There is a full slate of films coming out this year, and 2016 is a more crowded year for movies. Here is a rundown of what to look for and why. Enjoy!
February 12: Deadpool is the most recent installment in the X-Men universe. Focusing on the wisecracking and super violent antihero, Deadpool stars Ryan Reynolds as a cancer patient who receives innovative surgery that gives him super strength and healing abilities. The first mainstream superhero film to be rated R, Deadpool is sure to be a blast of over-the-top violence and a ton of fun.
February 26: Gods of Egypt is what looks to be an Egyptian version of Clash of the Titans a fantasy film loosely based off mythology. There has been much controversy surrounding Gods of Egypt, regarding Caucasian actors playing Egyptian characters. Without getting into a huge political debate, a film is telling a story, and if using known Western actors will make more money, then there is no problem at all in giving white actors these roles. I just want to see some awesome CGI monsters duke it out on screen, which looks like what we will get.
March 25: Batman v. Superman will be the second film in the DC Cinematic universe, following 2013’s Man of Steel. After Superman destroyed much of civilian property in Man of Steel, Batman vows to protect Earth from the alien threat he sees as Superman. While the film’s climax was ruined by recent trailers, seeing the two most famous superheroes finally fight on screen will surely be the fight scene of the year.
April 15: The Jungle Book is the latest in the Disney live action remakes of classic animated films. Directed by Chef and Iron Man director John Favreau, The Jungle Book seems to boast very impressive CGI. The first of two jungle movies this year, we shall get to the other one shortly.
May 6: The next installment in the ever-growing Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America: Civil War is sure to tug at heart strings, as our two main heroes in this Universe go head to head in Iron Man and Captain America battle each other over having to register with the government and accept parameters. The two do not agree, and will surely have an epic fight to rival that of Batman and Superman.
May 27: X-Men: Apocalypse will pick up where Days of Future Past left off with the young cast continuing to grow older into their older counterparts. With X-Men alumn Bryan Singer returning to direct, Apocalypse will surely be another thoughtful social commentary in the superhero genre.
June 17: Finding Dory is the sequel to the 2003 masterpiece Finding Nemo. Enough said.
June 24: Independence Day: Resurgence is the sequel to the 1996 sci-fi invasion film Independence Day. Growing up with the original, the sequel looks to have the same dark feel, yet updated the invasion story for modern times. Now Earth has the technology to fight back, and the invasion shall be a war. It’s Roland Emerich, which means at the least Resurgence will be some mindless fun with a lot of destruction.
July 1: The second jungle film of 2016, The Legend of Tarzan seems to be a live action adaptation of the jungle man taking the form of an epic dark adventure which looks similar to 2005’s King Kong. Starring Samuel Jackson and Margot Robbie, The Legend of Tarzan is being directed by Harry Potter director David Yates, so we should be in for a mature adventure film.
July 22: Star Trek Beyond is the third film in the rebooted Star Trek canon. Beyond will finally take the fresh crew of the Enterprise into deep space, like the original TV show went. The only hazard is that Beyond will not have JJ Abrams’ energetic feel. Yet change can be good, and hopefully Beyond is another great space adventure.
August 5: Suicide Squad will be the third DCU film, and focus on a team of villains teaming up to take down the Joker. From the trailers, this is going to be a very colorful installment and features a great ensemble cast from Jared Leto to Will Smith. Suicide Squad should be a fun way to end the summer.
November 4: The next MCU movie Doctor Strange hits us this November. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch in the titular role, Doctor Strange will deal with the sorcerer supreme learning to manipulate the magic around him to save the world, meaning this will be one of the most supernatural Marvel films to date.
November 18: How can a Harry Potter spin off, set in the early 1900s, directed by David Yates, and starring Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne go wrong? Well, it doesn’t sound like it will, and as such Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them should be a great fantasy outing for Thanksgiving break.
December 16: Rogue One should be a solid film portraying the rebels stealing the Death Star plans before A New Hope. Directed by Godzilla director Gareth Edwards, Rogue One will set up a future Han Solo spin off film that is sure to be a fun ride.
December 21: One of the best video games of all time is becoming a movie. Assassin’s Creed will finally be on the silver screen. Starring Michael Fassbender as a modern-day man who uses advanced technology to live the world through his ancestor in fifteenth century Spain and fight the evil Templars plotting to take over the world. Not much is known, but if the film is anything like the games, this should be an epic period piece.