Here are the top 10 movies fans are excited to see in theaters in 2025, and the number one spot isn’t a superhero flick!

After a few sluggish years, superhero movies finally have their mojo back, and fans might have Deadpool & Wolverine to thank for it. The hype is real, and theaters are filling up again, and fans are excited. It feels like the spark that was missing has finally been reignited.

Now, the big question is, what’s next? Marvel is gearing up with Thunderbolts* and the highly awaited Fantastic Four reboot, while James Gunn is laying the foundation for a brand-new DC era. On paper, it all sounds epic. But despite all the buzz, these movies aren’t exactly topping the charts when it comes to fan anticipation.

Kevin Feige at the 2016 SDCC [Photo by Gage Skidmore, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons]

So, what are moviegoers most excited about? Here is a list of the most anticipated summer movies!

Jurassic World: Rebirth

Jonathan Bailey and Scarlett Johansson in Jurassic World Rebirth / Credits: Universal Pictures

Dinosaurs are back, and fans couldn’t be more thrilled! Jurassic World Rebirth has officially roared its way to the top of moviegoers’ most-anticipated summer releases for 2025 (via Box Office Pro). Set to hit theaters on July 2, 2025, this fresh take on the beloved saga is bringing in new faces, including Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and many more who are ready to dive headfirst into the chaos.

According to a ranking compiled by Fandango, Jurassic World Rebirth is the film fans are most eager to see, beating out some major superhero flicks and other summer blockbusters. The list was part of a broader report on the state of moviegoing, released ahead of CinemaCon, the film industry’s big annual trade event in Las Vegas.

Fandango surveyed over 5,000 moviegoers who had purchased at least one ticket since January 2024 and also gathered insights into audience habits and expectations. And if this ranking is any indication, people are more than ready to step back into a world where dinosaurs rule the screen once again!

The Fantastic Four

The Fantastic Four: First Steps | Credit: Marvel Studios

Kevin Feige just scored a win over James Gunn, with The Fantastic Four grabbing the second spot on the most-anticipated movies list. The moment Marvel dropped the film’s cast, the internet exploded, and fans have been counting down the days ever since. And thanks to Deadpool & Wolverine shaking up the Multiverse Saga, excitement for Marvel’s First Family is at an all-time high.

This time, the Fantastic Four are heading to a retro-futuristic 1960s, where they’ll face off against Galactus and Silver Surfer in a battle to save Earth. With Pedro Pascal as Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as The Thing, it’s a dream team that has Marvel fans losing their minds. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is set to hit theaters on July 25, 2025.

Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning

Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning || Credits: Paramount Pictures

Is it even possible for a Mission: Impossible movie to drop and not dominate the hype charts? Absolutely not. And Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning is no exception.

Set to hit theaters in May 2025, this installment carries extra weight because while it was once thought to be the grand finale, the future of the franchise (and Tom Cruise’s role as Ethan Hunt) is now not clear. Will this be the last time we see Cruise pull off jaw-dropping stunts? That uncertainty is only making fans even more desperate to catch it on the big screen.

Since its debut in 1996, the Mission: Impossible series has kept audiences on edge, dropping new chapters every few years. And after almost three decades of heart-pounding action, this one is shaping up to be a must-watch, just in case it really is the last mission.

Superman

James Gunn has already started to work on what’s to come for the DCU || Image by Gage Skidmore, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

James Gunn’s DCU is officially kicking off its journey with none other than Superman, and fans are here for it. The film’s fourth position on the list proves only that.

After a few rocky years for DC, this fresh take on the Man of Steel is set to bring the heart, humor, and epic action Gunn is known for. He’s reimagining the original superhero, steering it away from dark and gritty.

Leading the cast is David Corenswet as Superman and Clark Kent, joined by Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult stepping into the shoes of Lex Luthor. The movie is set to be released on July 11, 2025. The anticipation has made it clear that fans understand that this Superman reboot isn’t just another DC movie, it’s the dawn of a whole new era. And with Gunn at the helm, fans are expecting something truly super.

Thunderbolts*

Florence Pugh and David Harbour in Thunderbolts* | image: Marvel Studios

Rounding out the top five is yet another MCU heavy-hitter, Thunderbolts*. With Marvel keeping the plot tightly under wraps, the mystery is only adding to the anticipation. With just two months to go before it storms into theaters, fans are eager to see what surprises Marvel has in store for this unpredictable team. And if the hype charts are any indication, audiences are definitely showing up for it. With Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, and David Harbour in the cast, fans cant wait any longer!

Ballerina

Ana de Armas in Ballerina / Credits: Lionsgate Films

Fans are hyped for Ballerina, and for good reason! This action-packed spin-off, starring Ana de Armas as the fierce assassin Eve, will bring high-stakes revenge elements from the John Wick world in a very unique flavor. Moreover, fans are also expecting a showdown with John Wick himself. Thus, in the sixth spot of the list, expectations are through the roof for this one, for sure!

28 Years Later

28 Years Later (2025) | Credit: Sony Pictures Releasing

From action-packed superhero flicks to spine-chilling nightmares, there’s no shortage of thrills. What lingers is that insatiable appetite for terror, and 28 Years Later is here to satisfy it at number 7.

This film cranks up the dread, pushing the 28 Days/Weeks saga into even darker territory. With a time jump of nearly 30 years, the stakes are higher, the world is even more broken, and survival is more brutal than before. Plus, there’s the mystery of what happened to the infected all these years. Are they still as they were, or have they evolved into something even worse? Horror fans truly can’t wait to find out!

How To Train Your Dragon

A still from the trailer for How to Train Your Dragon live-action | image: Universal Studios

Fans are very, very very excited for the live-action How to Train Your Dragon, and honestly, who can blame them? Since 2010, this franchise has done it all, epic movies, TV spinoffs, and even holiday specials. Unlike most animated films, it actually had time to build a deep, lovable world, making us all way too attached to its characters. Now, the world comes to life in live action, and fans can’t wait any longer. It comes out on June 13th.

Lilo & Stitch

Chris Sanders as Stitch in Lilo & Stitch (2025) | Credits: Walt Disney Pictures
People have been hyped for Lilo & Stitch for a while now, and the numbers prove it. When the trailer dropped last week, it racked up a staggering 158 million views in just 24 hours, skyrocketing to No. 1 on YouTube. Over on X, it trended at the top spot within an hour and stayed in the top 10 for hours (via Deadline).

Disney had already teased fans last August at D23, but excitement really went wild during the Super Bowl, when Stitch “crashed” the field in a viral gig that pulled in 173.1 million views. With industry experts predicting a massive $800 million to $1 billion theatrical run, this mischievous blue alien is about to take over the big screen in a big way. Sitch is coming with all his chaos on the 23rd of May.

Freakier Friday

Freakier Friday | Credits: Walt Disney Pictures

Freaky Friday is back, but things are set to be Freakier, and fans are losing it! Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis are reuniting, bringing back that perfect 2000s magic that so many grew up with. For Gen Z, who spent their childhood watching classics from that era, this is the ultimate nostalgia dream come true. And seeing Lindsay Lohan make a big return to the big screen in such a major way? That’s just the cherry on top. This comeback is everything fans have been hoping for, and the excitement is very real.

With superheroes taking up three of the top five spots, it’s safe to say the superhero craze isn’t going anywhere.