Top 10 Most Anticipated Films of Autumn/Winter 2015

After a solid summer season of films, the temperature is dropping and it's time to take a look at which films coming out this autumn/winter are getting me most excited! With Oscar season approaching, dozens of films are beginning to hit the limelight, as well as a surprising number of blockbusters. There are so many that I' am eager to see and what better way to narrow it down than by compiling a list of my top 10 most anticipated ones! So without further ado here is my list!

(Also a quick disclaimer: My list is ordered by UK release date and does not include 2016 releases, meaning The Hateful Eight, The Revenant, Joy and Spotlight amongst other films will not be included since they all come out in January).

The Martian (September 30^th)

Based on the acclaimed book of the same name, The Martian looks like it could be the film that Ridley Scott finally bounces back with. The intriguing and exciting plot of Andy Weir’s book would be enough to make me pumped for the film, but the trailers seem to promise a thrilling, funny and stunly shot sci-fi epic with a packed cast of great actors led by the charismatic Matt Damon. The early buzz and reviews are promising and I have no doubt that this should be a worthy entry into the space epic genre and a good start to the autumn movie season.

Sicario (October 8^th)

Everything about Sicario points towards it potentially being one of the best films of the year. It has a a glowing critical response coming from its premiere at Cannes, a set of attention-grabbing and intriguing trailers that promise a tight and exhilarating thriller tackling a controversial subject with thought. On board is the direction of Denis Villeneuve (known for 2013’s Prisoners), Roger Deakins - one of the best cinematographers working today - and the marvellous Emily Blunt in the leading role of Kate Macer, an FBI agent enlisted to track down an anonymous drug lord. To cut it short, I’m very excited.

Suffragette (October 12^th)

The subject matter and story of Suffragette alone is enough to make it one of my most anticipated films of the autumn. Its message and historical importance remains relevant to today and the Suffragette’s fight for women’s rights is an important piece of feminist history that deserves a wider audience. It’s always nice to see a female-led production team as well, including Sarah Gavron as director and a screenplay by Abi Morgan, who will hopefully skew away from sanitising the subject matter as films based on true events often are. The trailers are fairly encouraging, and Carey Mulligan and Helena Bonham Carter look to be on the money in their lead roles.

Spectre (October 26^th)

Following the exceptional critical and commercial success of Skyfall in 2012, the upcoming Bond outing has much to live up to. Thankfully, with Sam Mendes returning as director, a stellar cast and the return of perhaps Bond’s most famous foes, the sinister SPECTRE organisation, Spectre looks to be upping the game in every way. The trailers are heart-pounding, captivating and beautiful and truly establishes this film as one of this autumn’s must-see blockbusters.

Steve Jobs (November 13^th)

After the 2013’s critically panned Jobs biopic, Steve Jobs looks to be the imagining of one of the world’s biggest technological icons that gets it right. The trailers promise more of Aaron Sorkin’s signature sharp, theatrical dialogue with an electric direction from Danny Boyle and a tour-de-force lead performance from Michael Fassbender as Jobs himself and early reactions to the film are ecstatic. Boyle and Sorkin’s choice to narrow the biopic’s focus down to three signature events looks to be a wise move – as opposed to cramming Job’s long and complex story into one film – and I hope that Steve Jobs rises to a level similar to The Social Network, rather than descending into overly pretentious and dull drama that Sorkin can fall victim to. 

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2 (November 20^th)

Katniss’ journey and the rebellion come to an ultimate head with the release of Mockingjay, Part 2, the final chapter in the Hunger Games franchise. If it continues to build on the quality of Catching Fire and the best sections of Mockingjay, Part 1, this film should prove to be a thrilling, thoughtful and heart-wrenching conclusion to one of the strongest YA series in recent memory. Emphasis on the heart-wrenching (you know what I mean if you’ve read the book). Let us hope Francis Lawrence doesn’t bog the film down with the central love triangle that has often been the series’ weakest aspect.

Bridge of Spies (November 27^th)

On title and plot alone, Bridge of Spies probably wouldn’t have made the list, though there is intrigue to be seen from the true events it is based on – a crisis that occurred in 1960 when a U.S. spy-plane was shot down by the Soviet Union. What makes this exciting is that Steven Spielberg is back, three years after his last film Lincoln, and has recruited the great Coen brothers on script duties. With Tom Hanks leading a cast including Amy Ryan and Alan Aida, Bridge of Spies should at least be a strongly directed, written and acted film that at best will see Spielberg on top of his game again.

Carol (November 27^th)

Like Sicario, Carol emerged from Cannes with a rapturous critical reception, singling out Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett’s leading performances, along with Todd Haynes’ direction, as frontrunners for prizes at the Oscars. Based on the controversial 1950s novel, The Price of Salt, the film focuses on the growing romance between two women, one in her 20s working in a department store, one who is already married with children, providing some much needed representation for LGBTQ women in film. The trailers sell this romance excellently, creating a gorgeous, sensual atmosphere with an incredibly moving story at the centre, and I can only hope Carol is as good as thecritics say and as the trailers imply.   

The Good Dinosaur (November 27^th)

Despite a tumultuous production history that has involved a complete reworking of the film’s plot and a complete recasting of the voice cast, Pixar is always game for creating heartfelt and funny films even when they are not at their best, with recent efforts such as Brave and Monsters University. However, after this summer’s new classic Inside Out, the studio appears to be back-on-form whilst the film’s early trainers boast some stunning animation with a great concept that has potential for some witty comedy. So at the moment, I’m optimistic that The Good Dinosaur will go ahead to join the pantheon of Pixar’s greatest features and if not, will at least look amazing.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (December 17^th)

Since the first teaser trailer dropped, this one has been a no-brainer. The thought of the approaching return of Star Wars already sets my nerdy heart pumping and thankfully everything that we’ve seen of JJ Abrams’ new addition to the iconic franchise is looking amazing. With the return of the original trilogy’s cast and practical effects, Abrams looks to be righting the wrongs of the prequels and bringing forward fresh life to the series. The latest trailer is just perfect and literally drips with nostalgia (That score! R2! The Falcon! “Chewie, we’re home”!), offering just enough footage to get the adrenaline rushing without spoiling much. May Star Wars rule the winter! 

So which films are you looking forward to this autumn? Let me know in the comments below. Thanks for reading!