohn, and David Cale. The film dramatizes the life and spiritual legacy of Shaker leader Ann Lee, blending history, music, and psychological inquiry.

“Two Pianos”
French auteur Arnaud Desplechin (“A Christmas Tale”) writes and directs the character-driven drama “Two Pianos.” The cast features François Civil, Nadia Tereszkiewicz, Charlotte Rampling, and Hippolyte Girardot. Centered on the life of a pianist torn between memory and obsession, the film explores creativity, identity, and the blurred boundaries between artistry and self.