There’s nothing quite like a great movie to give you some much-needed escapism from the stresses of work, family, and everything else you’re balancing. And if you’ve already run through the feel-good movies on Netflix or gobbled up our favorite book-to-film adaptations, you’re probably looking for something new. Luckily, there’s a slew of great movies out this season to freshen up your watch list.
We’re at the exciting point in the year where Hollywood has just given out the industry’s top awards; now that the dust has settled, we can look forward to watching the movies that will be the talk of 2025. And we’re psyched to see new career-defining performances, clever writing, gorgeous cinematography, and daring direction. Devoted movie buffs can expect the spring 2025 turnout to include flicks big and small — from a surprisingly sweet story about duping a conservative Korean drama, to a black comedy about new friendships. Plus, we’re excited to say that a handful of these movies are coming out this weekend, so that you can head to the cinema stat.
Best New Movies: Spring 2025
Drop (April 11)
Violet is a single mother who goes to an upscale restaurant to meet Henry, a charming and handsome date whom she met online. However, her romantic evening soon turns into an absolute nightmare when she receives phone messages from a mysterious, hooded figure who threatens to kill her son and sister unless she kills Henry.
Sacramento (April 11)
Starring Michael Cera, Kristen Stewart, and Maya Erskine, this sentimental film follows two old, mis-matched friends who reconnect on an impromptu road trip from Los Angeles to Sacramento.
The Wedding Banquet (April 18)
Hoping to stay in the U.S., a gay man proposes a green card marriage to a female pal in exchange for paying for her IVF treatment. However, things get convoluted when his grandmother surprises them with plans for an over-the-top Korean wedding banquet. Lily Gladstone and Bowen Yang star.
The Shrouds (April 18)
David Cronenberg fans, rise up! In his latest body horror drama, Karsh, an entrepreneur who lost his beloved wife, invents a revolutionary technology that lets the living to monitor their departed’s corpses as they decay. When some of the monitored shrouds are desecrated, Karsh goes looking for the perpetrators.
The Legend of Ochi (April 18)
In the mood for something a bit more whimsical? In this fantastical film, a young girl learns to never go outside after dark because of mysterious forest creatures known as the ochi. However, when a baby ochi is left behind by its pack, she embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to reunite it with its family.
On Swift Horses (April 25)
Daisy Edgar-Jones and Jacob Elordi star in this tense drama about forbidden love. Muriel (Edgar-Jones) and her husband Lee are about to begin a new life in California. But their plans are upended by the arrival of Lee’s charismatic brother, Julius (Elordi), an itinerant gambler with a mysterious past. A dangerous love triangle quickly forms, but Julius soon takes off in search of the young card cheat he’s fallen for. After he leaves, Muriel’s longing for something more propels her into a secret life — and some gambling — of her own.
The Surfer (May 2)
Nicolas Cage stars in this psychological thriller about an avid surfer who returns to his idyllic childhood beach to surf with his son. But when he’s humiliated by some locals, he’s is drawn into a conflict that pushes him to his breaking point.
Rust (May 2)
Rust has made headlines since 2021, when cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was accidentally killed on set. And if you’re curious about her work, you’ll finally be able to see the Western drama this season. In 1880s Kansas, elderly outlaw Harland Rust (Alec Baldwin) emerges from hiding to rescue his young nephew Lucas Hollister after he is sentenced to hang for an accidental killing. Now fugitives, the pair have to outrun a vicious bounty hunter.
Electra (May 2)
In this indie set in Italy, a journalist and his companion travel to interview a famous musician in Rome. There, a magnanimous invite to an idyllic country estate becomes something more than anyone expected…
A Desert (May 2)
Want to be on the edge of your seat? In this sinister flick, a formerly successful photographer sets out on a road trip to recapture the magic of his previous work. Soon, he finds himself plunged into the disturbing underbelly of the American Southwest, while also dragging his wife and a shady private detective into this nightmarish world.
Friendship (May 9)
Fans of Tim Robinson will adore this creepy black comedy. A man (Robinson) tries to befriend his charismatic new neighbor (Paul Rudd), but it soon threatens to ruin both of their lives.
