21 Hollywood movies to look forward to in 2016Jan 2(AZINS) You're going to be hard-pressed to save money this year. Almost every month -- hell, every week for that matter -- can be expected to throw up films you'll want to watch on the big screen. Of course, there are the tentpole films to plan months in advance for, but there are also so many potential blockbusters and sequels in the fray, it's just about anyone's year, really.

In fact, there's so much, we had to leave out a lot of names on this list. So, if the film you're looking forward to, doesn't feature here, it's probably because there's only so many films you can write about. This is my list. What's yours?


SUPERHEROES GO DARK

Deadpool

Director: Tim Miller
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, TJ Miller, Ed Skrein
Story: Former special forces operative Wade Wilson undergoes an experiment in a bid to beat cancer. The result leaves him with healing powers, disfigured skin, an unsound mind and a dark and twisted sense of humour. A tale of revenge, told in the most non-serious way possible.
USP: The fact that the Merc With A Mouth finally has a film. The fact that the makers are trying to be as NSFW as possible. Expect too much violence, too many expletives, too much is never much in the Deadpool universe. Loving all the trailers out so far!
Releasing: February 12

Batman Vs Superman

Director: Zack Snyder
Cast: Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Godot, Jason Momoa, Jesse Eisenberg
Story: The trailer tells you enough. The events of Man Of Steel hapissed of Batman who leaves Gotham and travels to Metropolis to fight Superman, afraid of the dangers posed if he remains unchecked. Then there's Lex Luthor to contend with...
USP: Doomsday is coming. And Eisenberg as Lex, that should be something. And Wonder Woman finally making it to the big screen!
Releasing: March 25

Suicide Squad

Director: David Ayer
Cast: Margot Robbie, Will Smith, Scott Eastwood, Cara Delevingne, Jared Leto, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney
Story: On paper, it doesn't exist. Any government agency seeking to control a group of super-villains is asking for trouble. But Amanda Waller is convinced she can rein them in. Think 'evil Justice League', except they're doing it in exchange for shorter prison sentences.
USP: The Fury director is at the helm. Robbie as Harley Quinn and Jared Leto as the Joker. What's not to like?Leto as the Joker. What's not to like?
Releasing: August 5

X-Men: Apocalypse

Director: Bryan Singer
Cast: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar Isaac
Story: The first mutant awakes and seeks to cleanse humanity and create a new world order. He isn't just immortal and invincible, he's been worshipped as a god for millennia. Of course, Charles Xavier and his X-Men have to save the humans once again. Easier said than done.
USP: Oscar Isaac has had a great year. Him as the larger-than-life Apocalypse, makes him a star to watch out for.
Releasing: May 20

Captain America: Civil War

Director: Anthony and Joe Russo
Cast: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan
Story: Politicians want the Avengers to be held accountable in cases of collateral damage and regulated by a government body. Iron Man aka Tony Stark is all for it, Captain America not so much. A new enemy rears its head.
USP: The Russos return. Expect all kinds of tie-ins and introductions to new characters.
Releasing: May 6

ANIMAL INSTINCTS

Jungle Book

Director: Jon Favreau
Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Christopher Walken
Story: You know the story. A boy named Mowgli is raised by by wolves and has Bagheera the panther and Baloo the bear for mentors and friends. His nemesis is the tiger Shere Khan and he soon has to leave home because of Khan. He soon runs into Kaa the python and large ape King Louie.
USP: Based on the Rudyard Kipling book. Part CGI, part live action, the film's first trailer has its visual splendour on full display.
Releasing: April 15

The Legend Of Tarzan

Director: David Yates
Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Samuel L Jackson, Margot Robbie, Christoph Waltz, Djimon Hounsou
Story: Tarzan returns to the jungles of Africa, Jane by his side. This time as John Clayton III, Lord Greystoke unaware that he is a pawn in a deadly convergence of greed and revenge, masterminded by the Captain Rom.
USP:  The cast. The visual effects. The action scenes
Releasing: July 1

Zootopia

Director: Byron Howard and Rich Moore
Cast: Idris Elba, Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman
Story: A fox and a rabbit, best friends? Who'd have thunk it? But, in Zootopia, they're forced to by circumstance when they get framed.
USP: The voice cast. The fact that the film deal with stereotypes. The natural conflict between the two animals.
Releasing: March 4

Kung Fu Panda 3

Director: Alessandro Carloni, Jennifer YuhAlessandro Carloni, Jennifer Yuh
Cast: Jack Black, Bryan Cranston, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, JK Simmons, Dustin HoffmanRogen, JK Simmons, Dustin Hoffman
Story: Po finds his biological father (remember this being teased during the end of the last film?) and soon finds himself at a village of pandas, where they're nothing like him. Will love find him (a female panda remembers being promised to him in marriage as children)? Or will an evil spirit named Kai come spoil his peace of mind?
USP: Pure awesomeness where Po is concerned. New villain. A village full of pandas. Cranston as Po's pop.
Releasing: April 1

Finding Dory

Director: Andrew Stanton
Cast: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Diane Keaton, Eugene Levy
Story: It sounds far-fetched, but Dory remembers. She recalls her childhood memories and something about the 'jewel of Monterey, California'. With the help of Nemo and his father Marlin, she finds her way back to her family. Not before she has a few adventures along the way.
USP: Awesome voice talents. Great animation. Fantastic brand recall.
Releasing: June 17

OTHERWORLDLY OUTINGS

Alice In Wonderland: Through The Looking Glass
 
Director: James Bobin
Cast: Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska, Sacha Baron Cohen, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter
Story: When we last saw Alice Kingsleigh, she had set sail on the high seas. Upon her return to London, she finds a magical looking glass that returns her to Wonderland to find that the Mad Hatter, is not himself and has lost his Muchness. While on a quest to borrow a Chronosphere, a metallic globe, she returns to the past. All the while, racing to return in time to save the Hatter.
USP: Sacha Baron Cohen joining the franchise as Time himself. And Depp, of course.
Releasing: May 27

Doctor Strange

Director: Scott Derrickson
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwitel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Tilda Swinton
Story: Neurosurgeon Doctor Stephen Strange suffers a horrific car accident, limiting the use of his hands, leading him to seek out a magical cure.
USP: That cast! And the joy of seeing another beloved character from the MCU make it to the big screen.
Releasing: November 4

Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them

Director: David Yates
Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Colin Farrell, Jon Voight, Ezra Miller, Samantha Morton, Katherine Waterston
Story: Based on the JK Rowling book, this Potter spinoff has wizard Newt Scamander arriving on the US for a meeting with an important official from the country's Magical Congress with a magically expanded briefcase which houses a number of dangerous creatures and their habitats. The creatures escape... Typical.
USP: Pottermania hangover. That and Rowling debuting as screenwriter. The teaser's looking good, for something that releases 11 months later.
Releasing: November 18

Independence Day: Resurgence

Director: Rolan Emmerich
Cast: Jeff Goldblum, Liam Hemsworth, Bill Pullman
Story: Saving the world was always going to be a team effort. That is, if the people in this story learnt anything from the events of the War of 1996. So, using that alien tech they recovered, they create a defense system. Not enough. Those aliens they defeated the last time sent home a distress signal. Fresh aliens drop by with a bigger fleet to end the human race... again!
USP: It's a wonder they waited 20 years to put out a sequel. Just as well... they say good things come to those who wait. Topped with dollops of cheese. PS: Jeff Goldblum's back, too.
Releasing: June 24

Star Trek: Beyond

Director: Justin Lin
Cast: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Idris Elba
Story: Captain James T Kirk and the USS Enterprise are attacked by an unstoppable wave of unknown aliens, who destroy the Enterprise, leaving them stranded on a new planet. Also expect: new villain.
USP: JJ Abrams rebooted this franchise superbly. Also, this film has Elba. The first two films had strong villains, so yeah, fingers crossed. The first trailer disappointed, but we aren't losing hope just yet.
Releasing: July 22 (US)

The Huntsman: Winter's War
 
Director: Cedric Nicolas-Troyan
Cast: Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth, Jessica Chastain, Emily Blunt
Story: Get introduced to Evil Queen Ravenna's kid sis Ice Queen Freya, who'd been raising huntsmen. Two of them defy her and fall in love. She resurrects Ravenna using the Magic Mirror and the two raise twice the horrors.
USP: Theron. Blunt. Chastain. Hemsworth. No KriStew. Phew!
Releasing: April 22

BE VERY AFRAID

The Revenant
 
Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Will Poulter
Story: Revenge brings back explorer Hugh Glass back from the dead. After being left for dead by members of his hunting team following a brutal attack by a bear and a betrayal by a trusted confidante, he returns, possessed by sheer will. Hell hath no fury like a man back from the dead.
USP: Alejandro (Oscar winner), Leo (Oscar seeker) and Tom. Also, a story like this shows you the monsters that can be found in the hearts of men.
Releasing: Feb 19Feb 19

Pride And Prejudice And Zombies

Director: Burr Steers
Cast: Lily James, Sam Riley, Matt Smith, Lena Headey, Suki WaterhouseHeadey, Suki Waterhouse
Story: The undead overrun 19th century England and it is up to feisty Elizabeth Bennet, master of martial arts and weaponry to end their misery. Liz and Darcy find love in a hopeless place, so as to speak.
USP: Just look around... zombies are the cinematic monsters du jour. This one happens to be based on a 2009 novel by Seth Grahame-Smith, parodying Jane Austen classic. Features a supermodel. Also features a former Doctor Who. Yay!Grahame-Smith, parodying Jane Austen classic. Features a supermodel. Also features a former Doctor Who. Yay!
Releasing: Feb 5 (US)

Conjuring 2: The Enfield Poltergeist

Director: James Wan
Cast: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson
Story: Ed and Lorraine Warren cross the pond to suss out some spooky activity at a council house in Enfield, a borough of Enfield.
USP: The original film was a big hit and the lead characters have great recall along audiences.
Releasing: June 10

The Forest

Director: Jason Zada
Cast: Natalie Dormer, Taylor Kinney
Story: Sara visits Japan in search of her twin sister, who has mysteriously disappeared in a forest where people go to die. No, really!
USP: Dormer headlines the otherwise unknown cast (except for Lady Gaga's boyfriend).
Also, the Aokigahara Forest actually exists in Japan and this isn't made up... people do go there to commit suicide. Over the years, several hundreds have. Creepy AF.
Releasing: January 8 (US)

Ghostbusters

Director: Paul Feig
Cast: Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, Chris Hemsworth
Story: Forget the alligators in the sewers and invading aliens, the all-new ghost-busting girl gang from New York now has to contend with dead criminals from all eras. Expect pilgrims, sailors and gangsters to rise.
USP: With some of the funniest names in the business in the cast and Hemsworth for a receptionist, this much awaited reboot of a beloved franchise, turns the gender tables on its head and shows much promise. Trailer isn't out yet, so reserving judgement on the content. But excited nevertheless.
Releasing: July 15