2016 came and went, and with it, we were left a lot of wonderful films.
It also gave us a lot of awful films.
Here at ScreenGeek, we’ve compiled what we thought were the best and worst films of 2016. We’ll kick it off with the bad.
Worst
X-Men: Apocalypse
Who would’ve thought that years down the line we would be getting our NINTH X-Men film, when the first one premiered SIXTEEN years ago. I capped those words to hammer that THOUGHT into your head on purpose. So we finally got our X-Men movie with one of their greatest villains and boy was it shit. Don’t get me wrong, I love the X-Men comics. Other than Batman and Spider-Man, the X-Men were the comics that I read as much as I could and absolutely loved the 90’s animated series. That is one of the reasons why this installment in the franchise hurt me the most.
I was able to forgive some of the character and the story inaccuracies in the previous films, but as more of these crap-errific movies are released, I can no longer be silent. This movie was fucking garbage. The character designs are a joke, the plot is idiotic, the acting is “meh” at best, and how can Bryan Singer only get progressively worse? He helped build the franchise. This movie even made me take a hard look at the franchise and had me realize that only 1 ¾ of these movies are good. Deadpool was awesome and only ¾ of The Wolverine is decent.
Anybody that thinks this movie is great or at least “good” needs to have their head checked.
P.S. F–k you, Bryan Singer and Simon. – Mark Salcido
Fifty Shades of Black
Wayans has created turds in the past, but none having quite the dreadful stench as his latest. 50 Shades of Black is one of the most degrading film experiences of my lifetime, insulting its audiences with its stupidity. – Matt Conway
Cabin Fever
Enter the most pointless “remake” of the decade: Cabin Fever. A literal shot for shot remake of the 2002 film, this non-horrific yawn of a tale sucked all of the tongue in cheek campiness of the original film out and replaced it with joyless-ness.
The story of the making of this remake was that Eli Roth was going to lose the rights to the franchise, and that a remake was going to be made, whether he likes it or not. He decided, instead, to hand off the original screenplay to a poor new director, and this turd was pooped out. A waste of time, money, and all resources, Cabin Fever is an insult to everyone involved with the process, and is essentially Roth making the rest of us feel the pain he felt for losing control of his baby.
Eli Roth, you should’ve just let a reboot happen; there is no way it could’ve been worse than this. – Sylvia Maixner
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was surely one of 2016’s most anticipated movie, but to many fans’ misery, was equally one of the most disappointing. That’s really the headline here, rather than ‘worst’, perhaps ‘most disappointing’ is more appropriate. I was really routing for this film to succeed, but just found it took far too long over plot threads, some of which could have been done quicker to establish the same things.
Lex Luthor’s portrayal, by Jessie Eisenberg, suggested to many that he was the atrociously wrong casting choice for this iconic villain. I must mention the infamous ‘Martha’ scene, in which Batman pauses his conflict with Superman at the sheer mention of his mother’s name. That whole thing didn’t make sense, I doubt I need to explain why.
The threat of Doomsday and the appearance of Wonder Woman just seemed messy, and unfortunately DC just didn’t handle multiple characters very well. The sudden introduction of ‘meta-humans’ across the world (building towards Justice League) was frankly lazy; and came in the form of a data file in an email exchange between Bruce Wayne and Wonder Woman (in secret identity mode).
The film wasn’t all bad though, Ben Affleck’s Batman was very well received, and excitement is mounting for the Justice League movie as well as the solo Batman flick. Everyone wants DC to do well, but with this film, followed by the equally disappointing Suicide Squad, they haven’t. – Rory McNeill
The Greasy Strangler
Ronnie runs a disco walking tour along with his browbeaten son, Brayden. When a sexy, alluring woman named Janet comes to take the tour, it begins a competition between father and son for her attentions. It also brings about the appearance of an oily, slimy, inhuman maniac who stalks the streets at night and strangles the innocent-soon dubbed the Greasy Strangler.
Where do I begin? Directed by Jim Hosking, The Greasy Strangler is a strange film in the sense that the directing is solid, the set design is imaginative and the soundtrack is enjoyably quirky. The problem lies however with the script. Written by Toby Harvard and Jim Hosking, this ‘black comedy’ is one of the most inane and laborious experiences I’ve had the displeasure of sitting through in recent years.
With a running time of 93 minutes, it easily feels twice as long and by the end I was left me questioning myself as to why I decided to take the risk of watching this movie in the first place. Well, one of the reasons was due to the positive reception it got from some of the critics. There were a handful reviews which highlighted the quirky, off-kilter and gross out humour that the film had on offer. I, on the other hand, saw a movie that thought repeating a sentence 15 times in a row constituted as comedy. Silly, boring and utter drivel. – Jonathan Edwards
Dishonorable Mentions: Suicide Squad, The Witch, Norm of the North, Mother’s Day, Independence Day: Ressurgence
Best
Deadpool
Deapdool was a film long awaited by fans and absolutely nailed bringing such a beloved character to the big screen. After the travesty that was the interpretation of Deadpool seen in Wolverine: X-Men Origins, fans were desperate to see a true and authentic Deadpool brought to life in film. Ryan Reynolds was the man to do this, and his efforts in protecting the Deadpool character from the clutches of 20th Century Fox enabled its success.
Deadpool’s costume was fantastic, looking from head to toe as it has always looked in the comics. The humour held the piece together, making big screen Deadpool the 4th wall-breaking, pun-cracking joker we (Deadpool fans) all know and love. The plot itself wasn’t too complex and allowed us to be introduced to Deadpool as a character. The film also remained within the X-Men Universe, showing Colossus and Nega-sonic Teenage Warhead (…I know), adding strength to this growing cinematic area of Marvel. – Rory McNeil
Don’t Breathe
Three friends looking for the ultimate score break into the house of a blind, old man. However, things do not go as planned – of course, otherwise it wouldn’t be a very interesting movie.
An excellent twist on the home invasion genre, Don’t Breathe takes a tired storyline a wraps it up in a tight experience that wastes no time messing with your preconceptions. The film is directed by Fede Alvarez and starring Jane Levy, both from the very excellent Evil Dead remake, and, much like that film, the two work together well. Levy is a powerhouse, strong and believable, and Alvarez pulls out some truly spectacular shots, bringing an artistic mastery that you rarely see in small scale horror flicks.
If you’re looking for a surprise, Don’t Breathe is a must watch from the year. – Sylvia Maixner
Moonlight
I’m sure you might have seen this movie on all the film sites’ top ten of the year, but rarely saw any ads for it and are still scratching your head on what this movie is about… I felt the same way. IMDb states that Moonlight chronicles the life of a young black man from childhood to adulthood as he struggles to find his place in the world while growing up in a rough neighborhood of Miami.
What I watched is a movie that rightfully deserves that place on every critic’s list. This film was amazing and is borderline perfect. The writing, direction, and acting are top notch and has stuck with me for weeks, even making this film critic tear up at some serious heartfelt moments. The film has already been nominated for 6 Golden Globes and I will be shocked if it’s not nominated for at least 3 Oscars.
The film hasn’t been getting a lot of commercial success, but don’t let that fool you if you just so happen to see it on the marquee at your local theater. You will not be disappointed… GO SEE IT. – Mark Salcido
Victoria
By far the best film I’ve seen this year and without a doubt one of my favourite movies of all time, Victoria is a masterpiece in modern cinema. Filmed all in one take on the streets of Berlin, Victoria is not just adventurous filmmaking, it’s a complete triumph in every aspect of film. Superbly directed by Sebastian Schipper, the visuals are crisp, the soundtrack is mesmerizing and the acting is absolutely impeccable.
Laia Costa and Frederick Lau deliver the best performances of the year as they effortlessly bring authenticity to their respective roles whilst seamlessly weaving chemistry and charisma to the screen. The naturalistic approach is completely immersive and by the films ending you’ll be left utterly speechless. – Jonathan Edwards
Zootopia
Damn Disney had a good year. Not only did they expand the Marvel Universe, to varying degrees of success, but they ended the year with both a new princess movie and a new Star Wars movie. Not to be lost in all of that cinema power housing, Zootopia is a timely film, packed with an important message all wrapped up in a cute, fluffy exterior.
Disney’s latest take on the buddy cop genre, Zootopia follows the naive, capable, and determined Judy Hopps, a bunny trying to make it in the police world. She finds herself working against not the criminal underbelly of Zootopia, but against the stereotypes of the gentle, dumb rabbit that her boss and coworkers hold against her.
Smart, yet endearing and hilarious, Zootopia pulls no punches and strives to keep away from cliches and easy outs that it could have easily leaned on. Pair that with the flawless animation that we have come to expect from Disney, a catchy soundtrack, and solid voiceacting, and you have an easy choice for best of year. – Sylvia Maixner
La La Land
A musical on this list you say? Well yes, it’s that good. This film is, for lack of a better word, “charming”. The film is a love letter to the city of Los Angeles and what people outside would perceive the city to be a magical place while showing the struggles of trying to make it in show business.
Now, before you think of brushing this off because musicals aren’t “in” as they once were, give this one a shot. The acting is good, but what really sells the film is the music and the amazing directing by Damien Chazelle. This is the same man that came on the scene in a big way with the film ‘Whiplash’. It’s not in the same vein as that film, but still very entertaining, nonetheless. So check this movie if you want something more uplifting with a bit of musical fantasy but still combining realism to the story. – Mark Salcido
Captain America: Civil War
Captain America: Civil War, otherwise known as Avengers 2.5, was Marvel’s biggest and certainly most daring film to date. Directors Mark and Antony Russo juggled the largest number of characters an MCU film has ever dealt with. Not only did they do that, but they introduced two brand new heroes to the MCU; Black Panther and Spider-Man – for whom Marvel had fought to strike a deal with Sony in order to obtain the rights to him.
The film was the biggest superhero showdown in cinematic history (as I’ve said before, taking over that which came but two weeks before it). Iron Man and Captain America going head to head in a battle that has immense implications (for the Avengers) and caused emotional stress (for the audience). Brilliantly received by critics, even acclaimed as ‘Marvel’s best film yet’, this film was a thrilling ride. I’ll just slip in that it became 2016’s highest box office hit, with an opening of $179.1 million.
Tom Holland brought a new spin to the Spider-Man character and was widely perceived as one of the best parts of the film. With so many characters, it really did seem like Avengers 2.5, but that was absolutely okay with me – if we’re getting Avengers films in between the official Avengers films, I couldn’t be happier. – Rory McNeil
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
If there is one word to describe Taika Waititi’s New Zealand base comedy, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, it would be charming. But if you wanted to throw in a few extra words, you could add thrilling, quirky and definitely heartwarming.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople focuses on ‘Bad Egg’, Ricky Baker as he absconds into the New Zealand bush with his foster father, ‘Uncle’ Hector in hot pursuit. After ‘Uncle’ damages his ankle in the dense forest, the pair are forced to live out in the forest for a few weeks. Unfortunately, this is misinterpreted by dedicated child welfare worker, Paula, as a kidnapping case who then sets out to bring them in Terminator style. Knowing that they can’t go back, the pair flee deeper into the bush, encountering Hunters, Rare Birds and Conspiracy Theorists. At the same time, the pair are gaining notoriety throughout the rest of the country, something which Ricky takes as a positive sign.
At its heart, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, is about bonds between a family, whether they are blood related or not. This is achieved mostly down to the the performances of the two main actors, Sam Neill as the cantankerous ‘Uncle’ Hec and Julian Dennison as Ricky Baker. The pair have an incredible chemistry, making the shift in the dynamic of their relationship all the more believable as Neill goes from indifferent guardian to supportive surrogate father to the young boy.
Overall, The Hunt for the Wilderpeople is most definitely worth watching, whether it be for the beautiful scenery, the enjoyable story or the wonderful performances from its talented cast. – James Hadden
Don’t Think Twice
Always rooted in a deep sense of authenticity and emotional heft, Don’t Think Twice is the rare film to properly blend the balance between drama and comedy. It’s an incredibly relatable and earnest effort, one that audiences will easily fall in love with. – Matt Conway
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
I’ll start by admitting my own foolishness – I wasn’t particularly excited to see this movie. I mean, I always intended to go to the theater opening weekend, because I love Star Wars. But my affection for the galaxy far, far away stems from my attachment to the characters. Luke Skywalker was my first movie character crush, when I was so young I didn’t even really know what a crush was. I just knew that his inherent goodness, his kindness and honesty and courage, were qualities that I was drawn to.
And so Rogue One, possessing none of the characters I love so dearly, simply didn’t spark the same enthusiasm. It would be interesting, for sure, but not the same. I was pretty indifferent to getting to know Jyn Erso and her compatriots. So I went, with my only expectation being expansion of the Rebellion’s backstory.
It took this movie perhaps fifteen minutes to blow my preconceptions out of the water. Not only were these characters interesting, but they were actually endearing. It turns out, it is indeed possible for me to care about a Star Wars cast with no Skywalkers in it. The circumstances that bring these people together are very relatable – space battles notwithstanding, we can all sympathize with wanting to rid the world of tyranny and oppression; with wanting a free and peaceful world for all; with standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our friends and allies, ready to defend them to our last breath.
They’re brought into the conflict in different ways, by different motivations. But they soon realize that they all have the same determination to disable the Empire by any means necessary. The sacrifices made are heartbreaking, and by the final battle on Scarif, I was genuinely in tears. And I never cry watching movies. But in the two hours they inhabited the screen, these courageous souls managed to endear themselves to me exponentially more than I ever expected. Their bravery and camaraderie make the ending equal parts tragic and triumphant. You know how it’s going to end, and yet, you love them so much that you hope against hope for a different outcome.
It was an incredible film based entirely on the strength of its characters and plot, and dialogue. The incredible effects are just the extra icing on an already delicious cake. The inclusion of General Tarkin – portrayed once again by Peter Cushing, despite his death in 1994 – is a marvel of modern filmmaking technology. The space battles are first-rate, seamlessly working in footage from the original 1977 film. And Darth Vader’s moment of epic badassery will leave your jaw on the floor.
When it was over, most of the people in the theater stood and clapped, with tears in their eyes. I was one of them. For far exceeding my expectations, and for being a thoroughly worthy chapter in the Star Wars mythos, Rogue One is my choice for best film of the year. – Jennifer Huneycutt
Honourable Mentions: American Honey, Heaven Knows What, The Unknown Girl , The Lobster, The Handmaiden
So there you have it. Be sure to tell us your picks for best and worst of 2016 in the comment section at the bottom of the page!