Aside from early screenings of this year’s Oscar contenders – think Silence or the critically adorned La La Land – Rogue One: A Star Wars Story ostensibly closed the book on this year’s stacked slate of movie releases leaving us, the viewer, simultaneously reflecting back on the past 12 months, all the while keeping one eye trained on 2017’s major frontrunners. Here’s looking at you, John Wick: Chapter 2.
But 2016 will no doubt be remembered as a strange, yet historic year – and we’re just not talking about global politics – one in which artistic science fiction left us breathless (Arrival), hardcore thrillers shook us down to the very core (Green Room) and shared universes struggled to leave first gear. Then again, even if Batman V Superman and Suicide Squad quickly devolved into online scapegoats despite their financial success, the immediate future of the DC Extended Universe looks bright, what with Wonder Woman and Justice League both earmarked for 2017.
On the Marvel side of things, 2016 was another slam-dunk. Not only did Captain America: Civil War blow past all expectations – expectations that were already considerably high – Doctor Strange introduced Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme with aplomb, becoming the studio’s most successful solo movie in the process. Toss in the record-breaking success of Deadpool and all in all, comic book fans had plenty to enjoy throughout the course of 2016 – the so-so X-Men: Apocalypse included.
And we’d be remiss if we didn’t pinpoint some of the welcome cinematic surprises unearthed over the past 12 months – surprises that range from David Mackenzie’s Hell or High Water to The Lobster, a hilariously quirky story of love and loss.
Even when pulling all of those releases together, we’ve only really scratched the surface of what 2016 had to offer, so to expand the scope, We Got This Covered has cut together a year in review trailer to celebrate the crème de la crème. You’ll find it up above, and if it’s more original content you’re after, look no further than the official WGTC YouTube page.