The most anticipated movies you’ll be watching in 2016
MEN in capes, all-star casts and sequels that we didn’t ask for but will secretly see. These are some of the most anticipated flicks you’ll be watching this year.
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MEN in capes, all-star casts and sequels that we didn’t ask for but will secretly see.
There’s some excellent prospects hitting the big screen this year. These are some of the most anticipated flicks you’ll be watching.
FILMS ABOUT MEN WHO LIKE WEARING CAPES AND LYCRA
The only thing that can make an already fit man more beautiful is if he shows off his buns in some Lycra tights. While the main demographic of these superhero movies probably isn’t going for the buns, to each his own. There’s way too many comic-book-y movies to include here, so shout out to Captain America: Civil War (April 28), X-Men: Apocalypse (May 19) and Doctor Strange (October 27) which are also set for release.
BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE (March 24)
Listen up nerds, the day you’ve been waiting for is almost here.
The film, which marks Affleck’s debut as Batman and Henry Cavill’s return as Superman, is a sequel to 2013’s Man of Steel and will include a showdown between the two superheroes.
Amy Adams reprises her role of Lois Lane and Jesse Eisenberg comes on board the Zack Snyder-directed flick as villain Lex Luthor. Yeah, we all kind of went off Ben last year when he split from Jen Garner and all those cheating rumours came out, but just put all that aside and enjoy his beautiful chest coated in black rubber.
DEADPOOL (February 11)
Based on the smart-a** Marvel comic book character, Ryan Reynolds stars as Wade Wilson, a former special forces operative who underwent an experiment to cure his cancer. Left with healing powers, disfigured skin, an unstable mind and a warped sense of humour, he assumes his new identity, Deadpool, and hunts down the person responsible. It’s crude, there’s lots of violence and, thankfully, nudity. All this was a bit too much for China, who have banned the flick. If, for some reason, you get bored in the cinema, just sit back and fantasise about what the day-to-day life is like in the Ryan-Reynolds-Blake-Lively household. Him making toast in the morning while she maps out her next enterprise to follow on from the now failed Preserve lifestyle website. Perhaps baby James is finger-painting on some stock paper in the background. Anyway, the film should be OK.
SUICIDE SQUAD (August 4)
Not only is this one of the most anticipated movies of the year, it’s also the film with the highest budget for hair dye. About a team of supervillains assigned to execute dangerous tasks in exchange for shorter prison sentences, the David Ayer-directed movie has been getting hype since filming began last year. Margot Robbie (Harley Quinn) has pink, blue and white hair. Jared Leto (The Joker) has green hair. And if you need more convincing, Will Smith, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Ike Barinholtz, Scott Eastwood and Cara Delevingne round out the cast.
ROUND TWO
When greatness in film is achieved once, studios will ride it until the wheels fall off. Shout out to Star Trek Beyond (July), The Huntsman: Winter’s War (April) and Independence Day Resurgence (June) which also have follow-ups this year.
ZOOLANDER NO. 2 (FEBRUARY 11)
Don’t act like you don’t want to see this. It’s as ridiculous (-ly good looking) as the first one. The plot? The world’s “most beautiful musical celebrities” are assassinated — so Derek and Hansel (Owen Wilson) are brought in to save the day. Don’t overthink it. As well as starring Will Ferrell, Penélope Cruz, Kristen Wiig and Fred Armisen, there’s also some major celeb cameos including Justin Bieber, Kim and Kayne and Benedict Cumberbatch.
MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 2 (March 24)
Nia Vardalos is back writing and starring in this sequel to the 2002 hit. And she’s joined again by John Corbett (yes, Aidan from Sex & The City) as her on screen husband. While Toula (Vardalos) and Ian’s (Corbett) wedding was the focus of the first film, the second one revolves around an even bigger Greek wedding. Turns out Toula’s parents were never legally married. Chaos ensues with, surprise, another big fat Greek wedding. Don’t forget to bring the Windex.
BAD NEIGHBOURS 2: SORORITY RISING (May 5)
Some may argue that not even the first Bad Neighbours was necessary. Those people need to be gently reminded of what Zac Efron looks like without a shirt. The follow-up is no let down. Zac spends a healthy portion of the film sans shirt and it’s beautiful. If you’re less concerned with Zac’s shirtlessness and consider yourself more of a “thinker”, here’s a synopsis: Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne are back as the straight-laced couple. When a group of sorority sisters move next door, they need help from their old neighbours: cue Zac and Dave Franco. Zac’s shirt, exit stage left.
ALL STARS
How many clowns can you fit into a car? Similarly, how many actors can you fit in the one film? These flicks dare to find out with their star-studded casts.
HAIL, CAESAR! (February 25)
The Coen brothers are back and they’re in 1950s Hollywood with their latest offering. It’s a stellar cast: George Clooney, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich, Ralph Fiennes, Jonah Hill, Scarlett Johansson, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton and Channing Tatum. The over-the-top comedy follows a day in the life of Eddie Mannix (Brolin) — who’s a “fixer” in the film industry. He has to find out what happened to a castmember who vanished while shooting the studio’s latest flick, Hail Caesar, a Tale of Christ’s Life. Brace yourself for the typically bizarre Coen brothers overtones and Channing Tatum dancing in a sailor costume (it’s kinda hot).
GHOSTBUSTERS (July 14)
Fact: ladies do it better. When it was announced that an all-female reboot of this classic film was being made, there was a lot of hype around who would take on the main characters. Rest assured, with Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig and Saturday Night Live cast members Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones playing the ghost-fighting team, the movie is in strong hands. And with Chris Hemsworth playing the role of the receptionist — and keeping the Aussie accent — it’s set to be next level.
MOTHER’S DAY (April 28)
Let’s be honest, this movie will probably suck, but with a cast including Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston and Kate Hudson, we can dream. The storyline is really given away in the title: it follows several mums’ stories in the lead up to Mother’s Day. Coincidentally, Jennifer Aniston’s bestie Courteney Cox also has a movie of the SAME NAME coming out — and the cast is equally star-studded, with Susan Sarandon, Christina Ricci, Sharon Stone and Selma Blair. Just to confuse you.
TRUE STORIES THAT WILL MAKE YOUR OWN LIFE SEEM LIKE A SNOOZE
If a film were to be made about your own life, what would the world learn? Probably that you spend a lot of nights alone on your couch eating grated cheese. These films are about people with a lot more going on than you.
JOBS(October 9)
In Danny Boyle’s Steve Jobs biopic, Michael Fassbender looks unrecognisable as the Apple founder. Fans concerned that Fassbender was an unusual choice to play Jobs, particularly given they look nothing alike, needn’t worry. It’s amazing the difference a black turtleneck and some Seinfeld jeans can make. Kate Winslet stars as ex-Macintosh marketing chief Joanna Hoffman, while Jeff Daniels portrays former Apple CEO John Sculley. Seriously, anything with Kate Winslet in it is amazing. She could just be playing the role of an actual Mac laptop and she’d still rock.
CONCUSSION (February 18)
In Concussion, Will Smith plays Dr. Bennet Omalu, a forensic neuropathologist who was the first to discover chronic traumatic encephalopathy in football players. This footy film is packed with emotion and drama and Smith continues to prove that he’s come a long way from being just the Fresh Prince Of Bel Air.
SPOTLIGHT (January 28)
Nominated for several Oscars, Spotlight is gripping. It’s the true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered decades of child molestation within the local Catholic Archdiocese and the attempts to cover-up and protect more than 70 perpetrators. The low-key tone director Tom McCarthy gives the film amplifies the seriousness of the story. With an ensemble cast including Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Stanley Tucci and Billy Crudup, the film’s been receiving acclaim since it hit screens in the US last year.
WHY READ THE BOOK WHEN YOU CAN SEE THE MOVIE?
Let’s face it, with a full time job and a Netflix account, nobody has time to read a book. As usual, Hollywood’s got our backs and turned these bestsellers into films. So now just lie and tell people you’ve read them.
FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM(November 17)
While JK Rowling says she’s never writing another Harry Potter book, she threw fans a bone with this “textbook” about the magical creatures in the Harry Potter universe. In the flick, we find ourselves in the wizarding world again, but this time in 1920s America. Eddie Redmayne stars as Newt Scamander, a visiting British wizard, who runs into some, assumedly, fantastic beasts. Die hard fans will be pleased to know David Yates, who directed the last four HP movies, is behind the camera again. It’s not quite Harry Potter but there’s magic and a British boy so it’s kind of the same.
THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN (TBC)
Paula Hawkins’ vaguely titled book The Girl on the Train was the big novel of 2015, topping The New York Times’ bestseller list. So it comes as no surprise it’s hitting the big screen. Everyone’s favourite red-headed Brit Emily Blunt plays the girl. No word yet on who has been cast as the train.
Chances are, I’ve forgotten to mention the one movie you’re looking forward to. You can tell (pester) me on Twitter @hellojamesweir
Originally published as The most anticipated movies you’ll be watching in 2016
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