We might be in the heart of awards season, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get excited for the movies coming later this year. Open up your Google Calendar and start marking these down. Here are the films we’re looking forward to the most in 2015.
January
Predestination
A time-travel flick that’s more than just special effects. Ethan Hawke leads the way as an agent who helps prevent crimes before they happen. Not an original idea, but one that isn’t usually tackled in a human way. (Jan. 9)
February
Jupiter Ascending
A futuristic film that looks to be right in the Wachoswki wheelhouse. Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum star as a couple working to shift the balance of power in the universe. It also features Eddie Redmayne and Sean Bean (who will probably die). (Feb. 6)
Kingsman: The Secret Service
Matthew Vaughn knows fun, action-based comic movies. It’s the reason we’re going along with the idea of Colin Firth as a skilled badass. Based on the comic, Kingsman: The Secret Service looks like porn for Bond fans and comic book lovers. (Feb 13)
March
Chappie
District 9 showed Neill Blomkamp could inject feeling into a genre usually devoid of it. He’ll try to do it again in Chappie. The film is about a robot able to think for himself and the challenges such a thing might face. (March 6)
In the Heart of the Sea
Based on the story that inspired Moby Dick, this movie is about a whaling ship that encountered a gigantic whale in the winter of 1820. And while coming across such a beast would make for a tremendous story on its own, the film goes on to showcase the inner struggle the crew faced staying alive at sea without hope. (March 13)
April
Ex Machina
An A.I.-based sci-fi thriller that has a bit of a scarier Her vibe. (April 10)
Child 44
Based on the thriller by Tom Rob Smith, Child 44 is the first part in a trilogy that takes place in Stalin’s Soviet Union. Tom Hardy stars in the film based on the murders committed by Andrei Chikatilo. If it lives up to the book, it will be one of the year’s best. (April 17)
May
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Clearly one of the biggest blockbuster of 2015, the second Avengers film returns most of the big names from the first. We’ll have to wait and see if Mark Ruffalo kills it as Bruce Banner once again, or whether this is another character’s chance to shine. (May 1)
Mad Max: Fury Road
Proof that summer blockbusters kick off in May, just a couple weeks after you go see the new Avengers film, you’ll be back in theaters for Mad Max: Fury Road. George Miller enlisted Tom Hardy to reboot the franchise, and if the trailer is any indication, we’re in for all the insanity of the old Mad Max films. (May 15)
June
Entourage
The gang is back and ready to tackle the big screen in June. Will there be a plot? Probably, but you’ll see it for the parties, girls, and quips from Ari, and that’s okay. (June 5)
Jurassic World
Chris Pratt continues his reign of box office domination in June when he stars in the next Jurassic Park film. In an attempt to lure more visitors to the dinosaur theme park John Hammond imagined, many help engineer a new dinosaur. What could go wrong with that? (June 12)
July
Terminator: Genisys
The first in a new Terminator trilogy, Terminator: Genisys centers around John Connor’s mom and Kyle Reese fending off Judgement Day. Oh, and Arnold’s back. (July 1)
Ant-Man
The Marvel movie about a bit of a lesser-known character. Paul Rudd stars as the man who can shrink himself to the size of an ant. (July 17)
August
Straight Outta Compton
Chronicling the rise and fall of N.W.A., Straight Outta Compton is a must-see for any hip-hop fan who grew up in the 80’s. (August 14)
September
Black Mass
Whitey Bulgar is fodder for great movies. The next to tackle the story of the infamous violent criminal is Black Mass with Benedict Cumberbatch and Johnny Depp. We love a good mob movie, and Black Mass will hopefully be this year’s The Departed. (September 18)
Everest
Based on the disaster in 1996 when several climbers died on Mount Everest, the film stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Jason Clarke as the two expedition leaders. It will be in 3-D which should just add to the intensity. (September 18)
October
The Walk
Philippe Petit’s high-wire act back in 1974 is the basis for this film with Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the daredevil. Watch Man on Wire and get excited for another look at the incredible tale. (Oct. 2)
St. James Place
A spy thriller from Steven Spielberg and the Coen’s that stars Tom Hanks? Yeah, we’re in. Based on the negotiations that followed the 1960 U-2 Incident, Hanks plays James Donovan, the lawyer who tries to negotiate the release of a pilot shot down over the Soviet Union. (Oct. 16)
November
Spectre
So you say the next Bond movie has Christoph Waltz in it? How early can we buy our tickets? (Nov. 6)
The Hateful Eight
It’s Tarantino, do you really need another reason to see it? (Nov. 13)
The Martian
The best sci-fi book we read this year is an engineer’s wet dream. The Martian is based on the novel by Andy Weir. Matt Damon plays an astronaut who gets left behind on Mars and needs to rely on his skills to survive. (Nov. 25)
December
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
If we had to see only one movie this year, obviously this is it. You’ve already seen the teaser trailer a million times, and we just hope that J.J. Abrams doesn’t Jar Jar it. (Dec. 18)
No Date Set
Knight of Cups
The next film from Terrence Malick looks weird. Like, really weird. But it stars Christian Bale and Cate Blanchett, and we trust both of them to choose good projects.
The Sea of Trees
Let the McConaissance continue. Matthew McConaughey leads the way in a film about an American who travels to the forest outside Mt. Fuji (“Suicide Forest”) where he meets a Japanese man looking to end it all as well.
