Fantastic Fest 2025 Film Line-Up Unveiled
The fall film festival season is right around the corner and Fantastic Fest is hitting strides with some heavy hitters! Fantastic Fest 2025, which will take place at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar in Texas, will have 45 World Premieres, 15 International and North American Premieres, and 13 U.S. Premieres. The festival will run from Thursday, September 18, to Sunday, September 25.
“Fantastic Fest is turning 20, and we’re turning the fest into an 8 day celebration of cinematic excellence and excess,” says Festival Director Lisa Dreyer. “We’re bringing our audience an unprecedented number of world premieres this year, from highly anticipated titles to brand new discoveries, and supporting independent filmmakers even further with an exciting new pitch competition. The fest has grown immensely over the years, and we are proud to find new impactful ways to champion genre cinema and bring our audience the best of the best.”
Fantastic Fest 2025 will open with Paramount Pictures’ Primate from Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City director Johannes Roberts and starring Johnny Sequoyah and Oscar winner Troy Kotsur. Its concept sees a group of friends’ tropical vacation turn into a terrifying, primal tale of horror and survival. Primate releases in theaters on January 9, 2026.
Its tail end will see the premiere of Independent Film Company and Shudder’s Whistle from The Nun director Corin Hardy. Its concept sees a group of high-school students discovering an ancient Aztec death whistle that unleashes a deadly curse upon their town.
Check out our most anticipated premieres for Fantastic Fest 2025 down below!
1. Black Phone 2 (Universal Pictures)
From Scott Derrickson and starring Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, and Ethan Hawke, the sequel to Black Phone sees Finn trying to live a normal life despite the horrendous events four years ago. However, as Gwen begins to receive calls in her dreams from the black phone and experience disturbing visions, her determination to solve the mystery will lead her and Finn to a snowed-in winter camp and a shattering discovery about the Grabber and their own family’s history.
2. Shelby Oaks (Neon)
From YouTuber-turned-director Chris Stuckmann, a woman’s (Camille Sullivan) obsessive search for her missing sister leads her into a terrifying mystery at the hands of an unknown evil.
3. The Strangers – Chapter 2 (Lionsgate)
The Strangers are back – more brutal and relentless than ever. When they learn that one of their victims, Maya (Madelaine Petsch), is still alive, they return to finish what they’ve started. With nowhere to run and no one to trust, Maya must survive another horrific chapter of terror as The Strangers – driven by a senseless, unceasing purpose – pursue her, more than willing to kill anyone who stands in their way.
4. If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (A24)
With her life crashing down around her, Linda (Rose Byrne) attempts to navigate her child’s mysterious illness, her absent husband, a missing person, and an increasingly hostile relationship with her therapist. Starring Rose Byrne, Conan O’Brien, Danielle Macdonald, with Christian Slater and A$AP Rocky.
5. Sisu: Road to Revenge (Sony Pictures)
A wall-to-wall cinematic action event, a sequel to the original sleeper hit SISU. Returning to the house where his family was brutally murdered during the war, “the man who refuses to die” (Jorma Tommila) dismantles it, loads it on a truck, and is determined to rebuild it somewhere safe in their honor. When the Red Army commander who killed his family (Stephen Lang from Don’t Breathe) comes back hellbent on finishing the job, a relentless, eye-popping cross-country chase ensues – a fight to the death, full of clever, unbelievable action set pieces.
6. V/H/S/HALLOWEEN
A collection of Halloween-themed videotapes unleashes a series of twisted, blood-soaked tales, turning trick-or-treat into a struggle for survival. Shorts directed by Bryan M. Ferguson, Casper Kelly, Micheline Pitt-Norman & R.H. Norman, Alex Ross Perry, Paco Plaza, Anna Zlokovic.
7. Whistle
A group of high-school students discover an ancient Aztec death whistle that unleashes a deadly curse upon their town. As the teens are hunted down one by one to meet their deaths in spectacularly gruesome ways, it’s a race against time to discover how to stop the demonic force before it’s too late. From director Corin Hardy and starring Dafne Keen, Nick Frost, Sophie Nelisse, Michelle Fairley, and Ali Skovbye.
8. Haunted Heist
Four dysfunctional ex-friends reunite at a shady Airbnb—only to learn one of them dragged the others there to help steal a hidden antique. Too bad the place is haunted by racist ghosts. From director Lil Rel Howery making his directorial debut. Howery stars alongside Tiffany Haddish, Karlous Miller, and Andrew Bachelor.
9. The Creep Tapes Season 2
Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice, writers and executive producers of the fan favorite CREEP franchise, are back for an exclusive first look at two episodes from the series’ highly anticipated second season, which will continue to unravel the mind of this secluded serial killer (Duplass) who lures videographers into his world with the promise of a paid job documenting his life. Unfortunately, as the tape rolls, the killer’s questionable intentions surface with his increasingly odd behavior and the victims will learn they may have made a deadly mistake.
10. Obsession
A desperate wish for love goes terribly wrong in this horrific cautionary tale from Director Curry Barker. Starring Michael Johnston and Inde Navarrette.
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Christopher Gallardo is a freelance entertainment writer and critic. While not running The Reel Roller, Chris can be found writing reviews and breakdowns on all things films and TV. Outside of entertainment writing, he’s currently taking classes for a Bachelor’s of Science with a minor in Digital Media & Journalism. Plus, he loves Percy Jackson, animated films and shows, and Fallout! Follow Christopher on Instagram & X.