As 2025 draws to a close, the holiday box office is gearing up for a historic showdown. From the return of Pandora’s blue warriors to the next chapter of Benoit Blanc’s sleuthing, December 2025 promises a cinematic lineup that caters to every taste—horror, mystery, family adventure, and psychological thrillers. Here is your detailed guide to the most anticipated movies hitting theaters and streaming platforms in December 2025, based on the titles you’re most excited about.
Most Anticipated Movies of December 2025
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2
Release Date: December 5, 2025
Director: Emma Tammi
The festive season kicks off with a scream as Blumhouse returns to the animatronic-filled pizzeria that took the world by storm. Following the massive success of the first film, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 promises to up the ante with higher stakes and deeper lore. Josh Hutcherson returns as Mike Schmidt, alongside Matthew Lillard as the menacing William Afton.
Fans can expect the introduction of new, more terrifying animatronics (rumors of “Toy” versions abound) and a plot that delves further into the dark history of Fazbear Entertainment. It’s the perfect counter-programming to the usual holiday cheer, offering jumpscares for gamers and horror fans alike.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Release Date: December 12, 2025 (Netflix & Select Theaters)
Director: Rian Johnson
Daniel Craig dons his signature ascot once more as the gentleman detective Benoit Blanc in Wake Up Dead Man. Rian Johnson’s third installment in the Knives Out franchise is described as his “most dangerous case yet,” moving away from the sunny locales of Greece (Glass Onion) to a darker, perhaps more gothic setting.
The ensemble cast is, as always, spectacular. Expect to see Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, and Jeremy Renner tangling with Blanc’s southern drawl. With a title evoking macabre imagery and a promise to shake up the whodunit formula again, this is the streaming event of the month.
The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants
Release Date: December 19, 2025
Director: Derek Drymon
For families and lifelong fans of Bikini Bottom, SpongeBob returns to the big screen in a high-stakes adventure. In Search for SquarePants, the lovable sponge journeys to the deepest depths of the ocean to face off against the legendary Flying Dutchman—voiced by none other than Mark Hamill.
The film boasts a unique blend of animation styles and a voice cast that includes franchise veterans like Tom Kenny and Clancy Brown, alongside newcomers like Ice Spice and George Lopez. It’s a celebration of nautical nonsense that promises to be the heartwarming family hit of the holidays.
The Housemaid
Release Date: December 19, 2025
Director: Paul Feig
Adapting Freida McFadden’s viral bestselling novel, The Housemaid arrives just in time to deliver a psychological thriller that will keep audiences guessing. Sydney Sweeney stars as Millie, a struggling young woman who takes a job as a live-in maid for a wealthy family, only to discover that their picture-perfect life hides dangerous secrets.
Amanda Seyfried plays Nina, the unpredictable employer, creating a tense dynamic between the two leads. Directed by Paul Feig, this film is expected to be a stylish, twist-filled ride perfect for fans of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train.
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Release Date: December 19, 2025
Director: James Cameron
Undoubtedly the juggernaut of the season, Avatar: Fire and Ash invites audiences back to Pandora. This third installment shifts focus to a new, more aggressive Na’vi culture: the “Ash People,” a fire-based tribe led by Varang (Oona Chaplin).
Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) must navigate this new threat while dealing with the emotional fallout of the previous film. James Cameron has teased that this chapter will explore the darker side of the Na’vi, challenging the “good vs. evil” dynamic established in the first two movies. Prepare for a visual spectacle that will dominate premium large-format screens worldwide.
Marty Supreme
Release Date: December 25, 2025
Director: Josh Safdie
Rounding out the month on Christmas Day is Marty Supreme, an A24 production that marks Josh Safdie’s return to directing. Starring Timothée Chalamet, the film is a fictionalized, high-energy odyssey inspired by the life of ping pong champion Marty Reisman.
Known for his chaotic, anxiety-inducing style (Uncut Gems), Safdie pairs Chalamet with an eclectic cast that includes Gwyneth Paltrow and Tyler, the Creator. Set in the 1950s, this “ping pong drama” looks to be the unique, auteur-driven standout of the season—a frantic, stylish gift for cinema purists.
