Prep the popcorn.
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.
It’s the beginning of the year, which is the perfect time for movie buffs to enjoy a variety of riveting films that are vying for the industry’s top awards. We head inside theaters to enjoy the very best that Hollywood has the offer — career-defining performances, clever writing, gorgeous cinematography, and daring direction. Devoted movie buffs can expect the 2025 turnout to include dramas big and small — from a movie musical taking the world by storm, to a dazzling Cinderella story, to the brutal tale of an immigrant architect. No matter your taste, you’ll end the season with a bevy of new favorite films to root for during upcoming awards shows.
Best New Movies Out Now: January 2025
Wicked
Outcast because of her green skin, a student named Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) forges an unlikely friendship with Glinda (Ariana Grande), a popular classmate with a ton of social clout. Following an encounter with the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum), their relationship reaches a crossroad as their lives begin to take very different paths.
Mufasa: The Lion King
This CGI prequel to the 1990s Disney hit, The Lion King, tells the adventurous, family-friendly story of young Mufasa. After being orphaned, Mufasa is taken in by a fellow cub, who’s the heir to a royal bloodline. Though the two grow up as brothers, forces greater than their bond threaten to tear them apart.
Emilia Perez
In this musical crime comedy, an under-appreciated Mexican lawyer (Zoe Saldaña) is offered an unusual and secretive job to help an infamous cartel boss (Karla Sofía Gascón) transition into living as a woman named Emilia. Drama ensues when Emilia realizes that she misses some aspects of her former life.
Babygirl
In this gripping erotic thriller, a powerful CEO (Nicole Kidman) puts her career and marriage at risk when she begins a torrid affair with a much younger intern (Harris Dickinson). As they push boundaries and engage in mind games, their dalliance threatens to come to light.
Nosferatu
In the mood for especially dark horror? Robert Eggers wrote and directed this gothic adaptation of a 1922 silent vampire movie. In the 1830s, an estate agent (Nicholas Hoult) travels to Transylvania for a fateful meeting with Count Orlok. While he’s away, his new bride, Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp), is plagued by horrific visions and an increasing sense of dread. Soon, she encounters an evil force that’s far beyond her control.
Moana 2
On the other hand, sometimes the best movies of the season are accessible for the whole family. In this animated sequel film, Moana (Auliʻi Cravalho) reunites with the demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) and assembles a crew to find the lost island of Motufetu. They undertake a challenge to break a curse placed upon the island so that they can reconnect the people of the ocean.
A Complete Unknown
In the early 1960s, a 19-year-old Bob Dylan (Timothée Chalamet) arrives in New York City with his guitar and his undeniable talent. As he forms intimate relationships and rises to fame, he grows restless with the folk movement. Soon, he’ll make a contentious choice that reverberates worldwide.
Anora
In this dazzling romance, Anora (Mikey Madison), a young woman from Brooklyn, meets and quickly marries the wealthy son of an oligarch. But once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as his parents set out to get the marriage annulled.
Conclave
When the Pope passes, Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with participating in the selection of a new pope. Surrounded by powerful and power-hungry religious leaders in the halls of the Vatican, he soon uncovers a trail of deep secrets that could shake the very foundation of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Brutalist
Escaping postwar Europe, a visionary architect and Holocaust survivor (Adrien Brody) comes to America to rebuild his life, his career, and his marriage. Alone in a strange new country, he settles in Pennsylvania, where he meets a wealthy and prominent industrialist (Guy Pearce) who recognizes his talent.
