As the red carpets are being rolled out and cinephiles from around the globe descend upon the Croisette, the 78th Cannes Film Festival promises one of its most exciting lineups in years. From long-awaited debuts to genre-bending auteur visions, this year’s competition—and the stories behind the camera—signals a thrilling future for world cinema.
While some notable absentees (Lynne Ramsay, Park Chan-wook, Spike Lee) raised eyebrows at the official lineup announcement, the films that did make the cut are brimming with originality, ambition, and relevance. Here are ten must-see films from Cannes 2025, each poised to make headlines—and possibly history.
1. Eleanor the Great — dir. Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson takes her first turn behind the camera with Eleanor the Great, a heartfelt intergenerational drama about a 90-year-old Ohio woman who uproots her life and starts anew in New York. Anchored by a career-defining lead performance from June Squibb, this debut—written by Tory Kamen and inspired by tapes of her late grandmother—combines warmth, wit, and a touch of rebellion. If Johansson’s empathy on screen translates to her direction, expect a quietly powerful crowd-pleaser.
2. The Mastermind — dir. Kelly Reichardt
Known for her minimalism and emotional restraint, Reichardt surprises with The Mastermind, a 1970s-set art heist thriller layered with political undercurrents. Featuring Josh O’Connor, Alana Haim, and John Magaro, the film is said to blend genre tension with Reichardt’s trademark sensitivity. Could this be the director’s most accessible—and commercially appealing—film yet?
3. Alpha — dir. Julia Ducournau
Returning to Cannes after her Palme d’Or-winning Titane, Julia Ducournau’s Alpha is already among the festival’s most talked-about entries. Set during the AIDS crisis, the film follows an 11-year-old confronting mortality, and stars Golshifteh Farahani and Tahar Rahim. Though the premise suggests a more grounded narrative, Ducournau’s flair for body horror and emotional surrealism is sure to shake up expectations.
4. The Phoenician Scheme — dir. Wes Anderson
The ever-prolific Wes Anderson delivers another ensemble-packed spectacle in The Phoenician Scheme, a family drama set against the backdrop of Cold War espionage. With cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel stepping in for Robert Yeoman, and a cast that includes Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, and Benicio del Toro, Anderson is again poised to polarize and delight. Expect meticulous whimsy—and possibly, emotional resonance beneath the pastel.
5. Sentimental Value — dir. Joachim Trier
Joachim Trier reunites with Renate Reinsve (Cannes Best Actress winner for The Worst Person in the World) for Sentimental Value, a drama exploring grief, legacy, and the uneasy reunion between a daughter and her estranged, egocentric filmmaker father (Stellan Skarsgård). Given Trier’s skill for nuanced emotional storytelling, this could be one of the most quietly devastating films at the festival.
6. Vie Privée — dir. Rebecca Zlotowski
In Vie Privée, Rebecca Zlotowski casts Jodie Foster—yes, speaking fluent French—as a psychiatrist investigating the suspicious death of a patient. With Virginie Efira and Daniel Auteuil in support, this psychological thriller promises both intellectual heft and emotional firepower. Screened out of competition, it’s already being dubbed Zlotowski’s potential breakout on the international stage.
7. Eddington — dir. Ari Aster
Ari Aster’s Cannes debut, Eddington, might be his wildest swing yet—a modern-day western set during the COVID-19 pandemic that spirals into a microcosmic civil war. With Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal as adversaries, and support from Emma Stone and Austin Butler, this is an Aster-style fever dream about American dysfunction, wrapped in satire and dusted with absurdity. Love it or loathe it, it won’t be forgettable.
8. The History of Sound — dir. Oliver Hermanus
Oliver Hermanus pairs two of today’s most compelling young actors—Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor—for a post-WWI queer romance set amid a cross-country folk-song expedition. Lyrical and intimate, this adaptation of Ben Shattuck’s short story is already being called one of the most tender and visually exquisite films in competition.
9. Nouvelle Vague — dir. Richard Linklater
Richard Linklater’s passion project explores the birth of the French New Wave, focusing on the making of Godard’s Breathless. A risky endeavor (how do you dramatize artistic revolution without it feeling like homework?), but if anyone can pull it off, it’s Linklater, a filmmaker deeply in love with cinema itself. Cinephiles will be paying close attention to this one.
10. Sound of Falling — dir. Mascha Schilinski
In her feature debut, Mascha Schilinski crafts an enigmatic, time-blurring story of four generations of women living on a German farm. Touted as “an exceptional new voice in cinema” by Anatomy of a Fall distributor Mk2, this poetic meditation on motherhood, memory, and lineage could be the festival’s surprise hit. With comparisons to the introspective beauty of The Tree of Life, Sound of Falling may be one of the most moving discoveries of the year.
Closing Thoughts: A Bold Year for Visionary Storytelling
From Johansson’s gentle touch to Ducournau’s provocation, and Linklater’s cinephilic nostalgia to Aster’s apocalyptic vision, the 78th edition of Cannes is shaping up as a celebration of filmmakers willing to take creative risks—both personal and political. Whether it’s aging with dignity, rewriting cinematic history, or redefining genre itself, these ten films are poised to shape the cinematic conversation of 2025.
As the festival unfolds, one thing is certain: Cannes remains a vital crucible for bold, visionary storytelling. Watch this space—some of these films may end the year not just with Palme d’Or glory, but Oscar gold.
The 78th Cannes Film Festival runs from May 13–24, 2025. Stay tuned for daily coverage, reviews, and interviews direct from the Croisette.
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