The new year is well underway as we enter award season (otherwise known as the celebrity political spotlight), but the best part of it is, we are starting to get a fresh batch of films to put on our radar. The first weekend of 2017 has passed, and while there was nothing to be too cognizant of at the box-office (except maybe another Underworld sequel), this is honestly looking to be an incredble year for nerdy films... And so, doing a little guess work, here of top 50 nerdy films of 2017 in order of anticipation.
#50) Transformers: The Last Knight
The studio has stretched this series as far as it can go, and it still seems like a large amount of moviegoers genuinely enjoy when these films get cornier and cheesier. If they would just give the Transformers a rest, this franchise would flourish in the 3D animated world, and it wouldn't need to be so mind numbing full of crude jokes and pointless explosions. Transformers: The Last Knight adds Anthony Hopkins to narrate, and then King Arthur to help fix a timeline where Nazis win WWII during an ongoing battle between alien robots that transform into automobiles. Realistically, Hollywood doesn't care, as long as they are getting paid and it's still a global sensation... plus they honestly do make solid trailers!
Trailer: Here
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $210M Domestic + $770M International = $980M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 15% Nerd Score Prediction: 5%
#Transformers #TransformersTheLastKnight #MichaelBay #MarkWahlberg
#49) King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
Speaking of King Arthur, I feel like the same movie is made once or twice a summer about a medieval folklore with loose based history, and King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is one of those films (there's also a Robin Hood: Origins movie in the works... same thing). Anyway, it's going to be dark, and gritty, and new, and you get the point. The one thing it does have going for it is director Guy Ritchie, but it doesn't seem to be his most creative effort.
Trailer: Here
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $60M Domestic + $280M International = $340M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 35% Nerd Score Prediction: 7%
#KingArthur #GuyRitchie #CharlieHunnam
#48) Annabelle 2 & Insidious: Chapter 4
It was easier to just put these movies together since they hold about the same level of excitement and potential quality. The first Annabelle was a surprising hit as one of the highest grossing horror films of all time, and the Insidious films have had sizable returns for the studio as well. They are mostly cashing in on these franchises, but they do tend to make decent films from it and give new talent a shot at the semi big leagues. Although, given these are low budget sequels, it isn't likely that they will impress either the critics or audiences.
Trailer: Annabelle 2 - Here, Insidious: Chapter 4 - N/A
IMDb: Annabelle 2 - Here, Insidious: Chapter 4 - Here
Box Office Prediction: (same) $75M Domestic + $225M International = $300M Total
Critic Score Prediction: (same) 20% Nerd Score Prediction: (same) 10%
#Annabelle2 #Insidious4
#47) World War Z Sequel
Brad Pitt still draws a crowd (so do zombies), but they are moving into uncharted territory by expanding a story that wasn't necessarily meant to be expanded. The first movie made a ton of money despite any predictability and rushed graphics, so maybe they hope to improve the model for the second go around. More than likely, it will end up a shaky repeat of the first.
Trailer: N/A
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $120M Domestic + $340M International = $460M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 26% Nerd Score Prediction: 13%
#WorldWarZ #WorldWarZSequel #BradPitt #MaxBrooks
#46) xXx: Return of Xander Cage
I don't know if I need to say much more about this one except Vin Diesel is back (probably because he got the money he wanted for it), and Fast and the Furious is still a thing so why not xXx. The first one was pretty cool, and they want to forget that one with Ice Cube, so Xander Cage is back, similar Jason Bourne in Jason Bourne. Same old xXx, just upgraded packaging.
Trailer: Here
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $100M Domestic + $140M International = $240M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 30% Nerd Score Prediction: 15%
#xXx #xXxReturnOfXanderCage #VinDiesel
#45) Resident Evil: The Final Chapter
At last we are to The Final Chapter of Resident Evil, even if every other film seemed like it was the end. This series is actually one of the only successful video game to film franchises ever, so props to that. Plus they are blissfully aware of their quality, and realize the crowd they are play to... gamers. That doesn't mean it won't have some stunning visuals or awesome choreography or scares, but it's not looking for Academy recognition, or to get close best film of the year, so you've got to respect it.
Trailer: Here
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $65M Domestic + $235M International = $300M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 24% Nerd Score Prediction: 18%
#ResidentEvil #ResidentEvilTheFinalChapter #MilaJovanovich
#44) Saw: Legacy
This one is set to under perform as far as studio expectations, but it could bring the Saw series back into the public eye. They have the original Jigsaw returning to the series, breathing some life back into the franchise (and into a character who has been dead for at least three films). It probably won't be great, but these movies try to hold the standard psychologically twisty plots, so it will at least attempt to surprise the audience somehow.
Trailer: N/A
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $60M Domestic + $100M International = $160M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 33% Nerd Score Prediction: 20%
#Saw #SawLegacy #TobinBell
#43) The Great Wall
Already with a little backlash from audiences, Hollywood puts another white guy as the hero in a primarily asian casted film, so The Great Wall will most likely struggle in the states. However, it will still find an audience overseas with the proper formula, and a bunch of money backing it. Nothing about the film seems special, and the graphics look underdeveloped while overdone, but it's got Damon, and he's likable.
Trailer: Here
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $60M Domestic + $360M International = $420M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 35% Nerd Score Prediction: 24%
#TheGreatWall #MattDamon #MaxBrooks
#42) Jumanji
Jumanji was an instant classic, so fans were not exactly pleased to see the film getting a soft reboot. The worst part is the studio looks to be altering the tone from the original by casting it as more of a blockbuster comedy. It doesn't seem that The Rock and Kevin Hart would have the same magic that Robin Williams brought in the original, but it's too early to tell. They have not revealed a good look at the film yet, but hopefully it has some respect for the property, and reinvigorates that board game.
Trailer: N/A
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $150M Domestic + $350M International = $500M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 36% Nerd Score Prediction: 25%
#Jumanji #TheRock #KevinHart
#41) The Mummy
Universal is trying all that they can to reboot their "Monster Universe," and Dracula Untold wasn't really the step they needed to get it on track. The Mummy could be a box office bomb since it is essentially a remake of the Brendan Frasier films with a sleeker look and a girl mummy instead. Although with Tom Cruise in the mix it might be a solid action film, it still doesn't look like a classic monster film we could hope it.
Trailer: Here
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $120 Domestic + $340M International = $460M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 39% Nerd Score Prediction: 27%
#TheMummy #TomCruise #Universal
#40) It
This project has some hype surrounding it since it's a remake of the cult hit TV mini series It, which was an adaptation of a popular Steven King novel by the same name. Odds are, the film will be a bit underwhelming in the hands of a fairly new director and somewhat basic cast (missing an acting icon like Tim Curry in his prime). On the other hand it could have the right blend of new since there's not much to expect, and offer up something truly frightening, but there's no reason to hold your breath.
Trailer: N/A
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $75M Domestic + $75M International = $150M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 42% Nerd Score Prediction: 31%
#It #StephenKing #Pennywise
#39) Pitch Perfect 3
Pitch Perfect maybe has a big enough fanbase to live on forever. The first film was released at a perfect time for teen covers of pop music hits (with Glee in the midst of it's success), and they banked on finding tunes that severely get stuck in your head. Overall, the movie turned out to be decent with some young talent and genuine humor. Hopefully (now being 3 deep) they don't take the Kidz Bop overload approach, and keep the charm of the franchise alive, but money is money.
Trailer: N/A
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $130M Domestic + $100M International = $230M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 45% Nerd Score Prediction: 33%
#PitchPerfect3 #AnnaKendrick #ElizabethBanks
#38) Jeepers Creepers 3
Jeepers Creepers is fan favorite horror franchise finding its way back into our hearts, and theaters. It has been 14 years since the last film, and no guarantee if anyone is set to return other than the film's creator Victor Salva, but it'll be interesting to see what he can add to the series. We can only hope that it's not the product of some studio focus group and actually get something fresh and twisted from this installment.
Trailer: N/A
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $50M Domestic + $30M International = $80M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 45% Nerd Score Prediction: 35%
#JeepersCreepers #JeepersCreepersCathedral #VictorSalva
#37) Rings
It's starting to look like the year of the horror anthology rebirth as Rings is yet another film adding onto a former successful franchise. Over a decade has passed since the last film in the series hit the big screen, and the studio is hoping to revitalize the franchise, basically with a technological update. Newer often doesn't mean better, so it probably won't achieve the acclaim of the original, but will do fine at the box office.
Trailer: Here
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $120M Domestic + $120M International = $240M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 30% Nerd Score Prediction: 37%
#TheRing #Rings
#36) Baywatch
Watch out retro-TV-fanatics, as Baywatch looks to be getting the 21 Jump Street treatment. It's a bit flashy and ridiculous, but also looks like a whole lot of fun, which is the ultimate goal with a film of this caliber. The casting of Rock and Efron was designed for box office success, good or bad, but it could be potential for some dramatic range. Regardless of expectation, hopefully there's some solid slo-mo.
Trailer: Here
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $140M Domestic + $80M International = $220M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 50% Nerd Score Prediction: 40%
#Baywatch #DwayneJohnson #ZacEfron
#35) God Particle
The very loose based horror anthology, Cloverfield, recently announced it's third film in the series, ominously titled God Particle. The news was broken by the ol' duke of nerds himself, JJ Abrams, along with the hefty undertaking of releasing a Cloverfield film once a year moving forward. Different from the films prior though, this one is set to take place in outer space, and could possibly turn the idea of monster on it's head.
Trailer: N/A
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $75M Domestic + $125M International = $200M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 52% Nerd Score Prediction: 44%
#GodParticle #Cloverfield #JJAbrams #BadRobot
#34) Death Note
Anime to film adaptations have not delivered in the slightest, but the Death Note film could possibly help change the game. So far, the studio brilliantly casted Willem Dafoe as the demon Ryuk who bears an uncanny resemblance to the actor. As a psychological horror project, the film has a much better chance with broad audiences. Where anime adaptations have suffered, Japanese horror translates beautifully.
Trailer: N/A
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $60M Domestic + $200M International = $260M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 36% Nerd Score Prediction: 48%
#DeathNote #WillemDafoe
#33) New Horror Films -
Horror has an impressive year ahead with a ton of anthology sequels, and modernized reboots, however, the genre could genuinely flourish in the field of original properties. Visionaries new and old are developing what seems like a new brand of horror, (comparable to last year's Don't Breathe) by creating stand alone projects that somewhat transcend typical horror tropes. Films including Jordan Peele's directorial debut, Get Out, Gore Verbinki's new look at horror, A Cure for Wellness, and M. Night Shyamalan's return to his roots, Split, all look to be completely unique from previous films in the genre.
Info: Here's a much better breakdown of this year's horror flicks.
Box Office Prediction: (average) $70M Domestic + $90M International = $160M Total
Critic Score Prediction: (average) 60% Nerd Score Prediction: (average) 50%
#GetOut #ACureForWellness #Split
#32) Ghost in the Shell
Here's another huge opportunity for a successful big screen anime adaptation, mainly due to Scarlett Johansson's incredible ability to lead an action film. The story could differ a little too far from the source material for fans to consider it a true win, but it has the right components for filling seats at the theaters. If they pull it off, the door would finally open to the true potential of anime to film (and then Cowboy Bebop).
Trailer: Here
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $80M Domestic + $240M International = $320M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 63% Nerd Score Prediction: 53%
#GhostInTheShell #ScarlettJohansson
#31) Friday the 13th
It's hard not to be at least a little excited about the prospects a new Friday the 13th. It's even harder to remember the last time Jason had a successful run on the big screen (and it certainly wasn't Freddy vs. Jason). They want to bring the franchise back to it's roots, which doesn't seem like too difficult of a task really, you just need a camp, some teens to kill, a hockey mask, and some good old fashioned slashing.
Trailer: N/A
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $60M Domestic + $80M International = $140M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 33% Nerd Score Prediction: 55%
#FridayThe13th #Jason
#30) The Fate of the Furious
It's another Fast and the Furious film, which has become a Hollywood addiction at this point. Given that every film in the series has been highly profitable, the studio can afford to improve the model with each installment. Granted, they aren't pushing for the Oscar, but it is an extremely reasonable blockbuster franchise since people do love cars... as well as secret espionage missions with sanctioned grand theft.
Trailer: Here
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $180M Domestic + $320M International = $500M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 60% Nerd Score Prediction: 58%
#FateOfTheFurious #FastAndTheFurious
#29) Captain Underpants
A fairly popular children's book series mostly known for it's reader interaction and silly superhero stories is coming to the big screen. Captain Underpants will probably go over great with kids and former fans, but it isn't necessarily mom humor, which is a large portion of the family film demographic. However, there's some talent in the cast and will probably have similar success to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid, so not too shabby.
Trailer: N/A
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $160M Domestic + $280M International = $340M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 55% Nerd Score Prediction: 60%
#CaptainUnderpants #EdHelms #NickKroll #ThomasMiddleditch
#28) Life
From the writers of Deadpool comes a serious science fiction thriller titled Life, and it looks insane. The biggest draw of the film is probably the casting, but from the trailer you get a vibe of The Martian meets Alien, and you can't get more timely. The concept might not be extremely original, but that could mean they have something really unique to play with, and the Reynolds and Gyllenhaal showdown looks intense.
Trailer: Here
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $75M Domestic + $225M International = $300M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 88% Nerd Score Prediction: 63%
#Life #RyanReynolds #JakeGyllenhaal
#27) Baby Driver
Edgar Wright's last big move was exiting Marvel's Ant-Man, a project he had been working on for eight years, and it's still hard to tell who was in the wrong. Either way, fans have been looking forward to his return to the screen after the finale of the Cornetto Trilogy (his films with Simon Pegg). With a unique cast, and fun get away driver who's in over his head premise, the film could be a comedy favorite of the year.
Trailer: N/A
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $50M Domestic + $110M International = $160M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 72% Nerd Score Prediction: 66%
#BabyDriver #EdgarWright #JamieFoxx #JonHamm
#26) Super Troopers 2
For a while it seemed like Broken Lizard had completely disappeared from the map, but they are making a strong come back, all based on a promise to their fans of producing a sequel to the cult classic Super Troopers. This will mark the team's first sequel attempt, so hopefully this gives the gang something fresh to play with and they maybe consider doing the same thing with their other fan favorites... Weedfest?!
Trailer: N/A
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $35M Domestic + $15M International = $50M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 60% Nerd Score Prediction: 70%
#SuperTroopers2 #BrokenLizard
#25) The Dark Tower
Here comes a new Stephen King adaptation to the big screen, a project that had been rumored for years, The Dark Tower. Originally a book series that was converted to a graphic novel, this science-fiction-horror-fantasty-western project is shaping up to be a very solid film. McConaughey actually passed on a chance to be in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 for this film, which is ultimately a gamble, but alongside Idris Elba and Jack Earle Haley it's a decent gamble to say the least.
Trailer: N/A
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $100M Domestic + $125M International = $225M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 70% Nerd Score Prediction: 72%
#TheDarkTower #StephenKing #MatthewMcConaughey
#24) Coco
Pixar rarely stumbles when they put a film on screen, but they've had a few missteps now with Brave, The Good Dinosaur, Cars 2, and arguably WALLE. Sometimes it's due to the inclusion of humans, other times it's focusing on overly goofy characters, but they have mulled over this project long enough they have probably worked out all the potential kinks. Most intriguingly was their devout focus on the culture and aim to visually stun the audience... plus it's Disney.
Trailer: N/A
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $200M Domestic + $400M International = $600M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 94% Nerd Score Prediction: 75%
#Coco #Disney #Pixar
#23) Despicable Me 3
Despicable Me is a thoroughly proven franchise at this point, and this installment comes with a major surprise. The villain will be played by none other than South Park's creator, Trey Parker. Essentially, the comedic talent in this film should guarantee a victory at the box office, even if they jump the shark (which the Minions have probably). The film has a lot of intrigue to say the least, and could maybe be the best of the franchise.
Trailer: Here
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $330M Domestic + $570M International = $900M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 70% Nerd Score Prediction: 77%
#DespicableMe3 #SteveCarell #KristenWiig #TreyParker
#22) Flatliners
Hollywood is bringing this impressive thriller back to life with a soft sequel/reboot of the original film, which had solidified some incredible careers. The premise of science students exploring death and revival is basically the same, however they will be using the data from the first film to improve the process. With an exciting cast and production team they are set to impress audiences the same way as the first.
Trailer: N/A
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $80M Domestic + $60M International = $140M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 92% Nerd Score Prediction: 79%
#Flatliners #EllenPage #DiegoLuna #KieferSutherland
#21) Pirates of the Caribbean : Dead Men Tell No Tales
This franchise began to falter as it lost the magical tone of the original film, and began to over saturate the outlandish Captain Jack Sparrow. From the looks of this sequel, however, it seems that the studio is aiming to get back to it's dark roots, and only use Sparrow sparingly in the plot with more intention on furthering the franchise. The villain looks creepy, the adventure looks swashbuckling, and again, it's Disney.
Trailer: Here
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $80M Domestic + $280M International = $360M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 75% Nerd Score Prediction: 80%
#PiratesOfTheCaribbean #DeadMenTellNoTales #CaptainJackSparrow
#20) Power Rangers
Go Go Power Rangers! We are finally getting a semi serious reboot of this classic '90s television series. This project is coming from the crew that brought Chronicle, and appears to somewhat of a replica of that project, although it seems to fit well with the Power Rangers lore. With a strong supporting cast, and a constantly growing franchise, this film is sure to be a success.
Trailer: Here
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $150M Domestic + $300M International = $450M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 60% Nerd Score Prediction: 82%
#PowerRangers #Seban #Chronicle
#19) Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
It hasn't quite hit the radar yet, but this film is shaping up to be a big surprise in 2017. It is based on groundbreaking French graphic novel from the '60s, and is being helmed by director Luc Besson of The Fifth Element and Lucy. The film has been in development for nearly 5 years, with some young talent and incredible visual effects to show for it. If all goes well, it could be the start of a giant science fiction franchise.
Trailer: Here
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $75M Domestic + $225M International = $300M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 77% Nerd Score Prediction: 84%
#Valerian #TheCityOfAThousandPlanets #LucBesson
#18) Kingsman: The Golden Circle
Here is a successful adaptation of a graphic novel, Kingsman: The Secret Service did exceptionally well in theaters, which has warranted a highly anticipated follow-up film. For an action franchise with hip spies and cool gadgets, there's already a lot of Hollywood appeal, but now as the budget grows and a new fanbase flourishes, the studio has added some heavy hitters to hopefully live up to the hype.
Trailer: N/A
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $120M Domestic + $280M International = $400M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 80% Nerd Score Prediction: 85%
#Kingsman #TheGoldenCircle #MarkMillar
#17) T2 Trainspotting
It has been a couple decades since Trainspotting, a wildly creative movie about drug abuse with some truly terrifying moments, and then some surprisingly uplifting moments. The moral of the story is drugs are bad, but now the story continues to what looks like an even deeper hole. This is not for the faint of heart, but a masterpiece for film nerds and really intriguing that we get to check in 20 years later. Choose life, and T2...
Trailer: Here
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $65M Domestic + $85M International = $150M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 96% Nerd Score Prediction: 87%
#Trainspotting #T2 #DannyBoyle #EwanMcGregor
#16) John Wick: Chapter 2
John Wick was Keanu's uncertain return to bad ass action films, and it worked quite well with the critics and the box office. It was also the debut film for both directors and now Chad Stahelski has landed the Highlander reboot, and David Leitch is hired onto Deadpool 2. The sequel to John Wick certainly looks to be bigger, and hopefully even better, with a ton of action and vengeance, Keanu style.
Trailer: Here
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $70M Domestic + $80M International = $150M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 70% Nerd Score Prediction: 88%
#JohnWick #Chapter2 #Keanu #Reeves
#15) The Lego Batman Movie
Everything was awesome about The Lego Movie, and just a few years after we are getting this totally awesome spin-off film devoted entirely to Batman. At first it was hard to imagine where the studio would draw the line between Batman and Lego, but they seem to have done a pretty hilarious job from the trailers. It'd be cool to see them use some familiar faces from the Lego Movie in cameo roles, but also understandable if Batman is all about Batman because he is all about Batman.
Trailer: Here
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $270M Domestic + $430M International = $700M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 84% Nerd Score Prediction: 89%
#TheLegoBatmanMovie #WillArnett
#14) Beauty and the Beast
The tale as old as time is hitting the big screen again in Disney's quest to recreate their faved animated classics as live features. So far, they have done a stellar job, most recently with last year's Jungle Book that stunned audiences. The studio still looks to be working on the visuals for the Beast as the animation appears slightly unrendered, but they have a few months time to find the beauty and as the saying goes, it's Disney.
Trailer: Here
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $240M Domestic + $560M International = $800M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 84% Nerd Score Prediction: 90%
#BeautyAndTheBeasty #DisneyLive #EmmaWatson
#13) Cars 3
John Lasseter, the head of everything animated at Disney, is wildly passionate about Cars. That would be the main reason why Pixar chose to fast track the poorly tuned Cars 2, however this third film has promised a big change and to end the trilogy with a bang (or more like a crash). In the teaser Lighting McQueen goes down in a race, and while not much more has been revealed, it looks rather intense. The overall tone of the film will more than likely line up with the others, but the visuals are sure to be the best we've seen in animation to date.
Trailer: Here
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $300M Domestic + $450M International = $750M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 78% Nerd Score Prediction: 93%
#Cars3 #Pixar #JohnLasseter #KaChow
#12) Kong: Skull Island
King Kong is a Hollywood icon, and as Godzilla was reborn on screen a few years back, we are now going to see an updated take on the king of monsters, most likely in the same universe (with crossover potential)! The thrill of the film is that it looks to be most frightening involving the character, plus he's going to be much bigger than any previous version. With a strong cast and studio investment, Kong: Skull Island is likely to be king of the monster films once again.
Trailer: Here
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $240M Domestic + $360M International = $600M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 72% Nerd Score Prediction: 94%
#KongSkullIsland #KingKong
#11) Wonder Woman
It may not be in theaters yet, but Wonder Woman will easily the greatest female superhero film to date, given the competition. Better than that, it looks pretty good! The brief glimpses of action are on point, and the mythological premise will probably go over well having Thor as a predecessor, not to mention the character has been tested and proven with BvS, the Linda Carter series, and 75 years of publication history. Realistically this should have happened a lot sooner (and almost did with a Joss Whedon script about a decade ago), but we are finally getting a Wonder Woman movie, and let's hope for the best.
Trailer: Here
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $240M Domestic + $380M International = $620M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 72% Nerd Score Prediction: 95%
#WonderWoman #GalGadot #ChrisPine
#10) Logan
Logan probably deserves to be higher on the list, but the 10th spot is more of a tribute to Weapon X. This will reportedly be the last appearance of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine on the big screen, and the studio is pulling out all of the stops. Some rumors even reported Deadpool was on the set, but at this point fans want to believe anything, like an after credit scene that could link to the MCU. There is no denying the Jackman has been the perfect Logan, and with a rated R finale, we get the proper goodbye.
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $180M Domestic + $280M International = $460M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 77% Nerd Score Prediction: 96%
[[yt:Div0iP65aZo]]
#Logan #Wolverine #HughJackman #OneLastTime
#9) Alien: Covenant
The Alien franchise is finally getting back to it's xenomorphic roots in the sequel to the origin prequel, Prometheus. This kind of seems like Ridley Scott is making a best of film, trying to capture what made each one unique before and then splicing them all together. Overall, there are a lot things right with this project, so given the talent involved, it should easily make the top 10 nerdy films list of 2017.
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $130M Domestic + $310M International = $440M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 91% Nerd Score Prediction: 97%
[[yt:H0VW6sg50Pk]]
#Alien #Covenant #RidelyScott #MichaelFassbender
#8) Spider-Man: Homecoming
Spider-Man is finally home, and Marvel is creating an all new look for the franchise while trying to maintain everything we know and love about the web-head. The film's casting seems substantial, the trailer is top notch, plus it has Iron-Man in it! While Sony still holds some creative control (which could have played into creating some new roles for the film's diversity), having Marvel back in charge gives this film a lot more promise. It might be too early to tell, but the potential is spectacular!
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $380M Domestic + $620M International = $1B Total
Critic Score Prediction: 88% Nerd Score Prediction: 98%
[[yt:n9DwoQ7HWvI]]
#SpiderMan #Homecoming #Marvel #Sony #TomHolland
#7) Justice League
This is probably Warner Bros. last chance to get everybody on board with the DCEU, and having their backs against the wall could be what they needed all along to genuinely listen to the fans. They are lightening up the tone, and connecting more of the dots, so hopefully they figure out how to make a less confusing film with a much more exciting climax. It will also mark the first appearance of what is essentially the original superhero team on the big screen, so in that case, it's already making history.
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $450M Domestic + $750M International = $1.2B Total
Critic Score Prediction: 77% Nerd Score Prediction: 98%
[[yt:fIHH5-HVS9o]]
#JusticeLeague #Batman #Superman #Flash #Aquaman #Cyborg #DC
#6) Thor: Ragnarok
An unworthy God of Thunder has finally met his match as Asgard is on the brink of destruction in Thor: Ragnarok. This film appears to be flipping the franchise on it's head by expanding the cast to other Marvel heavy hitters, such as the Incredible Hulk and Doctor Strange. While the first film was simply fun and passable and the second had plenty of flaws, this last film in the trilogy is determined to give the audience something they have never seen before, and it will maybe our closest chance to ever seeing a Planet Hulk movie.
Trailer: N/A
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $240M Domestic + $530M International = $770M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 96% Nerd Score Prediction: 99%
#Thor #Ragnarok #Hulk #DrStrange #Marvel
#5) War for the Planet of the Apes
The new Planet of the Apes films really don't get the credit they deserve, especially Andy Serkis, who has still not been nominated for any of his brilliant motion capture performances. Assuming that the studio is aiming to end this trilogy climactically, we can expect to see some insane ape versus man battles going on, and maybe the inevitable bridge to the happenings of the original film. The progression of this trilogy has been remarkable as we've seen the apes evolve socially and politically, and can truly understand how the planet eventually becomes overruled by an all new race.
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $200M Domestic + $500M International = $700M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 92% Nerd Score Prediction: 99%
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#WarForThePlanetOfTheApes #AndySerkis
#4) Dunkirk
A new epic WWII film brought to you by Christopher Nolan is almost all you need to know to be pumped about Dunkirk. Coming out of a shaky reception to his science fiction spectacle a few years back, Interstellar, Nolan has been quietly working on what could be a new instant Hollywood classic. While this does not necessarily meet most nerdy requirements, film buffs are going to completely eat it up, and it will probably be amongst the elite films of the year.
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $220M Domestic + $440M International = $660M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 94% Nerd Score Prediction: 99%
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#Dunkirk #ChristopherNolan #IMAX
#3) Star Wars: Episode VIII
The rebirth of this series is off to an incredible start, probably due to these new filmmakers crediting the original Star Wars trilogy as one of the main reasons they decided to make films in the first place. With the mixture of extraordinary passion and a Disney budget, any of these films are most likely going to exhilarate the audience. Director JJ Abrams of the Force Awakens will not be returning, but visionary Rian Johnson is comparable in creativity, and is known for his remarkable scripting ability.
Trailer: N/A
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $800M Domestic + $1B International = $1.8B Total
Critic Score Prediction: 87% Nerd Score Prediction: 100%
#StarWars #EpisodeVIII #RianJohnson #LucasFilms
#2) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
GotGV2 falls this high on the list primarily due to the impression the first film had on audiences everywhere, even though nobody really knew what to expect. Now that the bar is set, it wouldn't be surprising if the studio once again exceeds the expectations by giving us everything we loved about the first film (the vibrance and humor), and then adding some new dynamic elements to the story and cast, and of course BABY GROOT!!! With great music, visuals, action, acting, and currently anticipation, this film will hopefully be the best comic book movie of all time.
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $420M Domestic + $680M International = $1.1B Total
Critic Score Prediction: 92% Nerd Score Prediction: 100%
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#GuardiansOfTheGalaxy #Vol2 #BabyGroot #RocketRaccoon #StarLord
#1) Blade Runner 2049
It's hard to imagine that the first Blade Runner film happened almost 35 years ago, and we are just now getting a long awaited sequel to one of the most beloved films of all time. This will be another huge Ridley Scott project for the year, but the hype around this one completely outshines just about every other film coming in 2017. You can only imagine that it took this long just to make sure all the planning was perfect before going into production. With Harrison Ford returning, and the addition of Hollywood favorite Ryan Gosling, so far everything seems perfect.
IMDb: Here
Box Office Prediction: $150M Domestic + $350M International = $500M Total
Critic Score Prediction: 99% Nerd Score Prediction: 100%
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#BladeRunner #BladeRunner2049 #HarrisonFord #RyanGosling
So there you have it... I know I missed some films that deserved to be mentioned, but feel free to comment with any others that you are dying to see this year. I would also like to give a shout out to Marvel and DC television for their huge release schedules this year (notably the Inhumans pilot getting a special IMAX release, Netflix's The Defenders, and all of the other crossover gold that is bound to happen).
Some projects were also not worth mentioning, like Fifty Shades Darker, The Emoji Movie, and a Gambit film that Fox still swears is in development. Besides that, I plan on spending an unhealthy amount of time and money at the theater this year, it would probably be easier if I could just live there for a while...