20 Films I’m excited to see in 2018

Here are the 20 movies I’m most excited to see this year. No doubt the list will evolve as the year goes on. I’ve put them in alphabetical order, not preference…You know, just to be fair.

Links go to the trailer where there is one, otherwise to IMDB.

Annihilation

Because female-led sci-fi wins. Alien meets The Island of Doctor Moreau with women kicking butt. What’s not to like?

Aquaman

Because I really love the Aquaman comics. All signs look good so far but I really hope this doesn’t fall to the DCEU curse.

Black Panther

Because it’s going to be 2018’s Wonder Woman: a genuine game-changer if it does well. And it may have a male lead, but there are so many amazing women in the cast! Just watch that trailer: it’s going to be spectacular!

Bohemian Rhapsody

Because the early stills look really great. No trailer yet, so hard to tell if it will be as good as it looks. But it could be incredible.

The Children Act

Because serious drama is good, too. Emma Thompson rarely disappoints and here she’s a judge ruling in a controversial Jehovahs Witnesses case – I’m not sure if this is based on fact or inspired by them but it’s a subject that interests me.

Coco

Because I love the “world of the dead” concept and Pixar rarely fails to deliver.

I, Tonya

Because it’s a story I didn’t know. And I enjoy figure skating. And Marhot Robbie is underrated.

Lady Bird

Because all those positive reviews can’t be entirely wrong!

Loveless

It’s not in English; so the chances of it playing locally are close to zero, but it sounds really good: a couple mid-acrimonious-divorce forced to reassess everything when their child goes missing.

Mary Poppins Returns

Can Emily Blunt match the peerless Julie Andrews? Will Dick Van Dyke have mastered the accent this time? I don’t know but it will be fun to find out.

The New Mutants

Because the idea – X-Men as a horror movie – will be amazing if it’s done well.

Red Sparrow

Because I’ll watch Jennifer Lawrence kick-ass any time. But here’s the thing. I was really excited for this film when I first heard about it. Then they released the trailer in which the lead never actually speaks, just parades in a variety of sexy outfits. This does not give me hope. But still, I want to see it.

Roman J Israel, Esq.

Because I’ll watch Denzel in anything!

The Post

Almost scarily on-topic, but also because I love Spotlight, and this looks similar enough that I’m confident I’ll enjoy it.

The Shape of Water

Just because. Come on, what’s not to love?

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

This will be my first movie of the year, but I’ve been looking forward to it for ages. Strong women characters being strong – check.

Winchester: The House That Ghosts Built

Um…because Winchester? (I still love the first years of Supernatural, even if I can’t bear to watch it any more.) Actually it looks intriguing. Another one of those true stories I’m vaguely aware of but don’t really know.

Wreck-It Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks the Internet

Because Wreck-It Ralph is absolutely my favourite Pixar film and this will be brilliant.

A Wrinkle in Time

I said female-led sci-fi above, didn’t I? Here’s another. I have read the book and if it’s done right I think a movie version could be even better because there’s so much about the book that’s visual.

X-Men: Dark Phoenix

Haters gonna hate, but I am hopeful this will do better justice to Jean Grey than X-Men Last Stand managed. But even if it fails to live up to the comic storyline (which, let’s be honest, is a huge ask), I think it will be good.