As 2025 gets nearer and nearer, studios have announced a number of newmoviesthat are coming to theaters and streaming, and as it turns out, a significant portion of these films are reboots ofbeloved stories and huge franchises. In recent years,Hollywood has entered a golden age of reboots and remakes. Countless franchises have started fresh with new casts and even new stories following familiar characters. While some reboots may seem unnecessary, others can truly revitalize a dying franchise. Thus, the many reboots coming to theaters in 2025 have the chance to be major successes.
What makes 2025’s reboots even more exciting is that they cover a vast range of genres and forms. Some 2025 reboots are live-action adaptations of animated stories, while others are remakes of popular films of the past. Some of these reboots are the first instance of a story being rebooted, but others are the latest in a long line of remakes. However,these reboots almost all have the following in common: amazing casts, outstanding budgets, and the potential to be thehighest-grossing movies released in 2025.
11Wolf Man
1941’s The Wolf Man
One of the very first reboots to premiere in 2025 isWolf Man.Directed bySaw’sLeigh Whannell,this horror remake is based on the 1941 film,The Wolf Man,which follows a man who is attacked by a wolf and begins experiencing some horrifying changes. AlthoughWolf Manhas made a few changes to the original story, giving the main character a wife and daughter, the general premise is the same. Christopher Abbott’s Blake starts to act strange after being attacked by a wolf.
Wolf Manis particularly exciting because its franchise isn’t as well known as some of the other 2025 reboots.
Wolf Manis particularly exciting because its franchise isn’t as well known as some of the other 2025 reboots. Audiences are likely familiar with stories likeWolf Man,but many probably have not seen the originalThe Wolf Man.In this way,Wolf Manhas the opportunity to reintroduce viewers to this exciting storyvia its star-studded cast and crew, which also includesOzark’sJulia Garner.Wolf Manis set to premiere on August 11, 2025.
10Superman
DC’s Superman Franchise
A reboot of particular importance that is coming in 2025 isSuperman.Over the years, DC’sSupermanfranchise has had several adaptations witha number of different actors playing Superman, from Christopher Reeve to Henry Cavill. Now,the company is taking on their red-caped alien once again, with David Coreswet in the leadrole. Rachel Brosnahan will play Lois Lane, Milly Alcock will play Supergirl, and Nicholas Hoult will take on the role of Lex Luthor.
Aside from being a massive IP,Supermanis exciting because it is the first movie inJames Gunn’s DCU, or DC Universe. Therefore,Supermanwill set the stage for a new era of DC that will, hopefully, end the company’s streak of poorly received superhero movies. Fortunately,Supermanhas many strengths going for it, including its incredible cast and its familiar story, which has yet to get oldfor viewers, even decades after its initial comic book release.Supermanwill premiere on June 10, 2025.
9How To Train Your Dragon
2010’s How To Train Your Dragon
Another reboot project to look forward to in 2025 isHow to Train Your Dragon.Based on the 2010 animated movie of the same name,2025’sHow to Train Your Dragonwill be a live-actionmovie which followsHiccup, a Viking teenager who begins to ask questions about whether the dragons his people fight are actually their enemies. In the process, he befriends a dragon, who he names Toothless. The film is being written and directed by the franchise’s original writer and director, Dean DeBlois.
DreamWorks is also returning to its roots by premieringShrek 5in 2026.
For many years now, Disney has been on a mission to create live-action adaptations of its most popular animated films. This endeavor has led to varying degrees of success. Now, it seems DreamWorks is taking the same approach, at least with one of its beloved films.There is no telling how successful 2025’sHow to Train Your Dragonwill be, but considering the success of the animated movies, the upcoming film has a strong foundation to leap from.How to Train Your Dragonis coming out on July 13, 2025.
8The Smurfs Movie
The Smurfs Franchise
The reboot that may have the biggest cast of the year isThe Smurfs Movie.Though not much is known about the plot,The Smurfs Movieis a 2025 animated musical filmthat will follow the well-known blue characters, the Smurfs. The voice cast includes stars like Rihanna, Natasha Lyonne, Nick Kroll, Dan Levy, Octavia Spencer, James Corden, Kurt Russell, and more. Although the film was supposed to premiere at the end of 2024, it was pushed to its current release date, August 17, 2025.
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After such a long wait, hopes are high thatThe Smurfs Moviewill end up being a fun and enjoyable adaptation. It will definitely feel like a fresh take, as the previousSmurfsmovies were live-action adaptations. Now, with a focus on animation and music,The Smurfs Moviecan provide a take on the beloved blue creatures that may hark back to the originalon-screen adaptations. It will be interesting to see howThe Smurfs Movierefreshes this long-running franchise.
7The Bride!
1935’s Bride Of Frankenstein
What may be one of the most unique reboots to be released in 2025 isThe Bride!Directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal,this movie will be a fresh take on the 1935 movie,Bride of Frankenstein,which sees Dr. Frankenstein forced to continue his experiments by creating a bride for his original monster, who is on the run from those who want to destroy him. The cast ofThe Bride!includes Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Penélope Cruz, and Peter Sarsgaard.
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Although not much is known yet about the plot ofThe Bride!,the movie looks like it will be an interesting watch. The first looks of Bale and Buckley as Frankenstein’s Monster and the Bride of Frankenstein show the movie’s colorful and chaotic style. Furthermore,Saragaard has mentioned that the film will include “big dance numbers”(The Hollywood Reporter), which is an even bigger hint thatThe Bride!will subvert expectations. The movie is slated to premiere on August 23, 2025.
6Lilo & Stitch
2002’s Lilo & Stitch
It would not be a new year of movies without somelive-action Disney adaptations, and one of these is 2025’sLilo & Stitch.Based on the 2002 animated film of the same name,Lilo & Stitchfollows a young Hawaiian girl named Lilo who befriends a strange yet adorable aliennamed Stitch. However, their friendship is disrupted by the fact that Stitch is being tracked down by the alien authorities.Lilo & Stitchis set to premiere on June 30, 2025.
Lilo & Stitchstands out from other Disney live-action remakes because it isn’t necessarily the first movie audiences would think of when listing Disney’s most popular entries.
Lilo & Stitchstands out from other Disney live-action remakes because it isn’t necessarily the first movie audiences would think of when listing Disney’s most popular entries. For the most part, Disney has focused on adapting its biggest IPs, from princess movies likeBeauty and the Beastto icons likeThe Lion King.In this way,Lilo & Stitchis a bit different because it is more of an underrated gem.However, bringing an often forgotten Disney story into the limelight could mean amazing success for Disney, as they pull on audiences' nostalgia.
5Frankenstein
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
Back in the horror genre, another 2025 reboot isGuillermo del Toro’sFrankenstein.Since the publication of Mary Shelley’s groundbreaking horror novel,Frankenstein,Hollywood has made several attempts at adapting the story, and in the early 1900s, they found quite a bit of success. Now,del Toro is reviving the monster movie with a star-studded cast, including Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, and Mia Goth. The movie will be released on Netflix, but has no release date yet.
The most exciting thing about 2025’sFrankensteinis its director. Throughout his career,del Toro has proven his skill in creating unique atmospheres and unforgettable characters. The gothic ambiance ofCrimson Peakand the sea monster inThe Shape of Waterare just two examples. Thus, putting such an iconic horror story in del Toro’s hands seems like the best-case scenario. There is little doubt that the director will put a special flair on his remake.
4The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Fantastic Four Franchise
One of the most highly anticipated reboots of 2025 isThe Fantastic Four: First Steps.These Marvel superheroes are yet another IP that has seen a number of adaptations over the years, and just like DC with Superman, Marvel is now trying to start fresh with these characters. So far, their efforts are looking positive, as the cast includes beloved stars such as Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Vanessa Kirby, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. The movie will premiere in the summer, on August 19, 2025.
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There are a number of elements that makeThe Fantastic Four: First Stepsa movie to look forward to.The Fantastic Fourare a beloved sect of the MCU, though they have been overshadowed in recent years by The Avengers. However, the team will now get a second chance to shine. It also helps that the movie is set in a 1960s-inspired world that will make it stand out from other iterations. All in all, the movie looks like it could rescue Marvel from its recent streak of duds.
3Snow White
1937 Snow White
The second Disney live-action remake hitting theaters in 2025 isSnow White.This movie will adapt Disney’s very first princess movie, which follows a young woman named Snow White who is cast out by her wicked stepmother and finds solace with a group of friendly dwarves. UnlikeLilo & Stitch,Snow Whiteis far from being underrated, and will likely pull in a number of interested viewers.Snow White’scast includes Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot, and Andrew Burnap.
Snow Whitewill premiere on June 09, 2025.
Snow Whiteis a 2025 remake that could either do very well or very poorly at the box office and among critics. On one hand,some of Disney’s live-action adaptations have been overwhelming successes, becoming the company’s highest-grossing movies ever. However, other adaptations have had less-than-stellar performances. ConsideringSnow White’spopularity, but alsoSnow White’scontroversies, the movie could land on either side of the spectrum.
2The Running Man
1982’s The Running Man
One 2025 reboot that is a bit different from the others isThe Running Man.Based on the 1982 Stephen King novel and the 1987 movie adaptation, 2025’sThe Running Manfollows Ben Richards, a prisoner who gets pulled into a dystopian reality showwhich offers criminals a chance at freedom if they can survive against a group of deadly stalkers. The movie, which is set to premiere on July 07, 2025, will star Glen Powell as Richards, alongside Katy O’Brian, Josh Brolin, Michael Cera, and William H. Macy.
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The Running Manis another franchise that audiences may not be as familiar with, but that may be what helps boost this film to popularity. Despite being a remake, this is one movie that doesn’t feel like it is going over the same familiar territory. Instead, it feels fresh and interesting, and perhaps even socially relevant due to its dystopian ties. All in all,with Powell in the leading role,The Running Manhas a chance at being an unexpected hit.
