Cannes 2025 Preview: Star Power, Global Voices, and Chicken Jockeys?

The Cannes Film Festival doesn’t officially kick off until May 13, but cinephiles everywhere just got a taste of what’s to come. This week, organizers dropped the highly anticipated lineup of films in competition—and it’s already causing a stir.

Among the 19 titles in the initial announcement (with potential surprises still under wraps), some familiar American names are leading the charge. Filmmakers Wes Anderson, Ari Aster, Kelly Reichardt, and Richard Linklater are all set to debut new works on the Croisette, bringing a wave of auteur-driven storytelling to the festival’s main stage.

Outside the competition, expect serious star power. Tom Cruise will be on hand to unveil the latest “Mission: Impossible” installment, while Robert De Niro will be honored with the Palme d’Or d’Honneur, a lifetime achievement award that cements his place in cinema history.

Cannes is, of course, an international celebration of film. This year welcomes back Julia Ducournau, whose Titane took home the top prize in 2021, along with the acclaimed Dardenne brothers and Joachim Trier, the Scandinavian director behind The Worst Person in the World.

Presiding over the jury this year is none other than Juliette Binoche, the celebrated French actress who recently impressed critics in The Taste of Things.

If you’re looking for something to tide you over until Cannes, The New York Times critic Manohla Dargis has you covered. She recommends “Warfare”, a gritty drama about an American platoon in Iraq, co-directed by Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza. Also on her radar is “One to One: John & Yoko”, a tender look at the couple’s early New York days.

On the flip side of the cinema spectrum? The box office is buzzing over “A Minecraft Movie”, which has somehow sparked the bizarrely viral “Chicken jockey!” trend. Yes, really. As explained by Esther Zuckerman, it’s a thing—and we’re here for it.

Whether you’re into high-concept auteur films, nostalgic biopics, or pixelated video game adventures, one thing’s clear: 2025 is going to be a big year for cinema. Cannes is just the beginning.

So grab your popcorn, mark your calendars, and get ready for the movies

What films are you most excited about this year?  Let me know in the comments!

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