I haven't seen a Transformers film in years and honestly the only reason I'm interested in this is because Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings) is directing.
The sequel to the 2016 film that continues to expand the Harry Potter universe, this time with more fanservice as Jude Law portrays Albus Dumbledore.
Eh...I liked Wreck it Ralph a fair bit and wanna be more excited for this, but I kinda worry its gonna get bogged down in product placement and pop culture references. We'll see.
52. The Happy Prince
Rupert Everett writes, directs, and stars in this film about the final days of Oscar Wilde.
51. Holmes and Watson
Did you think there were too many Sherlock Holmes stories right now? From the Benedict Cumberbatch show to the Robert Downey Jr. movies to the Ian McKellen film to the CBS series to that gnome movie. Well, hope you can find room for one more because Will Ferrell will be portraying this role in this comedic take on the character, with John C. Reilly playing John Watson.
Rob Marshall (Chicago, Into the Woods) directs this sequel to Mary Poppins, with Emily Blunt taking over the title role. Dick Van Dyke will be portraying a new character with Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Colin Firth, and Meryl Streep are some who fill out the rest of the cast.
Presumably intended as a franchise starter as its based on a novel series, the film is set in a post-apocalyptic steampunk world where entire cities have been mounted on wheels and motorised, and prey on one another. Peter Jackson is one of three credited screenwriters.
Currently in theaters telling the story of Richard Wershe, a teenager from Detroit who became an undercover informant for the FBI during the 1980s drug epidemic. I have followed Richard Wershe's story and must say that it is truly tragic and frustrating so the chance to see it reach a bigger audience is exciting. The cast includes Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Bruce Dern, Piper Laurie, and Brian Tyree Henry.
47. The Hate U Give
A black teen divided between the poor, mostly black neighborhood she lives in and the wealthy, mostly white prep school she attends, who finds herself facing pressure from all sides of the community when she witnesses her friend shot by a police officer. The film currently holds a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 16 reviews and an average rating of 8.3/10.
A thriller with no relation to the 2005 film of the same name. Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway star while the film is written and directed by Steven Knight, who previously wrote Eastern Promises and wrote and directed Locke, two films I enjoy quite a bit.
Look, I'm going to be honest. I'm still pretty bummed that we didn't get to see DavidFincher and Rooney Mara continue this series, but I guess that's that. Still, maybe this could be good. Claire Foy has been a rising star and it even has Cameron Britton (Mindhunter) in it. The film is directed by Fede Alvarez, best known for The Evil Dead remake and Don't Breathe.
Based on a true story, Green Book is directed by Peter Farrelly (of the Farrelly Brothers) and stars Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen as a Jamaican-American pianist and his New York driver/bodyguard respectively. The film won the People's Choice Award and the trailer screams "Crowd Pleaser." The film currently holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 10 reviews with an average rating of 7.1/10. Interestingly enough, Viggo Mortensen's character is Tony Lip, who would later portray mob boss Carmine Lupertazzi on The Sopranos.
43. Creed II
I really enjoyed the first Creed and admittedly (similar to the Rocky franchise), I'm unsure if we needed more. We had a great movie that stood on its own and I'm not sure if turning this into a franchise is what it needs, especially with Ryan Coogler not returning to direct. But I won't lie, that trailer was pretty damn good.
A biopic on the band Queen with Rami Malek (Mr. Robot) starring as Freddie Mercury. There are a couple reasons why this film isn't higher on the list. The first reason is because Sacha Baron Cohen was originally set to play Mercury but left due to creative differences. Cohen seemed like a perfect fit but I do love Rami Malek so I wish him the best. But the other concern is Bryan Singer. He was fired with two weeks left in filming, accused of showing up late to work (or not at all) and feuding with the cast. Dexter Fletcher served as Singer's replacement but Singer is still the credited director. How these production issues will affect the film remains to be seen.
An animated film based on the Miles Morales version of Spider-man, a teen from Brooklyn who takes on the Spider-man mantle in an alternate universe. The film will be exploring a shared multi-verse of different people (including Peter Parker) who have taken on the Spider-man mantle, but Miles Morales will be the protagonist. The cast includes Mahershala Ali, Hailee Steinfeld, Liev Schrieber, Brian Tyree Henry, and apparently even Nicolas Cage (who does not appear in the trailer).
The newest film from Drew Goddard, a guy you might not know by name but has a resume many may recognize. He began writing for tv shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Alias, and Lost, more recently creating the Netflix series Daredevil. In film, he wrote Cloverfield and World War Z (my negative feelings on World War Z aside, with all of the production issues, I suspect most of the film's faults were not because of Goddard) and The Martian (for which he received an Oscar nomination. He made his directorial debut with The Cabin in the Woods, which he co-wrote with Joss Whedon. His latest film, an original screenplay, follows seven strangers who each are hiding dark secrets that come to a head on one night in a shady motel. The cast includes Jeff Bridges, Dakota Johnson, Jon Hamm, and Chris Hemsworth.
Peterloo is based on the true story of the Peterloo Massacre when British forces killed their own people who were protesting parliamentary reform. Directed by Mark Leigh, the film currently has an 83% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 12 reviews with an average rating of 6,9/10.
An A24 film starring Emma Thompson as a High Court judge must decide if she should order a life-saving blood transfusion for a teen with cancer despite his family's refusal to accept medical treatment for religious reasons. The film currently has a 69% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 67 reviews with an average rating of 6.3/10.
Mimi Leder's first film in nearly a decade stars Felicity Jones as a young Ruth Bader Ginsburg, focusing on her battling a case of gender discrimination. Armie Hammer co-stars as her husband.
In a plot that makes me think of Tim Burton's Big Eyes (this isn't a bad thing and both films being based on a true story is actually very telling), Keira Knightley stars as the title character, an author writing novels under her husband's name who pushes to challenge gender norms and get the credit she deserves. Dominic West co-stars as her husband.
Melissa McCarthy stars as a failing writer who begins forging letters from deceased authors and playwrights. The film premiered at the Telluride Film Festival and currently holds a Rotten Tomatoes score of 100% based on 21 reviews, with an average rating of 7.8/10.
34. Welcome to Marwen
Steve Carell stars in this new Robert Zemeckis film about a man dealing with the aftermath of a violent assault by creating a WWII miniature village. The surreal approach features scenes of the dolls (voiced by Carell and the rest of the live-action cast) enacting out their own sequences. Whether or not the film (based on a true story) will address that the man was beaten up for being a cross-dresser remains to be seen.
Nicolas Cage stars in this action-horror with a lot of red colors. The film has had a mostly positive but still rather divisive response, with some calling it unique and praising Cage's performance and others calling it overlong and has more style than substance. It's also one of the last films scored by the late Jóhann Jóhannsson.
A Japanese drama about a family who resorts to shoplifting to cope with their poverty, the film holds an approval rating of 100% based on 24 reviews, with an average rating of 9.2/10. It is Japan's selection for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards
It's a British Christmas zombie musical film. What more do you want?
30. Capernaum
A Lebanese drama film that premiered at Cannes, receiving a 15-minute standing ovation and winning the Grand Jury Prize. It tells the story of a young boy who decides to sue his parents. It is Lebanon’s selection for Best Foreign Language film at the Academy Awards.
Clint Eastwood was once one of my favorite working directors though admittedly my opinion on his recent work hasn't been particularly positive. But The Mule looks exciting. Clint Eastwood also stars, his first acting role since Trouble with the Curve in 2012. Inspired by a true story, Eastwood portrays a man in his 80s who begins working as a drug dealer and courier for a Mexican drug cartel. Past Eastwood collaborators Bradley Cooper, Michael Peña, and Laurence Fishburne co-star as DEA Agents.
Saorise Ronan stars as the title character while Margot Robbie plays the Queen of England in 1569, covering the conflict between the two countries. Guy Pearce and David Tennant also star but this looks like a showcase for Ronan and Robbie’s performances.
Danish director Lars Von Trier brings controversy yet again in his latest film which had a divisive response at Cannes and resulted in walk-outs due to its graphic violence. The film stars Matt Dillon as a serial killer in Washington State set over several years.
Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl) stars as real-life war correspondent Marie Colvin, with the film seeming to emphasize her covering of the Syrian Civil War.
A drama film from first-time writer/director Elizabeth Chomko, the film tells the story of Bridget (Hilary Swank) returning to her family at the urging of her brother (Michael Shannon) where her mother (Blythe Danner) is suffering from Alzheimer's. Robert Forster co-stars as her father. The film currently has a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 11 reviews with an average rating of 7.5/10.
Chloë Sevigny and Kristen Stewart star in this film telling the story of Lizzie Borden (portrayed by Sevigny) and the events leading up to the infamous ax-murders. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 70% based on 20 reviews, with an average rating of 5.8/10.
Jason Reitman (Up in the Air, Juno) directs this biographical drama starring Hugh Jackman as Gary Hart, a Democratic presidential candidate in 1988 and the fallout that occurred when his extramarital affair was revealed to the public.
A new film from director Karyn Kusama, starring Nicole Kidman as a cop who must deal with her past when a gang leader she knew when working undercover re-emerges. The film currently holds an 85% on Rotte Tomatoes based on 33 reviews with an average rating of 6.8/10. Much praise has went towards Nicole Kidman's performance.
Dan Stevens stars in this period horror from Garth Evans (The Raid series) in his English-language debut. The film follows a man traveling to an island to find his sister, who's been kidnapped by a cult.
20. Halloween
David Gordon Green has already proven himself to be a versatile director with work both comedic (Pineapple Express) and dramatic (George Washington, Joe) and now he's tackling the horror genre with the latest film in the Halloween franchise. Now there's an interesting catch to this one. Jamie Lee Curtis is returning but the film is a direct sequel to the 1978 classic, treating the rest of the sequels as if they never happened. The film currently holds an 83% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 42 reviews with an average rating of 7.2/10.
Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga star in the latest adaptation of A Star is Born, this time using a country music backdrop. The film has been incredibly acclaimed so far with a Rotten tomatoes rating of 95% based on 77 reviews and an average rating of 8.1/10. Bradley Cooper also directs.
18. The Sisters Brothers
Honestly I don't think the trailer for this is that special but the reason why I want to see it is because it's directed by acclaimed French filmmaker Jacques Audiard and has an excellent cast (John C. Reilly, Joaquin Phoenix, Jake Gyllenhaal, Riz Ahmed, and Rutger Hauer). Reilly and Phoenix play two assassin brothers who get caught up in the California gold rush.
17. Beautiful Boy
One of two films starring a love interest from Lady Bird with the word "Boy" in the title coming out this year based on a true story. This one stars Timothée Chalamet as a young meth addict while Steve Carell portrays his father. Also starring Maura Tierney and Amy Ryan, the film holds an approval rating of 84% based on 25 reviews, with an average rating of 6.2/10. The film holds an approval rating of 94% based on 16 reviews, with an average rating of 8/10
16. Boy Erased
The other film starring a love interest from Lady Bird with the word "Boy" in the title coming out this year based on a true story. This one stars Lucas Hedges as a son pressured into entering gay conversion therapy by his parents (Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman). It's written and directed by Joel Edgerton (The Gift) who also portrays the head therapist at the gay conversion therapy program.
15. At Eternity's Gate
Willem Dafoe plays Vincent Van Gogh in his final days. The film holds an approval rating of 80% based on 10 reviews, with an average rating of 6.8/10
14. Burning
A Korean mystery drama based on the short story "Barn Burning" by Japanese author Haruki Murakami. The film is directed by Lee Chang-dong who also helmed the excellent film "Poetry" and Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead) plays a key supporting role. The trailer is here although I have not yet watched it, having heard that the film is best viewed with as little info as possible. The film premiered at Cannes Film Festival and is South Korea's selection for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards.
Willem Dafoe plays Vincent Van Gogh in his final days. The film holds an approval rating of 80% based on 10 reviews, with an average rating of 6.8/10
A Korean mystery drama based on the short story "Barn Burning" by Japanese author Haruki Murakami. The film is directed by Lee Chang-dong who also helmed the excellent film "Poetry" and Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead) plays a key supporting role. The trailer is here although I have not yet watched it, having heard that the film is best viewed with as little info as possible. The film premiered at Cannes Film Festival and is South Korea's selection for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards.
13. Vice
Vice (formerly titled Backseat) stars Christian Bale and Amy Adams as Dick and Lynne Cheney respectively, following Dick Cheney's rise "to become the most powerful Vice President in America's history." Other cast members include Sam Rockwell (George W. Bush), Steve Carell (Donald Rumsfeld) and Bill Pullman (Nelson Rockefeller). Directed by Adam McKay (The Big Short, Anchorman), it is scheduled for a release in December.
12. The Old Man and the Gun
David Lowery (A Ghost Story) directs what is said to be Robert Redford's final acting role. Based on a true story, Redford plays Forrest Tucker, an elderly prison escapee who performs a string of heists. The film has a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 20 revies with an average rating of 7.2/10.
11. Mid90s
Jonah Hill wrote and directed this coming-of-age drama, starring Sunny Suljic (The Killing of a Sacred Deer) as a thirteen-year-old in 90s-era LA who spends his summer navigating between his troubled home life and a group of new friends that he meets at a Motor Avenue skate shop. The A24 film currently has a 94% rating on Rotten tomatoes based on 17 reviews with an average rating of 7.1/10.
10. Wildlife
Speaking of directorial debuts of actors, Wildlife is the directorial debut of Paul Dano and considering he's worked in the past with such directors as Richard Linklater, Paul Thomas Anderson, Ang Lee, Spike Jonze, Steve McQueen, Denis Villeneuve, and Bong Joon-Ho just to name a few, I'll be very curious to see what his directing skills are like because early buzz for his work is very positive. Co-written with his long time partner Zoe Kazan. the film stars Carey Mulligan and Jake Gyllenhall and follows a boy watching his parents' marriage fall apart in 1960s Montana. The film currently holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 41 reviews with an average rating of 7.8/10.
9. Under the Silver Lake
Under the Silver Lake was originally set to be released in June before being pushed back to December. Let's hope it's worth the wait. Directed by David Robert Mitchell (It Follows), the comedic neo-noir film follows Andrew Garfield as a man who sets out on a quest to find the woman he met the night before in his apartment complex's swimming pool after she goes missing. It premiered at the Cannes film festival to a divisive response.
Jeremy Saulnier (Blue Ruin, Green Room) promises a high body count in his latest film starring Jeffrey Wright and Alexander Skarsgård follows a man (Wright) summoned to an Alaska village to track down the wolves believed to have killed three children.
7. Suspiria
Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name) directs what is described as a "homage" to the 1977 Dario Argento horror film of the same name. Starring Dakota Johnson and Tilda Swinton with a score composed by Radiohead singer Thom Yorke, the film has received a very divisive response thus far, often falling into love-it or hate-it camps.
6. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
The latest film from The Coen Brothers is also an unusual direction for them to take. It's an anthology western film, essentially six short films set during the civil war era. It currently holds a 94% rating on Rotten tomatoes based on 17 reviews with an average rating of 7.8/10
5. The Favourite
Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster, The Killing of a Sacred Deer) is such a cool guy that we're already getting a new movie from him. The story focuses on the behind-the-scenes politics between two cousins (Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone) jockeying to be court favourites during the reign of Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) in the early 18th century. The film currently holds a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 25 reviews with an average rating of 8.8/10.
4. Roma
Alfonso Cuarón makes his first spanish-language film in many years with Roma, a semi-biographical take on Cuarón's upbringing in Mexico City, and follows the life of a middle class family and their live-in housekeeper. The film won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, has been selected as Mexico's entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards, and on Rotten Tomaotes currently holds a 96% based on 26 reviews, with an average rating of 9/10.
3. First Man
Damian Chazelle (Whiplash, La La Land) decides to make a movie not about jazz. The film stars Ryan Gosling as Neil Armstrong and follows the years leading up to the Apollo 11 trip to the moon. Although reportedly the American flag is seen planted on the moon in the film, the actually flag planting is not which has enraged flag fetishists in the U.S. So if you're a flag fetishist, this might not be the movie for you, but on Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an 88% based on 60 reviews, with an average rating of 7.7/10.
2. If Beale Street could talk
Barry Jenkins' first film since his breakout directorial effort, Moonlight. Based on the James Baldwin novel, If Beale Street Could Talk tells the story of a woman trying to clear the name of her imprisoned husband before their child is born. Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival, it currently holds a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 44 reviews with an average rating of 8.6/10
1. Widows
The latest film from director Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave, Shame) follows a group of women who attempt a heist after the deaths of their criminal husbands. It premiered at the Toronto Film Festival to critical acclaim, holding an a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 97% based on 31 reviews, with an average rating of 8.1/10.
