40 films and shows in 2025 that make it a promising year to look forward to!

From Kantara to Superman, these titles have set the stage for an exciting lineup in 2025, promising a year full of captivating content!

2025 seems like a landmark year for Indian content, with some of the nation's biggest names from various industries coming together and returning to give us a fabulous experience. From Rajnikanth, Kamal Haasan, and Mammootty to Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Alia Bhatt, Suriya, and Yash, a host of veteran and contemporary actors will headline highly anticipated big-budget projects as the industry seeks to bounce back from a mixed 2024. While the legacies of old gems like Panchayat, Pataal Lok, and The Family Man continue, there are new entries like Aryan Khan's debut series and Rahi Anil Barve's (Tumbbad) collab with Raj and DK for a dynastical show. Titles like Superman, Wicked 2, Fantastic Four, Ballerina, and others also lean our excitement towards the big screen! 

Bollywood hopes for a resurgence with major releases like Aamir Khan's Sitaare Zameen Par, Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR's War 2, Alia Bhatt'sAlpha and Salman Khan’s Sikandar. Meanwhile, Tamil cinema will see top directors like Mani Ratnam and Lokesh Kanagaraj helm ambitious projects while Thalapathy Vijay gears up for his last film before entering politics. Other industries are also primed for success. The Telugu film industry continues its streak with Prabhas leading a horror comedy and Ram Charan making his return post RRR. Anushka Shetty will spearhead a pan-India action film. Malayalam cinema remains strong with films starring Mammootty, Mohanlal, and Fahadh Faasil, and will see the much-anticipated reunion of Mammootty and Mohanlal. Kannada cinema looks to build on past successes, with Yash and Rishab Shetty generating excitement. This convergence of talent and creativity sets the stage for a defining year for Indian cinema. While January already looks promising with titles like Santosh, Game Changer, Black Warrant, Deva, Sky Force, Emergency, Pataal Lok 2, and others, it gives hope that the year ahead is something that we can look forward to.

Also Read:9 titles to watch out on Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ Hotstar in January 2025!

Here's what's been announced in 2025 so far!

Indian movies 

Kantara A Legend: Chapter 1 

A prequel to the groundbreaking 2022 film Kantara, this one tells the story from the beginning! Set during the reign of the Kadambas of Banavasi, it is written and directed by Rishab Shetty and produced by Vijay Kiragandur under Hombale Films. 

Sikandar 

The much-awaited return of Salman Khanonscreen is finally over as Sikandar is all set to release on Eid this year. It's an action film directed by AR Murugadoss and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala.

Retro 

Retro will see the collaboration of two talented artists, Karthik Subbaraj, the writer and director, and Suriya, who plays the titular role in this romantic action film!

Coolie 

Helmed by Lokesh Kanagaraj in his trademark mass style, the film promises to be a thrilling ride that offers a fresh take on Rajinikanth’s legendary career as he essays the titular role. It features a stellar ensemble cast, including Nagarjuna, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, Sathyaraj, Shruti Haasan, and Reba Monica John. 

Thug Life 

A gangster action drama directed by Mani Ratnam, Thug Life marks Ratnam's reunion with Kamal Haasan after 36 years. The film features a star-studded cast, including Silambarasan, Trisha Krishnan, Ashok Selvan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi, Sanya Malhotra, Rohit Saraf, and Vaiyapuri.

Chhaava

Showing us Vicky Kaushal inaneverseenbeforeavatar, Chhaava is a historical action film adapted from Shivaji Sawant's acclaimed novel Chhaava that chronicles the life of Maratha king Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. It delves into the trials, valor, and sacrifices of Sambhaji as he upheld his father’s legacy and defended the Maratha Empire against formidable foes. 

Thama 

Starring Ayshamann Khurrana, Rashmika Mandanna, Nawazuddin Siddique the film is about a well-known and determined historian who examines ancient manuscripts for clues to the mysterious vampire legends of Vijay Nagar.

Dhadak 2

Produced by Dharma Productions, Zee Studios, and Cloud 9 Pictures, Dhadak 2 is a romantic drama directed by ShaziaIqbal that serves as a spiritual sequel to Dhadak and a remake of the acclaimed Tamil film PariyerumPerumal. Set against the backdrop of societal divides and caste-based discrimination, it stars TriptiiDimri and SiddhantChaturvedi in lead roles. 

Metro In Dino 

A romantic drama, written and directed by AnuragBasu, it is a spiritual sequel to the critically acclaimed Life in a Metro exploring modern relationships in the urban landscape with Basu’s signature storytelling style. It boasts of an ensemble cast that includes Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi, and more! 

Alpha 

It is an upcoming action-thriller in the YRF Spy Universe, starring AliaBhatt and SharvariWagh. Directed by ShivRawali, the film follows two fearless female agents as they embark on high-stakes missions in a gripping world of espionage, filled with daring stunts, intense action, and unexpected twists.

Sitaare Zameen Par 

A sports drama, this film is directed by R. S. Prasanna and produced by AamirKhan and KiranRao. A spiritual sequel to Khan’s 2007 film TaareZameenPar, it is inspired by the Spanish film Champions and stars Khan and GeneliaDeshmukh.

War 2 

A sequel to the 2019 action-thriller War, this film is the sixth installment in the YRFSpyUniverse. As MajorKabir returns to go on a new undercover mission and save the country from a dooming threat. The film stars HrithikRoshan, JrNTR, KiaraAdvani, and more! 

Thalapathy 69

Starring Vijay, Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol and others, this is a political action thriller film directed by H. Vinoth and produced by KVNProductions. The film's title is supposed be speculated just as the news that this might be Vijay's last film before he leaves for politics! 

Superboys of Malegaon

Starring Adarsh Gourav, Shashank Arora, and others, the film follows a journey of an aspiring filmmaker as he bands together his group of friends to make a film for his town, Malegaon. It is based on a real-life story and is currently making the rounds in film festivals! 

Raid 2

A crime thriller directed by RajKumarGupta, Raid 2 stars AjayDevgn, RiteishDeshmukh, and VaaniKapoor. A sequel to Raid (2018), the film follows IRS officer AmayPatnaik as he investigates another high-profile white-collar crime, intensifying the stakes with gripping suspense and action.

Housefull 5

Starring an ensemble cast that includes Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, Ritesh Deshmukh, Jackie Shroff, Sanjay Dutt, and so many more, the film is the fifth instalment in the comedy franchise that has been continuing on since 2010!

MMMN

A highly-anticipated film, this one stars two of the top most stars of the Malayalam cinema industry - Mammooty and Mohanlal. This film will be directedby Mahesh Narayanan! 

Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups

Written and directed by Geetu Mohandas the film is a highly-anticipated action thriller starring the KGF infamous Yash inaleadrole. It is jointly produced by KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations.

120 Bahadur 

Bringing FarhanAkhtar back to the screen, 120 Bahadur recounts the heroic Battle of Rezang La during the Indo-China War, showcasing the immense valour, resilience and sacrifice of Indian soldiers as they fought against overwhelming odds in one of the most legendary battles in Indian military history.

Jolly LLB 3

Another AkshayKumar film that is directed by SubhashKapoor and the third installment in the Jolly LLB series, this one also stars Arshad Warsi, Huma Qureshi, Amrita Rao, Saurabh Shukla, and others. The film promises to deliver the series’ trademark blend of humor and legal drama with a social message! 

Param Sundari

A love story that stars SiddharthMalhotra and JanhviKapoor, this one is directed by TusharJalota and produced by Maddock!

Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari

A Dharma productions rom-com that stars Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, Rohit Saraf, and more, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari is written and directed by Shashank Kahitan!

Indian web series

Matka King 

Matka King, a highly anticipated series, stars VijayVarma as a cotton trader in Mumbai who invents a new gambling game called Matka. The show, directed by NagrajManjule and produced by RoyKapurFilms, also features KritikaKamra, SaiTamhankar, and GulshanGrover.

Panchayat 4 

The fourth instalment of popular series Panchayat will also be seen coming out in 2025 as the shooting had already begun in 2024. It will answer the most inevitable question we were left with last season - Who tried to kill Pradhan ji?

The Family Man season 3

The third instalment of the much-beloved Raj and DK show, The Family Man is also anticipated to come out in 2025 where once again we'll get to witness the undeniably magic of Manoj Bajpayee as SrikantTiwari along with his ever trustedJK, and his unique family! 

Dabba Cartel 

A woman-centric story, DabbaCartel, directed by HiteshBhatia, explores the lives of five housewives running a high-stakes secret cartel in 1960s Mumbai. Produced by FarhanAkhtar's ExcelEntertainment, the series stars ShaliniPandey, Shabana Azmi, Akashdeep Singh, Jyotika, Jisshu Sengupta, and GajrajRao.

Rakt Bramhand: The Bloody Kingdom 

Raj and DK’s highly anticipated fantasy drama RakhtBramhand, starring AdityaRoyKapur, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Ali Fazal, and WamiqaGabbi, will be directed by Tumbbad’sRahiAnilBarve. 

Stardom 

Itwillbe the first time that the debut of a writer and director is being so anticipated and we fully get the hype given that it's AryanKhan. He's all set to bring in his six episode mini series Stardom to Netflix this year! 

International films

Snow White 

An American musical fantasy film from Disney, directed by MarcWebb, with a screenplay by Greta Gerwig and ErinCressida Wilson, Snow White reimagines the classic fairy tale, bringing fresh perspectives to the beloved story starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot in lead roles. 

Superman 

This JamesGunn's highly anticipated Superman film, marks a reboot of the DC cinematic universe. Starring DavidCorenswet as the iconic superhero, the film promises a fresh take on ClarkKent’s origin and heroism. 

Wicked: For Good 

Wicked: For Goodis a musical fantasy film directed by JonM. Chu that is a sequel to Wicked (2024), as it is the second part of the two-film adaptation of the stage musical by StephenSchwartz and Holzman, inspired by the 1995 novel and the Oz books. The film stars Cynthia Erivo and ArianaGrande, with JonathanBailey.

Mickey 17 

A science fiction black comedy film directed by BongJoon-ho, Mickey 17 is based on the 2022 novel by the same name. The film stars RobertPattinson, Toni Collette, and MarkRuffalo. It follows a disposable employee sent on a mission to colonize the ice world Niflheim, who, after dying, is regenerated with most of his memories intact, leading to a unique exploration of identity and survival.

F1 

A sports action drama directed by JosephKosinski in collaboration with the FIA, this film stars Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Javier Bardem, and SarahNiles. It follows a former driver who returns to Formula 1 racing to challenge the sport’s top competition, reigniting his passion and facing new challenges on the track.

Fantastic Four: The First Steps

A superhero film based on Marvel Comics’ iconic team, produced by MarvelStudios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios, this one is directed by MattShakman. The film serves as the second reboot of the FantasticFour series. Featuring an ensemble cast led by Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and EbonMoss-Bachrach, it follows the team as they defend their 1960s-inspired Earth from the cosmic threat of Galactus.

Marty Supreme

It is a sports drama directed by JoshSafdie, and co-produced by TimothéeChalamet, who also stars in the film. Set in the 1950s ping pong scene and loosely inspired by the life of professional player MartyReisman, the film also features GwynethPaltrow.

How To Train Your Dragon (live-action)

It is a fantasy film directed by DeanDeBlois, serving as a first live-action remake by and of DreamWorks Animation’s 2010 animated film. Based on CressidaCowell’s 2003 novel, the film stars Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Nick Frost, and others, with GerardButler reprising his role as StoicktheVast.

Captain America: Brave New World

It is a superhero film centered on SamWilson as CaptainAmerica. After an encounter with President Thaddeus Ross, Sam is thrust into an international crisis and must uncover a global plot before the mastermind plunges the world into chaos.

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina 

Starring Ana De Armas it is a neo-noir action thriller directed by Len Wiseman. This spin-off, set between John Wick: Chapter 3 – 4, focuses on a young female assassin seeking revenge for the murder of her family expanding the John Wick universe, continuing its intense action and intricate world-building.

Freakier Friday 

A fantasy comedy directed by NishaGanatra, it is a sequel to FreakyFriday (2003) starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan, Chad Michael Murray and other original cast members reprising their roles. It follows Tess and Anna as they face new challenges when their families merge, discovering that lightning can strike twice.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Disney (@disney)

Avatar: Fire and Ash

A third instalment in the Avatar franchise, this epic science fiction film series is co-produced, co-edited, co-written and directed by JamesCameron!

Which of these titles would you add to your watch list? Let us know in the comments below!

For more recommendations, follow us on @socialketchupbinge