The end of the year is always an exciting time. It is a time to celebrate with friends and family, to reminisce on the months gone by, and to look forward to the times ahead. Yes, 2018 holds the promise of fun high-tech gadgets and engrossing entertainment.

We’ve been anticipating for a while the arrival of many of the products slated to be released in 2018, including exciting medical breakthroughs, new books, cars, music, television shows, video games, movies, new tech products, and more.

Reviewing each of these categories, 24/7 Wall St. identified the products that already have fans chomping at the bit waiting for the release date.

Big budget superhero movies are massive collaborative efforts between writers, artists, and performers planned out years in advance. Next year, another round of superhero movies are set to arrive, including a follow-up to 2016’s popular “Deadpool” and the latest in Marvel’s lucrative “Avengers” series. For the fourth year in a row, a Star Wars movie will drive audiences to the theaters by the millions. This time a spin-off film about the series’ popular character Han Solo.

The highly-anticipated tech products on this list are in many cases upgrades of nascent technologies, such as the new model of the Facebook-owned VR software Oculus, Google’s latest entry into its popular smartphone series with the Pixel 3, and likewise, Samsung’s new Galaxy S9.

There are too many wildly popular artists releasing albums this year to make the list, but some of the most exciting ones promise comebacks after quiet periods. Avril Lavigne is slated to put out her first new album in over three years. The wildly popular Twenty One Pilots are set to release their fifth album or EP in four years.

Some high-priced items such as phones and cars have taken years of research and millions of dollars worth of development to come to fruition, and we’ll finally be able to see what the companies have been working on for so long. Mass-market self-driving cars are not due out quite yet, but a number of state-of-the-art cars and exciting new models are due out, including the latest generation of 3-series BMWs.

Picking the most anticipated products for other can be tricky, as preference for certain authors or genres varies considerably across the country. Also, the creative process is harder to quantify, which makes it more difficult to put out a hard date for release for some of the categories on this list, such as musical albums and books,

Some of these books, such as the latest entry in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series has been rumored to be imminent for years. Fans are no doubt used to this phenomenon, as they’ve had to wait more than six years for another installment in the epic book series. There’s some optimism author George R.R. Martin could finally deliver next year with “The Winds of Winter.”

As 2017 winds down, here’s a look at some of the most anticipated products scheduled to come out in 2018.

Click here to see the 30 most anticipated products coming in 2018

Untitled Nicki Minaj Album
> Category: Albums
> Expected release date: TBA
> Record label: Young Money

Though Nicki Minaj is a massively popular, an ever-present figure in rap, she hasn’t released an album since 2014’s The Pinkprint. Though she’s teased fans, dropping hints about a new album a few times in 2017, it appears that her fourth studio album will finally be released some time in 2018.

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Untitled Twenty One Pilots Album
> Category: Albums
> Expected release date: TBA
> Record label: Fueled By Ramen

Twenty One Pilots shot to superstardom with their 2015 album “Blurryface,” which sold over 1.5 million copies. Fans are anxiously awaiting a follow-up, and lead singer Tyler Joseph said the band has some ideas for a new record, which seems likely to come out in 2018.

Untitled Twenty Avril Lavigne Album
> Category: Albums
> Expected release date: TBA
> Record label: BMG Records

Following a scary bout of Lyme Disease and a divorce from Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger, Canadian pop-punk icon Avril Lavigne is bouncing back with the release of her sixth album. Lavigne said she wanted to challenge herself as a songwriter and deliver her best work to fans after a layoff of several years.

Untitled Selena Gomez Album
> Category: Albums
> Expected release date: TBA
> Record label: Interscope Records

Selena Gomez isn’t primed to release just one album in 2018, but the pop star says she has two albums’ worth of songs ready to go. She just needs to find the right time to release them. Though she’s released several singles recently, Gomez has had a lot on her mind besides music — she is recovering from a kidney transplant she had to have due to complications from lupus.

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Throne of Glass #7 , Untitled, by Sarah J. Maas
> Category: Books
> Expected release date: September 4
> Publisher: Broomsbury Records

Lovers of fantasy novels may be eagerly awaiting this book’s arrival. The seventh book in the New York Times bestselling “Throne of Glass” series by Sarah J. Maas will be released in early September. Readers can look forward to re-following the cleverly crafted character Celaena Sardothien and her heroic endeavors.

Brave by Rose McGowan
> Category: Books
> Expected release date: January 30
> Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

With countless, widely successful men in media recently dethroned from the spotlight after accusations of sexual harassment, this book is bound to be a hit. Rose McGowan is one of several women who recently came forward and accused film mogul Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct. In her memoir, “Brave,” McGowan touches upon the nightmares of stardom and sexualization in Hollywood.

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The Winds of Winter by George R.R. Martin
> Category: Books
> Expected release date: TBA
> Publisher: Bantam Books

This one is for A Song of Ice and Fire fans. 2018 could be the year that George R.R. Martin finally delivers the sixth book in his epic fantasy novel series that spawned the HBO smash hit TV show Game of Thrones. With the show likely taking up much of Martin’s attention, fans have been clamoring for “The Winds of Winter” for years. Martin said fans could likely expect a Westeros book in 2018, but that’s the same thing he said about 2017 — so we’ll just have to wait and see.

New BMW 3 Series
> Category: Cars
> Expected release date: Mid-2018
> Manufacturer: BMW

The 3 Series from BMW is often considered the standard for sports sedans, but some outlets like Car and Driver feel the vehicle has fallen off the pace of its competition lately. But BMW hopes to reclaim its crown with the new redesigned 3 Series, due out in 2018.

Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
> Category: Cars
> Expected release date: Summer 2018
> Manufacturer: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

If you like going fast, you may want to check out the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. Dodge claims it can go from zero to 100 mph in 2.3 seconds, faster than any other production car on the market — and faster than some exotic cars costing over $1 million.

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Bictegravir/F/TAF
> Category: Medical treatments
> Expected release date: TBA
> Manufacturer: Gilead

Though HIV currently has no cure, the scientific and medical communities continue to work on treatments to improve the lives and health of people living with HIV/AIDS. Many are hopeful that Bictegravir/F/TAF can prevent the virus from multiplying within the body of infected patients. Now that the drug has received FDA approval, it could hit the market soon.

PCSK9 inhibitors
> Category: Medical treatments
> Expected release date: TBA
> Manufacturer: Sanofi

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. One in four deaths annually are caused by heart disease. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) — the bad kind of cholesterol — is one of the key contributors to heart attacks because it builds up in the arteries, causing a blockage. The combination of two cholesterol-lowering drugs — statins and PCSK9 inhibitors — will help Americans with high cholesterol reach significantly low LDL levels.

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Avengers: Infinity War
> Category: Movies
> Expected release date: May 4
> Production company: Marvel Studios

More than a dozen movies stretching back a decade have led to this: the beginning of the end of Marvel’s grand film experiment has begun in “Avengers: Infinity War.” In Avengers: Infinity War, lots of familiar superheroes will team up with new ones to try to stop the evil Thanos from collecting the Infinity Gems and taking over the universe.

Untitled Deadpool Sequel
> Category: Movies
> Expected release date: June 1
> Production company: Twentieth Century Fox

The foul-mouthed anti-hero Deadpool is returning to the big screen after the first film yielded impressive box office results. Some fans were concerned that the merc would have to tone down his antics since Disney purchased 21st Century Fox, but we’ve been assured that future Deadpool sequels will be as crude (and hopefully hilarious) as ever.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
> Category: Movies
> Expected release date: June 22
> Production company: Universal Pictures

The latest installment in the Jurassic Park franchise offers a twist on the films’ formula. Instead of running from escaped dinosaurs, the heroes will try to rescue them from a volcano that threatens to wipe them out.

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Solo: A Star Wars Story
> Category: Movies
> Expected release date: May 25
> Production company: Walt Disney Pictures

After the success of “Rogue One,” Disney is treating fans to another original Star Wars trilogy prequel, this time focusing on the adventures of fan favorite, the scruffy-looking nerf herder Han Solo. The film’s production has been beset with issues, including the original co-directors being fired. But fans are still optimistic the film can be a nostalgia-fueled thrill ride.

Incredibles 2
> Category: Movies
> Expected release date: June 15
> Production company: Walt Disney Pictures

Fans have been forced to wait 14 long years for the follow-up to the “Incredibles,” but their patience is about to be rewarded. The sequel to the animated superhero family movie — which cast all the same voices like Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, and Samuel L. Jackson — will focus on Mrs. Incredible this time around.

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Karma Black LTE Hotspot
> Category: Tech Products
> Expected release date: January 15
> Manufacturer: Karma Mobility, Inc.

There are plenty of LTE hotspots on the market, but the Karma Black is unique because it will make your online activity anonymous and encrypted. The company says the product can help protect your identity and valuable personal information while browsing the internet.

Google Pixel 3
> Category: Tech Products
> Expected release date: Late 2018
> Manufacturer: Alphabet (Google)

Google phone fans may have to wait until the end of 2018 before the Pixel 3 hits stores, but speculations are abound about the new features the phone might have. Tech experts are still unsure whether Google will make the phone cheaper to reach a wider audience or add all the bells and whistles it can to try to compete with the new iPhone X.

Oculus Go
> Category: Tech Products
> Expected release date: Early 2018
> Manufacturer: Oculus

Oculus is showing it’s more than just a video game company with the Oculus Go. The standalone virtual reality headset aims to enable use of VR without having to connect with a separate computer.

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HomePod
> Category: Tech Products
> Expected release date: Early 2018
> Manufacturer: Apple

With the new HomePod, Apple is joining the smart-home systems market, made popular by devices like the Amazon Echo and Google Home. The HomePod combines high-fidelity speakers in its system. The smart speaker system comes equipped with Siri, though at $350, Apple could struggle to sell HomePods against cheaper alternatives.

Samsung Galaxy S9
> Category: Tech Products
> Expected release date: Early 2018
> Manufacturer: Samsung

Samsung’s latest Galaxy phone is the source of much speculation and rumor about everything from its size to its display and even its release date. An early 2018 release seems likely for the Galaxy S9, but Samsung may want to make sure its technology is perfected before launch to avoid any Galaxy Note 7-like disasters.

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LG Gram laptop
> Category: Tech Products
> Expected release date: January
> Manufacturer: LG

LG is relatively new to the laptop market, but its Gram laptop line appears to be a solid alternative to pricier and more recognized brands. LG is planning to roll out another edition in 2018 that’s lightweight, has a longer battery life, and touchscreen displays.

The Alienist
> Category: TV Shows
> Expected release date: January 22
> Network: TNT

“The Alienist” is part period-piece, part murder-mystery. The show follows police and criminal psychologists as they hunt down a serial killer who is targeting boy prostitutes in 1896 New York City.

Waco
> Category: TV Shows
> Expected release date: January 24
> Network: Paramount Network

Waco is a dramatic retelling of the ill-fated siege of the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas. Taylor Kitsch will portray David Koresh, the self-proclaimed prophet and cult leader who led his followers in a deadly multi-week standoff with federal authorities in 1993.

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Maniac
> Category: TV Shows
> Expected release date: TBA
> Network: Netflix

Emma Stone and Jonah Hill are teaming up to star in an Americanized remake of a Norwegian dark comedy for Netflix. The series takes place in the fantasy worlds dreamed up by two people locked up in a mental institution.

Castle Rock
> Category: TV Shows
> Expected release date: TBA
> Network: Hulu

Viewers are familiar with Stephen King’s works being brought to life on screen, but never like “Castle Rock.” The show, produced by J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot entertainment company, intertwines some of King’s most iconic characters in one place: the town of Castle Rock.

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The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
> Category: TV Shows
> Expected release date: TBA
> Network: Netflix

Oscar-winning filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen are making the jump into TV with the Netflix original series “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.” The western anthology series will follow different characters in their lives in the American West.

Red Dead Redemption 2
> Category: Video Games
> Expected release date: Spring 2018
> Developer: Rockstar Games

Rockstar Games’ follow-up to the massively popular western video game is finally coming after nearly eight years. Though it still doesn’t have an official release date, Red Dead Redemption 2 is already one of the most hotly anticipated games of 2018 — or any year for that matter.

Far Cry 5
> Category: Video Games
> Expected release date: March 27
> Developer: Ubisoft

The Far Cry franchise has set its first person shooters in exotic locations all across the globe, but in the latest installment, the setting is back in the U.S. Far Cry 5 promises to interweave some themes from the current agitated political landscape with the Far Cry series’ familiar objectives and missions.

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Death Stranding
> Category: Video Games
> Expected release date: TBA
> Developer: Kojima Productions

Not much is known about the upcoming Hideo Kojima game Death Stranding. There are several trailers for the project, but they seem to provide more questions than answers. What we do know is that the game features “Walking Dead” star Norman Reedus as the main character and it looks incredibly creepy.

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