The year 2017 is finally here, and that means much more for the world of movies. While there are many sequels and reiterations to be excited for, there are many originals and sequels coming to the big screen nationwide. These are films that both my colleagues and I in the Journalism program are very excited for. Some are sequels, while others are originals and renewals of the most popular franchises. Without further ado, here are fifteen films you should definitely look forward to in this new and gratuitous year for cinema.

1. John Wick: Chapter Two (opening Feb. 10) – This follow-up to the 2014 action hit finds skilled assassin John Wick (Keanu Reeves) forced out of retirement yet again to battle his enemies.

2. Logan (opening Mar. 3) – Hugh Jackman’s last appearance as Wolverine sends the iconic character into a last-ditch effort to save a girl named Laura (Dafne Keen) with powers very similar to his.

3. Kong: Skull Island (opening Mar. 10) – The latest incarnation of the legendary monster finds a group of explorers in the late 70s discovering the island where Kong resides and the unrelenting chaos that follows.

4. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (opening May 5) – The follow-up to Marvel’s 2014 sci-fi epic returns to the group embarking on an adventure to find Peter Quill’s (Chris Pratt) long lost father and fighting an impending threat to the entire universe.

5. Alien: Covenant (opening May 19) – This renewal of the Alien franchise introduces a new ship along with a new crew making a horrible discovery only to be terrorized by dark forces on an alien planet with a harsh environment.

6. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (opening May 26) – The new addition to the blockbuster franchise continues the story of Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) as he embarks on a dangerous journey to defeat the powerful new foe, Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem).

7. Wonder Woman (opening Jun. 2) – This prequel to Gal Gadot’s first performance as Wonder Woman in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice shows her origin and reveals her journey towards ascending to the role as an iconic hero.

8. The Mummy (opening Jun. 9) – This revival of the widely known franchise brings in a new cast (including Tom Cruise), and a dark new discovery.

9. Spider-Man: Homecoming (opening Jul. 7) – This follow up to Captain America: Civil War follows Peter Parker (Tom Holland) balancing the struggles of high school while moonlighting as the superhuman crime-fighter.

10. War for the Planet of the Apes (opening Jul. 14) – This third installment of the franchise returns to Caesar (Andy Serkis) fighting a seemingly unbeatable threat in a war that will determine the future of both humans and apes.

11. Dunkirk (opening Jul. 21) – Christopher Nolan’s first return to the spotlight since
Interstellar delivers a World War IIepic about the Battle of Dunkirk, a famous battle between the Allied forces and the Germans on the beaches of Dunkirk, France.

12. It (opening Sep. 8) – This modern take on Stephen King’s terrifying horror classic visits a small town in Maine being terrorized by a monster that takes the form of a Clown named Pennywise (Bill Skarsgard).

13. Blade Runner 2049 (opening Oct. 6) – This follow up to Ridley Scott’s 1982 sci-fi epic returns to the same setting 30 years later and introduces Officer K (Ryan Gosling) going after a missing Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) to stop a threat that could plunge the futuristic society into chaos.

14. Justice League (opening Oct. 21) – The sequel to Zack Snyder’s 2016 epic Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice begins with the formation of the powerful group and the confrontation of a deadly threat.

15. Thor: Ragnarok (opening Nov. 3) – The final installment to Marvel’s blockbuster series showcases a sporadic alliance between Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) in attempt to prevent the collapse of the entire Asgardian world due to an imminent threat at the hands of an evil goddess named Hela (Cate Blanchett).

16. The Dark Tower (opening Dec. 14) – The long awaited adaptation of Stephen King’s fantasy epic spanning seven books opens with the introduction of the hero Roland Deschain (Idris Elba) and his search for the Dark Tower, a mysterious and fabled structure that could save the universe from a total collapse at the hands of a man called the Crimson King.

17. Star Wars: The Last Jedi (opening Dec. 15) – The new addition to the trilogy continues Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega) and Poe’s (Oscar Isaac) story as the fight against the First Order continues.