The Best New Movies To Watch At The Cinema In 2025 (November Edition)
Emma Bishop
Head Of Content: Features And Lifestyle | Urban List
Streaming films from the couch is cosy (and absolutely necessary at times), but unless you’ve got a decked-out home cinema, you’re not getting the full experience.
At Urban List, we believe that the best new movies should be seen on the big screen—IMAX for blockbusters, cineplex recliners for epic features, and indies with feature-length wine pours for an arthouse thought-provoker. And, in 2025, there’s a host of new Australian-made flicks and big blockbusters worthy of full cinematic indulgence.
From an utterly disturbing film by Adelaide ratbags Danny and Michael Philippou to a 6-minute standing ovation-earning performance in Jennifer Lawrence’s latest film, these new movies will certainly keep you entertained. So, whether you want some blockbuster escapism, fancy scaring yourself silly with some spine-tingling horror, or need to stay abreast of the latest Oscar buzz, read on for the best new movies to watch at the cinema in 2025.
Die My Love
Watch at the cinema now
If you’re looking for a romantic movie that’ll leave you feeling warm and fuzzy, this is absolutely not for you. But if you want raw, emotional drama that showcases both Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson’s acting talents, Die My Love is worth a watch. The story follows a new mother as she unravels in the throes of postpartum psychosis. It’s slow-moving, difficult to watch, and veeeeery stylistic. However, it does have some dark humour peppered throughout, and is likely to do well on the awards circuit, especially for Jennifer Lawrence’s performance. So, if you like to keep up with the latest Oscar contenders, check out Die My Love at Australian cinemas from November 6.
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Watch at the cinema now
Whether you’re a Bruce Springsteen fan or just can’t get enough of Jeremy Allen White from The Bear, you’ll probably be interested in this biographical drama. Directed by Scott Cooper, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere chronicles the creation of his 1982 album, Nebraska. To the backdrop of Springsteen’s mental health struggles, his strained relationship with his father, and the mounting pressures of fame, he retreats to a house in Colts Neck, New Jersey and crafts an album that marks a pivotal moment in his career. Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere is available in Australian cinemas from October 23, 2025. And, with two pretty great actors in the lead roles (Allen White as Sprinsgteen and Jeremy Strong from Succession as his manager), we’re willing to bet you’re in for some decent performances.
The Smashing Machine
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While you’d be forgiven for thinking that a movie starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson as a former Ultimate Fighting Champion would be an action-packed Rocky-style epic, this one’s more of a slow-burn, character-driven drama. The story follows one of UFC’s pioneers, Mark Kerr, long before fighters earned millions of dollars and all the glamorous glory. From addiction to depression to tumultuous relationships, this one doesn’t shy away from the gritty emotional stuff. If you’re into fast-paced action, this one’s not for you. But, if you want to see Johnson in a game-changing, career-defining, and potentially Oscar-winning role, it’s worth a watch.
Roofman
Watch at the cinema now
Starring Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst, Roofman is an American crime comedy about Jeffrey Manchester, a real-life spree-robber and US Army veteran who escaped from prison and hid in a Toys R Us for several months. Known for his gentle and cordial demeanour during robberies, Manchester (played by Tatum) is a flawed yet lovable hero whose greed and misplaced generosity keep getting him into trouble despite his impressive resourcefulness. It’s heartwarming and funny at times, yet sad and rather depressing at others. Side note: Peter Dinklage also does a stellar job at playing the douchey toy store manager you’ll love to hate.
One Battle After Another
Watch at the cinema now
Weapons
Wrapped in the cinema | Available to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video now
Marlon Williams: Two Worlds (Ngā Ao E Rua)
Wrapped in the cinema | Available to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video now
Watch on YouTube
During the COVID pandemic in 2020, Marlon Williams took on his most ambitious project yet: penning an entire album in Te reo Māori. The intimate process of producing Te Whare Tīwekaweka, the beautiful piece of work, is documented in Ursula Grace Williams' new film Marlon Williams: Two Worlds (Ngā Ao E Rua). As its name suggests, the documentary explores contrast in the beloved Kiwi’s life—re-connecting with Maori language alongside Pakeha mates, the hecticity of touring and laid-back life in Lyttelton and balancing the buzz of a big, frenetic life with the natural pull to slow-down in your early ‘30s.
Marlon Williams: Two Worlds is a love letter to Aotearoa, shining in its small, tender moments, where Marlon and his bandmates share sausage rolls between refining tracks, or practice perfect pronunciation over beers. Much like the album, Marlon Williams: Two Worlds is a warm, generous invitation to embrace and celebrate Te reo Māori at a time when Aotearoa needs it most.Together
Wrapped in the cinema | Available to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video now
Bring Her Back
Wrapped in the cinema | Available to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video now
Filmed locally in Adelaide, Bring Her Back is a viscerally unsettling horror from Australian filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou. The duo’s breakthrough film Talk To Me was a massive success, catapulting the directors’ profile from cult following to global stars. Their follow up Bring Her Back follows a brother and sister as they move in with an unhinged foster mother who's grieving the loss of her daughter. The siblings quickly discover their new carer is deep in a crazy, gruesome ritual and is splitting the two to gain control. Expect body horror, heartwrenching breakdowns, a phenomenal performance from Sally Hawkins and an Aussie soundtrack used to chilling effect.
BIRTHRIGHT
Wrapped in the cinema | Not available on streaming platforms yet
Some films help us escape the doom of the newscycle; some reflect it right back to us—the best ones do both. Directed by Australian filmmaker Zoe Pepper, BIRTHRIGHT is a dark satirical comedy that explores the much-discussed generational divide between boomers and millennials. After losing his job and his home, Cory and his pregnant wife are forced to move back in with his folks. Worried their adult son is leeching off their generational wealth, the baby boomer parents' resentment builds and absolute chaos ensues. The tension-building script is a searing and often hilarious takedown of the generational tension, delivered by a stellar cast. For millennials (myself included), this is a cathartic way to relinquish some of that resentment—for a tight 92 minutes, at least.
Tinā
Wrapped in the cinema | Available to watch on Stan or rent on Apple TV and Prime Video now
Pack your tissues for this one, folks. Directed by Samoan-born Kiwi Miki Magasiva, Tinā follows a grieving mother who lost her daughter in the Christchurch earthquake. Thrust back into work as a temp teacher in a posh private school, she unites the students by starting a choir. Tinā (translating to mother in Samoan) becomes a maternal figure for the kids, sharing beautiful Pasifika music and a little bit of affectionate tough love. This movie is packed with heart and will have you running back home to the arms of your mother. What's most moving is its soundtrack—a series of Samoan ballads sung by the Western Sāmoa Teachers' Training College Choir and St Francis Choir that you need to hear in a cinema.
Sinners
Wrapped in the cinema | Available to watch on HBO Max or rent on Apple TV and Prime Video now
Sinners is the new utterly ambitious, genre-defying film from Black Panther director Ryan Coogler. It’s impossible to put this fun film into a box—it’s got a bit of Blaxploitation, romance, campy horror and history all packed into its 2 hour and 17-minute runtime. Set in 1930s America, the film follows twin brothers (played by Michael B Jordan) as they return home to tidy up their lives, only to discover there’s evil on their doorstep—if you let it in. There’s so much to love about this movie, from its cracking blues soundtrack and vocally-talented cast to its tension-building pacing and comedic timing. This is hands down one of the best new movies of 2025—and my personal favourite so far.
Final Destination Bloodlines
Wrapped in the cinema | Available to watch on HBO Max or rent on Apple TV and Prime Video now
Fans of the Final Destination franchise will be familiar with the logs in the truck, the tanning bed and the laser eye surgery (IYKYK). These were the iconic irrational fears realised before our eyes in the lead up to the latest reckoning: Final Destination Bloodlines. True to form, the latest movie brings new and modern fears to life through a series of very unfortunate events brought on by the ominous omen death. Horror movies can be polarising for film-goers, but this one’s holding down a solid 92% on Rotten Tomatoes—a rating we reckon makes it worth seeing on the big screen.
The Phoenician Scheme
Wrapped in the cinema | Available to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video now
Michael Cera is a stand-out in this picture-perfect espionage comedy from beloved auteur Wes Anderson. The actor's very bad Norwegian accent is expertly slotted into serious scenes to perfect comedic effect. Packed with wry humour, symmetrical pastel-hued shots and cameos from loads of Hollywood stars, The Phoenician Scheme is quintessentially Wes Anderson. While the story isn't our favourite from the director, this is one of his funniest films and a compelling performance from breakout star Mia Threapleton makes this movie a great cinema watch.
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