With the likes of Superman and Captain America taking over the screens next year, along with many other superheroes and comic characters, it could seem like there’s no space for smaller and/or non-franchise films. Fortunately, 2016 promises that it will have a little something for everyone. Although (many of) these movies may not have the promise of big bucks and sequels, or characters that we already know, they do have the hope of making 2016 a great year for film.
1. Hail Caesar! (February 5)
The Coens are back in this comedy romp that pays homage and parodies Hollywood’s Golden Age. With a great cast and a mixture of their Barton Fink, The Hudsucker Proxy, O Brother Where Art Thou sensibilities, this has potential to be the first great film of 2016.
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2. The Witch (February 26)
Acclaimed at every festival it’s played at, it looks like this movie will serve up some good scares, along a great character drama.
[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQXmlf3Sefg[/embedyt]
3. Knight of Cups (March 4)
Terrence Malick has taken us from the birth of the Universe to the New World, and now he takes us to Hollywood in what promises to be a trippy and spiritual ride. Love him or hate him, there’s no doubt that Malick’s films are unique and must be seen on the big screen.
[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3yP0bLrSlA[/embedyt]
4. Desierto (March 4)
Working alongside his father in Gravity, Jonás Cuarón has proven himself to be a very talented partner. But with Año Uña and his short films and music videos, he’s proven to be very talented on his own right. If this movie is anything like its trailer, we’re in for a very intense time at the movies.
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5. Midnight Special (March 18)
Delayed, but now here, the director of Mud and Take Shelter brings us a sci-fi movie in the vein of Starman.
[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zuQTmVCEn4[/embedyt]
6. Before I Wake (April 8)
Playing with the concept of “nightmares come true” pretty close to the chest, this could be an entertaining and visually arresting horror movie.
[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho2Z0LtXsbY[/embedyt]
7. Everybody Wants Some (April 15)
Richard Linklater has described this as a spiritual sequel to Dazed and Confused, and if the trailer is any indication, he’s kept his word. Save for that “new movie” look, it looks like Linklater has matched his style of his 1993 classic ensemble comedy. If the characters and story live up to Linklater’s standards, we could have a classic for the people who went to college in the 80s and for those people in college now who long for a time gone by, or who realize that things aren’t so different after all.
[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6raUs0CiCQ[/embedyt]
8. The Nice Guys (May 20)
Shane Black. Ryan Gosling. Russell Crowe. Need we say more?
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9. The BFG (July 1)
Spielberg goes back to his family adventure roots, along with the last script by E.T.’s Melissa Mathison, adapted from a book by Roald Dahl. Has there ever been a more perfect unit to craft what could be a great family film?
[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG5MtenlP-A[/embedyt]
10. La La Land (July 15)
Damien Chazelle’s musical follow-up to Whiplash has a great cast, so now it’s a matter of seeing if it lives up or surpasses Chazelle’s acclaimed last movie.
11. Kubo and the Two Strings (August 19)
Laika making a samurai story, what’s not to like?
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12. A Cure For Wellness (September 23)
Although Gore Verbinski is known for his blockbusters and animated films, it’ll be nice to see him go back to a genre film that promises the same sort of eerie visuals and atmosphere we got with The Ring.
13. A Monster Calls (October 14)
Juan Antonio Bayona always delivers as a director. And with a script from the great Patrick Ness, and with that cast, it’s difficult to see how it could not deliver as a film.
[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r1Kniofm5Y[/embedyt]
14. Passengers (December 21)
Not a remake of the Anne Hathaway thriller from many years ago, this Sci-Fi thriller has long been in the making. Its screenplay has been called one of the best unproduced scripts in Hollywood, and with The Imitation Game director Morten Tyldum, and Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt as leads, we may be getting one of the best Sci-Fi thrillers in years.
For more information on 2016 films and their release dates, check out Box Office Mojo.
