Skyler Orton
So far 2025 has been an exciting year for movies both blockbusters and independent. From thrilling superhero films like Superman to small arthouse gems like The Phoenician Scheme moviegoers have had plenty to pick from. However, the year’s not over yet so here are Dork Daily’s most anticipated movies of the year ranked.
10. One Battle After Another
Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest is coming soon and it looks like an absolute delight. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as a former revolutionary who must reckon with his past life after his daughter is kidnapped by old enemies. The trailers make the movie look like a rowdy action comedy and the strong cast including Benicio del Toro, Chase Infiniti, Sean Penn and Texans Taylor seem to sell this.
For general audiences the movie looks like a good time but it is definitely marketed towards cinephiles too. Anderson has made some incredible award-winning films such as There Will be Blood, Magnolia, and Boogie Nights that are sure to drive in the cinephile crowd. Not to mention it was filmed in VistaVision, a widescreen film format initially developed in 1954. The format has been making a comeback in recent years prompted by the success of The Brutalist and it will be used in many other upcoming arthouse films like Yorgos Lanthimos’ Bugonia. This is sure to bring in those who appreciate unique pieces of film history and technology.
Coming in at around three hours, Anderson and these actors will surely be able to take the time to build up emotionally resonant characters and arcs alongside the explosive action. Overall, the movie looks like a sure fire hit for all audiences.
One Battle After Another hits theaters September 26th.
9. Marty Supreme
After Timothy Chalamet’s Oscar-nominated turn as Bob Dylan and his blockbuster success in Dune, the star is following these hits up with… an A24- produced drama about ping pong. While it might not bring Chalamet the same stardom as his previous films, I’m excited to see him bring his talents to smaller projects.
Marty Supreme follows Chalamet as real-life table tennis champion Marty Reisman. However, the film will not be a strict biopic but instead be a fictionalised original story. Both in front of the camera and behind scenes the movie brings some real talent. Josh Safdie, one half of the Safdie brothers who made Good Time and Uncut Gems, is directing and supporting cast members include Gwyneth Paltrow and Tyler, The Creator. Overall the movie looks weird in all the best ways and I can’t wait to see what this could be.
Marty Supreme hits theaters this Christmas
8. Tron Ares
Coming 15 years (wow) after Tron Legacy, Tron Ares looks like it will continue the strange digital world that started all the way back in 1982. This time there’s a twist since the series’ programs have escaped into the real world. Jared Leto will star as the titular Ares program who has been brought into the real world to be a military weapon.
The film seems mostly standalone but Jeff Bridges is returning as Kevin Flynn who is sure to be the connective tissue between this film and the rest of the series. Though honestly, the plot has never been the most important part of the Tron series. I’m looking forward to seeing an impressive cyberpunk-esque world depicted again while listening to what is sure to be a great score by Nine Inch Nails.
Tron Ares hits theaters October 10th
7. Hamnet
Another lower budget movie I can’t wait to see. Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal star as Agnes and William Shakespeare. While the story will explore the writing of William’s iconic play Hamlet, it is from Agnes’ point of view and explores the couple’s crushing grief after their son Hamnet’s death. The movie is based off of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel of the same name and promises a fictional account of this period in the Shakespeares’ life.
I’m looking forward to it since it’s director Chloe Zhao’s first project since the critical and commercial flop of Eternals. I’m very interested to see if Nomadland was a one off hit or if she can continue that success. Paul Mescal has also become one of my favorite up and coming actors after his touching performance in Aftersun so I’ll look forward to any of his projects.
Hamnet comes to theaters November 27th
6. Avatar: Fire and Ash
James Cameron and his group of blue space people return. The threequel promises to explore Jake Sully and his family encountering a brand new aggressive Na’vi tribe. And once again Stephen Lang’s sinister Quaritch is back somehow to cause trouble on Pandora. Most interesting is the promise of his military squad teaming up with this new Na’vi group. Overall Fire and Ash looks to deliver on the same fantastic visuals and groundbreaking effects that made the first two films bonafide hits. And since James Cameron has said he plans on making two more sequels we may as well go along for the ride.
Avatar: Fire and Ash arrives in theaters December 19th
5. The Running Man
Edgar Wright is one of the most consistent modern directors. From oddball comedy to fast paced action the man can do it all and his latest looks no different. Glenn Powell stars in a readaptation of Stephen King’s 1982 dystopian classic that was first adapted starring Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1987. Powell plays Ben Richards, a working class man who is forced to join a deadly game show to bring himself out of poverty.
The movie looks like an absolute thrill ride of an action movie that feels most reminiscent of Wright’s work with Baby Driver, a similarly audacious action film. It also boasts a strong supporting cast including Josh Brolin, Colman Domingo, and Jayme Lawson. It also has a Scott Pilgrim vs. The World reunion with Micheal Cera acting with Wright for the first time since the 2010 comedy classic. Overall The Running Man looks like a fun time with a great cast that I can’t wait to see work with Wright’s explosive style.
The Running Man smashes into theaters November 7th
4. Anemone
Daniel Day Lewis, one of the finest actors of our time, made big news when he retired from acting in 2017 at the age of 60. Fortunately for us he’s back in his first film since Paul Thomas Anderson’s Phantom Thread in 2017. It’s directed by his son Ronan Day Lewis and the pair co-wrote the film. While not much is known about the plot, the film promises a tender exploration of parent and sibling relationships following Day Lewis as a former soldier reuniting with his family after living in the wilderness for 20 years.
The meta aspect of the story being as much an exploration of the Day Lewis’ relationship as it is the characters’ sounds deeply personal in a way I can’t wait to see depicted onscreen. Daniel Day Lewis will star alongside Sean Bean (whose character is surely not long for this world) and Sammantha Morton in currently unnamed roles. Overall the film promises beautiful cinematography paired with a tender story that will surely be a triumphant return for one of cinema’s greatest.
Anemone hits theaters October 3rd.
3. If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
A24 always seems to have the greatest eye for funding and distributing high-quality films. If reactions from film festival critics is any indication, the absurdly titled If I Had Legs I’d Kick You is no exception. Rose Byrne stars in this dark dramedy as Linda, a struggling mother who has to navigate everything from an absent husband (Christian Slater) to her daughter’s (Delaney Quinn) mental illness.
The film looks like an incredibly stressful experience but one that is sure to deliver an authentic and emotional look into motherhood. Festival goers have compared it to Uncut Gems for motherhood so I expect it to have similar levels of stress as that film. Similar to Uncut Gems, this film has many comedians take surprisingly dramatic turns. Conan O’ Brien stars as Linda’s therapist who becomes increasingly hostile, and A$AP Rocky stars as Linda’s supportive neighbor James. This type of role is out of the ordinary for the actors and I’m excited to see what they do with the dramatic material. Overall seems like it’s another A24 smash hit that I’m thrilled to see.
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You arrives in theaters October 10th.
2. The Smashing Machine
Dwayne Johnson stars in a biopic of world famous MMA fighter Mark Kerr. I can’t believe I’m saying this but his performance has gained awards season buzz after the film’s premiere at the Venice Film Festival. The Rock has mostly been known for his blockbuster work and never any sort of critical darling like this so his turn is very surprising. Johnson’s face is coated in prosthetics to change everything about him from his tattoos to his nose, all to make him look more authentically like Kerr. Considering Johnson has a reputation for playing himself in every film he’s in, this drastic physical transformation shows his true commitment to this role.
This shows that director Benny Safdie (funny that both Safdie brothers are making sports biopics this year huh) has an intense attention to detail and plans on portraying Kerr’s life authentically. You can see this from how the film will portray Kerr’s toxic relationship with his girlfriend (Emily Blunt) as well as his tragic opioid addiction. Overall the film seems like a promising swing for Johnson’s career and an interesting new entry into A24’s quickly growing pile of sports biopics. Plus with Johnson now cutting weight to play an absurd eccentric elderly chicken man in Benny Safdie’s next film it’s safe to say Johnson wants to keep breaking into smaller movies.
The Smashing Machine smashes into theaters October 3rd
1. Wicked: For Good
Ask anyone who knows me and they’ll tell you thatI love a good musical. Wicked was my favorite theater experience of last year and everything from its incredible production design to the great performances were successes for me. I expect no less from its sequel which will adapt the second half of the Broadway hit. The trailer showcases all of my favorite elements from the first film returning.
The world of Oz is fully realized in these films and more time with the setting and these characters is all I need. Grande and Erivo’s performances in the first part were fantastic and fully deserved their Oscar nominations. However, the first half is much more lighthearted and I want to see them take the characters’ dramatic arcs to their climax. I fully expect director John Chu and the fantastic cast to deliver on the promise of the first film and I don’t need to see anything else to be sold on this film.
Wicked: For Good flies into theaters November 21st
That’s it for our list but there are countless fantastic movies on the slate. Is there anything we missed that you’re looking forward to hitting your multiplex? Let us know in the comments.
