There is little doubt that Disney is the most dominant corporation in the entertainment industry. Now that Disney controls Pixar, Marvel Studios and the Star Wars franchise, the company can easily command the box office schedule. Disney movies have evolved massively from the animated princess movies of the past few decades to multi-genre movies known for diverse storylines and high-quality productions.
Disney has widespread appeal to viewers from every walk of life. Accordingly, the company will release an exciting slate of movies in theaters in the next few years. Fans eagerly await these upcoming releases and can mark their calendars for several movies with confirmed release dates soon.
Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on March 14, 2025: The House of Mouse is back for another epic year of movies, running the gamut from live-action remakes of beloved classics to original animated flicks. As Disney gears up for what it hopes will be a profitable 2025, this article is updated with the latest news about the studio’s most exciting upcoming box office offerings.
10
Snow White Continues the Live-Action Adaptation of Classic Disney Princess Stories
Snow White Hits Theaters on March 21, 2025
Live-action adaptations of Disney animated classics can indeed be a source of contention for fans to debate about. Disney’s upcoming Snow White plans to capture the same beats of the animated original while introducing some new story elements to keep up with a modern audience. No matter which side of the debate movie fans fall on, it’s safe to assume many are eagerly waiting for the film’s release date to see who is proven right.
Related
This Classic Disney Film Provided the Blueprint on How to Make a Successful Reboot
Who Framed Roger Rabbit may be old, but it’s the perfect template to reintroduce some much-needed creativity into the studio’s frequent reboots.
Rachel Zegler, known for her role as Lucy Gray Baird in The Hunger Games prequel film The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, will play the titular Snow White. On the other side, Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman) will portray the evil queen, while Dwarfs, who will all be CGI, will carry most of the movie’s comedic weight and is sure to remind fans why this story was a classic in the first place. has swayed some people’s negative opinions to positive ones.
9
Thunderbolts* Shows a Gritter Side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Thunderbolts* Hits Theaters on May 2, 2025
Thunderbolts* will depict a whole new side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe when it debuts in 2025. The film sees the shadowy CIA Director De Fontane recruiting anti-heroes from across the MCU for a secretive assignment. Fan favorite character, Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier, has been described as the de-facto leader of this new team. Some characters in this film, such as Ava Starr/Ghost, haven’t been active in the MCU for several years, so their reappearance will draw interested eyes.
Thunderbolts* will give fans a heaping helping of everything they want from this unique story. Marvel has based a few television series on villains and anti-heroes, such as Echo and Loki, but this film doesn’t appear to be a redemption story. Rather, Thunderbolts* is bringing a shadowy side of the MCU into the light and adding new layers to the cinematic universe that will be used to set up the next phase of the Marvel universe. Fans were already excited about this fresh new story and will eagerly see this film to learn what is next for the MCU.
Thunderbolts*
- Release Date
-
May 2, 2025
- Director
-
Jake Schreier
-
Florence Pugh
Yelena Belova
-
Sebastian Stan
James Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier
-
David Harbour
Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian
-
Wyatt Russell
John Walker / U.S. Agent
8
Elio Promises to Bring Pixar Heart to the Big Screen
Elio Hits Theaters on June 20, 2025
Elio is an upcoming film from Disney’s Pixar Studios that promises to tug on viewers’ heartstrings. The film follows an 11-year-old boy named Elio who has trouble fitting in with his peers. This soon becomes the least of his problems as he is abducted by aliens who mistake him for the ambassador of Earth. Elio must go on a journey of self-discovery as he interacts with alien beings and navigates obstacles in his assumed role.
One of the most common grievances film fans air is that they are tired of remakes and sequels and seek an original film with fresh ideas. Elio will no doubt appeal to viewers of all ages, but especially families with younger children like Elio. The inclusion of a leading character with one eye will no doubt provide a positive representation to fans who share a similar experience and draw in fans eager to finally see someone who looks like them lead a major feature film.
Elio
- Release Date
-
June 13, 2025
- Director
-
Adrian Molina
-
-
-
-
Jameela Jamil
Ambassador Questa
7
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a Long-Awaited Marvel Film
The Fantastic Four: First Steps Hits Theaters on July 25th, 2025
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about releases of 2025. The Marvel film is reviving the iconic superhero team once again but taking a new spin on the team for this upcoming film. The Fantastic Four: First Steps will be set in the 1960s in an alternate universe and will not function as an origin story depicting how The Fantastic Four got their powers.
14:59
Related
How Fantastic Four First Steps Will Change The MCU
Marvel’s first family will soon make their MCU debut, and here’s how the Fantastic Four may change the franchise forever.
Little is currently known about the specifics of the storyline of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, but fans are still excited nonetheless. The last adaptation of The Fantastic Four at 20th Century Fox received overwhelmingly negative reviews from fans and critics. Now, with The Fantastic Four back in Marvel’s hands, everyone is looking forward to seeing how Disney brings them to life in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Release Date
-
July 25, 2025
- Director
-
Matt Shakman
-
Pedro Pascal
Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic
-
Vanessa Kirby
Sue Storm / The Invisible Woman
-
Joseph Quinn
Johnny Storm / Human Torch
-
Ebon Moss-Bachrach
Ben Grimm / The Thing
6
Lilo & Stitch Brings an Iconic Disney Character to Life in a New Way
Lilo & Stitch Hits Theaters on May 23, 2025
The 2002 Disney film Lilo & Stitch is transforming from animated to live-action in a new adaptation in 2025. The premise of the film will be kept and follow a raucous blue alien labeled Experiment 626 who escapes intergalactic confinement and crashes in Hawaii. After he is accidentally sent to an animal shelter, he is mistakenly adopted by a young girl named Lilo and named Stitch, who teaches him the value of ‘Ohana, which translates to family. Lilo & Stitch has a loyal fanbase who have followed both the original films and animated series.
Lilo & Stitch will be taking a new approach to the classic story, but they have already shown a commitment to honoring the original 2002 animated film. Several of the voice actors from the film and animated series will be playing notable roles in the live-action film. This move indicates they are aware of the loyal support the film garners and is a good sign for fans who have been following the live-action development of Lilo & Stitch. There is little doubt that fans will be there on the film’s premiere date to welcome the live-action version of Stitch to the Disney ‘Ohana.
Lilo & Stitch
- Release Date
-
May 21, 2025
- Director
-
Dean Fleischer Camp
-
Chris Sanders
Stitch (voice)
-
-
Billy Magnussen
Pleakley (voice)
-
5
Freakier Friday Brings the Early 2000s Back to Life
Freakier Friday Hits Theaters on August 8, 2025
The announcement of Freakier Friday is a blast from the past for Disney kids who grew up at the beginning of the 2000s. Freakier Friday is a direct sequel to the 2003 Disney film Freaky Friday. Freaky Friday is a zany comedy that follows a stern mother and her rebellious daughter accidentally switching bodies and the hilarious hijinks that ensue as a result of the swap.
Related
A 22-Year-Old Fantasy Film Surges on Streaming Ahead of Upcoming Sequel
A Disney fantasy film from 2003 is finding an audience on streaming ahead of the release of its sequel later this year.
A majority of the original cast of Freaky Friday will be returning for Freakier Friday. This is a massive draw for fans of the original film and already has fans buzzing despite the premise of the sequel film not being revealed yet. The sequel film Freakier Friday is a pleasant surprise for fans and will no doubt draw in large crowds to the theaters based on nostalgia and to see the cast back in action once again.
Freakier Friday
- Release Date
-
August 6, 2025
- Director
-
Nisha Ganatra
-
Jamie Lee Curtis
Tess Coleman
-
Lindsay Lohan
Anna Coleman
-
-
4
Tron: Ares is a Futuristic Action Film With an Edge
Tron: Ares Hit Theaters on October 10, 2025
Tron: Ares has had a complex development path, but fans were elated to hear it will be coming to fruition soon. Tron: Ares follows a masterful computer program warrior who escapes from the digital world and finds himself in the real world on a dangerous mission among humankind. Tron: Ares follows the events of both prior films in the franchise, Tron and Tron: Legacy.
Given that it has been several years since Tron: Legacy debuted in 2017, fans are excited to return to the grid and experience more of the futuristic franchise. The announcement that Jeff Bridges would be reprising his role from the prior Tron installments has fans buzzing about how his character will tie into the story. When the film debuts in 2025, Tron: Ares will be a hot ticket for fans of Tron and science-fiction films overall.
3
Avatar: Fire and Ash Continues James Cameron’s Epic Sci-Fi Franchise
Avatar: Fire and Ash Hits Theaters on December 19, 2025
The next installment of James Cameron’s multi-billion-dollar sci-fi franchise is almost here. Avatar: Fire and Ash will continue the story of the Sully family as they struggle to survive in an increasingly dangerous world. With more humans arriving on Pandora, the Sullys move on from their new home with the Water Tribe, eventually encountering the Ash People, a group of villainous Na’vi who prove that humans aren’t the only dangerous assailants on the planet.
Fire and Ash is the third of a planned five-film arc in the Avatar franchise, although Cameron has voiced his openness to adding additional films to his plan. The Avatar films are legendary for their advanced digital effects and epic runtimes, making each installment of the franchise a cinematic event. Moreover, the synopsis for Avatar 3 suggests that things are about to get much more complicated on Pandora, giving audiences a reason to rush back to theaters to see the next chapter in the story. The first two films have the honor of joining a very exclusive club of $2 billion earners, putting pressure on Fire and Ash to follow suit.
2
Avengers: Doomsday Will Shake Up the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Avengers: Doomsday Hits Theaters on May 1, 2026
Avengers: Doomsday is the beginning of the end for the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Multiverse Saga, setting up another epic finale event that promises to be even bigger than Endgame. The film will feature a new lineup of the Avengers led by Sam Wilson’s Captain America, who rally against a new threat in the form of Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom. The film acts as the first in a two-part finale event to the Multiverse Saga, setting up Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027.
Related
Since Marvel Studios is pivoting from Kang to Doctor Doom as the big bad of the Multiverse Saga, it must replicate one formula from the past.
The Avengers franchise defined the term “cinematic event,” and the upcoming fifth installment promises to be even bigger and bolder than any of its predecessors. Though the MCU’s quality has been turbulent of late, everything about Doomsday suggests it will be a return to form for the franchise just when it needs it most. Legendary MCU directors Joe and Anthony Russo will helm Doomsday and Secret Wars, giving fans hope that the films will live up to their lofty promises.
Avengers: Doomsday
- Release Date
-
May 1, 2026
- Director
-
Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
-
Vanessa Kirby
Sue Storm / Invisible Woman
-
Joseph Quinn
Johnny Storm / Human Torch
-
Ebon Moss-Bachrach
Ben Grimm / The Thing
-
Pedro Pascal
Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic
1
The Mandalorian & Grogu Marks a Return to the Big Screen for Star Wars
The Mandalorian & Grogu Hits Theaters on May 22, 2026
The Mandalorian & Grogu is an upcoming cinematic continuation of Disney+’s acclaimed series, The Mandalorian. Occurring several years after the events of Return of the Jedi, the film will depict the continuing adventures of Din Djarin and his ward, Grogu, who find themselves roped into the grittier side of the galaxy’s criminal underworld. Pedro Pascal is confirmed to return as Din Djarin, with the supporting cast rounded out by Jeremy Allen White as Rotta the Hutt and Sigourney Weaver in an undisclosed role.
Fans are excited to see more Din Djarin and Grogu in their upcoming movie, which they expect will set up Dave Filoni’s upcoming Heir to the Empire film. This movie also marks the first Star Wars film in over six years, with the franchise’s last theatrical release being The Rise of Skywalker in 2019. Star Wars is finally returning to the big screen, with The Mandalorian & Grogu paving the way for a litany of upcoming projects to bring the franchise back to its roots and, hopefully, former glory.
The Mandalorian & Grogu
- Release Date
-
May 22, 2026
- Director
-
Jon Favreau
- Writers
-
Dave Filoni
- Sequel(s)
-
Dave Filoni’s Untitled Mandalorian Movie
