The upcoming 2015 calendar year marks a potentially huge year for film with some of the biggest science fiction franchises ever to grace the screen making their return. Led by the likes of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" and "Avengers: Age of Ultron," studios are looking to cash in on some of the most popular franchises in movie history. Below you will find our list of our favorite science fiction films coming to the big screen in 2015.
1. "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"
The most anticipated film of the year and perhaps ever, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" takes place years after Luke Skywalker learned what being a Jedi was all about. Fans have long wanted to see what happened to Luke, Han and Leia after their defeat of the empire. This latest reboot, helmed by J.J. Abrams of Star Trek fame at the helm of one of the most popular science fiction franchises of all time. Combining newcomers with Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher, Abrams hopes to usher in a new era for Star Wars and return the franchise back to its roots by using more physical special effects instead of CGI.
2. "Tomorrowland"
This mystery adventure film follows Britt Robertson as Casey Newton and George Clooney as the jaded scientist Frank Walker as they embark on a dangerous mission to discover the secrets of a place in time and space. Directed by Frank Bird and written by Damon Lindelof (Lost), "Tomorrowland" looks to be a movie of twists and turns with many elaborate puzzles.
3. "Jupiter Ascending"
The latest movie from Andy and Lana Wachowski of "The Matrix" fame promises to be a blockbuster sci-fi spectacle. Starring Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum, "Jupiter Ascending" centers on a Chicago house cleaner who discovers she is destined for more after she is tracked down by a genetically engineered hunter turned protector.
4. "Avengers: Age of Ultron"
Marvel's mightiest and most popular superheroes will reunite in this latest installment of the Avengers franchise. Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) will battle the technological villain, Ultron (James Spader) in this latest installment in the super strong franchise. Directed by Josh Whedon, this highly anticipated sequel to "The Avengers" is shaping up to be the one movie to give the latest installment of Star Wars a run for its money.
5. "Mad Max: Fury Road"
After decades away from the screen, this post-apocalyptic world of Mad Max returns this year featuring "The Dark Knight Rises" actor Tom Hardy as the iconic Mad Max. This latest installment also stars Charlize Theron and Nicholas Hoult and promises action like we have never seen before against its stark desert backdrop.
6. "Jurassic World"
The dinosaurs are returning to the big screen in the fourth film of this franchise starring Chris Pratt. Putting the focus on genetic engineering, scientists in the film have created a new, genetically modified dinosaur that terrorizes park visitors like never before.
7. "Terminator Genisys"
Arnold is back is the role that made in famous with the next installment of the scary future of AI, "Terminator Genisys." This latest installment brings the danger back to Sarah Connor (Emilia Clarke) with Jai Courtney set to portray Kyle Reese.
8. "Ant-Man"
Next in the long line of Marvel superheroes to grace the big screen, reformed thief Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) must help his mentor Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) protect the secret behind his Ant-Man suit that enables the wearer to shrink in size while also gaining enhanced strength.
9. "Pan"
Pan serves as a prequel to the classic Peter Pan story. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Joe Wright, the film starts Hugh Jackman as Blackbeard, the leader of a clan of pirates who first bring the young Peter (newcomer Levi Miller) from an orphanage to the fantastic world of Neverland, where Peter encounters the infamous Hook (Garret Hedlund) and an empowered Tiger Lily (Rooney Mara).
10. "The Fantastic Four"
It has been ten years since the superhero foursome has made it to the big screen and 20th Century Fox hopes this reboot featuring new faces in the iconic roles will perform better than its predecessors. "Divergent" actor Miles Teller as Reed Richards, Mr. Fantastic; "Chronicle" alumnus Michael B. Jordan as Johnny Storm, the Human Torch; Kate Mara as Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman; and Jamie Bell as Ben Grimm, the ever-loving blue-eyed Thing. Toby Kebbell is also set to play the villainous enemy of the foursome Doctor Doom.
These are only a few of the movies coming to the big screen this year. Many of these movies take from scientific theories and expound upon them to create universes that are both wondrous and terrifying. We will have to wait and see if these movies captivate audiences everywhere and how well they stand up to other movies in their respective franchises. The studios, for their part, hope that these movies capture moviegoers' attention to create another big year for filmmakers everywhere.
