Movies 2025! Films to look forward to in the first quarter of the New Year

The film industry is looking forward to a dhamakedaar 2025 with a mix of action, drama and thrill, set to explode on the big screen. Here’s taking a quick look at the films that are expected to woo the audience in the first quarter of the year

Deva
The action thriller directed by Rosshan Andrrews will see a new on-screen pairing – Shahid Kapoor and Pooja Hegde. The film also stars Thappad-fame Pavail Gulati in a pivotal role.

Sikandar
Bhai is back on Eid this year with a big-ticket release. Sikandar, headlined by Salman Khan, is an action thriller directed by AR Murugadoss, also starring Rashmika Mandanna, Kajal Aggarwal, Sathyaraj, Sharman Joshi and Prateik Babbar.

Chhaava
An adaptation of the Marathi novel Chhava by Shivaji Sawant, the film, directed by Laxman Utekar, is a historical based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, played by Vicky Kaushal. The film also features Rashmika Mandanna as Yesubai Bhonsale & Akshaye Khanna as Aurangzeb.

‘The first quarter of the year is looking promising’
Kamal Gianchandani, Head of Multiplex Association of India and CEO PVR Pictures, says, “The first quarter is looking promising and is poised to carry on the momentum set by Pushpa 2 and Mufasa: The Lion King (released in Dec 2024). Fateh could surprise with its action, Emergency is tracking well and Sky Force will spark excitement with Akshay Kumar in action. Chhaava could be the breakout film in this quarter of 2025. Shahid Kapoor’s Deva is also looking solid, and then we have Captain America: Brave New World in Feb. Finally, with Sikandar to wrap up the first quarter, we are confident that 2025 will start with a bang.”

Emergency
Directed by Kangana Ranaut, the film which is a biographical action drama based on the Indian Emergency, will see the actress leading the show. Kangana plays former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. The film also stars Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Mahima Chaudhry and Milind Soman.

Akshay Kumar, R Madhavan and Ananya Panday’s untitled film
Akshay Kumar, R Madhavan and Ananya Panday have teamed up for this yet-untitled film, based on acclaimed lawyer C Sankaran Nair, who fought a legal battle against the British empire in the 1920s. The film will mark the directorial debut of writer Karan Singh Tyagi and is based on the book, The Case That Shook The Empire by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat.

Fateh
In the film that marks Sonu Sood’s directorial debut, he will be seen playing the titular character, an ex-Special Ops operative. The action thriller also features Jacqueliene Fernandez, along
with Naseeruddin Shah and Vijay Raaz in key roles.

Thandel

Naga Chaitanya’s first release post his wedding with Sobhita Dhulipala is directed by Chandoo Mondeti. The Telugu film also stars Sai Pallavi.

Sky Force
The war film directed by Abhishek Anil Kapur and Sandeep Kewlani, stars Akshay Kumar, Nimrat Kaur and Sara Ali Khan. Joining them in the cast is Veer Pahariya (marking his debut). The film is a take on India’s retaliatory attack on Pakistan’s Sargodha airbase in the Indo-Pak air war of 1965.

Game Changer
Ram Charan plays a double role in this pan-India political action thriller, directed by S Shankar, which also stars Kiara Advani.

Captain America: Brave New World
The American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Sam Wilson/Captain America is the fourth instalment in the Captain America film series, a continuation of the television miniseries, The Falcon And The Winter Soldier (2021). The film is directed by Julius Onah and stars Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Captain America.

Fateh
In the film that marks Sonu Sood’s directorial debut, he will be seen playing the titular character, an ex-Special Ops operative. The action thriller also features Jacqueliene Fernandez, along with Naseeruddin Shah and Vijay Raaz in key roles.

‘The first quarter of 2025 will be action-packed’
Akshaye Rathi, exhibitor, says, “The first quarter of 2025 will be absolutely action-packed for the box office. S Shankar who is a hardcore massy filmmaker has made Game Changer. Dinesh Vijan (producer), who doesn’t go wrong with his storytelling, is backing Sky Force with Akshay Kumar. I feel Chhaava will do extremely good business as it’s a tale not known widely beyond Maharashtra. 2024 wasn’t that great in sustaining the exhibition sector, with only a handful of films like Pushpa 2, Stree 2 and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, among a few others, doing great, so we are hoping that 2025 proves to be a wonderful year.”

Other releases in the first quarter of 2025

Sanki
After making his debut with Tadap in 2021, Ahan Shetty is back with his next film, Sanki. The film, also starring Pooja Hegde, is directed by Adnan A Shaikh and Yasir Jah.

Azaad
The film, which marks the debut of Ajay Devgn’s nephew Aaman and Raveena Tandon’s daughter Rasha Thadani, also sees Ajay in a pivotal role. Set in pre-Independence India, the movie is directed by Abhishek Kapoor.

Loveyapa
Newcomers Junaid Khan and Khushi Kapoor’s Loveyapa is directed by Advait Chandan of Laal Singh Chaddha fame. The film is reported to be a remake of the 2022 Tamil hit Love Today.

The first quarter of 2025 is looking interesting as we have such varied films in different genres. The audience has always looked forward to variety and 2025 has a lot to offer
— Taran Adarsh, trade analyst