Issue 38: Films For Your Watchlist
Currently on 16 upcoming film releases that might be missing from your watchlist.
People have been asking me, “What’s your favorite movie of the year?” Truth is, it hasn’t come out yet. Whether it’s the lingering effects of COVID or the industry strikes, it feels like some of the most anticipated films have been pushed to 2025. With Sundance, SXSW, and Cannes film festivals now behind us, a handful of titles are starting to generate Oscar buzz, and several big-name directors are returning with new work. So here are 16 (😳) films I’m closely following that you might not have on your radar yet.
The Life of Chuck
Logline: “In this extraordinary story of an ordinary man, Charles ‘Chuck’ Krantz experiences the wonder of love, the heartbreak of loss, and the multitudes contained in all of us.”
Director: Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House)
Starring: Tom Hiddleston, Karen Gillan
Release: In theaters now
Notable because: It’s based on a Stephen King novella, and Flanagan has proven himself with adaptations
Add to your list if: You like The Shawshank Redemption and Big Fish
Materialists
Logline: “A young, ambitious New York City matchmaker finds herself torn between the perfect match and her imperfect ex.”
Director: Celine Song (Past Lives)
Starring: Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, Chris Evans
Release: In theaters June 13
Notable because: Song’s debut was nominated for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay
Add to your list if: You’re interested in an intellectual, modern take on rom-com tropes
F1: The Movie
Logline: “Racing legend Sonny Hayes is coaxed out of retirement to lead a struggling Formula 1 team—and mentor a young hotshot driver—while chasing one more chance at glory.”
Director: Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick)
Starring: Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem
Expected Release: In theaters June 27
Notable because: There has to be one summer popcorn blockbuster on this list
Add to your list if: You like Drive to Survive and Ford v Ferrari
Caught Stealing
Logline: “Burned-out ex-baseball player Hank Thompson unexpectedly finds himself embroiled in a dangerous struggle for survival amidst the criminal underbelly of 1990s New York City, forced to navigate a treacherous underworld he never imagined.”
Director: Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream)
Starring: Austin Butler, Zoë Kravitz, Bad Bunny
Expected Release: In theaters August 29
Notable because: Aronofsky had strokes of genius in his early days (The Wrestler, Black Swan), but he’s missed for me in recent years (Mother!, The Whale)
Add to your list if: You’re willing to take a gamble on Aronofsky
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey
Logline: “An imaginative tale of two strangers and the unbelievable journey that connects them.”
Director: Kogonada (Columbus)
Starring: Margot Robbie, Colin Farrell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Expected Release: In theaters September 19
Notable because: Kogonada is one of the best under-the-radar directors working right now, and I encourage you to check out his first two films
Add to your list if: You like 500 Days of Summer and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
One Battle After Another
Logline: “When their evil enemy resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunite to rescue one of their own's daughter.”
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood)
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio del Toro, Sean Penn
Expected Release: In theaters September 26
Notable because: Rumored to be loosely based on Thomas Pynchon's novel Vineland, and PTA already has experience adapting Pynchon with Inherent Vice
Add to your list if: You like Mickey 17 and car chases
The Smashing Machine
Logline: “MMA fighter Mark Kerr struggles with addiction, winning, and love during his peak era in the UFC.”
Director: Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems)
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt
Expected Release: In theaters October 3
Notable because: It’s the solo feature directorial debut of Safdie after parting ways with his brother
Add to your list if: You like The Iron Claw and the UFC
Good Fortune
Logline: “A well-meaning but rather inept angel named Gabriel meddles in the lives of a struggling gig worker and a wealthy venture capitalist.”
Director: Aziz Ansari (Master of None)
Starring: Aziz Ansari, Seth Rogen, Keanu Reeves
Expected Release: In theaters October 17
Notable because: It’s the directorial feature debut of Aziz Ansari
Add to your list if: You’ve always wondered what it would be like if John Constantine were in Freaky Friday
Bugonia
Logline: “Two conspiracy-obsessed young men kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth.”
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things)
Starring: Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons
Expected Release: In theaters October 24
Notable because: Lanthimos consistently creates memorable films, even if some are a bit too out there for my taste
Add to your list if: You like Bong Joon Ho and Succession
After The Hunt
Logline: “A college professor finds herself at a personal and professional crossroads when a star pupil levels an accusation against one of her colleagues, and a dark secret from her own past threatens to come to light.”
Director: Luca Guadagnino (Challengers)
Starring: Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri, Andrew Garfield
Expected Release: In theaters October 10
Notable because: Guadagnino is known for sensual, emotional films, and Call Me by Your Name is a favorite for many
Add to your list if: You like She Said and Tár
Sentimental Value
Logline: “An intimate exploration of family, memories, and the reconciliatory power of art.”
Director: Joachim Trier (The Worst Person in the World)
Starring: Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Elle Fanning
Expected Release: In theaters November 7
Notable because: It recently won the Grand Prix at Cannes and was picked up by Neon, which means it will have a big push for Oscars contention.
Add to your list if: You like Aftersun and Marriage Story
The Running Man
Logline: “A man joins a game show where contestants, allowed to go anywhere in the world, are pursued by hunters hired to kill them.”
Director: Edgar Wright (Baby Driver)
Starring: Glen Powell, Colman Domingo, Michael Cera
Expected Release: In theaters November 7
Notable because: Wright is known for high-energy stylistic films, so this remake of the 1987 action classic is in good hands
Add to your list if: You like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ready Player One
Frankenstein
Logline: “A brilliant but egotistical scientist brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.”
Director: Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth)
Starring: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth
Expected Release: On Netflix in November
Notable because: Del Toro and gothic stories go together like peanut butter and jelly
Add to your list if: You like Halloween and attractive actors
Untitled Political Thriller
Logline: “Centered on White House staffers grappling with an impending missile strike on America, this gripping drama unfolds in real-time as tensions escalate.”
Director: Kathryn Bigelow (Zero Dark Thirty)
Starring: Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson
Expected Release: On Netflix late 2025
Notable because: Bigelow was the first woman to win the Academy Award for Best Director and is one of the best action directors of our generation
Add to your list if: You like Luther and 24
Marty Supreme
Logline: “Marty Mauser, a young man with a dream no one respects, goes to hell and back in pursuit of greatness.”
Director: Josh Safdie
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tyler The Creator
Expected Release: In theaters December 25th
Notable because: It’s the solo feature directorial debut of Safdie after parting ways with his brother
Add to your list if: You like Timmy and gritty biopics
The Rivals of Amziah King
Logline: “In rural Oklahoma, Kateri loses her mother and flees foster care. She reunites with past foster parent Amziah King, who mentors her, revealing hidden skills. Facing devastating situations, Kateri relies on newfound strength to seek justice.”
Director: Andrew Patterson (The Vast of Night)
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Kurt Russell
Expected Release: 2025
Notable because: Patterson’s debut film showed promise on a micro budget, so his sophomore effort with a larger budget is intriguing, and it marks McConaughey’s first on-screen role in six years
Add to your list if: You like the South and the Avett Brothers
Happy watching,
— Justin