Most Anticipated Films of 2018: Part 2

Alright, here is our second installment of most anticipated films of this new year. We actually have sixteen films on this list because The New Mutants was supposed to be released this year, with a trailer out and everything, but apparently it will not be released until next year. Nevertheless, we kept it on our list so that you could see why we  were excited for its release.

---

16. Incredibles 2

Originally not on our list, Incredibles 2 is sure to be a lot of fun if it follows in the footsteps of the first installment.

---

15. The Favourite 

Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster, The Killing of a Sacred Deer) directs this film set in England during the 1700s. Apparently, it is about Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) and her love affair with the Duchess of Marlborough (Rachel Weisz). Things take a turn for the worse when the Duchess’s cousin, Abigail (Emma Stone), arrives, inciting a struggle between her and the Duchess for the affections of the Queen and court.

Lanthimos has unique sensibilities as a director, so we are interested to see what a film set in the 1700s would look like. Also, like so many of these other films on our list, the cast is phenomenal!

---

14. The Sisters Brothers

Based on Patrick deWitt’s novel of the same name, The Sisters Brothers is directed by Jacques Audiard (A Prophet, Rust and Bone) and stars John C. Reilly, Joaquin Phoenix, Jake Gyllenhaal, Carol Kane, and Riz Ahmed. This dark comedy takes place in 1850s Oregon and California, and follows the assassin brothers, Eli (John C. Reilly) and Charles Sisters (Joaquin Phoenix).

Don’t we wish our last name where Brothers so that we could be the Brothers sisters! Maybe the prequel starring an all-female cast will be named that.

Prequel talk aside, what is there to say besides the fact that this is a dark comedy starring a talented cast?

---

13. The Peanut Butter Falcon

Writer/directors Tyler Nilson and Mike Schwartz direct this adventure film set in modern-day Mark Twain. Zak (Zack Gottsagen), a young man with down syndrome, escapes a nursing home to pursue his dream of becoming a professional wrestler. On his journey, Zac finds outlaw Tyler (Shia LeBouf) who becomes his coach and friend and persuades nursing home employee, Eleanor (Dakota Johnson), to join them on their travels. 

This film has several things going for it: 1) an interesting premise, 2) a solid cast, and, most importantly, 3) an awesome title.

---

12. The Little Stranger

Lenny Abrahamson (Room, Frank) directs this film based on Sarah Waters’ novel of the same name. In 1940s England, Dr. Faraday (Domhnall Gleeson) is called to a patient at Hundreds Hall but soon discovers that the family inhabiting the house–the Ayres family (Ruth Wilson, Will Poulter, and Charlotte Rampling)–are being haunted. 

There is something exciting in the fact that this horror/mystery/drama is being directed by Abrahamson, a director with a taste for the uncanny and quirky, and stars such a talented cast.

---

11. X-Men: Dark Phoenix

First-time director Simon Kinberg is helming this next installment in the X-Men franchise. Not much is known about the film, but supposedly, it takes place in the 1990s when the X-Men are household names. In an unforeseen accident, Jean Grey’s (Sophie Turner) powers are enhanced, making her lose control of her powers and a liability to the rest of the X-Men and the world. Other cast members include Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Jessica Chastain, Evan Peters, and Olivia Munn.

First of all, we are biting our nails with anticipation, hoping that Kinberg does not let us down with his first film. It’s an X-Men film. An X-Men film. Few people, let alone a newby, has the chance to direct one of these films. Other than that, we are looking forward to the latest rendition of these characters’ stories, especially Quicksilver’s.

Seriously, the next X-Men movie better be a Quicksilver solo film.

---

10. The Man Who Killed Don Quixote

Basically, the premise of this film is that an advertising executive, played by Adam Driver, time travels from the 21st century to the 17th century and is mistaken for Sancho Panza by Don Quixote (Jonathan Pryce).

After nearly 20 years of trying to get this film made, Terry Gilliam (Brazil, Twelve Monkeys) has finally succeeded in creating his take on a classic tale, and honestly, his persistence in developing this film is admirable. We hope that his latest film will become yet another classic!

---

  9. Deadpool 2

This sequel to the 2016 hit Deadpool is directed by David Leitch (Atomic Blonde). We’ll just go with Twentieth Century Fox’s IMDb description of the film:

“After surviving a near fatal knee boarding accident, a disfigured guidance counselor (Wade Wilson) struggles to fulfill his dream of becoming Poughkeepsie’s most celebrated French Bulldog breeder while also learning to cope with an open relationship. Searching to regain his passion for life, as well as a new stuffed unicorn, Wade must battle ninjas, tight assed metal men, and babysit a group stereotypical side characters as he journeys around the world to discover the importance of family, friendship, and creative outlets for his very open-minded sex life. He manages to find a new lust for being a do-gooder, a sparkly Hello Kitty backpack, all while earning the coveted coffee mug title of World’s Best 4th Wall Breaking Superhero.”

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

---

8. Isle of Dogs

Wes Anderson (Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Royal Tenenbaums) directs this stop-motion animated film about just what the title suggests, an island of dogs. The film is set in future Japan, where dogs are quarantined to an island to “canine flu.” The dogs of the island (Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, and F. Murray Abraham) are fed up with their rather boring existence until a young boy (Koyu Rankin) arrives in search of his dog, Spot (Liev Schreiber).

Anderson never ceases to surprise audiences, and his latest film doesn’t suggest otherwise. We are particular looking forward to seeing a bunch of homeless dogs rescue a young boy and his dog.

The irony.

---

7. Widows

Based on the 1983 ITV series of the same name, Widows, directed by Steve McQueen, is set in modern-day Chicago and explores the newly forged relationship between the widows (Viola Davis, Elizabeth Debicki, Michelle Rodriguez, Cynthia Erivo) of criminal men. The four women take control of their less than ideal situations and plan a new future for themselves.

McQueen has a great cast and premise, so the question is what will he do with it? With great films such as Shame and Twelve Years a Slave under his belt, we can only imagine how good this film will be.

---

6. Winchester

Directer duo, Michael and Peter Spierig (Predestination, Jigsaw (2017)), explore the supernatural in this film about Sarah Winchester (Helen Mirren) and her devotion to building the Winchester Mystery House to protect herself from the curse that took her child and husband, the famed gun magnate, William Winchester.

The premise of this film alone is intriguing as it is, but add in Helen Mirren as a haunted widow and we’re along for the ride.

---

5. The Happytime Murders

Brian Henson (Muppet Treasure Island, Muppet Christmas Carol) directs this film about a less-than-reputable LAPD detective decides to take on a private case in order to solve the murders of an ’80s children’s TV show. The film stars Melissa McCarthy, Elizabeth Banks, and Maya Rudolph. If the combination of puppets and these leading actresses isn’t enough to excite you, we don’t know what is.

---

4. The New Mutants

In Josh Boone’s new film, five young mutants (Blu Hunt, Charlie Heaton, Maisie Williams, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Henry Zaga) are held against their will in an secret facility and must fight to get out.

Apparently, only 10% of the film was green screen, which is surprising considering that it’s a superhero film. Also, this is a completely new type of genre for Boone, who directed Stuck in Love and The Fault and Our Stars, so more than anything I am excited to see how far he takes this film into horror territory.

---

3. Avengers: Infinity War

Do we even have to provide the plot? Okay, fine: the big purple grape (aka Thanos) is finally going to attempt to defeat the Avengers. Will he succeed? No one knows.

Ummmmm, the trailer looks really good, and we have been waiting for this supervillian to grace our screens with his presence. Enough said.

---

2. Black Panther

Ryan Coogler (Creed, Fruitvale Station) directs this first solo movie for Black Panther, aka T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman). After the events of Captain America: Civil War, T’Challa heads back to his small but technologically advanced nation of Wakanda to claim the throne.

Why are we so excited for Black Panther? First of all, why wouldn’t we be?: the trailer for this film is amazing. Secondly, this film has an amazing cast comprised of Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Andy Serkis, Angela Bassett, Sterling K. Brown, and Forest Whitaker, as well as, Chadwick Boseman.

---

1. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

This 3D computer-animated film is directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman and focuses on Miles Morales’ (Shameik Moore) escapades as Spider-Man. Little is known about the plot, but it is not set to release until the middle of December 2018.

First off, this film looks like the best possible combination of a live-action superhero film, an animated superhero film (i.e. The Incredibles), and pages from a comic book. It just has a unique and exiting feel to it. Second, we are excited to see a new take on Spider-Man: three live-action Peter Parker’s–it’s time for an animated take on the Miles Morales’ storyline.

---

Well, there it is, our top picks for 2018! What movies are you looking forward to seeing this year? Let us know in the comments below.