Exciting Movies to Anticipate in 2024: A Look Ahead

Key points:

• Discusses the excitement for upcoming Indian movies in 2025.
• Shows anticipation while addressing concerns regarding certain films.
• Highlights the potential of various genres and talented filmmakers.
• Encourages audience engagement about their own movie expectations.
• Expresses optimism for the future of Indian cinema.

with the year almost wrapping up and all of us getting an idea of the lineup next year I thought we could discuss movies we are most excited to watch next year. I think with a gap of a year or two, there are those huge Blockbuster years where we get one massive box office grer after the other like Bollywood experienced in 2023.

This year has been very underwhelming for Hindi Cinema with many anticipated projects missing the mark from a quality standpoint, of course with some exceptions. But I think if I were to gauge a VAR of genres, many of which were commercially successful, then Tamil Cinema, and I think the winner of 2024 at least when it comes to quality is Malayalam Cinema.

We will dive deeper when we do our best and worst lists at the end of the year, but let's get to the movies that have us terribly excited, slightly worried, and more importantly hyped.

This is not a list of movies that I presume will be Blockbusters because no one can predict that, not even your geriatric trusted trade analysts. So let's just talk about the movies that have a lot of hype surrounding them, and all we can do is have our fingers crossed hoping and praying that they deliver.

You also do let me know in the comments below which movie you are most excited for. So here is Tried and Refuse Productions with 25 most anticipated and hyped Indian movies of 2025.

Game Changer: I don't know which language this movie can be categorized as, but I can assume that dependent on its quality, fans of Telugu and Tamil Cinema will either claim it to be their own or will try to shift blame to the other language. Officially, they say it's a Telugu film. The marketing run of Game Changer has been far from satisfactory.

I mean, a lot of it just shows the lack of evolution with Shanker's filmmaking, still heavily investing in music videos rather than having the same attention to detail or focus on storytelling. With the debacle that was Indian 2, people are worried that Ram Charan is going to get an extension with the SSR curse and genuinely are hoping for a miracle when it comes to the quality of this film.

The early signs are slightly worrying, and the template of a tale against corruption just seems dated. Irrespective, a Ram Charan film with a legend like Shanker is definitely going to pique the interest of audiences at least on the first weekend, and one hopes that it isn't anywhere close to the train wreck that was Indian 2.

Satar is a Mean Per: With 2024 having no Hindi releases featuring, the one was expecting to see at least Aamir Khan's project, Satar Zin Per on Christmas. This movie has been delayed to next year and is based on the 2018 Spanish film Champions that deals with a coach who works with differently-abled kids. Aamir has been raving about the heartfelt nature of the script and how it celebrates the uniqueness of individuals across the spectrum.

Aamir's tryst with the movies has not been smooth lately, but I hope and wish that this venture delivers an engaging and emotional ride for viewers.

OG: This is a movie I'm terribly excited for, directed by Sujit Po Saho with Pawan Kalyan in the lead role. While the criticism towards Sah and its screenplay is justified, you have to admit that it had some of the most slick action set pieces.

With this film, you have Sujit transporting us to the '70s and '80s in Mumbai, with Pawan Kalyan in the first promo looking like an absolute badass. While we know very little about the plot, we know that Imran Hashmi has been roped in as the antagonist, marking his Telugu debut.

I have a personal anecdote to share about this film and the making of it, and I think it's best to reveal it when it's closer to its release and you get to see the trailer. But I think Sujit may finally get his commercial cinema due with this film.

Idle Karai: I have mixed feelings about Dhanush as a director because I wasn't really a fan of how Ryan eventually shaped up. He produces the same sentiment I have towards Ayan as a director: some great ideas, some slick and exceptional sequences, but the screenplay is somewhat faltering in the process.

One of my favorite films, however, in recent years was Tira Balam with Dhanush sharing screen space with Nya Men, and he is collaborating with her again in his directorial venture, Idly Kaday, which releases next year. GV Prakash Kumar has been roped in for the music, and he's slowly becoming one of my favorite music composers, making me excited about this film and how it shapes up.

Raja Sab: Horror, especially horror-comedy, seems to be the name of the game when it comes to having a huge ROI for projects in Indian Cinema. While Prabhas has been featuring in a variety of genres post-Bahubali, they have been on massive scales. Raja Sa is supposed to be one of his less ambitious but entertaining projects, just on a mere 250 to 300 CR budget.

We will see Prabhas in this romantic horror comedy of sorts which people are presuming is a haunted mansion story. I don't know whether the film is adapted from something or a remake, but they really have to do a better job at the film posters because they literally look AI-generated or fan-made. Irrespective, anything better than the Aron Manai series is welcome, so I'm curious about how this shapes up.

Jolly LLB3: This project I genuinely believe will be Akshay Kumar's return to box office success, having had a miserable time at the movies, especially commercially. We saw a glimpse of AK's comedic prowess in a movie like Kale Kme, even though the film did not fare well.

With this 3-2 wave, one finally got the Akshay Kumar we love to see on the big screen, with the comic timing of not only Akshay Kumar and Arid Vari but Sorab Shukla at play. With the third installment of Jolly LLB, I sure this film is going to be an absolutely hilarious ride in theaters. You can't really pass up such a collaboration, and I'm excited for the same.

Viddu Muari: While I've only explored a few films of Ajith, the ones that especially people rave about, including the likes of Mangata Billah and an old one like Vali, I would love some suggestions of the best Ajith Kumar films.

But I found the teaser of his upcoming film Viddu Muari to be so engaging. This seems like an adaptation of the Hollywood film Breakdown, but the cinematography by Om Prakash and N. Sha and background score composed by Anud fits so well for an engaging survival thriller. My pet peeve comes with most of the action featuring stars not having an understated quality, but this seems to fit the bill of what can really turn into a grounded and non-nonsense thriller.

Sikander: Oh, how I wish Salman Khan has a phenomenal comeback. I say comeback because Tiger 3 was underwhelming for the hype Tiger should have in the VF spy universe. What the audience craves for with a Salman Khan film is for him to have the same passion, energy, and enthusiasm on screen that led to his comeback with a project like Wanted.

A genuine want to entertain the audience versus sleepwalking through a role and assuming that it will be celebrated irrespective. I hope AR Madas can channelize the same, because Sajid Nadiadwala really extracted a gem from Salman in Kick. I literally reminisce about the energy Salman had during the promotions of that film, and I wish and hope we can get a glimpse of the same with Sikander.

What's important with this film is that they have to nail the antagonist because Salman needs a worthy opponent.

Kie: One of my favorite creators from Tamil Cinema is undoubtedly Loesh Kanagaraj, who always delivers in at least providing us a spectacle and something unique. You can see the DC influence in his films, where his characters are dark, brooding, and aching with vengeance.

While Leo did not really turn out to be the knockout we all wished for, him joining hands with Rajinikant for his next project Kie has everyone extremely curious. You've got the likes of Nagarjuna, Opendra, and Soine Shaher joining the party, really making it the pan-Indian project one dreams of. But will it deliver? I guess we will have to wait and find out.

Gati: I think Anushka Shetty has such immense screen presence that should be nationally known. While most of India saw it in a movie like Bahubali, when you see the sheer intensity she brings to roles like Arundhati and Bhagmati, you really think that more filmmakers should tap into the same.

I was absolutely engaged when her recent teaser dropped for her upcoming film Gati, directed by Kish. A film in which her character presumably finds herself embroiled in the drug trade, leading to a violent path of bloodshed, making me excited about her badass presentation and how the storyline will shape up.

Love and War: A Sanjay Leela Bhansali project is bound to leave a lot of excitement amongst audiences, for he guarantees a spectacle and a movie-watching experience meant for the big screen.

The film featuring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal is presumed going to explore a lot of toxic elements of relationships, so you best be assured that the commentary on this film is going to carry on for weeks after its release. I don't know specifically what this will explore, but the talent involved in the project makes me really excited and slightly worried.

Hit 3: I absolutely love the very choices that Nani has been making in his career, almost as if he's doing a back and forth between what is clearly for commercial notoriety and what is for his creative satisfaction. I think he pushes to somehow create a marriage between the two, with all of his projects.

With Hit 3 coming next year, I remember people screaming in the theater when he featured in the climax of the second installment, making one really curious because his character seems ruthless in his ways. I mean, he was literally described that way in his entry.

I wonder what the thriller has in store from the storyline POV, and I will be seated in the theater because I have learned from experience: you don't miss a Nani film whenever it releases.

Surya 44: It's been slightly rough for Surya in 2024, reflecting on the performance of his previous film Kanga, which turned out to become a commercial disaster. How it was in sharp contrast to the sheer effort he was showcasing on the big screen with his character, while so many people sniffed out the same with Saiva's association with the project.

Surya is going to collaborate with one of the most exciting directors from Tamil Cinema, Kark Subbaraj, and in the small glimpse looks like an absolute badass. I think this will genuinely mark his commercial return, as Karthik is the perfect director to do an intense action film with. I hope this is an absolute banger in 2025.

The Ranvir Adar project: Another actor who has had a rough run at the movies is Ranveer Singh. Barrign Rocko Rani, the streak in the movies post the pandemic has led to underwhelming results, and with multiple projects that have gone in limbo, including the likes of Don 3 indefinitely getting postponed, the Prashant Verma project getting cancelled, Shaktiman not taking off, and so much more.

Ranveer is finally going to star in the Aditya Darar spy espionage project, which I can assure you is technically topnotch. I just hope the film gets completed and doesn't go through budget issues because I can't go through another Ranvir project being in limbo. My man needs a smooth release for God's sake, and I hope this one reaches the finish line.

Talapa 69: This has me extremely worried because the last trip to the cinema hall for a Talati Vij film cannot be a remake. Rumors have been afloat that Vij's last movie with H.O is going to be a remake of the Telugu film Bhagwan Quer featuring Balaya. If that really is the case, then it's extremely underwhelming because most fans would want Vij to leave with a bang, irrespective of what the film is.

You know the hype is going to be unprecedented to see Vij one last time on the big screen. I hope, seeing the feedback and uproar on social media, they actually think about taking a completely fresh story.

Alpha: One of the most engaging web series in recent years was when The Railway Men dropped on Netflix and showcased an extremely engaging screenplay with brilliant performances by the ensemble cast. The 2025 film Alpha, starring Alia Bhatt and Sherar, will be directed by the Railway Men director Shiv Rail, and will be in addition to the VF spy universe with the women taking charge this time.

I hear rumors that Ric Es Kabir is going to feature as a mentor in the film, and I have my fingers crossed about this ambitious but risky project. We get engaging action films with female leads few and far between, so when there is faith given by a producer like Aditya Chopra, you better deliver a banger!

Sidharth Malhotra: Another Hindi film actor who seems to be in limbo since his last celebrated film, Shershaah, is Sidharth Malhotra. Somehow filmmakers have not been able to categorize him in a particular genre. While Sidharth is presentable, yes, his lack of range as an actor has always been a deterrent to see him soar.

However, what seems to be a masterstroke is his next collaboration with Balaji and TVF, described as a folk thriller. The film's first look had everyone really curious, with the message having people hopeful that this can really be an interesting project that may turn out to be a dark horse in 2025.

Chhavi: I was really excited for this film when it was announced that we will get to see it in December on the big screen. Vicky Kaushal looking like an absolute menace as Samaji, the second Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire. The film, directed by Lakman Uttar and produced by Madok, showcases Vicky with brute strength annihilating the Mula Army when surrounded by them in every frame.

The film also showcases an unrecognizable Akshay Kanana as Orze, making me even more excited about this project and the clash between these empires, which involves politics, deceit, warfare, and the context of Indian history that also shaped generations. I'm really hopeful for this to hit it out of the park.

Dama: The Mad Horror Universe has undoubtedly become one of the most commercially viable IPs in Hindi Cinema, and in 2025 we will see another edition titled Thas, starring Aushman Korana in the lead role, with him playing a man turned vampire. The film was rumored to be titled at one point "Vampire of Vig Nagar," which I thought was hilarious and inventive, but I loved what they did with the text and design of its title, giving the vibes of a Ramay Brothers vintage horror movie.

The director of Mja, Aday AS, is directing the film that also stars Rashmika and apparently Naudin Sidiki. I hope it's genuinely spooky and not just a generic horror comedy.

Daa: I will root for this man and always hope and wish she delivers a solid film, irrespective of the genre.

Shahed: With Farzy, she really made a banging digital debut, and with Daa, he is working with Malayalam film director Russan Andrews, responsible for films like Mumbai Police and most recently, Salute. On Saturday night, there are rumors that Daa might be a remake of Mumbai Police, but the makers have refuted such claims, stating that it is an original film which will show us Shahid playing a cop, with Pooja Hegde also joining the cast.

I literally have no idea what to expect from this film, so I'm just left at a point where I am going to be hopeful that it just delivers.

Toxic: Everyone has been waiting in careful anticipation of what will be Yash's next move after the stupendous success of KGF Chapter 2. It really caught everyone off guard when it was announced that his next project would be the Guu Mandas directed film titled Toxic.

Two schools of cinema, many people did not envision to cross paths with each other. Yash has done a spectacular job in keeping everything at bay regarding what the film may explore, but it presumably features many actresses, which has not been confirmed or denied, just making me curious about what the bloody hell this movie is about. I can't honestly wait for the film to drop a teaser or trailer soon.

Hug Life: While we constantly speak about the sad state of filmmakers who refuse to evolve over a period of time, becoming stale in their presentation and story lines, you have Manirathnam, who since the '80s has been consistently making movies and has not lost touch even in the slightest.

While filmmakers are going through several delays in making their hugely mounted films a reality, you've got Mani Ratnam who after Ponan Silen has completed his film titled Hug Life with Kamal Hassan and SDR. We will see what will unfold in this saga in 2025.

This is the work I think most filmmakers should emulate, and I can't wait to see it on the big screen. If someone were to just take lessons from how to execute an effective movie announcement, just see the title announcement video of this film. It's pure class.

Canara Chapter 1: Similar to Yash and the anticipation people had on his next move after the massive success, everyone was interested to know Rab's next project after Canara. Not so surprisingly, he is exploring the folklore Canara to even more depth with his next project, a prequel to the film we massively celebrated.

The first look of the film generated several questions within me. Will we explore the prologue of the film where he could not find peace and embarked upon a journey to get guidance from Puli? Would this be the case of exploring Shiva's father's life before his disappearance, or would this be a totally different story that explores the deep-rooted history of the Kartica region that aims to also shed light on the limitless nature of divine energy that is often dismissed by historians?

Can it be an amalgamation of the known and the unknown, or could it just be an exploration of the embodiment of Pasuram? Or is it well, just an embodiment of Puli, a wild boar-like figure that was born in the Kug, which will essentially be during the time of the Kadamba dynasty?

I have so many questions, but I think with the time Rishab is spending on the project, it seems like he is leaving no stone unturned in providing us an experience for the big screen.

War Two: The amount of excitement and fear I have for this project matches absolutely nothing. The amount I want this film to work is unhealthy for me. The amount of faith I have put on Ayan Mukerji makes me sick to my stomach, and I have literally no personal or monetary stake in this film.

This is the anxiety you feel because so much is riding on this: the VF spy universe moving forward, with two huge stars, Ric Russan and Junior NTR featuring in one project together. I can't tell you on just the conflicting feelings of pessimism and optimism I have within me.

I just want an action extravaganza, a conflict beyond India versus Pakistan, a bloody insane dance-off, and just a PESA was experience. Please, please just deliver a knockout Ayan! I have faith in you.

Lucifer 2: There is a lot riding even on this project for it to be showered with the pan-Indian love that Malayalam Cinema deserves. Lucifer, directed by Pitv Raj, went on to become one of the biggest hits from Malayalam Cinema, presenting Mohanlal in the pitch and manner in which the star deserves.

Just seeing the rough patch the legend has had, Praj is the perfect medium through which he delivers a commercial blockbuster. At this point, the first film offered such a brilliant concoction of familial conflict, political conspiracy, and pure vengeance. I'm so interested to see what Pitv Raj explores with Stepen AKA Ki.

At this point, we just hope it doesn't undergo the sequel curse, like so many films that compromise storytelling with the increase in scale. But knowing the amount of time Pitv Raj has spent on the project, I'm sure he's going to make Malayalam Cinema fans proud.

And that was the video, guys! Write it down in the comments below which movie you are most looking forward to in 2025. Please don't forget to follow me on Instagram, the handles right in front of you, follow me at Jammy Pants 4.

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