Some Big Horror Sequels Are Coming in 2025

As a die-hard movie enthusiast who has spent countless nights huddled in cinemas, I must say that the upcoming lineup of sequels and reboots is truly exciting! From the gripping tension of “28 Years Later” to the gruesome twists of “Saw XI”, it seems as though the next few years are shaping up to be a thrilling rollercoaster ride for fans like myself.

Over the years, creating follow-ups, remakes, and further installments of film series has been a common strategy in Hollywood, and it seems they have no plans to abandon this trend soon. Despite requests from viewers for fresh, standalone stories, sequels still generate enough revenue to persuade studios to keep producing them.

The horror genre is unique in that horror movies tend to be more affordable to produce than films from other genres. Unfortunately, many sequels fall short due to being unnecessary or poorly executed, but when executed effectively, they can be exceptional. Examples of successful sequels include “Evil Dead Rise”, “Pearl”, “Scream 2”, and “A Quiet Place Part II” which have further developed their respective stories.

As we move into the new year, several terrifying sequels of popular horror movies are scheduled to hit theaters, promising an exciting experience for horror enthusiasts. Famous franchises like Saw and eagerly awaited follow-ups to films such as 28 Days Later make 2025 a year filled with chilling entertainment for horror aficionados. Here’s a list of 9 horror sequels that will certainly resurrect chaos in 2025.

‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’

In the widely known video game titled “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” we follow a character named Mike (played by Josh Hutcherson), who works as an overnight security guard at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria – a pizzeria reminiscent of Chuck E. Cheese in its rundown state. Initially, the job appears mundane and straightforward, but Mike soon discovers that there’s something eerie about the animatronics. As darkness falls, these mechanical characters spring to life, causing chaos within the pizzeria.

A Faithful Video Game Adaptation

The eagerly anticipated follow-up to the beloved video game adaptation is scheduled for release towards the end of 2025’s holiday season. At least four actors are set to reprise their roles, including Hutcherson, Matthew Lillard, Elizabeth Lail, and Piper Rubio. While many plot specifics remain under wraps, Blumhouse unveiled the first official poster in October. The Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 poster displays a large “2” beside an animatronic’s face partially concealed by a curtain. Devoted followers of the game have identified the character as Toy Freddy, a significant figure also introduced in the second installment of the FNAF series.

‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’

In the latter half of the ’90s, one horror film that followed closely in the footsteps of Scream was none other than the chilling thriller, I Know What You Did Last Summer. Featuring a lineup of popular ’90s heartthrobs and it-girls, this movie unfolds in a small coastal town in North Carolina. Here, four high school seniors find themselves entangled in a tragic event when they hit a pedestrian by accident and choose to conceal the crime. A year later, during their summer break, the group is haunted by an individual armed with a hook as he seeks retribution for the incident, terrorizing them for their past actions.

A Hyped-Up Legacy Sequel

Although the film produced two rather disappointing sequels and a TV show in 2021, there’s genuine anticipation for the upcoming legacy sequel carrying the same name set to release in cinemas in 2025. It’s been confirmed that Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. will re-emerge in their roles, along with a fresh crop of young talents. A brief outline has been unveiled, suggesting that the movie will stick to the original storyline, featuring a killer targeting a group of young friends who were involved in a heinous event from their past.

‘M3GAN 2.0’

2023 saw the unexpected success of the film M3GAN, produced by Blumhouse. In this sci-fi drama, Alison Brie plays Gemma, a robotics engineer who takes care of her niece Cady (Violet McGraw) after she becomes an orphan. Struggling with parenthood, Gemma introduces Cady to M3GAN (Amie Donald), an AI robot designed to be her friend and companion. However, as M3GAN begins to display unsettling behavior, Gemma is forced to confront the repercussions of her creation.

Technological Mayhem

M3GAN 2.0 – The Upcoming Summer Release

‘The Black Phone 2’

“The Black Phone” by Scott Derrickson

A Thrilling Psychological Horror

As a die-hard movie enthusiast, I can’t contain my excitement for “The Black Phone 2” which is slated for release next October. However, details about the plot are scarce at the moment. What we do know is that Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, and Jeremy Davies will be returning to their roles. Moreover, both Scott Derrickson and Jason Blum will be directing and producing respectively. Given that Hawke is confirmed for a return, it’s reasonable to anticipate that The Grabber will cause chaos in the suburbs once more, and Finney and Gwen (played by McGraw) might find themselves in another battle to stop him.

‘Insidious: Chapter 6’

In 2023, the latest addition to the Insidious series was released, titled Insidious: The Red Door. Unlike the third and fourth films, this one centered once again on the Lambert family, with a focus on Josh (Patrick Wilson) and his son Dalton (Ty Simpkins). Their goal in this installment is to free themselves from The Further for good. The series revolves around an alternate dream dimension called The Further, which is inhabited by spirits and dreamwalkers. If a living person gets trapped there with the spirits and the dreadful Red-Faced Demon, someone else needs to rescue them before it’s too late.

A Successful Installment Necessitated Another Sequel

Title “The Red Door” concludes as Josh and Dalton recall their past experiences in The Further, where Dalton was young, and they manage to break free once more. In the post-credits, the light above the crimson door, a portal into The Further within their minds, flickers back on, hinting that the Lambert family still has ties to the spiritual dream world. The film “Insidious: Chapter 6” is set for release on August 29th of the following summer.

Similar to several sequels on this list, details about the plot of the upcoming film are yet to be disclosed. However, it is confirmed that it will continue the main storyline of the franchise and will be distinct from the standalone prequel, titled “Thread: An Insidious Tale“, which currently doesn’t have a set release date.

‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’

In 2013, James Wan’s second significant horror series reached new heights with the film titled The Conjuring. Even today, it is frequently cited as one of the scariest movies ever made. This movie chronicles the true events surrounding Ed and Lorraine Warren, portrayed by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, who are well-known paranormal investigators. One of their most notorious cases serves as the film’s narrative.

In the first movie, spooky supernatural happenings unfolded at a farmhouse in Rhode Island back in 1971. The second installment shifted focus to the Warrens, who were assisting a lone mother in London battling another wave of supernatural events in her home. The third film adopted a storyline reminiscent of The Exorcism of Emily Rose, with its setting being a courtroom.

A Fan-Favorite Supernatural Horror Series

The movie titled “The Conjuring: Last Rites” is presently in the post-production phase, scheduled for release on September 5th of the coming year. A brief summary has been shared, revealing that the Warrens will tackle a final chilling case to confront enigmatic entities. At this point, only Wilson and Farmiga have been officially announced as part of the sequel’s cast. Despite the occasional weaker additions in the Conjuring Universe, the main Conjuring series continues to be a beloved choice among fans, promising to enthrall horror enthusiasts once more as they eagerly await the Warrens to confront another spine-tingling supernatural mystery on the big screen.

‘Saw XI’

The acclaimed 2004 horror movie “Saw,” directed by James Wan and written by Leigh Whannell, has spawned an enduring franchise spanning two decades. The original story revolved around the infamous serial killer John Kramer, also known as the Jigsaw Killer, who kept his victims captive in unknown locations and compelled them to play brutal games to escape from even more gruesome death traps.

Although each movie in the series doesn’t always show John Kramer as the creator of the lethal games, they consistently adhere to a pattern where ethically questionable characters find themselves in intricate and dangerous escape situations due to the devious trap setups.

An Inventive Franchise With a Dedicated Following

Enthusiasts of the “Saw” series keep turning up at cinemas whenever a fresh chapter debuts, regardless of critical reception. The latest installment, number ten, raked in over $125 million globally, ensuring that the next one, “Saw XI”, is practically guaranteed. “Saw X” unfolds between the original “Saw” and its sequel, “Saw II”. It’s rumored that “Saw XI” will follow immediately after the events of “Saw X”, which happens just weeks after the first movie. This suggests that “Saw XI” might be set at the start of the second film, though specifics have yet to be disclosed.

‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’

As a dedicated cinephile, I can tell you that the original “Final Destination” hit theaters in 2000 and has since given birth to six thrilling sequels, with the sixth one, “Final Destination: Bloodlines,” set to premiere soon. The series follows a central character who receives a premonition of their demise, enabling them to dodge the fatal incident and save others along the way. However, each time a character alters Death’s plan, the survivors meet their end in a grisly manner that surpasses the original death design.

An Intriguing Reimagining of the Franchise

In March 2020, it was disclosed that the sixth film will follow the same storyline as the first five movies, but with a fresh take on the franchise. As per IMDb, no official plot summary has been released yet. However, producer Craig Perry hinted at the possibility of centering the movie around emergency responders such as EMTs, firefighters, and police officers who confront death daily in their line of duty. Perry expressed that it would be intriguing to explore a Final Destination film focusing on these individuals, placing them in a harrowing scenario where they must grapple with their own mortality.

’28 Years Later’

Under the direction of Danny Boyle and penned by Alex Garland, the gripping film titled “28 Days Later” is often hailed as one of the greatest zombie movies ever made. Starring a captivating performance from Cillian Murphy, this movie chronicles the tale of an individual who emerges from a coma in an abandoned London, 28 days following the onset of the zombie apocalypse. Notably, this film introduces “Infected” creatures that move swiftly, and it revolutionized the genre by developing relatable characters and building a powerful emotional narrative around its storyline.

The Ultimate Zombie Trilogy

Five years after its predecessor, a strong follow-up titled “28 Weeks Later” hit the screens. This time, the U.S. Army entered Great Britain to establish a safe zone in London for survivors to rebuild and restart their lives. However, as one might expect, things didn’t go smoothly.

The eagerly-awaited third installation in the series, titled “28 Years Later,” is due for release on June 20th, 2025. Both Garland and Boyle will return to pen and direct the film respectively, with Murphy reprising his role as well, adding to the excitement surrounding the movie. Joining the cast are newcomers Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, and Erin Kellyman. Unfortunately, specifics about the plot for this third installment remain a secret. However, fans can look forward to another exceptional zombie film featuring outstanding performances by Cillian Murphy.

2024-12-06 04:02