Every year, actors and filmmakers from around the world gather for the Cannes Film Festival, one of the year's most prestigious film events. The festival previews culturally significant, diverse, artistic, and emerging films, and a select few compete for the coveted top prize, the Palme d’Or.
The Cannes Film Festival recently announced its 2025 lineup, including projects from Wes Anderson, Richard Linklater, and Scarlett Johansson. If you've checked out the full list of movies featured at this year's festival and you're wondering which titles are among the year's most anticipated, we've got you covered with this guide! Here are 10 unmissable movies at Cannes 2025 that should be on every cinephile's radar.
The Phoenician Scheme
One of Cannes 2025’s most anticipated movies is The Phoenician Scheme, the new feature film by eight-time Academy Award nominee Wes Anderson. The Phoenician Scheme is a black comedy and family drama featuring an ensemble cast that includes Mia Threapleton, Benicio del Toro, Bryan Cranston, and Tom Hanks. It centers on Zsa-zsa Korda (del Toro), a father of 10 and the wealthiest man in the world, who has inexplicably chosen his only daughter, a nun (Threapleton), as his sole heir. The film was selected to compete for the top prize at Cannes, and the movie's trailers promise Wes Anderson’s distinctive style, vintage flair, and eccentric characters encased in an intriguing new story.
Highest 2 Lowest
Highest 2 Lowest, the latest collaboration between director Spike Lee and Denzel Washington, will premiere out of competition at Cannes 2025. Lee is the director behind the critically acclaimed Malcolm X, Do the Right Thing, and BlacKkKlansman. His latest film is an English-language remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 crime thriller High and Low. Kurosawa is one of the most influential filmmakers in cinema history, while Lee is one of the most recognizable directors of his generation with his bold and provocative film style. Needless to say, it will be quite intriguing to see Lee reimagining Kurosawa’s critically acclaimed work.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
The Cannes Film Festival will host the world premiere of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, although the film will not compete for any awards. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning marks the eighth installment in the Mission: Impossible series and is a direct sequel to Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. It sees the return of Tom Cruise as IMF agent Ethan Hunt, who is desperate to stop a powerful new technology from falling into the wrong hands. Since critics and audiences hailed Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One as one of the best movies in the franchise, anticipation is exceedingly high for the sequel.
Eleanor the Great
Eleanor the Great will have its world premiere at Cannes as part of the film festival’s Un Certain Regard section, highlighting innovative works and emerging filmmakers. The film marks actress Scarlett Johansson's feature directorial debut. It follows Eleanor (June Squibb), a 90-year-old woman who strikes up an unlikely friendship with a 19-year-old student. Last year, Squibb dazzled in the titular role of the dramedy Thelma, making it quite exciting to see her return in Eleanor the Great. The new film is especially intriguing to fans of Johnasson, who are bound to be curious about this latest career development.
Nouvelle Vague
Richard Linklater, the director behind Hit Man and Boyhood, will debut his new film, Nouvelle Vague, at Cannes. As its title suggests, the film is a tribute to French New Wave cinema. It tracks the making of one of the most influential examples of the New Wave, Breathless. Guillaume Marbeck stars as Breathless writer and director Jean-Luc Godard, while Zoey Duetch portrays Jean Seberg, Breathless’ lead star. Helmed by five-time Academy Award nominee Linklater and delving into the rich setting of the 1960s France film landscape, cinephiles won’t want to miss Nouvelle Vague.
Eddington
The Cannes Film Festival also selected Ari Aster’s new film, Eddington, to compete for the Palme d’Or. Eddington is a neo-Western black comedy with a stacked cast, including Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, and Austin Butler. It centers on an ambitious sheriff (Phoenix) in a small town in New Mexico. While Aster is best known for his work on horror and surrealist movies, including Beau is Afraid and Midsommar, the success of neo-Westerns like Yellowstone makes it exciting to see his foray into the genre with Eddington.
The Mastermind
Kelly Reichardt’s newest film, The Mastermind, is set to premiere and compete at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Reichardt is the director behind Certain Women and Showing Up. She’s best known for her minimalist style and focus on underrepresented groups in cinema. However, it seems Reichardt is returning to the heist genre, which she also tackled in First Cow, set in the 19th century. The Mastermind boasts a similarly audacious and ambitious plot about a man planning a heist during the Vietnam War and the women’s liberation movement.
The History of Sound
The Cannes Film Festival will also host the world premiere of The History of Sound, which will compete for the Palme d’Or. The History of Sound comes from film director and writer Oliver Hermanus, best known for his work on Beauty and the TV series Mary & George. In 2011, Cannes awarded Hermanus the Queer Palm for Beauty for its LGBTQ+ representation. His latest film, The History of Sound, may also be the in running for both the Palme d’Or and Queer Palm as it will be a gay romance featuring Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor, who travel to New England to record folk music.
Orwell: 2+2=5
The documentary, Orwell 2+2=5, will also debut at the Cannes Film Festival as part of its Cannes Premiere section, meaning it was eligible for competition but could not compete due to the limited number of spots. Orwell 2+2=5 comes from filmmaker Raoul Peck, well-known for tackling important historical, political, and societal themes in his works. As its title suggests, Peck’s latest documentary is a tribute to and exploration of the legacy of writer George Orwell. It will delve deep into his dystopian works, including the classic 1984, as well as explore the relevancy of Orwell’s book themes in modern society.
Splitsville
Splitsville is another Cannes Premiere selection at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Michael Angelo Covino directs, writes, and stars in the comedy alongside Dakota Johnson and Adria Arjona. Splitsville follows Carey (Kevin Marvin), who seeks advice from his friends, Paul (Covino) and Julie (Johnson), while navigating a divorce from his wife, Ashley (Arjona), and ends up entwined in the pair’s open relationship. Covino is no stranger to Cannes, bringing his buddy tragicomedy The Climb to the festival in 2019. Hence, there’s high anticipation for his latest comedy foray, which promises to be a treat for Johnson and Arjona fans.
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