The 52 Most Anticipated Movies to Watch in 2018
Prepare yourself for the year to come with 52 highly anticipated new movies to watch in 2018.
“Why 52?” That’s the first question we hope gets dropped on Twitter in response to this year’s list. It’s one we get every year, as we’ve done this now since 2013. The reasoning is simple: the average moviegoer sees 8.5 new movies per year. For us, that’s way too low. Now, we understand that people are busy and the world is constantly falling apart these days, so expecting anyone to match pace with our staff critics (who see 200-400 new movies per year) is insane. But one per week? That’s doable. We believe in you. That’s why our list has 52 entries. The equivalent of one film per week, listed in chronological order, that can serve as your roadmap to the year in film.
Of course, no list is perfect. We hope not to have to answer the “Why didn’t Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom make this list?” That should be obvious at this point. But we fully recognize that there will be films in 2018 that come out of nowhere. Notably absent from our 2017 most anticipated list were films such as Lady Bird and Call Me By Your Name. Unless you’re just going to list every movie listed for a particular year on IMDB, you’ll never get them all. Even then you still might not nail it, as several of the films on last year’s list (Annihilation, The Commuter, and Mute) were also on last year’s list. We’re aware of our limitations, so we stick to the films we are confident will capture our attention this coming year.
These 52 feel like the best bets.
Insidious: The Last Key (1/5)
James Wan’s Insidious franchise may not have the cache or reach of his Conjuring films, but he and Leigh Whannell have delivered more than a few fantastically scary set-pieces and scenes over the previous three installments. The fourth film sees a new butt in the director’s chair with Adam Robitel, but rather than be a cause for concern it’s actually a reason for horror fans to rejoice as his last feature was the terrifically creepy The Taking of Deborah Logan. A certain third-act scene from that film sits among the most unsettling of 2014, so I’ll happily follow him into a whole new nightmare. – Rob Hunter
The Commuter (1/12)
The more things change the more they stay the same, and by that I mean Liam Neeson has once again joined forces with Jaume Collet-Serra (Unknown, Non-Stop, Run All Night) who’s perhaps even better known now for that weird shark movie with Blake Lively that a lot of people liked. Per the trailer, The Commuter is basically the perfect knockoff Non-Stop — Neeson’s trapped in a mode of transport, somebody on there knows what’s up, and it’s a game of Clue between a ménage of pained faces. And after I finally catch that very serious and must-see movie about fabric that P.T Anderson has cooked up, I think I’ll respond the conductor calling me to sneak onto the Neeson train for an hour and a half to watch ol’ Irish guts yell dramatically in a phone. Never, never, never, never change, keep messing with trains, cause trains pay. – Andrew Karpan
Proud Mary (1/12)
Taraji P. Henson plays the title role in London Has Fallen director Babak Najafi’s action-thriller about a hit-woman under the payroll of a Boston crime family. When one of her jobs goes wrong, Mary accidentally orphans a young boy changing both of their lives. Set for a January release, Proud Mary also stars Danny Glover, Billy Brown, and Jahi Di’Allo Winston as the orphaned boy. – Farah Cheded
Maze Runner: The Death Cure (1/26)
2015’s The Scorch Trials was a surprising step up from the franchise’s fairly flat first entry and delivered one of that year’s best action films on top of a fun, twisty storyline. It elevated the Maze Runner films well above most other dystopian YA adventures, and with the same principal cast and crew returning for part three I’m hoping for more thrilling set-pieces, solid performances, and entertaining narrative beats. – Rob Hunter
Winchester (2/2)
Directed by Michael and Peter Spierig, this looks like it’s going to be a chilling ghost story anchored by Helen Mirren’s performance as Sara Winchester, a wealthy widow driven by grief, madness or ghosts (or all the above) to endlessly renovate her home. I’ve been fascinated with the Winchester house since I was a kid as there is something about the nonsensical mansion that piques my interest. It feels unsettling when you are on the premises, and I can’t decide whether it’s the surrealist construction or the fact it’s allegedly haunted as they kind of play off each other. Winchester looks to be a bit of spooky mayhem and scares constructed to unsettle your sense of place. – Francesca Fau
Black Panther (2/16)
T’Challa, the Black Panther, ruler of the unconquerable nation of Wakanda and King of the Dead. Ten years ago, when Sam Jackson’s Nick Fury invited Robert Downey Jr’s Tony Stark into the Avengers Initiative, I teetered at the possibilities. However, I never imagined that the films would actually succeed in bringing a character as obscure, or downright mishandled in the comics, to the blockbuster arena. Why should I have faith? I had found ways to appreciate previous awkward adaptations of The Punisher and the X-Men, but they rarely embraced their source material, and often appeared to apologize for their origins. By embracing the farthest reaches of their universe, Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige changed everything. T’Challa can and will be as recognizable as Clark Kent. Ryan Coogler is the perfect man to bring Black Panther to the screen. As he showed in Creed, Coogler will reach deep into the mythology of his franchise, geek out, and still manage to concoct something wholly original. With cinematographer Rachel Morrison (Mudbound, Fruitvale Station) and costume designer Ruth E. Carter (Selma, Malcom X) on board, the first trailers have already declared Black Panther to be the most visually striking entry in the MCU. As king, Chadwick Boseman leads a cast of titanic talent that could conceivably revolutionize pop culture representation. Black Panther is more than just another link in the MCUs chain of films, it offers genuine hope for the future. – Brad Gullickson
Annihilation (2/23)
Based on the first book of Jeff VanderMeer’s Southern Reach Trilogy, Annihilation promises to be a lush and creepy showing. The trailers hint that it might be a little more in-your-face scary than the deliberately obscure novels, but with a strong cast (Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson, Oscar Isaac…) and a richly spooky setting, it’ll likely be good no matter what. Having read the trilogy, I’m so excited to see how this adaptation goes. – Liz Baessler
Red Sparrow (3/2)
It’s Russia vs USA in the game of spies. Jennifer Lawrence plays ballerina turned Russian spy Dominika Egorova who’s recruited the Sparrow School, a Russian intelligence service that trains young women to use their bodies as weapons and to get whatever they need at all costs. The novel is a very interesting cat and mouse game between the agents. Interestingly enough, Lawrence’s ex-boyfriend, Darren Aronofsky, was originally attached to direct the feature before it landed with her Hunger Games director, Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend). – Max Covill
Gringo (3/9)
David Oyelowo, Charlize Theron, and Joel Edgerton are more than enough reason to want to dive into this blackly comic thriller, but it also marks the first feature from director Nash Edgerton since 2008’s nifty little suspense tale, The Square. All of that should be more than enough to outweigh the presence of Sharlto Copley. – Rob Hunter
The Upside (3/9)
2011’s The Intouchables is a somewhat straightforward tale from France of a wealthy but unhealthy white man who forms a friendship with the black man hired as his caretaker. It shouldn’t work really, but it does a terrific job with its characters and the empathy that builds between them. This is the inevitable American remake, and while it can still go either way the pairing of Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart holds promise. – Rob Hunter
A Wrinkle In Time (3/9)
There’s a lot of buzz around Ava DuVernay’s adaptation of Madeleine L’Engle’s beloved 1962 children’s book. (If you haven’t noticed the buzz, start with the cover of this week’s Time Magazine). As the biggest-budget live-action film to be directed by a woman of color, and with a female-driven, racially diverse cast, the buzz is good and deserved. But all that aside, it looks awesome. Mindy Kaling, Reese Witherspoon, and Oprah Winfrey as Mrs. Who, Mrs. Whatsit, and Mrs. Which are sure to be amazing, and Storm Reid, at only 14, looks like she’s holding her own in the trailer. I for one am rereading my childhood copy of the book in excited anticipation. – Liz Baessler
Tomb Raider (3/16)
Video game adaptations always unease critics and audiences alike, but as someone who spent many hours playing Tomb Raider in its various sequels and reboots I am more than ready for this take on Lara Croft. Based on the 2013 reboot of the gaming franchise this film is about a younger, greener Croft venturing out to finish what her father started. It’s a reboot and an origin story all in one. While that’s a tall order for any film, let alone a video game adaptation, I have the utmost faith in The Wave director Roar Uthaug. Furthermore, if anyone new is going to breath live-action life into this character it’s Alicia Vikander. Some early posters had people shaking their heads, but all I needed to know that Vikander was right for this is her competently toting duel pistols and watching her tackle some action activities with gusto. If this is the start of a video game cinematic universe, as promised by producer Adrian Askarieh, my ever-optimistic heart is predicting it will be a good one. – Francesca Fau
Unsane (3/23)
Little is known about Steven Soderbergh’s latest aside from it was shot on an iPhone and stars The Crown’s Claire Foy. Those two things cancel each other out in my eyes leaving us once again in the dark, but Soderbergh’s a talent whose films are always worth watching at least once. Okay fine, I turned off Bubble twenty minutes in, but my point stands in general! – Rob Hunter
Isle of Dogs (3/23)
Since the credits rolled on my first viewing of Fantastic Mr. Fox I’ve been itching for Wes Anderson’s next foray into stop-motion animation. Isle of Dogs is therefore at the top of my list in 2018. I cannot wait to dive into a meticulously crafted pastel world where a little boy searches for his dog in a futuristic Japan. Isle of Dogs promises to be a whimsical and enchanting storybook come to life with a stellar voice cast including Ken Watanabe, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Greta Gerwig, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, and F. Murray Abraham among many others. (Honestly, I can’t tell if this is the cast or my fantasy dinner party guest list.) Isle of Dogs is going to be a fun time at the movies this year and I am so, so ready. – Francesca Fau
Ready Player One (3/30)
A new Steven Spielberg film would get anyone excited, but what if I told you this one was based off one of the best page-turners around? Ready Player One gets knocked around a lot for its incessant usage of pop culture, but honestly, that’s half the fun. The story is about Wade Watts, a young man who’s deep into the online world of OASIS which has taken the place of much of society. Now Wade has a chance to become the administrator of that world if he can only find the creators’ Easter Eggs. It’s a futuristic Willy Wonka mixed with a whole lot of pop culture. – Max Covill
A Quiet Place (4/6)
John Krasinski hasn’t exactly set the world ablaze with his previous directorial efforts, but his third film looks to dip into the horror genre in fascinating ways. He stars alongside Emily Blunt as a couple attempting to elude “something” deadly that finds its prey through sound. The initial teaser is fantastic, and it combined with these two leads is enough to leave me hooked and hopeful that the monstrous threat is an actual monster (he said, throwing shade at It Comes at Night). – Rob Hunter
Tully (4/20)
Jason Reitman burst onto the scene in 2005 and just got better and better until he peaked with 2011’s brilliant Young Adult. It’s been a downhill slide with the two films since, but I’m thinking he’s ready to shine again. His latest reunites him with Charlize Theron and writer Diablo Cody for a tale of motherhood, and this is a power trio to believe in. – Rob Hunter
“Untitled Cloverfield 3” (4/20)
I’m not the biggest fan of Cloverfield as despite my love of monster movies it’s a found footage suck fest. Bland characters, nonsensical camera use, and minimal wonder make for a dull time. The barely related follow-up, 10 Cloverfield Lane, is wholly my jam with terrific suspense, strong performances, and a killer ending. What I’m saying is who the hell knows what to expect with the third film as it’s once again a standalone tale that’s been massaged into this shared universe. We do know it stars Daniel Brühl, Elizabeth Debicki, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, though, and that trio along with its rumored title (The God Particle) are more than enough to have us excited to discover its secrets while sitting in a darkened theater. – Rob Hunter
Avengers: Infinity War (5/4)
It’s all been building to this. Joss Whedon teed up a massive cosmic promise to fanboys when he had the mad titan, Thanos, turn his smile towards them during The Avengers’ mid-credits stinger. Many may have scratched their heads at the sight of that purple, bumpy chin, but for those in the know it was a pledge to take Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to the final frontier. Since then we’ve seen Rocket Raccoon, the astral plane, and the mirror dimension. Wanna get nuts? Let’s get nuts. And yet…has Thanos even risen from his chair? Do we have any reason to fear him? As a comic book obsessive, currently re-reading Jonathan Hickman’s epic Infinity saga, I know that Thanos could be another game-changer for the MCU. He’s a beast, a homicidal nightmare. Forget the memes, Josh Brolin’s ultimate bad will not fall into the long line of wonky CG villains under the guidance of the Russo Brothers. These guys delivered two of the franchise’s strongest entries, juggling myriad characters and plot points, and I believe they’ll succeed on that titanic tease from 2012. – Brad Gullickson
Solo: A Star Wars Story (5/25)
Do we need a Han Solo origin story or even a young Han Solo adventure? No. But we’re getting one, and it will make a ton of money, and then we’ll get even more unnecessary prequels to keep this cash train moving through space ad nauseam. All of that said, Ron Howard has made some good movies, and this cast is pretty killer, so sure… we’re looking forward to it. – Rob Hunter
Deadpool 2 (6/1)
Ryan Reynolds was born to play the Merc with the mouth. His venom-soaked delivery of razor-sharp one-liners is unmatched. Like most superhero sequels we’re still getting our favorites back including the return of Negasonic Teenage Warhead and Colossus, but newcomers Zazie Beats as Domino and Josh Brolin as Cable shake things up. Also, did I mention how awesome the trailer looked? Anyone of those shots in the Bob Ross-themed trailer could have been on One Perfect Shot. Even though there’s a glut of superhero films in 2018, this is going to be a refreshing self-referential adventure worth prioritizing. – Francesca Fau
Ocean’s 8 (6/8)
But seriously, did you see that trailer? The one where the fierce and determined criminal mastermind played by Sandra Bullock assembles an un-fucking-believable crew of lady criminals to pull of the heist of the century? At the freaking MET Gala? So many powerful women stealing so many sparkly things. Sign us up. – Meg Shields
The Incredibles 2 (6/15)
Nearly fourteen years ago, The Incredibles ended on a slightly ominous note with the appearance of a new mole-like villain named The Underminer. The sequel, set for a summer release, will pick up from this point, following the titular family as they attempt to thwart The Underminer’s evil plans. At this summer’s D23 expo, director Brad Bird also confirmed that The Incredibles 2 would devote more of its focus to Elastigirl this time around. The film’s cast remains mostly the same, with the additions of Catherine Keener and Bob Odenkirk in (as yet) unnamed roles. – Farah Cheded
Sicario 2: Soldado (6/29)
I’m the guy who thinks Wind River is a dud and Hell or High Water is merely very good, but I also think Sicario is just a fantastically smart and intense experience. This sequel loses Emily Blunt but retains writer Taylor Sheridan and its two incredibly intense male leads in Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin. There’s no audience surrogate without Blunt, and that means the tale most likely won’t be as emotionally powerful, but it still looks to be a violent, tension-filled action/thriller, and that’s more than enough for me. – Rob Hunter
Ant-Man and the Wasp (7/6)
The original Ant-Man was fairly inconsequential in the grand scheme of the MCU, but Paul Rudd and his wacky cast of side characters revealed a tier of levity previously unseen. From wannabe heist film to romantic comedy, director Peyton Reed hopes to skip around genres with this series. For these super heroics to continue on for another fifty years or so, Marvel Studios needs to branch out into the many flavors of cinema. They were a little loosey goosey with the first film, but now it’s time for them to really experiment with the narrative borders. – Brad Gullickson
The Nun (7/13)
Joining the ranks of Bad Habits and Sacred Flesh comes Corin Hardy’s nunsploitation flick The Nun. The film centers on the investigation into the suicide of a young Nun cloistered in Romania. There’s tell of demonic, nunly manifestations and unholy orders with even unholier secrets. Tacitly authored by modern horror heavyweight James Wan, The Nun is set to be the fifth installment in The Conjuring series. – Meg Shields
Mission: Impossible 6 (7/27)
The Mission: Impossible franchise has been enjoying a good streak since Ghost Protocol, and while a sixth installment may not be essential viewing it definitely has us intrigued. We’re still in the dark story-wise, but the locations — Paris, London, India, New Zealand, and Norway — suggest another globetrotting crusade with a strong stunt game and a stellar cast. Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Michelle Monaghan, Alec Baldwin, and Sean Harris join Tom Cruise once again in what should be the actor’s triumphant return to action after this year’s Mummy mess and the lukewarm reception for American Made. We can only count the days for Cruise’s latest dare-devilish stunt. – Karen Gomez
The Predator (8/3)
Even though the series has encountered a few stumbling blocks since the original 1987 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, any new movie featuring Rastafarian aliens hunting humans for sport is going to seductively tickle us. When it’s directed by Shane Black and co-written by Fred Dekker, however, it boasts the potential to be one of the year’s best releases capable of erasing any previous wrongdoings. If anyone can return the Predator franchise to top form, it’s the pairing who brought us Monster Squad after all. The latest sequel also ignores the events of every movie bar the first one (sorry Predator 2, we still love you), so it’s like a rebirth of sorts. But as long as we get to experience the thrill of the kill and the quest for survival we’re on board whichever way they decide to approach it. – Kieran Fisher
The Happytime Murders (8/17)
Think Who Framed Roger Rabbit meets The Muppets, and you’ll have an idea of this long in the making comedy/thriller from Brian Henson. The all-puppet cast of an 80s kids show are being murdered, and only a disgraced cop can stop the slaughter. Yes, of course he’s also a puppet, and with Melissa McCarthy, Elizabeth Banks, and more along for the ride we’re hopeful this is the best not-for-kids puppet movie since Meet the Feebles. – Rob Hunter
The Kid Who Would Be King (9/28)
Is the world ready for another Camelot-related movie just a year after King Arthur: Legend of the Sword’s attempt to revive the Arthurian legend flopped in spectacular fashion. This film, directed by Attack the Block helmer Joe Cornish, looks to be an attempt to inject the age-old tale with some youthful energy as it follows a teenager named Alex (presumably an Arthur figure) who discovers Excalibur. Set in the modern-day, the sword-wielding Alex and his friends must prevent medieval malefactor Morgana from ending the world. The Kid Who Would Be King is being billed as a family-friendly fantasy film starring Patrick Stewart as Merlin, Rebecca Ferguson as Morgana, and Louis Serkis (son of mo-cap legend Andy) in the title role. – Farah Cheded
Bad Times at the El Royale (10/5)
Shit goes down when a bunch of shady characters (including Jeff Bridges and Chris Hemsworth) collide violently at a rundown hotel near California’s Lake Tahoe in the latest contained thriller from Drew Goddard (Cabin in the Woods). Details are scarce at this point, but Bridges is set to play a down-on-his-luck priest, which for our money sounds pitch perfect. – Meg Shields
Venom (10/5)
I’m not up on my Spider-Man mythology, but I do know that Venom is a punk human who’s turned into something of an anti-Spider-Man by some black goo or something. Close? Probably not, but I do know that Tom Hardy takes the lead here alongside Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed, Jenny Slate, and others, so whatever the story ends up being I trust it will at least be brought to life by some marvelous onscreen talents. – Rob Hunter
First Man (10/12)
Damien Chazelle’s only a few films into what promises to be a long career, but he’s already marked himself as someone to watch. He’s leaving drum solos and L.A. musicals behind for his latest film, a biopic of Neil Armstrong, but his cast is still music to our eyes with the likes of Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Jon Bernthal, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, and others. – Rob Hunter
Halloween (10/19)
John Carpenter‘s forty-year-old slasher is finally getting a sequel, and while he’s not returning the most famous final girl is — Jamie Lee Curtis is bringing Laurie Strode back to face Michael Myers for the second time. The unlikely but wholly inspired filmmaking duo of David Gordon Green and Danny McBride are onboard to direct and write, and Carpenter is reportedly composing a new score. All of this is ridiculously exciting, and we’re hoping it makes the four decades wait for a sequel worth it. – Rob Hunter
Holmes and Watson (11/9)
The eternal, global, human community of artists and storytellers — those of many swell remakes, reboots, legacyquels, and reimaginings — will forever revisit the stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes and his trusty sidekick, Dr. Watson. This one will star Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly in the titular roles, see Ralph Fiennes do some Moriarty work, pick up a Hugh Laurie as Mycroft, and bring in Kelly Macdonald and Rebecca Hall to class up the joint as Mrs. Hudson and Dr. Grace Hart, respectively. It’ll be like Step Brothers, but with more top hats. – Neil Miller
Widows (11/16)
After far too long a wait, 2018 is finally gifting us with a new film from Steve McQueen. Based on a British TV program from the ‘80s, Widows is a Chicago-set heist thriller with a starry cast including Viola Davis, Colin Farrell, Liam Neeson, and Jon Bernthal. When four armed robbers die in a heist gone wrong, their widows are left to take charge and complete the job. The screenplay is co-written by Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn and director McQueen, and is set to feature Tony Award-winner Cynthia Erivo in her second ever film performance after the October release, Bad Times at the El Royale. – Farah Cheded
The Women of Marwen (11/21)
Robert Zemeckis’ next film is an adaptation of the story behind the documentary Marwencol, in which the victim of a brutal attack finds therapy in his post-brain damage life by building a 1/6th scale World War II-era town in his backyard. It’s heavy stuff, but the documentary was surprisingly uplifting. Zemeckis will attempt to recreate that magical thematic mixture with a cast that includes Gwendoline Christie, Baby Driver‘s Eiza Gonzales, Leslie Mann, Diane Kruger, and Steve Carell as Mark Hogancamp, the main character. – Neil Miller
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (12/14)
Sony is pretty damn desperate with their Spider-Man property. Homecoming was bloody brilliant, and it’s a true thrill to see him swinging with The Avengers, but I am not sold on Silver Sable, Black Cat, Venom, Cardiac, or whatever third-rate villain they’re trying to shove into the spotlight. The idea of stretching the character out into the animated market seemed odd to me as well. Then I saw the trailer. It just looks rad. My only concern is that by diving straight into the multiverse, we won’t have enough time to savor the Miles Morales iteration of the character. What horrors lurk within the Spider-Verse? More blah, blah bland Peter Parker? Spider-Gwen is cool, but doesn’t she deserve her own movie? Spider-Man Noir? Spider-Man 2099? Spider-Ham? (Ok, yeah, I need Spider-Ham in my life). The film could go off the rails fairly easily. Now, with a script by Phil Lord, I am hopeful that the animated form could offer something new to the spandex sub-genre. At the very least, the Spider-Verse could prove the viability for other cartoon adventures, and a testing ground for the wilder ideas found within the comic books. – Brad Gullickson
Aquaman (12/21)
Hear’s the thing, poorly CGI’d upper lips aside, Jason Momoa’s chill, dudebro take on Aquaman was fun to watch in Justice League. Aquaman isn’t a character I get excited about, but I’ve been wrong before about a DC film so I’m more than ready to gamble on Momoa’s performance and James Wan’s capable direction. Add in Patrick Wilson as Black Manta and Amber Heard as Mera, and I say sign me up. DC films are sometimes a gamble but think this is a bet worth taking. – Francesca Fau
Mary Poppins Returns (12/25)
It’s a Mary Poppins sequel. But with Emily Blunt and Lin Manuel Miranda. Oh, and Dick Van Dyke, Meryl Stree, Colin Firth, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Angela Lansbury, and Ben Wishaw. Cool. – Neil Miller
Apostle (TBA)
Gareth Evans upped the game for modern action movies with The Raid and its stunning sequel, Berandal, so we’re on board with anything he does. His upcoming film is a period thriller about a man who travels to a remote island to save his sister from the clutches of a maniacal cult. Under the guidance of Evans, such a premise paves the way for some glorious carnage to be unleashed, and with The Guest’s Dan Stevens set to star alongside Lucy Boynton and Martin Sheen, it’s shaping up to be pretty bad-ass all around. – Kieran Fisher
Creed II (TBA)
A bunch of the people who made Creed such a success (Tessa Thompson and Michael B. Jordan) are teaming up with the legends of the Rocky franchise (Sly Stallone and Dolph Lundgren). The log-line is simple, “Adonis Creed tries to seek revenge when he goes toe to toe with the man who killed his father.” The only potential problem is that Ryan Coogler has handed his director’s headset off to up-and-comer Steven Caple Jr. It still should work about as well as the first time around, especially with Luke Cage showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker getting a pass on the screenplay. We’re optimistic. – Neil Miller
Dragged Across Concrete (TBA)
S. Craig Zahler’s movies are a divisive and much-debated topic among the FSR staff, but the polarizing nature of his work makes whatever he puts out intriguing, nonetheless. His latest is a police brutality thriller starring Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughn, and we don’t expect his penchant for graphic violence and controversy to disappear any time soon. Any movie with a supporting cast that includes Don Johnson, Michael Jai White, Jennifer Carpenter, and Udo Kier has all the right ingredients for a gritty, hard-boiled exploitation treat that, while anathema to the mood of our current socio-political climate will most likely cause a fun ruckus when it’s released. – Kieran Fisher
Hold the Dark (TBA)
Jeremy Saulnier’s previous movies have shown a knack for taking simple premises and turning them into visceral gut-punches. His sophomore feature, Blue Ruin, took the everyman revenge tale and crafted one of the most intense genre efforts in recent memory, while 2016’s siege thriller, Green Room, solidified his place as one of the most exciting and devastating up and coming filmmakers in the business. His latest is an adaptation of William Giraldi’s novel of the same name, and if you’re familiar with that text then you’ll know it’s a work which caters to Saulnier’s macabre sensibilities. A snow-capped Alaskan murder mystery featuring dark secrets, wild wolves, and bloodshed? Expect this one to chill you to the core and excite you with its wicked thrills. – Kieran Fisher
If Beale Street Could Talk (TBA)
The fact that James Baldwin’s fifth novel is being adapted for a motion picture is reason enough to celebrate. Add Academy Award-winner Barry Jenkins to write and direct the picture? Well where can I buy my ticket. The story features a couple who are engaged and become pregnant. Everything is fine until the man is falsely accused of raping a woman after being set up by a racist cop, and now the rush to free him before his baby is born becomes a clear priority. Jenkins apparently wrote the screenplay during the same summer he wrote Moonlight. – Max Covill
The Irishman (TBA)
Mr. Scorsese would like to cordially invite you to a movie about the death of Jimmy Hoffa starring Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Meth Damon, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, Bobby Cannavale, and Ray Romano. Pretty much all the wise guys, plus Jesse Plemons. – Neil Miller
Mary Queen of Scots (?)
What do Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie have in common? If you guessed they’ll both be nominated for Best Actress this year you’re right, but they’re also co-starring in Mary Queen of Scots. The movie is based on John Guy’s biography, My Heart is My Own: The Life of Mary Queen of Scots. Ronan will be playing Mary who’s trying to overthrow her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I (Robbie). The supporting cast is fantastic as well and features David Tennant, Joe Alwyn, and Guy Pearce. – Max Covill
Mute (TBA)
Next year, Duncan Jones is bringing us a science fiction mystery film about a mute bartender in future Berlin searching for his MIA girlfriend. The only clue: two American surgeons. With a score from Clint Mansell (Pi, Black Swan), a cast that includes Alexander Skarsgård, Paul Rudd, and Justin Theroux, and Jones himself describing it as a Casablanca-inspired spiritual sequel to 2009’s Moon, there’s a lot to get hyped about. – Meg Shields
On the Basis of Sex (TBA)
Biopics aren’t always the most exciting films, but the right combination of subject, talent, and timing is a good predictor of interest. This one explores the early life of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and casts Felicity Jones in the title role with support from Armie Hammer, Justin Theroux, Kathy Bates, and more. It’s also the first feature from director Mimi Leder in nine years. – Rob Hunter
Psychokinesis (TBA)
Director Yeon Sang-ho directed two hard-hitting animated films before shifting into genre with an animated zombie thriller and following it with a kick-ass live-action sequel (Train to Busan). All of that means we’re crazily excited for whatever he does next, and especially after discovering that “whatever” is a dark, superhero origin story. – Rob Hunter
Suspiria (TBA)
Dario Argento‘s best film may be Deep Red and his most entertaining might be Phenomena, but his best known and most stunningly beautiful is Suspiria. The idea of remaking it strikes some as absurd — David Gordon Green was attached for a while before shifting his attention over to the Halloween follow-up — but if it was going to happen you could hardly do better than director Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name, A Bigger Splash) whose long proven himself capable of capturing pure beauty onscreen. Bring on all 170 minutes of it! – Rob Hunter
Under the Silver Lake (TBA)
2014’s It Follows remains a killer horror tale, and writer/director David Robert Mitchell immediately marked himself as someone to watch. His latest appears to shift his attention from horror to crime thriller, but we’re thrilled to join Riley Keough, Andrew Garfield, and Topher Grace for the dark ride. – Rob Hunter
