My Top 25 Most Anticipated Movies of 2013
by MattsMovieWatchingWorld | created - 30 Dec 2012 | updated - 17 Mar 2017 | Public25 movies from the year of 2013 that I am anticipating the most, as of Dec. 29, 2012 (except where noted). After I see the movie, I give it a number out of 10. Be sure to check back throughout the year to find out what I think about them after I've seen them.
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1. Monsters University (2013)
G | 104 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
A look at the relationship between Mike Wazowski and James P. "Sully" Sullivan during their days at Monsters University, when they weren't necessarily the best of friends.
Director: Dan Scanlon | Stars: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Helen Mirren
Votes: 389,817 | Gross: $268.49M
Of course, Pixar movie, number 1 most anticipated of the year. This one's a prequel, a really good way to branch out the Monsters, Inc. story. AFTER SEEING IT -- High quality animation, unsurprisingly because it's a Pixar movie. Other than the slight weakness that there's no human child to carry the story and that this wasn't quite as heartfelt as before, this is a good prequel story and good movie, one of the best of the year. <9>
2. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (2013)
PG | 95 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Flint Lockwood now works at The Live Corp Company for his idol Chester V. But he's forced to leave his post when he learns that his most infamous machine is still operational, and is churning out menacing food-animal hybrids.
Directors: Cody Cameron, Kris Pearn | Stars: Bill Hader, Anna Faris, Will Forte, Neil Patrick Harris
Votes: 114,636 | Gross: $119.79M
The first Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, from 2009, did not get on my list of most anticipated of the year when that year started, but it turned out to be the best movie of the year. Lesson learned. AFTER SEEING IT -- Partially because this is less about food merged with the weather, and more about food merged with animals, this doesn't feel quite as clever and inspired as the first, but it still is a pun-filled piece of entertainment almost as good as the first. <8+>
3. Despicable Me 2 (2013)
PG | 98 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
When Gru, the world's most super-bad turned super-dad has been recruited by a team of officials to stop lethal muscle and a host of Gru's own, he has to fight back with new gadgetry, cars, and more minion madness.
Directors: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud | Stars: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove
Votes: 425,897 | Gross: $368.06M
The first Despicable Me was much better than I anticipated, so I expect much this time too. AFTER SEEING IT -- I like this one about as much as the first one, though I gave the first one an 8+. Then later I promoted the first one to a rating of 9, which makes this second one just a little less good than the first. <9->
4. Ender's Game (2013)
PG-13 | 114 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Young Ender Wiggin is recruited by the International Military to lead the fight against the Formics, an insectoid alien race who had previously tried to invade Earth and had inflicted heavy losses on humankind.
Director: Gavin Hood | Stars: Harrison Ford, Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin
Votes: 253,958 | Gross: $61.74M
I only read part of the book, but this is a movie I've been waiting for for a long time. AFTER SEEING IT -- I didn't expect to love it enough to give it a 9 or a 10, but this is a decently thrilling sci-fi adventure with thought-provoking war/game comparisons and morals. <8->
5. Planes (2013)
PG | 91 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
A cropdusting plane with a fear of heights lives his dream of competing in a famous around-the-world aerial race.
Director: Klay Hall | Stars: Carlos Alazraqui, Dane Cook, Stacy Keach, Brad Garrett
Votes: 48,636 | Gross: $90.29M
A non-Pixar, still Disney, spinoff of the Disney/Pixar Cars franchise. Originally planned to be direct-to-video, I might not expect much, but I think I'll highly anticipate this anyway. AFTER SEEING IT -- Maybe the characters and story are okay, but this is nothing that hasn't been done before, therefore nothing special. It's a mix of Rio and Around the World in 80 Days in the Cars universe. <7>
6. The Host (2013)
PG-13 | 125 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
When an unseen enemy threatens mankind by taking over their bodies and erasing their memories, Melanie Stryder risks everything to protect the people she cares about.
Director: Andrew Niccol | Stars: Saoirse Ronan, Max Irons, Jake Abel, Diane Kruger
Votes: 118,562 | Gross: $26.63M
From Stephenie Meyer, author of the Twilight saga. I'm looking forward to her creations going away from cliche vampires and werewolves, and a little more towards my kind of sci-fi. AFTER SEEING IT -- I turned out to be right that it was my kind of sci-fi, and I thought it was well-directed and well-acted, with a good ending. It was better than I expected, and about as good as I hoped. <8->
7. After Earth (2013)
PG-13 | 100 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
A crash landing leaves Kitai Raige and his father Cypher stranded on Earth, a millennium after events forced humanity's escape. With Cypher injured, Kitai must embark on a perilous journey to signal for help.
Director: M. Night Shyamalan | Stars: Jaden Smith, David Denman, Will Smith, Sophie Okonedo
Votes: 208,884 | Gross: $60.52M
I like M. Night Shyamalan, and I like his "failures" a little more than other people do. Assuming the film industry will keep allowing him to make movies, at least one of them will make him a superbly admired filmmaker again. Is this the one? With a sci-fi thriller starring Will Smith, maybe. (Another 2013 movie, "Oblivion," looks similar; should that have gotten on this list?) AFTER SEEING IT -- It may be my least favorite Shyamalan movie, but it's not too bad, and I give it the same rating number I've given other Shyamalan movies. This had a simple story, about fear, which I was okay with, but maybe it could have been done better. <7> (On the other end, Oblivion, which I give a 6, I thought had a too-complex story.)
8. Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
PG-13 | 132 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
After the crew of the Enterprise find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one-man weapon of mass destruction.
Director: J.J. Abrams | Stars: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Benedict Cumberbatch
Votes: 497,006 | Gross: $228.78M
I moderately like the Star Trek universe, but I still need to catch up on the first six Original Series movies before watching this one. (I punctuate this movie title with a colon as "Star Trek: Into Darkness.") AFTER SEEING IT (and after watching all the other Star Trek movies) -- I like the Next Generation era of Star Trek a little better than the Original Series era. But J.J. Abrams is good at making sci-fi action. All considered, this is about the middle of the Star Trek quality spectrum. <7>
9. Frozen (I) (2013)
PG | 102 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Fearless optimist Anna teams up with rugged mountain man Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven in an epic journey to find Anna's sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter.
Directors: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee | Stars: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad
Votes: 663,577 | Gross: $400.74M
Not much is known about this movie at the end of 2012. But a Disney CG movie about cold kingdoms can certainly be good. AFTER SEEING IT -- Disney must have learned a few things from Oscar worthy Disney/Pixar work. I don't know if I could have expected this to be better than last year's "Wreck-It Ralph," but this really is a beautifully inspiring work of art, in animation quality, story quality, musical quality, and comic quality, enough that this movie should be considered wonderful by anyone. <10>
10. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
PG-13 | 161 min | Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
The dwarves, along with Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf the Grey, continue their quest to reclaim Erebor, their homeland, from Smaug. Bilbo Baggins is in possession of a mysterious and magical ring.
Director: Peter Jackson | Stars: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Ken Stott
Votes: 705,018 | Gross: $258.37M
I was comparatively pleased with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, so I decently look forward to this one, but like The Lord of the Rings, the second might be the worst in the Hobbit trilogy. AFTER SEEING IT -- I recognize the Middle-earth films as important to movie history, but I'm not a Middle-earth fan, and sadly I didn't prepare for this movie well enough. So I liked this movie a little less than the first in the Hobbit trilogy, and a little more than how much I enjoyed the Lord of the Rings trilogy, on average. <7->
11. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
PG-13 | 112 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
When the Dark Elves attempt to plunge the universe into darkness, Thor must embark on a perilous and personal journey that will reunite him with doctor Jane Foster.
Director: Alan Taylor | Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård
Votes: 724,816 | Gross: $206.36M
It's hard to see what direction this supersequel will go, particularly after The Avengers. But I liked the first Thor enough, so this could be good. AFTER SEEING IT -- This feels a little less like a superhero movie, and a little more like some epic legend movie. But it did have some interesting fantasy/sci-fi elements. <7->
12. The Lone Ranger (2013)
PG-13 | 150 min | Action, Adventure, Western
Native American warrior Tonto recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid, a man of the law, into a legend of justice.
Director: Gore Verbinski | Stars: Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, William Fichtner, Tom Wilkinson
Votes: 244,441 | Gross: $89.30M
Just like Pirates of the Caribbean, a Disney action movie, Gore Verbinski directing, Jerry Bruckheimer producing, Johnny Depp starring. It looks like Mr. Depp plays a secondary character though. AFTER SEEING IT -- With cops-and-robbers, train robberies, and explosions, this certainly is an action movie. Westerns usually bore me, and I was bored with this movie, but I was most entertained when the "William Tell Overture" accentuated the action. <6->
13. Man of Steel (2013)
PG-13 | 143 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
An alien child is evacuated from his dying world and sent to Earth to live among humans. His peace is threatened when other survivors of his home planet invade Earth.
Director: Zack Snyder | Stars: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Diane Lane
Votes: 811,663 | Gross: $291.05M
Superman movies have never been better than average, but I think I like the direction this Superman movie is going. AFTER SEEING IT -- I was right that this is going in the right direction. This, coming from the makers of the Dark Knight trilogy, had more thought-out talent put into its storyline and appearance than any other Superman movie I've seen. It wasn't awesome or mind-blowing, but it's the best Superman movie so far, and I look forward to possible awesomeness in the future... Superman/Batman, anyone? <7>
14. Turbo (2013)
PG | 96 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
A freak accident might just help an everyday garden snail achieve his biggest dream: winning the Indy 500.
Director: David Soren | Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, Maya Rudolph, Samuel L. Jackson
Votes: 110,608 | Gross: $83.03M
I like the sound of this DreamWorks animated movie, starring a racing snail. AFTER SEEING IT -- Imagine a very minor character from "The NeverEnding Story" getting superpowers and living the ultimate dream in a funny and clever story. That's why I like this movie. <9->
15. Epic (2013)
PG | 102 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A teenager finds herself transported to a deep forest setting where a battle between the forces of good and evil is taking place. She bands together with a ragtag group of characters to save their world--and ours.
Director: Chris Wedge | Stars: Amanda Seyfried, Josh Hutcherson, Beyoncé, Colin Farrell
Votes: 109,863 | Gross: $107.52M
A fun adventure about little people, "leaf men." It looks like it's going for dramatically good reception. But it looks like they changed the title just to make it sound "legendary" or something. AFTER SEEING IT -- The title really is probably the worst movie title I've ever seen. But it is an impressively visual sci-fi/fantasy adventure. <7+>
16. Escape from Planet Earth (2012)
PG | 89 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Astronaut Scorch Supernova finds himself caught in a trap when he responds to an SOS from a notoriously dangerous alien planet, Earth.
Director: Cal Brunker | Stars: Brendan Fraser, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Alba, Rob Corddry
Votes: 26,877 | Gross: $57.01M
An animated sci-fi kid's movie, which looks a lot like my kind of thing. I just can't tell at this point whether everyone else is going to like it or not. AFTER SEEING IT -- It still looks like other people won't like it, but it was clever enough for me, and it was full of things I tend to enjoy. <8->
17. Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)
PG | 130 min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
A small-time magician is swept away to an enchanted land and is forced into a power struggle between three witches.
Director: Sam Raimi | Stars: James Franco, Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz, Mila Kunis
Votes: 214,258 | Gross: $234.91M
A Sam Raimi-directed prequel to The Wizard of Oz, and it looks fun. I haven't yet seen the play "Wicked"; is this a side prequel to that? AFTER SEEING IT -- This movie is just about as visually phenomenal as The Wizard of Oz was for its time, and it will deserve a space on everyone's home video shelf next to their copies of The Wizard of Oz. <9>
18. White House Down (2013)
PG-13 | 131 min | Action, Drama, Thriller
While on a tour of the White House with his young daughter, a Capitol policeman springs into action to save his child and protect the president from a heavily armed group of paramilitary invaders.
Director: Roland Emmerich | Stars: Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jason Clarke
Votes: 236,140 | Gross: $73.10M
From disaster-master director Roland Emmerich, though he's never making a disaster movie again. It might not be better than any of his disaster movies, but this still looks like his style. I just hope it's better than his Anonymous movie. AFTER SEEING IT -- This is very much Mr. Emmerich's style, and with enough explosive action going on, this could still possibly be considered a disaster movie of sorts. It's not as good as Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow, or 2012, but comes close, and it's one of the best realistic action movies I've ever seen. <8->
19. Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
PG-13 | 125 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
Author P.L. Travers reflects on her childhood after reluctantly meeting with Walt Disney, who seeks to adapt her Mary Poppins books for the big screen.
Director: John Lee Hancock | Stars: Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Annie Rose Buckley, Colin Farrell
Votes: 170,004 | Gross: $83.30M
Five words: Tom Hanks as Walt Disney. Five more: The Making of Mary Poppins. Sounds very good. AFTER SEEING IT -- The two lead actors both portrayed their parts well, especially my hero Tom Hanks as my hero Walt Disney. Emma Thompson was good too, but P.L. Travers is not my hero. Watching this movie made me dislike her more than before. But it was still a good movie, telling the story well, with good messages and themes. <8->
20. Gravity (2013)
PG-13 | 91 min | Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Dr Ryan Stone, an engineer on her first time on a space mission, and Matt Kowalski, an astronaut on his final expedition, have to survive in space after they are hit by debris while spacewalking.
Director: Alfonso Cuarón | Stars: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris, Orto Ignatiussen
Votes: 863,008 | Gross: $274.09M
This looks like a thrilling sci-fi adventure drama. (Note: I added this movie to this list after "Mr. Peabody & Sherman" moved from 2013 to 2014.) AFTER SEEING IT -- This movie has one of the most extraordinary performances of cinematography and special effects I've ever experienced. The outer space pictures of the Earth are true NASA quality, and this movie might as well have been shot from space. Decent acting and story supported. <9->
21. Jack the Giant Slayer (2013)
PG-13 | 114 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
The ancient war between humans and a race of giants is reignited when Jack, a young farmhand fighting for a kingdom and the love of a princess, opens a gateway between the two worlds.
Director: Bryan Singer | Stars: Nicholas Hoult, Stanley Tucci, Ewan McGregor, Bill Nighy
Votes: 146,950 | Gross: $65.19M
A thrilling fantasy adventure that could result in a uniquely genuine vision. AFTER SEEING IT -- This was a good story to tell, because there haven't been many movies about giants, but it lacked something that could have had me fully enjoying it. <7->
22. The Croods (2013)
PG | 98 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
After their cave is destroyed, a caveman family must trek through an unfamiliar fantastical world with the help of an inventive boy.
Directors: Kirk DeMicco, Chris Sanders | Stars: Nicolas Cage, Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone, Catherine Keener
Votes: 231,906 | Gross: $187.17M
An adventure about the first family of prehistoric cavemen. I'm not anticipating this quite as much as an average DreamWorks animated movie, but it probably deserves to be on this list. AFTER SEEING IT -- I don't know if I like the characters and story much, in which different family members argue conservatism vs. liberalism, but the visuals are impressive, and it's interesting that this is kind of about human cavemen who live on a beautiful alien world. <7+>
23. World War Z (2013)
PG-13 | 116 min | Action, Adventure, Horror
Former United Nations employee Gerry Lane traverses the world in a race against time to stop a zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments and threatens to destroy humanity itself.
Director: Marc Forster | Stars: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz, James Badge Dale
Votes: 719,105 | Gross: $202.36M
I don't know if zombies are really my kind of thing, but a thrilling apocalyptic movie starring Brad Pitt? Hmmm... AFTER SEEING IT -- Considering that this is a Brad Pitt zombie movie in which I didn't really know what to expect, it might not be very surprising that this movie became fairly successful or that I wasn't very disappointed in this movie either. But I personally didn't love it. The theme in which Mr. Pitt's character goes to great lengths to protect his family is probably the best thing about this movie. <7+>
24. Captain Phillips (2013)
PG-13 | 134 min | Action, Biography, Crime
The true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the U.S.-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years.
Director: Paul Greengrass | Stars: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirahman, Catherine Keener
Votes: 492,433 | Gross: $107.10M
A pirate movie, which can often be interesting. But this one takes place in the modern day, is based on a true story, and stars Tom Hanks as the protagonist. Before the 85th Oscars even announce the nominations, this looks like the current front runner for the 86th Best Picture. AFTER SEEING IT -- It didn't keep front runner status, but it did earn a Best Picture nomination, and it's a good movie, with Tom Hanks heroically portraying the hero. The true story improves the emotional value of the dramatic thrill. <8+>
25. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
PG-13 | 146 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark become targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem.
Director: Francis Lawrence | Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Votes: 721,006 | Gross: $424.67M
I wasn't all impressed with the first Hunger Games, and I don't know how much better Catching Fire can be. But I guess I still expect to see it. AFTER SEEING IT -- Let me just say that I think the whole Hunger Games trilogy is just a really yucky story concept. But it has decent creative accomplishments of the filmmakers, and this episode's conclusion made me want to know what happens next. But once I see the whole trilogy, I may never want to watch it again. (Update: Now that I've seen the whole trilogy, I never want to see it again.) <4+>
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