100 Most Anticipated Movies of 2017 Part 1 (100-51)

100) Song to Song

Director: Terrence Malick (The Thin Red Line, The Tree of Life)  Cast: Ryan Gosling, Rooney Mara, Cate Blanchett, Trevante Rhodes, Michael Fassbender, Christian Bale, Haley Bennett, Natalie Portman, Boyd Holbrook, Val Kilmer, Callie Hernandez, Tom Sturridge, Clifton Collins Jr., Benicio Del Toro, and Holly Hunter.

• First off, what a cast! But then again, renowned director Terrence Malick has never had an issue recruiting top-notch actors for his films. But you're probably wondering how a film with such a prestigious host of talent made it all the way back to number 100. Well, if you're familiar with Malick's work, you're already aware that the director hasn't put out anything substantial in years, and that goes double time if you're one of the fifty percent that didn't dig The Tree of Life (I personally found it fascinating, but I can also see why so many found it frustrating.)  In fact, The Tree of Life is actually the primary reason it's been so difficult to connect with Malick's more recent work. His last three films were both stylistically and thematically VERY similar to Tree of Life, and you just wish that he would change it up and try something different for a change (sort of like how Tim Burton has gotten to be very repetitive and too familiar.) If Song to Song can finally see the director leaving his Tree of Life phase, we might just get something worth watching. The story centers on two intersecting love triangles set against a music festival in Austin, Texas.

Release: March 17th

99) John Wick: Chapter 2

Director: Chad Stehelski (John Wick)  Cast: Keanu Reeves, Bridget Moynahan, Ruby Rose, Peter Stormare, David Patrick Kelly,Thomas Sadoski, Lance Reddick, Common, Ian McShane, John Leguizamo, and Laurence Fishburne.

• John Wick was one of the best surprises of 2014; a stylish, adrenaline-fueled action flick that had us begging for more by the end of its brisk 101 minute running time. That's why I'm stoked for a second outing with the title character, even though I try to avoid sequels like the plague. Despite the fact that the first John Wick's second director (David Leitch) decided not to return for the follow-up so he could instead work on The Coldest City with Charlize Theron, I'm more then confident that Stahelski can manage to helm Chapter 2 on his own. John Wick's story resumes with him returning to the criminal underworld to repay a debt, only to discover that a large bounty has been placed on his life.

Release: February 10th 

98) King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

Director: Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes)  Cast: Charlie Hunnam, Jude Law, Eric Bana, Djimon Hounsou, Kamil Lemieszewski, Astrid Berges-Frisbey, Katie McGrath, Annabelle Wallis, and Aidan Gillen.

• Ritchie has already proven himself adept at bringing to life classic characters of English literature with Sherlock Holmes (though I'll admit the sequel was completely unnecessary.)  King Arthur should be a perfect fit for the director and will probably go down as an action-packed popcorn epic. Getting bumped from its earlier March release to the midst of May is another good sign and could be proof of the movie's blockbuster potential. The fact that it's a King Arthur story should be pretty indicative of where the plot will go, so I'll leave it at that.

Release: May 12th 

97) The Book of Henry

Director: Colin Trevorrow (Safety Not Guaranteed)  Cast: Naomi Watts, Jacob Tremblay, Jaeden Lieberher, Lee Pace, and Sarah Silverman.

• Colin Trevorrow made a departure from the indie film scene in 2015 to blockbuster success with Jurassic World. But since that was quite disappointing for me, I'm glad to see the director going back to his roots with this low-brow indie about a child genius. One thing is for sure, he certainly scored quite the package with his two main child stars, Tremblay and Lieberher, who have each made strong showcases for themselves; Tremblay in Room (which almost, and should have scored him an Oscar nom) and Lieberher in Midnight Special. The rest of the cast isn't too shabby either.

Release: June 16th 

96) The Mummy

Director: Alex Kurtzman (People Like Us)  Cast: Tom Cruise, Sofia Boutella, Annabelle Wallis, Jake Johnson, Courtney B. Vance, and Russell Crowe.

• Alex Kurtzman may not be a director you're familiar with, and he shouldn't be since this is only his second feature length film. But even if you haven't seen People Like Us, you've definitely seen his work before. Before delving into directing, Kurtzman had served as a writer/producer for a variety of big-budget projects, from hit series like Alias to blockbusters such as Transformers and Star Trek. While I'm a bit disappointed that this Mummy remake won't go the route of a horror movie, I'm confident that Kurtzman will deliver a solid popcorn epic, as well as another super-charged action vehicle for Cruise.

Release: June 9th

95) Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

Directors: Joachim Ronning & Espen Sandberg (Kon Tiki)  Cast: Johnny Depp, Javier Bardem, Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush, Brenton Thwaites, Kaya Scodelario, Stephen Graham, Golshifteh Farahani, David Wenham, Kevin McNally, and Paul McCartney.

• I know the POTC franchise must feel washed up by now (we are going on movie number five after all), but this could end up being one of those surprises we didn't see coming. The studio is apparently very pleased with what they've got to offer, and directors Ronning and Sandberg have already shown their skills at directing swashbuckling, high seas adventure with Kon Tiki. Add in Javier Bardem as the film's new villain, and you have me sold.

Release: May 26th

94) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Director: James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy)  Cast: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, David Bautista, Karen Gillan, Michael Rooker, Kurt Russell, Elizabeth Debicki, Nathan Fillion, Chris Sullivan, Tommy Flanagan, Pom Klementieff, Sylvester Stallone, Glenn Close, and the voice talents of Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel.

• Say what you will about the first Guardians of the Galaxy (I personally found it enjoyable, but overpraised), but one thing you can't argue is: it was a hit! The film holds a 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a worldwide box office of $773.3 million, making it one of Marvel's strongest outings. With that said, my expectation will be much higher for this sequel, and I hope the issues I had with the first installment (lack of character development, banal goofiness) will be resolved this time around, because I won't get hooked on the same old feeling.

Release: May 5th

93) Bright

Director: David Ayer (End of Watch, Fury)  Cast: Will Smith, Joel Edgerton, Noomi Rapace, and Edgar Ramirez.

• I think most of us can agree that Suicide Squad was one of the worst disappointments of 2016. However, I'm not ready to place the entirety of that blame on Ayer himself. After rewrites and reshoots, its safe to assume that studio interference was the bullet to the head that left Suicide Squad dead in the dust. But that's a whole different conversation entirely. Ayer has the chance to make it up and prove he can deliver a gritty sci-fi/fantasy crime thriller (which is what Suicide Squad should have been) with his next project, Bright. Directed from a script by Max Landis (Chronicle) that was acquired by Netflix for a whopping $3.5 million, the story is said to take place in a sci-fi setting, but filled with fantasy elements (like magic and orcs.) While the plot itself is kept under tight wraps, Landis has described the story as his personal take on Star Wars. Interesting. Its definitely ambitious to say the least, and there's a good chance (as there is with most movies of this sort) that it could fall flat on its face. However, Netflix is not Warner Bros. and with a production budget of $90 million accompanied by some A-list talent, this just might be one of the most sensational offerings the studio has delivered yet.

Release: TBA

 

92) Power Rangers

Director: Dean Israelite (Project Almanac)  Cast: Dacre Montgomery, Naomi Scott, RJ Cyler, Becky G., Ludi Lin, Elizabeth Banks, Bryan Cranston, and the voice talent of Bill Hader.

• Sure, most of us who grew up in the 90s have fond memories of watching the Power Rangers fight evil while we sat in front of our televisions eating Eggo Waffles and reveling in wide-eyed amazement. But nostalgia aside, I have to admit I was not keen on the idea of Lionsgate revisiting this universe when it was first announced a few years back. But after an interesting first trailer that gave off vibes of Chronicle tossed with a dash of Speilberg, I changed my tone. I really hope this proves to be something cool and fun and that I don't regret placing it on this list, because that would be really something if they managed to turn this into a substantial piece of entertainment and reinvigorate a pop culture phenomena, while introducing it to a new generation of movie-goers that aren't familiar. Plus, I think most us can agree that we're looking forward to Elizabeth Banks tearing the scene up as villain Rita Repulsa. Amirite!

Release: March 24th

91) It

Director: Andres Muschietti (Mama)  Cast: Bill Skarsgard, Finn Wolfhard, Nicholas Hamilton, Jaeden Lieberher, Megan Charpentier, Owen Teague, Sophia Lillis, Wyatt Oleff, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Jack Grazer, Chosen Jacobs, Logan Thompson, Jake Sim, and Jackson Robert Scott.

• First off, I will forever be disappointed and bitter that Lionsgate didn't stick with director Cary Fukanaga and go along with his vision for this film. The studio parted ways with the acclaimed director when he expressed interest in doing a VERY dark take on an already dark story, and for also wanting to split the movie into two parts (which they believed was too long and unnecessary.) Hey, their loss though. However, moving forward I hope Andres Muschietti has managed to put together something good, even if the possibility of what could have been hangs over the final product. Mama was a solid horror flick and the film boasts some recognizable faces among the child stars, most notably Finn Wolfhard from Stranger Things, and at the end of the day this is still a movie based on one of Stephen King's best novels, so I will be going in with an open mind. It can't be any worse then the TV mini-series from 1990.

Release: September 8th

90) Kong: Skull Island

Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts (The Kings of Summer)  Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, Toby Kebbell, Thomas Mann, Jason Mitchell, Corey Hawkins, Tian Jing, and John C. Reilly.

• Lets be honest, the world was not exactly crying out for another King Kong movie. But wringing every cent out of old, reusable material is how these corporate studios make most of their profits, so we're getting a King Kong movie whether we like it or not. However, there is a silver lining here, actually two to be more specific, aside from the A-list cast. The first comes in the form Jordan Vogt-Roberts, who made a splash on the indie film scene back in 2013 with the wonderfully endearing, The Kings of Summer. He's kept quite these past few years, so I find it interesting that he chose this project as his follow-up. But perhaps its not that surprising, which brings me to the second silver lining: Dan Gilroy as one of the two main writing credits. Dan Gilroy has been a notable writer on the film scene for years, but he finally made BIG waves in 2014 with his directorial debut, Nightcrawler (which he also wrote himself as well.) Nightcrawler was one of my favorite films of 2014, so Gilroy's writing credit in the script is very promising, and seals the deal for this package.

Release: March 10th

89) The Dark Tower

Director: Nikolaj Arcel (A Royal Affair)  Cast: Idris Elba, Matthew McConaughey, Jackie Earle Haley, Abbey Lee, Katheryn Winnick, Claudia Kim, Nicholas Hamilton, Fran Kranz, Alex McGregor, Jose Zuniga, Michael Barbieri, and Tom Taylor.

• The Dark Tower, the acclaimed best-seller by Stephen King, has been in development hell for years, so its a wonder that the cameras ever got rolling. But what's even crazier is the choice of director Nikolaj Arcel. The Danish filmmaker isn't exactly the same caliber of director as someone you would expect to be attached to this project (like Speilberg or Cuaron.) But Arcel got on peoples radar's back in 2013 with A Royal Affair, which went on to get nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. Still, seeing as how that's the only substantial title he has to his name, I remain a bit baffled. One thing is certain, the task of bringing King's popular work to life was always going to be ambitious. But I love the casting of Elba and McConaughey, and the fact that it was bumped from its underwhelming release in February to the middle of summer is promising, so lets hope it delivers on that promise.  

Release: July 28th

88) Wonder Woman

Director: Patty Jenkins (Monster)  Cast: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Connie Nielsen, Elena Anaya, Lucy Davis, Florence Kasumba, Eleanor Matsuura, Davis Thewlis, Lisa Loven Kongsli, and Danny Huston.

• It certainly took long enough, but DC's Amazonian warrior, and one of the greatest female icons ever written, is FINALLY getting her own movie. The real question (and challenge) though: is the time right? No, my concern is definitely NOT whether audiences will flock to the theater to see a female-lead superhero movie. That couldn't be what we need more at this time. My concern is actually that we're finally getting this female-lead superhero movie in an era when there are already so many superhero flicks that populate the cinemas, and there has been a great deal of griping from audiences (including myself) of suffering from a case of superhero fatigue. On top of all that, DC's recent stream of hero flicks haven't performed to the expectation most thought they would. With that said, I would really like them to at least get this right, since it certainly deserves to succeed. The trailers look very promising, and Jenkins is definitely a well-regarded director, so my fingers are crossed BIG time for this one.

Release: June 2nd 

87) Logan

Director: James Mangold (The Wolverine, 3:10 to Yuma)  Cast: Hugh Jackman, Dafne Keen, Boyd Holbrook, Stephen Merchant, Richard E. Grant, Elizabeth Rodriguez, and Patrick Stewart.

• Speaking of superhero fatigue..Hugh Jackman makes his NINTH appearance as the popular Marvel super-mutant Wolverine in the upcoming, Logan. But there's more then a few things about this X-Men spin-off that make it feel like it could be something entirely different and unique. For starters, the trailers give the vibe of a film that doesn't feel cut from the same cloth as previous X-Men installments. Director James Mangold, whose Wolverine stand-alone was miles ahead of Gavin Hood's dreadful X-Men Origins: Wolverine, seems to have taken everything good from the last film (grittier action and drama, character depth) and infused it with the elements of a western/folktale. This is a perfect fit for a director that's delivered such pictures as 3:10 to Yuma and Walk the Line. On the other hand, Fox seems to have learned from their success with Deadpool that there's a huge audience for R-rated superhero movies aimed at adults. Which is very likely the reason they gave Mangold more free range with this installment (that's right, Logan has also got a good, solid R-rating to go with its unique vibe.) All of these things are very promising, but Fox put the final touch to top it all off by getting Logan a coveted spot in the lineup of the Berlin Film Festival! Yes, things are looking very promising, indeed.

Release: March 3rd

86) Gifted

Director: Marc Webb ((500) Days of Summer)  Cast: Chris Evans, Mckenna Grace, Jenny Slate, Octavia Spencer, Lindsay Duncan, Julie Ann Emery, Keir O'Donnell, John Finn, and John M. Jackson.

• The Book of Henry isn't the only film about a child genius hitting theaters this year. A few months before that, we get Gifted. And just as Book of Henry is a welcome return to form for Colin Trevorrow, so also is Gifted for director Marc Webb. Like Trevorrow, Webb was also snatched up by a large studio to helm a big-budget franchise. Sadly, despite the director's signature emotional touches and best attempts to juggle the demands of a major studio property, he was unable to help make Sony's revival of Spider-Man the success story they hoped it would be. But all of that is in the past now, and it looks like Webb is going back to doing what he does best, working with human beings instead of visual effects and action set pieces. This is good news, because (500) Days of Summer was so perfect, and the only real reason I've kept Webb on my radar was out of hope that he might deliver another film as good as his first. If this is the project to do that, then that would be a wonderful gift indeed. 

Release: April 7th

85) Life

Director: Daniel Espinosa (Safe House)  Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds, Rebecca Ferguson, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Ariyon Bakare.

• An international space crew discovers life on Mars, and shit goes down. Sure, we've been down this road a hundred times before. But somehow there's always something about this territory that draws us back again. While its still too early to tell if Espinosa, along with writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (Deadpool), will bring anything new or original to this familiar story, an interesting trailer and a cast led by the always great Jake Gyllenhaal certainly make it worth holding out hope for. There may still be life in this genre yet.

Release: March 24th

84) Dark River

Director: Clio Barnard (The Selfish Giant)  Cast: Ruth Wilson, Sean Bean, Mark Stanley, and Shane Attwooll.

• Unless you watch a lot of indie films, you probably never saw Barnard's last film, The Selfish Giant. Sadly, that's your loss. Its an extremely well-made story presented with raw authenticity and poignancy, and if you have 91 minutes to kill, then I highly recommend it! That was almost four years ago, and since then Barnard has been pretty quiet on the film front. But it looks like she's back this year with another interesting premise and an even better cast then her last film. The wonderful Ruth Wilson will star as Alice, a woman who returns to her home village after a 15-year absence following the death of her father. But her attempts to claim the tenancy of her family farm get..ugly. Dark River is labeled as a mystery/thriller, so expect plenty of twists and suspense, but also Barnard's reputation for balancing tragedy with honesty and compassionate storytelling.

Release: TBA

  

83) Loveless

Director: Andrey Zvyagintsev (Leviathan)  Cast: Unknown

• Andrey Zvyagintsev has an incredible gift for delivering high stakes family drama with creativity and heart-rending emotion. His 2014 film Leviathan (which was nominated for an Oscar) is proof of that. So I'm excited to see that the Russian filmmaker is back this year with another film of the same mold. The story centers on a couple going through a divorce who must work together to find their son, who goes missing during one of their bitter arguments. The cast is currently unknown, but that's irrelevant since most of the actors the director works with are in fact foreign unknowns. Cameras began rolling last summer, so I imagine the film will be finished in time for Cannes (which would make sense, seeing as how Leviathan also had its debut there.) 

Release: TBA

82) Last Flag Flying

Director: Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused, Boyhood)  Cast: Bryan Cranston, Steve Carell, Laurence Fishburne, Yul Vazquez, and J. Quinton Johnson. 

• The only thing we know about Richard Linklater's latest is that it's supposedly a spiritual sequel to Hal Ashby's 1973 film, The Last Detail. Given that it's Linklater, that's certainly enough for me, and the fact he's working from a script he wrote is only icing on the cake. It was only a few years ago that the notorious director decided to do a "spiritual sequel" to his own film, Dazed and Confused, which resulted in last year's delightfully warm and funny, Everybody Wants Some!!. He certainly has a trio of incredible stars to work with this time, and Linklater's wonderfully brilliant writing always shines through everything he does.

Release: TBA

81) Red Sparrow

Director: Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire)  Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Edgerton, Joely Richardson, Matthias Schoenaerts, and Jeremy Irons.

• JLaw has re-teamed with her Hunger Games director, and it looks like the two will be bringing to life another best-seller with a strong female character at its center. Based on a novel by Jason Matthews, the story follows a sexy Russian spy who falls for a CIA officer and considers becoming a double agent. Both Lawrences did great work together on Catching Fire, so hopefully this gives them an opportunity to recapture that lightning in a bottle in service of an edgier, more adult story. The rest of the cast is filled out with some more A-list talent as well, and Matthews' novel recieved quite a deal of great buzz, so this could definitely turn out to be something exciting.

Release: November 10th

80) Pilgrimage

Director: Brendan Muldowney  Cast: Tom Holland, Richard Armitage, Jon Bernthal, John Lynch, Stanley Weber, Eric Godon, and Hugh O'Coner.

• Every now and then, a story just grabs you and there isn't really any other incentive to see it because you're already sold. So even though I'm not familiar with director Brendan Muldowney, who's credits mainly include a series of shorts, I'm intrigued enough with the premise of his latest film to place it on my list. Set in 13th century Ireland, the story follows a group of monks who must escort a sacred relic across a perilous landscape with danger at every turn. Lead actor Tom Holland became a household name last year for his portrayal of Spider-Man in Captain American: Civil War, a role he'll reprise later this summer in the upcoming, Spider-Man: Homecoming, so I'm excited to be seeing more of him. Armitage and Bernthal are strong players here as well, so this quest is definitely a go.

Release: TBA

79) Submergence

Director: Wim Wenders (Paris, Texas, Wings of Desire)  Cast: James McAvoy, Alicia Vikander, Charlotte Rampling, Alex Hafner, Celyn Jones, Harvey Friedman, Audrey Quoturi, and Alexander Siddig.

• Separated by thousands of miles, two people who once shared an intense and endearing romance reminisce on a previous Christmas they spent together as the confines of their current situations close in around them. For James (McAvoy), its a windowless room on the coast of Africa where he's being held captive by jihadists fighters, while for Danielle (Vikander), its a submersible descending to the ocean floor of the Greenland Sea. The premise of Wim Wenders latest, which is based on an acclaimed novel by J.M. Ledgard, sounds both fascinating and emotionally complex. But while the acclaimed director has delivered a couple of riveting and masterful documentaries in the more recent past, its been years since he's done a compelling drama that's worthy of considerable merit. On the other hand, McAvoy and Vikander are two of the most sensational actors on the planet, so hopefully this is an indication of the director making a welcomed comeback.

Release: TBA

78) Zoe

Director: Drake Doremus (Like Crazy, Equals)  Cast: Ewan McGregor and Lea Seydoux

• While filming won't begin until April, I'm confident that Drake Doremus will be able to finish his latest project before the end of the year. Perhaps that's wishful thinking on my part, but the acclaimed director is usually relatively quick wrapping up his films, and he's a fascinating filmmaker who's worth watching for. Building on his reputation of exploring the intricacies of relationships, he's back with another engaging concept. Like his last film, Equals, the story is another blend of romance and cerebral sci-fi. McGregor and Seydoux will star as two colleagues who work at a revolutionary tech lab, where they research and develop new methods of perfecting romantic relationships. As the their work progresses, their discoveries become more profound. Equals was a bit dry and vapid, but thought-provoking nonetheless. Hopefully this succeeds in the areas where that film came up short.

Release: TBA 

77) The Florida Project

Director: Sean Baker (Tangerine)  Cast: Willem Dafoe, Brooklynn Prince, Valeria Cotto, Bria Vinaite, Caleb Landry Jones, Macon Blair, Karren Karagulian, and Sandy Kane. 

• Perhaps you recall from a few years back a hilarious and unexpectedly touching romp by the name of Tangerine, which followed the life in a day of a transgender named, Sin-Dee, who travels across LA looking for the pimp that broke her heart. If you haven't and have a Netflix account, it's only a few clicks away and definitely worth your time. One of the most incredible things about the movie, aside from its daring and groundbreaking concept, was the fact that it was entirely shot on an iPhone 5s to absolutely stunning effect. It restored our faith in independent filmmaking and put Sean Baker on the map of directors to watch for. Like his last film, he's back with another wildly imaginative premise, this time following a precocious 6-year old girl and her group of friends as they embark on a series of escapades over their summer break, and while that may not sound quite as sensational as Tangerine, I wouldn't underestimate what Sean Baker has in store. 

Release: TBA

76) Journeyman

Director: Paddy Considine (Tyrannosaur)  Cast: Paddy Considine, Jodie Whittaker, Paul Popplewell, Tony Pits, and Anthony Welsh.

• Before trying his hand at directing, Paddy Considine had made a considerable impression as an actor, mainly in a string of strong supporting roles (although he also delivered a pretty extraordinary lead turn in Jim Sheridan's, In America.) Thankfully, he had other talents to share as well, and his debut feature Tyrannosaur was the type of blisteringly tragic and emotionally raw character study that puts filmmakers on the map. It looks like he'll be keeping that grit in his next story, which chronicles the struggle of a boxer who suffers a serious head injury during a fight, and the profound impact it has on his life and family. Throughout his career, the actor has shown his capacity to shoulder more complex roles, if only given the opportunity. But perhaps directing himself in his own lead turn could be the ticket to being taken more seriously.

Release: TBA

75) Wilson

Director: Craig Johnson (The Skeleton Twins)  Cast: Woody Harrelson, Laura Dern, Isabella Amara, Judy Greer, Cheryl Hines, Margo Martindale, David Warshofsky, Brett Gelman, Mary Lynn Rajskub, and Lauren Weedman.

• Woody Harrelson has proven to be one of the most versatile actors working day, delivering a slew of compelling dramatic turns, as well as a small number comedic standouts. Enter Craig Johnson, whose Sundance winner The Skeleton Twins was an impressive sophomore feature that struck a brilliant balance between sharp, observant humor and heartbreaking drama. That movie went on to be a huge indie hit, and well as a showcase for one of Kristen Wiig's best performances to date, so the expectations are high for Johnson's third feature. Not to worry though. The combination of Harrelson and Johnson should produce winning results, and the rest of the ensemble is filled out rather nicely too. The story centers on Wilson (Harrelson), a lonely, neurotic man who's both painfully and hilariously honest. His life takes an interesting turn when he reunites with his estranged wife and meets his teenage daughter for the first time. Sounds right up the director's alley!

Release: March 24th

74) It Comes At Night

Director: Trey Edward Shults (Krisha)  Cast: Joel Edgerton, Riley Keough, Christopher Abbott, Carmen Ejogo, and Kelvin Harrison Jr.

• One of the most fascinatingly obtuse films to come out last year was a little indie by the name of Krisha, a pitch-black comedy about a family reunion that turns into a tragic nightmare. While definitely not for everyone, it was an ultimately rewarding experience for the adventurous film-goer willing to stick through its 83-minute running time, and announced director Trey Edward Shults as a fresh, new voice to watch for. Well, with not even year gone by after the release of his startling debut, he's back with a horror movie! This is very exciting for a director who's already shown how in touch he is with his dark side, and with indie powerhouse studio A24 in charge of distribution, there is an incredible amount of promise. Joel Edgerton leads an tight, eclectic cast as a father willing to stop at nothing to protect his wife and son from a malevolent presence that lurks right outside their doorstep.

Release: August 25th

73) The Death of Stalin

Director: Armando Iannucci (In the Loop)  Cast: Adrian McLoughlin, Jeffrey Tambor, Steve Buscemi, Olga Kurylenko, Michael Palin, Simon Russell Beale, Paddy Considine, Andrea Riseborough, Rupert Friend, Jason Isaacs, Paul Whitehouse, Jonathan Aris, Justin Edwards, Gerald Lepkowski, Dermot Crowley, Cara Horgan, Daniel Tuite, June Watson, Adam Shaw, and Roger Ashton-Griffiths.

• Armando Iannucci is a comedic genius of political satire. He's mostly known for his contributions as a writer/director for the hit HBO series Veep, and even received Oscar recognition for In the Loop, an indie comedy about operatives in British and American intelligence that try to prevent war between two countries. But it looks as though he'll be shifting his focus in favor of a more dramatic tone. Working from a script that's based on an acclaimed graphic novel by Fabien Nury, the plot follows the final days of Joseph Stalin, and the chaos that ensues following the dictator's death. This should be an interesting change of pace for Iannucci, as the story still contains a strong political context that will bode well with the director's sharp style of writing, despite the comedic tone traded in for a more serious one.

Release: TBA

72) Battle of the Sexes

Directors: Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris (Little Miss Sunshine)  Cast: Emma Stone, Steve Carell, Andrea Riseborough, Sarah Silverman, Natalie Morales, Alan Cumming, Eric Christian Olsen, Martha MacIsaac, Austin Stowell, Jessica McNamee, Mark Harelik, Mickey Sumner, and Elizabeth Shue.

• We all enjoy watching a scumbag get their comeuppance handed to them in the best way, whether its Regina George in Mean Girls getting hit by that school bus and fracturing her spine or Kurt Russell's female-preying lunatic Stunt Man Mike getting the shit beat out of him by the very women he tries to terrorize. It's especially satisfying when the scumbag in question was a real-life figure in history and their justly deserved retribution was televised for the world to see. So goes the plot line of Battle of Sexes, directed by Little Miss Sunshine directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris from a script penned by Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire.) Set in 1973, the story covers the epic tennis match between World number one Billie Jean King and ex-champ Bobby Riggs, who challenged the renowned King after saying women were so inferior in the sport of tennis that he could best the best female player of them all at the retired age of fifty-five. Carell plays the ignorant, sexist Riggs who didn't know when to shut his mouth, and Stone will light up the screen as King, who gave him the ass-beating he deserved. Under the current administration governing America (cough, cough) I think that's the kind of message we only need more of right now.

Release: TBA

71) Euphoria

Director: Lisa Langseth (Pure, Hotel)  Cast: Alicia Vikander, Eva Green, Charles Dance, Charlotte Rampling, Adrian Lester, and Mark Stanley.

• Acclaimed Swedish writer/director Lisa Langseth is the type of small indie filmmaker you keep hoping will make it big soon. You could say that her first film, Pure, was the type of small gem to give current A-lister Alicia Vikander the breakthrough most actors would kill for. Sadly though, Langseth remains relatively unknown here in the states, which is unfortunate because she's a gifted storyteller. Re-teaming with her go-to leading lady Vikander for the third consecutive time now, her newest film Euphoria boasts the strongest cast she's assembled yet. Vikander and co-star Eva Green play conflicting sisters who embark on a journey together through Europe towards a mysterious destination. Seeing as how I'll watch the two of them in ANYTHING, especially if they're both the leads, I will definitely be watching for this.

Release: TBA

70) The Square

Director: Ruben Ostlund (Force Majeure)  Cast: Dominic West, Elizabeth Moss, Claes Bang, Jan Lindwall, Annica Liljeblad, and Terry Notary.

• Speaking of Swedish filmmakers making it big, director Ruben Ostlund received high notices for his last film, Force Majeure, which was sadly (to the astonishment of many) snubbed completely in the 2015 Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film, without even receiving a nomination! But that's ok because Oscar snub aside, those of us who have seen it know how insanely talented the director is, so his follow-up is something we're highly looking forward to. The story, which is written by Ostlund, is drawn from a personal experience he had a few years ago, when a couple used a fake, but shockingly extreme situation as a cover to rob him blind. It centers on a museum manger who hires his PR to build buzz around an exhibition he's using as a symbolic space, which will draw crowds while a public racket takes place. Force Majeure was a brilliant comedy of manners executed with a savage edge and showed us Ostlund's gift for exploring themes of morality with dark comedy (he's like the Swedish counterpart to Irish director Martin McDonagh), so The Square should be tailor-fit material for the director and highlight his strongest attributes.   

Release: TBA

69) Redoutable

Director: Michael Hazanavicius (The Artist)  Cast: Louis Garrel, Stacy Martin, Berenice Bejo, Gregory Gadebois, Micha Lescot, Lola Ingrid Le Roch, Marc Brun Adryan', Eva Chico, Eric Marcel, Jean-Pierre Mocky, and Tanya Lopert. 

• I always find it fascinating when a biopic is made about a figure who's still alive today, and seeing as how the figure in Redoubtable is the visionary and internationally renowned filmmaker, Jean-Luc Godard, I'm even more intrigued. But perhaps Redoubtable isn't a biopic in the traditional sense, seeing as how it only covers a certain event in the subject's life instead of exploring it in its entirety. The script is based on the autobiography of Anne Wiazemsky, who was married to Godard for twelve years, and focuses on how she met and fell in love with the director on the set of his film La chinoise when she was seventeen. Hazanavicius went on to Oscar glory with his 2011 film The Artist, but took a major step backwards in 2014 with his failed remake of The Search. I would love for him to redeem himself with his next movie, and since it follows the mold of The Artist in that it's a love story set within the entertainment industry, there's a very good chance he could succeed. 

Release: TBA

68) The Man With the Iron Heart

Director: Cedric Jimenez (The Connection)  Cast: Jack O'Connell, Jack Reynor, Jason Clarke, Rosamund Pike, Mia Wasikowska, Thomas M. Wright, Enzo Cilenti, Geoff Bell, Noah Jupe, Barry Atsma, Adam Nagaitis, and Volker Bruch. 

• WW2 has been (for a very long time) the backdrop of so many classic films brought to the screen, and there seems to be no sign of that stopping anytime soon. The third feature film from Cedric Jimenez was scheduled to drop last year, and actually made my Most Anticipated list for 2016, but unfortunately never made it (let alone screen at any of the film festivals.) I'm crossing my fingers that the delay had nothing to do with the quality of the picture, because it's an extremely fascinating story. Set in 1942 when The Third Reich was at its peak, the film covers WWII: Anthropoid, the ambitious military operation initiated by Czech resistance in London to assassinate Nazi leader, Reinhard Heydrich: Head of the SS, the Gestapo, and the prime architect of the "Final Solution." The cast is pure gold, and director Jimenez earned my respect with his solid remake of The French Connection, so I'm hoping this makes its premiere soon. Perhaps it will make a surprise debut at the upcoming Berlin Film Festival.

Release: TBA

67) War Machine

Director: David Michod (Animal Kingdom, The Rover)  Cast: Brad Pitt, Lakeith Stanfield, Meg Tilly, Alan Ruck, Griffin Dunne, John Magaro, RJ Cyler, Georgina Rylance, Emory Cohen, Topher Grace, Anthony Michael Hall, Scoot McNairy, Will Poulter, Ben Kingsley, and Tilda Swinton.

• Another movie that made my Most Anticipated list last year (and didn't come out) was David Michod's War Machine. Based on the nonfiction book The Operators by Michael Hastings, the film is a political satire of America's war with Afghanistan, and puts an extra amount of focus on the people running the campaign. It sounds brilliant, like the kind of film Armando Iannucci might have made as a follow up to In the Loop, but apparently the project has been troubled with production woes. Hopefully, whatever issues there were have been or are being resolved, because everything about the project shines with strong potential. Netflix is in charge of distribution and they're usually very good about delivering great quality productions, and Michod has yet to misstep in his career as a director, so my faith remains intact.

Release: TBA

66) Wildlife

Director: Paul Dano  Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Carey Mulligan, Ed Oxenbould, Zoe Margaret Colletti, and Bill Camp. 

• Every year there's at least one actor that decides to try their hand at directing, and the results can range from being an overly ambitious vanity project to signaling the arrival of a singularly gifted storyteller. But even if they end up missing the mark, the projects themselves are usually of a high pedigree and attract a respectable host of talent. This year, the most interesting debut to watch for is probably Paul Dano's adaptation of Richard Ford's novel, Wildlife. Dano penned the screenplay with his Ruby Sparks co-star (and real-life partner) Zoe Kazan, which centers on a young boy as he witnesses his parents' marriage fall apart after his mother finds another man. Kazan (who also wrote the script for Ruby Sparks) should be very capable of helping breathe life into the story, and with Gyllenhaal and Mulligan as the parents, I'm sure there will be a pair of explosive performances to elevate the material to an even higher level.

Release: TBA

65) The Coldest City

Director: David Leitch (John Wick)  Cast: Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, Toby Jones, Eddie Marsan, Sofia Boutella, John Goodman, and Roland Moller. 

• Earlier back on the list, I mentioned how David Leitch didn't return as co-director for John Wick: Chapter 2 because he was working on a different film with Charlize Theron. Leitch decided to strike out on his own, and he may be able to do just fine with that; the director was recently tasked with taking over Deadpool 2, so he must be doing something right. Set in the Cold War, The Coldest City follows an undercover MI6 agent (played by Theron) who is tasked with going to Berlin to investigate the murder of a fellow agent and recover a missing list of double agents. Sold! I'm definitely looking forward to watching Theron kicking ass again for the first time since Mad Max: Fury Road, and Leitch has already proven his capability at conducting tight, explosive action.

Release: August 11th

64) Ismael's Ghosts

Director: Arnaud Desplechin (Kings and Queen, A Christmas Tale)  Cast: Marion Cotillard, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Mathieu Amalric, Louis Garrel, Alba Rohrwacher, Hippolyte Girardot, and Samir Guesmi.

• Arnaud is a fine director, but I gotta be honest: I'm seeing this for the heaven-sent French cast. Cotillard, Gainsbourg, and Amalric are a dream trifecta, and I can't imagine them on board for the same project unless it's something good. The story follows a filmmaker whose life is sent into a tailspin by the return of a former lover just as he is about to embark on the shoot of a new film. Sounds like the kind of delicious stuff that made Vicky Cristina Barcelona and A Bigger Splash so utterly irresistible, which means we should be in store for some dazzling work from the three main stars. Sometimes there's nothing more entertaining then watching the dramatic fireworks of a destructive love triangle.  

Release: TBA

63) The Aftermath

Director: James Kent (Testament of Youth)  Cast: Keira Knightley, Alexander Skarsgard, Jason Clarke, and Alexander Scheer.

• I'm so glad director James Kent made the transition from TV to film with Testament of Youth, because if he hadn't I might have never discovered him. His 2015 film was one of the most wonderful and heartbreaking releases of that year, and it looks like he's returning to the familiar themes of war and its effects that set the same backdrop for his last movie. As he did with Testament of Youth, he's adapting another acclaimed best-seller, except this time the setting is WWII instead of WWI. Knightley and Clarke will star as a British colonel and his wife who are assigned to live in Hamburg during the post-war reconstruction. But tensions arise with the German widower (played by Skarsgard) who comes to live with them. The material is just similar enough while still being completely different from his last work that it should play out perfectly for the director, and his three leading stars are right on the money.

Release: TBA

62) The Dinner

Director: Oren Moverman (The Messenger, Rampart)  Cast: Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Steve Coogan, Rebecca Hall, Chloe Sevigny, Charlie Plummer, Adepero Oduye, Michael Chernus, Taylor Rae Almonte, and Joel Bissonnette.

• Oren Moverman has been a strong up-and-coming director for years now, delivering solid indie dramas with raw, emotional honesty that showcase powerful acting from his stars. But his adaptation of the acclaimed Dutch novel The Dinner, which has sold millions of copies worldwide, might be the ticket that finally takes him to the big leagues. Featuring his starriest cast yet, the story centers on two wealthy couples who meet for dinner to discuss what steps should be taken after their sons commit a horrific act of violence. The novel has been praised as both a complex character study and a disturbingly intense portrait of the effects wealth and privilege have on morality. So if there's one thing you can count on, it's that this dinner will be hard to digest. Bottoms up..

Release: May 5th

61) The Current War

Director: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl)  Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Nicholas Hoult, Tom Holland, Katherine Waterston, Michael Shannon, Matthew Macfadyen, Tuppence Middleton, Conor MacNeill, and Jason Matthewson.

• In 1886, electricity titans Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse began competing with each others' brands to create a sustainable system and market it to the American people; a campaign war and bitter rivalry that would wage for the next five years. It's a fascinating premise, one that I'm surprised has never been explored before in cinematic storytelling. The project has been gestating behind the scenes for quite some time now, shifting between the hands of a few different directors before finally landing indefinitely in the hands of Gomez-Rejon. After the incredible success of Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, which was one of my favorite films from 2015, I'm excited to see the director following it up with such a prestigious project. The cast is absolutely fantastic, and I'm sure The Weinstein Company (who are distributing) will deliver a strong awards campaign to see this is given the spotlight it needs to go all the way.

Release: TBA

60) Coco

Directors: Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3) & Adrian Molina  Voice Cast: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael Garcia Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, and Renee Victor.

• Don't ever underestimate Pixar's reputation for cranking out quality animated storytelling. The animation giants may not make them as consistently as they used to, but films like Inside Out and Finding Dory are proof they've still got it. While 2017 will also see them release another unnecessary sequel in the form of Cars 3, we can be thankful that we at least have an original premise to look forward to from the studio as well. Set in Mexico, Coco follows a twelve-year old boy named Miguel who sets off a chain of events relating to a century-old mystery, culminating in an extraordinary family reunion. If we're going to talk about Pixar sequels that were actually really good and NOT unnecessary, Toy Story 3 definitely ranks up there with the best! With that said, I'm confident in the skills of director Unkrich and very excited about his involvement, as well as very happy to see the studio culturally and ethnically broadening its scope in the stories it chooses to tell.  

Release: November 22nd

59) God Particle

Director: Julius Onah  Cast: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Elizabeth Debicki, Daniel Bruhl, Chris O'Dowd, Ziyi Zang, David Oyelowo, Aksel Hennie, and John Ortiz.

• A couple years back, production of a film from the J.J. Abrams-owned company Bad Robot began under the mysterious codename, Valencia. Rumors abounded around the secret project before it was announced just months before its release that its official title was, 10 Cloverfield Lane. Curiosity only peaked sparking a wave of speculation and debate as to whether the new title from Bad Robot was in any way related to the first Cloverfield movie (a direct sequel or spinoff.) However, while the movie definitely contained monsters wreaking havoc, it was in no way related to the found-footage blockbuster from 2008. Instead, we learned shortly after the film's release that the movie was in fact the second installment in an anthology of "Cloverfield" stories (kinda like The Twilight Zone.) So when it was announced that the production company was working on a project under the name God Particle shortly after 10 Cloverfield Lane was being met with critical acclaim and box office success, the idea that the two may somehow be related seemed like a reasonable notion. Turns out, thanks to some not-so-careful marketing with IMAX, that those assumptions were correct! The movie will indeed be the third installment in Abrams' proposed franchise, and I must say that I am extremely excited that it is. 10 Cloverfield Lane was by no means a perfect film, but it was utterly engaging and exciting from start to finish, and with the incredible cast Abrams and co have stacked up, I'm even more hopeful about the prospects of this film. The new installment will take place aboard a space station, where a team of astronauts must fight for their survival after their reality has been altered following a shocking discovery. Yes sir, I am all on board with this one!  

Release: October 27th

58) Damsel

Director: David Zellner (Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter)  Cast: Robert Pattinson, Mia Wasikowska, and Joseph Billingiere.

• Director David Zellner and his writing collaborator/brother Nathan Zellner can definitely be put in that category of strange, obtuse filmmakers that have made a name for themselves among the indie circuit. However, upon closer inspection, their films are quietly thought-provoking, exploring themes of loneliness and emotional isolation. While I'll admit their craft could use more finesse (Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter is definitely a head-scratcher upon the first viewing) it's evident there is something there. Zellner has an interesting visual eye and there's a lot of texture and complexity in his translation of the material. That's why I'm intrigued by his next feature, which looks as though it will rely heavily on the performances of its two main stars, Pattinson and Wasikowska. This definitely poses no problem (to me) whatsoever, as Pattinson has exhibited incredible depth and poignancy in the roles he's chosen since Twilight (such as The Rover and Childhood of a Leader) and Wasikowska can seriously do no wrong, and I think the two of them will be very attuned to the Zellners' distinctive style. The fact that their new film is a western only adds to the level interest I have, since it's a genre so rarely done these days (and rarely done right at that.) Pattinson will star as a business man who travels West to reunite with his fiancee (played by Wasikowska) in the mountains. The film will supposedly have a subtle comedic undertone with a folk tale-like narrative, and won't go the route of your typical gun-slinging spaghetti western. I'm definitely game, and I hope the Zellners will bring their's too!

Release: TBA

57) Brawl in Cell Block 99

Director: S. Craig Zahler (Bone Tomahawk)  Cast: Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Carpenter, Don Johnson, Marc Blucas, Tom Guiry, Rob Morgan, Udo Kier, Pooja Kumar, Clark Johnson, and Fred Melamed.

• Speaking of westerns, one of the most brutally shocking films to be released in recent memory (possibly ever, for that matter) was a low-budget indie by the name of Bone Tomahawk. The story follows a man who enlists the help of three others to set out from their small town and rescue his wife after she's been abducted by a tribe of cannibalistic Natives in the mountains. The heart-stopping violence comes bloody and swift, and there's one scene that's so jaw-dropping it cannot be erased from memory. But the movie itself also didn't let us forget director Zahler either. He elicited great performances from his cast and shot the story with gritty tension throughout, punctuated with scenes of wry, sharp humor that gave the movie an unexpected balance in tone. That's why I'm excited to see what he'll do with his sophomore feature, which follows a boxer-turned-drug-runner who lands in a prison battleground following a deal that goes bad. The prison ground setting should be the perfect arena for Zahler to exercise his gifts for gritty violence and dark humor, and the idea of a Vince Vaughn comeback (who stars as the film's lead) is definitely an entertaining thought too. Count me in!

Release: TBA

56) Molly's Game

Director: Aaron Sorkin  Cast: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera, Joe Keery, Chris O'Dowd, Brian d'Arcy James, J.C. MacKenzie, Bill Camp, Graham Greene, Jeremy Strong, Claire Rankin, and Michael Kostroff.

• It's not an easy feat being one of the most renowned and esteemed writers of your generation, but that's exactly what Aaron Sorkin is. With one Oscar, two Golden Globes, four Primetime Emmys, and countless other wins and nominations, the acclaimed screenwriter's talent and reputation is irrefutable. Despite having never directed anything, his district voice has been recognized across film and television, from movies such as The Social Network and Steve Jobs to shows like The West Wing and The Newsroom. But it looks as though he'll finally be able check directing off his list of accomplishments this year, as he will be making his debut with the star-studded Molly's Game. Not every writer is successful when transitioning to the director's chair, but I feel that if anyone could do so it would be Sorkin. He's probably picked up plenty of tips and influence from working under heavy-weight directors such as David Fincher and Danny Boyle, and I believe this is something he's been wanting to tackle for some time now. Working from a script he wrote (obviously) that's based on the non-fiction memoir by Molly Bloom, the story follows the real-life account of how Bloom, a former Olympic-hopeful-turned-entrepreneur, became the prime target of an FBI investigation when she established a high-stakes, international poker game. Should be a lot of fun, and the combination of the film's story and cast should provide Sorkin with the kind of mosh pit that allows his piercing, mile-a-minute dialogue to cut loose and go wild. Game, set, match!

Release: TBA

55) Good Time

Director: Ben and Joshua Safdie (Heaven Knows What)  Cast: Robert Pattinson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Barkhad Abdi, Cliff Moylan, Souleymane Sy Savane, Buddy Duress, and Mahadeo Shivraj.

• Emerging directing duo Ben and Joshua Safdie are two of the most interesting up-and-coming voices in cinema working today. Their neon-drenched, 80s synth-infused addiction drama Heaven Knows What was an intoxicating fever dream that revisited the gritty, skin-crawling unpleasantness of Requiem for a Dream with a few different twists thrown in. They're obviously moving up in the world, as their upcoming crime drama features big league names like Pattinson, Leigh, and Captain Phillips breakout Barkhad Abdi, so you can bet I'll be keeping a close eye on their follow-up. Pattinson will star as a bank robber trying to evade capture and the people in hot pursuit of him, which sounds relatively routine, but I'm confident that in the hands of the Safdie bros the story can be given a fresh coat of paint. 

Release: TBA

54) Tully

Director: Jason Reitman (Thank-You For Smoking, Juno)  Cast: Mackenzie Davis, Charlize Theron, Ron Livingston, and Mark Duplass.

• No one can barrel out witty one-liners and touching, observant comedy the way screenwriter Diablo Cody can, and no one is more successful at deftly translating her material with the warmth and humanity that director Jason Reitman delivers. The two have produced comedy gold with Juno and Young Adult, and will return to the territory they excel at for their third collaboration in Tully. Halt and Catch Fire breakout Mackenzie Davis joins Charlize Theron, re-teaming with Reitman after their winning results in Young Adult, to lead their new comedy which will apparently explore the attributes and routines of motherhood. While that's all we really know, that's still more then enough indication of the comedic gold the two should be able to mine from this material.

Release: TBA 

53) Beauty and the Beast

Director: Bill Condon (Dreamgirls)  Cast: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Josh Gad, Ewan McGregor, Ian McKellen, Emma Thompson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Stanley Tucci, Audra McDonald, and Kevin Kline.

• No one has shown less interest in Disney's recent stream of unnecessary live-action remakes than I have, however, I was excited for last year's Pete's Dragon (which I really liked) and Kenneth Branagh's redo of Cinderella was better then I expected. All that aside, Bill Condon helming the star-studded Beauty and the Beast promises so much more than any of these remakes yet. The cast is absolutely spot-on in every respect (is there anyone more qualified to play the intelligent and headstrong Belle than Hermione herself) and Condon knows how to stage a grand-scale musical. But could it buckle under the weight of its own hefty ambitions? The original animated classic is arguably the greatest release in Disney's prestigious and illustrious career (it's definitely mine), so the bar is certainly high. Back in a time when the maximum number of Best Picture nominations at the Oscars was still a mere five, Beauty and the Beast was the first animated film to score a nod. For these reasons I'm still skeptically standing on the edge, but at the same time wholeheartedly rooting that this picture knocks it out of the park. If there's one cash-grab coming out this year that I want to succeed more than any other and defy every lukewarm expectation, it's 100% this one!

Release: March 17th

 

52) American Made

Director: Doug Liman (Edge of Tomorrow) Cast: Tom Cruise, Domhnall Gleeson, Jesse Plemons, Lola Kirke, Caleb Landry Jones, Sarah Wright, Jayma Mays, Connor Trinneer, Jed Rees, Benito Martinez, April Billingsley, and Mickey Sumner.

• Before 2014 I always considered director Doug Liman a serviceable-to-terrible action film director, but the explosive, kick-ass feats of his alien invasion thriller Edge of Tomorrow went down as one of the most exhilarating spectacles to hit theaters that year. It was so good I may even forgive him for the lousy shit show that was Jumper. His new action thriller (which reunites him with Cruise) is based on the true events of Barry Seal, a former TWA pilot who became a drug smuggler in the 1980s and was recruited later on by the DEA to provide intelligence. Sounds a bit more sophisticated than the adrenaline-fueled fun of Edge of Tomorrow, and I sincerely hope that that film wasn't just a winning stroke of good luck and that he continues to consistently raise the bar for himself and put out more great movies, because his last movie is seriously the only real reason he's on this list. Liman and Cruise delivered incredible work together last time, so my fingers are crossed they tap into that same energy again this time.

Release: September 29th

51) Spider-Man: Homecoming 

Director: Jon Watts (Cop Car) Cast: Tom Holland, Marisa Tomei, Donald Glover, Michael Keaton, Zendaya, Tony Revolori, Angourie Rice, Lodan Marshall-Green, Martin Starr, and Robert Downey Jr.

• After four superhero movies already on this countdown (this making number five), you're probably wondering what's up, since I've stated many times (including on this list) my qualms with how many of these movies are forced upon us every year. What's more, you're probably wondering why THIS particular superhero film is on here, when the last attempt to reboot Spider-Man didn't exactly produce "amazing" results. Trust me, I share your concern. But Marvel made a smart move nabbing director Jon Watts, who's exhilarating Cop Car was such a startling debut, delivering more than a few clever twists and turns to put him on my radar. On top of that, Tom Holland's Spider-Man pretty much stole the show in last year's Captain America: Civil War, so having his own movie where he literally gets to square off against Birdman himself (Keaton will star as the film's villain, Vulture) is worth getting excited about. This could very well be the best Spider-Man movie we've seen yet, and that's no exaggeration. 

Release: July 7th