Like Punxsutawney Phil on Groundhog Day, movie fans have a similar early-winter forecasting tradition—fervently discussing the movies we'll be seeing over the next 12 months.
While Phil-watchers are fueled by hope for a warmer tomorrow, though, much of our cinematic anticipation hinges on the past: similar movies that have come before, filmmakers' past successes (and failures), even months-old casting announcements. And like every January, there's much to anticipate with bated breath, from outsized blockbusters to invaluable gems to the latest films from Kevin Smith, the Coen Brothers, Martin Scorsese, and many more.
Jan. 24 (Sundance): Yoga Hosers
Since entering the new millennium, Kevin Smith's creative output has oscillated from intermittently amusing (Clerks II,* Zack and Miri Make a Porno*) to wholly unbearable (Jersey Girl, Cop Out). In fact, no other director has rested on his laurels quite like Smith. It's because of Clerks, Mallrats, and Chasing Amy that ardent admirers of the wise-cracking, fast-talking New Jersey storyteller refuse to lose hope. Will Yoga Hosers—a horror/comedy spinoff from last year's Tusk—result in the recrudescence we've been waiting for? We'll find out in Park City.
Feb. 5: Hail, Caesar!
Let's just collectively pretend the Coen Brothers had nothing to do with Angelina Jolie's Unbroken. With this, though, the sibling filmmakers appear to be returning to form. Front and center here is Josh Brolin, who plays a 1950s Hollywood fixer tasked with handling talent. Judging by the trailer, it looks to be a cross between The Player and Michael Clayton. Of course, judging by the Coens' knack for defying categorization, Hail, Caesar! probably will be nothing like that description—or anything else we've seen before.
Feb. 12: Deadpool
With at least seven comic book movies on tap in 2016, fatigue is rearing its weary head. Still, there's something intriguing about Deadpool, even to blasé spectators. Perhaps it's the hiring of freshman director Tim Miller, or the unorthodox (and possibly harmonious) pairing of Ryan Reynolds, Gina Carano, and T.J. Miller. Whatever it is, we'll be watching for the hard-R self-awareness, even if the plot synopsis—"a former Special Forces operative turned mercenary is subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers"—reads like a bizarro mashup of The Expendables, the Bourne series, and The Incredible Hulk.
March 18: Midnight Special
Jeff Nichols is a singular talent who has managed to work with creative integrity within the Hollywood system, skillfully spinning narratives centered on familial ties. His last two movies, Take Shelter and Mud, were humanistic dramas set in the south, worthy of your time and attention. Now, Midnight Special—about a father and son who abscond after the dad learns his child possesses special powers—looks to be another home run.
March 25: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Has any movie ever wanted to be an epic event picture more desperately than this? No plot synopsis is needed; this makes the list for three reasons:
It's too big to ignore.
It's going to be either a slam dunk or a colossal disaster.
Jesse Eisenberg, who appears to be participating of his own volition. Again, there's no happy medium here: His Lex Luthor will be a supervillain for the ages or the most ridiculed nemesis since Hector Hammond.
April 15: Green Room
Few movies have enlivened a Midnight Madness audience at the Toronto International Film Festival quite like last year's Green Room, a genre-blending thriller about a punk rock band ensnared in a secluded venue after witnessing a crime. Unhinged from moment one, director Jeremy Saulnier (Blue Ruin) deftly thrusts his characters into unfathomable predicaments, toying with the audience and our expectations.
July 15: Ghostbusters
Prediction: this movie is going to be fantastic. You know why? Because any movie that contains Leslie Jones, Bill Murray, and Sigourney Weaver couldn't be anything else. Questions of originality are fair game, but it seems unlikely that Paul Feig and company would undertake an enervated enterprise. And if your problems pertain to three women taking over this franchise, may we refer you to this tweet by Ms. Jones?
Aug. 5: Suicide Squad
Remember how no one had really heard of Guardians of the Galaxy when Marvel announced the movie? Consider this the DC version. The all-hands-on-deck movie centers on a covert-ops squad of superpowered antiheroes, and boasts everyone from Jared Leto (as the Joker) and Will Smith (as Deadshot) to early fan favorite Margot Robbie, whose unhinged take on Harley Quinn was the talk of Comic Con last summer.
Nov. 24: Doctor Strange
Marvel Studios has already ventured into the cosmic realm; now it's delving into its more mystical side with this, one of the first movies in the studio's much-vaunted Phase Three. And with Benedict Cumberbatch as the titular magician, Chiwetel Ojiofor as his nemesis Baron Mardo, and Tilda Swinton as sorcer supreme The Ancient One, it's arguably the most prestigious Marvel cast to date.
Nov. 18: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Because eight Harry Potter films wasn't quite enough, this fall will see the release of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, set 70 years before the events of The Philosopher's Stone. Written by J.K. Rowling and directed by David Yates (who was behind the camera for the last four Potter ventures), it's hard to tell whether this extravagant fantasy— replete with witches, wizards, and Eddie Redmayne—will tread familiar terrain or carve its own path.
Date TBD: Story of Your Life
Like Geoff Nichols, Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners, Sicario) deserves more recognition for producing quality, innovative work while working inside the Hollywood machine. Before Villeneuve goes on to make a new Blade Runner joint, he's getting his sci-fi feet wet with this adaptation of a 1998 Ted Chiang short story, which takes place after alien aircraft land around the world. To help with translation, a renowned linguist (Amy Adams) is recruited by the military to understand the intentions of these foreign entities. Admittedly, it sounds a bit inane, but when has Villeneuve done us wrong?
Date TBD: Silence
"Directed by Martin Scorsese" is all you need to know, but here are some details: the film is adapted from Shûsaku Endô's novel of the same, written by Jay Cocks (The Age of Innocence, Gangs of New York), and stars everyone from Liam Neeson to Adam Driver. Set in the 17th century, the film tells the story of two Jesuit priests who face vigorous persecution upon traveling to Japan in search of their mentor. Did we mention the movie is directed by Martin Scorsese? Buy your tickets now.
