2018 Universal Pictures Movie Preview

Last Updated on August 3, 2021

Universal was the third highest grossing studio of 2017 thanks to the $200 million plus returns for DESPICABLE ME 3 and THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS as well as the breakout hits SPLIT and GET OUT. While THE MUMMY underperformed, Universal still has faith in their upcoming slate, featuring JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM and PACIFIC RIM UPRISING to bounce back and have a greater year.

Check out Universal’s full slate of 2018 releases in our preview below.

MORTAL ENGINES (December 14th)

Millennia after much of the world was destroyed in a cataclysmic event, civilization has adapted a new way of living. Gigantic moving cities now roam the Earth, chasing and devouring smaller traction towns for resources. Tom Natsworthy, a low-class citizen of the moving city of London, finds himself fighting for survival after he encounters the fugitive Hester Shaw. Opposites stuck together, they must forge an unlikely alliance that could change the future.

Starring Hugo Weaving, Hera Hilmar, Robert Sheehan, Jihae, Ronan Raftery, Leila George, Patrick Malahide, and Stephen Lang.. Directed by Christian Rivers.

THE WOMEN OF MARWEN (November 21st)

A victim of a brutal attack finds a unique and beautiful therapeutic outlet to help him through his recovery process..

Starring Steve Carell, Leslie Mann, Gwendoline Christie, Eiza González, and Merritt Wever. Directed by Robert Zemeckis.

DR SEUSS’ THE GRINCH (November 9th)

An animated retelling of the classic story about how The Grinch stole Christmas from the people of Whoville.

Starring Benedict Cumberbatch. Directed by Peter Candeland and Yarrow Cheney.

HALLOWEEN (October 19th)

Laurie Strode comes to her final confrontation with Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago. Written by David Gordon Green and Danny McBride.

Starring Judy Greer, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Andi Matichak. Directed by David Gordon Green.

FIRST MAN (October 12th)

A look at the life of the astronaut, Neil Armstrong, and the legendary space mission that led him to become the first man to walk on the Moon on July 20, 1969..

Starring Ryan Gosling, laire Foy, Corey Stoll, Kyle Chandler, and Jason Clarke. Directed by Damien Chazellle.

THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS (September 21st)

A young orphan named Lewis Barnavelt aids his magical uncle in locating a clock with the power to bring about the end of the world..

Starring Jack Black, Cate Blanchett, Kyle McLachlan, Owen Vaccaro, and Colleen Camp. Directed by Eli Roth.

SKYSCRAPER (July 13th)

Former FBI Hostage Rescue Team leader and U.S. war veteran Will Ford, who now assesses security for skyscrapers. On assignment in China he finds the tallest, safest building in the world suddenly ablaze, and he’s been framed for it. A wanted man on the run, Will must find those responsible, clear his name and somehow rescue his family who is trapped inside the building…above the fire line.

Starring Dwayne Johnson, Neve Campbell, Chin Han, Roland Møller, Pablo Schreiber, Byron Mann, Hannah Quinlivan, and Noah Taylor. Directed by Rawson Thurber.

THE PURGE: THE ISLAND (July 4th)

A prequel to THE PURGE that shows how the annual bloodletting event began.

Starring Luna Lauren Velez, Chyna Layne, and Melonie Diaz. Directed by Gerald McMurray.

JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM (June 22nd)

When the island’s dormant volcano begins roaring to life, Owen and Claire mount a campaign to rescue the remaining dinosaurs from this extinction-level event.

Starring Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, B. D. Wong, James Cromwell, Ted Levine, Justice Smith, Geraldine Chaplin, Daniella Pineda, Toby Jones, Rafe Spall, Isabella Sermon and Jeff Goldblum. Directed by J.A. Bayona.

PACIFIC RIM: UPRISING (March 23rd)

Jake Pentecost, son of Stacker Pentecost, reunites with Mako Mori to lead a new generation of Jaeger pilots, including rival Lambert and 15-year-old hacker Amara, against a new Kaiju threat.

Starring John Boyega, Tian Jing, Scott Eastwood Directed by Steven S. DeKnight.

Source: JoBlo.com

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Alex Maidy has been a JoBlo.com editor, columnist, and critic since 2012. A Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic and a member of Chicago Indie Critics, Alex has been JoBlo.com's primary TV critic and ran columns including Top Ten and The UnPopular Opinion. When not riling up fans with his hot takes, Alex is an avid reader and aspiring novelist.