All the 2025 Movies We’ve Already Forgotten

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Welcome to Memory Holed, a new MovieWeb column by film critic Britt Hayes (that’s me!). Every week, I’ll be looking back at movies (and sometimes TV shows) that briefly captured the public’s attention before fading into relative obscurity. These films – often featuring famous actors, generating awards talk, based on well-known stories, or sparking debate – have seemingly been forgotten by pop culture. Essentially, they’ve been deliberately erased from our collective memory – or, as I call it, ‘memory-holed’.

It’s been a tough year, and with so much happening, it’s easy to forget many of the movies that came out in 2025. Honestly, some of these films probably wouldn’t be memorable even in better times. I enjoy revisiting overlooked movies – it’s interesting to see why they didn’t succeed and to learn about the stories behind their making, especially with the benefit of time and perspective.

It’s strange to think about movies that came out just this year. It feels similar to meeting someone who wasn’t even born before 9/11 – they feel distant already. It’s not just that we’ve quickly forgotten about these films, but that they actually came out this year, sometimes only a few months ago, yet it feels like a lifetime has passed since then.

‘Wolf Man’ (January 16)


Universal Pictures

Let’s start with a disappointing one: the recent Wolf Man reboot. Like another attempt to update Universal’s classic monsters, this film quickly disappeared from public attention. After the success of his excellent Invisible Man reboot, director Leigh Whannell had a lot of promise with Wolf Man. It featured a strong cast, including Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner, and explored interesting themes about inherited trauma and the patterns of abuse within families. The idea of connecting all the Universal monsters through a lens of toxic masculinity was intriguing, though darkly humorous. However, five years after The Invisible Man, audiences seemed to have grown weary of horror films focused heavily on trauma. The timing also wasn’t ideal, as a shift towards more conservative values was taking hold, fueled by a president who consistently avoided consequences for his actions. This created a climate where accountability was often rejected, and that likely contributed to the film’s failure.

Also, it just isn’t a very good movie.

‘Back in Action’ (January 17)


Netflix

Despite all the initial excitement, the Netflix action movie Back in Action has largely been forgotten. It was Cameron Diaz’s first film role since 2014’s Annie, and she starred alongside Jamie Foxx again. However, most people only remember the movie because of Foxx’s serious health issue that occurred near the end of filming. That’s become the defining story surrounding Back in Action.

‘Captain America: Brave New World’ (February 14)


Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Marvel’s latest Captain America film, the first without Chris Evans, wasn’t a failure because Evans wasn’t there. The real problem was a weak story crammed with too many subplots – a common issue for these big franchises. The movie also awkwardly tries to use the character Red Hulk as a stand-in for Donald Trump, years after the joke has lost its impact – it feels like a dated meme. Replacing the late William Hurt, Harrison Ford plays Thaddeus Ross, and he spent much of the promotional tour joking about how much he enjoyed wearing a motion-capture suit for the role. Ford’s Ross is a curmudgeonly old man who’s always complaining about needing his medication. It’s not exactly unfunny, though.

‘The Electric State’ (February 24)


Netflix

It seems strange to call a Netflix movie “big-budget.” Why spend over $300 million on something that feels like it should be on TV? That’s how much Netflix invested in their sci-fi film, The Electric State, with Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, and even Mr. Peanut. From what I’ve heard, the movie promotes a positive view of AI – ironically, the filmmakers even used AI during production – suggesting that robots who destroyed the world aren’t so bad. I doubt Netflix’s complicated calculations will prove me wrong, but it doesn’t seem like the movie made much money. It’s also completely forgettable, much like their previous Netflix film, The Gray Man. Does anyone even remember The Gray Man? It makes sense the Russo brothers are going back to Marvel for another Avengers movie. It’s hard to imagine they’ll learn from their recent experiences.

‘The Alto Knights’ (March 14)


Warner Bros.

Few things are better than a Robert De Niro gangster film, and The Alto Knights tried to capitalize on that. The movie aimed to attract audiences by featuring De Niro in a classic mob boss role. While De Niro had recently starred in hits like The Intern and The Irishman, he’d also appeared in a number of less successful, low-profile films. The Alto Knights likely would have been better suited as a direct-to-streaming release on a platform like HBO Max.

‘Snow White’ (March 21)


Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Disney’s live-action Snow White faced significant negativity even before its release, and public interest was low. Pre-release images and reports suggested audiences weren’t excited about another Disney remake. While Rachel Zegler is a talented actress, she unfairly received a lot of criticism, largely stemming from her outspoken views on important issues. Gal Gadot’s casting also didn’t resonate with many, especially after a widely criticized video she posted early in the pandemic. Adding to the controversy was the decision to create the dwarfs using CGI.

‘The Accountant 2’ (April 25)


Amazon MGM Studios

Look, I went into The Accountant 2 hoping for something… more. The first film was a surprisingly fun action movie with Ben Affleck as a uniquely skilled assassin. This sequel, though? It landed almost a decade later, and honestly, it felt about six years too late. The biggest issue is it takes itself way too seriously. The entire premise, as hyped by Prime Video, boiled down to, ‘He has a brother!’? That’s it? After all that time, the big reveal is a sibling? I was expecting a bit more depth, a bit more… something. It just didn’t deliver.

‘Another Simple Favor’ (May 1)


Amazon MGM Studios

The movie A Simple Favor was an enjoyable, suspenseful thriller – like a captivating book you’d read on the beach. However, Another Simple Favor came out at a difficult time. Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni had recently been involved in public legal disputes regarding the film It Ends With Us, and many viewers were starting to tire of the attention around Lively. Similar to The Accountant 2, this sequel arrived too late and didn’t quite recapture the magic of the original.

‘Rust’ (May 2)


Falling Forward Films

You know what happened.

‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ (May 16)


Lionsgate

I have to admit, I’m really struck by The Weeknd’s boldness in releasing Hurry Up Tomorrow after the backlash to The Idol. Honestly, if people already felt the HBO show was a self-indulgent mess and just an excuse for him to be provocative, they weren’t going to give this a chance. Even with stars like Barry Keoghan and Jenna Ortega attached, it seemed like nothing could draw audiences to the theaters.

‘Smurfs’ (July 18)


Paramount

A new Smurfs movie came out this year! It’s the fourth animated film featuring the little blue creatures – and the third time they’ve tried to restart the franchise. While aimed at kids, this Smurfs movie had some things going for it: it was directed by Chris Miller, known for Shrek the Third and Puss in Boots, and boasted a surprisingly talented voice cast including Nick Offerman, Octavia Spencer, Kurt Russell, and John Goodman. Plus, Rihanna voices Smurfette and even recorded a new song for the film – her first in nearly three years.

‘Eden’ (August 22)


Vertical

While some might say the movie Eden has been forgotten, it’s actually been gaining attention on streaming services – which makes sense, considering its unusual premise and cast. The film, based on a true story, stars Ana de Armas and Sydney Sweeney as rivals establishing a settlement on an island ruled by a very free-spirited Jude Law. It starts with Sweeney doing a comically exaggerated German accent and ends with a shockingly raw childbirth scene involving feral dogs. It’s delightfully over-the-top entertainment, and we shouldn’t let it be forgotten! Let’s remember Eden and Vanessa Kirby’s amusing interactions with a donkey. Let’s show some love for Eden! We stand with Eden!

‘A Big Bold Beautiful Journey’ (September 19)


Sony Pictures Releasing

It feels harsh to criticize Kogonada’s ambitious new film, especially since it came out during a particularly difficult time when sincere stories weren’t really resonating with audiences. Starring Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is a romantic fantasy about two people who get a second chance to experience key moments from their past. While opinions are divided, I wouldn’t be surprised if it gains a dedicated following and becomes a beloved film over time.

‘Good Fortune’ (October 17)


Lionsgate

It’s surprising how quickly the movie Good Fortune, starring Keanu Reeves and Seth Rogen, disappeared from everyone’s memory. The film had a relevant idea – a wealthy man and a poor man switching places to experience each other’s lives – but it didn’t seem to resonate with audiences. Perhaps Aziz Ansari, fresh off performing at a controversial comedy festival in Saudi Arabia, wasn’t the ideal storyteller for this particular theme. However, it’s also true that studios rarely invest in and promote mid-budget comedies these days, making it hard for them to gain traction.

‘Christy’ (November 7)


Black Bear

In a year, people will have likely forgotten about Christy, Sydney Sweeney’s effort to gain awards recognition. While the reaction to her American Eagle jeans ad was perhaps excessive, it was a weak ad that deserved criticism. The accusations of a hidden political message were likely unfounded. Sweeney didn’t help matters by avoiding the controversy, which stemmed from reports about her conservative views and her new friendship with Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez. Ultimately, when Christy – a film about a lesbian boxer in a difficult marriage – came out, no one was focused on the movie itself or Sweeney’s acting.

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2025-12-12 20:09