The Most Anticipated Movies of 2018

Image via Complex/Jonathan Fouabi

Release Date: Feb. 16

Stars: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o

Does the blackest superhero film of 2018 really need an introduction? After years of Marvel trying to figure out how to make the Black Panther work on-screen, they aligned with Chadwick Boseman, who was one of the shining stars in Captain America: Civil War. Soon after, they decided to bring together most of Black Hollywood for our first proper introduction to Marvel's mysterious African country, Wakanda. We're talking Lupita Nyong'o, Michael B. Jordan, Danai Gurira, Daniel Kaluuya, and Letitia Wright alongside OGs like Forest Whitaker and Angela Bassett. The trailers they've released thus far have highlighted the inner-struggle within Wakanda, which is visually stunning. Assemble your squad, because tickets are on sale now and we need to mob the theaters when this touches down. —khal

Release Date: Feb. 23

Stars: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson

It may be set for a just-around-the-corner February release, but if the wild, sci-fi/horror novel that it’s adapting is any indication, Annihilation is poised to be one of the strangest and staggeringly beautiful films of the year. Add in the fact that it’s the latest brainchild from Ex Machina director Alex Garland and features an insanely stacked cast (Gina Rodriguez, Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson, Oscar Isaac, and more), and it’s pretty certain Annihilation is about to become one of the buzziest movies of 2018, just a month after the year’s officially started. —Aubrey Page

Release Date: Mar. 9

Stars: Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Storm Reid

Truth be told, who is better suited to turn this 1962 sci-fi novel about a young girl's journey to save her father from a far-off land than Ava DuVernay? This massive Disney remake, which is the second time they've made a film adaptation of A Wrinkle In Time, features Storm Reid starring as the young protagonist Meg Murry, but boasts a roster of Hollywood's finest leading ladies, including Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw in what appears to be a truly vibrant retelling of this classic story that should have fantasy lovers salivating already. —khal

Release Date: Mar. 16

Stars: Alicia Vikander, Dominic West, Walton Goggins

Movies based on video games are traditionally trash, but for every crappy Street Fighter or Super Mario Bros. there’s a surprisingly watchable Resident Evil or Tomb Raider. The latter originally starred Angeline Jolie who brought to life the 2D heroine I spent countless hours of my youth following around the globe in search of risches and treasure. The reboot film finds Oscar-winner Alicia Vikander stepping into the iconic cargo shorts and tank top in an origin story that could set the stage for a whole new franchise and a rumored shared universe with other video game-based films like Hitman. Maybe this new Lara Croft could be their Wonder Woman. We'll just have to wait and see. —Anslem Samuel Rocque

Release Date: Mar. 23

Stars: John Boyega, Guillermo del Toro

2013’s sci-fi flick Pacific Rim hit big globally and left viewers with one sure fact: Idris Elba, who led the Jaeger robots in a deadly win over the Kaiju monsters, was a star. Is there a better young actor to pass that shine to than Star Wars breakout John Boyega? Set 10 years after the Battle of Breach in which Stacker Pentecost (Elba) gave his life, the film follows Jake (Boyega), Stacker's unwilling son who gets the mantle of leadership is thrust upon him when the Kaiju reemerge once again. Jake isn’t as upstanding a citizen as his father was, but he and sister Mako Mori need to decide who they’re going to be when duty calls. While the fate of the world rests on Jake’s shoulders, the weight of the franchise rests on this sequel—new director Steven S. DeKnight hopes Rising will be the springboard for an entire Pacific Rim cinematic universe. —Dria Roland

Release Date: Mar. 30

Stars: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn

Gamers and nerds everywhere have been breathlessly awaiting this adaptation of the blockbuster book, and they should be in good hands with director/producer Steven Spielberg. For the uninitiated, think Hunger Games for geeks. Ready Player One revolves around teenager Wade Watts, who’s trying to find an Easter Egg hidden in a virtual reality world called the OASIS. At stake is full ownership of the OASIS and the fortune of the deceased billionaire who created it, but the evil corporation Innovative Online Industries has hired its own players to beat Watts and his allies (including Lena Waithe!) to it, at any cost. —Dria Roland

Release Date: Apr. 20

Stars: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Naomie Harris, Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has yet to meet a reboot he didn’t like, and we have yet to stop watching. Here he takes on on the classic '80s video game, playing a primatologist looking for an antidote when an experiment turns his beloved gorilla and other predatory creatures into monsters on a rampage... Sorry, make that an epic battle for supremacy. Jeffrey Dean Morgan, whom you know as Negan on The Walking Dead, is along to amp up the interest factor in this big-budget action flick. —Dria Roland

Release Date: May 4 April 27

Stars: Everyone in the f**king MCU

The MCU turns 10 in 2018 and for most of the last decade (through subtle nods and blatant post-credit scenes), Marvel's been building towards this Infinity War, aka that moment when Thanos decides to become the most powerful being in the universe. The next Avengers film finally shows Thanos emerging from the shadows of distant planets in hopes of retrieving the Infinity Stones we've already seen on-screen. It's going to be a bloody battle, and one that could have major consequences for the characters we've grown to love. Assembling the bulk of Marvel's star-power, from Chris Evans to Chadwick Boseman, this could be the most epic superhero film released in 2018. —khal

Release Date: June 1 May 18

Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Zazie Beetz, Josh Brolin

The Merc With A Mouth is finally set to return to theaters and he's brought along a new "friend." We already have a theory on what this movie will entail, but the fact is that Josh Brolin (who is also voicing Thanos for Marvel) is playing Cable in the sequel to Fox's potty-mouthed anti-hero, Deadpool. Zazie Beetz (of Atlanta fame) is assuming the role of fan-favorite Domino, which should help usher in the X-Force into Fox's X-Men Cinematic Universe. Until we get a trailer that gives us a hint of the plot, all we can do right now is bank on the surprise hit that Ryan Reynolds' pet project became in 2016. Could Deadpool, who's first film proved that you can murder the box office any time of the year, help reestablish the proper summer blockbuster? And no, Disney acquiring Fox won't f**k with this film's R-rating. —khal

Release Date: May 23

Stars: Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton

Not much is known about the second film in the Star Wars universe to take place outside of the Skywalker family tree. Can a lot go wrong with a story about a young Han Solo that features everyone from Woody Harrelson to Donald Glover? It's possible; initial directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller (who were behind The Lego Movie and 21 Jump Street) were let go, with Hollywood vet Ron Howard replacing them. There's talk of that not meaning a lot changed, but it was an interesting turn of events for a film many of us are still unsure of. But hell, it's a Star Wars film; you're NOT gonna see it? —khal

Release Date: June 8

Stars: Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter

Despite the low-key bummer that Ocean’s Eight isn’t actually being directed by franchise director Steven Soderbergh, there’s pretty much nothing about this latest entry on paper that doesn’t add up to a stunner. It's a heist film starring some of the best ladies in the game (including Rihanna, the gawd) that centers on the Met Gala! Say hello to a guaranteed knockout. —Aubrey Page

Release Date: June 15

Stars: Holly Hunter, Craig T. Nelson, Sarah Vowell, Samuel L. Jackson

Never mind that we’ve been waiting for this sequel for almost a decade and a half, if we’re truly being honest, we’ve known The Incredibles has always been one of Pixar’s greatest films. And while Finding Dory didn’t do wonders for the studio's sequel reputation, I’ve got a good feeling this one will be more Toy Story 3 and less Monsters University. Fingers crossed we finally get to meet Frozone's wife. —Aubrey Page

Release Date: June 22

Stars: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Justice Smith

Is there nothing Chris Pratt can’t do in 2018? After taking on Marvel big bad Thanos alongside the rest of the MCU superheroes in May, he’ll reprise his other blockbuster role of Owen Grady this summer in the sequel to 2015’s Jurassic World. The premise of Fallen Kingdom is simple enough: a volcano threatens to destroy the island the genetically-modified dinosaurs now call home and it’s up to Grady and his lady to save them from this extinction level event. —Anslem Samuel Rocque

Release Date: June 29

Stars: Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin, Catherine Keener

From Narcos to Queen of the South, stories about the cartel are having a moment. In Soldado, the magnetic Josh Brolin and brilliant Benicio del Toro team up as a no-holds-barred CIA agent and conflicted undercover operative, respectively, to take down the Mexican cartels, who have started trafficking terrorists across the border. Somehow, this thriller promises to be even bigger and messier than 2015’s intense Oscar-winning Sicario. —Dria Roland

Release Date: July 6

Stars: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Laurence Fishburne

In terms of superhero blockbusters, the story of a guy who can shrink (and sometimes enlarge) didn’t sound like the makings of a new franchise—especially one starring perennial funnyman Paul Rudd as an action star. But low and behold, 2015’s Ant-Man was a surprise box office hit that was as entertaining as it was enjoyable. Literally expanding his role in the MCU with appearances in Captain America: Civil War and the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man more than proved he earned his spot among the MCU’s leading men. Sharing top billing with The Wasp for his sequel shows he’s an equal opportunity superhero as well. —Anslem Samuel Rocque

Release Date: July 27

Stars: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg

The Mission: Impossible franchise is 20-years-old. 2-0. At this point, do you even need a plot? No, you don’t, which works out since it’s not yet available. Just know this installment will be the first in 3-D because Ethan Hunt keeps getting riskier, the action keeps getting bigger, and the stunts keep blowing our minds. Alec Baldwin, Angela Bassett, and Henry Cavill all join Tom Cruise for this latest global spy expedition, along with perennial faves Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg (whom you can also catch in Ready Player One!). —Dria Roland

Release Date: Aug. 17

Stars: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Gemma Chan, Awkwafina

A Chinese-American woman has something like a reverse culture shock in this rom com, when she travels to Singapore with her boyfriend for a wedding, only to discover that he’s from a super-wealthy family and is one of the most eligible bachelors in Asia. Author Kevin Kwan was adamant that his book not be whitewashed for the silver screen, so we get to see an all-Asian cast anchored by Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Ken Jeong, and Akwafina. And if it lives up to the hype, there are two more novels in the series ripe for adaptation. —Dria Roland

Release Date: Aug. 8 Sept. 14

Stars: Boyd Holbrook, Olivia Munn, Trevante Rhodes, Keegan-Michael Key, Sterling K. Brown, Jacob Tremblay

After three decades of sequels and spin-offs revolving around the same basic premise—a new Predator is on the prowl and looking to test his hunting skills against a group of unsuspecting people with big guns—you pretty much know what to expect from this franchise at this point. What makes this latest addition to the roster slightly different and potentially more exciting is that Shane Black, who had a supporting role in the 1987 original, is the writer/director for The Predator. If Black can create a script as engaging as some of his past work on Lethal Weapon, The Long Kiss Goodnight, and Iron Man 3 then he might have another hit on his hands. With a cast that includes Olivia Munn, Sterling K. Brown, Keegan-Michael Key, and Trevante Rhodes, he definitely has the tools. —Anslem Samuel Rocque

Release Date: Oct. 5

Stars: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams

In the '90s, you didn't get an anti-hero bigger than Venom. With the success of Spider-Man: Homecoming (thanks, Marvel), Sony decided to kick their Spider-verse into high gear (outside of the MCU, sadly), and the Venom film, which finds Tom Hardy putting on the symbiote suit, is the first glimpse at the studio's ability to make these movies work. If they do it right (that R-rating will definitely come in handy) and make up for Topher Grace's trash performance in Spider-Man 3, it could be a monster. —khal

Release Date: Oct. 19

Stars: Andi Matichak, Judy Greer, Jamie Lee Curtis

Horror movie remakes are almost always a tough sell—especially Halloween, which has already spawned a stupid amount of mediocre sequels and a gritty remake. But this Halloween—written and directed by the dudes behind Your Highness and Vice Principals; starring the queen Jamie Lynn Curtis; and shepherded by John Carpenter himself—has all the necessary elements to make this the one remake of a classic that doesn’t remotely suck. —Aubrey Page

Release Date: Nov. 2

Stars: Sophie Turner, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence

Hate to say I told you so, but I definitely called this after Fox released X-Men: Apocalypse. While it's tough to put faith into Fox getting the Phoenix saga right for the second time, this is at least a bit more promising than that God-awful X-Men: The Last Stand. Sophie Turner's got the look, there's word that the stakes might be high, and we'll finally see the X-Men in space! Could be fun? —khal

Release Date: Nov. 21

Stars: Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson

Although Ryan Coogler is not going to be around for the Creed sequel, both Michael B. Jordan and Tessa Thompson are returning, so that's good, right? The film, which reportedly hasn't even begun filming yet, should be a continuation of Adonis Creed's trials and tribulations in the world of professional boxing, and could even feature the son of Ivan Drago, who is the man who straight-up murdered Adonis' father in the middle of the ring (as shown in Rocky IV). Bad blood stays boiling. —khal

Release Date: Dec. 21

Stars: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, Willem Dafoe

Though he was underutilized in Justice League, our money’s on the handsome, humorous Aquaman to save us from the mopey, dopey heroes the DC Extended Universe has been giving us. The casting alone has us intrigued, in addition to Jason Momoa as the half-Atlantean, half-human who is the reluctant king of Atlantis, the film stars Nicole Kidman as his mother, Amber Heard as Queen Mera, and Willem Dafoe as Atlantis’ chief scientific advisor. Newcomer Yahya Abdul-Mateen plays Black Manta, the mercenary who faces off with Aquaman as he traverses two worlds: the surface dwellers who are polluting the globe and his own people who are ready to invade the surface. No pressure, DC, but Aquaman’s gotta deliver. —Dria Roland

Release Date: TBA

Stars: Alexander Skarsgård, Riley Keough, James Bloor, James Badge Dale, Jeffrey Wright

After the gorgeous and savage Blue Ruin and Green Room, it’s clear that no one is making dramatic horror quite like Jeremy Saulnier. His next project, based on the taught novel of the same name, is Hold the Dark, which is set in the frigid Alaskan wilderness and centered on the search for a missing child. It Comes At Night’s Riley Keough and Big Little Lies’ Alexander Skarsgard lead the buzzy cast, and having read the book myself, I can say from experience that Saulnier and Netflix have all the goods to make one of the most brutal movies of the year. —Aubrey Page

Release Date: TBA

Stars: Dave Franco, Pedro Pascal, Regina King, Brian Tyree Henry

Barry Jenkins + James Baldwin. I don’t have to say more than that, but just to be safe: Pedro Pascal, Dave Franco, Teyonah Parris, Brian Tyree Henry AND Regina King. Too early to tap this one for Best Picture 2018? —Aubrey Page

Release Date: TBA

Stars: Andre 3000, Robert Pattinson, Mia Goth, Juliette Binoche

This one is a no-brainer: a high concept sci-fi movie set in deep space handled by the weirdo genius of Claire Denis and starring everyone from Robert Pattinson to Andre-f***ing-3000, High Life is about to be one of the strangest must-sees of 2018 and I couldn’t be more into it. —Aubrey Page

Release Date: Apr. 13 Feb. 22, 2019

Stars: Anya Taylor-Joy, Maisie Williams, Charlie Heaton

You ever wondered what a horror film set in the X-Men universe might look like? Fox is has you covered with The New Mutants, which follows five kids who are stuck in a secret facility around the time they discover that they are, in fact, mutants. Their mission is to break out of this or, to paraphrase 50 Cent, get free or die tryin'. Fans of Marvel's mutants should be happy to see Anya Taylor-Joy (of The Witch fame) bringing Magik to the screen, although Maisie Williams' Wolfsbane should also be a delight to see in cinemas. Either way, this highlights Fox trying something different with a franchise that's experiencing some awesome highs alongside some depressing lows. —khal

Ed Note: Sadly, this film got pushed back to make it "scarier," so it's no longer dropped in 2018.