Top 10 Must-See Films at the 2025 Venice Film Festival
The 82nd Venice International Film Festival runs from August 27 to September 6 on the Lido and brings a full slate of world premieres across Competition, Out of Competition, Horizons, Venice Classics, and Venice Immersive. Screenings take place at venues including Sala Grande and Sala Darsena, with public tickets sold through the Biennale ticketing system and a separate schedule for accredited pass holders.
This year’s program features new work from major filmmakers alongside rising voices, with entries from Europe, the United States, Asia, and beyond. The main Competition fields twenty one features vying for the Golden Lion, while Out of Competition hosts high profile premieres and special presentations. Below are ten titles with confirmed Venice world premieres, sections, and key details to help you plan what to see.
‘La Grazia’ (2025)
The opening night film screens in Competition and is directed by Paolo Sorrentino. The cast includes Toni Servillo, Anna Ferzetti, and Orlando Cinque. It will have its world premiere at Venice and runs 133 minutes. It is produced in Italy.
Festival materials list it among the twenty one films competing for the Golden Lion. The film is presented by La Biennale di Venezia and will play on the Lido before any general release.
‘Frankenstein’ (2025)
Guillermo del Toro presents this new adaptation in Competition with a cast that includes Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Christoph Waltz, and Mia Goth. It is a United States production with a runtime of 149 minutes and will premiere at Venice.
The film is listed as a world premiere and part of the official Competition lineup. It screens on the Lido ahead of any wider distribution and is eligible for festival awards including the Golden Lion.
‘Bugonia’ (2025)
Yorgos Lanthimos returns to Venice with a Competition entry starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons. The film is produced in the United Kingdom and has a runtime of 120 minutes. It is scheduled as a world premiere at the festival.
It appears in the official Competition selection curated by festival director Alberto Barbera. Its Venice berth confirms eligibility for the Golden Lion and related juried prizes.
‘A House of Dynamite’ (2025)
Kathryn Bigelow’s new feature screens in Competition with Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Anthony Ramos, Moses Ingram, Jonah Hauer King, Greta Lee, and Jason Clarke. It is a United States production with a runtime of 112 minutes and will debut at Venice.
The title is part of the main Competition slate and is presented as a world premiere on the Lido. It qualifies for the festival’s top awards and will screen according to the Biennale schedule for public and accredited audiences.
‘The Smashing Machine’ (2025)
Benny Safdie brings this Competition entry starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. It is a United States production running 123 minutes and will premiere at Venice. The film covers the career of mixed martial artist Mark Kerr based on publicly announced project information.
The festival program includes the film in the official Competition lineup. It will screen on the Lido as a world premiere and is eligible for the Golden Lion and other juried awards.
‘The Wizard of the Kremlin’ (2025)
Olivier Assayas presents this Competition feature with Paul Dano, Alicia Vikander, Tom Sturridge, Will Keen, Jeffrey Wright, and Jude Law. It is a French production with a runtime of 156 minutes and premieres at Venice. The film is adapted from Giuliano da Empoli’s novel of the same name for the screen.
The title appears in the Biennale Competition list as a world premiere. It will screen for Venice audiences under the official schedule and compete for the Golden Lion.
‘No Other Choice’ (2025)
Park Chan wook’s Competition film features Lee Byung Hun, Son Ye jin, Park Hee soon, Lee Sung min, Yeom Hye ran, and Cha Seung won. It is a South Korean production with a runtime of 139 minutes and will have its world premiere at Venice.
The festival program confirms its place in the Competition section. It will show on the Lido within the official timetable and is eligible for the festival’s top awards.
‘After the Hunt’ (2025)
Luca Guadagnino’s new feature is presented Out of Competition. The cast includes Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri, Andrew Garfield, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Chloë Sevigny. It is a United States production with a runtime of 139 minutes and will premiere at Venice.
Out of Competition status places the film among high profile presentations that screen outside the juried Competition. It will play as a world premiere on the Lido with public and press screenings listed in the Biennale schedule.
‘In the Hand of Dante’ (2025)
Julian Schnabel’s feature screens Out of Competition with a cast that includes Oscar Isaac, Gal Gadot, Gerard Butler, Al Pacino, John Malkovich, Martin Scorsese, and Jason Momoa. It is a United States and Italy co production with a runtime of 153 minutes and premieres at Venice.
The film is included in the Out of Competition Fiction lineup curated by the festival. It is scheduled as a world premiere and will screen at Venice prior to any general release plans.
‘Dog 51’ (2025)
Cédric Jimenez’s film serves as the closing night presentation Out of Competition. The cast includes Gilles Lellouche, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Louis Garrel, Romain Duris, and Valeria Bruni Tedeschi. It is a French production running 100 minutes and will premiere at Venice to close the festival.
The title is designated as the festival’s closing film and appears in the Out of Competition slate. It will screen on the final night of the event according to the Biennale program.
Share which Venice titles you are planning to catch in the comments.