With January coming to an end, we thought it was high time to share with you what we’re most looking forward to seeing on the big screen this year. After an exhaustive poll of our staff (all two of us!), we’ve tallied the votes and each created our own Top Five Most Anticipated Movies of 2013. Enjoy!

 

1. The World’s End – Director, Edgar Wright
Wright’s sci-fi comedy The World’s End is the last installment of his Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy (aka the Blood and Ice Cream Trilogy), which began with the hilarious zombie comedy Shaun of the Dead and was followed by buddy cop action parody Hot Fuzz. Needless to say, I’m all in for anything that has Wright, Pegg and Frost involved. The World’s End is scheduled to open in October 2013. 

2. Pacific Rim – Director, Guillermo del Toro
A monsters vs. robots doomsday film with Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Charlie Day and Hell Boy himself, Ron Perlman. I like the world through Guillermo del Toro’s eyes. The theatrical release is set for July 12, 2013.

3. Stories We Tell – Director, Sarah Polley 
Sarah Polley (Take This Waltz and Away From Her) turns the camera on her own life, digging around for the truth surrounding her late mother through stories and memories shared by her dad. The Stories We Tell is currently playing at festivals, hopefully we will have a release date soon.

4. Mud – Director, Jeff Nichols 
After an amazing 2012 which included star turns in Bernie, Magic Mike and Killer Joe, I’m excited to see what Matthew McConaughey has in store for us this year. Could 2013 be his Oscar year? Mud is set to be released April 26, 2013.

5. Trance – Director, Danny Boyle 
Reality blurring thriller—my favorite three word combination. Now add Danny Boyle to that and I’m there! The US release date is set for April 25, 2013, but if you happen to be in Denmark or the UK you can catch it sometime in March 2013. 

1. August: Osage County – Director, John Wells
Ever since I saw Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer Prize winning play on Broadway, I’ve envisioned Meryl Streep as the alcoholic patriarch of the Weston family. Magically, 2013 is set to make my dream come true! Wells’ adaptation of this classic play features Meryl and all-star cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Ewan McGregor, Abigail Breslin, Juliette Lewis, Sam Shepard, and oh, yeah… Julia Roberts. The theatrical release date has not yet been announced, but we’ll keep you posted.

 

One word: Almodóvar! This “light comedy” features Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas, who are both always at their best when directed by Almodóvar. The U.S. release date is set for November 2013 or you can see it in Spain this March 2013.

3. Star Trek Into Darkness – Director, J.J. Abrams 
After four years, J.J. Abrams brings us his next Star Trek movie. If it’s anything like the last one, it will have been well worth the wait. Also featuring Sherlock’s Benedict Cumberbatch, speculation about his character’s identity abounds… (ALERT: POSSIBLE SPOILERS). Star Trek Into Darkness opens in theaters on May 17, 2013.

4. Elysium – Director, Neill Blomkamp 
This is Blomkamp’s first film since his surprise Oscar-nominated hit, District 9 (2009). I always love a good old-fashioned dystopian movie and with Matt Damon and Jodie Foster (is this her last?) starring, Elysium looks especially promising. Elysium is due to open August 9, 2013.

5. Saving Mr. Banks – Director, John Lee Hancock 
As a long-time Mary Poppins fan, I’m more than a little curious about Disney’s look at bringing P.L. Travers’ (Emma Thompson) story to the screen. I’m both excited and scared: excited about the story and scared about Tom Hanks playing Walt Disney. Maybe a spoonful of Thompson will help the Hanks go down… Saving Mr. Banks is set to open during the ever important Oscar season rush on December 20, 2013.