Okay, we’ve already gone over what went right and what went wrong in 2015, it’s now time to discuss what’s coming up in 2016. The slate of films in 2016 promises to be as unique a year as we have ever had at the movies. DC Comics is set to jump in the superhero film phenomenon, Bill Pullman, and Jeff Goldblum are once again leading the fight for our independence, one of Marvel’s most popular characters is set to get the treatment he deserves, The Avengers are about to throw down, and Jon Favreau is set to tackle one of Disney’s most iconic properties – those are just some of the most anticipated projects on tap for 2016. So in keeping with the new year… let’s look at the 16 most anticipated films in 2016. To start off … let’s look at our honorable mention.
Honorable Mention – Doctor Strange
Benedict Cumberbatch and Rachel McAdams round out a strong cast as Cumberbatch takes on the title role of the disgraced surgeon who gets a new lease on life when a sorcerer takes him under his wing.
16. Ghostbusters
This movie hasn’t even released its first trailer and I can’t think of a movie that has received more heat. What’s infuriating about this is that most of the criticism centers around the cast being all female rather than all male (the way it was in the original film). Before we sit here and condemn this film, we need to give this film a chance and judge it on its merit. Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones, and Kate McKinnon are great actresses and could very well redefine the Ghostbusters brand (in a good way).
15. Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them
This prequel to the Harry Potter Series, starring Eddie Redmayne as a Magizoologist has muggles everywhere counting the days until November.
14. The Girl On The Train
Based on the 2015 Paul Hawkins best seller, has the potential to be a smash hit, in the same way, Gone Girl was. Emily Blunt, Rebecca Ferguson, and Justin Theroux are set to star.
13. Moana
Coming out in November, it stars newcomer Auili’i Cravalho playing a teenage Polynesian princess in search of a fabled Island.
12. Finding Dory
Disney/Pixar’s most forgetful fish returns in this sequel to the 2003 Finding Nemo.
11. Independence Day: Resurgence
Twenty years after the humans narrowly escaping destruction by Aliens, they have to do it all over again.
10. Star Trek: Beyond
I’m a huge fan of Star Trek but to say that I’m a little nervous about Justin Lin taking over for J.J. Abrams as director for this 3rd installment in the rebooted franchise would be an understatement.
9. X-Men: Apocalypse
Apocalypse (Oscar Issac) is pretty intent on destroying the world and a band of mutants unite to stop him.
8. Warcraft
The fact that I’m going to have to watch this film actually causes me to dry heave, but there is no denying just how big this movie is going to be with gamers.
7. Zoolander 2
It’s been 15 years and Derek Zoolander and Hansel McDonald are back and the mission, this time around is to prevent the assassination of music’s brightest stars.
6. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
In light of recent events, I feel like I might have this film a little too low but none the less it is a spinoff that takes place between Episode III and IV. It’s story of a band of resistance fighters as they fight to get the plans to the Death Star.
5. Jungle Book
A live action adaption of the 1894 Rudyard Kipling story directed by Jon Favreau and starring Bill Murray as the voice of Baloo … I’m in!
4. Captain America: Civil War
I’m probably going to catch some heat for ranking this film this low in the Top 16 but it’s warranted. The Marvel films have become a tad cookie cutter, thus taking away that edginess that we love about Comic Book Films. This film should be massive and maybe the Russo Brothers can do something that will get me jazzed again about Marvel films.
3. Deadpool
Truth be told, I could have easily put this film as number one overall but three actually fits for Deadpool. This is the 8th installment of an X-Men type film and it promises to be the raunchiest as Ryan Reynolds is set to portray a super hero that we have quite frankly never seen before on the big screen.
2. Suicide Squad
2016 could very well be the year of DC Comics; as not only will we be treated to the introduction of Justice League (in Batman v Superman) but we are going to be see the most unique concept ever done in the Comic Book Genre. A band of villains brought together to accomplish a mission and to top it all off .. we have Jared Leto portraying Joker. If you aren’t excited about that, then you must be dead inside.
1. Batman v Superman
Picking this film as the most anticipated film of 2016 was the easiest part of this article. Batman v Superman has so much riding on its success (basically the whole DC Film brand hinges on this film) that Zack Snyder has to produce a hit (much in the way that J.J. Abrams had to for Star Wars). Lucky for all of us, we won’t have to wait too much longer to see whether or not the DC universe is set to explode on screen.
