Looking at this year’s slate of upcoming comic book movie theatrical releases, no matter if you fancy yourself a hero or villain, moviegoers will have plenty of opportunities to catch some action on the big screen.
This year has certainly started off with a bang. Deadpool, directed by Tim Miller and starring Ryan Reynolds as the titular “merc with a mouth,” has exceeded every expectation to become one of the highest grossing R-rated films of all time and land the second largest opening in the genre, right behind Marvel’s The Avengers in 2012.
DC’s big test arrives in a few short weeks on March 25 with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Pitting two of the most iconic heroes against each other should be a no brainer when considering its possible box office bona fides. Coming off a semi-disappointing turn with 2013’s Man of Steel, the latest Batman/Superman vehicle looks to add to the burgeoning DC film universe with a dizzying array of side characters. Early response to the trailers has been pretty evenly split among fandom, with the film’s dark tone not sitting well with folks that tend to think of Superman as Earth’s greatest Boy Scout.
May will see the arrival of Captain America: Civil War, directed by the Russo brothers. The pair’s last outing with Cap, The Winter Solider, is considered almost unanimously to be the best film to date in the Marvel cinematic universe, managing to delight with the usual superhero flair, but also revel in political thrills and mature themes about friendship. Civil War looks to expand upon those themes with a little help from a whole bunch of Avengers.
The latest entry in Fox’s X-Men franchise drops on May 27 with Apocalypse. Once again directed by Bryan Singer and featuring what looks to be one of the most niche comic book villains to ever grace the screen, Apocalypse doesn’t have too much to prove. Over the course of 16 years and seven previous X-Men flicks, audiences have come to expect the same tone and can only hope that this year’s entry in the franchise comes to the table with a great script.
Next up, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows arrives on June 3. The first offering from the heroes in the half shell was a critical disappointment, but scored enough green backs to warrant a second go round. This film looks to make adjustments by embracing the feel of the original cartoon from the 1980s, as the alien Krang makes his feature film debut, along with villains Bebop and Rocksteady.
Warner Bros. fires the second shot in their planned DC comic’s universe with Suicide Squad on Aug. 5. The film, based on a comic about a group of villains helping out the government to save their own necks, could be the biggest gamble of all the superhero movies coming out this year. It’s hard to not notice the simple fact that a movie aimed somewhat towards children has the word “suicide” in its title. Parents may need to investigate this film before letting the kids have a look.
Finally, Marvel closes out the year with Doctor Strange on Nov. 4. Benedict Cumberbatch plays the main role and the reaction to his casting and costume has been met with praise.
The super hero genre grows every year and the films that succeed tend to be the ones that put script over spectacle. But if none of these caped goodies can save the day, there’s always a new Star Wars movie right around the corner.
