2016 had a number of great blockbuster hits and already 2017 is shaping up to be spectacular for the film industry. We’ll get the continuation of Star Wars: Episode VIII, our last look at Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in Logan, along with a ton of great superhero films we can’t wait to see multiple times in the theater. Take a look at twenty upcoming films we can’t wait to see release this year down below. Likewise, leave a comment and let us know what upcoming film you’re looking forward to most this year.
Star Wars: Episode VIII
Director: Rian Johnson
Starring: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release Date: December 15, 2017
Do we really need to put anything here? It’s a Star Wars movie though more importantly, it’s the next continuation. We have big expectations for Star Wars: Episode VIII such as what will come of Kylo Ren, more details of Snoke, and most importantly we’ll finally get screen time with Jedi Luke Skywalker after his brief appearance during The Force Awakens. Lastly, being that this will be the last Star Wars film to feature Carrie Fisher after her recent passing, Star Wars: Episode VIII will hold a special place in the hearts of fans all over the world.
War For The Planet of the Apes
Director: Matt Reeves
Starring: Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, Steve Zahn, Judy Greer
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: July 14, 2017
War For The Planet of the Apes is the third installment and will follow the events of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Caesar is preparing an all-out war against humans and we expect this film to be full of action, revenge, and brutal dark instincts that will determine the fate of Earth’s dominant species.
Logan
Director: James Mangold
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Richard E. Grant, Boyd Holbrook
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: March 3, 2017
The X-Men franchise and the Wolverine based films were always fun to watch and the upcoming release, Logan, is slated to be the last film in which Hugh Jackman portrays our the famed X-Men mutant. In this upcoming installment, viewers will see an aging Wolverine who’s healing powers have been failing. A flawed and aging Logan with the help of Professor Xavier aim to protect a young girl named Laura from an organization called Transigen in what will likely be their last battle.
Kong: Skull Island
Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts
Starring: Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, Brie Larson, Jing Tian
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Date: March 10, 2017
There have been countless films based on the King Kong tale and by far, Kong: Skull Island has us the most hyped. The film takes place during the 1970s in which a team of explorers and soldiers venture deep into an uncharted island within the Pacific Ocean. It’s quite apparent that something dwells in the island where our cast of characters discovers that monsters still very much exist.
Wonder Woman
Director: Patty Jenkins
Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Date: June 2, 2017
The DC Comics cinematic universe might not be fetching as well as Marvel’s but Wonder Woman may help change that. Not only will this be a new cinematic experience featuring a leading female superhero, the plot takes place in the early 20th century allowing viewers to be familiar with the Wonder Woman character and her lore before the upcoming Justice League film. As for the story itself, Wonder Woman takes place during the ongoing battle of World War I. After learning about the war from an American military pilot who washed ashore, Amazon princess Diana leaves her home to bring an early end to the war.
Spider-Man: Homecoming
Director: Jon Watts
Starring: Johnathan M. Goldstein, John Francis Daley, Jon Watts, Christopher Ford
Distributor: Sony Pictures Releasing
Release Date: July 7, 2017
Spider-Man: Homecoming has plenty of Spider-Man fans excited as it returns our favorite web slinger to the Marvel Cinematic universe. This upcoming film will be taking place after the events of Captain America: Civil War where Peter Parker tries to balance his life as an ordinary high school student while also fighting crime as a superhero with the help of his mentor Tony Stark.
The Fate of the Furious
Director: F. Gary Gray
Starring: Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Release Date: April 14, 2017
Okay, The Fast and the Furious franchise might not be the biggest out there and it can be a bit out of touch with reality, but they are just so much fun to watch. So far from what we know about The Fate of the Furious is that our beloved cast of misfits has retired and attempted to live life with a bit more normalcy. That is until a mysterious woman manages to toss Dom back into the life of crime.
Alien: Covenant
Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: May 19, 2017
If you’re a fan of the Alien franchise then you either loved or hated Prometheus. The next installment of the franchise seems to be more of what fans expect out of an Alien film which will also help tie some loose ends together within the franchise as a whole. In the film, viewers will follow a crew on the colony ship Covenant which was set out to find an uncharted paradise. It’s only when they arrive that they realized that they’ve breached a dark and dangerous world. One of which that’s inhabited by the synthetic David, the sole survivor of the Prometheus expedition.
Beauty and the Beast
Director: Bill Condon
Starring: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evens, Kevin Kline
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release Date: March 17, 2017
Disney has been on fire when it comes to pushing out live-action adaptations of their whimsical animated features. The Beauty and the Beast film follows the same events as their animated feature-length counterpart. Viewers will follow a young woman named Belle who becomes prisoner by a Beast in his castle where the two slowly develops a loving relationship.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Director: James Gunn
Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release Date: May 5, 2017
Okay, I might be just a bit bias when it comes to this movie as Guardians of the Galaxy just might be my favorite film within the Marvel Comics cinematic universe. We don’t know too much quite yet about the upcoming sequel, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, though we do know that it will be taking place just two months after the events of the first film. Peter Quill will apparently know more about his true parentage and to top it off we get baby Groot. Come on, you know you’re dying to see baby Groot on the big screen.
Thor: Ragnarok
Director: Taika Waititi
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release Date: November 3, 2017
Thor: Ragnarok forces two of our favorite Avengers against each other. The upcoming installment of the Thor series takes place after the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron where Thor and the Hulk are imprisoned on another world. Without his hammer, Thor must outlive a gladiatorial duel against the Hulk in order to return to Asgard and stop the impending Ragnarok.
Justice League
Director: Zack Snyder
Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Date: November 17, 2017
DC’s cinematic universe may not be the most successful one, especially compared to Marvel’s, but we can’t help but be excited about the upcoming Justice League film. There have been reports that the film will not be as gritty or dark compared to Batman V Superman, a film that takes place months prior to the events of Justice League. From what we know so far, Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince begin their search to assemble a team of metahumans who will face any potential catastrophic threats that may attack Earth.
The Lego Batman Movie
Director: Chris McKay
Starring: Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, Ralph Fiennes
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Date: February 10, 2017
We’ve seen plenty of Batman iterations some great and others we wish to forget. However, when Batman first appeared in The Lego Movie back in 2014, it was apparent that the character voice by Will Arnett could easily stand on its own. The upcoming film shows off Batman and a wide range of famed characters, both villains, and heroes, from the already established universe.
Power Rangers
Director: Dean Israelite
Starring: Dacre Montgomery, Naomi Scott, RJ Cyler, Bryan Cranston
Distributor: Lionsgate, Saban Films
Release Date: March 24, 2017
You’ll easily pass on this film if you’re not already a fan or grew up watching Power Rangers as a kid. This is a brand new live-action Power Rangers film that shows the start of our team of Power Rangers not to mention the return of zords on the big screen along with the despicable villain Rita!
Dunkirk
Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Fionn Whitehead, Kenneth Branagh, James D’Arcy, Tom Glynn-Carney
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Date: July 21, 2017
A war movie based during the early stages of the Second World War. We’ve seen plenty of those but attach director and writer Christopher Nolan into the mix and we’re instantly intrigued. For over a decade now Christopher Nolan has mostly been tied up with superhero films in some capacity whether it be directing, writing, or producing. Now that he’s taking a stab at a war film, we’re ready to pick up our tickets and attend the midnight premier.
Blade Runner 2049
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana De Armas, Sylvia Hoeks
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures, Columbia Pictures
Release Date: October 6, 2017
Blade Runner originally released back in 1982 and we’re finally getting a sequel after decades of rumors and murmurings of a new installment would be in the works. Once again Harrison Ford will be reprising his role as Rick Deckard with new co-star Ryan Gosling. From what we know so far, Ryan Gosling plays an LAPD officer who unearths a dark secret leading him to locate former and missing LAPD blade runner, Rick Deckard.
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter
Director: Paul W. S. Anderson
Starring: Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, Shawn Roberts, Ruby Rose
Distributor: Screen Gems
Release Date: January 27, 2017
It’s been one long ride but the Resident Evil film franchise is finally wrapping up with the final sixth installment. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter follows the events from Resident Evil: Retribution with humanity on the brink of annihilation. In order to save the world from utter destruction, Alice must return to where it all began, Raccoon City. She’ll need help from old friends and an even unlikely alley to stop the Umbrella Corporation once and for all.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
Director: Joachim Ronning, Espen Sandberg
Starring: Johnny Depp, Javier Bardem, Brenton Thwaites, Kaya Scodelario
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release Date: May 27, 2017
Captain Jack Sparrow is back in the upcoming film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. This time around, Jack Sparrow is being pursued by an old rival, Captain Salazar, who managed to escape with his crew of ghost pirates from the Devil’s Triangle. Seeking to kill every pirate, Jack Sparrow must locate the Trident of Poseidon to take control over the seas.
John Wick: Chapter 2
Director: Chad Stahelski
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Ruby Rose, John Leguizamo
Distributor: Summit Entertainment
Release Date: February 10, 2017
John Wick is back with Keanu Reeves playing the notorious badass assassin. The first film was spectacular and action-packed forcing John Wick out of retirement and back into one unstoppable killing machine. After the events of John Wick, it seems our protagonist once again attempted to live life normally, but is forced back out retirement when a former associate seeks help. Bound by a blood oath to help him, John heads to Rome in order to take out some of the world’s deadliest killers.
Ghost in the Shell
Director: Rupert Sanders
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Takeshi Kitano, Michael Pitt, Juliette Binoche
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Release Date: March 31, 2017
Ghost in the Shell’s fanbase is massive and the beloved anime will soon receive an upcoming live-action adaptation. The trailers look promising as the film will feature the cyborg counter-cyber terrorist field commander, The Major, and her task force Section 9.
