San Diego Comic-Con is upon us once more, and just sifting through all the panels available is enough to make you go cross-eyed. That’s why CraveOnline is here, to help guide you to all the most important, memorable, historic and just plain entertaining movie panels at Comic-Con 2013! But here’s the catch…
We’re not including anything in Hall H.
Some movie fans go to Comic-Con and spend their entire weekend in the vaunted, overcrowded Hall H, where Hollywood trots out their biggest previews, celebrity guests and breaking news. But to get in you sometimes have to spend all night and day in line, in the cold (and sometimes brutal heat), preventing you from seeing anything else at the convention. And that’s assuming you actually get in; it’s no guarantee.
If you plan to spend all of Comic-Con 2013 in Hall H, you’ll see some amazing stuff: previews of Ender’s Game and Divergent (Thursday, 3:50pm), Edgar Wright’s The World’s End (Friday, 10:00am), the Veronica Mars movie (Friday, 11:15am), Kick-Ass 2 and Riddick (Friday, 12:15pm), Robocop and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (Friday, 4:05pm), Godzilla and 300: Rise of an Empire (Saturday, 10:45am), The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (Saturday, 1:35pm), whatever 20th Century Fox has cooking (Saturday, 4:15pm), and Thor: The Dark World and Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Saturday, 6:00pm). With a special guest appearance by Metallica (Friday, 6:30pm).
Yup, Hall H is a pretty amazing place. But if you can’t get in – or simply don’t want to waste all that time when you could be shopping, socializing or seeing (god forbid) non-movie panels) – and you still want to see some of the best Hollywood has to offer at San Diego Comic-Con 2013, we’ve got a handy-dandy list of the Ten Must-See Movie Panels at Comic-Con 2013 (Outside Hall H)!
William Bibbiani is the editor of CraveOnline’s Film Channel and co-host of The B-Movies Podcast. Follow him on Twitter at @WilliamBibbiani.
10 Must See Movie Panels at Comic-Con 2013 (Outside Hall H)
Wanna see awesome movie panels but don't want to brave the ridiculous lines outside Hall H? CraveOnline has you covered with the best of the rest at SDCC.
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Video Games to Movies: Is the Golden Age Upon Us?
When: Thursday, July 18 – 11am-12pm
Where: Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
Why: Filmmakers Adrian Askarieh (Agent 47), Tim Miller (Deadpool), C. Robert Cargill (Deus Ex), screenwriter Justin Marks (Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li) and producer Patrick J. O’Brien (Need for Speed, Mass Effect and Dead Space) are offering firsthand knowledge about the past, present and future of video game movie adaptations. If you give a damn about Hollywood’s treatment of video game IPs, or any of the video game movies on the horizon, this is where you’re going to get the inside scoop. -
An Unofficial Sneak Peek of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug with TheOneRing.net
When: Thursday, July 18 – 5:30–6:30pm
Where: Room 6A
Why: We’re not expecting any “official” presentation about the second installment in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit trilogy, so TheOneRing.net’s presentation is probably the only place you’re going to get your Tolkien fix at Comic-Con 2013, cinematically anyway. -
A New Generation of Spike and Mike’s Festival of Animation
When: Thursday, July 18 – 7:15pm-8:15pm
Where: Room 6BCF
Why: Independent animation icons Spike and Mike are showing off some of their latest discoveries, including the latest short from award-winning filmmaker Bill Plympton. Wanna be on the cutting edge of groundbreaking (and sometimes simply offensive) animation? This is the panel for you. -
Drew Struzan: The Man Behind the Poster
When: Friday, July 19 – 7–8pm
Where: Room 4
Why: Drew Struzan is responsible for some of the most iconic images in movie poster history, including the unforgettable one-sheets for Indiana Jones, Back to the Future and the Star Wars franchise. He’s here to promote a new documentary about his career, answer questions, and give away posters. Drew Struzan is one of the unsung heroes of geek cinema, and this is your chance to get close to the master. -
World Premiere of Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox
When: Friday, July 19 – 7:30-9:30pm
Where: Ballroom 20
Why: Disappointed in DC’s live-action movies? Good news: They’ve been producing spectacular straight-to-video animated features for years, and their latest – Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox – is premiering at San Diego Comic-Con 2013. See the film, stay for the Q&A with stars Justin Chambers, Kevin McKidd, C. Thomas Howell, Cary Elwes, Sam Daly, producer James Tucker, director Jay Oliva, dialogue director Andrea Romano, screenwriter Jim Krieg and character designer Phil Bourassa. PLUS: Autographed prizes, and the announcement of DC Animated’s upcoming slate for 2014. -
Your Opinion Sucks! Rotten Tomatoes Critics vs. Fans
When: Friday, July 19 – 7:45-8:45pm
Where: Room 8
Why: Film critics didn’t like your favorite movie? Here’s your chance to confront them face-to-face, with prizes handed out to fans willing to debate film critics Matt Atchity and Grae Drake (Rotten Tomatoes Radio), Ben Lyons (Extra), Scott Mantz (Access Hollywood) and the legendary Leonard Maltin. Don’t just leave a comment, speak up! -
Worst Cartoons Ever!
When: Friday, July 19 – 8:15-9:15pm
Where: Room 6BCF
Why: Jerry Beck’s annual presentation of the “Worst Cartoons Ever” has always lived up to its name, introduction legions of animation and awful cinema enthusiasts to some of the most shockingly stupid, incompetent and offensive cartoons ever produced. If you’ve never worked out with Mighty Mr. Titan, traveled to Dimension Zero with Johnny Cypher, or cast your vote for Super President, you have no idea what you’re missing. -
Spike & Mike’s Sick & Twisted Gauntlet of Animation
When: Friday, July 19 – 9:30pm-11:30pm
Where: Room 6BCF
Why: Couldn’t get enough of Spike & Mike on Thursday? We don’t blame you, and frankly, you can’t call yourself a film fanatic if you haven’t survived their animation gauntlet, featuring some of the most horrifying, violent, sexy and offensive animated movies ever made. Check your sense of good taste at the door and try to sit through this marathon without losing your lunch. We dare you. -
Behind the Creatures
When: Saturday, July 20 – 10-11am
Where: Room 29A
Why: If you’re looking for movie panels at a comic book convention, then odds are you love creatures. Kirk R. Thatcher (Return of the Jedi, Gremlins) and Tony McVey (The Dark Crystal, The Phantom Menace) have created some of the most iconic movie monsters, aliens and Muppets in film history, and they’re going to reveal their secrets and favorite stories from the production of your favorite sci-fi/fantasy movies. -
Troma: Return to Nuke ‘Em High
When: Saturday, July 20 – 9-10pm
Where: Room 9
Why: It just ain’t Comic-Con without Troma, and this year the renegade indie filmmakers are here with founder Lloyd Kaufman and a slew of special guests to talk about the plight of indie filmmakers and preview clips from their upcoming sequel, Return to Nuke ‘Em High! These are the real rebels of the entertainment industry, and if you don’t know who they are, this is the perfect opportunity to learn.
