44 Movies to Get Excited About in 2013: Part 2

Popculturology is holding off on releasing our picks for top films of 2012 for a few weeks (look, no one invited us to a screening of Zero Dark Thirty, so we're missing a key piece), but that doesn't mean we can't start talking about what 2013 has in store for us at the theater. We'll bring you Popculturology's 44 Movies to Get Excited About in 2013 in four installments this week.

Check out the first 11 movies after the jump. The order is strictly alphabetical, so don't worry that something ridiculous like G.I. Joe: Retaliation comes before an Oscar contender like Saving Mr. Banks. As always, head to the comments to let us know which movies you're looking forward to in 2013.


G.I. Joe: Retaliation
March 29
If there's one thing 2012 taught us, it's that moviegoers can't get enough Channing Tatum. It didn't matter if he was in Magic Mike, 21 Jump Street or The Vow, Tatum sold a lot of movie tickets. Paramount Pictures realized this a bit too late and scrambled to not only delay G.I. Joe: Retaliation, but also do some reshoots to unkill Tatum's character.
Oscar contender on a scale of 1 to 5: 1


A Good Day to Die Hard
Feb. 14
Bruce Willis returns for a fifth Die Hard installment, continuing the actor's reemergence as an action star. (He's also in G.I. Joe: Retaliation.) Jai Courtney joins the franchise as John McClane's son. Courtney was excellent as the villain in Jack Reacher — can he be just as good fighting along side Willis? Don't worry about Justin Long, though. He's not in this one.
Oscar contender on a scale of 1 to 5: 1

Gravity
No release date yet
Alfonso Cuaron's upcoming film actually made our 10 Movies to Keep on Your Radar for the 2013 Oscars, but a delay in its release means the director's follow-up to Children of Men is back for another list. Sandra Bullock and George Clooney star in this one, giving Gravity an Oscar pedigree.
Oscar contender on a scale of 1 to 5: 5


The Great Gatsby
May 10
Will The Great Gatsby be the film that finally gives Leonardo DiCaprio an Oscar? It looks like it could be, but there's always the chance that DiCaprio splits his votes between this and his lead role in Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street.
Oscar contender on a scale of 1 to 5: 4

The Hangover Part III
May 24
While The Hangover Part II was basically just a retread of the original movie, everyone involved with Part III has promised that they'll close out the trilogy with a new adventure for the Wolf Pack. John Goodman joins the movie's cast.
Oscar contender on a scale of 1 to 5: 1

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Dec. 13
The middle installment of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit trilogy hits theaters right before Christmas. Take our advice and check it out in good, old 24-frames-per-second 2D. Don't let HFR 3D ruin your Middle-earth experience.
Oscar contender on a scale of 1 to 5: 3

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Nov. 22
Do we have to explain this one? Jennifer Lawrence returns as Katniss in the sequel to The Hunger Games. Everyone from the first movie (with the exception of Wes Bentley and his awesome beard) return for this one, with Philip Seymour Hoffman adding his Oscar talents to the franchise.
Oscar contender on a scale of 1 to 5: 2


The Incredible Burt Wonderstone
March 15
When Steve Carell played an annoying news anchor in Bruce Almighty, Jim Carrey was a star and Carell was an unknown. The Incredible Burt Wonderstone reunites the two, but this time it's Carell who's the star.
Oscar contender on a scale of 1 to 5: 1


Iron Man 3
May 3
Phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe kicks off with Iron Man 3, and Marvel has brought in a bunch of fresh talent to keep Tony Stark going. Shane Black takes the director's reins from Jon Favreau, and Ben Kingsley, Guy Pearce and James Badge Dale all join the cast. By the looks of the Iron Man 3 trailer, Robert Downey Jr.'s character is in a lot of trouble.
Oscar contender on a scale of 1 to 5: 2

Kick-Ass 2
June 28
If the source material is any barometer, Kick-Ass 2 is going to take everything that was crazy and obscene about Kick-Ass and jack it up a few notches. Jim Carrey replaces Nicholas Cage as the actor we expect to to deliver a ridiculous performance in this one.
Oscar contender on a scale of 1 to 5: 1


The Last Stand
Jan 18
After taking a break to be the Governator for awhile, Arnold Schwarzenegger returns in his first lead role since 2003's Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines with The Last Stand. Schwarzenegger takes on a role he was born to play: A sheriff in a small American town along the Mexican border. His name is Ray Owens, since that accent screams "Ray Owens."
Oscar contender on a scale of 1 to 5: 1

Check back on Thursday for 44 Movies to Get Excited About in 2013: Part 3. Don't forget to check out 44 Movies to Get Excited About in 2013: Part 1 too.