Even a few months into the year, there are quite a few exciting new films yet to be released. Read on and see which titles Flip Screen editor-in-chief Hayley Paskevich is most looking forward to, and be sure to check out staff writer Rebecca Rosén‘s list as well…

Americana (dir. Tony Tost)

Critics raved about this exciting revisionist Western starring Sydney Sweeney and Halsey back when it premiered at SXSW in 2023, but with no distributor at the time, it soon faded from conversation. The plot synopsis is fairly vague— set in South Dakota, the film involves its characters attempting to steal a valuable Native artifact known as the “Lakota Ghost Shirt”, which leads to violent tension and conflict within the town. However, Tost’s directorial debut, which also includes Paul Walter Hauser and Eric Dane in its cast, still has enough interest around it to generate excitement for its upcoming theatrical release. It was announced last summer that Lionsgate had obtained the international distribution rights, and Americana will now hit cinemas on 22 August.

Another Simple Favour (dir. Paul Feig)

Did there really need to be a sequel to A Simple Favour? The answer is arguably ‘no,’ since the stylish and twisty 2018 thriller works just fine as a standalone film. That said, having the opportunity to see leading ladies Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively reprise their respective roles as mommy vlogger Stephanie and her mysterious socialite friend Emily is enough to justify the existence of this movie. This time around, the action takes place on the Italian island of Capri as the two women reunite for Emily’s destination wedding. On top of some stunning location shots, the film is sure to feature even more of the killer fashion and shocking moments that defined the first one. While it’s a shame that Another Simple Favour won’t be released in cinemas, instead heading straight to Amazon Prime, at least it will be available to stream from 1 May.

Darkest Miriam (dir. Naomi Jaye)

Nominated for six Canadian Screen Awards, this film comes hot on the heels of lead actress Britt Lower’s captivating performance in the hit television series Severance. Based on Martha Baillie’s unconventionally structured novel The Incident Report, it tells the story of Miriam (Lower), a grieving librarian who logs the goings-on of her mostly uneventful days. All of a sudden something wildly unexpected happens to her, as Miriam finds herself in the middle of a mystery when she receives some alarming letters. Since Darkest Miriam is Lower’s first major film, it will be exciting to see what the talented star brings to the project. Following a limited North American release, the film is set to have its UK premiere at the 2025 Dundead Film Festival in Dundee on 8 May.

Death of a Unicorn (dir. Alex Scharfman)

“Poke around and find out” is the playful tagline of A24’s upcoming release Death of a Unicorn, which hits cinemas everywhere on 4 April. In this bizarre comedic horror, Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd take top billing as a father and daughter who set out on a road trip together. When they accidentally hit a unicorn—which possesses life-changing magical properties—they become targets of the mythical being’s violent kin. The film seems to promise a brutal but entertaining time, and its impressive cast is rounded out by Will Poulter, Téa Leoni, and William H. Grant. Early reviews for this one have been mixed but it seems like a fun popcorn flick that doesn’t take itself too seriously, with critics even drawing humorous comparisons to Jurassic Park.

Drop (dir. Christopher Landon)

A high-octane psychological thriller from the director of Happy Death Day and Freaky, this film is one of the year’s most unique offerings due to its creatively executed premise. Meghann Fahy stars as Violet, a woman who begins to receive terrifying messages on her phone from an anonymous masked assailant while out on a date. She is told that in order to save her family members, Violet will have to kill Henry (Brandon Sklenar), who is currently sitting across the table from her. There has been a cinematic trend in recent years with thrillers that implement modern technology as a key element of their plots, some utilizing this convention more effectively than others. Drop will be popping up in cinemas on 11 April, and it will be surely even more of a rush to experience on the big screen.

Freakier Friday (dir. Nisha Ganatra)

Talk about a blast from the past– over two decades later, Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis return for the sure-to-be-hilarious sequel to the 2003 body-swapping comedy Freaky Friday. This time around, Anna (Lohan) and her mother Tess (Curtis) find themselves in double the trouble, as they aren’t the only members of their family who experience a sudden switcheroo overnight. Nisha Ganatra–who co-wrote and directed the 2020 musical rom-com The High Note–has been tapped to take over the reins from Mark Waters, with Jordan Weiss penning the script. And while Freakier Friday was originally meant for a Disney+ release, it is now headed straight to cinemas on 8 August.

Honey Don’t! (dir. Ethan Coen)

Although not much has been shared about the plot of this film, the fact that it is the next instalment in Coen’s planned trilogy of “lesbian B movies” following last year’s Drive-Away Dolls is enough to generate significant interest. Said to be a detective comedy that involves investigating a Californian cult, Aubrey Plaza joins Margaret Qualley on the road this time, with Chris Evans also added to the cast. A definitive release date for Honey Don’t! hasn’t been announced yet, but expect it to make its way onto cinema screens sometime this May.

Psycho Therapy: The Shallow Tale of a Writer Who Decided to Write About a Serial Killer (dir. Tolga Karaçelik)

With perhaps the longest subtitle in recent memory, Turkish director Karaçelik’s first English feature is a dark comedy about retired serial killer Kollmick (Steve Buscemi), who, in a fateful turn of events, meets true crime writer Keane (John Magaro). Keane is in a long-suffering relationship with his wife Suzie (Britt Lower), and as he turns to Kollmick for help, things take a dark turn when the former murderer has to pretend to be their couples’ therapy counsellor. Lower co-produced the upcoming film along with Buscemi and Magaro, and she isn’t the only Severance actor featured in it, with her co-star Sydney Cole Alexander also making an appearance. After a limited release in America this week, Psycho Therapy is expected to be available on demand from 11 April.

The Life of Chuck (dir. Mike Flanagan)

After giving audiences some of the most memorable horror projects over the past several years, including Doctor Sleep and Netflix’s The Haunting duology, Flanagan’s latest effort is a notable departure from the genre. Based on a Stephen King novella, The Life of Chuck sees Tom Hiddleston step into the role of the title character, whose life story is told in reverse as it spans the time from his untimely death to his childhood. With one of the most star-studded casts this year– Mark Hamill, Karen Gillan, and Matthew Lillard, to name a few names–and the strength of Flanagan’s previous cinematic works, this film will undoubtedly generate some serious buzz. Having won the People’s Choice Award at last year’s TIFF, The Life of Chuck heads to UK cinemas several weeks after its North American wide release, so don’t miss it on the big screen 22 August.

Thunderbolts* (dir. Jake Schreir)

Assembling a ragtag group of anti-heroes, Thunderbolts* has basically marketed itself as the MCU’s answer to Suicide Squad. Several notable fan favourites from the Marvel universe return, including Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Red Guardian (David Harbour), and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), as they form part of a team brought together by the government to carry out dangerous missions. Interestingly enough, the film’s promotional campaign has capitalized on the production team’s involvement with A24 movies, as it is said to tonally be more in line with indie arthouse films than the typical superhero epic. And no, that asterisk isn’t a typo– it’s supposedly an important part of the title of this action-packed team-up, which hits cinemas here on 2 May.