What to see at the cinema during the 2025 Christmas holidays?

Amidst twinkling lights, gifts under the tree, and cozy evenings, Christmas 2025 is set to deliver another kind of magic: that of the big screen. As every year, cinemas become the ideal refuge for those seeking authentic emotions, shared laughter, and stories that inspire dreams. From animated adventures that enchant young and old to auteur dramas that touch the heart, passing through sparkling comedies, gripping thrillers, and spectacular family fantasies: the holiday season promises a rich calendar.

Here, then, is a selection of the most anticipated films to see at the cinema during the holidays, perfect for immersing yourself in the Christmas atmosphere… with a bag of popcorn and plenty of wonder in your eyes.

Christmas 2025, what to see at the cinema?

• For those who prefer an intense and action-packed film with great performers: The Smashing Machine
• For those who love great musical stories and the charm of fairy tales: Wicked – Part 2
• For those who want a touching and intimate human drama: Safe Journey, Marie
• For those who love mystery and refined plot twists: Wake Up Dead Man – Knives Out 3
• For those looking for a film to enjoy with the family: Zootopia 2
• For those who want strong emotions and a bit of a thrill: Five Nights at Freddy’s 2
• For those who don't give up on action and the charm of Japanese animation: Lupin the IIIrd – The Immortal Lineage
• For those seeking adventure and visual wonder: Avatar: Fire and Ash
• For those who love auteur cinema with tension and depth: Nuremberg
• For those who want an original and fun Christmas story: A Little Mouse Under the Tree
• For those who want to dream between history and music: Primavera
• For those who want to laugh, reflect, and be surprised by the new Zalone: Buen Camino

Movies at the cinema during the Christmas holidays

Don't know where to start? Here are some tips for choosing the right movie based on your holiday mood.

The Smashing Machine (from November 19, 2025), directed by Benny Safdie

Directed by Benny Safdie and produced by A24, The Smashing Machine tells the true story of Mark Kerr, an MMA champion whose career was marked as much by success in the ring as by addiction and personal struggles.

Dwayne Johnson stars as the protagonist, here engaged in a performance far from his usual action characters, while Emily Blunt plays Dawn, the partner who tries to support him in his journey of fall and rebirth.

The film presents itself as a physical and psychological drama, focusing on the conflict between strength and vulnerability and the human cost of sporting success in a context dominated by media pressure and self-destruction. Click here to read the review.

Wicked – Part 2 (from November 21, 2025), directed by Jon M. Chu

After the success of the first chapter, Jon M. Chu concludes his cinematic adaptation of the famous Broadway musical with Wicked – Part 2, subtitled For Good. The film picks up the story of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande), now opposing figures in the Land of Oz: one a symbol of rebellion, the other of adherence to the established order.

In this second part, the conflict between freedom and power takes on more dramatic tones, while Chu's direction aims for a balance between visual spectacle and emotional intensity. Iconic songs, impressive choreography, and a stellar cast contribute to building a finale that aims to close the narrative circle with coherence and great scenic impact. Click here to read the review.

Safe Journey, Marie (from November 20, 2025), directed by Enya Baroux

With Hélène Vincent, Pierre Lottin, and David Ayala, director Enya Baroux signs an intimate and family road movie that tackles the theme of farewell with tact and sensitivity.

The protagonist, Marie, an elderly woman marked by illness, embarks on a journey to Switzerland with her son and granddaughter, unaware of the true reason for their departure. Along the way, secrets, wounds, and moments of irony emerge, transforming the journey into a path of reconciliation and acceptance.

Between emotional realism and melancholic sweetness, Safe Journey, Marie explores the end of life not as a closure, but as a time of truth and rediscovery of affections.

Wake Up Dead Man - Knives Out 3 (from November 26 in cinemas, from December 12, 2025 on Netflix), directed by Rian Johnson

Detective Benoit Blanc, played by Daniel Craig, returns to the center stage in the third chapter of the saga conceived and directed by Rian Johnson. After the success of Knives Out and Glass Onion, the series moves towards darker and more introspective tones, exploring the boundary between mystery and spirituality.

The investigation revolves around a murder that shakes a religious community, led by the charismatic Monsignor Wicks, played by Josh Brolin. Alongside them, an ensemble cast that includes Glenn Close, Mila Kunis, and other prominent faces of international cinema.

With its usual blend of sharp irony, tension, and social criticism, Wake Up Dead Man promises a new intertwining of enigmas and moral ambiguities, consolidating the unmistakable style of its author.

Zootopia 2 (from November 26, 2025), directed by Byron Howard and Jared Bush

Nine years after the success of the first film, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde return to the big screen in a new chapter by Byron Howard and Jared Bush.

In the sequel, the two detectives from the Zootopia Police Department find themselves facing Gary De’Snake, an enigmatic snake whose appearance threatens the city's stability. The investigation soon turns into an adventure full of twists, irony, and musical moments with a strong visual impact.

With its usual blend of comedy, rhythm, and social reflection, Zootopia 2 aims to win back audiences of all ages, confirming the strength of its narrative universe and the vitality of the most beloved animal police duo. Click here to read the review.

Five Nights at Freddy's 2 (from December 4, 2025), directed by Emma Tammi

The horror saga inspired by Scott Cawthon's cult video game reopens the doors of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, confirming that the nightmare is never truly over.

Set one year after the events of the first chapter, the film follows Abby, a young woman who returns to the place that marked her childhood, inadvertently reactivating old secrets and unsettling presences. Click here to read the review.

Lupin the IIIrd - The Movie - The Immortal Lineage (from December 11, 2025), directed by Takeshi Koike

Director Takeshi Koike signs the last chapter of his universe dedicated to the legendary gentleman thief of Monkey Punch, with a return to 2D animation that recalls the classic charm of the saga. Set in a dark and stylized world, the film promises to explore the origins and destiny of Lupin III, intertwining action, melancholy, and a blood legacy that seems to defy death itself.

Avatar: Fire and Ash (from December 17, 2025), directed by James Cameron

The new chapter of James Cameron's saga brings audiences back to Pandora, pushing the boundaries of spectacular cinema even further. Set one year after The Way of Water, the film follows Jake Sully and Neytiri as they face a new threat: the Ash People, a Na’vi tribe born from fire and led by the warrior Varang, a symbol of a conflict that intertwines destruction and rebirth.

Between pain, revenge, and passion, Avatar: Fire and Ash explores the darker side of the universe created by Cameron, balancing visual power and emotional introspection. With its monumental direction and meticulous attention to technical execution, the film promises to be an epic reflection on the cycle of life, loss, and rebirth within one of the most iconic worlds of contemporary cinema. Click here to read our preview.

Nuremberg (from December 18, 2025), directed by James Vanderbilt

With James Vanderbilt at the helm, Nuremberg brings one of the most complex and symbolic moments of the twentieth century back to the big screen: the trial with which the Allies sought to bring justice to the victims of Nazism (here the true story).

The film follows the American army psychiatrist played by Rami Malek, tasked with understanding the mind of Hermann Göring, here portrayed by Russell Crowe, in a psychological confrontation that questions the very concept of guilt and rationality.

Through a sober and intense staging, Vanderbilt explores the human side behind the court of History, transforming the judicial drama into a reflection on moral responsibility and the abyss of the human soul. Click here to read the review.

A Little Mouse Under the Tree (from December 18, 2025), directed by Henrik Martin Dahlsbakken

Norwegian director Henrik Martin Dahlsbakken signs a Christmas-themed animated film that combines tenderness and irony. Set in a country house immersed in the holiday atmosphere, the story follows a family of mice busy with preparations for their perfect Christmas, suddenly threatened by the arrival of humans.

Through a refined visual style and a tone that mixes comedy, adventure, and fairy-tale spirit, A Little Mouse Under the Tree transforms the classic clash between small and large into a metaphor for coexistence and ingenuity, ideal for audiences of all ages.

Primavera (from December 25, 2025), directed by Damiano Michieletto

Inspired by Tiziano Scarpa's novel Stabat Mater, Primavera marks the return to cinematic direction for Damiano Michieletto, a leading figure in contemporary opera theater. Set in 18th-century Venice, the film tells the story of Cecilia (Tecla Insolia), a young violinist raised in the Ospedale della Pietà, an institution that welcomed orphans destined to become musicians of extraordinary talent.

Forced to perform behind a grate, invisible to the public, Cecilia lives an existence suspended between discipline and desire, until the arrival of the new master, Antonio Vivaldi (Michele Riondino), breaks the balance and ignites in her a deep thirst for freedom and identity.

Between baroque suggestions, restrained sensuality, and the emotional power of music, Primavera presents itself as a drama of atmosphere and introspection, where melody becomes the language of the soul and a promise of rebirth.

Buen Camino (from December 25), directed by Gennaro Nunziante

Checco Zalone collaborates again with Gennaro Nunziante in a comedy with a melancholic and spiritual flavor. Buen Camino follows a wealthy heir forced to embark on the famous Camino de Santiago to find his daughter and, above all, himself. Zalone signs a return with a more mature and human tone.