The slate of films coming out in 2016 is staggering at best. With Marvel and DC ready to roll out their equally anticipated team up movies and solo projects, reboots of old favs and a rush of original viewing all making their way to theaters, knowing what to see is dizzying. But save your spinning head for New Year’s Day because here’s a sneak peek at what could be the best in 2016.
January starts the year off with dramatics a plenty with James Franco in Yosemite and Anesthesia starring Sam Waterson. But if horror is more your speed, The Forest staring Game of Thrones Natalie Dormer and creepy looking The Boy with The Walking Dead alum Lauren Cohan will fit the bill. Comedy gives us Dirty Grandpa with Robert De Niro and Zac Efron on the 22nd. But what about the children? Don’t worry, Kung Fu Panda 3 rounds out the month with something for the little ones.
In February we get the latest from the Coen Brothers with their comedy Hail, Caesar! starring George Clooney. Adding to the yuks is Ben Stiller reprising his role of world’s greatest male model in Zoolander No. 2. Looking for a bit of the ultra-violence, we have you covered. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies throws decorum out the door, but not as fast as Ryan Reynolds playing “the merc with a mouth” in Marvel’s Deadpool. Need some feel good after all that? Not to worry, Huge Jackman helms a triumphant sports film with Eddie the Eagle. And my pick for most creepy film of the year, The Witch ends the month off with a scare.
Coming in like a lion, March kicks in the door with London has Fallen starring Gerard Butler. Lightening the mood are two female led comedies which deserve a watch. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot with Tina Fey and one I recommended a while back, Hello, My Name is Doris starring the wonderful Sally Fields in a hipster culture comedy.
For the kids, the classic The Little Prince brings us Jeff Bridges in what might be the sweetest trailer I’ve seen thus far.
In an odd twist I have two films starring the ever watchable Michael Shannon. First as a father dealing with a son who has special powers in Midnight Special. The trailer is a must see.
And just when you though March would go out like a lamb, Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, kinda starring Michael Shannon, roars into theaters on the 25th.
April takes a breather with some more low-key flicks. Before I Wake starring Thomas Jane and Kate Bosworth as adoptive parents of a “gifted” child will freak you out on the 8th. Bringing an old classic into the real world, Disney has made room in the live-action market for more than just the princesses, with the Jon Favreau helmed The Jungle Book.
Unfortunately, The Huntsman Winter’s War is not far behind.
Which brings us to May. Know what this list needs? Comic book movies? Yes, it does. Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War and X-Men: Apocalypse.
Need I say more? Too heavy for the kids? We have The Angry Birds Movie swooping in as well as Alice Through the Looking Glass. I never said they were gong to be good. But the highlight of the month may fall to Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Snowden and my pick for best non-comic book flick of the month The Nice Guys. The trailer says it all.
June is all about the sequels. We have the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows flipping into theaters on the 3rd. But if you want something a touch more highbrow for your children, there’s always Pixar follow-up Finding Dory. The Conjuring 2: The Enfield Poltergeist, Now You See Me 2 and to keep them sequels as the theme of the month Independence Day: Resurgence. But if I were a betting man, the long awaited Warcraft is going to own the start of the summer season in a big way.
There is something for everyone in July with The BFG, Spielberg’s latest family flick. The Legend of Tarzan swings into theaters along with The Purge 3 on the same opening weekend. The Secret Life of Pets (see the trailer below) and Ice Age: Collision Course will keep the children entertained, while you wax nostalgic with the Ghostbusters and Star Trek Beyond.
August brings some interesting fair to the cineplex with the much anticipated Suicide Squad, because we don’t have enough comic book movies in our lives, right? A Pete’s Dragon reboot is in the works, but the new animated work Kubo and the Two Strings has my interest peaked over all of the animated features coming out next year.
September means back to school and adults own the theaters again. Bridget Jone’s Baby for the ladies and The Magnificent Seven for the guys. If you need a movie to drop the kids off at, Storks is all there is.
Getting spooky, October has Ouija 2. I say stick to Trick or Treating. Another beloved Marvel character Gambit is scheduled to hit theaters on the 7th with Channing Tatum in the lead, while Tom Cruise reprises his role in Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, opening on the 21st.
Marvel’s Doctor Strange, with Benedict Cumberbatch, enchants audiences on November 4th and Harry Potter fans get a treat with Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them on the 18th.
December brings us a few gifts with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Assassin’s Creed. I placed them in order of awesome.
I know, it’s a lot to take in all at once. And that is why you have all year to watch them. Mind you, this is merely a sliver of the whole pie Tinsel Town has planned for you on 2016. So go searching and take a gander at what else might interest you in the new year. Be your own critic. I’m just here to help. Happy Holidays. See you next year.
