While 2025 already has some huge blockbusters lined up, many of the biggest ongoing franchises will be taking the year off and returning in 2026 or later. There are manyexciting sequels set for 2025, likeMission: Impossible - The Final ReckoningandAvatar: Fire and Ash.Other big franchises are set to return with reboots, like James Gunn’s Superman. Despite the arrival of these enticing cinematic events, fans of certain franchises face extended waits.
The Hollywood strikes of 2023 held up the development of big franchises across the board, and the movie industry is still feeling the effects. There are a lot of franchises which were expected to return in 2025 which have now been delayed by at least another year.Fast and Furious, Screamand many other franchises are now forcing their fans to wait a little while longer.
10Planet Of The Apes
Next Movie TBA
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apeshas sent the franchise in a whole new direction, leaving the story of Caesar behind and moving into the future. Thenew era of thePlanet of the Apesfranchisecould be another trilogy, focusing more on Noa and potentially the human Mae.The sequel will likely come in 2027, and there are suggestions that it could be just the second part of a new trilogy, although it’s too early to be sure of any details.
There are a lot of other big franchises that delivered movies in 2024 and will be taking 2025 off, includingDune, Ghostbustersand theMonsterverse.
SinceKingdom of the Planet of the Apescame out in 2024, it’s no surprise that there won’t be another movie in 2025. There are a lot of other big franchises that delivered movies in 2024 and will be taking 2025 off. Denis Villeneuve’s follow-up to hisDuneduology is still a few years away, theGhostbustersfranchise is working on another sequel, and theMonsterversefranchise is also taking a break afterGodzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
9Toy Story
Toy Story 5 Release Date: June 13, 2025
Many Pixar fans thought that theToy Storyfranchise would end with the fourth movie, but this is also what people thought aboutToy Story 3.Instead, Pixar’s biggest franchise is going to get even bigger with the release ofToy Story 5in 2026, with studio mainstay Andrew Stanton returning to direct.Toy Story 4was released in 2019, but fans will have to wait a little longer to see Woody and Buzz back on-screen again.
2025 will see Pixar release the sci-fi adventureElio, andHopperswill release in 2026 beforeToy Story 5.
Toy Storyisn’t Pixar’s only big franchise with a new movie on the horizon, sinceThe Incredibles 3has officially been confirmed too.Before either of these franchises return, Pixar has two original movies on the way. 2025 will see the release of the sci-fi adventureElio, andHopperswill release in 2026 beforeToy Story 5.Toy Story 4ends with Woody and Buzz heading in different directions, so it will be interesting to see how the sequel follows their stories.
8Scream
Scream 7 Release Date: 20 August 2025
The reboot ofScreamandScream VI were releasedin back-to-back years, but fans of the slasher franchise are being made to wait a little while longer for thenext sequel,Scream 7.The two most recentScreammovies bring back classic characters from the beginning of the franchise, but there are also some new faces to provide the opportunity for fresh stories to be told. There has been a lot of behind-the-scenes drama ahead ofScream 7,and this is reflected in the cast.
There has been a lot of behind-the-scenes drama ahead ofScream 7,and this is reflected in the cast.
Melissa Barrera was controversially fired ahead ofScream 7,and Jenna Ortega also quit the franchisein suspicious circumstances, with some sources claiming that she grew tired of a pay dispute. This is the reason that Neve Campbell gave for not being involved inScream VI,although she will be back for the upcoming sequel. Exactly how all these cast changes will factor into the story remains to be seen.
7The Avengers
Avengers: Doomsday Release Date: 04 July 2025
Although the MCU has a few projects lined up for 2025, including theFantastic Fourreboot andCaptain America: Brave New World,theAvengersfranchise won’t be returning until 2026. Despite this long wait, there’s a lot of hype already building forAvengers: Doomsday.The announcement that Doctor Doom would finally be coming to the MCU was exciting enough for some fans, but the added bonus that the role would be played by Robert Downey Jr. is even more intriguing.
The latestAvengers: Doomsdaynewsis that Chris Evans will also be returning to the franchise, although he won’t be playing Captain America again. Just like with Robert Downey Jr.’s casting, this is a small but interesting detail, and it has caused a flurry of fan theories. These theories will likely continue to mount throughout 2025 as more information is revealed and the other Marvel movies provide more clues about the direction of Phase 6.
6Fast & Furious
Untitled Fast X Sequel Release Date: 2026
Although the nextFast and Furiousmovie was originally intended for a 2025 release, it has been pushed back as a result of the Hollywood strikes that took place in 2023.Fast 11- as some fans are referring to the untitled sequel - now seems locked in for a 2026 release, although the exact date hasn’t been confirmed. SinceFast Xends with a cliffhanger, this long wait is particularly hard to endure for fans of the franchise.
SinceFast Xends with a cliffhanger, this long wait is particularly hard to endure for fans of the franchise.
Fast 11will be the last movie in the main series of theFast and Furiousfranchise, although there are still a few spinoffs in the works. There have been reports of a spinoff focusing on the franchise’s female characters for a few years now, and Dwayne Johnson has stated that he’s keen on the idea ofHobbs & Reyes,a spinoff that would pair his character with Jason Momoa’s flamboyant villain fromFast X.Johnson and Momoa will both appear in2026’sFast 11,and Gal Gadot is set to return too.
5The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping Release Date: 29 July 2025
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakesbrought back the immensely successful young adult franchise after eight years of dormancy, and it’s set to continue with another sequel in 2026. TheSunrise on the Reapingmovie has been confirmed even thoughthe book won’t be released until March 2025. Suzanne Collins has revealed enough plot details to get fans of the original trilogy excited.
Sunrise on the Reapingtakes place 24 years before the events of the firstHunger Gamesstory.
Sunrise on the Reapingtakes place 24 years before the events of the firstHunger Gamesstory, and it follows the second Quarter Quell in the Games. This means that fans will finally get to see a young Haymitch Abernathy competing in an unusual edition of the Hunger Games with twice as many participants as usual. Casting the right actor to take the role once played by Woody Harrelson will be the movie’s first big challenge, but fans will have to wait until late 2026 to see the results.
4The Batman
The Batman - Part II Release Date: 04 June 2025
Robert Pattinson’s first movie as Batman was a huge success in 2022, both financially and with critics. In this context, four years seems like a long time to wait for the sequel, especially sinceThe Batmandrops a few hints about the future of the franchise.The Batman - Part IIappears to be the second movie in a trilogy, although not much else is known about the sequel at this point.
One popular theory aboutThe Batman - Part IIis that it will pay off the first movie’s tease about the Joker, played by Barry Keoghan.
AlthoughThe Batmancame out over two years ago,the franchise has remained relevant with the spinoff seriesThe Penguin,which was just as well-received as the movie.The Penguintees up theBatmansequel in a few interesting ways, with Oz Cobb solidifying his power and several other villains being teased. One popular theory aboutThe Batman - Part IIis that it will pay off the first movie’s tease about the Joker, played by Barry Keoghan.
3James Bond
Daniel Craig took his bow as James Bond in 2021’sNo Time to Die,and there is still no concrete news on who will succeed him as 007 for the next era of the franchise. In the 62-year-long history of the franchise, there has never been a period of more than six years without a movie. This record could be in jeopardy if news doesn’t start to arrive soon.There will be noJames Bondmovie in 2025, and 2026 might also be too soon.
Major New James Bond Candidate Is A Better Choice For Bond 26 Than Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Henry Cavill, Or Idris Elba
Names like Idris Elba and Henry Cavill have been floated for the next James Bond actor but a new contender with 2/1 betting odds would be even better.
Thecasting forBond 26is taking longer than some fans anticipated, but it’s a decision that’s likely to come under intense scrutiny after Daniel Craig put his stamp on the character. Craig is often listed as one of the better Bonds, alongside Sean Connery, so his successor will need to fit the bill. Once the mystery actor is officially announced, other places may start to fall into place, such as further cast updates and plot details.
2Super Mario
The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 Release Date: 26 July 2025
There has only been oneSuper Mario Bros.movie so far, but it already seems to have a lot of franchise potential. With a box office haul of $1.36 billion, it was almost certain thatThe Super Mario Bros. Moviewould get a sequel, butthere are many characters which could get their own spinoffs too, depending on how the franchise chooses to develop. Hollywood’s video game adaptation curse finally seems to be lifting, andSuper Mario Bros.stands to benefit.
Mariofans will be keen to see some more popular characters making their big-screen debuts, with Yoshi, Princess Daisy and Waluigi among the most likely additions.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2will be in theaters in 2026, and the extensive backlog ofSuper Mariogames means that there are dozens of possible storylines.Mariofans will be keen to see some more popular characters making their big-screen debuts, with Yoshi, Princess Daisy and Waluigi among the most likely additions. If there are more fun characters and locations, another billion-dollar haul could be on the cards.
1Star Wars
The Mandalorian & Grogu Release Date: 29 July 2025
It has now been 5 years sinceStar Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker,but fans still have a lengthy wait until the franchise returns to the big screen. There have been several Disney+ shows in the intervening years to keep the franchise alive, and one of the most successful shows is providing the basis for the next movie.The Mandalorian and Groguis slated for a release in Summer 2026.
AfterThe Mandalorian and Grogu,the nextStar Warsmovie looks like it will focus on Daisy Ridley’s character Rey.
There are severalupcomingStar Warsmovieson the horizon, although many previously announced projects now appear to be in limbo. AfterThe Mandalorian and Grogu,the nextStar Warsmovie looks like it will focus on Daisy Ridley’s character Rey, and this could be the first in a new trilogy. Hopefully,Star Warsmovies make a comeback in the next few years, because many exciting ideas have been proposed with big names attached to direct.
