The upcoming months will be exciting for the premiere of various science fiction movies. We can expect both sequels to popular franchises and a new adaptation of Stephen King’s classic novel. Here are the main science fiction releases of fall 2025.
Tron: Ares
What is the movie about?
The Ares program is sent from the digital world to the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humanity’s first encounter with artificial intelligence.
Why is it worth waiting for?
Tron is a franchise with a very complicated history. The original, released in 1982, was the first movie in history to make extensive use of computer effects. However, despite its cult status, the Disney studio hesitated for a long time to make a sequel due to low box office returns. It was released almost 30 years later and largely repeated the fate of the first part. Thanks to impressive visual effects and music by Daft Punk, Tron: Legacy gained cult status, but unfortunately, box office receipts again left much to be desired.
Low box office returns led Disney to abandon its previously approved plans for a direct sequel to Legacy. Instead, it was decided to tell the story of new characters in the third installment.
And now, 15 years later, the Tron sequel is almost ready to hit the big screen. Joachim Rønning directed the movie, and Jared Leto plays the lead role. The movie will also feature the return of Kevin Flynn, played by Jeff Bridges, from the previous movies. We will soon find out whether the creators will once again impress audiences with the visual magic of the cyber world. The world premiere of Tron: Ares will take place on October 10, 2025.
Predator: Badlands
What is the movie about?
In the future, on a distant planet, a young Predator, exiled from his clan, finds an unexpected ally in the android Tia and embarks on a dangerous journey in search of his arch-enemy.
Why is it worth waiting for?
In 2021, the streaming service Hulu premiered the movie Prey, directed by Dan Trachtenberg. The movie, which few expected much from, was unexpectedly well-received and breathed new life into the franchise. As a result, Trachtenberg was given the green light for a new movie about alien hunters. As a “warm-up”, the animated anthology Predator: Killer of Killers was released in June 2025. But the main focus was on the movie Predator: Planet of Death, which will hit theaters on November 7, 2025.
The upcoming movie is interesting for several reasons. First, for the first time in the franchise’s history, the action takes place not in the present or the past, but in the distant future. Second, Trachtenberg has abandoned the established formula of previous movies, in which the Predator was almost always the antagonist. In the new movie, he is a fully-fledged character who must join forces with the android Tia, played by actress Elle Fanning.
The movie’s potential connection to the Alien franchise is also pretty cool. We know that in the movie, the Weyland-Yutani corporation built the Typhoon. So, it is possible that, besides the Predator, we will also get a cameo from the Xenomorph.
Running Man
What is the movie about?
The movie version of Stephen King’s novel (written under the pen name Richard Bachman) tells the story of Ben Richards, a desperate dad who decides to take part in a fierce TV show called “Running Man” to win money for his daughter’s treatment.
Why is it worth waiting for?
The first movie adaptation of Running Man, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, was released back in 1987. However, it can only be considered a movie adaptation with a great deal of stretch. The movie borrowed only a few names and the general concept from King’s original novel.
Therefore, it would be incorrect to call the new “Running Man” a remake of the movie starring Schwarzenegger. Its creators have tried to make it much closer to the original, which is clearly evident from the trailer. And the fact that the movie is being released right now is also no coincidence: after all, the action of King’s novel took place in 2025.
The director and lead actor add extra interest to the new “Running Man”. The movie was directed by Edgar Wright, author of such cult movies as “Shaun of the Dead”, “Hot Fuzz”, and “Baby Driver”. Glenn Powell, a rising Hollywood star of recent years, plays the lead role. He is joined by Josh Brolin, Michael Cera, and William H. Macy. The new Running Man will be released internationally on November 14, 2025.
Bugonia
What is the movie about?
Two conspiracy theorists kidnap the head of a large company, believing her to be an alien intent on destroying Earth.
Why is it worth waiting for?
In 2003, the dark sci-fi comedy Saving the Green Planet was released in South Korean cinemas. It received positive reviews from audiences and won several awards at various movie festivals. Twenty years later, Hollywood took an interest in the story and launched a remake called Bugonia.
Interest in “Bugonia” stems from the personality of its director. The movie was shot by Yorgos Lanthimos, director of such cult movies as “The Lobster”, “The Favourite”, and “The Lobster”. The leading roles are played by his regular collaborators, two-time Oscar winner Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons. We will soon find out how successfully Lanthimos has adapted the plot of the original South Korean movie and incorporated his signature elements into it. “Bugonia” will be released in theaters on October 24.
Mortal Kombat II
What is the movie about?
The champions of Earthrealm, along with Johnny Cage, battle each other to prevent Shao Kahn’s dark reign from threatening the very existence of Earth.
Why is it worth waiting for?
The Mortal Kombat franchise has had a rather complicated relationship with cinema. The financially successful 1995 movie adaptation was followed by a sequel that is often referred to as one of the worst sequels in history. Its failure led to Hollywood forgetting about the game series for the next two decades.
But after the success of several video game adaptations, filmmakers decided to reboot the franchise. The reboot was released in 2021 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which did not have the best effect on its box office earnings. However, thanks to the movie’s popularity on streaming services, the studio gave the green light to a sequel. It will be released on October 24.
The creators of Mortal Kombat II promise us even more action, brutal fights, and fatalities. Fans’ main expectations are linked to the appearance of Johnny Cage, one of the most popular characters in the game series. He is played by Karl Urban, known to most viewers from the series Sons of Anarchy. Thanks to his charisma, he may well raise the movie to a higher level than its predecessor.
