The horror movies 2025 calendar for the second half of the year delivers reboots, chilling originals, and the return of fan-favorite franchises
2025’s opening act has been rather anemic for horror devotees craving their theatrical fix—a stark contrast to the genre’s last years box office rulings. The early months delivered only a handful of offerings: James Wan’s The Monkey, gaming’s crossover Until Dawn, Indonesia’s atmospheric Dark Nuns, Blumhouse’s Drop, the terrifier-ish slasher movie Popoyee: The Slayer Man, and the critically acclaimed Companion.
Yet, one film—Ryan Coogler’s Sinners—has been methodically dismantling box office records, securing its position as the rare horror film that can pay its way in Hollywood’s increasingly risk-averse landscape. The film’s third-week hold is nothing short of supernatural, achieving the highest collection for any horror title at that point in its run—a feat that demands respect even from those who prefer their scares served with a side of critical acclaim.
But here’s where the 2025 Horror movies calander truly blossoms. The second half of 2025 unfolds like a masterclass in atmospheric tension, with each release building upon the last in a carefully orchestrated symphony of scares. Leading the charge is the resurrection of Final Destination. What follows is a veritable buffet of dread: exorcisms and haunted relics that resurrect ancient evils, folk horror rooted in grief and rituals gone wrong, slashers making nostalgic comebacks, and creature features where nature fights back—usually with fangs. Techno-horrors explore our unease with artificial intelligence, while psychological thrillers dig deep into fractured relationships and moral collapse. Toss in a few post-apocalyptic outbreaks and cursed phone lines, and you’ve got a horror calendar that doesn’t just aim to scare—it wants to reflect the chaos of the times we’re living in. The year may have started with a slow-burning dread of its own, but by December, we’ll all be checking our closets and maybe, just maybe, sleeping with the lights on.
Here’s a look at the horror movies set to grace the remainder of 2025:
Sub-Genre: Supernatural/Franchise Horror
Release Date: 15 May, 2025
The death-defying franchise returns with a twisted family-centric story, as fate targets the descendants of past survivors—because apparently, death holds a grudge.
Sub-Genre: Possession/Emotional Horror
Release Date: 29 May, 2025
Directed by the breakout duo behind Talk to Me, this grief-soaked nightmare promises raw emotion, brutal tension, and a chilling descent into the afterlife’s darkest corners.
Sub-Genre: Post-Apocalyptic/Infected Horror
Release Date: 19 June,2025
Danny Boyle returns to the franchise he helped define, with 28 Years Later set to unleash a new generation of rage and redefine modern horror all over again.
Sub-Genre: Tech Horror
Release Date: 26 June,2025
Is she still a menace or now a misunderstood machine? The sequel blurs the line between horror and sci-fi action, as M3GAN upgrades—morally and mechanically.
Sub-Genre: Slasher/Requel
Release Date: 17 July 2025
The ‘90s slasher staple gets a modern revamp, reuniting original cast members with a new generation caught in the killer’s hook-line trap.
Sub-Genre: Psychological Horror/Relationship Thriller
Release Date: 30 July, 2025
A twisted tale of love, obsession, and unraveling minds, this original horror entry explores what happens when codependency turns truly monstrous.
Sub-Genre: Supernatural/Exorcism Horror
Release Date: 4 September, 2025
The Warrens return for one final case in this climactic chapter of the Conjuring universe, promising a farewell soaked in holy water and pure dread.
Sub-Genre: Psychological/Supernatural Horror
Release Date: 18 September 2025
Jordan Peele’s involvement guarantees a deep psychological thriller that’s bound to haunt you long after the credits roll.
Sub-Genre: Torture/Slasher Horror
Release Date: September 27, 2025
The legacy of Jigsaw continues with a fresh set of traps and moral tests, proving once again that the game is far from over.
Sub-Genre: Supernatural/Thriller
Release Date: 16 October,2025
Ethan Hawke returns in this eerie sequel that dives deeper into the ghostly voices beyond the line—because some calls should never be answered.
Sub-Genre: Sci-Fi Horror/Creature Feature
Release Date: 6 November,2025
Set in a desolate frontier town, this chapter strips the tech and turns primal, delivering a raw, survivalist showdown with the galaxy’s deadliest hunter.
Sub-Genre: Animatronic/Survival Horror
Release Date: 4 December 2025
The cult video game adaptation returns with even more twisted animatronics and deeper lore—because one night was never going to be enough.
Sub-Genre: Creature Horror/Nature Survival
Release Date: 25 December, 2025
The legendary snake slithers back onto the big screen in a high-stakes reboot that promises bigger thrills, bloodier hunts, and a whole lot more hiss.
Sources: Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb, Cinemblend
CinemaCon 2025, held from March 31 to April 3 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, once again brought together the global theatrical exhibition community. This year’s convention featured exclusive film previews, major studio announcements, and recognition of industry achievements.
Here are all the trailers released at CinemaCon 2025—the must-see moments, surprises, and sneak peeks that have fans buzzing.
Sony’s presentation unveiled Sam Mendes’ ambitious four-part Beatles project (slated for April 2028) and provided updates on Spider-Man franchises, including “Beyond the Spider-Verse” and “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” The studio also eased adult-oriented films like Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing and Kogonada’s A Big Bold Beautiful Journey.
Karate Kid: Legends – May 30th
28 Years Later – June 20th
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle – September 12th
Anaconda – December 25th
Neon presented before the State of the Industry address, highlighting two upcoming releases: a body-horror film starring real-life couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie, and a Stephen King adaptation about Charles ‘Chuck’ Krantz.
The Life of Chuck – June 6th
Together – August 1st
Lionsgate shifted focus from the anticipated Michael Jackson biopic to “Ballerina,” the Ana de Armas-led John Wick spin-off. The studio announced plans to expand the Wick universe with a Donnie Yen spin-off, an animated prequel, and “John Wick 5” with Keanu Reeves. Literary adaptations featured prominently, including works by Stephen King and a new film from John Car.
Hurry Up Tomorrow – May 16th
Ballerina – June 6th
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping – November 20th, 2026
Warner Bros. showcased the opening ten minutes of “F1,” positioning it as a summer standout. Their presentation also featured glimpses of P.T. Anderson’s latest film and the horror title “Weapons.” DC Studios leaders James Gunn and Peter Safran discussed “Superman” with cast members David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, and Nicholas Hoult.
Sinners – April 18th
Final Destination: Bloodlines – May 16th
F1 – June 27th
Superman – July 11th
One Battle After Another – September 26th
In just two years, Angel Studios has disrupted traditional film distribution with its audience-driven approach through the Angel Guild, which now has over 1 million active members. The studio is expanding internationally and previewed several upcoming titles, including “Zero A.D.,” a Biblical epic from “Sound of Freedom” director Alejandro Monteverde.
King of Kings – April 11th
The Last Rodeo – May 23rd
Sketch – August 6th
Truth & Treason – October 17th
Zero A.D. – December 19th
Universal’s presentation highlighted sequels and established franchises, including “Jurassic World Rebirth” and the second part of “Wicked.” The studio showcased Blumhouse horror sequels “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” and “M3gan 2.0,” alongside family films like “How to Train Your Dragon.” Teases of future projects included works from Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” (2026).
The Phoenician Scheme – May 30th
How to Train Your Dragon – June 13th
M3GAN 2.0 – June 27th
Jurassic World Rebirth – July 2nd
Five Night’s at Freddy’s 2 – December 5th
Shrek 5 – December 23rd, 2026
Making their CinemaCon debut, Amazon MGM Studios emphasized their commitment to theatrical releases with plans for 14 films in 2026. Their presentation featured well-received trailers for “Project Hail Mary” and “Is God Is,” spanning adult dramas, high-concept films, and the tentpole “Masters of the Universe.”
The Accountant 2 – April 25th
Paramount showcased a varied 2025 slate led by “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” and Edgar Wright’s “The Running Man.” Family offerings included “Smurfs” and “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants,” alongside adult comedies “Roofman” and “The Naked Gun.”
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning – May 23rd
Smurfs – July 18th
The Naked Gun – August 1st
Disney’s presentation featured the live-action “Lilo & Stitch,” the first trailer for “Tron: Ares,” and animated features including Pixar’s “Elio” and “Zootopia 2.” Marvel Studios previewed “Thunderbolts*” and “Fantastic Four: First Steps,” while 20th Century and Searchlight divisions showcased adult-oriented fare including a Bruce Springsteen biopic. The presentation concluded with a 3D preview of “Avatar: Fire and Ash.”.
Thunderbolts* – May 2nd
Lilo & Stitch – May 23rd
Elio – June 20th
The Fantastic Four: First Steps – July 25th
Freakier Friday – August 8th
Tron: Ares – October 10th
Avengers: Doomsday – May 1st, 2026
Source: BOXOFFICEPRO , CinemaCon 2025
According to Gower Street Analytics, the 2025 box office projections indicate global revenues reaching an 8% increase over 2024
Leading industry analytics firm Gower Street Analytics has released its latest forecast for the global cinema market, projecting box office revenues to reach $33 billion in 2025. Their forecast represents an encouraging 8% increase over 2024 estimates, signalling continued momentum in this entertainment sector.
The cinema industry demonstrated remarkable resilience, ultimately achieving approximately $30.5 billion in global revenues in 2024. This despite facing significant headwinds, primarily due to content pipeline disruptions stemming from the SAG-AFTRA strike. Initial forecasts had painted a concerning picture, with analysts predicting potential revenue declines of $5-8 billion and some even suggesting a possible regression to 2022 levels of $25.9 billion. However, the 2024 year-end numbers were far robust.
This impressive performance was largely driven by the strong reception of several major theatrical releases. The year gained momentum with the success of ‘Dune: Part Two,’ followed by a robust summer season featuring blockbusters such as ‘Inside Out 2,’ ‘Deadpool & Wolverine,’ and ‘It Ends With Us.’ The positive trajectory continued through year-end with anticipated releases including ‘Gladiator II,’ ‘Wicked,’ ‘Moana 2,’ and ‘Sonic 3.’
The Middle East market emerged as a particularly bright spot, successfully avoiding the content drought experienced in other international territories. This success can be attributed to the strong performance of regional Arabic-language productions such as ‘Lahazat Lazeeza,’ ‘El Hawa Sultan,’ and ‘Welad Rizk 3.’ The region further benefited from successful Asian cinema releases, including major Indian productions like ‘Pushpa: The Rule – Part 2’ and ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ ‘Manjummel Boys’ and more.
Looking ahead, the 2025 Gower Street Analytics’ detailed industry analysis reveals several key trends.
In the North American domestic market, projections indicate a 9% increase over 2024, with revenues expected to reach approximately $9.7 billion. This prediction was further validated by other film journalists such as Pamela McClintock, senior film writer at The Hollywood Reporter who predicted the North American domestic box office to reach $10 billion and more.
The international market, excluding China, is expected to generate approximately $16.8 billion, marking a 7% improvement over 2024 estimates.
The Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region continues to show promising recovery trends, with 2025 revenues projected at $9.1 billion. This forecast positions EMEA at 6% ahead of 2024, making it one of the fastest-recovering international markets in the global cinema landscape.
The projected global revenue of $33 billion would position the industry at just 14% below the average of the pre-pandemic years (2017-2019), when adjusted for historical currency rates.
Though actual performance will ultimately depend on various market factors, these projections from Gower Street Analytics provide valuable insights into the industry’s trajectory, and the strength of the upcoming theatrical slate. The data suggests a continuing and gradual return to pre-pandemic performance levels, with some regions showing particularly encouraging signs of recovery.
As the region’s leading cinema advertising company, Motivate Val Morgan’s internal analysis aligns with these positive industry projections. Avinash Udeshi, Chief Operating Officer of Motivate Val Morgan, shares this optimistic outlook: “We have achieved 33 million admissions across our cinema circuits in 2024 – measured through our cinema planning and reporting tools CinePlan and CineMeasure. According to the advanced analytics prediction from the system, we anticipate a 7% increase in cinema admissions in 2025.”
“This projection further reinforces the positive trajectory of the cinema industry in the region and underscores the growing opportunity for brands to engage with cinema audiences.” He added.
The 2025 theatrical calendar promises an exceptional slate of highly anticipated releases that could further boost these projections. From Hollywood blockbusters like ‘Superman, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’, and ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’, to Asian and Arabic titles such as ‘Dev (Hindi)’, ‘L2 Empuraan (Malayalam)’, ‘Sikander (Hindi)’, ‘Restart (Arabic)’ and many more blockbusters lined up throughout the year. Experience the excitement of what’s coming to theaters in 2025 by watching our exclusive sizzle reel here for a sneak peek of these upcoming cinematic spectacles.
Sources: Gower Street Analytics, Motivate Val Morgan CinePlan and CineMeasure, Saudi Ministry of Culture
