11 Movies to Look forward to in 2015

This is going to be a HUGE year for movies. We're talking some of the biggest numbers the box office has seen in a decade. Sequels galore, two brand-new Pixar films, and a few others.

Really these are just movies that I'm looking forward to, but you should too.   Here are my picks, starting with least excited (although it's still in my top 11 movies to look forward to!)






11. Masterminds -
Jared Hess fans are few and far-between, but when I find one, I know we're gonna be friends.  This is the guy who did Napoleon Dynamite, Nacho Libre, and Gentlemen Broncos, and he is one of the weirdest, and one my favorite directors. Granted, he did not write this script, meaning it will be much more normal than his other film on this list (Don Verdean), but its got an all-star cast with Zach Galifianakis, Owen Wilson and Kristen Wiig. It's, of course, a comedy, based on the true story of an American bank heist in the late 90's. Masterminds is scheduled to be released August 7, 2015.



10. Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation -

There are few people out there that legitimately love Tom Cruise in whatever action flick he does. I am one such person. The Mission: Impossible series is also one of the most entertaining and enjoyable (save MI:2). Since this one isn't directed by JJ Abrams or Brad Bird, I'm not expecting it to be the best one, but I am thoroughly looking forward to hours of Tom Cruise doing his own over-the-top stunts, secret agent fighting, and Simon Pegg in the field. Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation is scheduled to be released July 31, 2015.





9. Bridge of Spies -

A Cold War thriller written by the Coen brothers, starring Tom Hanks, and directed by one of my favorite directors, Steven Spielberg. There's really nothing more I need to say, except that this one is pretty sure to make an appearance at the next Academy Awards. Bridge of Spies is scheduled to be released October 16, 2015.

8. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. -

This movie was not on my radar until the trailer randomly popped up online a few weeks ago, and then I was hooked. Written and directed by Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes, Snatch), starring Superman and the Lone Ranger, this movie is based on a classic 1960's espionage television show. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is scheduled to be released August 14, 2015.






7. Inside Out -

"A major emotion picture." There's no way you can't love a movie with a tagline like that. Especially after seeing the hilarious trailer. And after a year of pixar-movie-famine I will gladly take two completely new original ones. Inside Out is scheduled to be released June 19, 2015.



6. Avengers: Age of Ultron  -

One of the biggest questions of the year in the film industry is which movie will make the most money, Avengers or Star Wars VII? I'd say it's a strong possibility that each of these films will be neck-and-neck pulling in close to 2 billion worldwide. I'm not nearly as big of a Marvel fan as most people, but after really enjoying the last one, I'm certainly excited for this one. Avengers: Age of Ultron is scheduled to be released May 1, 2015.


5. Don Verdean -

Another hopeful gem by Jared Hess, this one stars Sam Rockwell (Moon, The Way Way Back) and Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords), in a comedy about a Biblical archeologist hired by a church to find relics in order to help strengthen the congregation's faith. If that's not a unique and great setup for a comedy, I don't know what is. This movie recently premiered at Sundance with the standard less-than-desirable reviews that critics love to give his films. It takes a very weird person to enjoy his movies and humor, but if you think you may be one of them, I recommend you give this one a try. Don Verdean was acquired by Lionsgate who has not yet given a release date.



4. The Good Dinosaur -

Here comes the other original Pixar film of the year. Although next to nothing has been told or released about this film, I think I'm probably anticipating it even more than Inside Out, simply because it's about the adventures of dinosaur and a boy. The Good Dinosaur is scheduled to be released November 25, 2015.


3. Jurassic World -

With Jurassic Park being one of my all-time favorite films, and dinosaurs being a subject of lifelong infatuation, there is no way I couldn't be excited about this movie. I have been avoiding all trailers, and though I have heard a lot of negative things about the trailers, I am greatly anticipating the return to Isla Nublar, and the work of director Colin Trevorrow (Safety Not Guaranteed) and actor Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy, Parks and Recreation).

2. Tomorrowland -
Based on unpublished work and a real mystery box created by Disney Imagineers and Walt Disney himself, Tomorrowland delves into the mystery and mythology of Disneyland's Tomorrowland. It's a Disney epic with a great team of Director Brad Bird (Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, Ratatouille, The Incredibles), writer Damon Lindelof (LOST, Star Trek Into Darkness), and actors like George Clooney, and Hugh Laurie (House). I've been tracking this film since its announcement at D23 two years ago. If you're interested in this movie, you should read the article I wrote about it then. Tomorrowland is scheduled to be released May 22, 2015.


1. Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens -

It shouldn't come to a surprise to many of you that this is at the top of my list. When Disney first acquired these were my thoughts:

Adding more star wars movies is like adding more books to the bible. #unacceptable
— Luke J. Salewski (@LukeJSalewski) October 31, 2012

Although I still stand by those feelings, I think that the new Star Wars film is being developed under some of the best conditions possible, directed by one of my favorite directors, J.J. Abrams (Super 8, Mission: Impossible III, Star Trek), produced by Kathleen Kennedy (Jurassic Park, E.T., Hook), and written by Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi). I'm avoiding all trailers and looking forward to unnecessarily camping out to see it at the TCL Chinese Theatre. Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens is scheduled to be released December 18, 2015.

These didn't make the list, but I'm still intrigued:

Spectre -

I know I'm the only one, but Skyfall really wasn't that great. That being said, I'm willing to give this one a shot, for the sake of James Bond, and Daniel Craig. Spectre is scheduled to be released November 6, 2015.



Pixels -

Okay, honestly I don't really expect this movie to be very good. But the plot is so ridiculous, and being a fan of the original short film that it's based on, I can't help but be a little bit interested. Chris Columbus (Home Alone, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) directs a film about aliens attempting to destroy Earth, taking on the form of classic 1980's arcade games. Pixels is scheduled to be released July 24, 2015.

The Martian -

A new film from Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Alien, Blade Runner), about an astronaut (Matt Damon) who is stranded on Mars. Like many of Scott's other films, I'm sure it will be a kind of dark and depressing epic, but incredibly well done. The Martian is scheduled to be released November 25, 2015.