22 Movies to Look Forward to in 2018 that Don’t Involve Superheroes

By Britton Perelman · June 1, 2018

If you’re anything like me, the constant and seemingly endless stream of superhero movies doesn’t exhilarate you… it exhausts you.

Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Ant-Man, Deadpool, Black Panther, some tree-like character, and a talking raccoon — don’t get me wrong, I love a good action movie, but there are just too many superheroes to keep track of nowadays and, frankly, the storytelling in most superhero movies could use some work.

But never you worry, though the summer box office may be oversaturated with capes, superhuman abilities, and world-ending threats from underdeveloped villains, there’s plenty to look forward to this year. Mark your calendars for these 22 movies that have nothing to do with superheroes.

A Kid Like Jake — June 1

This family drama hits on hot-button issues with a close-up look at gender-conformity and parenthood. Claire Danes and Jim Parsons play parents to Jake, a preschooler more interested in princesses than pirate ships. Their son’s struggle forces them to re-evaluate their role as parents and their own relationship in this indie movie sure to tug at the heartstrings.

Ocean’s 8 — June 8

You’ve gotta love a good heist movie. Ocean’s 8 promises to be just that. Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) is fresh out of prison and gathers an all-female, totally badass crew to help her pull off a heist that rivals her brother Danny’s forays into the world of crime seen in Ocean’s 11, 12, and 13. Clooney may be missed, but this film is a welcome addition to and revival of a successful franchise.

Under the Silver Lake — June 22

Though a lot of the specifics of the plot of Under the Silver Lake are being kept under-wraps (no pun intended), this Los Angeles based crime dramedy should be interesting, to say the least. David Robert Mitchell’s third feature centers on a man (Andrew Garfield) who becomes obsessed with a billionaire’s murder and a girl’s kidnapping — which couldn’t be more different from his first two films. The jury’s out still out, but put this one on your to-see list for June.

The Catcher Was A Spy — July 19

Paul Rudd hangs up his wings (is it obvious that I have no knowledge of Ant-Man?) and takes a turn as a baseball-playing spy in this based-on-a-true-story drama about Moe Berg. With supporting actors the likes of Jeff Daniels, Guy Pierce, and Paul Giamatti, this WWII film could be a compelling historical biopic the likes of which aren’t usually seen in the summer months.

Hot Summer Nights — July 27

Anyone wowed by Timothée Chalamet’s turn in 2017’s Call Me By Your Name and Lady Bird will want to get tickets to July’s Hot Summer Nights, the next coming-of-age drama to grace Chalamet’s growing profile. Chalamet’s Daniel is sent to live with an aunt in Cape Cod for the summer, a span of several months that make him grow up in more ways than one.

Christopher Robin — August 3

Riding the nostalgia train this year is Disney’s Christopher Robin, starring Ewan McGregor, Hayley Atwell, Chris O’Dowd, and Jim Cummings as the voice of Winnie the Pooh. The beloved character we all grew up with returns to an adult Christopher Robin to help him rediscover the joys of life that he has lost in the years since he and his yellow companion were inseparable. May want to bring some tissues to this one.

BlacKkKlansman — August 10

Spike Lee’s buzzy movie about a black police officer who infiltrated his local Ku Klux Klan chapter is already making waves after its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. John David Washington, Adam Driver, and Topher Grace star in this drama which has surprisingly timely issues at its center.

Crazy Rich Asians — August 17

The adaptation of Kevin Kwan’s 2013 novel will likely be one of the most popular flicks of the summer box office. Constance Wu and Henry Golding play the couple at the center of this outrageous story which sees the lovers travel to Singapore for a friend’s wedding, only to be thrust into the rich and famous world of Southeast Asia’s elite. It’s bound to be one heck of a ride.

The Little Stranger — August 31

Lenny Abrahamson, director of 2015’s Room, returns with The Little Stranger, a film that’s a mix of horror, drama, and mystery. The plot centers on the quiet Dr. Faraday (Domhnall Gleeson), who travels to Hundreds Hall to look after a patient. There, he realizes that the inhabitants are haunted in more ways than one, and that their story will become inextricably twisted with his own

No trailer available as of June 1st.

Operation Finale — September 21

World War II movies always seem to be a hit at the box office, and it appears that there’s an endless pool of stories to pull from. Operation Finale, on the other hand, looks at the aftermath of WWII by focusing on a team of secret agents attempting to track down Holocaust architect Adolf Eichmann. With a star-studded cast, this historical drama could prove to be a hit.

Life Itself — September 21

Fans of NBC’s This Is Us will want to add show creator Dan Fogelman’s 2016 Blacklist-featured film to their fall movie schedule. Much like Fogelman’s popular television show, Life Itself focuses on the lives of several generations of people and how they intersect around the world. Plus, with a cast that features Oscar Isaac, Samuel L. Jackson, Olivia Wilde, Olivia Cooke, Annette Bening, and Mandy Patinkin, how could you go wrong?

Boy Erased — September 28

Another one of this year’s anticipated adaptations is Boy Erased, the story of the son of a Baptist preacher forced to participate in a gay conversion program. With Nicole Kidman, Joel Edgerton, and coming-of-age film star Lucas Hedges, this drama about identity, faith, and family will likely be a fall favorite.

No trailer available as of June 1st.

Colette — October 4

Keira Knightley does historical dramas better than anyone else — I mean, who else looks as good as she does in period clothing? In Colette, Knightley plays Gabrielle Sidonie Colette, the woman who became one half of the first celebrity couple and published the popular Claudine series. Though set at the end of the 1800s, this film tackles surprisingly modern issues.

No trailer available as of June 1st.

A Star Is Born — October 5

Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut, A Star Is Born, focuses on an aging, alcoholic movie star (Cooper) who decides to help a young singer/actress (played by Lady Gaga) find fame. The musical drama is the fourth remake — though the first in over 40 years — and is already getting favorable reviews.

No trailer available as of June 1st.

First Man — October 12

Following the success of 2016’s La La Land, Damien Chazelle returns as director of First Man, a movie about Neil Armstrong’s life and the space mission that made him the first man to walk on the moon. Ryan Gosling plays Armstrong, with Claire Foy, Jon Bernthal, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Pablo Schreiber, and Corey Stoll rounding out the supporting cast. Given Chazelle’s history on the circuit, you’ll likely be hearing a lot about this one come awards season.

No trailer available as of June 1st.

Beautiful Boy — October 12

Because he’s most well known for The Office, it’s easy to forget that Steve Carell does have serious acting abilities. He’ll show them off, alongside indie darling Timothée Chalamet, in Beautiful Boy, a drama that will tackle meth addiction and recovery. Carell plays Chalamet’s father, who watches as he struggles with the disease.

Where’d You Go Bernadette? — October 19

Yet another long-awaited adaptation, Where’d You Go Bernadette? sees the pairing of Oscar-nominated director/writer Richard Linklater and Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett. Maria Semple’s beloved novel centers on the disappearance of an anxious mother and her precocious 15-year-old daughter who will do everything to track her down. Expectations are high, so hopefully this adaptation doesn’t disappoint.

No trailer available as of June 1st.

Can You Ever Forgive Me? — October 19

Melissa McCarthy headlines around 80 ridiculous comedies every year, so it’ll be interesting to see her in a dramatic role. But that’s exactly what’s going to happen in Can You Ever Forgive Me? The film is an adaptation of Lee Israel’s memoir, the true story of a best-selling celebrity biographer who fell into lies and deception to get by. We’ll see if McCarthy can pull it off.

On the Basis of Sex — November 9

With a star-studded cast that includes the likes of Felicity Jones, Armie Hammer, and Justin Theroux, On the Basis of Sex tells the story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s struggle to overcome inequality in her pursuit to the Supreme Court. Given the #MeToo movement and all that’s in the news now regarding sexism, this biopic drama should prove to be a conversation-starting hit.

No trailer available as of June 1st.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald — November 16

No superheroes here — just wizards. The second in the Fantastic Beasts series penned by none other than J.K. Rowling herself, this film promises to bring Harry Potter fans back to the wizarding world with a look at a young Albus Dumbledore’s attempts to thwart his dark nemesis Grindelwald. Eddie Redmayne returns as Newt Scamander, Johnny Depp will headline as Grindelwald, and Jude Law makes his first on-screen appearance as the young Dumbledore. Harry Potter fans, rejoice — the magic’s back this November.

The Women of Marwen — November 21

Steve Carell, Leslie Mann, and Diane Kruger star in The Women of Marwen, which follows the victim of a brutal attack as he finds a way to get through the recovery process. Though not much is known about this biopic drama by writer/director Robert Zemeckis, it’s likely to be an inspirational awards contender.

No trailer available as of June 1st.

Mary Poppins Returns — December 25

It’s hard to follow in anyone’s footsteps, but when those footsteps were made by Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, the challenge only becomes that much more difficult. But I have a feeling Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Colin Firth are up to the task. On Christmas Day, they’ll grace theater screens as the iconic nanny returns to the now-adult Banks children after a huge personal loss. It’s bound to be supercalifragilistic.

Britton Perelman is a writer and storyteller based in Los Angeles, California. When not buried in a book or failing spectacularly at cooking herself a meal, she’s probably talking someone’s ear off about the last thing she watched. She loves vintage typewriters, the Cincinnati Reds, and her dog, Indy. Find more of her work on her website, or follow her on Instagram.