A survey of 2,000 adults has unveiled the most eagerly awaited movies of 2025, with Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning securing the top spot. Fans of the spy franchise are eagerly anticipating Tom Cruise’s return as Ethan Hunt in what promises to be an electrifying conclusion.
Hot on its heels is Jurassic World: Rebirth, the fourth instalment in the revamped prehistoric series, followed closely by Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third chapter in James Cameron’s record-shattering sci-fi saga.
Other highly anticipated releases include 28 Years Later, a continuation of Danny Boyle’s post-apocalyptic series, and Fast and Furious 11.
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Jake Ashton, from OLBG, which commissioned the research, highlighted the significant buzz surrounding these upcoming films: “Avatar: Fire and Ash is the early favourite to smash the $1bn (£974k) mark at the box office,
“The previous two films in the franchise both went above and beyond, hitting the $2bn mark (£1.58m) making them some of the highest-grossing films of all time.”
Given the success of its predecessors, Ashton notes that Jurassic World: Rebirth could also see a similar profit, potentially bringing in $1bn just like the last three films. However, he also cautioned against complacency, pointing to Joker: Folie a Deux, which faced scathing reviews despite high expectations.
Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt in the first Mission: Impossible -Credit:Getty Images
The recent study has cast a light on the UK’s cinema-going customs, revealing that one in five Brits head to the movie theatre every few months, and 15% enjoy a big screen experience every month.
There’s good news for the industry, as a fifth of those surveyed intend to visit cinemas more regularly in 2025, a figure twice as many as those who plan to reduce their cinematic outings.
When it comes to ticket prices, viewers have drawn the line at an average peak of £10.98. Film enthusiasts are not just swayed by the price, though, with 56 per cent prioritising comfortable chairs and 45 per cent putting location at the forefront of their decisions.
Reflecting on the crowd-pleasers from 2024, Deadpool and Wolverine claimed the top spot as the year’s most-liked film. Hot on its heels was Gladiator II featuring Paul Mescal, with animated successes like Despicable Me 4 and Wicked also making the hit list.
Entertainment value stands out as the chief motivation for 64 per cent of cinema-goers, followed by the allure of new releases for 38 per cent and quality time with close ones driving 32 per cent.
Partners are the chosen company for 56 per cent heading to the movies, trumping friends, who accompany 16 per cent, and those who prefer to watch alone at 10 per cent. Fans show a clear preference, choosing action, thrillers and comedy as their top film genres.
In summary, Ashton noted: “Next year, movie lovers are in for a treat, with some of the most popular franchises releasing their latest instalments. Let’s see what the UK public has to say – sometimes it’s the films we least expect which provide us with the most entertainment”.
TOP 20 FILMS BRITS WANT TO WATCH IN 2025:
1. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
2. Jurassic World: Rebirth
3. Avatar: Fire and Ash
4. Captain America: Brave New World
5. 28 Years Later
6. Superman: Legacy
7. Fast & Furious 11
8. The Fantastic Four
9. The Naked Gun
10. Snow White
11. The Exorcist: Deceiver
12. How to Train Your Dragon
13. The Bad Guys 2
14. Atlantis
15. Freakier Friday
16. Saw XI
17. M3GAN 2.0
18. Thunderbolts
19. Lilo & Stitch
20. Minecraft