Streaming Wars is a weekly opinion column by IGN’s Streaming Editor, Amelia Emberwing. Check out the last entry: Is Wicked Rushing Its Home Release?

It’s the last day of 2024 and, like most, I’m feeling all of the introspection that comes along with the closing of a chapter. There are, of course, countless reasons to be anxious about the next one but, for now, I’m choosing reflection. And, of course, putting off all of the food prep I need to do for tonight’s New Year’s Eve festivities.

Putting together my annual Top 10s — a practice most film and television critics do out of habit at this point — was difficult this year, particularly for television. Both sides of the industry have been in flux for some time, but television feels closer to a snapping point than ever. As storytellers get pushed farther and farther from the actual format, we’re seeing more and more “8-hour movies”. Readers of this column have long known my feelings on the misguided practice, but the issues facing television right now feel bigger than that. Still, I am choosing optimism. Which is, to be frank, quite out of character for me.

That optimism is due to a couple of things. Most prominently, the industry wasn’t going to rebound overnight after the strikes. I believe we will continue to see positive changes over the next few years, even if we all wish that things would happen faster. That being said, the bulk of my optimism is actually backed by data. Television will eventually snap back to being television again because, consistently, that is what viewers go back to.

Go take a look at the Nielsen charts, Samba TV, or any other ratings tracker, and you’ll see the same things over and over: Streaming originals see immediate pops, but it’s long-form legacy shows that continue to top the charts month after month. That isn’t because streaming shows are of a lesser on-screen quality — it’s because they’re being made differently. Viewers turn to television because they want to fall in love with characters. Eight episodes every 2-3 years? It just doesn’t cut it.

But I’m not really saying anything I haven’t said before. And, like always, all of those critiques and frustrations come with the caveat that there are still plenty of shows that I quite enjoy, even if streamers do need to get their houses in order when it comes to television production. With that in mind, here are my Top 10 shows of 2024.

10. The Acolyte

9. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

8. Fallout

7. Knuckles

6. Agatha All Along

5. The Legend of Vox Machina

4. Hazbin Hotel

3. Shrinking

2. Interview with the Vampire

1. Shogun

Some of those require no explanation. Shogun and Interview with the Vampire are unquestionably the most remarkable shows of the year, featuring incredible ensembles, stunning visuals, and impeccable stories. Knuckles made me belly laugh, as did Shrinking (though with a side of ugly crying). I’ve long been an advocate of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and will continue to be until they make a season that I don’t care for. Meanwhile, The Acolyte had its issues but was new, refreshing, and engaging enough that I simply didn’t care.

What all of these shows have in common is that despite the fact that they fall into modern-day television pitfalls — sans Shogun, which operated exactly as it should have as a limited series (before getting shifted to an ongoing one) — they all did something unique or had a spark about them that was enough to make them memorable. Additionally, there’s only one show that continued to resonate with me by the end of the year that didn’t drop weekly (Knuckles).

Film, as mentioned, is a different story. While the format is currently experiencing its own issues — the mid-budget theatrical film seems to be close to extinction, release windows are short or muddled, bloated budgets, etc. — it doesn’t seem to be as close to its proverbial crossroads as television from where I’m sitting.

What I will say, though, is that 2024 ended up being a year of surprises for me. First, my Top 10 films:

10. Oddity

9. Abigail

8. A Quiet Place: Day One

7. The First Omen

6. Rebel Ridge

5. The Wild Robot

4. Twisters

3. Kill

2. Wicked

1. Sing Sing

Let me be clear: no one was meaner about the idea of The First Omen than me. The second that film was announced I relentlessly bullied it, even as a frequent lover of prequels. In my mind, there was simply no way that an Omen prequel was going to be able to justify its existence. Then along comes writer/director Arkasha Stevenson with one of the most feminist films of the year, knocking my socks all the way off.

Similarly, I wasn’t sure that A Quiet Place: Day One was going to have it. I think Lupita Nyong’o can do no wrong as a performer, but I wasn’t sure if that Joseph Quinn fella had the juice or if he was just trendy casting due to his popularity after playing Eddie Munson on Stranger Things. Mea culpa, Mr. Quinn, you absolutely have the juice.

Abigail and Twisters earned their spots by being solid flicks that also made me laugh a lot, Rebel Ridge wowed me in every way, and Wicked, of course, blew me away. The performances, the direction, the choreography; everything about it was a joy.

It was Sing Sing that won out for top spot this year, though. I could write thousands of words about what is remarkable about this film, from the performances of the former inmates to Colman Domingo’s unshakable presence. But I want anyone who hasn’t seen it yet to go in as blind as I did, so I will leave you with this: Sing Sing leveled me. I cannot recommend enough that you allow it to do the same to you.

Before I go, I also need to sing the praises of Kill, an absolute triumph of an Indian film that was unfortunately buried at the U.S. box office after Lionsgate paid out the ass for distribution rights. Three days before the film’s release in July, the production company announced that they would be developing an English remake of the film, destroying any chances the movie had when it comes to casual viewers spooked by subtitles. But, as someone who thinks “American cinema could never” literally every time she watches an Indian film, let me assure you that nothing Lionsgate produces will be half as remarkable as Nikhil Nagesh Bhat’s absolute banger of an action flick. And yes, Lionsgate produces the John Wick franchise. Currently, Kill is only available for rental or digital purchase online (or DVD/blu, which I highly recommend). It is worth your hard-earned cash.

And with that, my watch has ended. I’ll be back a few weeks into January but, in the meantime, thank you so much to everyone who continues to take the time to read this column. It challenges me in new ways about once a quarter (did you know that a weekly column is actually kinda hard to maintain?) and I find myself quite proud of it. I’m so grateful to everyone who takes the time to engage thoughtfully, and I hope you all have a safe New Year.

We are only hours away from 2025, so now is the time to score some last-minute holiday deals. Here are the best deals for Tuesday, December 31.

Reynatis Deluxe Edition for $40.80

If you can believe it, we've already reached the end of 2024, and that means it's the perfect time to look forward to the best anime that next year has to offer. Whether you're excited for a returning series like Solo Leveling or the final season of Doctor Stone or desperate for a new, highly-anticipated adaptation like Sakamoto Days or Witch Hat Atelier, there's a ton to be excited about. And that's not even including the fact that we're getting a new series from the creator of Cowboy Bebop on Adult Swim.

There's something for everyone, so let's dig into our most anticipated anime of 2025, including some already announced titles that we're hoping might end up releasing in 2025.

Lazarus

Shinichiro Watanabe lovers rejoice! Yes, the legendary creator behind Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Carol & Tuesday, and Space Dandy is back with what's sure to be another stylistic banger, this time coming directly to the iconic Adult Swim Toonami block and a day later on Hulu. While we don't know exactly when the series will debut, we know it should be here in 2025 no matter what – and we couldn't be more excited.

As the title hints, this series centers on the hunt for a vaccine after a drug to extend people's lives is revealed years later to be a death sentence. To find a cure, our heroes must hunt down the man who created the miracle drug and fix things before millions of people die.

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2

Sometimes an unexpected anime sneaks up on the fandom and gains attention through word of mouth and excitement. In the 2023-2024 season that was definitely The Apothecary Diaries, which has become a firm favorite since debuting. With a great hook — a young apothecary's daughter is kidnapped and taken to the royal palace — the show soon becomes a perfect mix of court intrigue and detective adventure as our young hero learns to survive in her new surroundings. With the second season coming soon, we can't wait to reenter this dramatic and fantastic world filled with complex women, scheming men, and brightly intelligent antagonists.

Sakamoto Days

If you're a fan of The Way of the Househusband, then this delightful slice of life/crime mashup is likely already on your radar. Based on the manga by Yuto Suzuki, it follows an old man named Sakamoto. He was once a feared hitman, but retired after falling in love and having kids, becoming a chubby old convenience store owner. However, when his past starts to impact his idyllic life, he has to use his very particular set of skills to protect those he loves. From what we've seen of the trailer, this is going to be lush, hilarious, and action-packed, with plenty of delicious anime food sequences to feed your eyeballs and soul. Basically, a perfect way to start the New Year.

Solo Leveling Season 2 (Arise from the Shadow)

The first season of the hugely successful adaptation of the South Korean portal fantasy web novel garnered fans across the world, so it probably shouldn't be surprising that Solo Leveling Season 2 is headed our way sooner rather than later. After Sung Jinwoo is chosen by the mysterious System, he becomes the only hunter in his monster-filled world who can level up his powers — hence the name — and so begins the story of Solo Leveling. The first season was a massive hit, inspiring not only a second season but also a webtoon spinoff, a movie, and a game. When this follow-up hits in early 2025 it's going to be interesting to see how the series evolves with its supernatural main character and whether it continues to grow its audiences to even greater heights.

Dr. Stone Final Season (Science Future) (Jan 2025)

The fourth and final season of Doctor Stone will be hitting screens early next year and while fans were originally worried that one season wouldn't be enough to cover the end of the manga, the reveal that the fourth season would be three parts instead of two – with almost 40 episodes to tie up the story – has helped to allay those fears. If you're not yet a fan, Dr Stone is set in a future where all humans were petrified for thousands of years until our teenage hero Senku Ishigami is revived and commits himself to finding a cure. Soon he realizes how to revive other petrified humans, setting himself and his eclectic allies on a wild adventure to save the world and discover what happened to petrify the globe.

I May Be a Guild Receptionist, But I'll Solo Any Boss to Clock Out on Time

Based on the light novel series — published in English by Yen Press alongside its manga adaptation as well — this extraordinarily long title has cultivated a fervent fanbase. Alina Clover is the overworked and wildly relatable protagonist who's trying to keep her work life at work and not have it cannibalize her time away from the front desk of the adventurers' guild. The city of Ioffle isn't prepared for this adventurer-who-isn't-an-adventurer and her war hammer as she attacks her overtime woes in such a fierce manner. The show's Japanese broadcast begins on January 10, 2025 and it looks like the English sub shouldn't drop too far behind.

Witch Hat Atelier

It's hard to put into words just how highly anticipated the animated adaptation of Kamome Shirahama's smash hit manga is. Finding a huge audience outside of just the anime and manga fandom, this gorgeously illustrated series tells the story of a young girl, Coco, who wants nothing more than to become a witch. After a chance meeting at her mother's tailoring shop with Quifery, one of the rare magic users in her world, Coco is swept into an entirely new life at the titular atelier. Shirahama's gorgeous art style seems to have been brought to life perfectly, judging by what we've seen from trailers so far, and it looks like this cozy, magical, and utterly fantastic manga series has the potential to be one of 2025's biggest anime hits.

Gachiakuta (2025)

Kei Urana delivered a modern classic with her manga Gachiakuta, a twisted take on the classic class-war trope that feels akin to a modern day Battle Angel Alita mixed with the Count of Monte Cristo. When Rudo's foster father is murdered, he finds himself accused of the killing and thrown out of his day to day life surviving in the Sphere — where the descendants of criminals live as an underclass — into the deadly landscape known as The Pit, a stinking landscape of infinite rubbish filled with deadly trash monsters. This is easily one of the most anticipated anime of the year as fans wait to see Rudo's world and his quest for revenge brought to life by Bones and director Fumihiko Suganuma. The series will also feature character designs by Tokyo Mew Mew's Satoshi Ishino, who will act as the lead animator on the project.

Omniscient Reader (Hopefully 2025)

In the dynamic South Korean web novel by Sing Shong that this anime is based on, a young man becomes embroiled in the end of the world after being the sole reader of… a web novel that seems to be predicting the very apocalypse he has to now survive! This is the kind of meta commentary that we love at IGN, and the novellas have become a fan favorite since they debuted in 2018. While we're not 100 percent sure that we'll see Omniscient Reader next year, we know it is currently in production. So fingers crossed that we'll get to see the anime adaptation at some point in 2025.

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2 (Hopefully 2025)

If you're looking for a delightful campaign fantasy, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better one from the last few years than Frieren: Beyond Journey's End. This unexpectedly existential series centers on an elven mage who decides to seek out the path to restoring her past adventuring party after realizing that she never truly got to know them while they were still alive. Exploring the notions of grief, growth, and of course friendship, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End is an endlessly entertaining and thought-provoking adventure, and with original animation studio Madhouse signed on for Season 2 it's going to look just as beautiful as the first season did.

Which anime are you most looking forward to in 2025? Let’s discuss in the comments!

If 2024 felt like a slightly off year for movies, you’re not alone – between the Hollywood strikes impacting release dates, audiences gravitating towards streaming rather than actual movie theaters, and the so-called superhero fatigue that has affected even the MCU, it’s safe to say that movie fans are looking forward to a better 2025.

And that’s where we come in with our preview of the biggest movies that we’re looking forward to in the new year. There’s the big-screen debut of James Gunn’s new DC Universe in Superman, the return of not one but two classic Universal monsters, a new sci-fi tale courtesy of Parasite director Bong Joon-ho, new works from the likes of Paul Thomas Anderson, Steven Soderbergh, and Edgar Wright, and, yes, the return of the MCU to hopefully full swing with three new movies. Safe to say, we’ve got high hopes for the next 12 months.

Here are the biggest movies coming in 2025…

Wolf Man

Date: Jan. 17

Director Leigh Whannell nailed his Universal Monster redo The Invisible Man in 2020, and now he’s got a Wolf Man take coming (with Blumhouse producing). Christopher Abbott (Poor Things) stars as a family man who undergoes some, um, changes while trapped in a cabin in the woods with his wife (Ozark’s Julia Garner) and daughter (Matilda Firth). Based on The Invisible Man and what we’ve seen of Wolf Man so far, Whannell seems to understand that the best monster movies are the ones that are really about, well, the monster that lurks inside us.

Star Trek: Section 31 (Paramount+)

Date: Jan. 24

Michelle Yeoh’s character from Star Trek: Discovery has long been in the running to get a spin-off, and it’s finally here in the form of the first Star Trek TV movie ever made. Section 31 sees Yeoh’s Philippa Georgiou teaming up with Starfleet’s top-secret division that handles the dirty jobs that those fancy-pants Federation types like to avoid. It would be great if this film works out and leads to a series of Trek movies that go straight to Paramount+, allowing for the exploration of the more obscure corners of Gene Roddenberry’s universe that a feature film wouldn’t typically permit.

The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep (Netflix)

Date: Feb. 11

Netflix's Witcher franchise continues with another animated movie, Sirens of the Deep, following 2021's Nightmare of the Wolf, this time featuring the voice of Doug Cockle as Geralt of Rivia. With Henry Cavill no longer playing the character in the live-action series, Cockle returns to the role here, having previously voiced Geralt for the video games. Meanwhile, Joey Batey and Anya Chalotra reprise their roles from the show as Jaskier and Yennefer, respectively. Based on the short story “A Little Sacrifice” from The Witcher author Andrzej Sapkowski’s Sword of Destiny, the film sees Geralt pulled into a struggle between humans and merpeople. Sure hope the water doesn’t mess up his hair.

Captain America: Brave New World

Date: Feb. 14

Captain America: Brave New World, the 35th film in the MCU, finally puts the new Captain America, Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson, front and center on the big screen, but he’s not alone. Joining him are Danny Ramirez, back from his small role in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier as Joaquin Torres, a.k.a. the new Falcon, Shira Haas as former Black Widow Ruth Bat-Seraph, Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley, also returning from TFATWS, and Giancarlo Esposito as Marvel villain Sidewinder. And then there’s Harrison Ford, making his Marvel debut as “Thunderbolt” Ross (replacing the late William Hurt in the role). Ross, according to the trailers, is also now president of the United States and the Red Hulk as well, because yeah, this is also kind of a Hulk sequel it seems, with Liv Tyler and Tim Blake Nelson back as Betty Ross and the Leader, respectively (both last seen in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk).

Paddington in Peru

Date: Feb. 14 (US)

This third Paddington movie was released in the UK in November of 2024, but it’s coming to the US and other territories in January of 2025. It's been seven years since Paddington 2, and the previous film's director, Paul King, was busy making Wonka with Timothée Chalamet, so new helmer Dougal Wilson stepped in for his feature debut. In this installment, Paddington and the Brown family do indeed visit Peru, though Emily Mortimer takes over as Mrs. Brown, replacing Sally Hawkins. Ben Whishaw is back as the voice of Paddington, as is Hugh Bonneville as Henry Brown. Upon its UK release, IGN’s Matt Purslow gave the film a 7 out of 10, saying “It’s not as delicious as its practically perfect predecessors, but Paddington in Peru preserves the series’ sweet-natured fun.”

The Monkey

Date: Feb. 21

Based on the 1980 Stephen King short story of the same name, The Monkey is the next film from Longlegs writer-director Osgood Perkins. The orginal story deals with a cursed toy monkey that causes various deaths, and it looks like the movie is sticking to that broad outline. The trailer’s VO tells us of “a beast not from this Earth” which smites “the ones who deserved it, the ones who didn’t, and everyone in between” while scenes of gruesome/hilarious (?) horror are teased onscreen. Theo James stars along with Tatiana Maslany and Elijah Wood, while James Wan is one of the film’s producers.

The Legend of Ochi

Date: Feb. 28

This fantasy from powerhouse arthouse (is that an oxymoron?) A24 stars Helena Zengel as the teenage Yuri, a girl who lives on a “small island in the Black Sea.” She and other children, including Stranger Things' Finn Wolfhard (who’s actually old enough to drink IRL now), find themselves on a journey in search of the fearsome creatures of the title – the Ochi. Except when Yuri finds one, it's the cutest ol' thing you ever did see. And so her mission of rebellion, and protection, begins in what looks to be a visually fantastic film.

Sinners

Date: March 7

Frequent creative partners Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan are back at it with the horror film Sinners, starring Jordan as twin brothers who return to their hometown, according to studio Warner Bros., “only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.” Hailee Steinfeld and Jack O’Connell (Ferrari) also star, with Coogler and Jordan reuniting with various Black Panther teammates once again including director of photography Autumn Durald Arkapaw, production designer Hannah Beachler, editor Michael P. Shawver, composer Ludwig Göransson, and costume designer Ruth E. Carter.

Black Bag

Date: March 14

Steven Soderbergh is very busy for a guy who retired once, having made 10 movies in the past nine years, but hey, who’s complaining? He’s actually got two films out in 2025, the horror-thriller Presence in January, and Black Bag in March, a “high-stakes mystery,” according to distributor Focus Features, which stars Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender. The director reteams with prolific screenwriter David Koepp for both films, after working together on 2022’s Kimi. Not much else is known about Black Bag at this point aside from the fact that it’s got a roster of talent who are almost always worth checking out.

Snow White

Date: March 21

Disney’s live-action (ish?) remakes of their animated classics trend continues with Snow White, which has had its fair share of behind-the-scenes controversies. Directed by Marc Webb (The Amazing Spider-Man movies) and written by Greta Gerwig (Barbie) and Erin Cressida Wilson (Secretary), the film was delayed a year to 2025 because of the SAG-AFTRA strike, according to Disney. That said, it seems likely that criticism of its use of dwarf characters led to a rethinking of their approach, and hence at least part of the delay. As it stands now, the movie will feature seven distinctly cartoonish CGI characters accompanying Rachel Zegler’s Snow White. We’ll see how this one pans out, as while cultural critics may pick away at these live-action remakes, the general public tends to show up in droves for them.

Alto Nights

Date: March 21

Director Barry Levinson (Rain Man, Good Morning, Vietnam) teams with screenwriter Nicholas Pileggi (Goodfellas) and star Robert De Niro for Alto Nights, the story of real-life competing mob bosses Vito Genovese and Frank Costello. De Niro plays both roles, somehow. Debra Messing, Kathrine Narducci (The Sopranos), and Cosmo Jarvis (Shogun) also star.

A Minecraft Movie

Date: April 4

Minecraft Steve is coming, and it turns out he’s Jack Black! And no, Black isn’t in every new video game movie these days – it just seem that way. This is another title that hit some controversy, as is too often the case lately, this time when the first trailer was released and some fans complained about the look of the film. So much so that Warner Bros. trotted out director Jared Hess and producer Torfi Frans Olafsson when the second trailer was released in order to do some damage control. Jason Momoa, Emma Myers (Wednesday) and Danielle Brooks (Orange Is the New Black, Peacemaker) also feature in the film, and from where we’re sitting, A Minecraft Movie looks like it could be a fun ode to the highly addictive game. But then again, we at IGN like to craft and build things… not knock them down.

Mickey 17

Date: April 18

Oscar-winning South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho (Parasite) goes sci-fi on April 18 with Mickey 17, and he’s taking Robert Pattinson with him. Steven Yeun, Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette and Mark Ruffalo also star in the tale of an "Expendable," a.k.a. a space traveler sent on hazardous space missions. If the Expendable dies on such a mission, a new version of their body is “printed”... and that’s how you end up with Mickey 17. But what happens when Mickey 18 shows up while Mickey 17 is still alive? That’s the question the film asks, as does the trailer in a pretty lively and comedic manner.

Until Dawn

Date: April 25

An adaptation, of course, of the horror video game of the same name, Until Dawn was directed by David F. Sandberg (Lights Out, Annabelle: Creation, the Shazam! movies) and written by Gary Dauberman (several Annabelle films, two Its). We don't know a ton about the film's plot yet, other than that it's inspired by the game. Ella Rubin, Michael Cimino, Ji-young Yoo, and Belmont Cameli are among the cast, as is Peter Stormare, who reprises his role from the game as Dr. Hill.

Thunderbolts*

Date: May 2

The final film of Marvel Studios’ Phase 5, and the second MCU movie of the year after a pretty light 2024 (which only gave us Deadpool & Wolverine on the big screen), Thunderbolts brings together a long-running plot thread in the bigger universe that saw Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine assembling (ahem) a team of super-powered individuals, albeit figures who haven’t always been on the side of good. The group consists of Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova, Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes, David Harbour’s Red Guardian, Wyatt Russell’s U.S. Agent, Hannah John-Kamen’s Ghost, Olga Kurylenko’s Taskmaster, and newcomer Lewis Pullman’s Bob, a.k.a. The Sentry. The specifics of their mission remain a little unclear right now, though perhaps the bigger question is whether or not Thunderbolts can stick the landing for Marvel’s Phase 5.

Lilo & Stitch

Date: May 23

Another of Disney's live-action/CGI combo projects that reimagines an old Disney animated hit, this one leads us to note that the original Lilo & Stich doesn’t feel that old, but then again... it came out in 2002, so maybe time is just moving more slowly these days? Because that just doesn’t seem right. Whatever the case, Chris Sanders returns as the voice of Stich, the alien creature who is adopted by Maia Kealoha's Lilo. Auliʻi Cravalho, Judge Reinhold, Zach Galifianakis, Courtney B. Vance, and Hannah Waddingham also star.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

Date: May 23

The eighth film in the long-running Tom Cruise spy/action series, and the follow-up to Dead Reckoning Part One from 2023, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning sees the world’s most stunt-prone star reunite with the likes of Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, and Vanessa Kirby for one more Ethan Hunt adventure. But will it be his last? With Dead Reckoning slumping as one of the lowest-grossing installments of the series, the future of Hunt and the Impossible Missions Force lies largely on this film’s shoulders.

Karate Kid: Legends

Date: May 30

For this film, Ralph Macchio, the OG KK, is teaming with Jackie Chan, who starred in the 2010 “reimagining” of The Karate Kid – which I guess is now just part of the bigger Karate Kid Cinematic Universe. The pair will play their characters from their respective films, with Ben Wang (American Born Chinese) cast as the new kid who must learn karate to solve all his life’s problems. Even though Macchio is one of the stars of the Cobra Kai TV show, and that apparently exists in the same world as this movie, it seems as though the film won’t have a ton do with the series as the actor has said Legends takes place around three years after the end of the show.

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina

Date: June 6

In case you weren’t clear on what world this film takes place in… in case Keanu Reeves showing up in the trailer wasn’t enough… Lionsgate’s Ballerina is now called From the World of John Wick: Ballerina. Which OK, fair enough. You can’t blame them, I guess. And while the Baba Yaga’s current status may be, shall we say, unclear, his world of assassins continues with this spin-off/sidequel, which takes place between John Wick: Chapter 3 and Chapter 4. (Ah, that’s why he was able to show up in the trailer!) Ana de Armas stars as Rooney, who’s seeking Wickian-style revenge for the murder of her family, with Underworld and the Total Recall remake's Len Wiseman directing.

Elio

Date: June 13

Pixar's next film tells the story of Elio (Yonas Kibreab), a boy who wants to be abducted by aliens. As Elio says in the teaser trailer for the film, he has a mole that’s the same shape as the Orion Nebula after all! And he does get his wish, finding himself in the “Communiverse, an interplanetary organization with representatives from galaxies far and wide.” Among Elio’s new alien friends are Brad Garrett as Lord Grigon and Jameela Jamil as Ambassador Questa, while Zoe Saldaña voices his Aunt Olga.

How to Train Your Dragon

Date: June 13

Here's another live-action remake of an animated film (it’s just a genre now, isn't it)? This time it's DreamWorks re-doing 2010's lovely How to Train Your Dragon, with The Black Phone’s Mason Thames playing Hiccup and a CGI rendition of Toothless of course playing the dragon he befriends. Gerard Butler co-stars as the live-action version of his animated character, Stoick the Vast (Hiccup's father), while Nico Parker (The Last of Us), Julian Dennison (Deadpool 2), and Nick Frost are also among the cast. Many have noted how closely the first trailer for the film resembles the original animated movie, but is that a good thing? We’ll find out in June.

28 Years Later

Date: June 20

Director Danny Boyle, screenwriter Alex Garland, and star Cillian Murphy return for this sequel to 28 Days Later, and man if this project doesn’t have us as excited as a Rage-Virus-infected whacko. The original post-apocalyptic film set a new standard for zombie action (don’t start arguing with us about what is or isn’t a zombie here), while its first sequel, 28 Weeks Later, was basically a decent thriller made by other people. Ralph Fiennes, who co-stars in the new film, has given us the most info so far regarding the plot, saying that there are "a few pockets of uninfected communities" at this point 28 years after the first film (duh). But wait, there’s more: This is just the first of a new trilogy of films in the series, with The Marvels director Nia DaCosta reportedly helming the second movie.

M3GAN 2.0

Date: June 27

Allison Williams returns to be further harassed by the robot-doll from hell in M3GAN 2.0, or however you pronounce it. After the critical and commercial success of the original, not to mention all the memes, a follow-up from the horror mega-producer team-up of Jason Blum and James Wan was all but assured. Director Gerard Johnstone and scripter Akela Cooper are also back for the sequel, as is Violet McGraw as Cady, the niece of Allison Williams’ Gemma. Quite frankly, maybe Cady needs to stop fucking around with these killer robot toys.

F1

Date: June 27

Director Joseph Kosinski has more than proved he can do high-speed action thrills with Top Gun: Maverick, so perhaps it was inevitable that he'd tackle the world of Formula One racing with F1. Brad Pitt stars as an ex-driver who had to bow out of the sport after a terrible crash years ago. But you know guys like that – they always have to come out of retirement to train the next generation!

Jurassic World Rebirth

Date: July 2

The Jurassic franchise makes its return to the big screen with a sorta-reboot just three years after Jurassic World Dominion. This trip into the Heart of Dino Darkness in Jurassic World Rebirth finds a “covert operations expert,” played by Scarlett Johansson, venturing into one of the few remaining locations on Earth hospitable to dinosaurs to collect the genetic secret to their survival. Director Gareth Edwards (Rogue One, Godzilla, The Creator) will bring his gift for massive visual scale to the franchise for the first time, while screenwriter David Koepp (the original Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park) may be able to get a Jurassic story back to the roots of what’s kept us loving the original films for the last three decades.

Superman

Date: July 11

James Gunn’s much-anticipated takeover of DC’s cinematic adventures kicks off in earnest with the release of Superman. With leads David Corenswet (The Politician, Pearl) and Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, House of Cards) joined by a freshly bald Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max: Fury Road, The Menu) as Lex Luthor, we don’t know a ton about this just yet. Aside from Superman’s penchant for very casually putting his boots on and the fact that James Gunn has said all the right things about his “relatively serious” take on the Man of Steel, there’s still plenty to be excited about.

The Smurfs Movie

Date: July 18

Fuck this movie, but you know you’re going to see it anyway. The Smurfs Movie is an animated musical with an absolutely stacked voice cast. Everybody from Rihanna to Kurt Russell, Xolo Maridueña (Cobra Kai, Blue Beetle) to Alex Winter (Bill S. Preston, esquire), and (almost) literally everyone in between gets a chance to be blue on the mic. Chris Miller (not Lord and Miller, but Shrek the Third and Puss in Boots Chris Miller) is directing, so there’s an excellent chance The Smurfs Movie is “charming AF” at minimum.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Date: July 25

Marvel’s first family gets their fourth shot at the silver screen in the ironically titled The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Veteran TV director Matt Shakman (WandaVision, Game of Thrones, It’s Always Sunny…) leads Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear, Andor) and Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things) in a mid-century take on the Richards family. With concept art hinting at something from ’60s sci-fi and the shenanigans both on screen and off at Marvel, there’s no small amount of pressure on this film to course-correct the much-maligned “Multiversal Saga” in the MCU, particularly now that Dr. Doom, one of Fantastic Four’s most notorious arch enemies, is on the horizon.

The Bad Guys 2

Date: Aug. 1

With a very cool animation style and some legitimately well-choreographed action, The Bad Guys was a kids graphic novel adaptation done right. Following the attempt of a tight-knit group of criminals to go “good,” The Bad Guys 2 returns with the same director, Pierre Perifel, and most of the cast (Sam Rockwell, Awkwafina and, most importantly, Richard Ayoade as a philanthropist guinea pig named Professor Marmalade), so the chances of another very fun Bad Guys movie are, well, good.

The Naked Gun

Aquaman's Jason Momoa will officially be joining the DCU as Lobo in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.

As reported by Deadline, Momoa has been rumored to play Lobo for quite some time and has even publicly shared how excited he would be to play the character. Today, he confirmed on Instagram that it was finally happening.

"They called," Momoa wrote on Instagram alongside some old comments of his about his wish to play Lobo, in which he said he was just waiting for the invitation.

"So Lobo was... I collect comics, and I don't do so much anymore, but he was always my favorite, and I always wanted to play Lobo, because I'm like, 'Hello? It's the perfect role,'" Momoa said in the past. "I mean, listen. If they call and ask me to play him, it's a f*ck yeah. I haven't received that call, so I don't want to put any fake news out there, but if they ever call me and ask me to play, or ask me to audition, I'm there."

For those unfamiliar, Lobo was created by Roger Slifer and Keith Giffen and first appeared in Omega Men #3 in 1983. His home is a planet called Czarnia and he is a interstellar mercenary and bounty hunter with superhuman strength and immortality.

With this casting and the recent Superman trailer, we're starting to get a clearer picture of what James Gunn and Peter Safran's DCU is all about. We have a ways to go still, but every new detail is welcome!

For more, check out what else we know about Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, the film that will star House of the Dragon's Milly Alcock. Additionally, check out what you can expect from DC in 2025.

Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on TikTok.

Whether you own a Nintendo Switch, a Switch Lite, or a Switch OLED, you know how versatile and fun this console can be. To make the most of your gaming experience, investing in a few accessories can take things to the next level. From Switch controllers allowing better control (and less cramping) during intense gameplay, to screen protectors keeping your Switch safe from any scratches, the right accessories enhance performance and protection.

TL;DR – These are the Best Nintendo Switch Accessories:

As you grow your Switch game library, a Switch SD card can expand your storage so you’ll never have to worry about running out of room. Whether you’re aiming for convenience, comfort, or a better overall gaming experience, these compatible accessories for the Nintendo Switch can make all the difference.

1. Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

Best Switch Controller

2. amFilm Tempered Glass Screen Protector

Best Nintendo Switch Screen Protector

3. RDS Carry Case

Best Nintendo Switch Case

4. SanDisk 128GB Ultra

Best Nintendo Switch Memory Card

5. CRKD Nitro Deck

Best Switch Deck

6. Satisfye ZenGrip Pro Gen 3

Best Nintendo Switch Grip

7. Hori Split Pad Pro

Better Joy-Cons

8. GENKI Covert Dock Mini

Best Nintendo Switch Portable Dock

9. Nintendo Joy-Con Wheel

Best Nintendo Switch Steering Wheel

10. 8BitDo Arcade Stick

Best Nintendo Switch Fight Stick

11. HyperX ChargePlay Quad 2

Best Joy-Con Charger

12. Marseille mClassic

Best Nintendo Switch Upscaler

13. Emperor of Gadgets Portable Power Bank

Best Nintendo Switch Power Bank

How to Choose Switch Accessories

As accessories are add-ons for your Switch, you probably don't want to spend too much money on them. Luckily, the basics we'd recommend are normally under $50 for all three products; a case, a screen protector, and an SD card. These items immediately ensure protection and allow you to store more games, making it a great place to start.

Three must-haves:

1. Switch case
2. Screen protector
3. SD card

From there, you’ll want to focus on quality-of-life products based on your lifestyle and needs:

For comfort: If the Joy-Cons are uncomfortable for you, we'd recommend investing in another controller for a more ergonomic hold. Tip: Take it to the next level with a mount for your Switch OLED and a Pro controller so you can game on-the-go when you're not connected to your TV. The Fixture S2 monitor and Pro controller mount is a must-have for playing in handheld mode.

For on-the-go charging: Get a power bank to extend playtime in general or while on-the-go.

For more immersive gaming: Consider getting one of the best Nintendo Switch headsets we've researched and/or tested. When it comes to performance with the Switch, nothing beats the Razer Barracuda X right now.

As for other accessories like upscalers, docks, or printers, you can grab these down the road depending on your needs. No matter which accessories you decide to purchase, do the research to ensure the accessory is compatible for your Switch model.

Nintendo Switch Accessories FAQ

Which Nintendo Switch accessories should you buy first?

There are several Switch accessories you can buy, but if you've just purchased the console, there are a few things you should get first. The most essential accessories are a carrying case, an SD card, and a screen protector. These items will allow you to protect your Switch and also download more games to the console. You may also want to look into getting a more comfortable Pro controller or a nicer set of Joy-Cons since the base set is not ergonomic for long-term gameplay.

What accessories normally come with a Nintendo Switch?

When you purchase the Switch, it offers all the basic accessories you need to get gaming.

The original 6.2-inch LCD touchscreen console comes with an AC adapter for power, while a Nintendo Switch dock and HDMI are included for displaying your games on your gaming TV. Beyond that, there are left and right Joy-Cons, along with straps for individual Joy-Con use and a grip for using the two controllers together detached from the gaming device.

With the seven-inch OLED model, you get all the same accessories as the original, but there’s a LAN port on the Switch dock for a wired internet connection.

As for the Switch Lite, it’s also light on accessories. There’s no dock or HDMI, as you can’t connect it to your TV. The Joy-Cons are also not detachable, so you’ll only find the console and USB-C charger in the box.

When do Nintendo Switch accessories go on sale?

Although the Switch itself doesn't go on sale very often, Nintendo Switch accessories will often see discounts throughout the year. The general rule of thumb is that the best times to buy a Nintendo Switch are also the best times to buy Switch accessories. Some of the more popular events where you're guaranteed to find discounts on gaming accessories are Amazon Prime Day in July and Black Friday in November.

Danielle Abraham is a tech freelance writer and unpaid music historian.

Georgie Peru is a freelance writer and also contributed to this article.

With 2025 and the New Year quickly approaching, now is the time to score some last-minute holiday deals. Here are the best deals for Monday, December 30.

Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection for $24.96