JANUARY
All Superheroes Must Die (Jan. 4)
This is a indy superhero movie in which a group of superheroes lose their powers and are put through a series of brutal challenges.
This is a indy superhero movie in which a group of superheroes lose their powers and are put through a series of brutal challenges.
Storage 24 (Jan. 11)Doctor Who's Noel Clarke stars in this thriller where a military cargo plane crashes in London, releasing its deadly cargo on the city — and a group of people are trapped in a storage facility with a horrific creature.
Outlook: The movie's Rotten Tomatoes page is a bloodbath. By all accounts, it really really sucks, but could be an underdog film
Mama (Jan. 18)
Guillermo del Toro produced this film, based on a creepy short, about two little orphan girls who survive in the wild for five years before being rescued and sent to live with their uncle and aunt (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Jessica Chastain) — but is their dead mother still watching over them?
Guillermo del Toro produced this film, based on a creepy short, about two little orphan girls who survive in the wild for five years before being rescued and sent to live with their uncle and aunt (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Jessica Chastain) — but is their dead mother still watching over them?
Outlook: The trailer and original short film are creepy as heck. Del Toro calls this film "claustrophobic," and it might actually be better than last year's Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, which he also produced.
Basically, Hansel (Jeremy Renner) and Gretel (Gemma Arterton) are all grown up, and now they're hunting witches, including one played by Famke Janssen.
Outlook: It was pushed from last summer to January — usually a bad sign — but the trailers look like cheesy fun, especially the crazy anachronistic gatling guns and other weapons. Could be this year's Season of the Witch.
John Dies at the End (Jan. 25)
The long-awaited movie adaptation of David Wong's cult novel about a drug called Soy Sauce that either kills you or lets you see paranormal weirdness — including the Lovecraftian horrors invading our world.
Outlook: Early reviews suggest it's a highly entertaining yet frustrating ride in which director Don Coscarelli (Bubba Ho Tep) takes a lot of liberties with the book source material.
The long-awaited movie adaptation of David Wong's cult novel about a drug called Soy Sauce that either kills you or lets you see paranormal weirdness — including the Lovecraftian horrors invading our world.
Outlook: Early reviews suggest it's a highly entertaining yet frustrating ride in which director Don Coscarelli (Bubba Ho Tep) takes a lot of liberties with the book source material.
FEBRUARY
The adaptation of Isaac Marion's novel about a zombie (Nicholas Hoult [Beast in X-Men: First Class]) who falls in love with one of the last remaining humans, and their love might have the power to transform the post-apocalyptic world.
Outlook: The trailers actually look refreshing and hilarious, and it's from the director of 50/50, Jonathan Levine.
Side Effects (Feb. 8)
Stephen Soderbergh's last ever film is about a woman (Rooney Mara) who takes a "revolutionary" new drug called Ablixa to cope with her husband (Channing Tatum) coming home from prison. And there are insane side effects.
Outlook: Looks pretty great. This doesn't exactly fit the criteria of this article but I'm adding it anyway.
Stephen Soderbergh's last ever film is about a woman (Rooney Mara) who takes a "revolutionary" new drug called Ablixa to cope with her husband (Channing Tatum) coming home from prison. And there are insane side effects.
Outlook: Looks pretty great. This doesn't exactly fit the criteria of this article but I'm adding it anyway.
MARCH
A fairytale movie from X-Men maestro Bryan Singer, starring Nicholas Hoult as a farmhand who unwittingly opens a doorway to a land of giants, starting a war as the giants try to retake our world.
Outlook: Delayed from summer 2012. Another chance to get your children to learn classic literature with new graphics and action scenes against CGI badguys...
Sam Raimi's long-awaited Wizard of Oz prequel, in which Oz (James Franco) goes to Oz in a balloon and meets all the witches and flying monkeys.
Outlook: This may be riding the coat-tails of Alice in Wonderland in its visual style but I've never been a fan of Oz so this may not be my kind of movie
The Croods (March 22)
An animated film about a caveman whose leadership is threatened by a genius who invents things like fire and other wacky gadgets. Oh, and there's a half-tiger, half-parrot called a "Macarnivore."
Outlook: This film has been in development for years. At one point the script was co-written by John Cleese. The cast includes Ryan Reynolds, Nic Cage, Emma Stone, Catherine Keener and Cloris Leachman. My only wish for this movie is that it is scientifically correct. There's nothing worse than teaching children that dinosaurs lived alongside humans.
In Stephenie Meyer's other big book adaptation, an alien invasion of Earth has already succeeded, with emotionless parasites controlling almost all humans. Except one girl who gets implanted can't stop loving her boyfriend, and this could change everything.
Outlook: It's adapted and directed by Andrew Niccol (Gattaca), whose work is always at least thought-provoking. I'm interested in seeing Stephanie Meyer's other book take off.
APRIL
Evil Dead (April 12)Sam Raimi's famous horror series is back, with an all-new cast. Jane Levy plays a woman struggling to remain sober, who goes to a cabin with her friends and finds the Necronomicon. You know what happens next.
Outlook: From what I've seen this movie is just as grotesque and messed up as the original. High hopes for this one.
Tron Legacy's Joseph Kosinski sets out to prove he can launch a brand new franchise, with this story in which humanity has abandoned Earth, except that Tom Cruise comes down to service some drones... and discovers he's not alone.
Outlook: The trailers look pretty intense and full of eye-candy. A lot depends on the film's big twist, probably. This was one of the better trailers debuting before The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in theaters.
The Lords of Salem (April 26)
Rob Zombie wrote and directed this horror film in which a radio station DJ gets a mysterious record from the Lords and plays it — only to find that the Lords aren't a band, they're the original Lords of Salem, and they're back for blood.
Outlook: I'm a fan of Zombie's work, but there is always a sense of reckless style in his movies; this could go either way.
Rob Zombie wrote and directed this horror film in which a radio station DJ gets a mysterious record from the Lords and plays it — only to find that the Lords aren't a band, they're the original Lords of Salem, and they're back for blood.
Outlook: I'm a fan of Zombie's work, but there is always a sense of reckless style in his movies; this could go either way.
MAY
Now that Tony Stark's helped save the world in The Avengers, this film is going to set about tearing him down again, with the Mandarin and Aldrich Killian destroying Tony's entire world.
Outlook: Director Shane Black made magic, and one of my favorite movies, with Robert Downey Jr. in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. It's going to be hard to go back to one superhero at a time after watching The Avengers, but there is rumor that someone will make a cameo.
The rebooted versions of Kirk and Spock are back — and they're facing a mysterious villain (Benedict Cumberbatch) who's wreaking massive destruction on Starfleet. Can Kirk grow up in time to save the Enterprise?
Outlook: I'm a Star Wars fanatic. I did not watch Star Trek. It made a shit-ton of money so I guess there are still people fascinated with it. Hope you enjoy the sequel(s).
The Purge (May 31)
Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey star in this weird movie set in a dystopian future, where overcrowding has forced the United States to institute a 12-hour period every year, during which nothing is a crime. Even murder. One family hides out in their gated community.
Outlook: Even as depressing dystopias go, this one sounds down right sad. I'm an Ethan Hawke fan but I'm not sure I can sit through a melancholy massacre on my attention-span.
Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey star in this weird movie set in a dystopian future, where overcrowding has forced the United States to institute a 12-hour period every year, during which nothing is a crime. Even murder. One family hides out in their gated community.
Outlook: Even as depressing dystopias go, this one sounds down right sad. I'm an Ethan Hawke fan but I'm not sure I can sit through a melancholy massacre on my attention-span.
JUNE
Will Smith and his son Jaden star in this movie where humanity has abandoned the Earth after a war with aliens — but a father and son crashland on the ruined Earth, and the father is injured, forcing the son to search for help.
Outlook: M. Night Shyamalan directed and co-wrote this film, but probably didn't have his usual level of creative control (which could actually save this film). The visuals certainly look great.
This is the End aka The End of the World (June 14)
Seth Rogen adapts his short film Jay and Seth Vs. The Apocalypse. Rogen, Jay Baruchel, James Franco and a bunch of other celebrities play themselves, at a Hollywood party where the end of the world suddenly happens.
Outlook: I frankly hate Seth Rogen. I insulted him on Twitter and he insulted back. I like James Franco though and when celebs make fun of themselves and act opposite from their usual selves in film.
Seth Rogen adapts his short film Jay and Seth Vs. The Apocalypse. Rogen, Jay Baruchel, James Franco and a bunch of other celebrities play themselves, at a Hollywood party where the end of the world suddenly happens.
Outlook: I frankly hate Seth Rogen. I insulted him on Twitter and he insulted back. I like James Franco though and when celebs make fun of themselves and act opposite from their usual selves in film.
A retelling of Superman's origin, in which the Man of Steel grapples with the idea that humanity would hate and fear him if they knew his secret.
Outlook: Christopher Nolan produced this film which adds to the flavor of recycled Dark Knight Rises conflict between Bruce Wayne and Gotham. Superman is one of my least favorite superheroes ever.
World War Z (June 21)
Max Brooks' acclaimed novel about the zombie apocalypse gets a huge adaptation, starring Brad Pitt as a UN employee who must travel the world trying to save it from the deadly pandemic.
Outlook: After this film was completed, they went back for massive reshoots and rewrites, with a whole new ending added by Damon Lindelof. On the other hand, it's possibly the most zombies on screen ever.
Kick-Ass 2: Balls to the Wall (June 28)
The gonzo superhero film gets a sequel, as Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl try to cope with high school and the Red Mist plots revenge.
Outlook: Let's hope it can channel half the awesome craziness of the first film. A good sign: Jim Carrey is playing a character named Colonel Stars and Stripes.
The gonzo superhero film gets a sequel, as Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl try to cope with high school and the Red Mist plots revenge.
Outlook: Let's hope it can channel half the awesome craziness of the first film. A good sign: Jim Carrey is playing a character named Colonel Stars and Stripes.
JULY
Despicable Me 2 (July 3)
Steve Carrell's reformed supervillain is back — and this time, someone is capturing his cute twinkie-like minions. Featuring Al Pacino as Gru's new nemesis.
Outlook: The original directors are back, which is a good sign.
Steve Carrell's reformed supervillain is back — and this time, someone is capturing his cute twinkie-like minions. Featuring Al Pacino as Gru's new nemesis.
Outlook: The original directors are back, which is a good sign.
Johnny Depp plays Tonto in this completely insane supernatural Western about a "spirit walker" who dies and comes back to bring justice to a small town near the railroad.
Outlook: Depp and director Gore Verbinski have a pretty decent track record together, but everything about this looks horrifying. Depp decided Tonto should have a bird on his head.
I'm calling FLOP right here and right now for everyone to read. I've followed this and I just wish I could ask the board-members why they wanted to fund this.
Massive, horrendous monsters attack the world — forcing the human race to build equally massive mecha to fight back, by punching them.
Outlook: Director Guillermo del Toro promises the most amazing monsters and astounding robots we've ever seen, and the first trailer certainly looks like it delivers.
R.I.P.D. (July 19)Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges star in this adaptation of the comic book about a dead cop who sticks around to police the supernatural.
Outlook: Having The Dude play a supernatural law enforcer is quite the badass idea but to see it unfold and entertain for 90 minutes is another story.
The Conjuring (July 19)
A family encounters spirits living in their New England farmhouse.
Outlook: James Wan (Insidious, SAW) is the director; enough said.
The Wolverine (July 26)A second Wolverine movie, this time based on the character's most popular storyline in which he goes to Japan and learns the way of the Samurai.
Outlook: We were more excited when it was going to be directed by Darren Aronofsky, but it still has a lot of potential to be fun.
The problem I have with this is that it is going to confuse all of the unintelligent unfamiliar people. A standalone film based on a character that's in four other films based on the same universe that doesn't acknowledge any of the other films existence.
AUGUST
300: Rise of an Empire (August 2)
A prequel to 300, charting the rise of King Xerxes, the ruler who got his ass kicked by the Spartans.
Outlook: A first-time director came on board to try and recreate Zack Snyder's amazing slow-mo fighting and visuals. Including this because it's based on a comic book. I'm afraid this movie will fall short and be among a long list of sequels that just do not measure up to the original and go directly to $5 dvd bins.
A prequel to 300, charting the rise of King Xerxes, the ruler who got his ass kicked by the Spartans.
Outlook: A first-time director came on board to try and recreate Zack Snyder's amazing slow-mo fighting and visuals. Including this because it's based on a comic book. I'm afraid this movie will fall short and be among a long list of sequels that just do not measure up to the original and go directly to $5 dvd bins.
RED 2 (August 2)
The sequel to the surprisingly quite entertaining film about retired spies who are being hunted down. This time, they have to stop a terrorist with a portable nuclear device.
Outlook: Based on Comics so I'm adding this highly expected sequel.
The sequel to the surprisingly quite entertaining film about retired spies who are being hunted down. This time, they have to stop a terrorist with a portable nuclear device.
Outlook: Based on Comics so I'm adding this highly expected sequel.
District 9's Neill Blomkamp returns with another highly political science fiction film about a world where the rich live on a lush space station and poor people (like Matt Damon) struggle on Earth to get healthcare and basic necessities.
Outlook: Based on Blomkamp's first film and everything he's said about this one, we have high hopes.
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (Aug. 16)
Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman) is back, and this time he and his friends are searching for the mystical Golden Fleece.
Outlook: Nathan Fillion is playing the god Hermes, opposite Sean Bean as Zeus. Also Anthony Head plays the centaur Chrion this time. We're in.
Satanic (August 30)
A "Rosemary's Baby-influenced" film about a girl (Ashley Green) who must defend her dorm from a mysterious attacker when she and her friends are staying there over Spring Break.
Outlook: From the director of Donkey Punch and the writer of Vanishing on 7th Street. It only started production in late 2012.
A "Rosemary's Baby-influenced" film about a girl (Ashley Green) who must defend her dorm from a mysterious attacker when she and her friends are staying there over Spring Break.
Outlook: From the director of Donkey Punch and the writer of Vanishing on 7th Street. It only started production in late 2012.
SEPTEMBER
Riddick (September 6)He's back! Vin Diesel's amazingly antiheroic space adventurer returns, and this time he's being stalked by bounty hunters. One of whom is Katee Sackhoff.
Outlook: Diesel and writer/director David Twohy promise this is a return to Pitch Black form, after the over-the-top Chronicles of Riddick. This film pushed hard to get it's R rating and it promises not to pull punches.
I, Frankenstein (September 13)
Aaron Eckhart plays Frankenstein's monster, who finds himself caught up in an endless war between two immortal monster clans.
Outlook: Eckhart is a great underrated actor and this story could have something of worth.
Aaron Eckhart plays Frankenstein's monster, who finds himself caught up in an endless war between two immortal monster clans.
Outlook: Eckhart is a great underrated actor and this story could have something of worth.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone star in this action-thriller about a structural engineer who is falsely accused of a crime and has to break out of the ultimate high-tech prison... which he designed.
Outlook: Stallone. Schwar...Arnold. High Tech Prisons. We're in; hook, line, and explosions
OCTOBER
The Devil's Rapture (October 11)
Formerly known as The Occult, this is a film about a small town that lives with a Satanic prophecy — and after six girls are born on the same night, they seem to be fulfilling it. Fast forward 18 years, and the girls all start dying. Serial killer, or Satan?
Outlook: Featuring Rufus Sewell, who often does creepy well, plus Colm Meaney.
Formerly known as The Occult, this is a film about a small town that lives with a Satanic prophecy — and after six girls are born on the same night, they seem to be fulfilling it. Fast forward 18 years, and the girls all start dying. Serial killer, or Satan?
Outlook: Featuring Rufus Sewell, who often does creepy well, plus Colm Meaney.
Delayed from March, this is the remake of the classic Steven King tale, about a girl who has telekinetic powers, among others, and is bullied til she unleashes hell on everyone. If you've seen the original you know the story.
Outlook: Director Kimberley Pearce (Boys Don't Cry) and star Chloë Grace Moretz seem like the perfect choices for this project — plus Julianne Moore plays the mom.
Jeff Bridges isn't slowing down in 2013 as he plays an old witch-hunter, as he takes on a young apprentice and prepares to do battle with a witch played by Julianne Moore.
Outlook: We can't say no to Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore as witch-hunter and witch.
The World's End (October 25)
Tired of the depressing apocalyptic movies? This one features Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as two friends who go on a pub crawl and confront the end of days. Along with Martin Freeman.
Outlook: It's the long-awaited third film in the "Cornetto Trilogy" by Pegg, Frost and director Edgar Wright, after Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz.
Tired of the depressing apocalyptic movies? This one features Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as two friends who go on a pub crawl and confront the end of days. Along with Martin Freeman.
Outlook: It's the long-awaited third film in the "Cornetto Trilogy" by Pegg, Frost and director Edgar Wright, after Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz.
Paranormal Activity 5 (Oct. 25)
Something paranormal is happening, and some cameras are going to capture it, but not very well.
Outlook: Someone is still going to see these movies, so they're going to keep making them every year.
Something paranormal is happening, and some cameras are going to capture it, but not very well.
Outlook: Someone is still going to see these movies, so they're going to keep making them every year.
NOVEMBER
"Ender" Wiggin is a child prodigy who gets recruited to a very special program — but it's even more special than he realized, in the adaptation of Orson Scott Card's acclaimed novel.
Outlook: Everyone involved with this film seems to be obsessed with doing justice to the book, and the level of attention to detail is pretty astounding. Plus Harrison Ford is playing Col. Graff.
The second Marvel film this year, coming off Avengers, sees Thor facing some Dark Elves, led by Christopher Eccleston.
Outlook: Directed by Game of Thrones veteran Alan Taylor. Same thing I've said with Iron Man; now that the public has seen and loved the Avengers they want more.
Katniss has won the Hunger Games, so this second movie is probably just going to be her sipping tea and learning to golf. Or possibly, getting sent back for a new, deadlier all-star games. We'll see.
Outlook: Original director Gary Ross bailed off the project, so he's been replaced by I Am Legend's Francis Lawrence. Reviews say that this is the least satisfying book in the trilogy so we'll see how this pans out.
Frozen (November 27)
Disney's retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale "The Snow Queen," about a young girl who must travel to find the Snow Queen and save her land from perpetual winter.
Outlook: Early glimpses look gorgeous, and it features the voice of Kristen Bell.
Disney's retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale "The Snow Queen," about a young girl who must travel to find the Snow Queen and save her land from perpetual winter.
Outlook: Early glimpses look gorgeous, and it features the voice of Kristen Bell.
DECEMBER
Bilbo Baggins is back again, and this time he's facing a dragon — played by Benedict Cumberbatch!
Outlook: If the decision to turn The Hobbit into a trilogy rather than a duology results in excessive bloat, this is probably the film where you're going to see it most. Expect a lot of talking, lore, and story rather than fulfilling action, fantasy, and magic.
47 Ronin (December 25)
Another long-delayed film, this one is a retelling of the Japanese story, with Keanu Reeves fighting supernatural forces.
Outlook: This has been pushed back again and again, amidst rumors of creative disputes and editing-suite battles, until finally being buried on Christmas, the date where genre films go to die.
Another long-delayed film, this one is a retelling of the Japanese story, with Keanu Reeves fighting supernatural forces.
Outlook: This has been pushed back again and again, amidst rumors of creative disputes and editing-suite battles, until finally being buried on Christmas, the date where genre films go to die.
UNDATED
These are films we're pretty sure are coming in 2013
Gravity
Alfonso Cuaron (Children of Men) directs this lavish film about an astronaut (Sandra Bullock) who's stranded in space and trying to return to the International Space Station.
Outlook: Early buzz suggests it's beautiful, but maybe a bit boring. On the other hand, we're dying for a good realistic space movie.
Alfonso Cuaron (Children of Men) directs this lavish film about an astronaut (Sandra Bullock) who's stranded in space and trying to return to the International Space Station.
Outlook: Early buzz suggests it's beautiful, but maybe a bit boring. On the other hand, we're dying for a good realistic space movie.
Frankenstein's Army
At the end of World War II, Russian soldiers stumble on a secret Nazi lab, where the Nazis have been using Frankenstein's techniques to create new supersoldiers. A Dutch movie, which should be hitting our screens sometime this year.
Outlook: Nazi Frankenstein monsters? Sounds promising.
At the end of World War II, Russian soldiers stumble on a secret Nazi lab, where the Nazis have been using Frankenstein's techniques to create new supersoldiers. A Dutch movie, which should be hitting our screens sometime this year.
Outlook: Nazi Frankenstein monsters? Sounds promising.
The Prototype
A military robot escapes from an FBI storage facility and goes on a rampage. A small, low-budget film from the makers of the low-budget soldier movie Act of Valor.
Outlook: The trailer and pitch video look pretty cool, and this movie was made for a surprisingly high $40 million.
ByzantiumNeil Jordan returns to vampires for the first time since Interview with a Vampire for this story of two vampires (Gemma Arterton and Saoirse Ronan) who pose as mother and daughter.
Outlook: Early buzz suggests it's Jordan's best work in years, and could be a sleeper hit.
Under the Skin
Scarlett Johansson plays an alien, disguised as a beautiful woman, who travels around Scotland preying on humans with her "voracious sexuality."
Outlook: At the very least, it sounds entertaining.
Haunter
Instead of getting to direct Neuromancer, Vincenzo Natali took on this ghost movie, starring Abigail Breslin as a teenager who died in 1986 but is unable to leave her family's house, and reaches out to save a living girl from the same fate.
Outlook: It's a neat reversal of the usual ghost-movie tropes, and we're curious to see how Natali will make the tired haunted-house stuff fresh again.
In Your Eyes
Joss Whedon wrote the screenplay for this tiny-budget romance about a man and a woman (Michael Stahl-David and Zoe Kazan) who are linked in ways that they can't possibly realize.
Outlook: When Whedon steps back to do a small indie project, it's usually even better than his other stuff.
Joss Whedon wrote the screenplay for this tiny-budget romance about a man and a woman (Michael Stahl-David and Zoe Kazan) who are linked in ways that they can't possibly realize.
Outlook: When Whedon steps back to do a small indie project, it's usually even better than his other stuff.
Odd Thomas
The big-screen adaptation of Dean Koontz's bestselling book series, starring Anton Yelchin. It's been in the can for a while, and is almost certainly coming this year.
Outlook: Koontz says this is the only movie adaptation of his work that he's ever been happy with.
Left Behind
They're rebooting the classic rapture series — and Nic Cage is starring! By all accounts, it'll be out in the fourth quarter of 2013 sometime.
Outlook: Nic Cage in any film can either make you love it instantly or hate it forever.
Obviously there are other films releasing in 2013. This article highlights the films with some science fiction background, fantasy and mythology setting, or just downright geeky and intellectual fun. See you at the theater!
-Daniel, Jedi Editor
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