Top 10 Unmissable Movies for 2018

Amelia Crombleholme | 2nd January 2018

 

What films will be the Hollywood hits of next year?

2017 was a somewhat-unusual year for the film industry; “niche” (AKA not just about white men) movies such as Wonder Woman, Get Out and IT were surprise successes (at least to white men) while big-budget blockbusters like The Mummy, Justice League and Alien: Covenant flopped. 2018 looks more predictable, with a range of sequels, spin-offs and some independent projects set to bring in big box office bucks. The difference is, a lot of these films look genuinely good. Here’s my (entirely personal) list of unmissable movies to see in 2018.

 

10. Aquaman
Released: December
It all hangs in the balance for DC Comic’s film franchise, the “DCEU”. After the disappointing reaction – critically and financially – to superhero team-up Justice League, the DCEU’s fate now rests in the unlikely hands of Aquaman. The once-silly hero has been given a cool makeover; he’s now a rugged, tattooed sea devil played by Game of Thrones hunk Jason Momoa. Previews of the fishy fighter and his underwater kingdom Atlantis were well-received in Justice League, so will Aquaman rise from the waves triumphant or sink the entire DCEU? Either way, the eyes of geeks worldwide are upon him.

 

9. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
Released: November
Derided as a cash-grab at first, Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them proved to be a treat for fans and non-fans alike with its stunning visuals and charming story. Sequel The Crimes of Grindelwald will dive further into the Potter mythology, exploring the First Great Wizarding War and introducing Jude Law as Harry’s future mentor Albus Dumbledore. One big problem: Johnny Depp, who seems horribly miscast as the titular villain Grindelwald. Depp is many things; wizard Hitler he is not…

 

8. Black Panther
Released: February
With the superhero genre exploding in the past decade, it’s somewhat depressing that a hero of colour hasn’t headlined a movie since Will Smith’s Hancock back in 2008. That will finally change next year, with Marvel’s Black Panther just beating the Polynesian Aquaman to the big screen. After an impressive debut in Captain America: Civil War, Chadwick Boseman’s graceful African prince leads a nearly all-black cast including Michael B. Jordan, Daniel Kaluuya, and the Oscar-winning Lupita Nyong’o. This alone makes Black Panther a must-see.

 

7. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Released: January
The arthouse hit of the year looks to be this dark comedy about a woman seeking justice for her daughter’s murder after she is failed by the police. Three Billboards won glowing reviews when it played at various film festivals over the summer, and Frances McDormand is tipped to win next year’s Best Actress Oscar for her role as the vengeful mother. Only one woman stands in her way…

 

6. Lady Bird
Released: February
Irish actress Saoirse Ronan is only 23 but already holds two Oscar nominations. Could she finally win for this coming-of-age drama about a teenage girl navigating love, family and school? Lady Bird made headlines recently when it achieved a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes, and its story of female empowerment has given it a huge boost of goodwill in Hollywood following the recent sex abuse scandal. Awards await…

 

5. Wreck-It Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks the Internet
Released: March
One of Disney’s best films in recent years, 2013’s Wreck-It Ralph – about a computer game villain who wanted to turn good – was a hilarious adventure that fizzed with creativity and colour. This sequel follows Ralph and his best friend Vanellope as they – you guessed it- break into the internet to fix their game. Featuring cameos from some gaming legends and Disney favourites, Wreck-It Ralph 2 looks like a riot even if you aren’t a fan of video games.

 

4. Avengers: Infinity War
Released: April
This is it. The Beginning of the End. 10 years after Marvel Comics completely changed cinema with its “shared universe” concept, we’ve arrived at the ultimate team-up: over 20 superheroes from 19 movies will join together (or fall apart…) to battle big purple space baddie Thanos to save the world! And as excited as we all are, there’s an underlying scepticism that a film with so many characters could easily crash and burn. Still, it will be fascinating to find out.

 

3. Mary Poppins Returns
Released: December
This shouldn’t work. A sequel to one of Disney’s most beloved films, 50 years too late? Wait! Come back! Just look at this cast! Emily Blunt is the perfect choice to play the magical nanny, balancing Mary’s kindness and stern Englishness, and she has support from Meryl Streep, Angela Lansbury, Ben Whishaw, Broadway darling Lin-Manuel Miranda (who also wrote the score) as well as a cameo from original Poppins Julie Andrews. Will it go down like a spoonful of sugar? It has to.

 

2. The Incredibles 2
Released: July
Move over Avengers, this is the superhero team we’ve been waiting for. 2004’s The Incredibles, about a family juggling a normal life with their extraordinary powers, is one of Pixar’s best films and arguably one of the greatest superhero movies ever. So far little is known about this belated sequel, with just one teaser trailer out, but we can safely bet on it to be just as smart, heartfelt, and exciting as its predecessor.

 

1. A Wrinkle in Time
Released: March
Before this year, I’d never heard of A Wrinkle in Time; a 1960’s children’s book with a bizarre time travelling plot. Then I saw the trailer for the upcoming Disney adaptation and my mind was blown: incredible effects? Psychedelic colours? An amazing cast including Oprah Winfrey, Chris Pine, Reese Witherspoon and Mindy Kaling, dressed like extras from a 70s rock opera? It looks unlike anything released in recent years, and I have to see it. Plus, a studio film that isn’t a sequel, reboot or remake? Rejoice!