10 Most Anticipated Films of 2012

As always, we'll need to sift through a vast number of sequels and remakes to find something original next year. But here are a few things worth looking forward to. Of course, release dates are subject to change...

1. THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (Jul)
Anyone who's seen the six-minute Imax prologue knows that this looks like another game-changer from Christopher Nolan, the most inventive filmmaker working today. The story's a secret, but it's sure to be a darkly twisted conclusion to the trilogy. We're also looking forward to the reboot The Bourne Legacy (Aug).



2. THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY (Dec)
Peter Jackson returns to the Lord of the Rings universe for a two-part prequel (the second chapter is released in December 2013). The trailer is already out and it looks absolutely amazing, sending Martin Freeman and the returning Ian McKellan on an epic quest.

3. SKYFALL (Nov)
We can't wait for Daniel Craig to get back in action as his grittier, more emotionally vulnerable James Bond, and this time he's being directed by Sam Mendes (American Beauty). Other franchise entries include The Avengers (Apr), which puts Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and more together in one movie, plus the remake/reboot The Amazing Spider-man (Jul).

4. THE HUNGER GAMES (Mar)
The studio clearly hopes that this is the next big franchise. It's a futuristic thriller based on a series of books about teens (casting gold Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson) who are forced to fight to the death in some sort of hyper-nasty reality game show. The books are reportedly amazing, which always helps.

5. PROMETHEUS (Jun)
More than 30 years after Alien, Ridley Scott returns to space for this semi-prequel, which promises to be seriously unnerving. Although it's difficult to imagine it being as terrifying as Alien. Sci-fi thrills are also in store from the muscly Martian romp John Carter (Mar) and the sea-going alien invasion blockbuster Battleship (Apr).

6. THE MUPPETS (Feb)
We may not know quite why we want to see this, but watching it reminds us: the Muppets are some of the most anarchic, hilariously insane characters ever created. And they still make us laugh uncontrollably. See also Aardman Animation's wonderfully nutty-looking The Pirates! In an Adventure With Scientists! (Mar).

7. MEN IN BLACK III (May)
It's been 10 years since the second film in this sci-fi action-comedy series, but this time-travel variation looks great, continuing to take the mickey out of celebrity culture. Speaking of high-profile sequels, we also have Wrath of the Titans (Mar), but that probably won't be quite as much fun as Ice Age: Continental Drift (Jul) and Madagascar: Europe's Most Wanted (Oct).

8. THE DICTATOR (May)
After Borat and Bruno, Sacha Baron Cohen is back with this goofy comedy about a corrupt North African ruler trying to improve his image on a trip to America. The trailer is very funny, and marvellously wrong on so many levels. Even blacker humour is likely to surface in Tim Burton's all-star movie based on the gothic soap Dark Shadows (May).

9. SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN (Jun)
Fairy tales are all the rage at the moment, but this one looks the most promising, especially with Charlize Theron as the evil queen. Julia Roberts takes a more comical approach to the same character in Mirror Mirror (Mar). There's also the action-style Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (Mar), and we can't ignore Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (Aug).

10. BREAKING DAWN: PART 2 (Nov)
After the livelier tone of Part 1, it seems like this franchise has finally got over all that moping, and this film promises to be a nasty romp as the uber-camp Michael Sheen goes on the rampage. Even more interesting, perhaps, is Robert Pattinson's sexier adult romp Bel Ami (Mar).