The Queue

The ultimate viewing guide for 2025 movies and shows

Here are 10 key premiere dates to add to your calendar.

Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher in "Reacher," on Amazon Prime. Not a reach.

January 22, 2025

4 minutes to read

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For me, January is typically a month spent catching up on the prior year’s movies and TV shows. Even after watching 100+ of each this past year, there are still plenty of titles sitting on my watchlist.

But January is also a time to take stock of what’s to come. And after a good but not great 2024, the entertainment landscape is looking pretty excellent this year.

This week, I published two comprehensive guides: A 2025 TV premiere dates list and a 2025 movie preview. But in the interest of time, let’s boil it down to five from each list.

Adam Scott in season two of “Severance.” (Apple TV+)

Key 2025 TV Premiere Dates

“Severance” Season 2 (Jan. 17, Apple TV+): The best show on Apple TV+ is back after a three-year hiatus, which is a cause for celebration. Waffle party, anyone?

“Yellowjackets” Season 3 (Feb. 14, Paramount+ with Showtime): Because what’s more romantic than a Valentine’s Day spent with your favorite cannibals?

“Love Is Blind” Season 8 (Feb. 14, Netflix): Strike that, what’s even more romantic is snuggling with your partner and being thankful you aren’t getting engaged to a stranger in front of an audience of millions.

“Reacher” Season 3 (Feb. 20, Prime Video): One of life’s simple pleasures — watching a comically jacked man punch bad guys — has made “Reacher” the most successful Prime Video show to date.

“Andor” Season 2 (April 22, Disney+): Season 1 was one of the best pieces of “Star Wars” entertainment ever, including the original trilogy. No pressure, Disney+.

Paddington in “Paddington in Peru” (Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.)

2025 Movies to Get Excited About

“Paddington in Peru” (Feb. 14): Why snuggle with your boo this V-Day when there’s a huggable British bear waiting to make you toast with marmalade? (Last Valentine’s Day joke, promise.)

“Mickey 17” (March 7): Bong Joon-Ho’s first movie since “Parasite” gives us Robert Pattinson as a disposable employee who is regenerated by his corporate overlords every time his body breaks down.

“Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” (May 23): The title would suggest 62-year-old Tom Cruise is ready to exit the franchise, but don’t bet on it.

“Elio” (June 13): Pixar’s most recent original film, “Elemental,” was a low point for the Disney-owned studio. They’ll look to bounce back with the story of an 11-year-old beamed into space becoming Earth’s de facto ambassador.

“28 Years Later” (June 20): The scale of time in Danny Boyle’s zombie series has grown from 28 days to 28 weeks to 28 years. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, and Ralph Fiennes play the longtime survivors.

Play or Skip

Add these new movies and shows to your watchlist:

“A Different Man” (An eye-opening new dramedy, streaming on Max)
“A Real Pain” (Kieran Culkin is an Oscar frontrunner, streaming on Hulu)
“Severance” (Worth the Apple TV+ subscription, even for just a few months)

… but go ahead and skip these:

“Ad Vitam” (Don’t be fooled by the Netflix Top 10 badge, this thriller is a bore)
“Aaron Hernandez and the Untold Murders of Bristol” (A slapdash, sensationalist take on the Hernandez story, streaming on Max)

I’ve had some great email conversations with readers since this newsletter launched, and would love for those to continue.

Tell me about your latest streaming obsession at [email protected], and I might feature it in a future edition.

To help get the ideas flowing, here’s a couple of recommendations from Boston.com’s staff.

“Skeleton Crew” (Disney+)

“So some of the Disney ‘Star Wars’ offerings have been good (‘The Mandalorian’), and some, well, not-so-good (‘The Rise of Skywalker’). But until now, I don’t think any of them have been adorable. (Not even ‘Ewoks: The Battle for Endor,’ which was just bad.) But I have to admit I’ve been tickled watching ‘Skeleton Crew,’ with its plucky kids-on-an-adventure characters and a scenery-chewing Jude Law as their helpful-or-possibly-sneaky pirate companion. This Star Wars originalist (saw the first one in theaters, I’m that old) has gotten more of a kick out of it than a person my age has any right to.” — Pete Chianca

“The Substance” (MUBI)

“I can’t shut up about the bizarre movie that is Coralie Fargeat’s ‘The Substance.’ I am not a body horror superfan, but this movie was the most fun I’ve had in the theater in a long time. It’s Lynchian, it’s Kubrick, but without the boring male perspective. It’s over-the-top yet timely during Hollywood’s Ozempic craze and post-MeToo era. I urge you to give it a shot, but do not eat something heavy (or shrimp!) during the movie. — Katelyn Umholtz

End Credits

That’s a wrap on this edition of The Queue. If you’re a fan, please consider recommending this newsletter to your friends.

PS: If you’re pressed for time, IndieWire critic David Ehrlich recently posted a brilliant supercut of his picks for the year’s best films. Every year, his edits make me think about movies I’ve already seen in a new light, and highlights at least one film I instantly add to my watchlist. (Previous editions are worth watching too!)

Until next time, good stream hunting, everyone!

— Kevin

Kevin Slane

Staff Writer

Kevin Slane is a staff writer for Boston.com covering entertainment and culture. His work focuses on movie reviews, streaming guides, celebrities, and things to do in Boston.

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The ultimate viewing guide for 2025 movies and shows