Welcome to the Cult Spark Movie Excitability Index, a bimonthly chart where we rank upcoming films by order of just how excited we are to see them. Movies will rise or fall on the chart as our giddy anticipation waxes or wanes. Once a film is widely released, it will be pulled to make room for another movie. The index is also used as a news dump for trailers, posters, article links and other bits of pre-release materials that succeed in getting us jazzed for an upcoming release. Don't agree with the list? Post in the comments below and convince us to make changes for the next index! Now on to the chart …
1. ELYSIUM
Last month's rank: 3
Director: Neill Blomkamp
Release date: 8/9/13
Elysium leapfrogs The World's End to take the top spot thanks to this insanely great new trailer. And, wow, is that Sharlto Copley looking like a total badass? I believe it is.
2. THE WORLD'S END
Last month's rank: 2
Director: Edgar Wright
Release date: 8/23/13
Character posters! Pegg looks so amazingly douchey.
The official "Cornetto Trilogy" trailer … or "Blood and Ice Cream Trilogy trailer," if you prefer:
3. ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES
Last month's rank: 4
Director: Adam McKay
Release date: 12/20/13
Finally, a trailer that's not just a tease. "Is that your foot between my legs? Oh, it was my hand" is funnier than most of the comedies released in the last decade.
We also got a new poster, but looking at it is like staring into the eyes of god. Thus is the power of the Burgandy 'stache.
4. ONLY GOD FORGIVES
Last month's rank: 5
Director: Nicholas Winding Refn
Release date: 7/19/13
The new trailer must have the biggest goddamn credit list I've ever seen in a trailer at the end. Are the lighting guys in charge of all the neon listed there?
5. PACIFIC RIM
Last month's rank: 6
Director: Guillermo Del Toro
Release date: 7/12/13
Some of the concept art shown in this featurette on the film's giant mechs is gorgeous:
6. THE WOLVERINE
Last month's rank: 10
Director: James Mangold
Release date: 7/26/13
New international trailer:
7. THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG
Last month's rank: —
Director: Peter Jackson
Release date: 12/13/13
Part two of The Hobbit rockets into the Index thanks to a flood of promotional materials. First, EW brought us the first look at former Lost-ie Evangeline Lilly as Tauriel, an elf warrior who was created specifically for the film …
Then we got the first poster …
And, finally, a look at the film in action courtesy of the first trailer …
I was one of the few who loved The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, finding it every bit as charming as its Lord of the Rings predecessors. Perhaps the second film will bring more folks around to my way of thinking.
Also, something interesting to note: Guillermo Del Toro apparently doesn't get a writing credit for the second film.
8. THE WOLF OF WALL STREET
Last month's rank: —
Director: Martin Scorsese
Release date: 12/15/14
DiCaprio … McConaughey … yeah, yeah, whatever. I was sold when Shane from The Walking Dead showed up.
9. GRAVITY
Last month's rank: 8
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Release date: 10/4/13
This poster isn't new, but it's pretty and I didn't run it last month, so here you go …
10. INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
Last month's rank: 9
Director: Joel and Ethan Coen
Release date: 12/6/13
Rolling Stone has got the deets on the soundtrack.
Threatening, but not there yet: Thor: The Dark World, The Monuments Men, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, X-Men: Days of Future Past, Star Wars: Episode VII.
Disagree with our rankings? Use the comments below to make the case for your most-anticipated film being moved up the list! Reader feedback is considered as we adjust the rankings for the next index.
