This post is spoiler free.
2016 wasn't a great year in general, but there were some pretty amazing #movies released. This list doesn't take into account every movie released this year, simply because there are so many (and I haven't seen them all). However, these are my #recommendations based on the ones that I have seen. Every single one of these was released (or made available) in the UK in 2016.
There are a variety of movies focusing on different age ratings and genres, so hopefully there's at least one that you'll want to check out if you haven't already!
This list is in no particular order, and all ratings are according to IMDb and might be slightly different in varying countries.
The Revenant
15 Rating | Adventure, Drama, Thriller
Director: Alejandro G. Irritu | Writers: Mark L. Smith (screenplay), Alejandro G. Irritu (screenplay), based on the novel by Michael Punke | Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Will Poulter, etc
This movie was actually first released in 2015, however, it became available in the UK in January 2016.
"A frontiersman on a fur trading expedition in the 1820s fights for survival after being mauled by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team." - IMDb
Although I'm not sure if I would rush out to re-watch this movie, it's definitely one that everyone needs to see at least once. It does a great job at grabbing your attention and holding it throughout the entire movie despite it's length (around 2 and a half hours). The story is actually incredibly interesting, and at the very least the movie is just very beautiful to look at, and has an amazing score to go along with it. The whole thing is honestly an experience that you need to have for yourself.
My Rating: /5
Deadpool
15 Rating | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Director: Tim Miller | Writers: Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick | Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, T.J. Miller, etc
"A fast-talking mercenary with a morbid sense of humor is subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers and a quest for revenge." - IMDb
You might remember that Wade Wilson/Deadpool was in X-Men Origins: Wolverine and was done terribly, but don't worry, this movie does an amazing job! We finally get the Wade Wilson/Deadpool we deserve. He's foul mouthed, has a sick sense of humour, can be very violent, and much much more, but deep down he's still a pretty awesome and kind person when he wants to be. There is a love story within this movie, which does play a huge part, but it's not all about that. Overall Deadpool is just a really funny, interesting, and action packed. It's a typical superhero movie in some ways, but it's also different to anything else in the X-Men/Marvel movie worlds at the moment. The best thing about Deadpool though? It doesn't take itself too seriously and is incredibly meta.
My Rating: /5
10 Cloverfield Lane
12A Rating | Drama, Horror, Mystery
Director: Dan Trachtenberg | Writers: Josh Campbell (story/screenplay), Matthew Stuecken (story/screenplay), Damien Chazelle (screenplay) | Starring: John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Gallagher Jr.
"After getting in a car accident, a woman is held in a shelter with two men, who claim the outside world is affected by a widespread chemical attack." - IMDb
10 Cloverfield Lane is part of an anthology that so far consists of Cloverfield (2008), and upcoming film God Particle (2017) all of which are produced by J.J. Abrams. This particular instalment is just as good as its predecessor. The major change with this movie is that it's not done in the style of found footage. A lot of people complained about motion sickness when it came to Cloverfield, but don't worry, that's not the case with this one. With any J.J. Abrams movie (whether he produces, directs, writes, etc) you can always tell it's done by him, and this movie is no different. As a big fan of Abrams, 10 Cloverfield Lane has that familiarity, but it still manages to keep you on your toes and even surprise you. The characters, despite there only being three, are interesting, and although the movie takes place primarily in one location you never get bored.
My Rating: /5
Zootopia
PG Rating | Animation, Adventure, Comedy | Also titled Zootropolis
Director: Byron Howard, Rich Moore | Writers: Byron Howard (story by), Rich Moore (story by), etc | Starring: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, etc
"In a city of anthropomorphic animals, a rookie bunny cop and a cynical con artist fox must work together to uncover a conspiracy." - IMDb
As a huge Disney lover I was looking forward to this movie from the moment I heard about it and it did not disappoint! Everyone raved about it when it came out and they were not wrong. Zootopia is filled with an incredibly important message, but it doesn't feel forced or jammed down your throat at all. The movie is still fun and interesting. The characters are lovable, the story line is good, the movie keeps your interest, it's visually pleasing, and the soundtrack is pretty good too. At the very least you'll enjoy this movie and it'll pass some time, but don't be surprised if you love it by the end!
My Rating: /5
The Jungle Book
PG Rating | Adventure, Drama, Family
Director: Jon Favreau | Writers: Justin Marks (screenplay), Rudyard Kipling (based on the books by) | Starring: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, etc
"After a threat from the tiger Shere Khan forces him to flee the jungle, a man-cub named Mowgli embarks on a journey of self discovery with the help of panther, Bagheera, and free spirited bear, Baloo." - IMDb
From the trailers alone this movie looked amazing, and it didn't disappoint. It's not a musical, there are a couple of songs that the characters sing, like the classic Bare Necessities, but that's it. The plot is similar to the Disney animated movie, however it's a lot closer to the book, so if that's something you didn't like about the Disney version then you don't have to worry so much. Visually it's a beautiful movie and Neel Sethi's acting is incredible, especially considering his age and the fact he worked primarily with CGI characters.
My Rating: /5
Hush
15 Rating | Horror, Thriller
Director: Mike Flanagan | Writers: Mike Flanagan, Kate Siegel | Starring: Kate Siegel, John Gallagher Jr., Michael Trucco, etc | IMDb
"A deaf writer who retreated into the woods to live a solitary life must fight for her life in silence when a masked killer appears at her window." - IMDb
This was one of those movies that I found on netflix and then saw everyone talking about it. After a short while I decided to give it a go and it did not disappoint. Despite it taking place in one location and containing primarily two characters it manages to keep your interest. The plot is simple, but executed incredibly well, and you're told just enough about the characters to become invested. It's one of those movies that once it's over you want to recommend it to everyone and watch it all over again.
My Rating: /5
Finding Dory
U Rating | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Director: Andrew Stanton, Angus MacLane | Writers: Andrew Stanton (original story by), Andrew Stanton (screenplay), etc | Starring: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Ed O'Neill, etc
"The friendly but forgetful blue tang fish begins a search for her long-lost parents, and everyone learns a few things about the real meaning of family along the way." - IMDb
You can see my review over on my blog to get my full thoughts on this movie. There are spoilers at the end of the post, but the rest is spoiler free! Simply put, Finding Dory has all the things you loved about Finding Nemo, but with much more added on top, from new characters to a great message.
My Rating: /5
Suicide Squad
15 Rating | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Director: David Ayer | Writers: David Ayer | Starring: Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, etc
"A secret government agency recruits some of the most dangerous incarcerated super-villains to form a defensive task force. Their first mission: save the world from the apocalypse." - IMDb
You can see my review over on my blog to get my full thoughts on this movie. The review is spoiler free! Simply put, Suicide Squad isn't perfect. It has problems with editing and pacing in some places, but for the most part it's enjoyable and the characters are so well done that it almost makes up for it all.
My Rating: /5
The Fundamentals of Caring
15 Rating | Comedy, Drama
Director: Rob Burnett | Writers: Rob Burnett (screenplay), Jonathan Evison (novel) | Starring: Craig Roberts, Paul Rudd, Selena Gomez, etc
"A man suffering an incredible amount of loss enrolls in a class about care-giving that changes his perspective on life." - IMDb
You can see my review over on my blog to get my full thoughts on this movie. The review is spoiler free! This movie was another one of those that I saw on netflix and heard everyone talking about it, so I finally decided to check it out for myself. This one didn't disappoint either. I laughed out loud a few times and by the end of the movie I honestly felt satisfied and a little inspired.
My Rating: /5
Tallulah
15 Rating | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Director: Sian Heder | Writers: Sian Heder | Starring: Ellen Page, Allison Janney, Tammy Blanchard, etc
"Desperate to be rid of her toddler, a dissatisfied Beverly Hills housewife hires a stranger to babysit and ends up getting much more than she bargained for." - IMDb
Tallulah is another movie that is available through netflix. I don't know what I expected going into this movie, but I loved it by the time I was done. It was funny, but also surprisingly serious in places. The cast do an amazing job especially Ellen Page and Allison Janney. The story line was a little predictable in some places, but it's still executed well and the characters are interesting and are probably the best part of the whole movie.
My Rating: /5
Money Monster
15 Rating | Crime, Drama, Thriller
Director: Jodie Foster | Writers: Jamie Linden (screenplay), Alan DiFiore (screenplay), etc | Starring: George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Jack O'Connell, etc
"Financial TV host Lee Gates and his producer Patty are put in an extreme situation when an irate investor takes over their studio." - IMDb
You can see my review over on my blog to get my full thoughts on this movie. The review is spoiler free! When I first heard Jodie Foster was directing this I was instantly intrigued. I remember seeing the trailer when she and George Clooney were on a talk show. From there I saw the rest of the cast, all of that mixed with how good the movie looked, made me sit down and watch it. With all of these great names attached I knew it would be good, but it was so much more than I expected.
My Rating: /5
Don't Breathe
15 Rating | Crime, Horror, Thriller
Director: Fede Alvarez | Writers: Fede Alvarez, Rodo Sayagues | Starring: Stephen Lang, Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, etc
"Hoping to walk away with a massive fortune, a trio of thieves break into the house of a blind man who isn't as helpless as he seems." - IMDb
You can see my review over on my blog to get my full thoughts on this movie. The review is spoiler free! I remember everyone raving about this movie, so naturally I had to check it out so I could see for myself if it really was as good as they say, and it's safe to say that is. Yes, in some places it's a little predictable, but most of that comes at the last possible second so a lot of the impact is still there. You'll be invested from start to finish and just when you think it's over, something else is right around the corner.
My Rating: /5
Arrival
12A Rating | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Director: Denis Villeneuve | Writers: Eric Heisserer (screenplay), Ted Chiang (based on the story "Story of Your Life") | Starring: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, etc
"When 12 mysterious spacecraft appear around the world, linguistics professor Louise Banks is tasked with interpreting the language of the alien passengers inside." - IMDb
You can see my review over on my blog to get my full thoughts on this movie. The review is spoiler free! Arrival is an adaption of a short story, and it's evident, in a good way. Despite the movie being nearly 2 hours long the creators have done a fantastic job at expanding the story and making it fit that length of time. The space is filled perfectly and although there isn't a ton of action, the characters and story keep you invested the entire time. I will honestly say I was thinking about this movie for a long time after I saw it.
My Rating: /5
Nerve
15 Rating | Adventure, Crime, Thriller
Director: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman | Writers: Jeanne Ryan (novel), Jessica Sharzer (screenplay) | Starring: Emma Roberts, Dave Franco, Emily Meade, etc
"A high school senior finds herself immersed in an online game of truth or dare, where her every move starts to become manipulated by an anonymous community of "watchers."" - IMDb
You can see my review over on my blog to get my full thoughts on this movie. The review is spoiler free! I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. It looked interesting from the moment I saw the trailer, and I just kept putting it off. It's visually pleasing and the plot, although a tad bit predictable, is well executed and keeps your focus the entire time.
My Rating: /5
Other movies that might be your thing:
All of these movies I would still highly recommend, however, they're either 1) sequels where watching the others would be best, 2) I didn't enjoy them quite as much, or 3) general opinions on the movie is split, some people love them while others hate them.
Batman V Superman (IMDb) | My Rating: /5
Captain America: Civil War (IMDb) | My Rating: /5
Criminal (IMDb) | My Rating: /5
The Purge: Election Year (IMDb) | My Rating: /5
The Boy (IMDb) | My Rating: /5
Independence Day: Resurgence (IMDb) | My Rating: /5
Marauders (IMDb) | My Rating: /5
The Conjuring 2 (IMDb) | My Rating: /5
Bridget Jones's Baby (IMDb) | My Rating: /5
Do you have your own suggestion for a movie released in 2016 that everyone should check out? Leave it below in a comment!