Coming soon: This year’s movies go back to the future

The year 2015 is already noteworthy in the annals of film history. Remember, that’s the year Marty McFly and his time-traveling DeLorean jumped ahead to in “Back to the Future Part II.”

While things such as flying cars and hovering skateboards Marty encountered have yet to become popular household items, others he happened across are still around.

Like this daily newspaper (remember, that’s how he learned what year he was in). And, of course, movies. “Jaws 19” isn’t one of them, but there are plenty of remakes, reboots and sequels that someone from 1985 could find comforting and familiar.

Here is a look at some of the big box-office releases and potential critical standouts opening in 2015.

Foxcatcher

Viewers may not recognize Steve Carell beneath a prosthetic nose, thinning hair and age-spotted skin. They also might be surprised by how the goofball comedian transforms himself emotionally for this sobering biopic.

Carell plays John E. du Pont, a multimillionaire philanthropist whose obsession with wrestling bolsters the careers of Olympic champions Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) and brother Dave Schultz (Mark Ruffalo). But his increasing paranoia leads to murder.

Bennett Miller (“Moneyball”) nabbed the best director award at Cannes for this true-life tragedy. “Foxcatcher” was released in 2014 to make it eligible for awards consideration, but it doesn’t hit KC until Jan. 16.

Jupiter Ascending

The release has been pushed back so many times that the title should be changed to “Jupiter Impending.” But few movies are more poised to match the ambitious loopiness of “Cloud Atlas,” the previous venture by sibling filmmakers Andy and Lana Wachowski.

Their first foray into 3-D finds Mila Kunis as an impoverished Russian immigrant who becomes the target of assassination by the King of the Universe (Eddie Redmayne, “The Theory of Everything”). Channing Tatum of “Foxcatcher” plays an interplanetary warrior who elects to protect her. (Feb. 6)

Fifty Shades of Grey

It’s hard to hear the title without giggling at the number of parodies this anticipated adaptation of the E.L. James novel has inspired. Dakota Johnson nabs the coveted role of literature student Anastasia Steele, and Jamie Dornan is the secretive billionaire Christian Grey in the sex-filled, belt-whipping tale. Already, the romantic drama’s trailer was the most viewed of 2014. (Feb. 13)

Chappie

South African director Neill Blomkamp earned a huge fan base and four Oscar nominations for his visionary parable “District 9.” Then he squandered that goodwill with the cliché “Elysium.”

Now he has a chance to make amends with “Chappie,” another near-futuristic tale starring Sharlto Copley. Only this time the actor wears a motion-capture suit to portray a robot raised to learn and feel emotions. Then he is stolen by criminals. Hugh Jackman, Sigourney Weaver and Dev Patel are among the Hollywood faces who round out the cast. (March 6)

Insurgent

Last year’s “Divergent” didn’t catch fire at the box office like “The Hunger Games.” But this fellow young adult best-seller about a headstrong outsider (Shailene Woodley) attempting to reshape her inflexible society did generate $150 million, which is enough to keep the Veronica Roth-penned series moving forward.

In “Insurgent,” Woodley’s Tris must find a peaceful existence with the warring factions and revolting factionless. Any franchise that can inject the word “abnegation” into the popular lexicon can’t be all bad. (March 20)

Avengers: Age of Ultron

On the heels of “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” and “Guardians of the Galaxy,” it seems Marvel can take just about any character and make a terrific movie from it. (What’s next, Dazzler?)

In “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” Marvel’s A-team is back: Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hulk (Mark Ruffalo/CGI). The villain is Ultron (voiced by the always creepy James Spader), an artificially intelligent android that determines humans are not part of his world-reorganization plan.

Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) are the latest wild cards joining the fray. (May 1)

Mad Max: Fury Road

While many are dubious about the “Star Wars” or “Jurassic Park” reboots, the thought of a new “Mad Max” fills most with post-apocalyptic, piston-pumping hope. Original creator George Miller has returned to the Australian Outback 30 years after the last “Road Warrior” sequel debuted.

Tom Hardy (Bane from “The Dark Knight Rises”) takes on the Max Rockatansky role, as he joins a band of women (led by a shaven-headed Charlize Theron) being pursued across the ravaged wasteland. Reportedly more than 80 percent of all effects seen onscreen are practical ones that utilize stunts, fight choreography or makeup. (May 15)

Tomorrowland

Brad Bird can do no wrong. The creative genius responsible for “The Iron Giant,” “The Incredibles” and “Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol” returns with a fresh sci-fi mystery.

“Tomorrowland” finds inventors George Clooney and Britt Robertson (TV’s “Under the Dome”) traveling to an alternate plane of existence where their actions take on wide-ranging significance. The movie was originally titled “1952,” which was the year Disney launched a Tomorrowland theme park attraction. (May 22)

Jurassic World

Speaking of theme parks … It took millions of years to craft the events of “Jurassic Park,” yet a mere 22 years separates the first hit from this sequel. Although Isla Nublar is now operating as the theme park that was always intended, the novelty is wearing off. That forces the proprietors to genetically fabricate a new hybrid sure to boost attendance. But the experiment backfires. (“That’s how it always starts. Then later there’s running and screaming.”)

Steven Spielberg lends his name as executive producer, and Colin Trevorrow of “Safety Not Guaranteed” takes on directing duties. Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard headline the cast. They’re probably hoping this isn’t the last installment. Maybe that’s why the original title was changed from “Jurassic Park: Extinction.” (June 12)

Inside Out

Three out of the last four Pixar pics have been sequels, which is probably why there has been a noticeable drop in quality (and Oscar wins) for the beloved animation studio. Thankfully, “Inside Out” offers an original tale that takes place entirely in the mind of a young girl.

Riley (Kaitlyn Dias) is moving from Minnesota to San Francisco, and the emotions she faces surface in the form of Anger (Lewis Black), Fear (Bill Hader), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), Sadness (Phyllis Smith) and Joy (Amy Poehler). From the sound of this project, Joy might win out. (June 19)

Terminator Genisys

No, it’s not a sequel to “The Pursuit of Happyness.” This intentionally misspelled “Terminator” finds familiar characters portrayed by different actors: Jason Clarke as John Connor, Jai Courtney as Kyle Reese and Emilia Clarke as Sarah Connor. However, the original big enchilada himself — Arnold Schwarzenegger — returns as an aged, gray-haired T-800 from the future. Hasta la vista, baby. (July 1)

Ant-Man

Finally, a Kansas City native earns his own superhero franchise! Sure, it’s not Spider-Man or Batman. But Ant-Man was a founding member of the Avengers back in their 1963 comic book debut.

Who better than Paul Rudd to play the brainy, charming and self-deprecating scientist who creates a suit that allows him to decrease in size? Oops! Except in the movie version, he plays a con man who helps his scientist mentor (Michael Douglas) with a project that eventually gives him the shrinky-dink powers. (July 17)

The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

Brit action expert Guy Ritchie resurrects one of TV’s coolest spy shows from his youth. (Let’s hope he does a better job than “The Avengers” flick from 1998.)

Henry Cavill from “Man of Steel” steps into the Napoleon Solo role, a CIA agent who teams with a KGB operative (Armie Hammer) to stop a criminal organization from escalating the nuclear arms race. The best part about it? It’s still set in the early 1960s. Will it be popular enough to also green light the spinoff “The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.?” (Aug. 13)

Black Mass

He spent a dozen years on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list. In 2011, organized crime figure and informant Whitey Bulger was captured. Now the Boston killer earns his own feature with Johnny Depp depicting him.

Benedict Cumberbatch plays brother Bill Bulger, a former state senator forced to resign from his position as president of the University of Massachusetts for refusing to testify about his then-fugitive sibling. Scott Cooper of “Out of the Furnace” directs. The film hasn’t officially been titled “Black Mass,” but that’s the title of the book on which it was based. (Sept. 18)

Victor Frankenstein

Yep, it’s another version of Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel. But it’s the casting and viewpoint of “Victor Frankenstein” that makes the enterprise so intriguing.

Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter himself) portrays Igor. Through the eyes of this disturbed young assistant, we see how the monstrous scientific work of the title character (James McAvoy) develops over the course of their close relationship. (Oct. 2)

The Walk

Robert Zemeckis of “Back to the Future Part II” crafts a narrative film from the same material featured in “Man on Wire” that won a documentary Oscar.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as Philippe Petit, the French high-wire artist who in 1974 set up a tightrope between the World Trade Center towers (without permission) and walked back and forth for 45 minutes. Zemeckis promises a true balancing act of emotional drama and riveting suspense. (Oct. 2)

Spectre

Daniel Craig, the best modern James Bond, reteams with “Skyfall” director Sam Mendes for this 24th installment showcasing the suave British operative. The title alludes to Blofeld’s classic organization (SPecial Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion).

The story involves Bond tracking down this secret society while M (Ralph Fiennes) combats political forces intent on shutting down MI6. Christoph Waltz portrays the villain. “Spectre” reportedly eclipsed the $300 million budget mark, which makes it the most expensive picture ever made. (Nov. 6)

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2

“The Hobbit” may have ended its multipart run, but “The Hunger Games” is still competing for yearly box-office domination.

Jennifer Lawrence resumes her stint as Katniss Everdeen to lead District 13 in a spirited revolution against the fascist government. The film is already notable for containing the last-ever performance of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, who died in February. (Nov. 20)

The Hateful Eight

After the screenplay leaked online (unrelated to the Sony hack), filmmaker Quentin Tarantino decided to abandon his latest Western. After a live public reading generated enormous enthusiasm, he restarted the project.

Just as the “Kill Bill” tandem paid tribute to the kung fu cheapies of the Shaw Brothers, “The Hateful Eight” riffs on Sam Peckinpah’s “The Wild Bunch,” one of the grittiest and bloodiest of classic Westerns. Tarantino’s account takes place in post-Civil War Wyoming, where bounty hunters seek shelter during a blizzard but find themselves caught up in a whole other storm of betrayal. (December)

Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens

Can the George Lucas universe ever recover from the taint of his disappointing prequels? That’s the question writer/director J.J. Abrams (of “Star Trek” reboot fame) hopes to answer.

His new entry to the sprawling space saga is set 30 years after the events of “The Return of the Jedi,” which makes perfect sense because cast members Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford are actually 30 years older since they headlined the original trilogy. Hopefully, the title of the film is symbolic of the new force taking charge of this beleaguered franchise. (Dec. 18)

This story was originally published January 6, 2015 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Coming soon: This year’s movies go back to the future."