The irresistible Force

In 2015, most movie talk will be focused on a galaxy far, far away … like, all the way at the end of the year. But there are other noteworthy things cinematic in nature in the new year. Here is but a small sampling. (And keep in mind that all dates are subject to change, and the only thing that really matters is that there is a new Star Wars movie coming out Dec. 18.)

Fifty Shades of Grey (Feb. 13): If you are excited about this adaptation of the erotic novel, I weep for you and the souls of your present and future children.

Hot Tub Time Machine 2 (Feb. 20): If you are excited about this sans-John Cusack sequel, well, you are excused. It does look pretty funny.

Chappie (March 6): Neill Blomkamp (District 9) makes a movie about a kidnapped robot starring Hugh Jackman and Sigourney Weaver. I would much rather see that Alien 5 thing he was supposedly working on.

Zombeavers (March 20): This is a film about zombie beavers. I don’t think it is getting a major release, but it does exist and will appear somewhere on this date. I just had to mention it.

Furious 7 (April 3): I’m thinking some cars drive around really fast and stuff in this one.

Avengers: Age of Ultron (May 1): Super mega summer movie season basically kicks off with the second Avengers movie. This one has Steff from Pretty in Pink (James Spader) voicing the evil title character.

Mad Max: Fury Road (May 15): After many false starts and jettisoning Mel Gibson, George Miller brings his iconic character back with Tom Hardy in the big role and Charlize Theron sporting a shaved head.

Entourage (June 5): I went through an Entourage phase. It ended well before Sasha Grey joined the cast.

Jurassic World (June 12): Judging by the trailer, this looks awful. Like, really awful. Domesticated raptors running alongside Chris Pratt’s motorcycle? What are they thinking?

Inside Out (June 19) and The Good Dinosaur (Nov. 25): These would be the two Pixar movies you are getting in 2015. Feel blessed. Feel very blessed.

Terminator Genisys (July 1): Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has returned from his stint as governor to become box-office poison, looks to turn things around by returning to the franchise that made his career. It could be shitty, but it definitely looks better than that Jurassic Park sequel.

Ant-Man (July 17): Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead) was supposed to direct Paul Rudd in this latest from the Marvel Comics secondary core. I say again, Edgar Wright was supposed to direct this. He is not directing anymore. I am worried.

Pixels (July 24): Adam Sandler and other nerds are hired to fight ’80s-era video game villains (Pac Man, Donkey Kong, Space Invaders, etc.) attacking New York City. This has to be one of the greatest films ever made. I’m not being sarcastic.

Vacation (Oct. 9): So far, this Vacation reboot is still being called just Vacation. Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo return, but this one is more about a grown up Rusty (Ed Helms) taking his family on a trip. It all seems kind of farty.

Spectre (Nov. 6): James Bond returns with both Daniel Craig and Sam Mendes still in place from the last installment.

The Peanuts Movie (Nov. 6): Hey, look, it’s a Peanuts movie right before the holiday season kicks off. Charlie Brown gets a CGI-updated look, and it seems like they’ve done a good job nailing the voices. I’m of the generation that appreciates this sort of thing and I will be there, York Peppermint Patties in hand.

The Hateful Eight (Nov. 13): Quentin Tarantino doing another western. I thought Django Unchained was his weakest movie, but I do cherish the idea of Tarantino going wild in the West again.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (Nov. 20): The games come to a conclusion, and Jennifer Lawrence gets freed up to do other things. Rumor has it she wants to be a Ghostbuster.

Midnight Special (Nov. 25): Jeff Nichols, the man who gave us Mud and Take Shelter, returns with Michael Shannon as a dad who discovers his son has special powers.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Dec. 18): In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new Star Wars on the horizon and J.J. Abrams, the man who made Star Trek cool again, is at the helm. Harrison Ford, Han Solo. That is all that really needs to be said about this.