These are the films you absolutely can’t afford to miss in 2018

2. Lady Bird

Here’s one to watch regardless of whether you’re interested, because it actually looks rather lovely. The delightful Greta Gerwig directs the also-delightful Saoirse Ronan in a coming-of-ager that at one point was the best reviewed film of all time on Rotten Tomatoes – pretty good reason to give it a shot, eh?
In cinemas 16 February

3. Red Sparrow

Based on the book by Jason Matthews, this action thriller stars Jennifer Lawrence as an ex-ballerina who becomes a spy in order to kill some nasty men. It’s also got Joel Edgerton in it, which is, without fail, always a good thing.
In cinemas 2 March

4. Tomb Raider

5. A Quiet Place

Did you see Lights Out? It was really scary and good and fun and everyone liked it. Well this is that, but with sound instead of lights.
In (not if I’ve got anything to do with it) cinemas 6 April

6. Avengers: Infinity War

7. Solo: A Star Wars Story

Now, there’s been a bit of a hoo-hah behind the scenes of this one, what with a mid-filming switcheroo of directors – from The Lego Movie’s Chris Miller and Phil Lord to Ron Howard (the ginger kid from Happy Days – supposedly he’s a director now), but I’ve still got high hopes.
Firstly, it’s not like they’ve given it to Uwe Boll, and secondly, Donald Glover is in it, as well as Woody Harrelson – all good signs, I think. But perhaps most importantly: I do not care about Star Wars, so it will not bother me in the slightest if Chewbacca’s hair isn’t long enough or something.
In cinemas 25 May

8. Deadpool 2 
The first Deadpool was good, wasn’t it? Lovely and childish, just how I like it.
Hopefully they’ll do it again – Ryan Reynolds is a reliable bank, and this new violent-movies-can-actually-make-loads-of-money thing is still in full-swing, so I’m on cloud 9. Sign me up.
In cinemas 1 June

9. Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom

10. The Incredibles 2

11. Ant-Man and The Wasp

Ever since I burned my first ant underneath a magnifying glass as a child, I had been looking for a movie about a tiny man who fought bad guys on model train sets, so when Ant-Man came along, I was ecstatic. As such, I also become highly charged when thinking about the sequel.
It’s coming from much of the same team as the original (minus Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish’s welcome input), and there’ll be a much larger focus on The Wasp this time around, presumably including a scene where she gets all excited about a free jar of jam but then gets her feet stuck in it and dies.
In cinemas 3 August

12. The Predator

13. The Equalizer 2

The first Equalizer (as in the first Denzel one) was top-drawer, in my unrefined opinion. Great bit of revenge, lovely slice of vengeance, whopping great chunk of avenging courtesy of our man Washington, and his trusty corkscrew.
Essentially, all they need to do is – this is literally it – more of the same. Just do it again, everyone. Do it all the same again, and I’ll be happy. It’s not rocket science.
In cinemas 24 August

14. Venom

As much as I like Topher Grace (I genuinely do, not a joke), his chance to play Spider-Man’s greatest nemesis was squandered and shattered and given about five minutes of screen time. The greatest foe Spidey has ever faced was reduced to a little tiny weeny incy wincy cutey patootie bit at the end of an already not-that-good-at-all-really film – what an insult.
Still, we’re getting another chance to see the big baddie up on screen, and this time it’s Tom Hardy filling the symbiote’s boots, which is great because Venom is cool and so is Tom Hardy.
In cinemas 5 October

15. Halloween

Look, you can tussle with me over this, you can scrap me, you and me could have a good old wrangle over this, but: I liked Rob Zombie’s Halloween movies, so there. A lot of people didn’t though, so the reboot (also a sequel) has changed hands to, well, Danny McBride. Yeah, that’s Eastbound and Down’s Danny McBride, the comedy man, the funny fella.
Still, from what I’ve heard so far, I reckon he’s the man for the job – he’s a huge fan, and he’s got the full blessing of John Carpenter, so I’ve got high hopes. And not once, ever, in my entire life, have my expectations ever been let down. I am so lucky.
In cinemas 19 October, quite near to a CERTAIN SPOOKY DATE hint hint nudge nudge stab stab

16. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

That’s 16 films there. Quite a lot, in the grand scheme of things. Some people probably don’t even watch 16 movies in a year, do they?

Of course, if for any reason, any of these films are not good, please do not wield your pitchforks in my direction – I just think they’re going to be good. I make no guarantees.