The entertainment value of a year is defined by its movie releases, and 2018 is high on entertainment. Find out the flicks that are slated to bowl you over big time!

The year 2018 is moving at a fast pace, but it also becoming cinegoers’ favourite due to its stellar films during the first five months. The period brought the audience blockbusters such as Avengers: Infinity War, followed by Black Panther, Ready Player One and Solo: A Star Wars Story. If you thought that these five months were impressive, wait till you see the line up of films releasing between June and December. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.

One and Solo: A Star Wars Story. If you thought that these five months were impressive, wait till you see the line up of films releasing between June and December. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.

In June, as many as two potential blockbusters will be released in cinemas, especially in Pakistan. The first one being Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, that is expected to make a huge opening on June 15 with Chris Pratt and his favourite dinosaurs. One week later, Incredible 2 will hit the cinema screens 14 years after The Incredibles became a smash hit all over the world.

The most-awaited film of the second half of 2018 will be next and it will have not one but two superheroes — Ant-Man and the Wasp — will make their first appearance together on July 6 in Ant-Man and the Wasp, and if Marvel’s track record is to be believed, the film will do well at the box office.

Since its release will coincide with summer vacation, it will be a treat for kids, especially after a tiring year at school. Whether it will be linked to the Avengers: Infinity War or not it is something that all cinegoers are looking forward to.

The kids will then prepare for a trip to Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation that will bring back their favourite characters to the screen on July 13; the film couldn’t have been better titled than that considering it’s releasing during the holidays! It will also bring back Dracula and his family back on the screen after a gap of two years, and one hopes they are still as funny as they were in Hotel Transylvania 2.

Everyone knows that superhero films are always welcomed in the theatres but this upcoming flick — Teen Titans GO To the Movies — is being anticipated as something huge, considering it has the best sidekicks in the business doing what the adults do.

In this flick, Robin leads a group of superheroes to save the world after Slade has the whole world, including the Justice League, hypnotised. The film will feature Nicolas Cage’s voice as Superman and Jimmy Kimmel as Batman, making it all the more worthwhile for the audience.

The month of August will see Christopher Robin and his gang return in Christopher Robin and fans of the animated series will love to see Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Owl and Rabbit in live action!

On September 28, a bunch of yetis, led by Migo (Channing Tatum), will go out in search of Small Feet people, i.e. humans, in Small Foot, giving the man-search-for-big-foot theme a 360-degree twist. The 3D animated film will feature the voices of Danny DeVito, LeBron James, Zendaya besides James Corden and Gina Rodriguez.

One week later on October 5, Tom Hardy will make his first appearance as Venom, the trailer of which has already given goose bumps to the audience.

The film may not have Venom’s arch nemesis Spiderman in it, but he doesn’t need a superhero to save the world since he is doing that himself.

The last two months of the year will be full of flicks that have the potential to dazzle at the box office — The Nutcracker and the Four Realms will be released on November 2 and will feature Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman, Keira Knightley and Mackenzie Foy in leading roles, making it a must-watch fantasy film.

Benedict Cumberbatch will then debut in The Grinch on November 9; the film will feature the Grinch at his worst since he hates Christmas and plans to ruin the holiday like always. Then on November 16, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Widows will see the return of Newt Scamander and Albus Dumbledore who will attempt to take down the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald played by Johnny Depp.

One week later, Tager Egerton’s Robin Hood will take on the Sheriff of Nottingham and his goons, with the help of his Merry Men. Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 will also make its return the same day and it will set the stage for the last month of the year, a perfect grand finale to 2018!

On December 14, Peter Jackson’s Mortal Engines will make its first appearance and one hopes that this new saga goes onto match his previous work — Lord of the Rings. On December 21, Robert Rodriguez and James Cameron’s Alita: Battle Engine will grace the screens where Alita the cyborg will battle her past to make a place for herself among humans.

On the same day, DC Comics will make their live-action return with Aquaman that will feature Jason Momoa in the title role. The film will take place after the events of Justice League and will see Aquaman torn between Atlantis and surface dwellers, without any support from his JL colleagues.

And on Christmas, Marry Poppins will return in Mary Poppins Returns with Emily Blunt taking over from Julie Andrews. The return of children’s favourite nanny after 54 years (the first Mary Poppins came out in 1964) will mark the end of the year for cinegoers in style.

Published in Dawn, Young World, June 23rd, 2018