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Toronto’s festival is on fire: TIFF Runs Sep 4-14, 2025, and this year’s slate is stacked with buzzy world premieres. If you loved Glass Onion, Rian Johnson’s darker Knives Out sequel is already being called a gothic return — and heavyweight directors from Steven Soderbergh to Nia DaCosta showed up with new films. Which of these 7 TIFF titles should you race to see (or stream later)? Read on for the films critics and studios are whispering about — and one trailer you’ll want to watch right now.
What To Know About TIFF’s Top 7 Films And Why They Matter In 2025
• TIFF Runs Sep 4-14, 2025, Marking Its 50th Edition And Major Premieres.
• Rian Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man World Premiered At TIFF, Highlighting Netflix Rollout.
• Variety Reports Steven Soderbergh And Nia DaCosta Films Are Set For TIFF World Premieres.
• Deadline Reviews Call Wake Up Dead Man A Return To The Franchise’s Gothic Roots.
Top 7 TIFF Premieres To Watch In 2025, Which Ones Matter Most?
#1 – Wake Up Dead Man’s Ominous Return: Why This Knives Out Sequel Matters
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Rian Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man (World Premiere at TIFF) throws Benoit Blanc back into a moody, religious-set locked-room mystery — and Deadline notes it’s the franchise’s most gothic turn. The film’s 2 hr 24 min runtime lets Johnson dig into faith, fury and motive; if you liked Glass Onion’s twists, this one asks heavier questions about why murder stories grip us.
#2 – The Christophers’ Big Premiere: Soderbergh Goes Quietly Ambitious
This Variety-reported world premiere from Steven Soderbergh is one of TIFF’s most-watched bets. Expect a director-known-for-precision to deliver an awards-season-ready tone—see it now if you follow directors who quietly reshape prestige cinema.
#3 – Hedda’s Provocative Take: Nia DaCosta’s TIFF Moment You’ll Discuss
Variety also flags Nia DaCosta’s film as a TIFF entry; DaCosta’s track record suggests a visceral, actor-forward drama. For viewers who like smart reboots of classic material, this could be the festival’s conversation starter.
#4 – The Lost Bus: A Paul Greengrass-Style Shock That Critics Notice
Deadline’s coverage of The Lost Bus points to an adrenaline-heavy real-world thriller with festival legs. If you enjoy political or disaster cinema that tastes like real-world consequences, this one’s likely to stick with you.
#5 – Tempest’s Limited Premiere Strategy: A Slow-Burn TV-to-Film Hook
Deadline notes Tempest will premiere with staggered episodes during TIFF — a hybrid roll-out that teases streaming strategies for 2025. Curious how festivals are testing episodic drops? This is your case study.
#6 – The Man In My Basement: Willem Dafoe’s Festival Turn You Shouldn’t Miss
Deadline listed this title in TIFF’s Discovery section; a Dafoe-led world premiere is a critics’ magnet. If you follow actor-driven indies that explode into awards chatter, put this on your list.
#7 – The Lowdown And Primetime Picks: Where Streaming Meets Festival Clout
Deadline’s Primetime lineup (The Lowdown, Wayward, Black Rabbit) shows TIFF doubling as a TV-orbit launchpad. Want to know which streaming series will dominate conversations come fall? These premieres map the next wave.
3 Big Numbers That Show Why TIFF 2025 Is A Must-Watch Festival
Indicator Value Change/Impact Festival Dates Sep 4-14, 2025 50th Edition Spotlight Centrepiece/Lineup Size 50+ Films Expanded World Premiere Slate Wake Up Dead Man Runtime 2 hr 24 min Longer, More Introspective Franchise Entry
What These 7 TIFF Films Mean For Audiences, Streaming, And Awards In 2025
TIFF 2025 is less a single red-carpet night and more a running trailer for the rest of the year: established auteurs (Soderbergh, Johnson, DaCosta) are using the festival to plant awards-season flags, while studios test hybrid premieres and staggered streaming rollouts. Which of these seven will spark memes, awards chatter, or streaming binges for you — and which will be your next must-screening?
Sources
- https://deadline.com/2025/09/wake-up-dead-man-a-knives-out-mystery-review-rian-johnson-daniel-craig-1236510199/
- https://variety.com/2025/film/news/steven-soderbergh-the-christophers-nia-dacosta-hedda-tiff-lineup-1236441594/
- https://www.indiewire.com/features/best-of/2025-fall-film-festival-preview-tiff-venice-nyff-1235146754/
Jessica Morrison is a seasoned entertainment writer with over a decade of experience covering television, film, and pop culture. After earning a degree in journalism from New York University, she worked as a freelance writer for various entertainment magazines before joining red94.net. Her expertise lies in analyzing television series, from groundbreaking dramas to light-hearted comedies, and she often provides in-depth reviews and industry insights. Outside of writing, Jessica is an avid film buff and enjoys discovering new indie movies at local festivals.