With the holiday season arriving soon, a new wave of movies is soon to hit theaters. 2025 has been a great year for the film industry, and what better way to end the year than a lineup of standout films? This year, sequels and threequels have taken over the theaters. From long-awaited additions of blockbusters to surprising seconds, this year’s movies are filled with familiar, and maybe even nostalgic stories for audiences. So take a seat, grab your popcorn and enjoy a preview of these upcoming films!
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Rian Johnson’s third installment to the “Knives Out” franchise saw a limited theatrical release on Nov. 26. In this story, Detective Benoit Blanc, a reprised role by Daniel Craig, picks up a new case following Monsignor Jefferson, portrayed by Josh Brolin. When an unexpected death occurs during his case, Detective Blanc must follow an intricate web of secrets and tensions within the community to figure out exactly what happened. “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery,” is scheduled for its Netflix release on Dec. 12, perfect for the upcoming holiday season.
“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve liked whodunits,” movie enthusiast and AP Language and Composition teacher Mr. Blaugrund voiced. “I like seeing how all the different actors play into sort of whodunit stereotypes. There are always types of people who are jealous ‘this,’ and evil ‘that’ or the naive, innocent character. I like seeing how the icons of this kind of movie fit into the storyline.”
This new addition to the Knives Out franchise incorporates a brand new cast with a new array of characters. New horror movies showcase different takes on these movie stereotypes, which tends to be a defining factor for movie audiences.
Zootopia 2
Nov. 26 also saw the release of “Zootopia 2,” the sequel to Disney’s “Zootopia,” directed by Byron Howard and Rich Moore. In this sequel, the main characters, Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps, voiced by Jason Bateman and Ginnifer Goodwin, respectively, find themselves on a case following a new, mysterious citizen of Zootopia–the first snake in the city in decades. To solve their case, Nick and Judy must go undercover on this new venture across the city, while also testing their perseverance when working together as brand new partners.
West Ranch students have expressed their enthusiasm and nostalgia for these upcoming sequels, especially the newest installment of this Disney film: “I’m excited. I grew up watching that movie,” Project and Perspective President Riley Senecal expressed. “[The first movie] came out in 2016 when I was around seven years old, and I was happy to see it. I saw the new trailer; I want to see where they’re going with the new snake character, and the relationship between Nick and Judy.”
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2
Highly anticipated by fans ever since the first movie, “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” comes to theaters Dec. 5. This horror thriller is based off of the second game of the franchise, featuring new animatronics including Toy Freddy, Toy Bonnie, Toy Chica and many more. This story follows Vanessa Shelly, played by Elizabeth Lail, and Mike Schimdt, played by Josh Hutcherson, as they dive deeper into Vanessa’s childhood and living with her insane father. In a turn of events, Mike’s younger sister Abby, played by Piper Rubio, goes back into Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria, and reconnects with the animatronics. Mike and Vanessa have to return to the location in order to protect Abby. Filled with new characters and a whole new level of chilling jumpscares, this movie is sure to impress.
Being an adaptation of the video game of the same name, “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” can be nostalgic for fans of the franchise. “I grew up with the series, so it’s cool that they’re making movies out of it. I like this franchise, and I thought the first [movie] was pretty good” West Ranch freshman and “Five Nights at Freddy’s” fan Charlyse De la Cruz shared.
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Finally, the third addition of James Cameron’s “Avatar” trilogy is set to release Dec. 19. “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” follows Jake, portrayed by Sam Worthington, and Neytiri, portrayed by Zoe Saldana, as their family grieves after their son dies. As the Sully family continues to explore Pandora, their peace is disrupted. They encounter an agonistic, violent Na’vi tribe, called the Ash People. With this new tribe, fans are also introduced to fire-based powers, unlike anything they’ve seen before in the franchise. With conflict between the tribes as well as human conflictions on Pandora arising, a war emerges. The family will have to stick together, persevere and fight like never before.
“Avatar is probably the best franchise to do a sequel,” Senecal concluded. “The story doesn’t just end at the first movie. It keeps going on and it keeps the audience wondering, ‘What’s the finale? How is this world going to change?’”
Whether you like mystery, horror or fantasy movies, the upcoming holiday season is jam-packed with new sequels for movie enthusiasts. Wildcats, make sure to grab your popcorn and take a seat for these upcoming sequels!
