With 2017 still fresh on the calendar, there’s a lot to look forward to and today we’ll look at what you can be anticipating at the cinemas this year. There’s plenty of exciting movies premiering throughout the year, and plenty for people of all different tastes. There’s edge-of-your-seat adventures, thrilling true stories, hilarious comedies and grand epics. So grab some popcorn and have a look at 2017’s most anticipated big screen fare.
Kong: Skull Island (March 10)
This very well could be the unexpected hit of the year. King Kong might be a bit of a tired idea, but this seems like a cool new take of the tale of the giant ape. In this re-telling, a squadron of Vietnam-era soliders accidentally find themselves on Skull Island, a place trapped in time. There they encounter a variety of strange beasts, and of course, the monster that rules the island, Kong. The film boasts a stellar cast including Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson and John Goodman, and the trailers for the film show a fun blend of exciting action and humor.
The Wall (March 10)
Sometimes the most thrilling films don’t need to be to be big films. This simple tale follows two American soldiers in Iraq who are pinned down by an enemy sniper. After one of the men is injured, the other takes cover behind a small wall, with a few inches of concrete separating him from certain death. It’s a bold move to have such a confined setting and time will tell if the concept can last for a full length film, but it could make for a taut and tense thriller.
Beauty and the Beast (March 17)
Disney has been revisiting some of their classic animated films and giving them a live-action spin. They saw a great deal of success in doing so with Cinderella and The Jungle Book, and now the beloved Beauty and the Beast will get the same treatment. The love story between a beautiful young woman and a monstrous prince is packed with famous songs and funny characters. There’s a great group of actors who will bring the story to life and could be a perfect film for the whole family to enjoy.
Dunkirk (July 21)
The summer movie season is mostly filled cartoons and superhero films, but this film might offer you something a little more substantial. It chronicles the real-life event of World War II when allied forces were surrounded by the German army and the effort to rescue them. The film comes from director Christopher Nolan who made such films as The Dark Knight, Interstellar and Inception. It’s a big spectacle film about a little-discussed event that is sure to be moving and thrilling.
Granite Mountain (September 22)
Another true-life tale of a group of brave men who sacrificed everything. The harrowing story follows the elite crew firefighters who battled a wildfire in Prescott, Arizona in June 2013 that claimed the lives of 19 of their members. Some films based off of real-life tragedies can be tough to watch and no doubt this will be a very emotional story. But if handled well, hopefully it can be a respectful tribute to a group of fallen heroes.
American Made (September 29)
The are few actors in the world with more star power than Tom Cruise, so it’s hard not to take notice whenever he has a new film coming out. In American Made, Cruise play real-life figure Barry Seal, a pilot who has commissioned by the US government to battle the communist movement, before turning to a life of drug running. It’s a wild, intriguing untold story and provides a good starring role for Cruise.
Blade Runner 2049 (October 6)
When Blade Runner was released in 1982 it was a critical and commercial failure, but in the years since it gained a reputation as a science-fiction masterpiece. Now, over 30 years later, we’re getting a follow-up film to the tale of a futuristic detective who hunts down rogue androids. While it’s not yet known what the sequel will be about, the original film’s star, Harrison Ford, will be returning alongside Ryan Gosling and it will be helmed by visionary director Denis Villeneuve (Sicario, Arrival).
Murder on the Orient Express (November 22)
From author Agatha Christie, this is a retelling of one of the great mystery stories of all time. After a wealthy American businessman is murdered aboard the famous titular locomotive, an English detective is brought in to investigate the many suspects. Filled with memorable characters, this could be a clever and fun whodunit with an all-star cast, including Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dame Judi Dench and Daisy Ridley of Star Wars fame.
Star Wars: Episode VIII (December 15)
Speaking of Star Wars, there is one more tiny independent movie to come out this year. Continuing the new trilogy after the massive success of The Force Awakens, this yet-untitled sequel has brought in a very talented new director (Rian Johnson) as well as some impressive additions to the cast (Benicio Del Toro, Laura Dern). Certainly, the death of Carrie Fisher will cast a dark cloud over the film, but there’s little doubt this will be the biggest film of the year and a must-see.