With the nights drawing in and the lights all but out on the summer movie season, now seems like as good a time as any to take a look ahead at what cinematic treats the rest of the year has in store. While the blockbuster season never really ends these days, as a number of big budget monsters still lurk menacingly on the horizon, it’s time to put that serious face back on and prepare to have our emotions prodded by a veritable smörgåsbord of Oscar-bating efforts.

So, for your consideration, I submit my most anticipated films for the remainder of 2018...

10. BUMBLEBEE
Ok, I’m as surprised as anyone that I’ve let a Transformers film into my top 10 list but hear me out with this one. With Michael Bay out of the picture, Laika main man Travis Knight in as director, some very promising trailers, and a nice big slice of Iron Giant; Bumblebee looks to have more heart than all previous Transformers efforts combined. Throw in the promising Hailee Steinfeld and another interesting role for John Cena and we could have a surprise Christmas hit on our hands here.

Release date: 21st December (US) / 26th December (UK)

9. CREED II
Now, I’m a bit nervous with this one. This Creed sequel is probably the most likely film on my list to fall flat on its face, but I’m an optimistic kind of guy so I still have hope. As a spin-off of a franchise that looked out for the count a few years ago, the first Creed was not initially on my radar, yet, against all the odds, not only was it a knockout success, it earned the right to go toe-to-toe with Rocky for the franchise’s undisputed champion. However, with Ryan Coogler not returning as director and a rather gimmicky plot choice, there are huge question marks hanging over this sequel, so we shall see how this one turns out.

Release date: 21st November (US) / 30th November (UK)

8. BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
As with any biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody will live or die on its central performance, but from what I’ve seen so far, Rami Malek appears to have Freddy Mercury nailed. You could hear the collective sigh of relief from Queen fans everywhere when they saw just how much the Mr Robot actor has taken to the role and this alone makes me very excited to see how things go. There really are so many places the story could take us, with so many iconic moments and songs to touch on along the way, that this could certainly end up as as one of the greatest biopics of all time. If done right. If done wrong, and if they shy away from the hard-hitting parts of Mercury’s life, there’s every chance this could bite the dust like so many biopics before it.

Release date: 2nd November (US) / 24th October (UK)

7. HALLOWEEN
Normally I wouldn’t give another entry into the seemingly long-dead Halloween franchise the time of day, yet there’s something a bit different this time around. To date, there have been 7 sequels and 2 remakes of the 1978 horror classic and, by and large, they’ve been utter toilet. But, luckily, it looks like the guys behind this latest stab at Halloween totally agree. By disposing of everything that’s occurred since the first film like it was all a bad dream, 2018's Halloween will push the reset button on the entire franchise...and that’s perfectly fine with me. With Blumhouse sticking their name behind this, you’re almost guaranteed horror quality and on the back of some pretty gripping trailers, it looks like this franchise is alive and kicking once again.

Release date: 19th October (US & UK)

6. RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET
Wreck It Ralph is such an underrated gem. Hidden amongst princesses, castles, and singalongs, Wreck It Ralph felt like a glitch in the Disney matrix, yet for me it’s one of the smartest, funniest, and best written animations the studio have ever put out. That’s a lot to live up to for any sequel, but Ralph Breaks the Internet looks like it’s smashed it. The idea of transferring the action from the retro world of video games to the insanity of the internet is ingenious and should make for plenty of fun, so hopes remain high that this can live up to the hype…as long as it avoids becoming a feature-length advert for Disney like the trailers suggest.

Release date: 21st November (US) / 30th November (UK)

5. BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE
I’ve got absolutely no idea what to expect from Bad Times at the El Royale…but I love it. Considering it’s directed by the guy who brought us the superbly twisted Cabin in the Woods, Drew Goddard, the film’s mystery is precisely why I’m excited. That and the cast. Look at that cast. Chris Hemsworth, Jon Hamm, Jeff Bridges, Dakota Johnson and Nick Offerman? In one location? Yes, please.

Release date: 5th October (US) / 12th October (UK)

4. SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE
There are still a few comic book movies left to come this year but, while Aquaman and Venom really aren’t giving off the best vibes, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse looks like something special indeed. Just watch that trailer and tell me the animation doesn’t tingle your spidey-sense at least a little. It looks nothing short of stunning. Now superhero animation doesn’t normally tickle my pickle but this is something else entirely. All of that and we’re being introduced to an all new big screen Spidey in Miles Morales, as well as a whole host of alternate universe Spider-People, including Spider-Ham and a Nic Cage voiced Spider-Man Noir. Enough said.

Release date: 14th December (US & UK)

3. BEAUTIFUL BOY
Right. Time to get serious now. As fun as entries 10-4 on my list will undoubtedly be, there’s no messing around with the top 3. Admittedly, Beautiful Boy has been way off my radar until I recently caught up with the trailer but...wow! There’s no way I’m getting through this one without a descending into a mess of tears. This looks like it has everything an Oscar contender needs to succeed. Heart? Check. Buckets of emotion and an super-worthy subject? Absolutely. A couple of incredible performances? And then some. Off the back of his success with Call Me By Your Name, Timothée Chalamet’s rise to prominence appears unstoppable and with Steve Carrell getting back into the groove with the serious stuff once again, Beautiful Boy is definitely going to be one to watch come awards season. God, I’m welling up just thinking about it.

Release date: 12th October (US) / 18th January (UK)

2. IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK
Double check that Oscar envelope, Barry Jenkins is back! Sometimes you can be so blown away by a film it’s hard to put it into words. Which is kind of a problem for a film critic. Moonlight was said film. Without a doubt the toughest review I’ve ever had to write, unpicking Jenkins’s masterpiece dissection of race and sexuality was both challenging and wonderfully rewarding. Two years on and we’re here again. Looking both beautifully subtle and immensely powerful in all the ways that made Moonlight such a force, Jenkins seems to have captured the essence of James Baldwin’s moving novel and shot it through with his unique, underplayed style. Race, politics, gender, and love are all set to clash head-on once again and I can’t wait.

Release date: 30th November (US) / 18th January (UK)

1. FIRST MAN
So it looks like a Chazelle vs Jenkins Oscars showdown yet again. Weird how things go, eh? Hopefully things don’t end as awkwardly as they did last time they met, when Moonlight (eventually) pipped La La Land to the best picture award, but I’m absolutely convinced First Man and If Beale Street Could Talk will duke it out for this year’s prize. I love space travel. I love space travel movies. Add in the gripping story of humanity’s long, tragic road to the moon and Ryan Gosling’s pitch perfect embodiment of Neil Armstrong, and First Man is by far my most anticipated film for the rest of the year.

Release date: 12th October (US & UK)