The RAYMROJ MOVIE audience has spoken: Here are the 10 most anticipated movies of the year according to traffic to our title pages.
10. Zoolander 2
Looks like Derek and Hansel are still so hot right now, with fan enthusiasm revving high as soon as Zoolander 2 was announced on legendary fashion house Valentino's runway last March. Similar to Anchorman and its decade-later sequel, remember that Zoolander became a cult hit before the rise of Kik, Snapchat, or their older brother, Facebook.
We think Derek and his expanded atelier might pull off a greater success than the San Diego weatherman and his crew. Also, we wonder if the boys have learned to use a computer yet?
Looks like Derek and Hansel are still so hot right now, with fan enthusiasm revving high as soon as Zoolander 2 was announced on legendary fashion house Valentino's runway last March. Similar to Anchorman and its decade-later sequel, remember that Zoolander became a cult hit before the rise of Kik, Snapchat, or their older brother, Facebook.
We think Derek and his expanded atelier might pull off a greater success than the San Diego weatherman and his crew. Also, we wonder if the boys have learned to use a computer yet?
9. The Jungle Book
Here's a rare case of a remake that is being met with open arms and anticipation, even when it was announced that original lyricist Richard M. Sherman had written new songs for this contemporary spin on Rudyard Kipling's beloved children's book. The Jungle Book cast is stacked with some of the most lovable celebrities, from Lupita Nyong'o to Christopher Walken. And of course director Jon Favreau has made plenty of fans within the world of Disney.
Watercooler tip: There's another version of this story being made: Jungle Book: Origins, directed by Andy Serkis, is due out in 2017.
Here's a rare case of a remake that is being met with open arms and anticipation, even when it was announced that original lyricist Richard M. Sherman had written new songs for this contemporary spin on Rudyard Kipling's beloved children's book. The Jungle Book cast is stacked with some of the most lovable celebrities, from Lupita Nyong'o to Christopher Walken. And of course director Jon Favreau has made plenty of fans within the world of Disney.
Watercooler tip: There's another version of this story being made: Jungle Book: Origins, directed by Andy Serkis, is due out in 2017.
8. Ghostbusters
We totally are not afraid of ghosts — or the liberated casting choices made by director Paul Feig for his timely Ghostbusters update, which, despite some hostile reactions at the idea of a gender swap for the squad of supernatural investigators, instantly made the scary comedy one of the most talked about movies of the current year.
We totally are not afraid of ghosts — or the liberated casting choices made by director Paul Feig for his timely Ghostbusters update, which, despite some hostile reactions at the idea of a gender swap for the squad of supernatural investigators, instantly made the scary comedy one of the most talked about movies of the current year.
7. Independence Day: Resurgence
2016 is the year of the can-you-believe-it-is-actually-happening movie, and it seems like everyone — including Will Smith — will be at the theater for the opening weekend of Independence Day: Resurgence. Beyond the fate met by Captain Steven Hiller, a perfect teaser trailer and a curious, wonderful mix of old and new characters keep the discussion going about what's coming to Earth some 20 years after the first ID attacks.
2016 is the year of the can-you-believe-it-is-actually-happening movie, and it seems like everyone — including Will Smith — will be at the theater for the opening weekend of Independence Day: Resurgence. Beyond the fate met by Captain Steven Hiller, a perfect teaser trailer and a curious, wonderful mix of old and new characters keep the discussion going about what's coming to Earth some 20 years after the first ID attacks.
6. Warcraft
Though the first trailer seemed to underwhelm non-gamers, interest in the long-developing movie version of the role-playing game famous for breaking up relationships is high, and we'd like to think that disciples of writer/director Duncan Jones will follow him into Azeroth. Perhaps the second trailer might rally the faithful and convert some non-believers. Really though, if even a fraction of the Warcraft-playing public were to see the movie, it would be one of the biggest successes of the year by far. Also, Mr. Jones, we're really sorry about your father's passing.
Though the first trailer seemed to underwhelm non-gamers, interest in the long-developing movie version of the role-playing game famous for breaking up relationships is high, and we'd like to think that disciples of writer/director Duncan Jones will follow him into Azeroth. Perhaps the second trailer might rally the faithful and convert some non-believers. Really though, if even a fraction of the Warcraft-playing public were to see the movie, it would be one of the biggest successes of the year by far. Also, Mr. Jones, we're really sorry about your father's passing.
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5. Deadpool
Other superhero movies might be higher on our list, but could it be that Deadpool now has the most hardcore following? His legion of fans has grown since the movie finally received a green light from Fox and the profane, perverse, and hilarious first trailer was shown — repeatedly — at Comic-Con last July. Since the movie is smartly positioned as a February release, free from superhero competition, we're expecting Ryan Reynolds to slap the box office awake after a dreary January calendar. The only question is just how much online interest will turn into box-office receipts.
Other superhero movies might be higher on our list, but could it be that Deadpool now has the most hardcore following? His legion of fans has grown since the movie finally received a green light from Fox and the profane, perverse, and hilarious first trailer was shown — repeatedly — at Comic-Con last July. Since the movie is smartly positioned as a February release, free from superhero competition, we're expecting Ryan Reynolds to slap the box office awake after a dreary January calendar. The only question is just how much online interest will turn into box-office receipts.
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4. X-Men: Apocalypse
Now that the X-Men franchise has fully recovered from The Last Stand with two of its finest installments (First Class and Days of Future Past), it's time for Bryan Singer to wake up the world's first mutant to see what he thinks of the 1980s. It might be the point at which we say farewell to most of the first-generation cast as more new faces playing familiar mutants are introduced: Sophie Turner (Jean Grey), Tye Sheridan (Cyclops), Kodi Smit-McPhee (Nightcrawler), and others join the Apocalypse. Our primary focus is on Oscar Isaac as Apocalypse since, aside from Poe Dameron, he knows how to embrace the dark side. Oh, and we get a little thrill each time we watch Charles Xavier say he's never felt power like this before.
Now that the X-Men franchise has fully recovered from The Last Stand with two of its finest installments (First Class and Days of Future Past), it's time for Bryan Singer to wake up the world's first mutant to see what he thinks of the 1980s. It might be the point at which we say farewell to most of the first-generation cast as more new faces playing familiar mutants are introduced: Sophie Turner (Jean Grey), Tye Sheridan (Cyclops), Kodi Smit-McPhee (Nightcrawler), and others join the Apocalypse. Our primary focus is on Oscar Isaac as Apocalypse since, aside from Poe Dameron, he knows how to embrace the dark side. Oh, and we get a little thrill each time we watch Charles Xavier say he's never felt power like this before.
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3. Captain America: Civil War
Is Captain America the No. 1 Avenger? It feels as if Steve Rogers is edging Tony Stark as the Marvel superhero most embraced by fans as the MCU wades into X-Men-like territory. In Captain America: Civil War, government restrictions on superhuman activity cause an ideological rift that splits the Avengers into two factions, pitting Rogers and Stark against each other. The movie ushers in co-director brothers Joe and Anthony Russo, who will also helm both installments of Avengers: Infinity War. Also, rumors of a weighty role for Scott Lang/Ant-Man have made this the Marvel event of the year.
Is Captain America the No. 1 Avenger? It feels as if Steve Rogers is edging Tony Stark as the Marvel superhero most embraced by fans as the MCU wades into X-Men-like territory. In Captain America: Civil War, government restrictions on superhuman activity cause an ideological rift that splits the Avengers into two factions, pitting Rogers and Stark against each other. The movie ushers in co-director brothers Joe and Anthony Russo, who will also helm both installments of Avengers: Infinity War. Also, rumors of a weighty role for Scott Lang/Ant-Man have made this the Marvel event of the year.
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2. Suicide Squad
DC Comics begins its campaign to unseat Marvel as the be-all and end-all superhero studio, and there's no better regiment to send into such a battle than the Suicide Squad, a team of death-row supervillains tasked with the U.S. government's dirtiest deeds. It's tricky to gauge how the general movie-going public will respond to such dark materials; record-setting audiences embraced Christopher Nolan's Batman as their champion, but will they be willing to go beyond the pale with Deadshot, Harley Quinn, et al? We think so. We also feel like audiences really want to see Will Smith in movie-star mode again.
DC Comics begins its campaign to unseat Marvel as the be-all and end-all superhero studio, and there's no better regiment to send into such a battle than the Suicide Squad, a team of death-row supervillains tasked with the U.S. government's dirtiest deeds. It's tricky to gauge how the general movie-going public will respond to such dark materials; record-setting audiences embraced Christopher Nolan's Batman as their champion, but will they be willing to go beyond the pale with Deadshot, Harley Quinn, et al? We think so. We also feel like audiences really want to see Will Smith in movie-star mode again.
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1. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Comic-book aficionados will tell you that Gotham City has been geographically linked to Metropolis plenty of times in the past, but this is the first time moviegoers will see the two worlds collide. Batman v Superman represents more than a squaring off between DC Comics and Marvel; it arrives at a time when superhero movies, which have established their dominance, must evolve and reveal the same kind of character conflicts and moral ambiguities as their source materials. Man of Steel may have its detractors, but that seems to be diminished for now by the enthusiasm for Ben Affleck as Batman and the introduction of Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman.
Comic-book aficionados will tell you that Gotham City has been geographically linked to Metropolis plenty of times in the past, but this is the first time moviegoers will see the two worlds collide. Batman v Superman represents more than a squaring off between DC Comics and Marvel; it arrives at a time when superhero movies, which have established their dominance, must evolve and reveal the same kind of character conflicts and moral ambiguities as their source materials. Man of Steel may have its detractors, but that seems to be diminished for now by the enthusiasm for Ben Affleck as Batman and the introduction of Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman.
