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The Geek's Guide To Movies In 2017
After a stellar slate of games launching in 2016, we're all excited to see what 2017 holds. However, our entertainment needs are not completely satisfied by gaming alone. Luckily, 2017 looks like it's going to sate our appetite for nerdy blockbusters, as nearly each month is lined with theatrical releases from familiar franchises.
Check out the nerdy movies of 2017 below and join us in figuring out which ones are worth braving the crowds at your local theater.
xXx: The Return of Xander Cage - January 20
The over-the-top action of the original xXx starring Vin Diesel returns in full force with The Return of Xander Cage. This film sees Diesel reprising one of his early breakout roles 15 years later, and looks somehow even more packed with implausible stunts.
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter - January 27
It's been a long and winding road through the apocalypse for Alice. Milla Jovovich returns alongside a cast of characters from the game including Claire Redfield, Albert Wesker, and more. The film has no ties to Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, but we have a feeling that the late-January release date is slightly more than a coincidence.
John Wick: Chapter 2 - February 10
Keanu Reeves reemerges as the bloodthirsty John Wick. The first chapter was a fantastic and gruesome tale of revenge that featured stellar choreography and thrilling shootouts. Why do people keep messing with this guy?
The Lego Batman Movie - February 10
DC's current run of superhero movies are dark and gritty with muted colors and somber tones. That does not appear to be the case with The Lego Batman Movie. Following in the footsteps of The Lego Movie, this film looks like it focuses on humor and action equally.
Logan - March 3
Hugh Jackman's run as Wolverine comes to an end with Logan. The film depicts an older version of the titular mutant, as well as an elderly Charles Xavier played by Patrick Stewart. The more mature themes drove this to be the first R-rated X-Men film.
Kong: Skull Island - March 10
Two giant monsters are on a collision course. We already met one of the contenders in the 2014 version of Godzilla, and now it's time to familiarize ourselves with the monster in the other corner. Kong: Skull Island reboots the King Kong franchise and sets the stage for the already-planned sequels: 2019's Godzilla: King of Monsters and 2020's Kong vs. Godzilla.
Power Rangers - March 24
Nostalgia for the '80s and '90s is hot right now, and when you talk about big franchises in the '90s, few top Saban's Power Rangers. This film reboots and reimagines the universe with an updated cast including Elizabeth Banks as Rita Repulsa, Bryan Cranston as Zordon, and Bill Hader as the voice of Alpha 5.
Ghost in the Shell - March 31
Spawned from the beloved manga, Ghost in the Shell follows cyborg commander Motoko Kusanagi as she leads her unit's attempts to take down cyber criminals. Live adaptations of manga can face several challenges, but we're hopeful that this exciting story translates well.
The Fate of the Furious - April 12
The Furious series' descent from adrenaline-fueled street racing series to adrenaline-fueled action starring possible superheroes series has been great. The latest trailer shows that everything fans have come to love about the series is intact in The Fate of the Furious.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 - May 5
The first Guardians of the Galaxy was a fun thrill ride through the cosmos with a lovable cast of characters and outstanding action. Everything we've seen about Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 2 suggests that we'll be getting more of all of that... plus Baby Groot.
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword - May 12
Guy Ritchie's King Arthur: Legend of the Sword tells the story of a young Arthur as he draws Excalibur and learns of his destiny. Starring Charlie Hunnam and Jude Law, Legend of the Sword shines the spotlight on the king's ascent to power and his quest for vengeance against an evil tyrant.
Alien: Covenant - May 19
Things aren't as they seem in the latest installment of the Alien franchise, Covenant. The crew stumbles upon what they think is a paradise in the far reaches of the galaxy, but since this is an Alien film, we doubt it'll really pan out to be that way.
On the next page, we get into the summer films of 2017.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales - May 26
Members of the original cast return with Johnny Depp reprising his role as Captain Jack Sparrow and Orlando Bloom stepping back into the shoes of Will Turner Jr. With ghost pirates, treasure hunts, and the typical supernatural elements fans have come to expect, Dead Men Tell No Tales certainly looks like a true Pirates movie.
Wonder Woman - June 2
After a decent showing with Man of Steel, the DC Expanded Universe has struggled through releases like Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad. One of the best parts of Batman v Superman was Gal Gadot's portrayal of Wonder Woman. Hopefully that shines through in this solo film and the DC films can get back on the right track.
The Mummy - June 9
In this series reboot, Tom Cruise plays Nick Morton, who discovers an ancient evil princess bent on destroying the world. The film looks good on its own, but it also serves as a kick-off to a whole new Universal monsters universe that is set to eventually feature Invisible Man, Wolf Man, Van Helsing, Creature from the Black Lagoon, and Bride of Frankenstein.
Transformers: The Last Knight - June 23
The rollercoaster of a franchise returns for its fifth entry in The Last Knight. Starring Mark Wahlberg, this film has a broad focus that ranges from extraterrestrial threats to a story involving King Arthur. If nothing else, the special effects should be amazing.
Spider-Man: Homecoming - July 7
Spider-Man finally joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2016's Captain America: Civil War. This year's Homecoming signals Spidey's full entrance into the world of the Avengers. The trailers have shown that Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark has a heavy involvement, and Michael Keaton's Vulture looks to be a fierce foe for Tom Holland's Peter Parker.
War for the Planet of the Apes - July 14
We saw how the apes ascended to power with Rise of the Planet of the Apes, how they secured that power with Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and now we get to see humanity's last stand in War for the Planet of the Apes. The film stars Woody Harrelson as a ruthless colonel willing to do whatever it takes to keep humanity alive.
The Dark Tower - July 28
Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey star in this adaptation of the long-running Stephen King novels. Rather than adapting one of the novels in the series, The Dark Tower follows the events of the final book in the series. The film is promising to be a new take on the series, which should excite fans of King's book, while enticing those who are unfamiliar with the property.
Blade Runner 2049 - October 6
The latest film in the "Old Harrison Ford Returns to Beloved Role Decades Later" series, Blade Runner 2049 is the sequel to 1982 classic. This entry stars Ford and features actors like Ryan Gosling, Jared Leto, and Dave Bautista in supporting roles.
Thor: Ragnarok - November 3
The new installment in the Thor movie series will answer several questions about what the thunder god has been up to, but also what other missing characters have been doing in the time since Age of Ultron. Based on reports, you shouldn't be surprised if heroes outside of Thor pop up in this film.
Justice League - November 17
While we're hopeful that Wonder Woman can right the ship of DC's Expanded Universe, the entire film franchise hinges on the success of Justice League. Based on the first trailer, Justice League looks to feature a more lighthearted take on the universe, which should please those who dislike the dark and heavy nature of films like Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Star Wars: Episode VIII - December 15
The still-untitled Episode VIII has a ton of questions to answer. Who are Rey's parents? How does the First Order recover after its devastating loss to the Resistance in The Force Awakens? What does Kylo Ren's training consist of? Who is Snoke? Will Mark Hamill speak? We hope to get those answers and more when Episode VIII hits theaters.
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