Nine out of ten of the highest-grossing movies of 2024 were sequels. And you know what that means—Hollywood now has the perfect excuse to churn out even more sequels from its roster of existing franchises.
Everyone who’s anyone is serving sequels this year including the MCU, Jurassic World, Avatar, and even the long-dormant 28 Days Later franchise, which is making a comeback after nearly 2 decades.
But not every sequel has moviegoers excited. Some will have us applauding, “Let them cook,” while others will leave us wondering, “Who even asked for this?” That said, there are some 2025 sequels that movie buffs are actually looking forward to. So, we’ve rounded them up in this listicle, complete with their release dates, plus a few honourable mentions at the end.
Final Destination: Bloodlines (May 16)
If you grew up peeking through your fingers every time someone got on a plane, stepped into a tanning bed, or drove behind a log truck, then you probably have Final Destination to thank or not. After over a decade since the last film, the cult horror franchise is officially returning with a brand-new instalment titled Final Destination: Bloodlines, and fans are already bracing themselves.
The new film is expected to deliver the same nerve-wracking chaos that made the series famous: a group of people escaping death, only for it to come after them one by one in the most elaborate, unexpected ways. While plot details are still tightly kept, the word Bloodlines suggests we might be going deeper than ever before—possibly into the origins of death’s design or the families caught in its grip.
Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein (Freaks) are directing, with original creator Jeffrey Reddick back on board as a producer, which is a good sign for fans hoping the reboot will stay true to its roots while offering something new.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (May 23)
The Mission: Impossible franchise has come a long way over the past three decades, delivering everything from stolen government secrets and deadly viruses to almost-nuclear wars and not one but two terrorist organisations. Now, Ethan Hunt, played by the ageless Tom Cruise, is back for yet another high-stakes mission. This time, he and his IMF (Impossible Mission Force) team must take down The Entity, a rogue sentient AI that first reared its ugly head in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning brings back familiar faces, including Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Hayley Atwell, Vanessa Kirby, Pom Klementieff, and many more. But don’t let the “Final Reckoning” title fool you, this may not be the last we see of Ethan Hunt. Tom Cruise has made it clear he’s not done with the franchise, and director Christopher McQuarrie has hinted that more instalments are already in development. In fact, Tom Cruise will attend the Cannes Film Festival on May 14 for the Out of Competition premiere of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning at the Grand Théâtre Lumière. So, don’t expect the iconic Mission: Impossible theme—DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN—to fade out anytime soon.
Karate Kids: Legends (May 30)
The legacy of Mr. Miyagi lives on in Karate Kid: Legends, the sixth instalment in the iconic martial arts drama franchise. This new chapter packs quite the kick (pun intended), uniting Jackie Chan (Mr. Han) and Ralph Macchio (Daniel LaRusso) alongside newcomer Ben Wang as Li Fong—the newest kid on the karate chopping board. Longtime fans are especially excited, as Legends finally marries the timeline between the original Karate Kid tetralogy (1984–1994) and the more infamous Karate Kid soft reboot from 2010.
Directed by Jonathan Entwistle, the film also features a strong supporting cast, including Joshua Jackson as Victor, Shaunette Renée Wilson as Ms. Morgan, Sadie Stanley, and Ming-Na Wen. As for the plot, it follows a familiar Karate Kid blueprint: a young outsider moves to a new place, struggles to fit in, and eventually enters a karate tournament. But this time, there’s a twist. Li Fong isn’t just getting one mentor; he’s getting two from different eras of the franchise. Lucky duck!
28 Years Later (June 20)
The zombie genre in Hollywood remains undead, as evidenced by the resurrection of the 28 Days Later film series with its third movie, 28 Years Later, arriving 23 years after the first film (28 Days Later) and 17 years after the second (28 Weeks Later). Director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland, who helmed the original film, are back—a welcome return after their absence from the second instalment. This third entry features an entirely new cast, including Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes, and Jack O’Connell.
Set nearly three decades after the devastating outbreak of the Rage Virus, the story follows a group of survivors who have built a fragile existence on a secluded island. But when a father and son venture into the mainland on a dangerous mission, they uncover long-buried secrets, unexpected wonders, and unimaginable horrors. Adding to the excitement, 28 Years Later was filmed back-to-back with its sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, directed by Nia DaCosta, written by Garland, and produced by Boyle and Garland, with hopes of a fifth film to complete the 28 Days Later pentalogy.
Jurassic World Rebirth (July 2)
July is packed with major releases hitting the big screen back to back. Fans can look forward to Superman, Fantastic Four: First Steps, and the latest addition to the Jurassic Park/World universe, Jurassic World Rebirth. Directed by Gareth Edwards, Jurassic World Rebirth serves as a soft reboot, leaning heavily into the themes of the original Jurassic Park trilogy. In a bold move, the film introduces an entirely new cast, replacing the familiar faces from the Jurassic World sequels. Leading the ensemble are Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, among others.
This time, the story follows a covert team sent by Big Pharma to a forbidden island on a mission to retrieve dinosaur DNA that could unlock a miracle cure. As expected, the island is home to the usual culprits—T. rex, Spinosaurus, and Mosasaurus. But this time, a far deadlier threat awaits. To complete their mission, the team must face off against a grotesque, failed genetic experiment—the ultimate final boss of abominations, described as a cross between Alien’s Xenomorph, T. rex, and the Rancor from Return of the Jedi!
Now You See Me: Now You Don’t (November 20)
The highly anticipated third instalment of Now You See Me—a fast-paced, prestidigitation heist franchise—will materialise later this year. After years of delays since its initial announcement in 2015, filming wrapped in November 2024, marking the end of a long development struggle. Most of the original cast is confirmed to return, including Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher, Morgan Freeman, and Daniel Radcliffe. Joining them are fresh faces: Ariana Greenblatt, Justice Smith, Dominic Sessa, and Rosamund Pike.
As of this publication, details about Now You See Me 3 remain tightly under wraps. However, given the way Now You See Me 2 ended, the film is expected to follow the Four Horsemen as they dive deeper into their alliance with the shadow organisation known as The Eye.
Wicked: For Good (November 21)
When Wicked premiered in 2024, reintroducing audiences to the iconic witch frenemies Glinda and Elphaba from the whimsical Wizard of Oz universe, it became a sleeper hit, raking in over $700 million at the box office. Building on that success, director Jon M. Chu is back with the highly anticipated second instalment of the two-part musical adaptation, Wicked: For Good, set to dazzle on the big screen later this year. The sequel brings back all the powerhouse vocalists from the first film, including Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba, the Green Witch) and Ariana Grande (Glinda, the Good Witch), alongside Jonathan Bailey (Fiyero), Ethan Slater (Boq), Michelle Yeoh (Madame Morrible), and Jeff Goldblum (The Wizard of Oz).
Impressively, both Wicked films were shot back-to-back, with Wicked: For Good arriving just a year after its predecessor. With more original music, further development in the love triangle between Elphaba, Fiyero, and Glinda, and an emotionally charged story that ultimately leads to the former’s transformation into the Wicked Witch of the West, Wicked: For Good will most likely be a film that fans of the franchise will eagerly hold space for.
Zootopia 2 (November 26)
Nearly a decade ago, a sly-fox-dumb-bunny duo made their big-screen debut, captivating audiences and bagging over $1 billion at the box office. In 2025, Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman reprise their roles as Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde in Zootopia 2, directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard. Joining the cast are Ke Huy Quan, Fortune Feimster, and Shakira as Gazelle.
The sequel will most likely lean into the buddy-cop trope, with early plot details hinting at a thrilling adventure. This time, Nick and Judy go undercover as Zootopia PD officers at Marsh Market, diving into a case that puts them in hot pursuit of—wait for it—a snake named Gary, the first reptile to be introduced in Zootopian lore. Disney is counting on Zootopia 2 to be their biggest release of the year, especially as their recent movie slate hasn’t been the most impressive. Fans can look forward to more witty banter, hilarious moments, and an expanded exploration of Zootopia’s rich, biome-diverse fictional world.
Avatar: Fire and Ash (December 19)
James Cameron’s Avatar franchise has already amassed over $5 billion with just two films, so greenlighting a third was a no-brainer. This Christmas, the Avatar saga officially becomes a trilogy with its latest instalment, Avatar: Fire and Ash—a title that, much like The Way of Water, continues to feed into the long-standing confusion between Cameron’s Pandoran sci-fi epic and Nickelodeon’s Avatar series.
Cameron filmed Fire and Ash back-to-back with The Way of Water, meaning much of the previous cast will return in full motion capture suit. He has also teased a deeper exploration of the characters and the introduction of not one but two new Na’vi cultures. Among them is the Ash Clan, a villainous tribe that has endured extreme hardships, setting the stage for an intense new conflict. Avatar: Fire and Ash is set to deliver even more breathtaking environments, cutting-edge visual effects, and expanded franchise lore. And with the Avatar films’ box office dominance, it’s a safe bet that Fire and Ash will become Cameron’s third $2 billion blockbuster featuring everyone’s favourite blue aliens since Wookiees.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (TBD)
Somehow, the Knives Out films continue to work their magic, pulling in some of the biggest names in Hollywood for yet another thrilling instalment. This time, the posh whodunnit is back with Wake Up Dead Man, and once again, Daniel Craig is stepping into the shoes of the no-nonsense, sharp-as-a-tack detective, Benoit Blanc. Joining him in this star-studded lineup are Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Cailee Spaeny, and Thomas Haden Church.
Filming wrapped up in August 2024, and while the official release date is still under wraps, it’s expected to hit screens in the second half of the year. There’s even talk that Netflix may cave to Johnson and Craig’s wishes and give Wake Up Dead Man a theatrical release, which could explain the delay in confirming a date. As for the plot—well, that’s still a Knives Out mystery for now (get it?). But no matter the mystery, we know one thing for sure: we’ll be there, eagerly watching as Benoit Blanc unravels the clues and solves yet another twisted murder case.
Honourable mentions
- The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection (April 18)
- The Accountant 2 (April 25)
- M3GAN 2.0 (June 27)
- The Bad Guys 2 (August 1)
- TRON: Ares (October 10)
- Mortal Kombat 2 (October 24)
- Happy Gilmore (TBD)
- The Iron Guard 2 (TBD)
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