As far as movies are concerned, 2017 looks like a blockbuster calendar. There are a whole lot of commercial giants lined up for release, making each month a cinematic feast. From dramas to comedies, thrillers to romances, all genres are well covered within this year’s list. But action definitely wins with a resounding majority. Along with originals, there are an unbelievable number of sequels in store for franchise loyalists; get set to welcome your favourite characters back in their full glory.
Famous superheroes make a grand return to save the world from evil villains, aliens and monsters, recreating a larger-than-life experience with stunning visuals and hardcore stunts. And yes, Wonder Woman has finally arrived! Every single one of these films is theatre-worthy, so make sure that you book tickets in advance.
Also, many big movies such as Kingsman: The Golden Circle, World War Z 2, Jumanji and Thor: Ragnarok couldn’t make it to this compilation due to lack of trailers. I’m sure they’ll be out soon though. With the arrival of the New Year, it’s high time. You can enjoy exciting sneak peeks into the magical realm of movies for now.
1. The Circle
Director: James Ponsoldt
Cast: Emma Watson, Tom Hanks
Initial release: April 28, 2017
A young, aspiring tech professional gets hired at an Internet corporation. She climbs the ladder quickly, finding herself in a position of power and control. But the steps she takes ahead could determine the future of humanity.
2. Logan
Director: James Mangold
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Boyd Holbrook
Initial release: March 2, 2017
Hugh Jackman is all geared up to reprise his iconic role as Wolverine in the X-Men franchise, one last time. It is 2024, and mutant birth is declining rapidly while mutant kids are on a killing spree. An ageing Logan is losing his powers and saves a young girl, very similar to him, from extreme forces, and mentors her with the hope of saving their race through a new generation.
3. Spider-Man: Homecoming
Director: Jon Watts
Cast: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Downey Jr., Michael Keaton
Initial release: July 7, 2017
Young Tony Parker returns home to live with Aunt May after a wondrous experience with the Avengers. He begins to slip into his identity as Spider-Man under the guidance of Tony Parker but must prove his mettle when the evil Vulture gets out to destroy everything close to him.
4. John Wick: Chapter 2
Directors: Chad Stahelski, David Leitch
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Ruby Rose, Common
Initial release: February 10, 2017
This time, the brilliant hit man steps out of retirement to deal with the world’s deadliest killers. On a mission that takes him to Rome, John must find a way to settle matters when his old associate plans to takeover an international assassins’ guild.
5. Beauty and the Beast
Director: Bill Condon
Cast: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans
Initial release: March 16, 2017
The famous fantasy tale is finally turning into reality! How the smart and beautiful Belle broke an age-old curse and helped a prince turn back to human from his monster avatar is the story we’ve all come to love. Now, we get see it unroll through an incredible cast and special effects.
6. XXX: Return of Xander Cage
Director: D. J. Caruso
Cast: Vin Diesel, Deepika Padukone, Ruby Rose, Nina Dobrev, Samuel L. Jackson
Initial release: January 19, 2017
Xander Cage kept himself away by going into exile. He’s now returning to get his hands on a deadly weapon that controls every military satellite in the world. With a powerful troop, Xander uncovers the conspiracy that stems from the highest levels of the government. This movie also marks Deepika Padukone’s big Hollywood debut.
7. T2 Trainspotting
Director: Danny Boyle
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, Jonny Lee Miller, Ewen Bremner
Initial release: January 27, 2017
This new take on the cult classic has everyone high in anticipation. The movie picks up 20 years later when Mark heads back to Scotland, the one place in the world that feels like home. He aims to heal severed ties with his friends so they can finally reunite.
8. The Fate of the Furious
Director: F. Gary Gray
Cast: Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Michelle Rodriguez, Scott Eastwood
Initial release: April 12, 2017
The latest segment of the most popular and beloved action series is here, once again. We meet the characters in their new, normal lives; Dom and Letty are happily married, Brian and Mia spend their days peacefully after retirement, and the rest of the gang has been inactive for a while. But when Dom is lured back to the dark world of crime by a manipulative woman, everybody else is dragged into the impending ruckus as well.
9. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
Directors: Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg
Cast: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Javier Bardem, Kaya Scodelario
Initial release: May 26, 2017
Captain Jack Sparrow can’t stay away for too long. The notorious pirate returns with a brand new adventurous journey in the midst of dangerous waters. He gets into nasty trouble when deadly ghost pirates escape from the Devil’s Triangle and will kill everyone at sea if he doesn’t find a special artefact that gives the owner complete control over the seas.
10. Bastards
Director: Lawrence Sher
Cast: Owen Wilson, Ed Helms, J. K. Simmons, Glenn Close
Initial release: January 27, 2017
Kyle and Peter grew up believing that they lost their father to cancer when they were very young. But when she informs them that she had lied and that he might still be alive, the two adults leave on a quest to find him somehow.
11. Ghost In A Shell
Director: Rupert Sanders
Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Juliette Binoche, Takeshi Kitano
Initial release: March 29, 2017
Scarlett Johansson plays The Major, a cyborg cop who is in charge of a task force called Special 9. The team tackles cyber criminals. She meets her biggest challenge in the form of a hacker who is hell bent on destroying Hanka Robotic’s artificial intelligence technology. She must stop him at any cost before the damage is done.
12. Tulip Fever
Director: Justin Chadwick
Cast: Alicia Vikander, Christoph Waltz, Cara Delevingne, Judi Dench
Initial release: February 24, 2017
Sophia is a young woman married to a rich merchant in 17th century Amsterdam. She falls for an artist who was hired to paint her portrait and switches identities with her maid to escape from her husband. Together, Sophie and her lover put their savings in the Tulip business, a big gamble at the time of the Tulip mania.
13. Blade Runner 2049
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Cast: Harrison Ford, Ryan Gosling, Jared Leto, Robin Wright
Initial release: October 6, 2017
The original Blade Runner has a scintillating legacy in the sci-fi genre of films. The next ambitious installment comes with a brand new cast, except Ford, who reprises his role as Rick Deckard. Gosling plays a blade runner who uncovers a long-kept secret with the power to throw society in a state of anarchy. This is when he goes out looking for Rick, a former blade runner who has been missing for 30 years.
14. War For The Planet Of The Apes
Director: Matt Reeves
Cast: Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson
Initial release: July 14, 2017
The nation of apes is forced to endure terrible loses at the hands of an army led by a cruel colonel. Caught in a state of war, Caesar must go through a dark and deadly fight to seek revenge and save his race. The final gruelling battle will bring the two leaders face-to-face and decide the fate of the species and their time on the planet.
15. Life
Director: Daniel Espinosa
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson
Initial release: March 23, 2017
When signs of extraterrestrial life are discovered on Mars, a crew at the International Space Station embarks on the greatest mission of all time. But as they begin to devise their methods and get to research, matters start going out of control before the true nature and intelligence of the life form is revealed.
16. Wonder Woman
Director: Patty Jenkins
Cast: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, David Thewlis
Initial release: June 2, 2017
Finally a full feature film dedicated to a female superhero! Gal Gadot plays an Amazonian warrior princess who leaves her island to venture into the world for more adventures. This gives her an opportunity to explore her powers and skills during the World War 1, as she fights alongside soldiers. In the process, she marks her place as one of the greatest heroes ever.
17. Kong: Skull Island
Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts
Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson
Initial release: March 9, 2017
Kong is back, bigger and wilder than ever. They say this is the largest version of the iconic character so far. This movie is set to take viewers to the very origins of Kong. A group of explorers travels to a remote island in the Pacific, unwittingly entering the natural habitat of the fearsome ape and other monsters. Survival seems impossible in the land of horrors but they must fight to live on.
18. Transformers: The Last Knight
Director: Michael Bay
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Josh Duhamel, Stanley Tucci, Anthony Hopkins
Initial release: June 23, 2017
This is the 5th and last instalment in the Transformers series directed by Bay. Even though the plot has been kept under wraps, we get the idea that this grand finale will give us the ultimate battle between the two worlds, as both the races strive to emerge victorious.
19. The Mummy
Director: Alex Kurtzman
Cast: Tom Cruise, Sofia Boutella, Russell Crowe, Jake Johnson
Initial release: June 9, 2017
An ancient princess is awakened in her tomb deep under the desert after millenniums. She is enraged due to the loss of her true destiny, ruthlessly snatched away from her. As she unleashes her wrath in the modern world, a way must be found to stop her evil advances over mankind.
20. Snatched
Director: Jonathan Levine
Cast: Amy Schumer, Goldie Hawn
Initial release: May 12, 2017
After her boyfriend leaves her suddenly, a heartbroken Emily convinces her unadventurous mother to accompany her on a vacation. When they go out looking for fun, they end up getting kidnapped. Stuck together while trying to find a way out, the mother and daughter’s bond is challenged as they plan the great escape.
21. Justice League
Director: Zack Snyder
Cast: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller
Initial release: November 16, 2017
This is going to be one hell of a powerhouse movie in the superhero genre. This time, we see Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, and Cyborg together. According to the storyline revealed as of now, Batman recruits a team to take down a dangerous enemy. We can’t wait for more fired-up action from the DC universe.
22. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Director: James Gunn
Cast: Chris Pratt, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Zoe Saldana
Initial release: April 25, 2017
The Guardians of the Galaxy are back to traveling across the cosmos in this Marvel Comics adaptation. They aid Peter Quill in finding out more about his true parentage while struggling to stick together. It’s time to meet the team’s extraordinary characters again in this highly anticipated sequel saga.
23. Baywatch
Director: Seth Gordon
Cast: Zac Efron, Dwayne Johnson, Priyanka Chopra
Initial release: May 26, 2017
This movie has been hyped ever since it hit the news. The reason? Priyanka Chopra plays the villain in this remake of the hit TV series. Obviously, every Indian is looking forward to seeing the actress embody such a full-fledged character. The story revolves around two lifeguards as they save their beloved bay from a criminal threat.
24. Despicable Me 3
Directors: Pierre Coffin, Kyle Balda
Cast: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Trey Parker
Initial release: June 30, 2017
When Balthazar Bratta, a child star from the ’80s, makes a plan for world domination, married couple, Gru and Lucy, must find a way to stop him. Gru also ends up meeting his lost twin, Dru, resulting in new sibling-related rivalries and complications.
25. Cars 3
Director: Brian Fee
Cast: Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Bonnie Hunt, Cheech Marin
Initial release: June 16, 2017
Gear up for more hot-wheeled drama, guys! We’re going to follow the famous red car’s adventures one more time as he tries to overtake a whole new generation of racers. Owen Wilson voices Lightning McQueen, who approaches his friend to help him succeed in the exciting mission.
26. Dunkirk
Directors: Christopher Nolan, Leslie Norman
Cast: Tom Hardy, Harry Styles, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance
Initial release: July 21, 2017
Based on real life events, this miraculous tale revolves a group of allied soldiers from Britain, Belgium, Canada, and France, stranded on the Dunkirk beaches as the German army surrounded them during World War 2. Their rescue went down as one of the greatest in history, saving members of the army from a state of capture, torture and defeat.
27. King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
Director: Guy Ritchie
Cast: Charlie Hunnam, Jude Law, Eric Bana, Djimon Hounsou
Initial release: May 12, 2017
Young Arthur’s future is tarnished when his father is murdered. His uncle steals the crown and the boy grows up facing the hardships of a tough childhood. But when his destiny takes his to the sword, he is compelled to embrace his true legacy, even if he’s not ready for it.
28. Power Rangers
Director: Dean Israelite
Cast: Naomi Scott, Dacre Montgomery, Elizabeth Banks, Ludi Lin, Becky G, Bryan Cranston
Initial release: March 23, 2017
This one’s going to be an electric film, a new rendition of the classic story of a group of high-school students and society misfits who save the world with their unique superpowers. Zordon, their mentor, trains them to stop an ancient alien in her evil plans to steal a powerful Crystal that can control life.
29. Fifty Shades Darker
Director: James Foley
Cast: Jamie Dornan, Dakota Johnson, Kim Basinger
Initial release: February 9, 2017
The second segment of this erotic series takes us back into the troubled, steamy world of Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele as they try to build a future together, even as ghosts from the past threaten to disturb their new arrangement. But their bond of intimacy and understanding might collapse under the burden of Christian’s dark secrets.
30. A Dog’s Purpose
Director: Lasse Hallström
Cast: Dennis Quaid, Britt Robertson, Josh Gad
Initial release: January 27, 2017
This heartwarming story about a dog’s purpose of bringing joy to many owners over several lifetimes will delight dog-lovers. He teaches them many valuable lessons that stay even after he’s gone. He is the furry, jumpy gift that just keeps on giving, leaving his mark in the minds of everyone who crosses his path.
2017 is going to be a good, good year!
