2018 is looking like it’s going to be a monster year for science-fiction and fantasy movies, so take a look below at all the big genre films hitting theaters that you won’t want to miss.
1. Black Panther – Feb. 16
The latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the first modern superhero film with a black lead also happens to have a fresh and futuristic sci-fi look unlike anything we’ve ever seen.
2. Annihilation – Feb. 23
The next effort from Ex-Machina writer/director Alex Garland promises to be the strangest and most mysterious sci-fi film out this year. It also might be the best.
3. A Wrinkle in Time – March 9
Disney gives the big budget treatment to the classic children’s novel, and with a stacked cast and insane special effects, adults should enjoy it, too.
4. Tomb Raider – March 16
The video game heroine is back for this grittier reboot, with Oscar-winner Alicia Vikander looking to bring some real acting chops to the role.
5. Pacific Rim: Uprising – March 23
One of the most unexpected sequels ever, director Guillermo del Toro must not be expecting a third installment, because it looks like he’s pulling out all the stops for this bonkers-looking movie.
6. Ready Player One – March 30
Steven Spielberg’s first true sci-fi film since War of the Worlds, this book adaptation will hopefully be a return to form for the director who revolutionized the genre.
7. Rampage – April 20
The Rock fights giant monsters… one of whom also happens to be his best friend? It’s a video game adaptation, not Oscar bait, so just turn off your brain and enjoy it.
8. Untitled Cloverfield Movie – April 20
We still don’t know what this third installment of the franchise is about, save that it’s set in space and might be called God Particle (though probably not).
9. Avengers: Infinity War – May 4
Marvel’s biggest property goes full-on sci-fi by adapting the classic “Infinity Gauntlet” storyline, and the outer space adventure will quite possibly be the biggest movie of the year.
10. Deadpool 2 – May 18
One of the biggest surprise hits of 2016 is getting a sequel that promises to be even raunchier and more irreverent than its predecessor, if that’s even possible.
11. Solo: A Star Wars Story – May 25
Walt Disney Pictures
A lot of people are nervous over this Star Wars spinoff due to its infamous director shakeup and seemingly endless reshoots, but they may be losing sight of the big picture: It’s a movie about Han Solo! It’ll be fine.
12. Incredibles 2 – June 15
Pixar’s superheroic family returns with a superpowered baby in what’s sure to be a massive blockbuster.
13. Replicas – June 15
Keanu Reeves plays a scientist who attempts to bring his family back to life via cloning after they’re killed in a car crash in this Twilight Zone-y thriller.
14. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom – June 22
More dinosaurs are coming for Chris Pratt, but the most exciting thing about this spectacle film is the return of Jeff Goldblum’s Ian Malcolm!
15. Ant-Man & the Wasp – July 6
The sequel to one of the MCU’s least-successful films — which still made half-a-billion dollars — will likely explore more of the super sci-fi quantum dimension that was introduced in Ant-Man.
16. Alita: Battle Angel – July 20
OK, the giant eyes are admittedly weird and creepy, but with Robert Rodriguez and James Cameron behind this manga adaptation, it can’t be bad… right?
17. Mission: Impossible 6 – July 27
As long as Tom Cruise is willing to risk his life for crazier and crazier movie stunts, we’ll be willing to watch him do it in this long-in-the-tooth but still fun superspy franchise.
18. The Predator – Aug. 3
20th Century Fox
The Predator franchise looks to return to glory and get back to basics with original co-star Shane Black at the helm, and the writer/director has stated that the film will ignore the series’ later (and less-loved) sequels.
19. The Meg – Aug. 10
Warner Bros.
A giant prehistoric shark menaces the crew of a submarine, and only Jason Statham can stop it. Where do we get our tickets?
20. Captive State – Aug. 17
Focus Features
John Goodman leads the cast in this unique sci-fi film, which looks at both sides of humanity — the collaborators and the dissidents — living under an alien regime in Chicago.
21. The Darkest Minds – Sept. 14
The latest post-apocalyptic YA adaptation could be the next Hunger Games, or it could be even better, since it features Game of Thrones‘ Gwendoline Christie as a bounty hunter of super-powered children.
22. The Kid Who Would Be King – Sept. 28
This Arthurian adventure is the first film directed by Joe Cornish since 2011’s Attack the Block and it stars Patrick Stewart as the legendary wizard Merlin. Need we say more?
23. Venom – Oct. 5
Venom’s film debut in Spider-Man 3 was… not good. But with Tom Hardy donning the alien symbiote for this solo film, the character’s sophomore effort looks promising.
24. First Man – Oct. 12
This is more science-fact than science-fiction, but who doesn’t want to watch a Neil Armstrong biopic in which he’s portrayed by Ryan Gosling?
25. Overlord – Oct. 26
Produced by J.J. Abrams, this mysterious (shocker) thriller sees two American paratroopers discover the Nazis are using supernatural forces to their advantage on the eve of D-Day. Supernatural Nazis? Hey, it worked for Indiana Jones.
26. X-Men: Dark Phoenix – Nov. 2
Fox/EW
This may be the swan song for Fox’s convoluted and confusing X-Men franchise, with new owner Disney likely looking to reboot the characters in the MCU, so here’s hoping the series goes out in a high note.
27. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald – Nov. 16
The controversy of Johnny Depp’s casting aside, this magical sequel will be a must-view for fans of J.K. Rowling.
28. Ralph Breaks the Internet – Nov. 21
Who ever thought Wreck It Ralph would get a sequel? Don’t get us wrong, we’re glad it did, we’re just surprised is all. Naturally, Ralph heads online in the sequel, which will surely lead to lots of very 2018 jokes.
29. Mortal Engines – Dec. 14
The latest example of Peter Jackson having way too much access to CGI, this film is actually directed by his longtime protégé Christian Rivers. And while the movie admittedly didn’t have a great first trailer, we’re hoping this adaptation of the popular novel ends up ultimately doing its material justice.
30. Bumblebee – Dec. 21
The Transformers franchise hasn’t been any good since the first film in the series (and even that’s debatable), but this movie — the franchise’s first spinoff — is thematically different than its predecessors and takes place on a much smaller scale, which should provide the series a shot in the arm. Plus, it takes place in the ’80s, which should hit old school Transformers fans right in the nostalgia bone.
31. The Man Who Killed Don Quixote – TBD
Director Terry Gilliam has been working on this adaptation of the time travel novel for nearly two decades, but he actually wrapped production on it late last year and is hoping to premiere the Adam Driver vehicle at the Cannes Film Festival in May. Fingers crossed.
