TOP 15 ANTICIPATED FILMS OF 2018
15 min readJan 13, 2018
By John Argote Rodriguez
2017 has come and gone and as we begin to celebrate the films of 2017 with the awards season, we anticipate this year’s amazing slate of films! 2018 is filled with way too much movies to choose from that 10 movies simply weren’t gonna be enough so 15'll do as my most anticipated.
Now before we begin I must say that this list is based on my opinions and my list will either resemble yours or be the complete opposite. With all that being said let’s get started!
HONORABLE MENTIONS
With so many films coming out this year not all made it to the list, but here are a few honorable mentions in order of release.
Maze Runner: The Death Cure
January 26, 2018
The 15:47 to Paris
February 9, 2018
Slender Man
May 18, 2018
The Purge: The Island
July 4, 2018
The Nun
July 13, 2018
The Meg
August 10, 2018
Goosebumps: Horrorland
October 12, 2018
Holmes and Watson
November 9, 2018
Aquaman
December 21, 2018
Bumblebee: The Movie
December 21, 2018
“The New Mutants” was originally apart of the honorable mention list, but was pushed to February 22, 2019 from it’s original spot on April 13, 2018.
Now for the Top 15 Anticipated Films of 2018…
15.) Ready Player One
March 30, 2018
- “Ready Player One” is based on the 2011 novel of the same name. I’ll admit before I saw the trailer I never heard of the movie or the book, but after watching the trailer I was immediately hooked to the story and visuals. but the main reason I’m excited for this film and why this is even among the top 15 is because of the director behind the film: Steven Spielberg, who I believe is the greatest director/filmmaker of all time.
14.) The Strangers: Prey at Night
March 9, 2018
- When I first saw “The Strangers” (released May 30, 2008) I loved it because of how damn scary it is. The directing of the film was on point with effective suspense. I was excited with the announcement of a sequel, but the film entered development hell and spent a decade with talks of the film being a direct-to-video release or a theatrical release with several planned filming and release dates and with Liv Tyler at one point returning to the sequel for a cameo, until we finally got confirmation on February last year that filming would begin along with a director attached. It’s been nearly a decade since the first film, now lets see if “The Strangers: Prey at Nights” lives up to the original.
13.) The Predator
August 3, 2018
- “The Predator” is the fourth installment in the Predator franchise and will be directed by Shane Black who had a small role in the original 1987 “Predator” as Hawkins. Shane Black is a gifted director with great films such as “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” (2005) and “The Nice Guys” (2016) so there’s a reason this film is worth the buzz and because this isn't a reboot or prequel (like last year’s “Alien: Covenant”), but a continuation of the series, but it’s a stand alone sequel from 2010’s “Predators” and we haven’t seen this iconic extra terrestrial hunter on the big screen since “Predators”. The Predator’s comeback is long over due.
12.) Solo: A Star Wars Story
May 25, 2018
- A “Star Wars” movie this low on the list? There’s a reason why this film isn’t on the top 3, top 5, or even the top 10 numbers. Well, because I never asked for a Han Solo movie, and I’m sure I’m not alone on this. When Disney bought Lucasfilm and when it was announced that we weren’t just getting a sequel trilogy of Episodes VII — IX, but anthology films set in the “Star Wars Saga” and that got me excited, the “Star Wars Saga” has millions and billions and trillions of galaxies with new setting, new plot, new characters, and new and different adventures to be had, but instead we’re getting a Han Solo movie, a character who we’ve seen in four movies and potentially Obi-Wan Kenobi movie … a character we’ve seen in SIX MOVIES. That and with all the behind-the-scenes drama with Phil Lord and Christopher Miller being fired mid-production and being replaced by Ron Howard, but despite it’s production issues it’s still “Star War” so you know I’ll be there opening night, besides the movie does have interesting ideas going for it, how did Han meet Chewbacca and Lando, how did he get the Millennium Falcon, will Jabba the Hutt be in it? Also the current director is Ron f***ing Howard.
11.) Incredibles 2
June 15, 2018
- Can you believe that before we got a sequel to “The Incredibles” we got “Toy Story 3” (2010), “Monsters University” (2013), “Finding Dory” (2016), and “Cars 3” (2017) … wow. As you can see I’ve been looking for to this movie since 2004 I was in Kindergarten… Anyways “Incredibles 2” is FINALLY hitting theatres this summer, this film wasn’t even originally slated for this year, it was slated to come out on July 21 2019, but switched dates with “Toy Story 4” (yeah we’re getting another). What can I say that hasn’t already been said? It’s a classic and great superhero film that came out when superhero films weren’t as popular as they are now. The film will take place shortly after the events of the first film, which is kind of disappointing since I was hoping on seeing a grown up Dash and Violet and a teenage Jack Jack, but hey we’re finally getting a sequel so I’m all good with that especially with the original cast coming back, and Brad Bird returning to direct, also with the bonus of Holly Hunter’s Helen Parr/Elastigirl taking over as the film’s lead.
10.) Black Panther
February 16, 2018
- The King has come. “Marvel’s Black Panther” will be coming to you from Ryan Coogler (director of Creed) with a ton pf talented actors on board. This is going to be the 18th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is the first MCU film to have a African American superhero and a majority of African American cast. Chadwick Boseman who plays T’Challa a.k.a. the Black Panther was introduced in “Captain American: Civil War” in 2016 and Boseman completely owned the role he made it his own as a badass with a badass accent and a badass vibranium suit. The cast is something special they have Michael B. Jordan as Killmonger (the antagonist), Academy Award winning actress Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira as Okoye who is best known for portraying the fearless badass Michonne on “The Walking Dead”, Martin Freeman and Andy Serkis (both in “The Hobbit Trilogy”), the brilliant Daniel Kaluuya from last year's "Get Out”, and the one and only Forest Whitaker. I don’t know much about the plot, but this brilliant Grade A+ cast is enough to make me geek out. Also, if you thought it couldn’t get better Ludwig Goransson the composer of Creed’s phenomenal score will compose the film. This is the last Marvel movie before “Avengers: Infinity War” premieres in May.
9.) Ant-Man and the Wasp
July 6, 2018
- I never thought we’d get an Ant-Man movie, but when we got it, it was a hell of a time at theatres. “Ant-Man and the Wasp” stars the talented Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man, Evangeline Lilly as Hope van Dyne/Wasp, Michael Douglas as the original/former Ant-Man Dr. Henry “Hank” Pym, Michael Pena as Luis, along with the cast from the first film returning with some new cast members Michelle Pfeiffer, Lawrence Fishburne, Walton Goggins, and Randall Park. This film will be the 20th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is the first Marvel film following the goliath “Avengers: Infinity War” (which “Ant-Man and the Wasp” will be in), and won’t be set after “Infinity War”, but rather after the events of “Captain America: Civil War” so that’ll be fascinating to see where the story goes and how the rom-com aspect will fit it, plus it’ll be for nice for “Avengers: Infinity War” to go small with their smallest superheroes.
8.) Deadpool 2
May 18, 2018
- Why is “Deadpool 2” (or the “Untitled Deadpool Sequel:) on this list? Well you saw the first one right? After the way Wade Wilson/Deadpool was portrayed in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” (2009) Ryan Reynolds was given a shot at redemption with 2016’s “Deadpool” which did the character justice and made hungry fan like me hungry for more and of course a sequel was announced for 2018 and finally it’s 2018. Now obviously Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with the Mouth is pure gold as was everyone else, but what I'm most excited for is the newcomers such as Josh Brolin as Nathan Summers/Cable (Brolin also plays Thanos in the MCU) and Zazie Beetz as Neena Thurman/Domino. I’m also looking forward to how this film will set up the “X-Force” and “Deadpool 3”.
7.) Halloween
October 19, 2018
- At one in the morning in house there was a 7 year old kid watching movies like “A Nightmare on Elm Street”, “Friday the 13th”, “Child’s Play”, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, “Scream”, “Night of the Living Dead”, and of course “Halloween”, I am that kid. As you probably figured I watch some scary shit at night that scared the living hell out of me, but damn did I love them. First “Halloween” released on Halloween of 1978 became an instant classic because of how subtle the film is. There’s not a not of blood and gore like in the following sequels, but just the simplicity of the film about essentially the personification of evil: Michael Myers. What made this film scary (aside from that William Shatner mask) is that there wasn’t any motive, Michael Myers who in the film is credited as “The Shape” was just some evil man who stalked teens out of the blue and killed them for no reason, but just for the sake of it, this film is will once again retcon the series, this yet-to-be-titled “Halloween” film will ignore the events of every film after “Halloween” which means that in this film Michael Myers and Laurie Strode aren’t sibling. This film was originally reported as ignoring everything after “Halloween II”, but now they have a clean slate no Cult of the Thorn storyline nor the H20/Resurrection storyline. This film will see the return of Jaime Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode as well as Nick Castle who will play Michael Myers for the first time since the first “Halloween” film in 1978. The film will be set 40 years after the events of the first “Halloween”, making it Halloween H40: 40 Years Later I guess? My speculation is that the film will be titled “The Shape”. As a lifelong horror fan I am definitely looking forward to this movie.
6.) God Particle
April 20, 2018
- Just for clarification this image isn’t official, but “God Particle” (if it’s still titled that) is the third installment in the “Cloverfield” film series or the “CloverVerse” that consists of “Cloverfield” (2008), “10 Cloverfield Lane” (2016) and now “God Particle” now this film I found my self really interested because with 2016’s “10 Cloverfield Lane” proving this franchise has great potential, but mainly the concept, it’s about astronauts doing an experiment known as the “god particle”, but after the experiment they realized that Earth has … vanished! Now that sounds like one hell of a plot. Though it seems like the god particle element of the film has been removed as the film has moved dates beginning with a February 24, 2017 release date then to October 27, 2017 then February 2, 2018 and now April 20, 2018 along with the announced that the god particle may of been removed from the original script leaving the “Untitled Cloverfield Sequel: open to another date change, that’s too bad because “God Particle” sounds like a awesome title, but probably this’ll have the word “Cloverfield” on the title like the previous film.
5.) Creed II
November 21, 2018
- “Creed II” will see Michael B. Jordan’s Adonis Creed going up against Dolph Lundgren’s Ivan Drago which is just amazing to just write. Let me begin by saying that I love the “Rocky” series, the first “Rocky” and “Creed” I consider some of the greatest movies of all time. For 2015 “Creed” is my number 1 movie of the year which made it complete bullshit that “Creed” was only nominated for one Academy Award which was Best Supporting Actor for Stallone which he totally deserved (in my opinion), but he wasn’t the only one I mean Ryan Coogler deserved one for Best Director, Best Picture, Michael B. Jordan for Best Actor, especially Ludwig Goransson for his beautiful score which was a challenging job seeing how “Rocky” has that iconic score from Bill Conti, but aside from all that I love “Creed”, it’s a emotional story about a man wanting to prove to the world he’s worth something and not a mistake and about man with no father who finds a father figure with Rocky who at this point in his older years his friends and family have either moved on or passed away and is alone in the world for the first time in a long time, but finds a son essentially who shows him he’s not alone. It’s a heart touching story that I fell in love with and love it more each I watch it. Then when Stallone announced that he would write the script I got excited, when he announced Dolph Lundgren would return as Ivan Drago I lost it, but when he announced he would direct it I screamed “F*** Yes!!!” and with a release date announced as well as a filming date, it just added to my excited, but when it was announced Stallone wouldn’t direct, but instead Steven Caple Jr. I’ll admit my excitement kind of went down to number six because film was originally gonna be in either number 4 or 3. I’m still excited as you could tell, but after Stallone was announced as not being the director of “Creed II” it fell on number five.
4.) Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
December 14, 2018
- I remember in late 2014 the future of “The Amazing Spider-Man” series was still in heavy discussion about its future and what to do after the “failure” of “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” which was supposed to be the launch of a cinematic universe similar to the Marvel Cinematic Universe only with spin-off films on Spider-Man’s villains, there was “The Sinister Six” (originally set for November 11, 2016), “Venom Carnage”, “Black Cat” spin-off, and “The Amazing Spider-Man 3 (2018)” and 4, while the future of the film series was in discussion around that time it was reported then later confirmed that a animated Spider-Man comedy film was in development by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller who just came off the surprise hit “The Lego Movie” earlier that year as well as with “22 Jump Street” on that summer, I was definitely excited because Sony was beginning to see the potential in the Spider-Man property while the fate of “The Amazing Spider-Man” series ultimately ended with its cancellation and a new iteration of Spider-Man that debuted in 2016’s “Captain America: Civil War” in the Marvel Cinematic Universe much to the fans joy. I was excited about this film, but with the cancellation of “The Amazing Spider-Man” I figured it was canned as well until a director and cast was announced, but even then I was skeptical until a trailer for it was released along with it’s title and holy shit was it great. This animation looks so unique and beautiful to stare at and it’s not Peter Parker who’s the lead Spider-Man, but Miles Morales as the lead which is nice change of pace and we haven’t seen the Spider-Verse on film yet so that’s definitely exciting especially with cast like Mahershala Ali who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for Berry Jenkin’s “Moonlight” and because it’s Spider-Man he’s my favorite superhero since before preschool, the character and his films hold a special place in my heart so anything Spider-Man related I’ll watch.
3.) Venom
October 5, 2018
- Like I said anything Spider-Man related I’ll watch well here’s more evidence to it. “Venom” is getting a bad rap by Sony haters because it won’t have Spider-Man and is separate from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s actually starting its own cinematic universe with this being the first installment in “Sony’s Marvel Universe”. I have a tremendous amount of confidence that this film will surprise the shit out of haters because I believe that there has to be something special about this story/script to get actors, big name actors like TOM HARDY. Tom Hardy who is known to be very picky about which roles he chooses, Michelle Williams a gifted actress that been nominated for the Academy Awards FOUR TIMES, Riz Ahmed who gave a brilliant award worthy performance in 2014’s “Nightcrawler”, Woody Harrelson for God’s sake a two time Academy Awards Nominee. I’m not saying this film is gonna be the next “Godfather” it could end up being a pile of garbage, but to shit on a film that hasn’t even come out yet … these haters are mostly the ones who trash on Sony because of how they handled “Spider-Man 3” (2007) and “The Amazing Spider-Man” series when Sony gave us “Spider-Man” (2002) and “Spider-Man 2” (2004) the latter of which is practically universally critically acclaimed by fans and critics especially from the late Roger Ebert himself said and I quote “Spider-Man 2 opens next Wednesday, or actually Tuesday at midnight and I think it may the best superhero movie I have ever seen…” so with Venom’s A-List cast and director of “Zombieland”, Ruben Fleischer. Also here is a quote from Tom Hardy himself from on set of “Venom”, “… I wanted to say, that I give you my word of honor that I’m gonna do everything I can to deliver the best Venom that I could possibly can musta… because I know how important he is to you, and I know how important he is to the Marvel Universe…”. We Are #VENOM
1.) Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
June 22, 2018
- I love Spider-Man, but I don’t think there’s ever been a film as influential on life as Steven Spielberg’s 1993 classic “Jurassic Park”. I will never forget watching the film for the first time and just being it pure awe and wonder, this made my jaws drop it blew my mind after watching “Jurassic Park” I knew I wanted to make movies, whenever any of the “Jurassic Park” are on TV I watch them even though I already own the VHS and DVDs. “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” was extremely close to holding number and it kind of feels like a betrayal that it’s not number one. Growing up I always asked myself this question “Jurassic Park IV coming out?” since preschool till 2015 and I was worth the 14 year wait so obviously I’m excited especially since Jeff Goldblum is returning as Dr. Ian Malcom even though if it’s role is like a cameo, though I’m praying Sam Neil’s in it as Dr. Alan Grant. This film has a concept I never would of though for a “Jurassic Park” movie and with Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard as the leads with “Jurassic Park” original B.D. Wong as Dr. Henry Wu. I’m all in.
2.) Avengers: Infinity War
May 4, 2018
- It’s the culmination of the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, every superhero (with the exception of Captain Marvel, The Defenders, Inhumans, and TV characters) will come together to unite for the greatest foe the MCU has seen thus far, The Mad Titan himself Thanos comes to Earth in search for the infinity stones for the infinity gauntlet to give him the power to bend reality. This film has been teased since “Marvel’s The Avengers” in 2012 in the post-credit scene with Thanos sitting in his chair as he watches a destroyed planet. Who stars in this film essentially every MCU character, there is said to be at least 64 characters in this movie. Josh Brolin is in the movie as Thanos (he will also appear in “Deadpool 2” as Cable). From what we’ve seen in the first amazing trailer (not the one from D23 or Comic-Con). Following the events of “Captain America: Civil War” the Avengers now fractured and leaderless have to assemble with The Web Head, Sorcerer Supreme, Wakandans, and the Guardians of the Galaxy to stop Thanos from retrieving the stones. There’s really nothing I can say that hasn’t been said, but that this film is something big, a culmination of 10 years of movies all leading up to this moment (and “Avengers 4”) all the superheroes will fight, but not all will survive Phase 3…
