The Most Anticipated Films of 2017

Next year looks really good. Here is an attempt to narrow the offerings down to a mere 30 anticipated:

30. “The Darkest Hour” Dir. Joe Wright 

I’m a sucker for the drama surrounding WWII.

29. “Murder on the Orient Express” Dir. Kenneth Branague 

I love this story and tend to like this directors films.

28. “The Lost City of Z” Dir. James Grey 

I love the era of exploration.

27. “Life” Dir. David Espinoza 

Mars hard scifi.

26. “Ghost in the Shell” Dir. Rupert Sanders 

This one feels obligatory.

25. “Dunkirk” Dir. Christopher Nolan 

Not usually a fan of these sorts of war stories, but your can’t count Nolan out.

24. “Spiderman” Dir. Jon Watts 

This is my least anticipated Marvel for 2017.

23. “The Coldest City” Dir. David Leitch 

I’m even more of a sucker for Cold War drama, and Cold War Berlin ups the ante.

22. “Kong: Skull Island” Dir. Jordan Vogt-Roberts 

Another obligatory offering, but it does look impressive.

21. “Table 19” Dir. Jaffrey Blitz 

My chick-flick selection for the year.

20. “The Autopsy of Jane Doe” Dir. Andre Ovredal 

One of the few horror on my list this time around.

19. “Alien: Covenant” Dir. Ridley Scott 

Hoping he can do better than last time, but honestly it wasn’t too bad.

18. “The Lego Batman Movie” Dir. Chris McKay 

I am contractually obligated to watch all Batman films.

17. “The Circle” Dir. James Ponsoldt 

One of three intriguing films based on books I haven’t read.

16. “Red Sparrow” Dir. Francis Lawrence 

Another…

15. “The Snowman” Dir. Tomas Alfredson 

And the other.

14. “War for the Planet of the Apes” Dir. Matt Reeves 

I have liked the new Apes stories, just not as much as the original.

13. “Bladerunner 2049” Dir. Denis Villaneuve 

I hope they don’t screw this one up.

12. “Flatliners” Dir. Niels Arden Oplev 

Another continuation of a beloved (for me anyway) film from the eighties.

11. “Wonder Woman” Dir. Patty Jenkins 

Should we give the DC cinematic universe another shot? Should we?

10. “Star Wars VIII” Dir. Rian Johnson 

Rian Johnson has only made films I have liked a lot. Here’s hoping he does Star Wars well.

9. “A Cure for Wellness” Dir. Gore Verbinski 

This one was on my list when it was supposed to come out in 2016. It looks even more amazing than I hoped. Verbinski has so far done no wrong.

8. “Coco” Dir. Lee Unkrick 

Pixar.

7. “Logan” Dir. James Mangold 

I like Wolverine and I like Mangold.

6. “The Dark Tower” Dir. Nikolaj Arcel 

I really hope this ends up being good. I haven’t red past the first book, but want to. Also, Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey.

5. “It” Dir. Andrew Muschietti 

This is a risky film in so many ways. I hope it doesn’t bomb; and I hope I can sleep afterwards.

4. “Thor: Ragnarok” Dir. Taika Waititi 

Thor has been a weak aspect of the MCU, but Waititi is amazing.

3. “Baby Driver” Dir. Edgar Wright 

I will still watch anything Edgar Wright does.

2. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” Dir. James Gunn 

The first might have been my favorite entertainment of the decade so far.

1. “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets” Dir. Luc Besson 

This looks like what I wish Star Wars was more like.