What you may need to know

1. It’s a new thing from JJ Abrams. A TV show? A movie? A load of cobblers? The internet is only ablaze with speculation.

2. Last time JJ dropped a trailer without warning, we got Cloverfield (2008).

3. JJ might be planning to break tradition with his Star Wars movie.

4. What’s more, Trekkers have expressed their unhappiness with his last directorial effort.

5. Chances are, there will be lens flares.

Release Date: ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMG2oNqBy-Y

What you may need to know:

1. It’s not a trailer.

2. It’s a 10 minute ‘performance art’ film by Jay-Z.

3. It’s directed by Mark Romanek  who has made a fair-to-decent amount of the greatest music videos ever made, including THAT Johnny Cash video.

4. It was shot on July 13th in the Pace Gallery, NYC, and features appearances by everyone from Omar from The Wire to performance art legend Marina Abromovic.

5. We like it, even if Hova‘s new album is pants.

Release Date: Out now (click above)

What you may need to know

1, We do love renegade philosopher Slavoj Zizek. He’s having a bit of a barney with Chomsky at the moment. No, not our Chompsky – the other one.

2. It is a sequel to the brilliant 2006 documentary The Pervert’s Guide to Cinema. Track it down.

3. It was shot in Ireland, and is co-produced by Blinder, who do The Savage Eye.

4. It’s directed by Sophie Fiennes. Her brother is Voldemort. And M.

5. The film features an extended riff on John Carpenter’s masterpiece They Live (1988). If you haven’t seen it, do.

6. Broadsheet Prognosis: we’re holding out for a trilogy.

Release Date: Autumn

What you may need to know

1. It’s the new TV show from Frank Darabont.

2. Darabont brought the Walking Dead to TV, and oversaw the excellent first series.

3. He got fired, hence the rubbish second series.

4. Oh, he also wrote and directed The Shawshank Redemption (1994).

5. Mob City stars Jon Bernthal, AKA Shane from Walking Dead, and Simon Pegg.

6. Truth be told, it looks rather bad ass.

Release Date: Winter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXOUIsu-E0Q

What you may need to know:

1. Things got pretty damn silly during Season Two.

2. Ginger God Damien Lewis isn’t in the first two episodes of Season Three.

3. You can never, ever look at Homeland the same way again after this.

4. We’re big fans of The Claire Danes Cry Face Project. Great band name waiting to happen.

5. Truth be told, we’re more excited about the return of 24.

Release Date: Starts September 29th

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CreneTs7sGs

What you may need to know

1. It’s directed by George Clooney, who always rocks a decent ‘tache.

2. It’s Ocean’s 11 (2001) in WWII.

3. Bill Murray. That is all.

4. It’s based on a true story.

5. They should have gotten Brad Pitt’s character from Inglorious Basterds (2009) in.

6. ‘I seemed to have stepped on a land mine.’ ‘Why would you do that?

7. Broadsheet Prognosis: You can never really go wrong with George.

Release Date: Xmas

What you may need to know

1. Make no mistake, it’s a Jackass movie.

2. We’ve already had Bad Santas, Teachers and Lieutenants… What next?

3. Johnny Knoxville’s acting career remains DOA, largely on account of an absence of acting ability. Apparently he hangs out in Donegal.

4. The Jackass crew had a decent run, until the unfortunate passing of Ryan Dunn. Wait, that rhymes.

5. Broadsheet Prognosis: Witty is overrated.

Release Date: October 25

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEEJaIjF_Lo

What you may need to know

1. James Gandolfini’s second-to-last movie. Still can’t quite believe that one.

2. It co-stars Julia Louis Dreyfuss, Catherine Keener and Toni Collette. Hollywood doesn’t know what to do with amazing actresses of a certain age, so why not put them ALL in one movie?

3. Gandolfini’s daughter? It’s Eve Hewson, Bono and Ali’s child.

4. Looks fun. But tell us it doesn’t make you a little sad.

Release Date: Winter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzV6mXIOVl4

What you may need to know:

1. It’s the fourth film from Spike Jonze.

2. It’s his first one since Where The Wild Things Are (2008). Which divided audiences, to say the least.

3. Joaquin Phoenix got pretty out there in The Master (2012). Did he deserve that Oscar instead of DDL?

4. Scarlet Johansson. How much do we love her? We even love her brutal albums.

5. Broadsheet Prognosis: If you see one film this year about about a man who wants to ride his phone, make sure it’s this one.

Release date: November

What you may need to know.

1. Some people didn’t think the last Muppets flick was up to scratch. Some people are WRONG. It won Bret from Flight Of The Conchords a (well deserved) Oscar for Best Song.

2. Muppets Most Wanted is directed by James Bobin, who did the last one. It stars Ty Burrell, AKA Phil from Modern Family, who, truth be told, kind of looks like a muppet.

3. Ricky Gervais and movies. Not exactly a winning combination to date.

4. Expect the usual cameo fest: we’re hearing everyone from Tom Hiddleston and Christoph Waltz to Danny ‘Machete‘ Trejo and the godlike Peter Serafinowicz. He’s Graham Linehan’s brother in law, you know.

5. Yes, they go to Ireland. The only downside – it’s not out until next March.

Release Date: March 2014