Incredibles 2

Weekend Roundtable: 2018 Movies You’re Looking Forward To

As we look out over the calendar, a whole year’s worth of movies await us. Some will be great, and some will be awful. Let’s hope for the best. What new movies coming out in 2018 are you most anticipating?

To help you out, Wikipedia has a list of 2018 movies that are expected for the year.

Shannon Nutt

Maybe it’s because 2017 felt like such a disappointment (‘Logan’ aside – perhaps the only film that lived up to my expectation), there’s not a whole lot for me to get excited about in 2018. ‘Black Panther’? Looks like another middling Marvel film. ‘A Wrinkle in Time’? Looks AWFUL! ‘Ready Player One’? Looks like my favorite director is about to ruin one of my favorite books. ‘Solo’? Who knows?

But there are a couple of films that I have hope for. The first is the highly anticipated ‘Deadpool 2‘. The first movie surpassed everything we hoped it might be, but can the sequel live up to the original? If that teaser trailer we got last year is any indication, it looks like it’s on the right path.

There’s also ‘Creed 2‘, or let’s be honest with titles: ‘Rocky VIII’. I was really worried about this one when it was announced that Stallone would be writing and directing and planned to have Ivan Drago’s son as the adversary. But my dismay turned to promise when Stallone stepped aside and turned the directorial chair over to Steven Caple, Jr. and got a co-writer on his screenplay from ‘Luke Cage’ show-runner Cheo Hodari Coker. The two additions seem like the right fit, so I’m excited to see how this movie turns out.

Brian Hoss

Setting aside sequels, remakes and comic book movies, I’m looking forward to ‘Annihilation‘. It’s a sci-fi book adaptation that is for sure hitting theaters this year (and soon). I’ve read the book (but not yet the two sequels), and I think it has possibilities for taking a worthwhile step with the movie. It might also be ho-hum or even a minor on-screen disaster. Either way, I think I’ll enjoy seeing the attempted realization.

M. Enois Duarte

Of upcoming 2018 movies, I’m excited for ‘Black Panther’, ‘Annihilation’, ‘Ready Player One’, ‘Venom’, ‘A Quiet Place’, ‘The Predator’, ‘Scarface’, ‘God Particle’ and ‘Incredibles 2’. However, if I’m going to call one movie my most anticipated of 2018, it’s probably the new ‘Halloween‘ sequel. This is not simply because of my fanboy love for all things Michael Myers, but the premise intrigues me. There’s also the fact that John Carpenter is returning to the franchise as the producer and Jamie Lee Curtis reprises her role as Laurie Strode. I’m interested to see what David Gordon Green can do with it. Of all the movies, this eighthninth installment in the series is my most anticipated because I’m also just as nervous that they might completely ruin it.

Luke Hickman

Annihilation‘ (Feb. 23) – I’ve loved (most of) the screenplays from Alex Garland since ’28 Days Later’. His directorial debut ‘Ex Machina’ is one of my all-time favorite science fiction films. I’ve steered clear of the novel ‘Annihilation’, but it sounds like his new film will be working on the same level.

Ready Player One‘ (Mar. 30) – As tired as I am of geek pop culture being injected into cinema, I’m actually looking forward to this Steven Spielberg film. The teaser trailer didn’t do much for me, but the first full trailer showed that there’s more than geek references in this movie… at least, I hope.

The New Mutants‘ (Apr. 13) – Both Marvel and DC keep making the same mistakes, which makes me appreciate what Fox is trying to do even more. The studio may have its missteps, but at least it’s trying new things. I look forward to seeing what can be done with a horror superhero movie. Part of me is hoping to see it cross over into ‘Legion’ territory too.

God Particle‘ (Apr. 20) – Sure, this one has been in post-production hell and has had more release date changes than ‘King Arthur: Legend of the Sword’, but with it being in the Cloverfield-verse (I adore both ‘Cloverfield’ and ’10 Cloverfield Lane’), I’m eager to see where it may take the disconnected series.

Mission: Impossible 6‘ (Jul. 27) – With Christopher McQuarrie back in the director’s seat, this appears to be the first of the ‘M:I’ films to carry a story over from one installment to the next. Rebecca Ferguson was a great addition to ‘Rogue Nation’, so it will be nice to see her return for this one.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald‘ (Nov. 16) – I love the Harry Potter film series. I was worried about ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’, but the concerns were for naught. J.K. Rowling did with Wizarding World what comic book filmmakers need to learn how to do: expand the universe without making the same movie over and over again. ‘Fantastic Beasts’ did just that. And not being based on any existing novels, it’s exciting not knowing where we’re headed with ‘The Crimes of Grindelwald’. However, I will say that I was hoping for Colin Farrell to somehow return. If only Johnny Depp and Farrell would have played opposite roles.

Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2‘ (Nov. 21) – The big kids’ movie that I’m excited for is also the worst-titled sequel of the year. ‘Mama Mia 2’ has a better title than ‘Wreck-It Ralph 2’. I hate that studios are too afraid to name their sequels without the original film name, a number and a colon. The first ‘Ralph’ was a great throwback to the videogames that I played as a kid. Assuming that the pop culture references will shift from nostalgic games to any and all current trends, like ‘Ready Player One’, I’m hoping to be able to overlook it.

Adam Tyner (DVDTalk)

Somewhere around a dozen different superhero blockbusters are flooding into theaters this year, and I’m most excited for the one I know the least about: ‘Incredibles 2‘. I don’t know what the premise is. Assuming that what we’ve seen in the teaser trailer is its own thing, I don’t believe that a frame of footage or a single still from the film itself has yet been released. Heck, I don’t even know what the final title will shake out to be.

The original ‘Incredibles’ made an enormous splash when superhero cinema was still in its infancy. Brad Bird and company did an immeasurably superior job bringing the Fantastic Four to the big screen with this superpowered family than any of the actual ‘Fantastic Four’ adaptations have. Family is indeed central to what defines ‘The Incredibles’, along with musings on the nature of heroism, responsibility, the collision of the exceptional with the mundane, and a longing for past glories. It delivered as much visual spectacle as any live-action comic book adaptation had up to that point, while also being howlingly funny and sincerely sweet to boot.

Pixar accomplished all of this before cinematic superhero universes were even a deal. Given the deeply established passion for these sorts of movies now and entire libraries of capes-and-costumes movies to subvert, I cannot wait to see what this sequel has to offer.

Josh Zyber

I’ll tell you this much: it sure ain’t ‘Ready Player One’. That looks terrrrrrrrrrrible to me.

The Coen brothers have written a remake of ‘Scarface‘? I don’t know anything about it yet (not who’s directing or even whether it’s a remake of the 1932 or 1981 version), but I think I’m already on board with that. Unless the trailers look bad, of course.

Also, ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’ was such a delight that I can’t help but be excited for Wes Anderson’s ‘Isle of Dogs‘.

What movies do you have your eyes on this year? Tell us in the Comments.

Note: The blog will take a break on Monday for the MLK Day holiday. We’ll see you back here on Tuesday.

23 comments

  1. Bolo

    ‘Sicario 2’ – pity Villeneuve isn’t returning. But the trailers seem to show this one is following the first film’s lead without repeating the same story. And as much as I like Blunt as an actress and she was key to the first film’s story, trying to contrive her back into the fold with the other two characters would’ve felt forced, so I’m glad they made the tough decision to leave her character behind.

    ‘Alita Battle Angel’ could go either way. The trailers certainly indicate a far more polished film with higher production value than anything Rodriguez has done before, but he’s certainly made a ton of crap in his career. Anyway, this one has me intrigued.

  2. Csm101

    I haven’t seen the teaser for Incredibles 2 but I want to be excited for it. The first one is one of Pixar’s best and one of the best superhero movies out there. Sicario 2 looks quite intriguing as well. Avengers: Infinity War has me pretty stoked. I have to say the one that has me most giddy is Pacific Rim: Uprising.
    I’m rooting hard for this one.

  3. Deaditelord

    I normally like Spielberg’s films, but I have to agree with Josh’s assessment that Ready Player One looks dreadful.

    Outside of M:I 3, I’ve enjoyed the Mission:Impossible films so I’m looking forward to the new sequel. The Incredibles 2 ranks pretty high on my list too.

    I’m also curious about the Predator movie as long as it’s not another remake. I liked the Adrien Brody remake/sequel, but I don’t need another version of that film.

      • Deaditelord

        MI:3 is decent all the way up to the point when the movie cops out by revealing that Julia’s execution was staged. Man did that idiotic twist piss me off. The action isn’t particularly well-staged either, especially when compared to M:I 2.

    • To me, Black Panther visually looks like Captain America: Civil War meets The Matrix Reloaded. Because of that, I feel like I’ve already seen it.

      The first five entries of the MCU’s Phase One set up The Avengers. The following 12 movies have been setting up Infinity War. To me, it’s beyond excessive at this point. I simply don’t care anymore. Are these movies fun? For the most part, yes. Do I anticipate what’s to come? Not at all.

      Please note that although I’ve been an advocate of the DC movies, I’m pretty much at the “don’t care” point also. Fox’s Marvel movies are about the only superhero movies that I’m looking forward to anymore – but if the Disney acquisition goes through, that might not last much longer.

      • William Henley

        I’m with you. Other than a couple of exceptions, I haven’t seen a super hero movie in about two years – I am burned out. Logan and Deadpool were great, Justice League was disappointing, I haven’t seen Wonder Woman or Batman v Superman yet or the new Spiderman movie – I just don’t care anymore.

  4. Chris B

    What does E mean when he calls the upcoming Halloween film the “eighth installment”? There’s already 10 movies in the franchise 🤔

    • Luke is right. I am not counting the Zombie films because they are complete, utter garbage that should be erased from memory, and as remakes, they don’t actually follow the series but do their own thing. However, you are right Chris. I totally forgot about stupid ‘Ressurection,’ which is number eight in the series and makes this next sequel the ninth installment.

      Oh, and before I forget, Rob Zombie sucks! lol

      • Chris B

        Lol, yeah I don’t blame ya for forgetting Resurrection, We all wish we could!

        I’m not a fan of Zombie’s first Halloween film but I found his second effort significantly more interesting with the dream sequences and attempt to give Myers somewhat of an arc etc.

        I think Zombie is good at one very narrow specific thing (much like David Ayer) and if you’re in the mood for that particular thing it’s pissible to enjoy some of his movies. Most people hated “31” for example but I found it to be good gory fun.

        I’m with you though on Halloween 2018, really looking forward to what they can cook up. As a fan of the franchiae, how do you feel about them pretending that every other sequels “never even happened”?

  5. I’m quite excited for ‘Ready Player One’, although I haven’t read anything and haven’t seen a single trailer. I’m just hoping for 80’s vintage Spielberg.

  6. Chris B

    My most anticipated film of 2018 is Jeremy Saulnier’s new film “Hold the Dark”. I’ve loved Murder Party, Blue Ruin and Green Room thia far, can’t wait for his next one.

  7. theHDphantom

    “I was really worried about this one when it was announced that Stallone would be writing and directing….” Not really sure what you mean by that, Shannon. Stallone is a very capable filmmaker. But, to each their own I guess.

    But anyways, I’m looking forward to (in no particular order):
    1) the Transformers spin-off Bumblebee movie with JOHN CENA,
    2) Ron Howard’s Han Solo movie
    3) Deadpool 2
    4) Mission Impossible 6

    • He is, but he’s not the right writer/director for a Creed sequel…he did not write or (obviously) direct the first one – which is one of the reasons it seemed like such a fresh take on the Rocky mythos. Before the addition of Caple and Coker (which I’m going to assume was Warner Bros.’s move, not Stallone’s – although the “official” statement said that Sly made the decision), the story sounded like it was going to just be a remake of ‘Rocky IV’. Now, while Drago’s son is apparently still the main adversary, word is the story surrounding it will be much more grounded and similar to the first ‘Creed’ film.

  8. William Henley

    Maze Runner, because I am curious to see how it ends (I should probably watch Scortch Trials before it comes out, its sitting on my shelf unopened), Pacific Rim Uprising, God’s Not Dead 3, Selfie Dad (I am a BIG Michael Jr Fan), Deadpool 2 (yes, I purposely skipped over the Avengers – didn’t like the last one, this one looks worse), Solo: A Star Wars Movie, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again (the first movie was stupid, but it was fun, and gets rewatched from time to time), Christopher Robin (not to be confused with Goodbye Christopher Robin), X-Men: Dark Phoenix (YES!!!!), Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (Sweet!!!), and Mary Poppins Returns (I cannot believe it finally has a release date! Been waiting for this movie since I was a kid!)

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