Buzz
1. X-Men: Apocalypse (May 2016)
The latest installment in the X-Men series takes us back to the origins of modern mutants, with Apocalypse being the first of his kind. Born En Sabah Nu thousands of years ago in Egypt, he possesses a vast array of powers including physical, mental, and time manipulation, as well as immortality. However, he must periodically rejuvenate his body to maintain his biological functions. Awakening after a long slumber, Apocalypse recruits his Four Horsemen—Magneto, Storm, Psylocke, and Archangel—to conquer humanity. The X-Men, including Professor X, Raven, Quicksilver, Beast, Jean Grey, and Cyclops, stand in his way. Quicksilver plays a key role when he uncovers the truth about his parentage. In the climactic battle, Jean Grey unleashes the Phoenix Force to defeat Apocalypse, setting the stage for future X-Men films, possibly involving the Avengers.
2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (June 2016)
This sequel to the Ninja Turtles film picks up after the team has captured the villain Shredder and locked him away. However, Shredder’s minions manage to free him while he is being transported, and he teams up with scientist Baxter Stockman to conduct genetic experiments. The result: turning two criminals into a rhinoceros and a wild boar to serve his evil agenda. The turtles must also face an extraterrestrial foe—Krang, a powerful brain-like creature with advanced technology far beyond Earth's capabilities. The film also explores internal conflicts among the turtles, as they struggle with the idea of using a mutagen to become human. Megan Fox reprises her role as April O'Neil, who plays a crucial role in the turtles' journey.
3. Warcraft (July 2016)
Based on the iconic video game, Warcraft was one of the most anticipated films of the summer. The story revolves around the epic conflict between the Orcs and the Human-Elf alliance. Gul'Dan, the Orc leader, discovers the power of dark magic and uses it to strengthen his people and invade other worlds. He opens a portal to the human realm, declaring war on the Human-Elf alliance. The film showcases intense battles between the two factions, combining physical combat with magical powers. Despite the thrilling action, the misunderstanding between the Orcs and humans remains unresolved, leaving the door open for future Warcraft films.
4. Doctor Strange (October 2016)
The final Marvel blockbuster of 2016, and the second film in the MCU's Phase 3, is Doctor Strange. It follows the story of Dr. Stephen Strange, a world-renowned and arrogant neurosurgeon who lives a lavish lifestyle, driving sports cars and wearing expensive watches, while taking his loving girlfriend for granted. However, after a car accident leaves him unable to use his hands, Strange exhausts all his wealth in search of impossible cures. His journey leads him to the mystical mountains of Kamar-Taj, where he meets the Ancient One and learns of his destiny to become the Sorcerer Supreme. The Ancient One introduces him to the multiverse and trains him in the use of magic. After the Ancient One's death, Strange, along with Mordo and Wong, confronts dark forces from the multiverse, particularly the villain Dormammu. Although Strange cannot defeat Dormammu, he strikes a deal to remove the dark forces from Earth in exchange for ending the time loop in Dormammu's dimension. Dr. Strange also gains control of the Time Stone, one of the Infinity Gems, and the Cloak of Levitation chooses him as its master. In the post-credits scene, Strange meets Thor, and the two agree to team up to find Loki and bring an end to the chaos. This could lead to Strange working alongside the Avengers in future films.
5. Sadako vs Kayako (November 2016)
This Japanese horror film brings together two of Japan's most iconic ghosts: Sadako from The Ring and Kayako from The Grudge, along with the terrifying Toshio. Sadako's story follows the familiar cursed videotape that kills anyone who watches it within two days. Kayako and Toshio, however, are vengeful spirits trapped in a haunted house, unable to move on. The film focuses on two high school girls—one who watches the cursed tape and the other who encounters the haunted house. They team up to break the curse with the help of renowned exorcist Kenzo and his disciple Tamao. Kenzo devises a bold plan to bring both girls into the haunted house and make them watch the tape there, hoping to provoke Sadako and Kayako into fighting each other, giving them a chance to destroy both spirits. The film also features Toshio, who, despite being consumed by Sadako early on, adds a chilling presence. In the end, one of the girls sacrifices herself to trap both Sadako and Kayako in the well, but the film ends with an open conclusion, leaving room for future sequels.
6. Kung Fu Panda 3 (Fox)
Kung Fu Panda 3 is a 3D computer-animated film co-produced by DreamWorks Animation and Oriental DreamWorks and released by 20th Century Fox. Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson and co-directed by Alessandro Carloni, the film continues the story of Po, the Kung Fu master, following the events of Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011). It is the third installment in the Kung Fu Panda franchise. The film features the voices of Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Seth Rogen, Jackie Chan, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Bryan Cranston, Kate Hudson, and J.K. Simmons. It premiered in China ahead of the 2016 Chinese New Year but faced tough competition from the hit film The Mermaid. Kung Fu Panda 3 ultimately grossed over half a billion dollars worldwide, although it fell short of the previous film's earnings by nearly $150 million.
7. The Mermaid
The Mermaid is a film written and directed by Stephen Chow. It premiered on February 8, 2016, and grossed 3.39 billion RMB (553 million USD), holding the record for the highest-grossing Chinese film at the time for a year and a half. In China alone, this comedy film directed by Stephen Chow earned over 500 million USD, making it the highest-grossing Chinese film of all time. Released during the 2016 Chinese New Year, The Mermaid became a massive box office success.
On its opening day, the film set a record for the highest-grossing opening day, earning 272 million RMB. It also set other milestones, such as being the fastest film to reach 100 million RMB and 200 million RMB in revenue. On February 14, the film earned 316 million RMB in a single day, establishing the record for the highest daily box office earnings.
The story of The Mermaid revolves around a mermaid tribe living in the polluted waters of the Qingla Bay, which faces extinction due to a real estate company planning to turn the area into a tourist resort, using ultrasound waves to drive away aquatic life. In a desperate attempt to save her people, the mermaid San San is sent to assassinate the head of the company, Mr. Liu Xian. However, as she carries out her mission, she finds herself falling in love with her enemy.
8. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a 2016 American epic space war film directed by Gareth Edwards, with Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy handling the screenplay based on an original story by John Knoll and Gary Whitta. The film was produced by Lucasfilm and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
This film is the first in the Star Wars anthology series, set before the events of the original Star Wars trilogy. It stars Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Riz Ahmed, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, Jiang Wen, and Forest Whitaker. The plot follows Jyn Erso and a group of rebels tasked with stealing the plans for the Death Star, a devastating weapon of the Galactic Empire.
Rogue One was based on an idea conceived by John Knoll a decade before its production, and it was designed to be stylistically different from previous Star Wars films, including omitting the traditional opening crawl. Principal photography began at Elstree Studios near London in August 2015 and wrapped in February 2016, with additional reshoots in June 2016. The film premiered in Los Angeles on December 10, 2016, and was widely released on December 16, 2016, in countries including the US and Vietnam.
Rogue One received critical acclaim, particularly for its performances, action scenes, soundtrack, and darker tone, although some critics noted flaws in character development and the use of CGI to recreate the faces of certain characters. The film grossed over $1 billion worldwide, making it the second highest-grossing film of 2016 and the 22nd highest-grossing film of all time, excluding inflation. It earned two Academy Award nominations for Best Sound Mixing and Best Visual Effects.
9. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a fantasy film directed by David Yates. It serves as both a spinoff and a prequel to the Harry Potter series, with J.K. Rowling producing and also penning the screenplay based on her 2001 book of the same name.
The film stars Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander, joined by Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Samantha Morton, Jon Voight, Carmen Ejogo, and Colin Farrell in supporting roles. This marks the first installment in the Fantastic Beasts series and the ninth film in the Wizarding World franchise.
Fantastic Beasts had its premiere in New York City on November 10, 2016, and was released globally on November 18, 2016, in 3D, IMAX 4K Laser, and other large-format screens. The film received widespread acclaim from both critics and audiences, grossing $814 million worldwide, making it the eighth-highest-grossing film of 2016. It earned five BAFTA nominations, winning Best Production Design, and received two Academy Award nominations, winning Best Costume Design. It became the first Wizarding World film to win an Oscar. The sequel, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, was released on November 16, 2018.
10. Suicide Squad
Suicide Squad is a 2016 American superhero film based on the DC Comics team of supervillains of the same name, released by Warner Bros. Directed and written by David Ayer, the film features an ensemble cast, including Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ike Barinholtz, Scott Eastwood, and Cara Delevingne.
While the film was heavily criticized by critics and faced rejection in the Chinese market, Suicide Squad benefited from its large fanbase among DC Comics enthusiasts, along with a well-crafted marketing campaign that sparked public interest. Following its release, Warner Bros. announced plans for a spinoff, Gotham City Sirens, focusing on DC's female villains led by Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), and possibly a solo film for Deadshot (Will Smith).
11. The Secret Life of Pets
The Secret Life of Pets (also known as Pets) is a 3D animated comedy film released in 2016, produced by Illumination Entertainment. Directed by Chris Renaud and Yarrow Cheney, the screenplay was written by Brian Lynch, Cinco Paul, and Ken Daurio. The movie features voices from Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart, Albert Brooks, Hannibal Buress, Bobby Moynihan, Lake Bell, Ellie Kemper, and Steve Coogan. The film premiered on July 8, 2016, distributed by Universal Pictures. IMDb rating: 6.7/10.
Set in a Manhattan apartment complex, the film follows Max, a dog whose life is turned upside down when his owner, Katie, brings home a new pet, a dog named Duke. The two pets clash and get involved in a wild adventure when they encounter a vengeful rabbit named Snowball, who was trained by the military to exact revenge on happy pets and their owners.
Illumination Entertainment, known for its humorous touch, delivered a hit once again, following the success of Minions in the summer of 2015. While the storyline of The Secret Life of Pets may not be groundbreaking, the funny situations revolving around a group of pets in New York City proved to be a hit, convincing many parents to take their children to the cinema.
12. The Jungle Book
The Jungle Book (known in Vietnamese as Cậu bé rừng xanh) is a 2016 American adventure fantasy film directed by Jon Favreau, who also produced the movie. The screenplay was written by Justin Marks, based on Rudyard Kipling's collection of stories The Jungle Book, and inspired by Disney's animated film of the same name from 1967. The movie, a live-action/CGI hybrid, tells the story of Mowgli, a young orphaned boy raised by animals in the jungle, who embarks on a journey of self-discovery while facing the threat of the dangerous tiger, Shere Khan. The film stars Neel Sethi as Mowgli, with voice performances by Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong'o, Scarlett Johansson, Giancarlo Esposito, and Christopher Walken as the animal characters.
Favreau, Marks, and producer Brigham Taylor balanced the elements of Disney's animated film with Kipling's original work to craft a captivating story. Principal photography began in 2014, and the entire film was shot in Los Angeles. The Jungle Book is notable for its extensive use of CGI to bring the animals and jungle environment to life.
With stunning visual effects and a meaningful story, the live-action adaptation of The Jungle Book was a box-office success in the early summer. Disney immediately greenlit the sequel, The Jungle Book 2, which continues Mowgli's adventures in the jungle filled with new challenges.
Zootopia (also known as Zootropolis in some countries) is a 2016 American 3D animated family adventure-comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 55th film in the Disney Animated Classics series.
Directed by Byron Howard and Rich Moore, with Jared Bush as co-director, the film features voice performances by Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, J.K. Simmons, Tommy Chong, Octavia Spencer, Jenny Slate, and Shakira. Released in Disney Digital 3D, RealD 3D, and IMAX 3D on March 17, 2016 in the U.S., it had an early release in Vietnam on February 19, 2016. The plot follows an unlikely partnership between Judy Hopps, a rabbit police officer, and Nick Wilde, a fox, as they uncover a conspiracy involving the mysterious disappearance of carnivorous animals in the city of Zootopia.
The film surprised audiences by grossing over $1 billion, appealing to both children and adults with its timely themes. The story focuses on the investigation into the “savage” behavior of carnivores in Zootopia, and the duo of Judy and Nick uncovering dark secrets. Zootopia’s success was notably bolstered by strong performances in China, a major contributor to its global box office.
14. Deadpool (2016)
Deadpool kicked off 2016 with a bang as Marvel’s foul-mouthed anti-hero entered the big screen in his first solo movie. Known for his ability to break the fourth wall and talk directly to the audience, Deadpool never misses a chance to address the viewers with sarcastic quips.
Wade Wilson, aka Deadpool, is a former mercenary with exceptional skills in sword fighting and superhuman agility. After leaving the mercenary life, he falls into a spiral of drinking and promiscuity, only to be diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Wilson is then recruited by a secretive organization promising to cure his cancer through experimental methods. After undergoing painful and life-changing trials under the sadistic Francis (the main antagonist), Wilson’s cancer is eradicated, but he gains the power to heal from any injury at the cost of his appearance being horribly disfigured.
Revenge drives Wilson to adopt the alter ego of Deadpool, and he sets out to hunt down Francis and fix his ruined face. Along the way, he teams up with Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead to take down Francis and his crew. In the end, Deadpool defeats Francis, saves his girlfriend, and learns to accept his new disfigured self. Ryan Reynolds stars as Deadpool in this action-packed film.
15. Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Alongside Suicide Squad, Batman vs Superman was one of the most anticipated films from DC Comics in 2016, marking a powerful arrival for DC on the big screen.
Set 20 years after Batman left Gotham, he learns of Superman's existence and believes that Superman could pose a threat to humanity in the future. Batman (Bruce Wayne) searches for kryptonite, the only substance capable of harming Superman. After stealing it from Lex Luthor, Batman declares war on Superman, nearly killing him if not for Lois Lane’s intervention at the last moment. Following this, Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman team up to face off against Doomsday, a creature created by Lex. In the end, Superman sacrifices his life to use kryptonite to defeat Doomsday.
Two key plot points stand out throughout the film: Bruce’s dreams and Lex Luthor’s knowledge of meta-humans.
Bruce’s dream hints at the Injustice: God Among Us storyline, where Superman turns rogue and teams up with Darkseid to conquer Earth. Somehow, Flash manages to travel back in time to warn Bruce about the dangers ahead. This sets the stage for the ending, where Bruce and Wonder Woman start recruiting the first members of the Justice League: Arthur Curry (Aquaman), Barry Allen (Flash), and Victor Stone (Cyborg).
Lex Luthor has gathered information on all meta-humans on Earth. This is revealed when Bruce decodes a file, showing that Lex has known about them for a long time. At the end of the film, Lex warns Bruce about the impending threat of Darkseid from outer space. It’s still unclear how much knowledge Lex gained from accessing the Kryptonian ship.
Ben Affleck stars as Batman, Henry Cavill as Superman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor, and Amy Adams reprises her role as Lois Lane.
16. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
The direct counterpart to Batman vs Superman is the Marvel blockbuster Captain America: Civil War. This film continues the story following Avengers: Age of Ultron and kicks off Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), spanning films from 2016 to 2019.
After the devastating events in Sokovia caused by Ultron, and Wanda Maximoff’s accidental killing of innocents during a mission in Lagos, the U.S. government steps in. 117 countries sign the Sokovia Accords, placing the Avengers under United Nations oversight. This causes a rift among the Avengers: Tony Stark (Iron Man), Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow), Vision, Rhodey (War Machine), Spider-Man, and T'Challa (Black Panther) support the Accords, while Steve Rogers (Captain America), Wanda Maximoff, Clint Barton (Hawkeye), Sam Wilson (Falcon), and Scott Lang (Ant-Man) oppose it, choosing to act independently. Later, Captain America’s team is joined by Winter Soldier.
The movie focuses on Captain’s blind loyalty to his friend Winter Soldier, Tony’s grief and anger over his parents’ deaths, and T'Challa’s quest for vengeance. All these tensions are manipulated by Zemo, a former Sokovian assassin, who leaks crucial information that fuels the heroes' conflict. In the end, Zemo attempts suicide but is stopped by T'Challa, who, wearing his vibranium suit, prevents the bullet from hitting him.
The film also features the return of General Thunderbolt Ross, a key character from the Hulk movies.
At the end of the film, Captain America survives, returning to The Raft (a floating prison) to rescue his fellow Avengers. Winter Soldier resolves his misunderstanding with T'Challa, who takes him to Wakanda to undergo treatment. This differs from the comics, where Captain is shot by Crossbones on his way to trial.
The film features the familiar Marvel cast, including Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr., and Elizabeth Olsen.
