The semester stress is already upon us, Ospreys. And sadly, it’ll be a while before it’s over. Luckily, we have some pretty interesting movies to look forward to almost every weekend to help us get through it. Check out these upcoming releases for the spring 2018 term. Which ones will you be escaping to?

Call Me by Your Name (January 19)

This adaptation of André Aciman’s novel is finally coming to Jacksonville this week. A 17-year-old boy spending the summer at his parent’s beautiful Italian home is overcome by romantic feelings for a graduate student working with his father. A mental chess match ensues between them as they spiral toward a frightening and simultaneously comforting intimacy that radiates a happiness rarely achieved between people. Timotheé Chalamet and Armie Hammer star in this likely Oscar contender.

Maze Runner: The Death Cure (January 26)

It’s been a long road to get here. The Maze Runner franchise kicked things off with a solid debut followed up by a lackluster sequel in 2015. It’s star, Dylan O’Brien, was hit by a car during production of this third installment and sustained multiple injuries, significantly delaying the film. Now just weeks away from release, we can only hope that The Death Cure will provide a satisfying conclusion to the series.

Black Panther (February 16)

You didn’t need the date, did you? It should already be on your calendar. Excitement has been bubbling for Black Panther since his introduction in Civil War, and when it hits, it may just blow the lid off. The monumental film, directed by Ryan Coogler (Creed), is poised to be a box office stunner. Led by a stellar cast, including Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, and Lupita Nyong’o, this movie is a long overdue turning point for African American representation in blockbuster filmmaking—both in front of and behind the camera. And it will likely have implications for African American representation—as well as the representation of people of color entirely—in mainstream films in the future. The story follows the events of Captain America: Civil War as T’Challa (AKA Black Panther) returns home to claim his crown as the king of the African nation Wakanda. However, an enemy doesn’t plan to allow that to happen, and a conflict emerges that threatens the entire nation.

Annihilation (February 23)

A threatening environment exists that nobody has ever returned from, until one day, somebody does. A scientist and others are then sent in to investigate, and what they uncover is sure to blow everyone’s minds and have me peeing my pants. Natalie Portman stars in this mystery/sci-fi/thriller from Alex Garland, the writer/director of the critically acclaimed Ex Machina (2015).

Red Sparrow (March 2)

Francis Lawrence, director of the Hunger Games series, brings Jennifer Lawrence into a thrilling new setting. Her character is enrolled in a Russian school that shapes and molds people into “Sparrows,” who are trained to use masterful manipulation, and any tool they can find, to uncover closely guarded secrets. Upon graduation, she’s one of the very best. But who she was before her training will instill an internal conflict when she must target an American CIA agent.

A Wrinkle in Time (March 9)

A young girl named Meg Murry (Storm Reid) is the daughter of two esteemed physicists. One day, her father goes missing. She, her brother, and her friend meet three magical beings who guide them on their journey to confront the evil that is keeping her father from them. To get there, though, they’ll need to twist the laws of physics in a way they’ve never been twisted before. The Academy-Award-Nominated director of Selma (2015) and 13th (2016), Ava DuVernay, directs her star-studded cast which includes Oprah Winfrey, Chris Pine, Mindy Kaling, and Reese Witherspoon.

Tomb Raider (March 16)

Lara Croft returns, although this time portrayed by Alicia Vikander instead of Angelina Jolie. After years pondering the strange and mysterious death of her father, Croft decides to leave her current life to explore an island (her father’s last-known location) in an effort to determine if her father truly is gone. Based on the 2012 reboot of the video game franchise, video game movies usually suck. Maybe this will be the one to finally succeed.

Pacific Rim: Uprising (March 23)

Uprising is the highly anticipated sequel to 2013’s Pacific Rim. Jake Pentecost (John Boyega) is the son of a legendary pilot who sacrificed himself to save the world from an enormous monster. “Pilot” in this universe means the driver of an insanely huge robot, the likes of which are used to battle these beastly threats. When a new colossal monstrosity comes stomping, Pentecost must try to live up to his father’s legacy in order to help save the world. It’s the movie Transformers wishes it could be.

Ready Player One (March 30)

The OASIS is a fascinating, engrossing, and immersive virtual reality gaming universe. Unfortunately, the real world is no comparison. Like many others, Wade Watts escapes to the OASIS for fun, wonder, and competition. When the game’s creator dies, gamers are informed of a hidden Easter egg that promises billions of dollars and control of the OASIS to whoever finds it. This sparks a massive contest to find the egg and claim control of the virtual world, along with financial stability. Steven Spielberg directs this futuristic thriller based on the popular novel that is shaping up to be a dazzling visual experience.

Tully (April 20)

From the writer and director of Juno (2007) comes Tully, a story about motherhood in the present. A stressed out mother of two (and soon to be three) is gifted a night nanny by her brother to help her take care of the kids and cope with the chaos of life. At first, she’s perplexed and befuddled about the nanny’s presence. But as time goes on, the two begin to develop a unique relationship that reshapes the woman’s life. After a season of futuristic action, fantasy, and sci-fi thrillers (which I love, by the way), Tully looks to tone things down a bit.

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