Top Ten Favorite Movies of 2016

Below is a list of my ten favorite movies of 2016. (List subject to change in near future): 

TOP TEN FAVORITE MOVIES OF 2016

1. “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” - Zack Synder directed this excellent and vastly underrated second installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) about supervillain Lex Luthor’s efforts to manipulate veteran vigilante Batman into a preemptive battle with Superman, whom Luthor is obsessed with defeating. Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill starred as Bruce Wayne aka Batman and Clark Kent aka Superman. 

2. “Suicide Squad” - David Ayer wrote and directed this very entertaining adaptation of the DC Comics series about a group of anti-heroes and villains forced by the government to battle a supernatural sorceress bent upon world conquest. Will Smith and Margot Robbie starred in this third DCEU installment. 

3. “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” - Eddie Redmayne starred in this excellent spin-off of the Harry Potter series about the adventures of a British wizard in the wizarding community of 1926 New York City. David Yates directed. 

4. “Hidden Figures” - Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monáe starred in this Oscar nominated biopic about the true story of African-American women who provided NASA with important mathematical data needed to launch the program’s first successful space missions. Theodore Melfi directed. 

5. “The Magnificent Seven” - Antoine Fuqua starred in this second remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1954 movie, “The Seven Samauri”, set in the Old West. Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt and Ethan Hawke starred. 

6. “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” - Gareth Edwards directed this stand alone film in the Star Wars saga about a group of Rebels who learn about the Imperial Galaxy’s new weapon, the Death Star, and set about stealing the plans. Felicity Jones and Diego Luna starred. 

7. “The Nice Guys” - Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling starred in this comedy mystery about an enforcer and private detective in 1977 Los Angeles investigating the connection between a missing girl, the porn industry and the automobile industry. Shane Black directed. 

8. “Ghostbusters” - Paul Feig wrote and directed this funny reboot of Ivan Reitman’s 1980s supernatural comedy about ghost chasers in New York City. Melissa McCarthy, Kristin Wiig, Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon starred. 

9. “Love & Friendship” - Kate Beckinsale starred in this first-rate adaptation of Jane Austen’s 1794 novel, “Lady Susan”, about a wry and calculating widow who pursues wealthy husbands for both herself and her daughter. Whit Stillman wrote and directed the movie. 

10. “Zootopia” - Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman starred in this excellent Oscar nominated Disney animated film about a rookie bunny cop and a cynical con artist fox must work together to uncover a conspiracy. Byron Howard and Rich Moore directed.