And a happy birthday to me! It’s a new year and after my look back at 2015 we have to look forward at the movies that are coming out this year. I went through the list and there are around 40 that I’m really looking forward to, and I’m sure there will be many more that I’m unaware of and will surprise me (and some of these that won’t live up to my expectations). I’m hoping to see all of these, and this was a really tough list to narrow down. There are loads of superhero movies coming out next year and you may have thought that these would dominate the list but actually…well, you can read on to find out. This is the first time I’m doing one of these lists so I may go back at the end of the year and revisit how the films fared in my estimation, but let’s go ahead and look at the films I am most excited for in 2016.
#10 – Now You See Me 2
Now You See Me was a surprise hit when it came out. That was a few years ago but I hope the sequel can recapture the same inventiveness of the original. Love the cast, and it’ll be interesting to see whether the film tries something new or is just a rehash of the first one. This could be one of those movies where the sequel doesn’t live up to the first one at all, but I think Now You See Me is a film that took most people by surprise and I hope the sequel can do the same.
#9 – Rogue One
The Force Awakens made it to the heady heights of number three in my top ten of 2015, and the film definitely left me wanting more. So far the Star Wars saga, at least in the films, has remained focused around the Skywalker family. I never got into the EU books, and I only watched some of the Clone Wars cartoons, but Star Wars has been filled with cool characters and although it’s not going to be tied into the main story, it’s still more Star Wars and it’ll expand the universe. I also love X-Wings and it should be filled with frantic space combat.
It’s also going to be interesting to see how the spin-offs fare when compared with the main series of films, and if people will like them as much, or will people get frustrated that they don’t progress the main story?
#8 – Doctor Strange
The first superhero movie to make it onto the list. I’ve never been that into Doctor Strange and the only times I’ve read him are when he has guest-starred in other peoples’ comics. However, it’s going to open up a whole new side to the MCU, like Guardians of the Galaxy did with space, so it’s not just this movie I’m excited for, but also the things that may follow it. A photo of Cumberbatch has just been released and I think he looks perfect, it’s also boasting a fine cast in Rachel McAdams, Tilda Swinton, and Mads Mikkelsen. I think it’ll lend itself to a different tone from most of the other Marvel movies, so that’s why it’s my number eight.
#7 – X-Men: Apocalypse
Perhaps this should be even higher on my list. X-Men: Days of Future Past was amazing and I’m looking for more of the same here. The villains don’t get much more threatening than Apocalypse and although I haven’t been thrilled with the way he looks so far the actor they have for him is really talented and I’m hoping when we see him on the big screen it’ll live up to the potential. I’m glad we’re getting some of the other characters like Jean Grey, Cyclops, and Storm involved again, but it still looks like Fassbender and McAvoy are going to be at the heart of the conflict, which is fine in my opinion. Also, there will be more Quicksilver!
#6 – Ip Man 3
This may be one that you’ve never heard of. Although I think 1&2 are both on Netflix so if you haven’t seen them you should definitely go and watch those. They tell the story of Bruce Lee’s master, and the second film ended with Ip Man training Bruce Lee. The action choreography has been incredible with some amazing set-pieces, and they’re two of my favorite martial arts movies.
#5 – The Hateful Eight
I’m glad I don’t have to wait too long for this. I should be seeing it next week. It’s Tarantino, and that’s pretty much all the explanation I need to give as to why it’s this high on my list.
#4 – Creed
Another one that I’m getting to see next week, Creed is carrying on the story of Rocky while actually not putting Rocky into the ring again. I know it’s already been released in America and I’ve been able to avoid things about the film. The cast and the director have me excited, and I just saw a recent trailer in front of Joy that got me pumped for this film.
#3 – Star Trek Beyond
Star Trek is my favorite thing ever. The previous two movies aren’t. I’m not as much of a hater as some other Trekkies but I haven’t been crazy about them. My favorite part has been the end of Into Darkness where the finally embark on their five year mission, and I was annoyed at the ending because that’s the movie I wanted to see, and now we’re finally getting it! Now, the recent trailer did give me pause but I’ve read a couple of interviews with Justin Lin and Simon Pegg, and they seem to know what Star Trek is about, and I think the first trailer was just to try and show that a director of Fast and the Furious is now doing Trek. It’s also the 50th anniversary of Star Trek and surely they can’t release a subpar film on such an important occasion, can they? Either way, it’s new Star Trek and let’s hope that it’s amazing.
#2 – I Saw the Light
A Hank Williams biopic starring Tom Hiddleston, who looks perfectly cast. Hank Williams is one of my favorite singers of all time and I’ve always felt a kind of spiritual connection with him as he died on New Years’ Eve and I was born on New Years’ Day. I’m also a sucker for biopics, and this one looks like it has the ingredients to be awesome. I haven’t seen the old movie made about him, and I’ve read that it’s not great and is rather biased towards his wife’s account of things. I have seen The Last Ride, which disappointed me a great deal, but I Saw the Light looks like it’s going to nail it.
#1 Captain America: Civil War
Was there any doubt? Even before the trailer I was pumped for this. The Winter Soldier is my favorite Marvel movie so far. I think the Russo brothers have a great handle on the action, and I like that Civil War appears to still revolve around Captain America despite its ever-expanding cast, avoiding the bloat that plagued Age of Ultron. Plus it’s going to feature the introduction of Spider-Man to the MCU and that is just…oh wow. My prediction is that the last shot of the next trailer is going to be Spider-Man swinging into the frame, and that is going to give me no end of joy.
It’s going to be a good year for movies! Which ones are you looking forward to the most?
