January is always an exciting time for film fans. Not necessarily because of what theatres might currently be offering (shoutout Dumpuary), but because there’s a whole year of films ahead, and we haven’t yet been disillusioned by weeks of cinematic drought. So, I thought it would be nice to revel in this anticipatory period for a little while and outline some of the films that I’m most looking forward to seeing each month. There are of course certain times of year that are more stacked than others, but I narrowed my list down to just one title per month—I’d love to hear from all of you about what your own picks would be, though!
January - The Moment
My first pick is only a few days away from being in theatres, and mostly I’m just incredibly curious about this film. We’ve seen plenty of concert films and traditional music documentaries over the last several years, and while there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s refreshing to see Charli xcx trying out something new. Whether it will actually “work” as an effective, humorous film remains to be seen, but I for one will be eagerly waiting to find out.
February - Pillion
I know that this one has already been seen by many people at festivals and in the UK, but since its North American theatrical release is in February, I figured I’d take the opportunity to mention it. It stars Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård (who is consistently a fascinating performer in my books), as a couple in a BDSM relationship. I’ve heard such positive things about this film, from its mix of humour and heart to its wonderful performances, and I can’t wait to get the chance to finally see it.
March - The Bride!
Coming hot off the heels of Hamnet, it feels there couldn’t be a better time for Jessie Buckley’s newest film to drop. She’s starring, of course, as the titular Bride in this horror/sci-fi from Maggie Gyllenhaal. As a director (and writer/producer), it will be Gyllenhaal’s second feature film after 2021’s The Lost Daughter. If you haven’t seen it, now would be a great time to dive in and get a taste of Gyllenhaal’s directorial work. I absolutely adored that film, and can’t wait to see what she does with this next literary-inspired work.
April - Mother Mary
This marks the first of three films featuring Anne Hathaway on this list (her 2026 will be one for the books, truly), and it might just be the one I’m most excited for. A psychosexual drama/thriller starring Hathaway and Michaela Coel, it follows the relationship between a popstar and fashion designer. That premise alone would be enough to excite me, but of course there’s more: original songs for the film are being written by Jack Antonoff and Charli xcx. It just feels like a wonderful combination of my interests, and I can’t wait to see where this wild film ends up going. Like Hathaway, this one is part of Charli xcx’s big year in movies: along with this film and The Moment, she’ll also be providing an original soundtrack for Emerald Fennel’s Wuthering Heights.
May - The Devil Wears Prada 2
A Devil Wears Prada film for spring? Groundbreaking. In all seriousness though, I can’t wait for this one. I tend to be pretty skeptical of “legacy sequels” that so often feel like hollow cash-grabs, but the fact that all core cast members are returning for this one gives me some real hope. It’ll be such a treat to see these characters again after so many years, not to mention on the big screen (for anyone else like me who grew up watching this on Netflix, this is a serious upgrade). And as a fashion-loving Andy (Andie) myself, I can’t help but feel an attachment to Anne Hathaway’s iconic character.
June - Disclosure Day
With June we enter peak summer blockbuster territory, and Steven Spielberg’s newest film is bound to be one of the season’s biggest. While I’m personally trying not to learn too much about the plot (I think a sense of mystery will only enhance the experience for this one), the trailer is certainly gripping. It’s great to see Emily Blunt leading such a big movie again, and her performance in the trailer alone is enough to have me seated on opening day. With others like Josh O’Connor in the mix, I think we’ll have some fantastic moments from this cast.
July - The Odyssey
I’m sure anyone that follows film would have this on their list, and I’m no different. Christopher Nolan’s next epic is about as epic as one could go, taking on the classic story of Odysseus’ journey home after the Trojan War. Whether you’re anticipating this one because of the story itself, the costumes and sets, or the all-star ensemble, there’s something to be excited for. Personally, I’m looking forward to seeing these performers embody iconic figures from Greek mythology, whether that’s Zendaya as Athena or Charlize Theron as Circe. I can’t think of another movie this year that’s garnered this much anticipation, and it’ll be almost as much fun just to see how the world “eventizes” its release.
August - The Dog Stars
Another sci-fi film that I’m looking forward to this summer is The Dog Stars, directed by Ridley Scott. It’s based on the 2012 postapocalyptic novel of the same name, and takes place in the wake of a brutal pandemic. What’s most exciting to me here is the cast, which includes Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley, and Josh Brolin. I’m always seated for the projects that Qualley is a part of, so I’m particularly interested to see her in this genre.
September - Sense and Sensibility
I’m an English major, and have taken an entire course on Austen’s work, so I can’t help being eager for a new take on this novel. The 1995 film is of course great, but having been over 20 years, I think it’s fair that there’s another adaptation on the horizon. It’ll star Daisy Edgar-Jones and Esmé Creed-Miles, both of whom I’ve admired for their work in television, so it’ll be great to see them team up for this classic story about sisterhood and love.
October - The Social Reckoning
Being promoted as a “companion” piece to 2010’s The Social Network, this film will focus on the 2021 Facebook leak. Aaron Sorkin is writing and directing this time around, so it will certainly be interesting to see how things are the same/different from the now-classic 2010 film. While I remain a bit skeptical about how this will pan out, the cast has some truly great names attached, so you can bet I’ll be anticipating it nonetheless.
November - Sunrise on the Reaping
As someone whose tween years were spent being obsessed with the Hunger Games books and films, this was always going to make the list. I haven’t gotten around to reading the source material for this one yet, but I’m nonetheless excited to see this brought to life. I think there are some great casting choices here, perhaps most notably Elle Fanning as a young Effie Trinket (watching this be manifested by the internet and then actually come true was a top-tier experience). And of course, it’s been confirmed that Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson will also make an appearance. Is all of this nostalgia-bait? Quite possibly. Am I immune to this? Absolutely not.
DECEMBER - Werwulf
I have such great memories of going to see Nosferatu in theatres, so the thought of getting to have a similar experience this year is really exciting. With many of the same cast members returning for this film, I think it’s safe to assume this will be a well-executed and atmospheric tale about a classic folk monster.
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