The Avengers get ready to re-assemble. Katniss readies her last stand. And Christian Grey breaks out his toys.
Yes,
2015 promises all sorts of cinematic goodness, from the return of such
storied franchise heroes as Mad Max, Terminator, and James Bond, to
would-be Oscar contenders by heavyweights like Steven Spielberg, Ron
Howard, and Quentin Tarantino
. And, as you might have heard, we’ll also be returning to that galaxy far, far away for the first time in more than a decade, when Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in December.
Our New Year’s resolution is to see more movies, starting with these 40. Are you with us?
40. Jem and the HologramsRelease Date: Oct. 23
Starring: Aubrey Peeples, Juliette Lewis, Molly Ringwald, Ryan Guzman
Director: Jon M. Chu
The Scoop: Remember the 2001 movie version of Josie and the Pussycats? We wish we didn’t, but we’re very much hoping this live-action attempt at Jem — another girl-oriented cartoon staple — will make us forget it once and for all. Our optimism starts with director Jon M. Chu: With several Step Up movies and Justin Bieber documentaries under his belt, the man knows a thing or two about music and dancing, which will be key to this adaptation. The tech will surely get an upgrade, too, although we hope Jem’s trademark star earrings (the ones that allow her to bounce from pop star to record company owner) will remain intact. Based on the poster, her pink hair certainly does. Sing along with us: “Jem is excitement! Jem is adventure! Ooooh…” — Breanne Heldman
Starring: Aubrey Peeples, Juliette Lewis, Molly Ringwald, Ryan Guzman
Director: Jon M. Chu
The Scoop: Remember the 2001 movie version of Josie and the Pussycats? We wish we didn’t, but we’re very much hoping this live-action attempt at Jem — another girl-oriented cartoon staple — will make us forget it once and for all. Our optimism starts with director Jon M. Chu: With several Step Up movies and Justin Bieber documentaries under his belt, the man knows a thing or two about music and dancing, which will be key to this adaptation. The tech will surely get an upgrade, too, although we hope Jem’s trademark star earrings (the ones that allow her to bounce from pop star to record company owner) will remain intact. Based on the poster, her pink hair certainly does. Sing along with us: “Jem is excitement! Jem is adventure! Ooooh…” — Breanne Heldman
39. The InternRelease Date: Sept. 25
Starring: Robert De Niro, Anne Hathaway, Rene Russo
Director: Nancy Meyers
The Scoop: The title and logline (“a comedy about a fashion website that brings in an elderly intern”) for this fall release sounds more suited to Judd Apatow than writer-director Meyers, the director of mom-friendly fare like Something’s Gotta Give and It’s Complicated. But we’re still intrigued. De Niro continues his late-career comedy surge, while Hathaway returns to the fashion world we thought she abandoned in The Devil Wears Prada. — Kevin Polowy
Starring: Robert De Niro, Anne Hathaway, Rene Russo
Director: Nancy Meyers
The Scoop: The title and logline (“a comedy about a fashion website that brings in an elderly intern”) for this fall release sounds more suited to Judd Apatow than writer-director Meyers, the director of mom-friendly fare like Something’s Gotta Give and It’s Complicated. But we’re still intrigued. De Niro continues his late-career comedy surge, while Hathaway returns to the fashion world we thought she abandoned in The Devil Wears Prada. — Kevin Polowy
38. Ex MachinaRelease Date: April 10
Starring: Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander
Director: Alex Garland
The Scoop: This psychological thriller is the directorial debut of screenwriter Garland (28 Days Later, Sunshine), who’s demonstrated a real gift for pushing science fiction into realms frighteningly plausible. In anticipation of the new Star Wars movie, we look forward to seeing Force Awakens stars Gleeson and Isaac fight over an artificially intelligent woman (Vikander) who just might be playing them both. — Gwynne Watkins
Starring: Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander
Director: Alex Garland
The Scoop: This psychological thriller is the directorial debut of screenwriter Garland (28 Days Later, Sunshine), who’s demonstrated a real gift for pushing science fiction into realms frighteningly plausible. In anticipation of the new Star Wars movie, we look forward to seeing Force Awakens stars Gleeson and Isaac fight over an artificially intelligent woman (Vikander) who just might be playing them both. — Gwynne Watkins
37. Rock the Kasbah
Release Date: April 24
Starring: Zooey Deschanel, Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Danny McBride, Kate Hudson
Director: Barry Levinson
The Scoop: The Oscar-winning director of an astonishingly diverse roster of past credits — including Diner; Rain Man; Good Morning, Vietnam; Bugsy; and Wag the Dog — returns with a comedy about the music industry, young vocal prodigies from Afghanistan, and jealousy. With this cast? Rock on! — Jordan Zakarin
Release Date: April 24
Starring: Zooey Deschanel, Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Danny McBride, Kate Hudson
Director: Barry Levinson
The Scoop: The Oscar-winning director of an astonishingly diverse roster of past credits — including Diner; Rain Man; Good Morning, Vietnam; Bugsy; and Wag the Dog — returns with a comedy about the music industry, young vocal prodigies from Afghanistan, and jealousy. With this cast? Rock on! — Jordan Zakarin
36. While We’re YoungRelease date: March 27
Starring: Ben Stiller, Naomi Watts, Adam Driver, Amanda Seyfried
Director: Noah Baumbach
The scoop: A middle-aged documentary filmmaker and his wife (played by Stiller and Watts) become enamored with the youthful exuberance of a much younger couple (Driver and Seyfried). Considering that Baumbach was behind such squirm-inducingly spot-on films as Frances Ha and Greenberg, expect plenty of razor-sharp musings on love, sex, and generation-gap disarray. — Wook Kim
Starring: Ben Stiller, Naomi Watts, Adam Driver, Amanda Seyfried
Director: Noah Baumbach
The scoop: A middle-aged documentary filmmaker and his wife (played by Stiller and Watts) become enamored with the youthful exuberance of a much younger couple (Driver and Seyfried). Considering that Baumbach was behind such squirm-inducingly spot-on films as Frances Ha and Greenberg, expect plenty of razor-sharp musings on love, sex, and generation-gap disarray. — Wook Kim
35. Chappie
Release Date: March 6
Starring: Dev Patel, Hugh Jackman, Sigourney Weaver
Director: Neill Blomkamp
The Scoop: South African filmmaker Neill Blomkamp made a splash with his sensational 2009 sleeper sci-fi hit District 9 — and was brought back down to Earth with 2013’s disappointing Elysium). His latest project could be the perfect rebound – a lighter, family-friendly actioner about an experimental robot with full-on A.I. (with a motion-capture performance by Blomkamp favorite Sharlto Copley) “kidnapped” by gangsters. Excuse us, please, while we fantasize about Chappie turning out to be the second coming of Short Circuit’s Johnny Five. — Kevin Polowy
Release Date: March 6
Starring: Dev Patel, Hugh Jackman, Sigourney Weaver
Director: Neill Blomkamp
The Scoop: South African filmmaker Neill Blomkamp made a splash with his sensational 2009 sleeper sci-fi hit District 9 — and was brought back down to Earth with 2013’s disappointing Elysium). His latest project could be the perfect rebound – a lighter, family-friendly actioner about an experimental robot with full-on A.I. (with a motion-capture performance by Blomkamp favorite Sharlto Copley) “kidnapped” by gangsters. Excuse us, please, while we fantasize about Chappie turning out to be the second coming of Short Circuit’s Johnny Five. — Kevin Polowy
34. Straight Outta Compton
Release Date: Aug. 14
Starring: O’Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell
Director: F. Gary Gray
The Scoop: After years of delays, N.W.A., the seminal gangster rap outfit that kickstarted the careers of Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and Eazy-E, finally gets the biopic treatment. With Dre and Cube producing, and Cube’s son, Jackson, playing his dad, Compton promises to get all the gritty details right about the West Coast hip-hop pioneers. — Kevin Polowy
Release Date: Aug. 14
Starring: O’Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell
Director: F. Gary Gray
The Scoop: After years of delays, N.W.A., the seminal gangster rap outfit that kickstarted the careers of Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and Eazy-E, finally gets the biopic treatment. With Dre and Cube producing, and Cube’s son, Jackson, playing his dad, Compton promises to get all the gritty details right about the West Coast hip-hop pioneers. — Kevin Polowy
33. The Divergent Series: InsurgentRelease Date: March 20
Starring: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet, Miles Teller
Director: Robert Schwentke
The Scoop: Following the success of last spring’s Divergent, the young heroes of this dystopian world return to face more dangers even as they learn some troubling secrets about their society. With Tris (Woodley) mourning her fallen comrades from the first installment, war is brewing among the factions. Combat, futuristic tech, and torture ensue, as do a few romantic moments between Tris and her man, Four (James) — the movie is based on a YA book, after all. Given some of the big twists in Veronica Roth’s novel, we can’t help but look forward to seeing detractors’ surprise at being surprised by this one. — Breanne Heldman
Starring: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet, Miles Teller
Director: Robert Schwentke
The Scoop: Following the success of last spring’s Divergent, the young heroes of this dystopian world return to face more dangers even as they learn some troubling secrets about their society. With Tris (Woodley) mourning her fallen comrades from the first installment, war is brewing among the factions. Combat, futuristic tech, and torture ensue, as do a few romantic moments between Tris and her man, Four (James) — the movie is based on a YA book, after all. Given some of the big twists in Veronica Roth’s novel, we can’t help but look forward to seeing detractors’ surprise at being surprised by this one. — Breanne Heldman
32. Pan
Release Date: July 17
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Levi Miller, Garrett Hedlund, Rooney Mara
Director: Joe Wright
The Scoop: Perhaps the world doesn’t need a Peter Pan prequel, but anyone who has seen Wright’s 2011 fairy-tale-inflected action film Hanna knows that his Pan has potential to be enchanting. Hugh Jackman steps out of superhero mode to play the villainous pirate Blackbeard, which should be fun to watch — even if we can’t help flashing back to Dustin Hoffman in Hook. — Gwynne Watkins
Release Date: July 17
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Levi Miller, Garrett Hedlund, Rooney Mara
Director: Joe Wright
The Scoop: Perhaps the world doesn’t need a Peter Pan prequel, but anyone who has seen Wright’s 2011 fairy-tale-inflected action film Hanna knows that his Pan has potential to be enchanting. Hugh Jackman steps out of superhero mode to play the villainous pirate Blackbeard, which should be fun to watch — even if we can’t help flashing back to Dustin Hoffman in Hook. — Gwynne Watkins
31. Blackhat
Release Date: Jan. 16
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Viola Davis, Wei Tang
Director: Michael Mann
The Scoop: You won’t have to wait until May’s Avengers: Age of Ultron to see People magazine’s newly crowned Sexiest Man Alive in action. This Michael Mann-directed thriller marks the first of four(!) Chris Hemsworth movies, with the Aussie playing a hacker sprung from lockdown to counteract an international terrorist. As for how Hemsworth prepared to play a tech mastermind? “I just became really, really smart,” he joked to Yahoo Movies. — Kevin Polowy
Release Date: Jan. 16
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Viola Davis, Wei Tang
Director: Michael Mann
The Scoop: You won’t have to wait until May’s Avengers: Age of Ultron to see People magazine’s newly crowned Sexiest Man Alive in action. This Michael Mann-directed thriller marks the first of four(!) Chris Hemsworth movies, with the Aussie playing a hacker sprung from lockdown to counteract an international terrorist. As for how Hemsworth prepared to play a tech mastermind? “I just became really, really smart,” he joked to Yahoo Movies. — Kevin Polowy
30. Fantastic Four
Release Date:
Starring: Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Bell, Toby Kebbell
Director: Josh Trank
The Scoop: Marvel’s original superhero team is, alas, not part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and every one of previous FF movies was anything but fantastic. So why are we excited? With a fan-friendly director Trank (Chronicle) showing he’s not afraid to shake things up — see: the controversial casting of Jordan as the Human Torch — we have high hopes this rebooted quartet of squabbling supers will re-establish the Four as the first family of comics. — Marcus Errico
Release Date:
Starring: Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Bell, Toby Kebbell
Director: Josh Trank
The Scoop: Marvel’s original superhero team is, alas, not part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and every one of previous FF movies was anything but fantastic. So why are we excited? With a fan-friendly director Trank (Chronicle) showing he’s not afraid to shake things up — see: the controversial casting of Jordan as the Human Torch — we have high hopes this rebooted quartet of squabbling supers will re-establish the Four as the first family of comics. — Marcus Errico
29. Trainwreck
Release Date: July 24
Starring: Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, Tilda Swinton, Brie Larson
Director: Judd Apatow
The Scoop: The quick-witted Schumer has been sharpening her comic edge on the Comedy Central series Inside Amy Schumer for two seasons now. In her feature-film screenwriting debut, she plays a semi-autobiographical character and surrounds herself with a dream cast, including Hader, Swinton, Daniel Radcliffe, and Marisa Tomei. Judd Apatow directs: We’re intrigued to see what he does with a screenplay he didn’t write himself. — Gwynne Watkins
Release Date: July 24
Starring: Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, Tilda Swinton, Brie Larson
Director: Judd Apatow
The Scoop: The quick-witted Schumer has been sharpening her comic edge on the Comedy Central series Inside Amy Schumer for two seasons now. In her feature-film screenwriting debut, she plays a semi-autobiographical character and surrounds herself with a dream cast, including Hader, Swinton, Daniel Radcliffe, and Marisa Tomei. Judd Apatow directs: We’re intrigued to see what he does with a screenplay he didn’t write himself. — Gwynne Watkins
28. Magic Mike XXL
Release Date: July 1
Starring: Channing Tatum, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer, Michael Strahan
Director: Gregory Jacobs
The Scoop: This summer’s gonna be a hot one: Channing and his fellow muscle men will be taking it off again. Mike hung up his thong after the events of the first film, and, three years later, his fellow Kings of Tampa (minus Matthew McConaughey’s Dallas) are ready to follow suit… but after one last hurrah. Plenty of famous ladies will be on hand to scream for them, including Amber Heard, Jada Pinkett Smith, Andie MacDowell, and Elizabeth Banks. — Breanne Heldman
Release Date: July 1
Starring: Channing Tatum, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer, Michael Strahan
Director: Gregory Jacobs
The Scoop: This summer’s gonna be a hot one: Channing and his fellow muscle men will be taking it off again. Mike hung up his thong after the events of the first film, and, three years later, his fellow Kings of Tampa (minus Matthew McConaughey’s Dallas) are ready to follow suit… but after one last hurrah. Plenty of famous ladies will be on hand to scream for them, including Amber Heard, Jada Pinkett Smith, Andie MacDowell, and Elizabeth Banks. — Breanne Heldman
27. Cinderella
Release Date: March 13
Starring: Lily James, Helena Bonham Carter, Cate Blanchett
Director: Kenneth Branagh
The Scoop: From 1998’s Ever After to this season’s Into the Woods, modern Hollywood has produced its share of live-action Cinderellas. This one, however, is directly inspired by Disney’s 1950 animated classic, meaning it has all the fun stuff (some friendly mice; a wacky fairy godmother, played by Bonham Carter), plus the expected feminist twist. “We built the film around the idea that even though Cinderella would be delighted to find love, her life would not and could not be defined by whether she finds a man,” director Kenneth Branagh tells Yahoo Movies. “She likes herself, and she has no sense of self-pity or being any kind of victim.” Sounds like happily-ever-after. — Gwynne Watkins
Release Date: March 13
Starring: Lily James, Helena Bonham Carter, Cate Blanchett
Director: Kenneth Branagh
The Scoop: From 1998’s Ever After to this season’s Into the Woods, modern Hollywood has produced its share of live-action Cinderellas. This one, however, is directly inspired by Disney’s 1950 animated classic, meaning it has all the fun stuff (some friendly mice; a wacky fairy godmother, played by Bonham Carter), plus the expected feminist twist. “We built the film around the idea that even though Cinderella would be delighted to find love, her life would not and could not be defined by whether she finds a man,” director Kenneth Branagh tells Yahoo Movies. “She likes herself, and she has no sense of self-pity or being any kind of victim.” Sounds like happily-ever-after. — Gwynne Watkins
26. Mission: Impossible 5
Release Date: Dec. 25
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Alec Baldwin, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
The Scoop: The A-list spy team is back, led by Cruise’s Ethan Hunt. Other than the star doing his usual insane stunt work in locales throughout — and above — Europe, not much is known about the plot. But who cares? With the franchise’s impressive track record, the dependable J.J. Abrams on board as producer, and Tom Cruise hanging off a plane, audiences will make it their mission to watch this fifth go-round. — Marcus Errico
Release Date: Dec. 25
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Alec Baldwin, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
The Scoop: The A-list spy team is back, led by Cruise’s Ethan Hunt. Other than the star doing his usual insane stunt work in locales throughout — and above — Europe, not much is known about the plot. But who cares? With the franchise’s impressive track record, the dependable J.J. Abrams on board as producer, and Tom Cruise hanging off a plane, audiences will make it their mission to watch this fifth go-round. — Marcus Errico
25. Ant-Man
Release date: July 17
Starring: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lily
Director: Peyton Reed
The Scoop: The out-of-this-world success of last summer’s Guardians of the Galaxy proved that even Marvel’s quirkiest superheroes have blockbuster potential. Ant-Man, gifted with the power of shrinking, certainly fits the bill. As played by Paul Rudd, he’s likely to have that same goofy-sexy appeal that Chris Pratt brought to Star Lord. We’re also crossing our fingers that Evangeline Lilly’s character might turn out to have superpowers of her own, bringing some much-needed (and long overdue) girl power to the Marvel Universe. — Gwynne Watkins
Release date: July 17
Starring: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lily
Director: Peyton Reed
The Scoop: The out-of-this-world success of last summer’s Guardians of the Galaxy proved that even Marvel’s quirkiest superheroes have blockbuster potential. Ant-Man, gifted with the power of shrinking, certainly fits the bill. As played by Paul Rudd, he’s likely to have that same goofy-sexy appeal that Chris Pratt brought to Star Lord. We’re also crossing our fingers that Evangeline Lilly’s character might turn out to have superpowers of her own, bringing some much-needed (and long overdue) girl power to the Marvel Universe. — Gwynne Watkins
24. The Walk
Release Date: Oct. 2
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Charlotte Le Bon, Ben Kingsley
Director: Robert Zemeckis
The Scoop: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (literally) embarks on a high-wire act in this biographical drama that chronicles French aerialist Philippe Petit’s extraordinary 1974 walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. Petit’s amazing feat was also the subject of the Oscar-winning 2008 documentary Man on a Wire, and we expect this latest effort from Zemeckis (Flight, Forrest Gump) to be just as gasp-inducing. — Wook Kim
Release Date: Oct. 2
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Charlotte Le Bon, Ben Kingsley
Director: Robert Zemeckis
The Scoop: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (literally) embarks on a high-wire act in this biographical drama that chronicles French aerialist Philippe Petit’s extraordinary 1974 walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. Petit’s amazing feat was also the subject of the Oscar-winning 2008 documentary Man on a Wire, and we expect this latest effort from Zemeckis (Flight, Forrest Gump) to be just as gasp-inducing. — Wook Kim
23. Pitch Perfect 2
Release Date: May 15
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp
Director: Elizabeth Banks
The Scoop: This sequel is coming in the nick of time — just as we’ve grown tired of singing songs from the original film’s soundtrack in the shower. This time around, the Barden Bellas will be entering an international a cappella competition, in their quest to be the first American squad to take the tile of world’s best. They’re also going to be getting ready to go their own ways, as several members of the crew will be graduating. But who cares about all of that? The movie is gonna be aca-mazing! — Breanne Heldman
Release Date: May 15
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp
Director: Elizabeth Banks
The Scoop: This sequel is coming in the nick of time — just as we’ve grown tired of singing songs from the original film’s soundtrack in the shower. This time around, the Barden Bellas will be entering an international a cappella competition, in their quest to be the first American squad to take the tile of world’s best. They’re also going to be getting ready to go their own ways, as several members of the crew will be graduating. But who cares about all of that? The movie is gonna be aca-mazing! — Breanne Heldman
22. Crimson Peak
Release Date: Oct. 16
Starring: Jessica Chastain, Charlie Hunnam, Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska
Director: Guillermo Del Toro
The Scoop: After a detour into the giant-robot battles in Pacific Rim, Del Toro gets back to his horror roots with this sure-to-be visually ravishing gothic romance. Wasikowska plays a young bride and author who discovers that her dashing hubby (Hiddleston) may be of the supernatural persuasion. Chastain stars as Hiddleston’s twisted sister, while Hunnam is the studly doctor with a major crush on Ms. Mia. And since this is a Del Toro movie, the production design is front and center, with all the bloody (and kinky) action unfolding inside a gorgeously spooky haunted house that recalls vintage Hammer horror films. — Ethan Alter
Release Date: Oct. 16
Starring: Jessica Chastain, Charlie Hunnam, Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska
Director: Guillermo Del Toro
The Scoop: After a detour into the giant-robot battles in Pacific Rim, Del Toro gets back to his horror roots with this sure-to-be visually ravishing gothic romance. Wasikowska plays a young bride and author who discovers that her dashing hubby (Hiddleston) may be of the supernatural persuasion. Chastain stars as Hiddleston’s twisted sister, while Hunnam is the studly doctor with a major crush on Ms. Mia. And since this is a Del Toro movie, the production design is front and center, with all the bloody (and kinky) action unfolding inside a gorgeously spooky haunted house that recalls vintage Hammer horror films. — Ethan Alter
21. Terminator Genisys
Release Date: July 1
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Emilia Clarke, Jason Clarke
Director: Alan Taylor
The Scoop: Terminator Genisys plays with the space-time continuum — showing events from both 1984 and 2029 — allowing us to see Sarah Connor (Game of Throne’s Clarke) and Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) as young adults. Arnold Schwarzenegger is back, of course, playing an aged version of his iconic cyborg assassin. With Arnie back on board, expect plenty of shoot-outs, punch-outs, and more than a few catchy one-liners. — Meriah Doty
Release Date: July 1
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Emilia Clarke, Jason Clarke
Director: Alan Taylor
The Scoop: Terminator Genisys plays with the space-time continuum — showing events from both 1984 and 2029 — allowing us to see Sarah Connor (Game of Throne’s Clarke) and Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) as young adults. Arnold Schwarzenegger is back, of course, playing an aged version of his iconic cyborg assassin. With Arnie back on board, expect plenty of shoot-outs, punch-outs, and more than a few catchy one-liners. — Meriah Doty
20. The Martian
Release Date: Nov. 25
Starring: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kate Mara
Director: Ridley Scott
The Scoop: Directing dynamo Ridley Scott follows up his sweeping Old Testament epic Exodus: Gods and Kings with The Martian, a spare sci-fi–adventure tale adapted from Andy Weir's 2012 bestselling novel. Damon plays an American botanist-astronaut who must find a way to survive when he's left stranded on the red planet. — Wook Kim
Release Date: Nov. 25
Starring: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kate Mara
Director: Ridley Scott
The Scoop: Directing dynamo Ridley Scott follows up his sweeping Old Testament epic Exodus: Gods and Kings with The Martian, a spare sci-fi–adventure tale adapted from Andy Weir's 2012 bestselling novel. Damon plays an American botanist-astronaut who must find a way to survive when he's left stranded on the red planet. — Wook Kim
19. Mad Max: Fury Road
Release Date: May 15
Starring: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
Director: George Miller
The Scoop: After spending decades trying to get another Mad Max movie off the ground, Miller got a green light, even though it meant newcomer Hardy slipping into the leathers of original leading man Mel Gibson. And based on the movie’s eye-popping trailer, the director isn’t squandering a single second of his new star’s hard-earned screen time. Once again, the action unfolds in a post-apocalyptic future where oil and other resources are commodities worth fighting over. Against this backdrop, Max and new companion Furiosa (Theron) make their way through a dangerous, biker gang-infested desert in a desperate quest for survival. — Ethan Alter
Release Date: May 15
Starring: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
Director: George Miller
The Scoop: After spending decades trying to get another Mad Max movie off the ground, Miller got a green light, even though it meant newcomer Hardy slipping into the leathers of original leading man Mel Gibson. And based on the movie’s eye-popping trailer, the director isn’t squandering a single second of his new star’s hard-earned screen time. Once again, the action unfolds in a post-apocalyptic future where oil and other resources are commodities worth fighting over. Against this backdrop, Max and new companion Furiosa (Theron) make their way through a dangerous, biker gang-infested desert in a desperate quest for survival. — Ethan Alter
18. Furious 7
Release Date: April 3
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham
Director: James Wan
The Scoop: It will be a bittersweet seventh ride for this seemingly unstoppable series, as the movie marks the final screen appearance of its beloved co-lead Paul Walker, who perished in a 2013 car accident. The Fast flicks have always been just as much about family as they are about lightning-quick whips, heists, and getaways, so expect a poignant send-off for Walker. — Kevin Polowy
Release Date: April 3
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham
Director: James Wan
The Scoop: It will be a bittersweet seventh ride for this seemingly unstoppable series, as the movie marks the final screen appearance of its beloved co-lead Paul Walker, who perished in a 2013 car accident. The Fast flicks have always been just as much about family as they are about lightning-quick whips, heists, and getaways, so expect a poignant send-off for Walker. — Kevin Polowy
17. Fifty Shades of Grey
Release Date: Feb. 13
Starring: Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan
Director: Sam Taylor-Johnson
The Scoop: What started as a piece of kink-laden Twilight fan fiction snowballed into a hugely successful bestseller and, finally, a much-anticipated film adaptation. (Oh, and the most-watched trailer of 2014.) Johnson — for the two dozen of you unfamiliar with the book’s plot — plays Anastasia Steele, the ingenuous college student who falls under the spell of mysterious business magnate Christian Grey (Dornan). — Meriah Doty
Release Date: Feb. 13
Starring: Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan
Director: Sam Taylor-Johnson
The Scoop: What started as a piece of kink-laden Twilight fan fiction snowballed into a hugely successful bestseller and, finally, a much-anticipated film adaptation. (Oh, and the most-watched trailer of 2014.) Johnson — for the two dozen of you unfamiliar with the book’s plot — plays Anastasia Steele, the ingenuous college student who falls under the spell of mysterious business magnate Christian Grey (Dornan). — Meriah Doty
16. Inside Out
Release Date: June 19
Starring: Kaitlyn Dias, Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Mindy Kaling
Director: Pete Docter, Ronaldo Del Carmen
The Scoop: It’s no secret that Pixar has been in a bit of a rut recently, so the latest film from Docter seems to be just what the… um, doctor ordered. With this movie, the director of two of the studio’s finest features — Monsters Inc. and the Oscar-winning Up — invites audiences inside the mind of young Riley (Kaitlyn Dias), where competing emotions like Joy, Fear and Disgust (Poehler, Hader and Kaling) help her navigate her day-to-day existence. At best, it’ll be this generation’s Innerspace; at worst, the infamous Fox sitcom Herman’s Head. Either way, it’s sure to be more fun than Cars 2. — Ethan Alter
Release Date: June 19
Starring: Kaitlyn Dias, Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Mindy Kaling
Director: Pete Docter, Ronaldo Del Carmen
The Scoop: It’s no secret that Pixar has been in a bit of a rut recently, so the latest film from Docter seems to be just what the… um, doctor ordered. With this movie, the director of two of the studio’s finest features — Monsters Inc. and the Oscar-winning Up — invites audiences inside the mind of young Riley (Kaitlyn Dias), where competing emotions like Joy, Fear and Disgust (Poehler, Hader and Kaling) help her navigate her day-to-day existence. At best, it’ll be this generation’s Innerspace; at worst, the infamous Fox sitcom Herman’s Head. Either way, it’s sure to be more fun than Cars 2. — Ethan Alter
15. Black Mass
Release Date: Sept. 18
Starring: Johnny Depp, Benedict Cumberbatch, Sienna Miller
Director: Scott Cooper
The Scoop: Portraying a real-life, stone-cold killer might be the klnd of career-boosting jolt that Depp could use. In Black Mass, he plays James “Whitey” Bulger, who terrorized Boston for two decades as head of the notorious Winter Hill Gang. An FBI informant and the brother of the onetime president of the Massachusetts senate (Cumberbatch), Bulger used his powerful ties to evade capture and prosecution, leaving his victims’ families in constant torment. Written and directed by Scott Cooper, who made the Oscar-winning Crazy Heart, this movie should offer a realistic take on a crime boss who is alive but, finally, behind bars. — Meriah Doty
Release Date: Sept. 18
Starring: Johnny Depp, Benedict Cumberbatch, Sienna Miller
Director: Scott Cooper
The Scoop: Portraying a real-life, stone-cold killer might be the klnd of career-boosting jolt that Depp could use. In Black Mass, he plays James “Whitey” Bulger, who terrorized Boston for two decades as head of the notorious Winter Hill Gang. An FBI informant and the brother of the onetime president of the Massachusetts senate (Cumberbatch), Bulger used his powerful ties to evade capture and prosecution, leaving his victims’ families in constant torment. Written and directed by Scott Cooper, who made the Oscar-winning Crazy Heart, this movie should offer a realistic take on a crime boss who is alive but, finally, behind bars. — Meriah Doty
14. Still Alice
Release Date: Jan. 16
Starring: Julianne Moore, Alec Baldwin, Kristen Stewart, Kate Bosworth
Director: Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland
The Scoop: The oft-nominated Julianne Moore — four nods and counting — is poised to win her long-overdue first Oscar as a linguistic professor who suffers the devastating effects of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. As her mind steadily deteriorates, her family —including her husband (Baldwin) and grown daughters (Stewart and Bosworth) — try to cope with the idea that they’ve woman they’ve adored all these years is slipping away. Bring tissues and make sure to call your mom afterwards. — Ethan Alter
Release Date: Jan. 16
Starring: Julianne Moore, Alec Baldwin, Kristen Stewart, Kate Bosworth
Director: Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland
The Scoop: The oft-nominated Julianne Moore — four nods and counting — is poised to win her long-overdue first Oscar as a linguistic professor who suffers the devastating effects of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. As her mind steadily deteriorates, her family —including her husband (Baldwin) and grown daughters (Stewart and Bosworth) — try to cope with the idea that they’ve woman they’ve adored all these years is slipping away. Bring tissues and make sure to call your mom afterwards. — Ethan Alter
13. The Jungle Book
Release Date: Oct. 9
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray, Christopher Walken, Lupita Nyong'o, Idris Elba, Neel Sethi
Director: Jon Favreau
The Scoop: This live-action and CGI-enhanced retelling of the beloved Rudyard Kipling children's tale boasts an all-star cast (even if it's mostly just their voices), and a director who knows how to do a big-budget Disney feature (see: the first two Iron Man films). No, we don't know much about Neel Sethi, the little boy who plays Mowgli, but the last time a young buck played opposite a computer-generated tiger, we got last year's Best Picture contender Life of Pi. — Jordan Zakarin
Release Date: Oct. 9
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray, Christopher Walken, Lupita Nyong'o, Idris Elba, Neel Sethi
Director: Jon Favreau
The Scoop: This live-action and CGI-enhanced retelling of the beloved Rudyard Kipling children's tale boasts an all-star cast (even if it's mostly just their voices), and a director who knows how to do a big-budget Disney feature (see: the first two Iron Man films). No, we don't know much about Neel Sethi, the little boy who plays Mowgli, but the last time a young buck played opposite a computer-generated tiger, we got last year's Best Picture contender Life of Pi. — Jordan Zakarin
12. In the Heart of the Sea
Release Date: March 13
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy, Benjamin Walker
Director: Ron Howard
The Scoop: Hearkening back to his ’90s-era men-in-peril movies like Apollo 13 and Backdraft, director Ron Howard tackles the true story of a whaling ship’s crew attacked by an underwater leviathan — the 1820 incident was one of the inspirations for Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick. The trailer for the bleak sea epic is pretty dazzling. Though is it wrong that, after seeing Blackfish, we’re kind of rooting for the whale? — Gwynne Watkins
Release Date: March 13
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy, Benjamin Walker
Director: Ron Howard
The Scoop: Hearkening back to his ’90s-era men-in-peril movies like Apollo 13 and Backdraft, director Ron Howard tackles the true story of a whaling ship’s crew attacked by an underwater leviathan — the 1820 incident was one of the inspirations for Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick. The trailer for the bleak sea epic is pretty dazzling. Though is it wrong that, after seeing Blackfish, we’re kind of rooting for the whale? — Gwynne Watkins
11. Joy
Release Date: Dec. 25
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro
Director: David O. Russell
The Scoop: Why are we excited for a film about a mop? A better question is, why aren’t you? Joy, based on the real-life success story of Miracle Mop inventor Joy Mangano, will reunite director David O. Russell with Silver Linings Playbook stars Lawrence and De Niro. It’s also the sophomore feature of screenwriter Annie Mumolo, whose last film was a little comedy called Bridesmaids. — Gwynne Watkins
Release Date: Dec. 25
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro
Director: David O. Russell
The Scoop: Why are we excited for a film about a mop? A better question is, why aren’t you? Joy, based on the real-life success story of Miracle Mop inventor Joy Mangano, will reunite director David O. Russell with Silver Linings Playbook stars Lawrence and De Niro. It’s also the sophomore feature of screenwriter Annie Mumolo, whose last film was a little comedy called Bridesmaids. — Gwynne Watkins
10. SPECTRE
Release Date: Nov. 6
Starring: Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris
Director: Sam Mendes
The Scoop: Sam Mendes, director of 2012’s excellent Skyfall, is back at the helm for the 24th installment in the newly reinvigorated Bond franchise. Daniel Craig returns as 007, with Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Wishaw, and Rory Kinnear also reprising their Skyfall roles. And while nobody can fill the Judi Dench-shaped hole in our hearts, we’re excited for the debut of some new Bond characters, including Christoph Waltz (who was pretty much born to play a Bond villain), Monica Bellucci, and Blue Is the Warmest Color’s Lea Seydoux. — Gwynne Watkins
Release Date: Nov. 6
Starring: Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris
Director: Sam Mendes
The Scoop: Sam Mendes, director of 2012’s excellent Skyfall, is back at the helm for the 24th installment in the newly reinvigorated Bond franchise. Daniel Craig returns as 007, with Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Wishaw, and Rory Kinnear also reprising their Skyfall roles. And while nobody can fill the Judi Dench-shaped hole in our hearts, we’re excited for the debut of some new Bond characters, including Christoph Waltz (who was pretty much born to play a Bond villain), Monica Bellucci, and Blue Is the Warmest Color’s Lea Seydoux. — Gwynne Watkins
9. Jurassic World
Release Date: June. 12
Starring: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins, Vincent D’Onofrio
Director: Colin Trevorrow
The Scoop: After 14 years frozen in box-office amber, the T. rex-sized blockbuster franchise roars back to life with a new director (Safety Not Guaranteed's Trevorrow) and a cast of next-gen movie stars like Pratt and Howard. Set two decades after the events of the Spielberg-directed original, World takes place at the titular theme park, built on the same dinosaur-populated island where John Hammond and Alan Grant once roamed. Unlike Jurassic Park, which closed before it ever opened, Jurassic World has been operating smoothly for years… that is, until now. (Insert ominous music and angry dino roars here.) — Ethan Alter
Release Date: June. 12
Starring: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins, Vincent D’Onofrio
Director: Colin Trevorrow
The Scoop: After 14 years frozen in box-office amber, the T. rex-sized blockbuster franchise roars back to life with a new director (Safety Not Guaranteed's Trevorrow) and a cast of next-gen movie stars like Pratt and Howard. Set two decades after the events of the Spielberg-directed original, World takes place at the titular theme park, built on the same dinosaur-populated island where John Hammond and Alan Grant once roamed. Unlike Jurassic Park, which closed before it ever opened, Jurassic World has been operating smoothly for years… that is, until now. (Insert ominous music and angry dino roars here.) — Ethan Alter
8. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2
Release Date: Nov. 20
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth
Director: Francis Lawrence
The Scoop: Let the countdown to Mockingjay 2 — the final installment in the Hunger Games saga — begin. Sure, most of us know what’s going to go down (from reading the books), but we can’t get enough of Jennifer Lawrence and a stellar supporting cast, including the late Philip Seymour Hoffman in his final film role. — Meriah Doty
Release Date: Nov. 20
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth
Director: Francis Lawrence
The Scoop: Let the countdown to Mockingjay 2 — the final installment in the Hunger Games saga — begin. Sure, most of us know what’s going to go down (from reading the books), but we can’t get enough of Jennifer Lawrence and a stellar supporting cast, including the late Philip Seymour Hoffman in his final film role. — Meriah Doty
7. Everest
Release Date: Sept. 18
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Keira Knightley, Robin Wright
Director: Baltasar Kormákur
The Scoop: Using firsthand accounts of the 1996 Mount Everest disaster that claimed eight lives, this high-altitude adventure epic was shot in locales around the world, from a London soundstage to the mountain itself. Gyllenhaal and Jason Clarke play the leaders of the two ill-fated expeditions that attempted to scale the world’s highest peak. — Wook Kim
Release Date: Sept. 18
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Keira Knightley, Robin Wright
Director: Baltasar Kormákur
The Scoop: Using firsthand accounts of the 1996 Mount Everest disaster that claimed eight lives, this high-altitude adventure epic was shot in locales around the world, from a London soundstage to the mountain itself. Gyllenhaal and Jason Clarke play the leaders of the two ill-fated expeditions that attempted to scale the world’s highest peak. — Wook Kim
6. The Revenant
Release Date: December
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domnhall Gleeson
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
The Scoop: After wowing us with the biting satire and visual wizardry of Birdman, director González Iñárritu returns to his more dramatic roots with a very bloody story about the frontiersman Hugh Glass, “who, in the 1820s, set out on a path of vengeance against those who left him for dead after a bear mauling.” Grizzled actors and grizzly bears? We’re there. — Jordan Zakarin
Release Date: December
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domnhall Gleeson
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
The Scoop: After wowing us with the biting satire and visual wizardry of Birdman, director González Iñárritu returns to his more dramatic roots with a very bloody story about the frontiersman Hugh Glass, “who, in the 1820s, set out on a path of vengeance against those who left him for dead after a bear mauling.” Grizzled actors and grizzly bears? We’re there. — Jordan Zakarin
5. Untitled Steven Spielberg Drama
Release Date: Oct. 16
Starring: Tom Hanks, Amy Ryan, Mark Rylance, Billy Magnussen
Director: Steven Spielberg
The Scoop: This film is the fourth pairing of Hanks and Spielberg, following their work together in Saving Private Ryan, Catch Me if You Can, and The Terminal. In the based-on-real-life St. James Place, the Oscar-winning actor plays James Donovan, the real-life New York lawyer who, in 1962, negotiated with the Soviet Union to secure the release of captured CIA pilot. — Jordan Zakarin
Release Date: Oct. 16
Starring: Tom Hanks, Amy Ryan, Mark Rylance, Billy Magnussen
Director: Steven Spielberg
The Scoop: This film is the fourth pairing of Hanks and Spielberg, following their work together in Saving Private Ryan, Catch Me if You Can, and The Terminal. In the based-on-real-life St. James Place, the Oscar-winning actor plays James Donovan, the real-life New York lawyer who, in 1962, negotiated with the Soviet Union to secure the release of captured CIA pilot. — Jordan Zakarin
4. Tomorrowland
Release Date: May 22
Starring: George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Hugh Laurie, Shiloh Nelson
Director: Brad Bird
The Scoop: The eponymous Disneyland park area is the subject of its very own movie, with rising star Robertson playing a rebellious teenager who happens upon a magic pin that transports her to another reality. She turns to a reclusive inventor (Clooney) for help, and the duo embark on a whiz-bang adventure in the tradition of ’50s sci-fi — Bird’s favorite era, as evidenced by his modern animated classic, The Iron Giant. The clips the director revealed at New York Comic-Con last October looked terrific; expect Tomorrowland park attendance to skyrocket in a few months. — Ethan Alter
Release Date: May 22
Starring: George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Hugh Laurie, Shiloh Nelson
Director: Brad Bird
The Scoop: The eponymous Disneyland park area is the subject of its very own movie, with rising star Robertson playing a rebellious teenager who happens upon a magic pin that transports her to another reality. She turns to a reclusive inventor (Clooney) for help, and the duo embark on a whiz-bang adventure in the tradition of ’50s sci-fi — Bird’s favorite era, as evidenced by his modern animated classic, The Iron Giant. The clips the director revealed at New York Comic-Con last October looked terrific; expect Tomorrowland park attendance to skyrocket in a few months. — Ethan Alter
3. Avengers: Age of Ultron
Release Date: May 1
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, James Spader, Samuel L. Jackson
Director: Joss Whedon
The Scoop: How do you top Loki and an army of aliens? This time around, Earth’s mightiest heroes fight a menace much closer to home — Ultron (Spader), a near-omnipotent android sprung from Tony Stark’s lab with its site set on eradicating the human race. Joss Whedon re-assembles his all-star super troupe from the 2012 blockbuster and adds some new firepower via Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), and Vision (Paul Bettany), promising an epic comic-book clash that will keep the Marvel movie machine humming. — Marcus Errico
Release Date: May 1
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, James Spader, Samuel L. Jackson
Director: Joss Whedon
The Scoop: How do you top Loki and an army of aliens? This time around, Earth’s mightiest heroes fight a menace much closer to home — Ultron (Spader), a near-omnipotent android sprung from Tony Stark’s lab with its site set on eradicating the human race. Joss Whedon re-assembles his all-star super troupe from the 2012 blockbuster and adds some new firepower via Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), and Vision (Paul Bettany), promising an epic comic-book clash that will keep the Marvel movie machine humming. — Marcus Errico
2. The Hateful Eight
Release Date: TBD
Starring: Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Samuel L. Jackson
Director: Quentin Tarantino
The Scoop: Sony wasn’t the only victim of online leaks in 2014. Quentin Tarantino’s eighth feature, about a post-Civil War bounty hunter (Russell) running into a blizzard while transporting a fugitive (Leigh), was nearly derailed after the script hit the Internet a year ago. The filmmaker almost abandoned the project altogether, but instead pulled a 180 and embraced its newfound public standing, even hosting a live reading of the script in Los Angeles, before announcing that he was moving forward with the movie. — Kevin Polowy
Release Date: TBD
Starring: Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Samuel L. Jackson
Director: Quentin Tarantino
The Scoop: Sony wasn’t the only victim of online leaks in 2014. Quentin Tarantino’s eighth feature, about a post-Civil War bounty hunter (Russell) running into a blizzard while transporting a fugitive (Leigh), was nearly derailed after the script hit the Internet a year ago. The filmmaker almost abandoned the project altogether, but instead pulled a 180 and embraced its newfound public standing, even hosting a live reading of the script in Los Angeles, before announcing that he was moving forward with the movie. — Kevin Polowy
1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Release Date: Dec. 18
Starring: Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Domnhall Gleeson, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Andy Serkis
Director: J.J. Abrams
The Scoop: All we needed was that 88-second adrenaline jolt of J.J. Abrams’s teaser trailer to make us believe the Force has roused the Star Wars cinematic universe from a decades-long creative slumber, rendering those Jar Jar years a distant bad dream. Set 30 years after Luke, Leia, and Han saved a galaxy far, far away, Force Awakens enlists old friends and new recruits to combat the latest Sith-and-stormtrooper threat. Toss in the Millennium Falcon and a John Williams score and The Force Awakens has all the makings of the year’s most thrilling ride. We’ve got a good feeling about this. — Marcus Errico
Release Date: Dec. 18
Starring: Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Domnhall Gleeson, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Andy Serkis
Director: J.J. Abrams
The Scoop: All we needed was that 88-second adrenaline jolt of J.J. Abrams’s teaser trailer to make us believe the Force has roused the Star Wars cinematic universe from a decades-long creative slumber, rendering those Jar Jar years a distant bad dream. Set 30 years after Luke, Leia, and Han saved a galaxy far, far away, Force Awakens enlists old friends and new recruits to combat the latest Sith-and-stormtrooper threat. Toss in the Millennium Falcon and a John Williams score and The Force Awakens has all the makings of the year’s most thrilling ride. We’ve got a good feeling about this. — Marcus Errico
