For pop culture aficionados and enjoyers of all things geeky, few things are better than a convention. Indeed, a con is a place where like-minded individuals can share their love for movies, TV shows, comic books, video games, and many other pop culture aspects. This year, Florida fans have no place to be better than Tampa Bay Comic Convention 2025, which will take place from August 1 to August 3 at the Tampa Bay Convention Center.
Tampa Bay Comic Convention will feature a myriad of things to do, including panels featuring fan favorites like Steve Burns and Cary Elwes and living legends like Carl Lumbly and Keith David. Beyond that, the event will also showcase other activities, including contests and activations, meaning it can be a bit overwhelming to try to fit everything into three days. Collider is here to help, though, as we are showcasing some of the best things to do at Tampa Bay Comic Convention 2025, hopefully making your time at the event all the more enjoyable.
10
Attend One of the Many Cosplay Meetups
Throughout the Event — Different Locations
Cosplaying is one of the best and most integral parts of a comic convention. Dressing up as a beloved character from a movie or video game can represent a showcase for creativity and a chance for liberation. Indeed, many of the most iconic photos from these events feature fans who’ve gone out of their way to recreate a particular costume that you might’ve never thought could work in real life.
Tampa Bay Comic Convention 2025 will feature numerous cosplay meetups for different genres and franchises. Throughout the three days, different cosplay meetups will be held, covering everything from video games like Marvel Rivals and Fallout to shows like Cobra Kaiand My Hero Academia to comic books like Marvel and DC to, of course, movie franchises like Star Wars and Star Trek. No matter your fandom, there is a chance for you to shine here.
9
Celebrate the Horror Genre
Throughout the Event — Different Locations
Horror movies have been around since the dawn of cinema, always scaring us with terrifying visuals, tense-filled stories, and abrupt moments of gore and violence. Horror is one of cinema’s most reliable genres; indeed, you can always count on a horror movie at the movie theater.
Tampa Bay Comic Convention 2025 will feature a few panels and discussions centered on this revered genre. On Friday, there will be a panel about the horror genre’s history; an hour later, another panel will celebrate horror’s most underrated movies. Saturday will have a panel showcasing Black culture’s contributions to the genre and one about Fangoria Magazine, a pillar of modern horror. Finally, Sunday will host a discussion about horror’s ability to bring us together and a panel to celebrate the legendary Roger Corman.
8
Explore the Journey From Video Games to the Big and Small Screens
Friday, August 1 @ 7:00 pm — Room 101
It took a long time for us to get good video game adaptations, but we are on a good path now. The release of HBO’s The Last of Us signalled the beginning of a new dawn for this type of content, with subsequent shows like Fallout continuing the trend.
The panel “The Last of Us, HALO, & Warcraft: How Video Games Have Adapted to Movies & Series, & The Future of This Trend” will do a deep dive on these adaptations, analyzing the struggles and pondering what the future holds. As many wonder if the age of the comic book movie is nearing its end, video games may very well emerge as the new go-to content Hollywood turns to for inspiration, making this panel all the more interesting.
7
Enjoy So-Bad-They’re-Good Sci-Fi Movies
Saturday, August 2 @ 12:00 pm — Room 122
Who doesn’t love a great so-bad-it’s-good movie? These movies might not be “good” in the strictest sense, but they sure are enjoyable and rewatchable. The sci-fi genre has plenty of great examples, and Tampa Bay Comic Convention 2025 is dedicating an entire panel to celebrating these disasterpieces.
The “30 Years of Bad Sci-Fi Movies We Love” panel will showcase several gems of bad science fiction cinema. Among some of these infamous movies will be Waterworld, Johnny Mnemonic, Judge Dredd, Virtuosity, Tank Girl, Species, and Congo, among many others. There is genuine value in these terrible movies that somehow keep us glued to the screen, and this panel aims to explain this strange phenomenon and celebrate it along the way.
6
It’s Always a Good Time to Talk About ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’
Saturday, August 2 @ 5:00 pm — Room 101
Widely considered a masterpiece of comedy, Monty Python and the Holy Grail has endured as a remarkably subversive and ahead-of-its-time cinematic gem. The film presents the legend of King Arthur through delightful anachronisms, adopting an absurdist approach that makes every scene more hilarious than the previous one.
In celebration of its 50th anniversary, Tampa Bay Comic Convention 2025 is hosting a panel dedicated to this emblematic movie. Moderated by Rachelle Hardy, “50 Years of Monty Python and the Holy Grail: A Presentation by 40 Jumping Llamas and 10 Regular Llamas” will feature other guests and focus on exploring and celebrating the film’s legacy, analyzing its enduring power, and discussing some behind-the-scenes details about the production.
5
Why Is A24 So Much Better?
Saturday, August 2 @ 7:00 pm — Room 101
Few other modern studios are as recognizable or acclaimed as A24. Soaring in popularity throughout the 2010s, A24 cemented itself as the go-to destination for cinephiles looking to experience deep, poignant, and truly daring works by some of the most interesting filmmakers working today. Among the studio’s most celebrated films are Oscar-winning masterpieces like Moonlight, coming-of-age stories like Lady Bird, sci-fi triumphs like Ex Machinaand Under the Skin, and horror nightmares like Midsommar.
To understand what makes A24 so successful, Tampa Bay Comic Convention 2025 is hosting the panel “Why Is A24 so Much Better?” The conversation will focus on A24’s distinct style as a creator-focused studio, its journey to awards success, and its slow but steady growth to become one of the industry’s leading forces in entertainment.
Throughout the Event — Different Locations
Writing is a challenging task that demands the author’s full attention. Building a compelling world is among the most difficult aspects, especially for all those venturing into genres like fantasy and science fiction. Luckily for all aspiring writers, Tampa Bay Comic Convention 2025 will host several panels aimed at providing tools to make the journey a lot easier.
On Friday, the panel “Not Just Diversity—Authenticity, Identity, and Imagination: Building Worlds That Reflect Us” will offer a frank discussion about how to craft truly inclusive and authentic worlds. On Saturday, the panel “Conlanging for Worldbuilding” will go through the basics of crafting a language for fiction, while Sunday’s “What a Wonderful World(Building)” will feature tips for how to construct a compelling world.
3
A Look Back at ‘Revenge of the Sith’
Sunday, August 3, @ 12 pm — Room 115
Upon its premiere in May 2005, Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith received positive reviews from critics and fans and became a box office success. Compared to its much lesser predecessor, Revenge of the Sith seemed like a true masterpiece, and time has only been kinder. Indeed, today, it often ranks among the best Star Wars movies, only bested by the original trilogy.
To celebrate its twentieth anniversary, Tampa Bay Comic Convention 2025 will host a panel that will celebrate the film’s legacy, analyze George Lucas‘ singular vision, and the reevaluation it has experienced as a modern sci-fi classic. Fans of the franchise and science fiction as a whole will surely not want to miss this panel, which will undoubtedly be a celebration of one of the noughties’ most misunderstood works.
2
Celebrate the Life and Oeuvre of David Lynch
Friday, August 1 @ 9:00 pm — Room 119
Image via Libra Films International
Few filmmakers have been as iconic or celebrated as the late David Lynch. A master of the surreal and a true trailblazer, Lynch produced countless movies now considered modern classics, starting with his 1977 masterwork, Eraserhead. After all, he was so celebrated that his last name has become synonymous with his distinct style, often imitated but never replicated.
Join Thomas Mariani and Charles Sour for the panel “From Eraserhead to Twin Peaks and Beyond: The Art of David Lynch,” a celebration of one of cinema’s most unique creators. As its name implies, it will be an exploration of Lynch’s singular and weird style, discussing the themes that interested the filmmaker and, of course, the profound impact his work had on cinema as a whole.
1
Attend One of the Many Celebrity Panels
Throughout the Event — Different Locations
As expected, Tampa Bay Comic Convention will feature a slew of great guests from the world of movies, television, and comic books. Familiar faces in pop culture, like the iconic Doug Jones and legends like Cal Lumbly and Keith David, will have spotlight panels. The convention will also feature reunions, notably Nia Vardalos and Joey Fatone from the beloved 2002 rom-com My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
Other major guests include actors like Cary Elwes, Ben Barnes, and Melissa Joan Hart, comic creators like Dan Didio and Amy Chu, and authors like JP Roth and Clayton Sandell. Panels will surely focus on their careers, curious anecdotes, and perhaps even a bit of news regarding future projects. Many of these celebrities will also be available for photo ops throughout the event, making the overall experience even more memorable.
