It would be easy, and perhaps even apt, to simply start this list with Avengers: Age of Ultron and end it with Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. But the year promises many interesting movies, including some from very talented directors that aren’t box office champions. The year features a healthy dose of original films apart from the usual glut of franchise instalments. This list is a mix of big-budget popcorn movies and smaller films from acclaimed makers. Here are 42 movies to look forward to from Hollywood in 2015.
Note: All release dates mentioned are for the USA, for the sake of some order. They are also, owing to glitches in the matrix, subject to change.
A Most Violent Year
Drama
02 January
J C Chandor’s first film was the criminally under-seen Margin Call. His next, All Is Lost, was the best survival film of 2013 (yes, even better than Gravity). His third film played at 2014’s Dubai International Film Festival and is his best work yet. Importantly, it stars two outstanding actors whose careers are worth following: Oscar Isaac (featured thrice on this list) and Jessica Chastain.
Blackhat
Action | Crime
16 January
The trailer doesn’t promise more than a generic globe-trotting thriller. But Michael Mann has made some excellent films and one can hope. It helps that the lead is Chris Hemsworth (aka Thor), even if he’s playing the role of… a hacker!
Mortdecai
Action | Comedy
23 January
Look at that face. That’s nearly the same face most of us make when asked to watch a new Johnny Depp movie. The fact is, over the last five years Johnny Depp has fallen into the nadirs of mediocrity that his name is enough to boycott a movie. But this time he’s in the hands of David Koepp, a good writer and erstwhile director who makes movies (Premium Rush) fun to watch. Look forward to this one with slight caution.
Jupiter Ascending
Action | Adventure | Fantasy
06 February
A yawn-inducing generic trailer that suggests a rehash of The Matrix doesn’t help the cause of this film. But it is directed by The Wachowski siblings and their last film (Cloud Atlas) was epic and is proof enough that they still have fantastic vision and execution. Note: Sean Bean is in it. So he must die.
Fifty Shades of Grey
Drama | Romance
13 February
An R-rated big-screen adaptation of a critically-panned but bestselling erotica book: chances are, you’ve already decided to watch this movie or not. In case if the movie does release in your city, then before heading to the cinemas make sure you aren’t spending your money to watch a 30-minute censored version ala Wolf of Wall Street.
Kingsman: The Secret Service
Action | Adventure | Comedy
13 February
British director Matthew Vaughn can make a delightfully wicked movie, getting everything right that Guy Ritchie gets wrong. Kingsman looks like a ton of fun, with a dollop of style.
Focus
Crime | Drama | Comedy
27 February
Con-films are usually fun even if done half-right. One that stars the charismatic Will Smith and Margot Robbie also serves the secondary purpose of a litmus test to their on-screen chemistry before they appear together again in 2016’s super-villain team-up film Suicide Squad. For now, just wish this is better than Now You See Me!
Chappie
Action | Thriller
06 March
Neill Blomkamp is a puzzling director, sort of discount-bin visionary. Both his films (District 9 & Elysium) have promised much and delivered less. Nevertheless, they have been original enough to warrant attention to his next film: the titular Chappie is a robot that is adopted into a dysfunctional family in South Africa. Hugh Jackman stars as the patriarch of said family.
In the Heart of the Sea
Action | Adventure | Drama
13 March
Based on the 1820 real-life event that inspired the book Moby Dick, Chris Hemsworth plays the captain of a whaling ship obsessed with bringing down a huge sperm whale. The whale accepts the challenge, preying on the ship and stranding its crew at sea for 90 days. This should be a visual treat on the big screen.
Furious 7
Sequel | Action | Thriller
03 April
R.I.P. Paul Walker. Meanwhile, we get to watch him one last time with Diesel and Rock, plus Jason Statham thrown in to the mix.
Ex Machina
Thriller | Sci-Fi
10 April
The second movie on the list starring Oscar Isaac, this movie comes from the crazy mind of Alex Garland. The writer of 28 Days Later, Sunshine and Dredd makes his directorial debut with this psychological thriller where a young programmer is selected to interact with a new A.I. that partly looks like a beautiful girl.
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Sequel | Superhero | Action
01 May
Ultron: “There are no strings… on me.”
Hulk: “RRRAAAARRRGGHHHH!!!”
Mad Max: Fury Road
Sequel | Action | Thriller
15 May
Easily boasting the coolest trailer of all 2015 movies, Mad Max: Fury Road looks like a wicked testosterone-fuelled film. Wide landscape shots, elaborate chases, explosive action scenes and a fascinating lead pair: Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron. Like the trailer, the movie must have good music
Tomorrowland
Mystery | Sci-Fi
22 May
George Clooney stars in this fantastical tale about the ultimate amusement park where “anything is possible”. It is fittingly produced by Walt Disney Pictures and directed by Brad Bird (MI4 and The Incredibles). The thrilling teaser sets up the movie as an epic fun-ride.
Jurassic World
Sci-Fi | Thriller | Adventure
12 June
Jurassic Park returns as a bigger and successful amusement park – the perfect summer family holiday… until everything goes wrong, as it must. Starring Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Irrfan Khan, but we all know the real stars of this film: the T-rex and the Raptors. There’s also something foreboding about a fun-attraction that the bait fed to one of its predators is a… Great White Shark!
Inside Out
Animation
19 June
The reason for why just the name “Pixar” isn’t enough to excite moviegoers anymore: discounting the Disney-esque Brave, this is the first original movie from Pixar since 2009’s Up. But this is also the reason, in fact, to get excited for this film. Interesting premise: set inside the mind of a young girl where her 5 emotions – Fear, Sadness, Joy, Disgust and Anger – try to guide her through life. Sounds like a true Pixar!
Terminator Genisys
Sequel | Action | Sci-Fi
03 July
This movie is on the list for one reason: memorize its name, etch it in your mind’s eye and remember to do only one thing when the movie releases – boycott. If you have any doubts, judge for yourself from its nauseating trailer on YouTube (I ain’t providing the link).
Minions
Spin-off | Animation
10 July
Let’s be honest. The only reason both Despicable Me movies worked was because of the minions. It helps that there are many of them to make a spin-off, otherwise this movie could have been a one-note failure (Puss in Boots?). The trailer carries the Minions’ brand of humour promising many laughs. The kids will love this one.
Ant-Man
Superhero | Sci-fi | Action
17 July
Edgar Wright, who averages 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, left this movie over differences and is replaced by a director with an average RT score of 50%. The movie doesn’t have a great cast either. But this *is* a Marvel film, and their track record speaks for itself. Surely it won’t be the worst superhero film of the year, considering a Fantastic Four reboot releases two weeks later.
Self/Less
Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller
31 July
No matter how bad his last two movies were, Tarsem Singh is the director who made The Cell and The Fall, two movies that are visually stunning. After his director-for-hire gigs, Tarsem is back with a movie in his territory: a dying rich man uses new technology to transfer his consciousness to the body of a healthy young man (Ryan Reynolds), but he is yet to discover the origin of the body… Sounds dark and ominous enough!
The Fantastic Four
Superhero | Action | Fantasy
07 August
Yup, they’re back. Or rather, rebooted. And looks like they will continue to be horrible. Here are the clues: One-hit wonder director, a young cast that includes a 28-year old Mr. Fantastic and not one official photo released with only 7 months to release – let alone a teaser. The big fat clue: they’ve made a mess of one of Marvel’s best villains already. Dr. Doom has been renamed from Victor von Doom to…. Victor Domashev. <sigh>
Regression
Drama | Thriller
28 August
A man admits guilt to sexually abusing his daughter (Emma Watson) despite having no memory of it. He implicates a police officer (Ethan Hawke) as his partner in crime. Suddenly, people all over the country are able to relive suppressed memories of horrific abuse. Is the abuse real? Is it a supernatural conspiracy? Is it because of a Satanic cult that has been performing rituals of orgies, killing animals and even babies, for years? Get ready to have your mind blown by Alejandro Amenábar.
Black Mass
Crime | Action | Drama
18 September
It’s difficult to recommend two Johnny Depp movies, let alone in one year. But this movie also stars Benedict Cumberbatch and the man has an eye for good cinema. Along with Kevin Bacon they are in the hands of Scott Cooper, a director known to get some terrific performances from his actors. Look for this crime drama when it is out.
Everest
Drama | Thriller
18 September
Jake Gyllenhaal. Watch anything starring him post-2010. This movie also stars Josh Brolin, Jason Clarke, John Hawkes, Robin Wright, Keira Knightley, Sam Worthington and Emily Watson in a movie about an expedition to the highest peak. And it stars Jake Gyllenhaal.
The Jungle Book
Adventure | Fantasy
09 October
A live-action Jungle Book, but done in a fantastical way including CGI talking animals – there’s not much to speculate until we see a teaser/trailer. Director Jon Favreau is a hit-and-a-miss kinda guy, but he’s assembled an amazing voice cast. Get this: Scarlett Johansson = Kaa the snake, Idris Elba = Shere Khan the tiger, Bill Murray = Baloo the bear, Christopher Walken = King Louie the ape, Ben Kingsley = Bagheera the panther. Wow!
Crimson Peak
Horror
16 October
Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Chastain and Mia Wasikowska can each be wicked. Them together in a Guillermo del Toro mainstream R-rated horror is a cause for celebration. He calls it a “classical gothic romance ghost story”!
St. James Place
Drama | Thriller
16 October
Tom Hanks directed by Steven Spielberg on a script by the Coen brothers set in 1960s Cold War Era. I swear I didn’t make that up.
Spectre
OO7 | Action | Thriller
06 November
Sam Mendes returns after Skyfall, one of the best OO7 movies ever. With him, he brings back “Spectre” – the evil organization that has troubled Bond for many films during the Sean Connery and Roger Moore era. Despite the announcement that Christoph Waltz is not playing Blofeld, I think the actor will eventually be revealed as the ever-parodied* villain. Btw, doesn’t that bullet-hole look like a spider?
*amongst others, Baron Greenback from Danger Mouse and Dr. Evil from Austin Powers.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2
Sequel | Thriller | Drama
20 November
Part 1 was all build with absolutely no pay-off. Therefore, it wouldn’t be too much to ask of the makers to make Part 2 all pay-off. Also, Katniss must fire more than just one arrow in the entire film!
Midnight Special
Sci-Fi | Drama
27 November
Jeff Nichols has been steadily garnering respect and fandom after three terrific written-directed films: Shotgun Stories, Take Shelter and Mud. In a bit of a departure from his realistic dramas, this movie is about a father and son who go on the run after the dad learns his child possesses special powers. No prizes for guessing that Michael Shannon is in the movie.
The Good Dinosaur
Animation
27 November
Five years of none, and suddenly we have TWO original movies from Pixar in the same year! This one has a young boy and a teenage dinosaur as friends. It’s the debut feature from the director of a fantastic Pixar short, Partly Cloudy.
The Martian
Thriller | Sci-Fi
27 November
It takes Ridley Scott a few mediocre-to-appalling movies to get charged before delivering a landscape changing film (Alien, Blade Runner, Thelma & Louise, Gladiator). He is due. Or maybe he is past his sell-by date. Nevertheless, he has a great cast (Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Sean Bean, Jeff Daniels, Kate Mara, Kirsten Wiig and even Michael Peña) and he is adapting a wonderful sci-fi novel. The movie is about an astronaut (Matt Damon) stranded on Mars and how he tries to survive while Earth figures out a way to rescue him. Sean Bean stars as a NASA flight director on Earth, so chances are he may actually not die.
Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens
Sequel | Fantasy | Adventure
18 December
Episode VII. The Force Awakens. JJ Abrams (Star Trek) is directing. Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Han Solo are back. There’s also Oscar Isaac (his 3rd movie on the list) and Andy Serkis among others. And there’s a funky new sith lightsaber! If you haven’t seen the original and prequel trilogies (yes, there are some), now is a good time to catch-up. Then wait for the scroll.
“A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…”
Joy
Drama
25 December
David O. Russell, like many of us, is in love with Jennifer Lawrence. We don’t mind since she’s in his next film again starring as a struggling single mom who becomes one of America’s most successful entrepreneurs. Sounds Oscar ripe! There’s Bradley Cooper too in the corner, looking for some attention.
Kung-Fu Panda 3
Sequel | Animation
25 December
Po is back! Ok, moving on…
Mission: Impossible 5
Sequel | Action | Thriller
25 December
Another Tom Cruise saves-the-world flick. The last time he saved Earth (Edge of Tomorrow), it was a helluva fun. It may be a lot to expect the same again, but M:I has a record of alternating between good and bad films. In the hands of Christopher McQuarrie, 5 may just turn out well.
The Revenant
Western | Drama | Thriller
25 December
Alejandro González Iñárritu was in the form of his life with Birdman. His next is a western! After being left for dead by Tom Hardy and others, Leo DiCaprio is a frontiersman in revenge-mode looking to gun them down. Yeeehaw!
Knight of Cups
Drama | Romance
n/a
Wounded souls, moving in high rises, hushed voice-over, kid, by seashore, hands, close-up, faces in smoke, under white sheets. #TerrenceMallickRedux (original tweet)
Starring Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman, Ben Kingsley and Antonio Banderas, get ready to be hynotised. With no release date announced though, it’s possible this may instead come out in 2021 (+/- 5 years).
Sicario
Crime | Drama | Thriller
n/a
“A young female FBI agent (Emily Blunt) joins a secret CIA operation to take down a Mexican cartel boss (Benicio Del Toro), a job that ends up pushing her ethical and moral values to the limit.” That may as well be a B-movie logline. But with Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners, Enemy) directing and Roger Deakins (Skyfall, The Shawshank Redemption) shooting it, this will be on a whole another level. Slot it into the best of the year already.
Silence
Drama | History
n/a
Martin Scorsese’s next is set in 17th century Japan where two Jesuit priests (Andrew Garfield & Adam Driver) face violence and persecution while attempting to locate their mentor (Liam Neeson) and spread the gospel of Christianity. Trivia: No Ken Watanabe!
That’s What I’m Talking About
Drama | Comedy
n/a
Very little is known about this Richard Linklater movie, billed as a spiritual sequel to Dazed and Confused, except that it’ll have lots of talking and no big stars. As long as it isn’t an animated movie, easy to bet on it as a winner.
The Hateful Eight
Western | Action | Drama
n/a
Quentin Tarantino makes his 8th film. We’ll watch. We’ll love. We’ll wait for his 9th film… ad infinitum.
As is usually the case, the best films of the year may not even be on this list – they’ll be in some quiet corner waiting to take us all by surprise. So keep exploring those corners, look for films not by their marketing or box-office results but by word-of-mouth and festival buzz.
Most importantly, enjoy yourself at the movies!
