Den of Thieves 2: Pantara (Jan 10)

The original from 2018 is a very underrated heist movie. Gerard Butler plays "Big Nick" O'Brian, a cop who leads an elite unit of the LAPD targeting bank robbers and faces a crew of thieves looking to rob the Federal Reserve. The sequel (spoilers ahead) finds "Big Nick" in Europe trying to stop another heist. If it is half as fun as the first one, this will still be a blast.

September 5 (Jan 17)

Set during the 1972 Munich Olympics, this follows an ABC sports broadcast team that finds themselves covering the hostage situation. There has been a lot of good buzz around this movie after it premiered at the Venice Film Festival.

Sinners (March 7)

I know nothing about this movie's plot. I have seen the trailer twice, and all I can figure out is that it appears to be a horror movie set in the South. It stars Michael B. Jordan and was directed by Ryan Coogler, who also directed "Black Panther," "Creed," and "Fruitvale Station" (all of which starred Jordan). These two have an impeccable record regarding their collaborations, and that is all I need to know.

Mickey 17 (March 7)

Bong Joon Ho, best known for "Parisite," is back with what looks to be a weird, trippy sci-fi movie about a clone picked to go on dangerous missions. When he dies, his memories go into the next clone. This movie looks bonkers. Robert Pattinson plays Mickey and the clone(s)

Thunderbolts* (May 5)

Thunderbolts could be a lot of fun, which is something the MCU has been missing for a while. And yes, that asterisk is an official part of the title. The prevailing theory is that they will end the movie with a different team name (like Dark Avengers). The movie follows a bunch of MCU characters who are, and I hate to use this term, a ragtag group of misfits. We have only seen these characters once or twice (in one case, a lot more) in the movies/TV shows. These characters are not the most popular or well-known outside of comic book fans, but the fact that they are put together in a movie has the potential to be the most fun the MCU has had in a very long time.

Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning (May 23)

If the rumors are to be believed, this is the last time Tom Cruise will play Ethan Hunt. He has been making these films since 1996 and is getting too old to hang off tall buildings or airplanes. This will conclude the story started in "Dead Reckoning," and the vibe I am getting from the trailer is very much an end to this arch for Hunt/Crusie. I was disappointed by the last movie because it felt like a part one- it was marketed as such. I hope this one finishes the story and improves a mediocre previous film.

28 Years Later (June 20)

"28 Days Later" is considered one of the best horror movies of the last 20 years. As the title suggests, this takes place 28 years after the first one, and humanity has adapted to living in a world where infected, not zombies, plague the world. I am a fan of this series, and the fact that the original director, Danny Boyle, is returning makes it all the more exciting.

Superman (July 11)

The first trailer was recently released, and I am cautiously optimistic. The most recent Superman movies have not done justice to the character's core: he is upbeat, hopeful, and a man of conviction. That is what this movie hopes to bring back. I trust James Gunn, the writer, director, and co-head of DC movies. A lot is riding on this film, but given that Gunn is behind it and it stars one of the most recognizable superheroes, it will be a huge hit.

Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 25)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been in a slump since 2019's "Avengers: Endgame." The Multiverse Saga has been filled with more misses than hits-one might call them disasters. It has been over a year since there has been a proper MCU movie ("Deadpool and Wolverine," while a Marvel movie is MCU adjacent). As much as I am looking forward to it, I am worried. The multiverse has not worked out well for Marvel, and this has the most potential to include elements of that.

Predator: Badlands (Nov.7)

When "Prey" was a HUGE hit on Hulu, Fox/Disney regretted not putting it in theaters. "Prey" was the best "Predator"" movie since the first one. As a fan of writer/director Dan Trachtenberg, his days as one of the hosts of the Totally Rad show, it's been great to see him make movies people love (10 Cloverfield Lane). After Prey came out, he said he already had ideas for more, and this appears to be one of them. From what I know, this film is told from the Predator's perspective. That is all I need to know. A series is coming out in 2025 as well, so this year is the resurgence of a classic movie character.

Wicked: For Good (Nov. 21)

I stand by my statement that "Wicked" should have had the subtitle "Act One," and this one should have the subtitle "Act Two." Terrible naming aside, I am very much looking forward to this. It was recently announced that Cynthia Erivo is co-writing a song for this one (probably with Stephen Swartz, the composer and lyricist of the Broadway show). I love what they did with "Wicked," so I cannot wait to see what they do with this one.