By |

2012 is over and, though we still have a few things to go over in 2012 in the coming days, this is still the time to look towards the future. Even though 2012 could have been a better year for film, it was still a strong one overall, and 2013 looks no different. There’s a ton of new and interesting films hitting theaters in the next twelve months, and here are the thirteen we absolutely can’t wait to get a look at.

First, a few honorable mentions: The Last Stand, The Wolf of Wall Street, Oldboy, Thor: The Dark World, Monster’s University, Pain and Gain, and Upstream Color.

Honestly, I really hoped Ender’s Game would have been higher on my list. Being based on my favorite book of all time, it ought to have been. But there’s just so many things that could go wrong with this project—the director’s tracklist is spotty at best, and just the task of adapting this “unfilmable” book alone is a risky one. Don’t get me wrong—I still really want to see Ender’s Game. But as of right now, I’m only cautiously optimistic.

Gore Verbinski is one of my favorite action directors of the modern age and, after a six year live action hiatus, he’s back with The Lone Ranger. Once again collaborating with Johnny Depp, Hans Zimmer, and Pirates writers Terry Rossio and Ted Elliot, it’s very possible that Verbinski could turn around and make just another Pirates clone set in the Old West. But I have faith in the man to deliver a kick ass, super fun film experience to us next summer and, with luck, he won’t let me down.

I love a good comedy. I love a good apocalypse movie. Combine the two together and you have This is the End, the directorial debut of Seth Rogen and his frequent writing partner Evan Goldberg. I raved about the trailer a few weeks back, and I still can’t wait to see what this self referential apocalypse comedy will do. At the very least, it will be fun to see all these celebrities on screen together, playing themselves no less!

Gangster Squad was famously pushed back from Fall 2012 into early 2013 post the Aurora shooting, which was a damn shame considering how great this film looks. The cast is excellent, and director Ruben Fleischer seems to have made a stylish little crime film in the vein of The Untouchables. Even though WB has sent it to die in the death month that is January, I have hope that Gangster Squad will still deliver with a kick-ass little crime film.

I wouldn’t say I’m a huge fan of the Iron Man franchise—I thought the first one was only okay, and heavily disliked the sequel. That said, it’s hard for me not to be excited about Iron Man 3. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang director Shane Black is behind this one and, following how great that film was, seeing him tackle a superhero movie should be a lot of fun. And the initial trailer released a few months back was quite strong. I didn’t love the first two Iron Man films but, with luck, I’ll love the this one.

I did, however, love Kick-Ass. One of the most charming and fun superhero films of recent memory is surprisingly back with a vengeance. Really it’s a miracle we are getting this sequel and, even though director Matthew Vaughn has been replaced this time around with Never Back Down director Jeff Wadlow, I still can’t wait to see this film. And hey, Vaughn will still be a part of the film as a producer, so maybe his impact will still be felt. Plus, we get to see Jim Carrey play a superhero. And who doesn’t want to see that?

I’m far from a Superman fan but, so far at least, everything I’ve seen from Man of Steel indicates a film I can really get behind. it seems like a thoughtful and stylish take on the Superman lore and, unlike most, I actually don’t hate Zack Snyder. Well it’s undetermined whether or not he can actually deliver a capable Superman movie, it certainly can’t be worse than Superman Returns, right?

The first Anchorman is one of my favorite comedies ever, and I’m absolutely ecstatic that we actually get the chance to see a sequel to the film. The first trailer was simple but effective, and I can’t wait to see how Ron Burgundy and the rest of the Channel 4 news team deals with the tumultuous decade that was the 80’s. If the first film is any indication, we’ll be in for quite a treat next Christmas.

I present to you my first argument as to why you should look forward to Pacific Rim: GIANT MOTHERFUCKING ROBOTS. Still not convinced? How bout this one: GIANT FREAKING MONSTERS. Really, you’re still not sold? Fine: Guillermo del Toro. Just to recap: Guillermo del Toro, giant robots, and giant monsters. Nuff said.

The dream team that is Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost are reuniting for the third and final entry in their Blood and Ice Cream trilogy, The World’s End. As you can probably predict from the title, this one will tackle apocalypse movies, which is appropriate for the trios final outing in the spoof genre. We’ve been waiting years since Hot Fuzz to see this one and, following the two brilliant entries in the trilogy so far, you better bet we want to see The World’s End.

J.J Abrams delivered one of the best space operas in years with the original Star Trek and, after a three year wait, he’s back with Star Trek Into Darkness. Even though most of the talk thus far has been centered on the identity of Benedict Cumberbatch’s villain character, there’s a bounty of reasons aside from that as to why Star Trek Into Darkness is one of my most anticipated films of next year. I can’t wait to see the new crew of the Enterprise at it again. I can’t wait to hear Michael Giacchino’s guaranteed wondrous score. Hell, I can’t wait for the return of lens flares. Basically, I can’t freaking wait for Star Trek Into Darkness, and neither should you.

It’s been a long, chaotic road for Gravity to hit the big screen. And at this point in time, the film’s fate is kind of up in the air. We’ve seen literally nothing from Gravity in its two years of pre-production and, even though we know it has finished filming and will be coming out sometime in 2013, we don’t know exactly when. Still, this ambitious space adventure shows nothing but promise. Alfonso Cuaron hasn’t directed a film since his masterpiece Children of Men, but hopefully Gravity will be an appropriate follow-up.

And here it is, the film I’m absolutely looking forward to seeing in 2013: Neil Blomkamp’s Elysium. Blomkamp’s directorial debut, District 9, was my favorite film of 2009, and one of the best science fiction films ever made. And even though Elysium seems to be covering familiar ground as that one (what with the social commentary, hardcore action, and inclusion of Sharlto Copley), I still can’t wait to see the finished product. Because even if it’s a tenth as good as District 9, it will still be worth the price of admission. Elysium is my most anticipated film of 2013, and I can’t wait for Neil Blomkamp to amaze me once again.

And there you have it, our list of films we can’t wait to see in 2013. What are yours? Make sure to let us know in the comments!

-Matthew