While 2017 is swiftly drawing to a close, there are still plenty of blockbuster films that are set to be released this year. Popular stories that reach from Asgard to a galaxy far far away will be coming to the big screen within a matter of months, so grab some popcorn and head to your local theater to enjoy these five exciting films.
- Thor: Ragnarok
It has been 4 years since the last standalone Thor film, and for many Marvel fans, it has been too long since we’ve seen our favorite Asgardian hero. While Thor (Chris Hemsworth) may have lost his long locks and his hammer, which is still pretty fresh so don’t mention it, he’s gained some new superhero friends including The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), as well as a new enemy. Hela, the Goddess of Death, portrayed by Cate Blanchett, has brought Ragnarok to Asgard, which in Norse mythology is equivalent to the end of the world. Will Thor, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), and friends be able to stop Hela before she destroys their home? Based off of the psychedelic elements in the trailer, Thor: Ragnarok will be the first Marvel film to feature The Guardians of the Galaxy world before we see them crossover in Avengers: Infinity War. Thor: Ragnarok will be in theaters starting November 2nd.
2. Justice League
After the success of Wonder Woman this summer as well as the confirmation of a sequel on the way, many fans are hoping Justice League will serve as a continuation of the DC Comic film triumphs. While we’ve met the superheroes Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), Superman (Henry Cavill), and Batman (Ben Affleck) in previous films, fans will be introduced to the rest of the league including Aquaman (Jason Momoa) and the Flash (Ezra Miller) before their own standalone films. There has been some recent controversy over the length of Justice League, which is approximately two hours, and many are worried it’s simply not enough time to fit in all of the necessary details for a film of this size. Let’s hope Justice League is another success for DC Comics and not a return to the disappointing low that was Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice. Justice League will be flying to theaters on November 17th.
3. Murder on the Orient Express
Based on Agatha Christie’s classic novel, Murder on the Orient Express is once more coming to theaters. Thirteen strangers board a train, not knowing that soon it will be the scene of a deadly murder. Will the detective Hercule Poirot discover who the murderer is before they kill again? Unlike the 1974 version, the remake will be directed by Kenneth Branagh, who will also be portraying the fluffy-mustached detective, Poirot. The 2017 revival also has an all-star cast including Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Derek Jacobi, Olivia Colman, Daisy Ridley, Willem Dafoe, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Penelope Cruz. All aboard the Orient Express, which travels to theaters on November 3rd!
4. Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Rian Johnson, the director of Brick and Looper, will be directing the sequel, The Last Jedi, to the new Star War’s reboot, which began in 2015 with The Force Awakens. The story behind The Last Jedi has been kept under lock and key, but from the recent trailer, there’s room to speculate about the story. The plot will possibly follow Rey (Daisy Ridley) as Luke (Mark Hamil) trains her to become a Jedi. However, things take a turn for the worst as Luke sends Rey away once he notices a darkness in her that could repeat history; since Luke is the last Jedi, Rey is forced to turn to the only other person available to train her, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). Will Rey turn to the Dark Side? We’ll find out on December 14th when The Last Jedi hits theaters, as well as see Carrie Fisher in her last, iconic portrayal of Princess Leia.
5. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
As a fan of the original Jumanji, it didn’t seem very necessary for there to be a remake of the 1995 classic about a magical board game. However, the trailer will convert any non-believer since the goofy antics of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, and Jack Black together equal the masterful comedy of Robin Williams. Four teens trapped in detention discover a vintage video game, the modern day board game, called Jumanji that pulls them inside the game where they face all sorts of dangerous challenges in the jungle. And even if it turns out that all of the funny parts were revealed in the trailer, seeing The Rock give Kevin Hart a super fast piggy-back will still be worth it. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle will premiere in theaters on December 20th.
