Looking into the new year for the biggest events to come

By Chad W. Shreeves

With a new year coming, and the Best of the Year behind us, it’s time to finally prepare for the biggest movies of the year. Here are the five biggest films coming next year, with a couple honorable mentions at the bottom.

5. Ballerina

This John Wick spinoff features Ana De Armas in the role, taking over. With the series’ nonstop action, thrills, and setpieces all returning, this looks like one spectacular ride if the franchise can keep momentum.

4. Wicked: For Good

While it was always assumed that 2024’s Wicked was going to be good, a lot weren’t expecting the movie to be nearly as amazing as it is. In the second act of the Broadway adaptation, Elphaba fully transforms into the Wicked Witch as Dorothy finally makes her (assumed) appearance.

3. Paddington In Peru

Paul King’s absence may be felt, keeping it from being higher on this list, but Paddington has proven to be a remarkable charming and endearing family franchise that has proven to be near perfect in the past. If this third installment can recapture even most of the magic of the first two, Paddington may rank among the all-time great trilogies.

2. Jurassic World: Rebirth

The original Jurassic Park remains one of the greatest films ever made, even if the subsequent sequels have been…inconsistent, to say the least. But with original writer David Koepp returning and Rogue One director Gareth Edwards at the helm, it seems that there is hope for dinosaurs to walk the earth once again.

1. Superman

After years of sputtering disappointments and an uneven creative force behind it, DC is fully behind James Gunn now. With some impressive casting, and one of the most talked about trailers in years…the boy in blue’s time may finally be coming back. We still have to wait for July to see if Gunn can right the ship, but there is more optimism for DC than we’ve seen in a long time.

Honorable Mentions:

Karate Kid: Legends

• Jackie Chan returning and crossing over with original star Ralph Macchio looks to be an exciting, thrilling entry in this franchise that looks to create an entirely new generation of fans.

Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning

• The next(final?) installment in the 20 year saga of Tom Cruise’s superspy Ethan Hunt looks to be just as explosive as previous iterations.

Fantastic 4: The First Steps

• After three failed attempts to bring Marvel’s first family to the big screen successfully, Kevin Feige introduces them to the MCU with an impressive cast and vintage sci-fi aesthetics.

Predator: Badlands

• Prey proved to be the shot in the arm for the aging Predator franchise, and this time director Dan Trachtenberg brings the franchise to theaters with Elle Fanning in a future-set installment.

Frankenstein

• While we’re still waiting for a release date, director Guillermo del Toro is one of the best directors working today. With Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi leading the cast, this classic monster adaptation is one to keep on the radar.

Avatar: Fire and Ash

• While it’s proven to be an oddly forgettable franchise, James Cameron’s sci-fi epic never manages to disappoint. And this third installment looks to bring the same wild magic the previous two conjured up.