2016 and 2017 is going to be a good year of exciting movies.  From gripping rebel dramas to dark science fiction to beloved Disney classics brought to life, these are the movies that I can’t wait to see in the theaters.  Here are my top favorite upcoming movies:

Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them

What would this list be without Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them?  For every Harry Potter fan out there this is exciting addition to the universe that we have grown to love.  Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a companion book to the series that delves into all the mysterious and intriguing creatures of the Harry Potter universe.  The movie follows the adventures of Newt Scamander as he tracks down fantastical beasts in hidden American magical community in New York.

I like the era chosen for the movie and how we get to see  a part of the universe we’ve only had vague references to.  We get to see how the American wizarding world is like and we get an action packed ride full of exciting creatures.  Newt Scamander is also sure to become a fan favorite as he seems lovable and whimsical.

Written by JK Rowling, this film is an interesting adaptation that comes from the source herself, and interesting addition to the Harry Potter mythology.  Check out Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them on November 17 2016.

Star Wars: Rogue One

This stand alone movie is an interesting expansion of the Star Wars universe.  Star Wars: Rogue One is the story of the rebel group that stole the plans of the Death Star.  This is a pivotal moment in the Star Wars story as it is these very plans that Princess Leia smuggles off her ship in R2D2 in Star Wars episode 4: A New Hope.

What I liked about this trailer is how this movie looks dark and gritty much more than a typical Star Wars movie.  It also seems to have delve into a realistic looking war scenes.  I like the dark tones and the spectacular cinematography, and I can’t wait to meet this new group of characters.  It looks gripping and intense.

Star Wars Rogue One comes out on December 16, 2016.

Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast was one of my favorite Disney movies of all time.  I really can identify with Belle being a lover of books myself and how can I forget to mention the iconic yellow ball gown she wears when she dances with Beast.  I think the main theme that really stuck with me as a child is the idea that you should never judge a book by its cover and that true love can break any curse.  You learn to love the person inside and not the physical part of a person.

I am excited to see this beloved classic come to life, and I love Emma Watson as Belle.  She definitely fits the part.  Watching the trailer brought back so many happy childhood memories and I can’t wait to see this story come to life on the screen.

Beauty and the Beast comes into theaters on March 17, 2017.

Ghost in the Shell

This movie is probably one that I am the most excited about.  Adapted from the critically acclaimed and revolutionary Ghost in the Shell anime movie and series, this movie has gotten a lot of attention from the anime community.  Fans are both excited for this adaptation and critical of it.  Some people don’t like the fact that Scarlett Johansson is playing the role of Major Motoko Kusanagi, who is a Japanese in the anime.  I personally think that Scarlett Johansson embodies the role well and will do an amazing job with the role.

Ghost in the Shell takes place in the near future and follows the story of Major Motoko Kusanagi and her special force unit Public Security Section 9.  Section 9 tracks down cyberterrorists in a world where people’s bodies, including their brains, are cybernetic.  A dangerous hacker, known only as the Puppet Master, is hacking the brains of people and forcing them to do as he wants leading to death and mayhem.

This is the main plot line of the 1995 original anime movie Ghost in the Shell.  Judging by the trailer, as seen above, it looks as if they are going to stay true to the original anime movie.  Now there is another criticism for this movie, which is a general criticism for any anime live action adaptation from Hollywood, and that is that there hasn’t been a decent adaptation of anime source materials to date.

I think this movie may just break that bad cycle (or at least I hope so) because I love the trailer.  It looks on point in character design and set design.  I liked the dark, cyberpunk look that the original Ghost in the Shell was known for.  I can’t wait to see Ghost in the Shell which hits theaters on March 31, 2017.

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

This is the second movie that I am so excited to see, and it was one that I had no idea about until I saw the trailer.  Directed by Luc Bessom, the acclaimed director of Fifth Element, this movie looks to be a visual stunner.

There is not much that I know about this movie other than the trailer and what is on Valerian wikipedia page.   According to the Valerian Wikipedia Page, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is based off of a French comic Valérian and Laureline by Pierre Christin.  The premise of the story centers on Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne), special operatives of the human government, sent to the mega city Alpha to keep the peace.  Alpha is home to one thousand species, but trouble is brewing.

The original comic by Pierre Christin was a benchmark for pop culture and comics in France.  It is a long running series that started in 1967 and ended in 2010.  This just makes me even more interested in the movie and it makes sense that Luc Bessom would adapt this story as it most definitely had an influence on the Fifth Element.

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets hits theaters on July 21, 2017.