2024 was a soft hum for the industry, but this year is already off to an operatic start. How could Hollywood resist pushing a bunch of sequels down our throats? If last year was an appetizer, with Inside Out 2 and the Deadpool/Wolverine tag team, 2025 is arriving with far more plump (just look at what the Minecraft film was able to do) and impossible missions.

Superheroes are obviously back, as they have continued to do so for the last decade. James Gunn’s Superman will be figuring out life again, and with Marvel’s Phase V coming to an end with Thunderbolts*, the new Fantastic Four reboot will hope to erase the sour taste of its previous attempts.

Maybe this time they’ll get it right? Our fingers remain crossed. James Cameron, meanwhile, isn’t done with blue aliens either, and Avatar 3 will likely demand another three hours of your...