Top 25 Most Anticipated Films Of 2013

Counting down the most exciting films you HAVE to see next year!
In our 'Most Anticipated Releases Of 2013' set of features releasing over the second half of December, no list can quite match the scale and quantity of our Top 25 Most Anticipated Films shortlist that you see below. From Les Miserables to Wreck-It-Ralph, movies from just about every genre in the business are included here, so as to prove that cliches aside, there really is a motion picture for everyone to catch in 2013. Here it is, then- our guide to the next year in film, and what you need to look out for in the next twelve months...
25. PERCY JACKSON: THE SEA OF MONSTERS- We've waited three years for a sequel to the much-loved kids' book adaptation Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief. Now, it's here, reportedly as a bit of a tonal reboot to make things darker, so here's hoping the producers and stars once again do Rick Riordian's novels proud. (August)
24. MONSTERS UNIVERSITY- Few could quite have believed Disney would make a prequel to the 2003 animated classic Monsters Inc, yet that's exactly what's come to pass. Following in the wake of the 3D re-release in January, University will focus on Mike and Sully's days in education before heading to Scare Inc. (June)
23. GROWN UPS 2- Adam Sandler's original team-up of a host of comedy stars in Grown Ups (4/5) was an unprecedented hit in the box office in 2010. Now, the team who made that project happen are back for a follow-up, but of course the question is this: will it avoid the plague of comedy sequelitis? (August)
22. MOVIE 43- This big series of comedy sketches is littered with an ensemble of Hollywood and British stars for an almighty barrage of humorous antics. Emma Stone, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Stephen Merchant, Chloe Grace Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and so many others are all just the tip of the iceberg on what could be a real success if the narrative works! (January)
21. SCARY MOVIE 5- Let's be honest, the ... Movie franchise has been rather hit-and-miss of late with bizarre parodies of films like 300 and Twilight. As such, it's up to Scary Movie 5 to redeem the series this Spring, and given the saga's repertoire for intense crude humour, there's a good chance that it just might do so. (April)
20. DESPICABLE ME 2- Steve Carrell and company gave us a shockingly hilarious animated comedy with Despicable Me in 2010. To see a sequel, then, is both no surprise and no bad thing, and the trailer campaign so far has been teasing another gut-wrenchingly funny romp for release next Summer. (July)
19. OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL- James Franco and Mila Kunis head up this all-star Disney prequel to the classic The Wizard Of Oz, taking place before Dorothy's fateful journey from Kansas when an aspiring wizard is set wayward from that very departure point. He's cast into a land of mystery and conflict, where he'll learn that one man can change an entire world. (March)
18. THE WOLVERINE- Hot on the heels of the poorly recieved X-Men Origins: Wolverine, this new X-Men spin-off from 20th Century Fox has its work cut out. That said, taking place after The Last Stand, its narrative could explore some interesting places and set a strong precedent for future instalments, so don't count it out just yet! (July)
17. THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE- You may be surprised to find out that the new Hunger Games film is so far down this list. Partly that's because 2013 is so packed with exciting movies, and yet in a way, I felt that there was sufficient improvement to be made upon the original. All the same, Catching Fire is my favourite of the three novels, and thus I can't wait for this adaptation. (November)
16. ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES- A few years back, fans would scarcely have believed that Will Ferrell's Anchorman could ever really garner a sequel. And yet here we are, with The Legend Continues on our doorstep, sure to bring plentiful cameos and hilarious gags. This could be a major flop, but there's potential for one of the greatest comedy movies ever to emerge. (December)
15. THE HANGOVER PART III- The hilarious conclusion to a hit comedy film trilogy- what more could you want? With no bachelor party and no wedding to speak of, the third Hangover will hopefully shock and surprise in good measure with the laughs, and with any luck there should be another satisfying storyline here on the scale of the original. (May)
14. THE WORLD'S END- This is the film that'll conclude the Cornetto Trilogy. Not heard of that momentous franchise title? Essentially, it's Nick Frost's Cornetto that links Shaun Of The Dead, Hot Fuzz and the new apocalyptic flick The World's End, which of course reunites Frost with Simon Pegg for more overblown, hilarious comedy antics. (August)
13. DJANGO UNCHAINED- One of a few strong Oscar 2013 contenders on this list, Django is the latest work from the man who gave us Inglorious Bastards, Quinten Tarantino. It's got Christoph Waltz and Leonardo DiCaprio at its helm, so you can rest assured that this exciting new spaghetti western will impress in a big way! (January)
12. ZERO DARK THIRTY- Another early Oscar contender, this is a realistic depiction of the hunt for Bin Laden. No doubt just as its makers acquired controversy with The Hurt Locker, there'll be vast discussion over Zero Dark Thirty, yet in reality the more talk around this can only be seen as a good thing. (January)
11. STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS- American film-goers will already have seen an extended nine-minute preview of this much-anticipated science fiction sequel, but for us the wait for full footage is a bit longer. Still, Star Trek Into Darkness seems to pay homage The Wrath Of Khan, especially with Benedict Cumberbatch's new unnamed foe, and thus our excitement for this epic follow-up remains high. (May)
10. WRECK-IT-RALPH- Disney haven't got tonnes of big movies coming out next year, and this is just a late UK release similar to The Muppets, but that shouldn't stop us being excited. Wreck-It-Ralph has got rave reviews Stateside, and looks to be a beautiful homage to arcade gaming that'll breath new life into the animated genre. (February)
9. ASSASSIN'S CREED- Okay, so the interviews stating that this project may see release before 2013's end may be a little ambitious, but we can at least hope, can't we? If Assassin's Creed does see the light of day next year, then Michael Fassbender's take on the series protagonist and Ubisoft's first movie may well be a bonafida hit! (Winter)
8. MAN OF STEEL- We've just had a brand new trailer for this Superman movie reboot, and it's looking pretty ace. Man Of Steel should be the first key stepping stone towards the 2015 Justice League motion picture, and if Henry Cavill and Amy Adams can achieve the iconic chemistry between the Man Of Steel and Lois, then we've likely got a stunning adventure on our hands, the start of a big new franchise. (June)
7. IRON MAN 3- Another very exciting superhero film for 2013, you'd better believe it. Tony Stark faces his ultimate solo challenge, as the Mandarin strives to prove superheroes don't really exist in a modern day era, crumbling Tony's world with the flick of his finger. Can Iron Man ever recover, and if he does, can he find the strength to stop his greatest enemy? (April)
6. THE MUPPETS 2- Yep, you read right. The Muppets became an unprecedented returning hit on the big screen earlier this year, and now its production team are hard at work getting a sequel to our cinemas next year. Jason Segel is out, but Walter remains it, so expect a good deal of songs, gags and emotive (well, sort of) twists in this good-feeling second act. (December)

5. THOR: THE DARK WORLD- How do you deal with an adopted brother who threatened to bring about the end of the universe? It's not a common question for most of us, but for Thor upon his return to Asgard the situation with Loki is vital. That's not all, though: for in superhero sequel The Dark World the warrior Avenger must face Dark Elves, the ruin of his kingdom and perhaps make the greatest sacrifice of all to protect the ones he loves...(November)

4. THE GREAT GATSBY- A new image for Gatsby was released yesterday, reminding us that this much-anticipated and delayed period drama is well and truly back on its way. With DiCaprio, Maguire and Mulligan in tow, Fitzgerald's classic has never looked better, visually and in terms of its lofty potential filmic quality! (May)
3. THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG- The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was a fantastic start to the trilogy this year, yet it is with its sequel that things really get interesting. Entering The Desolation Of Smaug, Bilbo must face Eagles, metamorphic creatures and the wrath of the Great Dragon itself, while the threat of the Necromancer grows to Gandalf's fears. This will definitely be a fantasy adventure to remember, and one you won't want to miss. (December)
2. KICK-ASS 2- Aaron Johnson, Chloe Grace Moretz and Christopher Mintz-Plasse all ensured that Kick-Ass was one of the best films of 2010, and now they're back for more. The new superhero team Justice Forever faces its greatest challenge when Red Mist assembles his own army of super villains, so can the quest for good really win out? Only one way to know for sure...(July)
1. LES MISERABLES- At the top of this list comes something which I'm sure will come as a surprise to some film fans among you. All the same, Les Miserables looks like a staggering cinematic production, boasting some of the best actors and actresses in the world, an incredible adapted storyline and the direction of one of the film industry's greatest assets, Tom Hooper (The King's Speech). You'll want to make this massive musical motion picture your first port of call come 2013! (January)