Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful time enjoying the revelry. Since the calendar has turned to 2016, it is time for my annual post about the most anticipated films of the year. As usual, this was a crazy difficult list to narrow down (you can see all the titles that were seriously considered on page 2) and even tougher to rank. Putting together this list also requires searching and a bit of faith, who knows if all the movies will come out. In terms of my most anticipated films of 2016, there was really only one film that was gonna get the number one spot. However, after researching, this year has the chance to be a really diverse and wonderful film year. Well enough talking, here’s my top 25 most anticipated films of 2016.

25. War Machine
Dir. David Michôd
Starring: Brad Pitt, Will Poulter, Emory Cohen, Alan Rickman, Topher Grace, Scoot McNairy, Keith Stanfield
Synopsis: A satire of America’s war with Afghanistan with a focus on the people running the campaign.
Reason: the last time Brad was in a war film he was quite good + Netflix is killing the game + can they do a decent war comedy?

24. Passengers
Dir. Morten Tyldum
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Pratt, Michael Sheen, Laurence Fishburne
Synopsis: A spacecraft travelling to a distant colony planet and transporting thousands of people has a malfunction in one of its sleep chambers. As a result, a single passenger is awakened 60 years early. Faced with the prospect of growing old and dying alone, he eventually decides to wake up a second passenger.
Reason: can the $30 million duo of Pratt and Lawrence deliver on that cost + what was all the fuss about during the Sony hack + I’m always here for new scifi

23. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
Dir. Tim Burton
Starring: Eva Green, Samuel L. Jackson, Ella Purnell
Synopsis: Teenager Jacob follows clues that take him to a mysterious island, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s School for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores the abandoned bedrooms and hallways, he discovers that its former occupants were far more than peculiar; they possessed incredible powers. And they may still be alive.
Reason: Eva Mother Fucking Green + this seems to be a story right up Tim Burton’s alley

22. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Dir. Burr Steers
Starring: Lena Headey, Lily James, Matt Smith, Jack Huston, Douglas Booth, Bella Heathcote
Synopsis: Jane Austen’s classic tale of the tangled relationships between lovers from different social classes in 19th century England is faced with a new challenge — an army of undead zombies.
Reason: My love for Pride & Prejudice knows no bounds + if you’re gonna remake it, why not try zombies

92b912f1-ee07-4a3a-8293-ec4aeff7e9ee-bestSizeAvailable21. A Bigger Splash
Dir. Luca Guadagnino
Starring: Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton, Ralph Fiennes, Mattias Schoenarts
Synopsis: The vacation of a famous rock star and a filmmaker is disrupted by the unexpected visit of an old friend and his daughter.
Reason: the cast is to die for + I love a good sudsy vacation drama + why the delay?

20. The BFG
Dir. Steven Spielberg
Starring: Mark Rylance, Rebecca Hall, Bill Hader, Ruby Barnhill
Synopsis: A girl named Sophie encounters the Big Friendly Giant who, despite his intimidating appearance, turns out to be a kindhearted soul who is considered an outcast by the other giants because unlike his peers refuses to eat boys and girls.
Reason: ET reunion! (RIP Melissa Mathison) + Spielberg still great at childlike wonder + Rylance is an acting wizard

19. The Girl on the Train
Dir. Tate Taylor
Starring: Rebecca Ferguson, Justin Theroux, Emily Blunt, Luke Evans, Edgar Ramirez, Alison Janney, Lisa Kudrow
Synopsis: The Girl On The Train follows the story of a woman named Rachel, who goes on a train to London. She witnesses the “perfect” couple. Scott and Megan. But one day, havoc ensues this couple, and Rachel becomes involved in their drama/ murder mystery of Megan Hipwell.
Reason: The cast is amazing + YAS to drama/murder mystery + Tate Taylor doesn’t seem like the guy you’d normally think in thriller mode

18. Deepwater Horizon
Dir. Peter Berg
Starring: Dylan O’Brien, Mark Wahlberg, Kurt Russell, Gina Rodriguez, Kate Hudson, John Malkovich
Synopsis: A story set on the offshore drilling rig Deepwater Horizon, which exploded during April 2010 and created the worst oil spill in U.S. history.
Reason: Dylan and Gina tryna break free of the TV shackles + Berg has been on a decent film roll + topical, but will it be preachy?

17. X-Men Apocalypse
Dir. Bryan Singer
Starring: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar Isaac, Olivia Munn, Nicholas Hoult, Evan Peters, Sophie Turner, Tye Sheridan
Synopsis: With the emergence of the world’s first mutant, Apocalypse, the X-Men must unite to defeat his extinction level plan.
Reason: Oscar Issac is an interesting villain casting choice + I’m here for young x-men stories (so long as they’re good) + jennifer lawrence’s final appearance (thank god) + what kind of world will they end with?

16. Star Trek Beyond
Dir. Justin Lin
Starring: Chris Pine, Idris Elba, Sofia Boutella, Zoe Saldana, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, John Cho
Synopsis: Unknown
Reason: Residual love from the 2009 reboot + Justin Lin should bring some interesting energy + Idris!

Official-Disney-Concept-Art215. Moana
Dir. Ron Clemments, John Musker
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Alan Tudyk, Auli’i Cravalho
Synopsis: A young woman uses her navigational talents to set sail for a fabled island. Joining her on the adventure is her hero, the legendary demi-god Maui.
Reason: The directors are phenomenal (Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, The Princess and The Frog) + I’m here for diverse Disney Princesses + can’t wait to hear Dwayne sing

14. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Dir. David Yates
Starring: Ezra Miller, Eddie Redmayne, Colin Farrell, Katherine Waterston, Carmen Ejogo, Jon Voight, Samantha Morton
Synopsis: The adventures of writer Newt Scamander in New York’s secret community of witches and wizards seventy years before Harry Potter reads his book in school.
Reason: Eternal love for Harry Potter + Redmayne is always fun to watch + intrigue about what the story will be

13. Bourne 5
Dir. Paul Greengrass
Starring: Alicia Vikander, Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Tommy Lee Jones, Vincent Cassel
Synopsis: Unknown
Reason: Bringing back the team responsible for the good Bourne movies + a really sharp script + how does Bourne function 8 years later

12. The Conjuring 2: The Enfield Poltergiest
Dir. James Wan
Starring: Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Frances O’Connor, Sterling Jerins
Synopsis: The Warrens travel to England to investigate paranormal activity at a council house in the London Borough of Enfield.
Reason: the first film was EVERYTHING + how will James Wan scare us next + Wilson and Farmiga are back

11. Everybody Wants Some
Dir. Richard Linklater
Starring: Zoey Deutch, Glen Powell, Tyler Hoechlin, Ryan Guzman, Blake Jenner, Will Brittan
Synopsis: A group of college baseball players navigate their way through the freedoms and responsibilities of unsupervised adulthood.
Reason: Linklater has made some amazing films + what does a spiritiual sequel to Dazed and Confused look like + baseball movie! + Powell and Hoechlin can shine

10. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Dir. Zack Snyder
Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot, Jesse Eisenberg, Jason Momoa, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter
Synopsis: Fearing the actions of a god-like Super Hero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’ most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before.
Reason: Though I want to, I can’t quit DC + Superman is my favorite hero + will it be a trainwreck?

bobtherock9. Central Intelligence
Dir. Rawson Marshall Thurber
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Aaron Paul, Amy Ryan, Brett Azar
Synopsis: After he reunites with an old pal through Facebook, a mild-mannered accountant is lured into the world of international espionage.
Reason: the script was hilarious + the Rock can do no wrong in my eyes + the film to finally make me come around to Kevin Hart?

8. The Strangers 2
Dir. Marcel Langenegger
Starring: Unknown
Synopsis: The plot follows a family of four who have been evicted from their home due to the economy, and are paid a visit by the same three strangers from the first film.
Reason: it’s been ~84 years since the original + does this franchise still have life?

7. Suicide Squad
Dir. David Ayer
Starring: Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Will Smith, Jai Courtney, Viola Davis, Scott Eastwood, Jay Hernandez, Karen Fukuhara, Cara Delevingne
Synopsis: A secret government agency recruits imprisoned supervillains to execute dangerous black ops missions in exchange for clemency.
Reason: How does a film full of villains work + nice change of pace for Will Smith, DC, and WB + Ayer is a wonderful director

6. Kubo and the Two Strings
Dir. Travis Knight
Starring: Rooney Mara, Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey, Ralph Fiennes, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, George Takei
Synopsis: Kubo lives a quiet, normal life in a small shoreside village until a spirit from the past turns his life upside down by re-igniting an age-old vendetta. This causes all sorts of havoc as gods and monsters chase Kubo who, in order to survive, must locate a magical suit of armor once worn by his late father, a legendary Samurai warrior.
Reason: Laika has yet to make a bad film + the animation is GORGEOUS + Travis Knight goes from Lead Animator (and CEO) to Director (and CEO)

5. The Birth of a Nation
Dir. Nate Parker
Starring: Nate Parker, Armie Hammer, Gabrielle Union, Jackie Earle Haley, Aunjanue Ellis, Aja Naomi King
Synopsis: Nat Turner, a former slave in America, leads a liberation movement in 1831 to free African-Americans in Virgina that results in a violent retaliation from whites.
Reason: Bout time a black person got to make a slave rebellion picture + Nate Parker is one of the most underrated actors working today + the reclamation of the title is a bold move

4. Midnight Special
Dir. Jeff Nichols
Starring: Michael Shannon, Adam Driver, Kirsten Dunst, Joel Edgerton, Jaeden Lieberher, Sam Shepard
Synopsis: A father and son go on the run after the dad learns his child possesses special powers.
Reason: Low key scifi has been winning lately + Jeff Nichols is a talented guy + the cast is wonderful + Michael Shannon in soulful mode?

3. Hail, Ceasar!
Dir. The Coen Bros.
Starring: Josh Brolin, George Clooney,Jonah Hill, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Channing Tatum, Ralph Fiennes
Synopsis: Eddie Mannix, a “fixer” working in the Hollywood film industry in the 1950s, tries to discover what happened to a cast member who vanishes during filming.
Reason: All those stars <3 + Coens back in comedy land + old Hollywood setting + musical numbers (my dance theory is still unimpeachable)

2. The Witch
Dir. Robert Eggers
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie
Synopsis: A family in 1630s New England is torn apart by the forces of witchcraft, black magic and possession.
Reason: Bitch did you see that trailer?! (I literally can’t watch it the whole way through cause of that goat at the end) + Sundance has been a good breeding ground for horror + why’d we have to wait so long?

1. Captain America Civil War
Dir. The Russo Brothers
Starring: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Chadwick Boseman, Emily VanCamp, Daniel Brühl, Frank Grillo, William Hurt, and Martin Freeman
Synopsis: “Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War finds Steve Rogers leading the newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps—one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark’s surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability.”
Reason: Stucky! + Cap on the wrong? side of the law + the captain america films have been the best in the MCU + Black Panther!