Top 10 Notable Global Movie Events of 2016 You Might Want to Know

'Deadpool' is a 17+ superhero movie from the U.S., based on the Marvel comic character of the same name. Despite a modest production budget of around $58 million, the film became a global sensation, grossing an impressive $782 million. The story follows Wade Wilson, a cancer patient who undergoes experimental procedures to become a mutant with regenerative abilities, but the film’s appeal lies in its humor, quirky style, and occasional violence. 'Deadpool' sparked a trend for 17+ superhero films, with producers growing bolder by including mature elements instead of the usual child-friendly PG-13 rating.

'It's Only the End of the World' is a film by director Xavier Dolan about a gay screenwriter who returns home after 12 years when he is terminally ill. During this reunion, many family secrets begin to unravel. The film unexpectedly won the Grand Prix (the second most prestigious award) at the Cannes Film Festival, despite receiving mixed reviews prior. Critics slammed the script as disjointed and the story too predictable. Following the award announcement, many journalists protested vehemently from within the same cinema, according to The Globe and Mail. However, director Xavier Dolan responded, saying, 'This is the best film of my career.'

Recently, China has rapidly developed its cinema industry, with over 30,000 movie theaters and a growth rate of 30% each year. This booming market has become a lifeline for many Hollywood 'flops,' particularly in their domestic releases. This trend was most apparent in 2016, with numerous American films grossing more in China than at home, including titles like Warcraft, Now You See Me, and Mechanic. The most notable case was 'Warcraft,' which earned only about $47 million in the U.S. but saw a massive $220 million success in China.

2016 saw a major surge in horror films, with eight major horror releases in the U.S. alone receiving some of the highest ratings in recent years. Films like 'The Conjuring 2,' 'The Shallows,' 'Lights Out,' '10 Cloverfield Lane,' 'The Witch,' 'Don't Breathe,' and especially 'Train to Busan,' which became a zombie phenomenon in Asia, helped elevate the genre. 'The Conjuring 2' also set the standard for R-rated horror films that summer. Total box office earnings for horror films this year surpassed $1.1 billion, outpacing 2014's $684 million and 2015's $685 million.

'Raw' is a 2016 horror film directed by French filmmaker Julia Ducournau, which stirred quite a buzz. The story follows a vegetarian college student who eventually turns into a cannibal. The film was shown at the Midnight Madness section of the 2016 Toronto Film Festival, where it caused several audience members to faint due to its intense and disturbing nature. This wasn't the first time a horror film pushed the limits of audience tolerance—'V/H/S' did the same back in 2012.

Virtual reality is a computer-generated simulation that offers an immersive experience for viewers, allowing them to feel as if they are physically part of the film, with the ability to explore different perspectives of the story. This year, advanced VR technology has created a buzz in the film industry. At the Cannes Film Festival, director Eric Darnell showcased a 6-minute VR short film, 'Invasion!', calling it a revolutionary new cinematic language. Later in Venice, the 40-minute feature film 'Jesus VR: The Story of Christ' also captured attention, marking a breakthrough for VR filmmaking. The first cinema to adopt VR technology, named Vivid, has already opened in Toronto, Canada.

On December 4th, a shocking video surfaced online featuring director Bernardo Bertolucci admitting that he, along with legendary actor Marlon Brando, pressured actress Maria Schneider to film a rape scene for the movie 'Last Tango in Paris', despite her objections. This revelation sparked a strong backlash from Hollywood stars. Jessica Chastain expressed her disgust with Bertolucci's actions, while Chris Evans, who plays Captain America, declared that he could never view Bertolucci or Brando the same way again. Other celebrities, including Evan Rachel Wood and Anna Kendrick, voiced their outrage on social media. In response to the storm of criticism, Bertolucci defended his actions, claiming that Schneider was aware of the rape scene in the script, but only did not anticipate the more graphic approach required by the filmmakers.

Born in 1974, Leonardo DiCaprio is considered one of the finest actors of his generation. Despite receiving five Academy Award nominations, it wasn't until 2016 that he finally won the most prestigious honor in cinema. His victory quickly became a major talking point among film fans worldwide. DiCaprio's performance in 'The Revenant' was arguably the most physically demanding of his career, requiring him to swim across icy rivers, sleep inside animal carcasses, fight a real bear, and even eat raw bison liver on set. It was this challenging and memorable role that earned him his long-awaited Oscar, marking a milestone moment for both him and his fans.

In both 2015 and 2016, the Oscar nominations were criticized for being overwhelmingly white, with almost no representation of people of color in the major categories. This sparked widespread backlash from various artists, including director Spike Lee, who had received an honorary Oscar in November 2015. Lee publicly declared his intention to boycott the 88th Academy Awards, a stance supported by actress Jada Pinkett Smith, whose husband, actor Will Smith, had been widely praised for his role in 'Concussion' but failed to receive a nomination. The hashtag #OscarsSoWhite quickly went viral on Twitter, expressing the outrage and disappointment of the public. In response, the Academy introduced reforms, including the addition of more women and minority members to its voting body, hoping to create a more diverse and accurate reflection of talent for the upcoming 2017 Oscars.

'Suicide Squad' and 'Batman v Superman' are two blockbuster films based on DC Comics characters. Both movies faced heavy criticism from critics upon release. 'Batman v Superman' was slammed for cramming too many plotlines for future sequels, while 'Suicide Squad' was deemed a failure due to its weak script and lack of coherence. These negative reviews sparked a backlash from a significant portion of their fanbases, who targeted the critics. In August, a group of 'Suicide Squad' fans even launched a petition on Change.org to shut down Rotten Tomatoes—a site that compiles reviews from critics—gathering over 22,000 signatures. However, the films' box office success, grossing $873 million and $745 million globally, only fueled fans' desire to boycott the critics even more.