Upcoming Superhero Movies of 2016

Comic books inspired generations of heroes and villains. Not every comic book simplifies good versus bad. Comic books delve into complex issues of race, sexuality, and socio-economic status to challenge the good versus bad narrative. Our superhero movie rankings encapsulate the most popular movies, yet 2016 may change our rankings as more rankings come in the future.  In 2016, the superhero movie genre turns to the dark side. Here we take a look at the eleven movies set to come out this year (twelve including Deadpool, which is currently in theaters) to see how the genre plans to diversify itself and challenge the good versus bad narrative. The genre remains strong, with films that follow traditional superhero plotlines that will attract audiences as well as others that feature new heroes to capture a wider audience.

Deadpool
 

Expected Release Date: February 12
Status: Released

Trailer: Official trailer #2 here

Director: Tom Miller 

Writer(s): Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Fabian Nicieza, Rob Liefeld
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Karan Soni, T.J. Miller, and Morena Baccarin

Budget: $58 million

Deadpool challenges sexuality in the superhero genre like no other movie before. Deadpool is rated R. Superhero movies attempt to stay in the PG-13 rating, as the film industry wants to attract family audiences. However, Deadpool defied convention and accepted the R rating. Despite that, so far (as of March 3, 2016) the movie has grossed over $294 million worldwide, proving that superhero movies can venture into the R rating with a great plot. Deadpool, Wade’s alter ego after a failed military experiment, wants to take revenge on the man who broke him. The character’s comical antics and his repeated breaking of the fourth wall  make the movie a contrast to the traditional narrative that superhero movies have had in the past. Deadpool (2016) also challenges the view of the government being the good guy, unlike movies such as the Avengers (2012). The government tortured Wade and turned him into Deadpool and he wants revenge. Deadpool (2016) has changed the superhero genre from the beginning of this year.

Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice

Expected Release Date: March 25
Status: Completed

Trailer : Official final trailer here

Director: Zack Snyder (also directed Man of Steel (2013)) 
Writer(s): Chris Terrio, David Goyer, Bob Kane, Bill Finger, Jerry Siegel, and Joe Shuster 
Cast: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, and Amy Adams 
Movies in series: Man of Steel (2013, ranked 33^rd)

Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice pits two superheroes against each other. Who will prevail? Though this question has been debated by fans, the film industry decided to capture the battle on film. Batman and Superman must team up with Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) to defend the world of Doomsday. Batman contends that Superman’s powers must be checked as Superman cannot save the world alone. Metropolis needs a hero, but it grapples with what kind of hero they want. The films challenges the types of heroes needed to save the world. The film asks whether heroes should have unchecked powers. Batman would argue no and Superman would argue yes. Both heroes are generally seen as good guys and this plot line adds depth to the good versus bad narrative.

Captain America: Civil War

Expected Release Date: May 6
Status: Post-production 
Trailer: Latest trailer here from Super Bowl 2016 
Director: Anthony Russo and Joe Russo (both also directed Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)) 
Writer(s): Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely, Mark Millar, Joe Simon and Jack Kirby   
Cast: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlet Johansson, and Elizabeth Olsen 
Movies in series: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011, ranked 20th), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014, ranked 14th), Iron Man (2008, ranked 3rd), Iron Man 2 (2010, not ranked), Iron Man 3 (2012, ranked 29th), The Avengers (2012, ranked 2nd), and Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015, ranked 45th)

Captain America (Chris Evans) and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) disagree on how to hold the Avengers accountable in Captain America: Civil War. Captain America argues that the government should not oversee the accountability of the Avengers and Iron Man argues the opposite. In previous films, Captain America and Iron Man bantered with each other, but this fundamental disagreement begs the question what the Avengers stand for. Should the Avengers go above the law or should the government, on behalf of the people, check their power? In asking this question, the superhero genre deepens the conversation on the role of government in society.

X-Men: Apocalypse

 

Expected Release Date: May 22
Status: Post-production

Trailer: Latest trailer from Super Bowl 2016 here

Director: Bryan Singer (also directed X-Men (2000), X-Men 2 (2003), and X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014))

Writer(s): Simon Kinberg, Bryan Singer, Michael Dougherty, and Dan Harris
Cast: Olivia Munn, Jennifer Lawrence, and Michael Fassbender

Movies in series: X-Men (2000, ranked 16th), X-Men 2 (2003, ranked 8th), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009, ranked 43rd), X-Men: First-Class (2011, ranked 18th), and X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014, ranked 17th)

X-Men will unite to save the world from Apocalypse who cannot die, as he has amassed so much power in X-Men: Apocalypse. Apocalypse remains bitter at what the world has become and wants to create a new world order. X-Men must use their powers to defeat him and save all of humanity. The movie is set to become a blockbuster as it comes out before Memorial Day weekend, one of the biggest weekends for the film industry.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows

Expected Release Date: June 3
Status: Post-production

Trailer: Trailer 2 available here

Director: Dave Green

Writer(s): Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, Peter Laird, and Kevin Eastman

Cast: Megan Fox and Stephen Amell

Movies in series: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014, not ranked)

The turtles must save the city from a dangerous threat in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows. The film should be more humorous than other superhero movies and target a younger audience (a stark contrast from Deadpool), as the turtles are not the traditional superheroes of Marvel and DC Comics.

Suicide Squad

Expected Release Date: August 5
Status: Post-production

Trailer: Extended trailer 1 and 2 here

Director: David Ayer

Writer(s): David Ayer and John Ostrander
Cast: Margot Robbie, Ben Affleck, Scott Eastwood, Jared Leto, Viola Davis and Will Smith

Movies in series: Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

  

Suicide Squad enlists supervillains to help with bigger missions that the public cannot know about in exchange for clemency. Writers David Ayer and John Ostrander (comic book) turn supervillains into dark superheroes. These superheroes were not super; they committed crimes and ended up in jail. The government seeks to use their dark side to prevent a larger disaster. Suicide Squad helps diversify the superhero genre by challenging what a hero is. Can a hero be created from a villain? This remains to be seen until the film comes out in August.

Doctor Strange

Expected Release Date: August 4
Status: Filming

Trailer: No trailer out

Director: Scott Derrickson

Writer(s): C. Robert Cargill, Steve Ditko, Thomas Dean Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, and Jon Spaihts
Cast: Rachel McAdams, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Tilda Swinton 

Movies in series: None

Marvel's Doctor Strange must save the world from evil. Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) works under a sorcerer after a disgraceful end to his career. He can no longer perform surgeries without magic, as his hands experienced nerve damage. Therefore, he must work harder to do the things he used to do and use magic to save the world. Doctor Strange (2016) will add to the already existing Marvel lineup and it remains to be unseen how this story will cross with the Avengers side of the Marvel universe.

Gambit

Cover of The Uncanny X-men No. 266, Gambit's first appearance in the Marvel Universe.

Expected Release Date: October TBD, most likely to be pushed to 2017 according to here and here
Status: Pre-production

Trailer: No trailer out

Director: Doug Liman

Writer(s): Chris Claremont and Joshua Zetumer
Cast: Channing Tatum and Léa Seydoux

Movies in series: X-Men (2000, ranked 16th), X-Men 2 (2003, ranked 8th), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009, ranked 43rd), X-Men: First-Class (2011, ranked 18th), and X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014, ranked 17th)

Gambit has not started filming yet, which means it is likely that the release date will be moved to 2017. There is not much known on the plot line of the movie itself, except that Channing Tatum is expected to star as Gambit. Gambit has appeared in previous X-Men films. He has the power to use the potential energy of an object.

The superhero genre is expanding in 2016, and the depth of characters is exciting. New questions about heroism are being asked, which keeps the genre relevant. 2016 should be a profitable year for the superhero film industry as the plot lines could attract a wider audience. Since the genre is always growing, 2017 looks like it will be a blockbuster year too with the expected releases of Untitled LEGO Batman movie (February 20), Untitled Wolverine Movie (March 3), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 (May 5), Wonder Woman (June 23), Untitled Spiderman Reboot #2 (July 7), Thor: Ragnarok (November 3), and Justice League Part 1 (November 17). We will keep updating the this article as more information comes out about the upcoming films.