YOU’RE NEVER GOING to be out of the cinema in 2018, if this small selection of the big films of the year is anything to go by.
1. Fifty Shades Freed (February 9)
OK, so your mileage may vary on this one. But speaking from experience, you’ll never have so much craic in the cinema as you will at a Fifty Shades film. Pure comedy!
2. Black Panther (February 12)
There’s a lot of excitement for Marvel’s first big film of 2018 – it centres on T’Challa (or Black Panther), the king of a fictional African nation called Wakanda. Lupita Nyong’o, Michael B Jordan, Angela Bassett and Get Out’s Daniel Kaluuya star.
3. Red Sparrow (March 2)
Take Atomic Blonde, but swap Charlize Theron for Jennifer Lawrence. Similarities to previous films aside, this spy thriller looks like a lot of fun.
4. Tomb Raider (March 16)
Alicia Vikander attempts to break out of a post-Oscar slump with this reboot of the popular film series, telling the story of the first expedition of Lara Croft.
5. A Wrinkle In Time (March 23)
Oscar-nominated director Ava DuVernay breathes new life into the classic children’s book, along with Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, and Oprah. OPRAH!
6. Isle of Dogs (March 30)
Wes Anderson’s gotten at the puppets again. His latest foray into animation is set on an island in Japan where dogs have been quarantined due to ‘canine flu’ – it features an all-star cast, including Bryan Cranston, Tilda Swinton, Jeff Goldblum and Bill Murray.
7. Ready Player One (March 30)
Steven Spielberg’s latest is an adaptation of the bestselling novel of the same name – it’s the year 2045, and people escape the desolation of the outside world through a virtual reality programme called OASIS.
8. A Star Is Born (May 18)
Bradley Cooper directs and stars in this remake of the iconic Judy Garland musical, with Lady Gaga taking the role of an up-and-coming singer whose career blossoms as her mentor’s declines.
9. The New Mutants (April 11)
So there are two new X-Men films next year (three if you count Deadpool 2) – X-Men: Dark Phoenix continues on from 2016′s Apocalypse, but The New Mutants introduces a whole other cast of characters.
Game of Thrones’ Maisie Williams, Stranger Things’ Charlie Heaton and Anya Taylor-Joy star as young mutants fighting to save themselves inside a secret facility.
10. Avengers: Infinity War (April 27)
Think you’re tired of superhero movies? JUST YOU WAIT! This one sees basically all of the Marvel characters (all the Avengers, plus Spider-Man, plus the Guardians of the Galaxy) band together to fight the big baddie Thanos.
11. Solo: A Star Wars Story (May 25)
This prequel tells the story of Han Solo before he meets Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker – Alden Ehrenreich takes over from Harrison Ford, while Donald Glover plays a young Lando Calrissian.
12. Deadpool 2 (June 1)
Ryan Reynolds returns as the foul-mouthed anti-hero. Plot details are scarce, but chances are if you were one of the millions who loved the first one, you’ll love this too.
13. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (June 8)
You THOUGHT Jurassic World seemed to wrap things up nicely enough, but no, there’s a sequel. Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard are back, but – plot twist! So is Jeff Goldblum, reprising his role from the original films.
14. Ocean’s 8 (June 22)
Hear that? It’s the sound of scores of women heading on gals’ trips to the cinema for this. An all-star cast (Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Rihanna…) attempts to pull off a heist at the glitzy Met Gala.
15. The Incredibles 2 (July 13)
It only took you 14 years to make this, Pixar! Ah here, we won’t judge. This sequel focuses on Elastigirl, while Mr Incredible stays at home to watch the kids.
16. Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (July 27)
It feels like this was only announced yesterday, but it’s already tantalisingly close. The whole gang are back for this, plus Cher as Meryl Streep’s mother. As it should be.
17. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (November 16)
‘Tis the year of the sequel, 2018. Fantastic Beasts has lost a Colin Farrell (boo) and gained a Johnny Depp (double boo) as the titular Grindelwald, but we will get a glimpse of young Dumbledore, played by Jude Law.
18. Mary Poppins Returns (December 21)
Much has been made of this Mary Poppins reboot, with Emily Blunt tasked with filling Julie Andrews’ shoes. She goes back to comfort the grown-up Banks children following a family tragedy, with the help of a chimney sweep called Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda).
19. Aquaman (December 21)
Jason Momoa gets to break out from the Justice League with his own Aquaman standalone film, which sees him fighting off enemies both on land and under the sea.
20. Bohemian Rhapsody (December 25)
This biopic tells the story of Queen up to their performance at Live Aid in 1985 – Mr Robot’s Rami Malek plays Freddie Mercury, and the resemblance is certainly there but… we’ll have to wait and see.
