Top 5 Movies You Should Watch This Year
It’s 9:00 p.m. on a Friday, and you sink into a cushioned, retractable chair with your popcorn and soda. Anticipating with excitement, waiting for your movie to play on the big screen. All of a sudden, the glory of the big screen is exposed, people gasping and anticipating with excitement, waiting for the trailers to roll. Talking among themselves quietly to pass the time, the vibrations of the speakers sending shivers up your spine. In an era where streaming has brought Hollywood productions to people’s couches, many people still choose to experience the big screen, not for the big theatrics and graphics, but for the experience and for the performance of cinema itself. You can’t deny, much less ever replace, that feeling of being in a theater.
Despite the uprising of streaming, movie theaters have become a source and an important place of entertainment. And continues to grow following the post-pandemic. According to Cinema United, since 2025, the number of habitual moviegoers has grown by 8%. But among all age groups, Gen Z moviegoers have grown by 25% over the last 12 months. This portrays that audiences value these theaters that deliver immersive sound, but also the shared experiences that feel bigger than just watching it in a living room.
This year’s lineup shows the difference in genres, and the combination of films that are expected to draw back in crowds of people into the theaters. From book to on-screen adaptations, to comic/psychological horror, and a coming-of-age adventure. These 5 movies are what you should be on the lookout for and should be watching this year.
1. Sinners
Ok, ok, I know this came out last year, but it’s still one of the most popular and talked about movies this year that changed the genre of horror, but also the culture of how people view horror.
Sinners is a 2025 American horror film produced, written, and directed by Ryan Coogler. Set in 1932, and identical twins and World War I veterans Elijah “Smoke” and Elias “Stack” Moore return to Clarksdale, Mississippi, after spending many years in Chicago. Both of them decide to start a jukejoint for the local Black community. Their younger cousin Sammie, who is a singer and guitarist, decides to join them despite his father’s warnings about blues music. The twins also recruit other people like Delta Silm, who is a performer, and Grace and Bo Chow, who are the suppliers and market owners. Cornbread, who works as a bouncer/bodyguard, and Smoke’s wife, Annie, who works as a cook. Things are going well until Sammie starts playing and singing, which causes evil to come to their front door. This film has a lot of amazing, memorable moments, including the juke joint performance that Sammie leads, which has become iconic among the audience, as well as the critics. This movie, since its release, has been continuously receiving awards for the actors, Coogler himself, and especially the soundtrack, which was created by Ludwig Göransson.
I recommend everyone watch this movie, not just because it’s culturally important for you to know what was going on during that time, but also because of the beautiful soundtrack, the dialogue, and storytelling. But furthermore, it’s an amazing movie that would have you hooked from the beginning.
Sinners was released in theaters on March 7, 2025. Additionally was released on digital streaming on June 3, 2025. And re-released in theaters for the Halloween weekend. You can watch it on HBO Max and also on Amazon Prime Video.
2. The Odyssey
Christopher Nolan takes on the Godzilla of ancient myth of books.
Christopher Nolan is adapting Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey to the big screen. Bring one of literature’s oldest journeys and shift it into modern cinema. The Odyssey follows Odysseus, the legendary Greek king of Ithaca, on his long and dangerous journey home following the Trojan War and documenting his encounter with mythical creatures such as Cyclops, sirens, and Circe, the witch goddess, while trying to reunite with his wife, Penelope.
Historical, classical, and mythological adaptations have been renewed and have become a trending topic in recent years, especially when paired with directors who have a vision of turning what’s on a page into a motion picture on the big screen. The scale of The Odyssey shows Hollywood’s investment in making a massive effort to portray something this big as more important on the big screen. By remaiging Homer’s work for a newer generation to explore and digest, Nolan is making sure that this timeless tale can resonate with the audience.
The Odyssey is scheduled to be theatrically released on July 17th, 2026.
3. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
Panem has made its return once again.
Based on Suzanne Collins’ latest novel, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on The Reaping returns to it’s distopian universe that was first introduced in 2008 with her novel The Hunger Games. Remains one of the most popular and successful young adult adaptations in film history. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on The Reaping is an upcoming American dystopian action film directed by Francis Lawrence and with a screenplay by Billy Ray, and based on the 2025 novel Sunrise on The Reaping by Suzanne Collins.
This is taking place 24 years before the first film, following a young Haymitch Abernathy, who is selected to compete in the 50th Hunger Games, known as the Second Quarter Quell, which occurs every 25 years. This year’s games have a twist: each district of Panam must send twice the number of tributes to the Capitol, who will have to fight to the death in the Hunger Games.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on The Reaping is set to be released on November 20, 2026.
4. Supergirl
With James Gunn, the new head of DC, a new era begins.
Supergirl is a superhero film based on the character from DC Comics. Directed by Daniel Gillespie and written by Ana Nogueria. In this film, Kara Zor-El (aka. Supergirl) celebrates her 23rd birthday by traveling across the galaxy with her dog Krypto. And along the way, she meets a young girl named Ruthie Marye Kroll and encounters a misfortune that leads her on a quest for revenge. This tale focuses on loss, determination, and resilience.
Female-led superhero films have grown in momentum over the last couple of years, mostly over the last decade, shifting audiences’ expectations on what they may view with a superhero film. Sometimes superhero films can become repetitive, leaving the audience with superhero fatigue. But if the studios, directors, and writers focus on character development and depth, creative leadership, audiences may still show up to support.
Supergirl is scheduled to be released on June 26, 2026
5. Ready or Not 2: Here I Come
Are you in the mood for a dark comedy that meets final girl horror – again?
The 2019 film Ready or Not became a favorite for its fast pacing, hide-and-seek-esque plot, and its iconic scream. And is back with its sequel, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, which aims to expand its universe. Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is an upcoming American comedy horror film directed by Matt Bettinelli-Oplin and Tyler Gillett and written by Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy. With Samara Weaving reprising her role as Grace MacCaullay. The movie follows up after the first one, where Grace is the sole survivor of the brutal game of hide and seek that resulted in the deaths of her husband and in-laws.
Still now learns that her victory comes with a price: the wealthiest and most powerful families on Earth have to kill her in a new game, or risk losing all of their power and riches. At first, Grace refuses to participate after coming from the traumatic game that she had to participate in before. But is left with no other choice, as she learns that her younger sister Faith is tied to this as well. To prevent themselves from dying, they must fight and hide to survive their fate.
Ultimately, horror sequels have a history of sometimes struggling to replicate the success of their originals. However, certain horror critics and people who love the genre argue that if filmmakers focus on the tone and character development rather than the little tricks and gimmicks, sequels can thrive and make a franchise better. Yet this seems like a promising and exciting premise for a sequel in a franchise, and if it can remain that same snark and blend of sarcasm and suspense as it did from the first movie, it could again surprise audiences, in fact, that sequels can work.
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is scheduled to be released in all theaters on March 20, 2026.
Ultimately, these 5 movies you should be on the lookout for/watching this year. These are just movies. It’s a conversation starter, an opening to meeting new people, making friends, having common interests, and eventually building community. So grab your popcorn and get ready to feel something new.
