We’ve entered the final quarter of 2025, and that means one thing: awards season is just around the corner. With the arrival of fall, the worlds of film and television grow more active, as the year’s most talked-about titles return to the spotlight, this time not only as cultural highlights but also as contenders in the race for nominations.
Looking back, 2025 has already been a rich year for screens big and small. Streaming platforms have offered plenty to enjoy, from Adolescence, The White Lotus, Dying for Sex, The Pitt, Severance, Andor, Daredevil: Born Again, and Dexter: Resurrection to The Studio and Alien: Earth.
On the big screen, it’s been equally exciting, a year that’s taken us on a journey across genres. Films like Sinners, The Ugly Stepsister, Weapons, Bring Her Back, 28 Years Later, F1: The Movie, Superman, Thunderbolts, Materialists, and The Life of Chuck have already secured their place among 2025’s best.
As we approach the end of the year, one question stands out: which literary adaptations deserve a spot on your must-watch list? Let’s take a closer look!
1. Frankenstein
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is one of the most enduring stories in the history of cinema, retold time and again, and never losing its power. A classic of Gothic literature and a cornerstone of popular culture, the novel carries the evocative subtitle “The Modern Prometheus,” a phrase that holds enormous significance.
Shelley, through this reference, opens the door to Greek mythology, drawing parallels with Prometheus and humanity’s creation. The novel reflects deeply on both the physical and spiritual transformation of humankind, exploring with striking clarity the dark and light sides of the human soul.
One of contemporary Mexican cinema’s most celebrated auteurs, Guillermo del Toro, now brings his long-awaited Frankenstein adaptation to life. Del Toro has been developing the project for years, and his fascination with monsters can be traced back to Shelley’s influence. His films have always carried echoes of Frankenstein, whether in their phantasmagoria, supernatural motifs, psychoanalytic undertones, or recurring father figures.
What also excites audiences is del Toro’s signature visual world: production design so immersive it feels like stepping into an aquarium of imagination. With a strong cast including Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, and Christoph Waltz, Frankenstein arrives on Netflix on November 7.
2. The Running Man
Edgar Wright is a filmmaker who loves to play with genres. Known for his sharp pop culture references and innovative storytelling style, the British director also has a knack for breaking conventions. After the Last Night in Soho, which starred Anya Taylor-Joy, Wright went quiet for a while, but now he’s making his comeback with The Running Man.
Originally published in 1982 under Stephen King’s pen name Richard Bachman, the novel is set in the year 2025. It follows Ben Richards, who takes part in a deadly reality show where contestants are hunted down for sport. The novel envisions a dystopian future in which television is humanity’s sole source of entertainment, serving not only as a thrilling narrative but also as a sharp critique of American culture.
Of course, The Running Man has been adapted for the screen before; Paul Michael Glaser’s 1987 film starred none other than action legend Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Wright, however, is known for his use of pastiche, rhythmic editing, and music-driven storytelling, which makes his take on the novel a major curiosity. With a cast that includes Glen Powell, Josh Brolin, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, and Katy O’Brian, this new Running Man is already shaping up to be one of the most talked-about releases of fall 2025.
3. The Housemaid
Bestselling American author Freida McFadden’s psychological thriller The Housemaid has been brought to the screen by Paul Feig. With its unflinching focus on gendered violence, abuse, and psychological terror, the novel sparked plenty of conversation, and the film looks set to do the same.
Rising star Sydney Sweeney, who first broke out in HBO’s hit series Euphoria, takes the lead role as a young woman who begins working as a housemaid for a wealthy couple, only to uncover what truly happens behind closed doors.
Joined by Amanda Seyfried, and with its focus on complex female leads, The Housemaid teases a dangerous, secret-filled game. Given Sweeney’s popularity and the book’s status as a million-copy bestseller, the film is poised to be one of the highlights of late 2025. The Housemaid hits theaters on December 19.
4. Regretting You
Directed by Josh Boone, Regretting You is adapted from Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel of the same name. Known for her young adult and new adult fiction, Hoover tells the story of 35-year-old Morgan and her 16-year-old daughter, Clara. Morgan became pregnant at a very young age and married Chris, Clara’s father, devoting herself for years to being both a good wife and a good mother.
But when Chris dies unexpectedly, both of their lives are shattered. Long-buried secrets about him begin to surface, pushing Morgan and Clara’s relationship onto a new and difficult path. Starring Allison Williams, Mckenna Grace, and Dave Franco, and written by Susan McMartin, Regretting You blends romance and drama in a way that’s expected to resonate strongly with audiences. The film opens in theaters on October 23.
5. The Lost Bus
Apple TV+’s The Lost Bus revisits the deadliest wildfire in California’s history: the 2018 Camp Fire. Adapted from Lizzie Johnson’s nonfiction book Paradise: One Town’s Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire, the film marks a return to the screen for Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey, who has been absent from both film and television for quite some time.
It also happens to be McConaughey’s second release of 2025, following The Rivals of Amziah King. In The Lost Bus, he plays bus driver Kevin McKay, who fights to save 23 children trapped in Butte County. Alongside him are America Ferrera, Yul Vazquez, and Ashlie Atkinson.
Directed by Paul Greengrass with a screenplay by Brad Ingelsby (best known as the creator of HBO’s acclaimed Mare of Easttown and, more recently, the series Task starring Mark Ruffalo and Tom Pelphrey), The Lost Bus brings together formidable talent on both sides of the camera. With McConaughey in the lead and Ingelsby’s reputation for gripping narratives, this is without doubt one of the essential films to watch in fall 2025.
This article by Orçun Onat Demiröz was featured in Episode Magazine’s MIPCOM 2025 issue.
