6. Parasite (October 11)
While it has already premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where it was awarded the prestigious Palme d’Or award, and it was screened in a number of countries around the world, audiences from the USA, Canada, and many European countries are still waiting to see Joon Ho Bong’s masterpiece on the big screen.
“Parasite” follows a poor family which struggles with unemployment. However, when Ki-Woo’s friend Min-Hyuk decides to leave the town to study abroad, he suggests Ki-Woo take over his job as an English teacher for the daughter of a wealthy family. Ki-Woo not only accepts the job but devises a mischievous plan in order to get all of his family employed by the same family.
We’ve already seen “Parasite” and we can say that it is one of the few films released this year that can undoubtedly be referred to as a masterpiece. Director Joon Ho Bong, who was previously renowned for films such as “Memories of Murder”, “Okja” or “Snowpiercer”, has reached the highest point of his career with this utterly original, funny, thrilling and unforgettable film and you should make sure not to miss it.
7. The Lighthouse (October 18)
“The Lighthouse” has its premiere at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and, judging by its stellar reviews so far, we just can’t wait for it to get a wide release.
“The Lighthouse” is directed by Robert Eggers, whose debut film “The Witch” (2015) was also a critical success and one of the best horror films of the decade, so the expectations are high for his new movie. “The Lighthouse” was shot on black and white 35mm film and in Academy aspect ratio (which is nearly a square), just like films used to be shot in its early days by pioneers such as Fritz Lang and G.W. Pabst. We hadn’t had the chance to watch “The Lighthouse” yet, but based on the trailers and the critics’ reactions, the cinematography is something special and it really has the looks of a film which comes from long-ago.
As for the story, we know that it will revolve around two lighthouse keepers from the 1890s (played by Robert Pattinson and William Dafoe) who live alone on a remote island and start to lose their sanity as they are facing their worst nightmares.
Critics praised the film not only for its visuals but also for the fantastic performances given by Pattinson and Dafoe, who are the film’s sole protagonists. This film is surely one of the year’s must-sees.
8. Doctor Sleep (October 30)
Before you start whining that there was no need for a sequel to “The Shining” and how Hollywood has run out of original ideas, take note that this upcoming film is based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name which was released back in 2013 and works as a surprisingly good continuation to his 1980 famous work.
“Doctor Sleep” will star Ewan McGregor as an adult Danny Torrance and will take place many years after the events of “The Shining”, when Torrence meets a young girl with similar powers as his and tries to protect her from a mysterious cult known as The True Knot.
Good news is that the film is being helmed by Mike Flanagan, who has proved himself as one of the best horror filmmakers of the last decade and who has lately been receiving acclaim for his masterful horror miniseries “The Haunting of Hill House”. Flanagan is the perfect man to direct a Stephen King novel and this was already seen in 2017 when he managed to turn King’s previously believed to be an unfilmable novel “Gerald’s Game” into a more than decent movie.
9. Uncut Gems (December 13)
Okay, maybe this one is not as anticipated as it should be by most moviegoers, but it is surely on the list of our most anticipated films.
“Uncut Gems” is directed by Josh and Benny Safdie, who you might have heard about for their 2017 fantastic crime thriller “Good Time”. The film has been in the making since 2016 and has since been through some changes. Initially, Jonah Hill was supposed to play the main protagonist, but his role was ultimately given to Adam Sandler, who lately seems to be once again interested in being part of more serious movies.
The film is a crime thriller set in the Diamond District of New York City and will follow Howard Ratner (Sandler), a jewelry store owner and dealer who must find his way to pay his debts when his merchandise is taken from one of his top sellers and girlfriend.
While no trailer was released for the film yet, we cannot wait to see what the Safdie brothers have in store for us and are pretty sure that they won’t disappoint.
10. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (December 20)
While many people were disappointed by 2017’s “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”, this final entry in the Star Wars sequel trilogy remains one of the most anticipated films of the year. “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” is directed by J.J. Abrams, who also helmed the first film in the trilogy, and will see the Resistance face the First Order once more, and the end of the ancient conflict between the Jedi and the Sith.
The film will see Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver reprise their roles as Rey and Kylo Ren. Fans of the original “Star Wars” film will be happy to see Billy Dee Williams and Ian McDiarmid returning as Lando Calrissian and Emperor Palpatine, respectively. The late Carrie Fisher will be also making her last appearance as Leia Organa.