While 2015 is already well under way, the year has been not particularly strong at the box office – especially for new releases. The box office has been relatively overrun by late 2014 released movies with Taken 3 being the only 2015 movie to be #1 in the box office in January for its opening weekend. However, while it broke The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies previous domination, it only went on to relinquish the spot to American Sniper for the rest of the month. Mortdecai, Blackhat, Wild Card, and The Wedding Ringer all managed to be released in January without much of a splash, despite promising actors, directors, and writing.
Even with Channing Tatum being shirtless for half the movie in Jupiter Ascending, he couldn’t save it from being “lukewarm sci-fi soup” or giving the first part of February any hope for a solid movie (just as no one saved him from that atrocious dye job). The shocking winner of February’s first box office weekend is The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, despite being released the week prior due in no small part to Gary the snail out-acting Mila Kunis.
Fifty Shades of Grey has has ousted Spongebob from the top spot but if you’re not into Twilight fan-fic about an abusive relationship that pretends to be a primer story on BDSM, then there is hope for you yet. Here’s a look at the weeks and months ahead at more promising 2015 movie releases:
February
Kingsmen: The Secret Service (Feb 13) – Unfortunately overshadowed by the 50 Shades release in the US, Kingsmen still warrants a gander as Colin Firth, Samuel L. Jackson and Michael Caine team up in this action/comedy spy movie.
March
Cinderella (Mar 13) – Hoping to follow in the footsteps of box office hit Maleficent, this Kenneth Branaugh film (Thor) stars Cate Blanchett and Lily James (Downton Abbey).
April
Furious 7 (Apr 3)- Dwayne Johnson, Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, and Jason Statham in presumably the last ride for the Fast and Furious series. Probably not deviating far from the storytelling of the previous films, but it’s better than Twilight.
The Moon and the Sun (Apr 10) – Another novel-turned-film, originally written by Ronald Bass, the action/adventure fantasy film follows King Louis XIV’s quest for immortality and features Pierce Brosnan, Kaya Scodelario, Benjamin Walker, and William Hurt.
May
Avengers: Age of Ultron (May 1) – This doesn’t even need an explanation.
Mad Max: Fury Road (May 15) – 30 years after the last Mad Max installment and Tom Hardy is now the new Mel Gibson. Touted to be a “true sequel” rather than a reboot, this George Miller film will hopefully have something to deliver.
Tomorrowland (May 22) – This film is somewhat under wraps but promises to be one of the most science fiction-y film of the year, sans super heroes. Plus George Clooney is in it.
June
Jurassic World (June 12) – Even if you weren’t a super fan of the first film (we won’t judge you too hard), Star-Lord is in a movie with dinosaurs. Enough said.
Inside Out (June 19) – Pixar’s first film of 2015, and if you don’t like Pixar well then you can just see yourself out.
Ted 2 (June 26) – The first film was surprisingly not a dud, the second might not be, but we’ll probably watch just to see if it is. Plus Thunder Buddies still makes us giggle.
July
Magic Mike XXL (Jul 1) – There is no storyline, don’t even kid yourself. This is going to be eye candy for interested parties.
Terminator Genisys (Jul 1) – The latest installment of the series. Basically it’s going to showcase Schwarzenegger’s post-political acting skills. Does he still have what it takes?!
Minions (Jul 10 )- Pixar will have some stiff competition against these adorable little guys in this spinoff/prequel.
Ant-Man (Jul 17) – Marvel’s next superhero on the scene, post Avengers 2, starring Paul Rudd. Hopefully the superhero scene won’t be too filled up and fans can find room for the not-so-gigANTic hero (I couldn’t help myself).
Pan (Jul 24) – Hugh Jackman’s new movie where he isn’t Wolverine and ripped and hairy. It might be terrible.
Mission: Impossible 5 (Jul 31) – The classic series returns to film with Tom Cruise at the helm with Hawkeye showing him up and showing up in the film as Jeremy Renner.
Selfless (Jul 31) – A Ryan Reynolds not-as-Deadpool sci-fi thriller where he plays Deadpool a terminally ill billionaire trying to find immortality by moving his consciousness into someone else’s dead body. Creepy.
August
Fantastic Four (Aug 7) – Another reboot. Another hope that Fox won’t hilariously crash and burn Marvel’s poor, decimated franchise.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (Aug 14) – Superman is a spy! This classic MGM television series from 1964 turns into a spy-fi action comedy.
Hitman: Agent 47 (Aug 28) – A film based off of the popular Hitman video games series, the story will follow mysterious Agent 47, starring Rupert Friend along with new-Spock.
September
Black Mass (Sep 18) – An action-crime drama with a fairly compelling storyline but really, really, Benedict Cumberbatch is in it and everything he touches is gold. No unreasonably high expectations there at all.
October
Victor Frankenstein (Oct 2) – Danielle Radcliffe and James McAvoy. Harry Potter and young Professor X as Igor and Frankenstein. The only thing that could make this better is Benedict Cumberbatch playing the monster.
Steve Jobs (Oct 9) – Michael Fassbender plays Mr. Jobs in an intimate look at the brilliant man’s life behind the mask scenes.
Crimson Peak (Oct 16) – Guillermo del Toro’s newest, scariest film with Tom Hiddleston as the starring man set in the 19th century. If nothing else, it’ll be interesting to see Loki as a mortal bad guy.
November
Spectre (Nov 6) – Daniel Craig is likely toward the end of his run as the famous James Bond and this installment looks to be rather fantastic as the crew from Skyfall returns with him.
The Peanuts Movie (Nov 6) – A computer animated 3D comedy revolving around the classic characters of our favorite comic strip.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (Nov 20) – For those who haven’t been following along with the books, this is the episode where we find out what happened to Peeta and what will become of Katniss. Dun-dun-DUN!
The Good Dinosaur (Nov 25) – Pixar’s second film of 2015 about dinosaurs. ‘Nuff said.
The Martian (Nov 25) – More sci-fi! More novel-turned-films! Matt Damon plays Castaway on Mars. May or may not have a volleyball named Wilson.
The Hateful Eight (Nov 13) – Almost-not Quentin Tarantino’s next film, since he cancelled plans to make the film after the script was leaked in January of 2014. Luckily the man was able to see reason and the Western starring Kurt Russel and Samuel L. Jackson.
Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (Nov 18) – Probably the most highly anticipated film of the year, even with cinematic gold hits like Avengers and everything-Benedict-Cumberbatch-does, if nothing more than to see what the original cast members look like after 30 years and what kind of magic J.J. Abrams can bring to the series. Also, Yoda is a badass.
Featured image courtesy of Schmoes Know.
Last Updated on November 27, 2018.
