Movie launches · Reel 05
A movie slated for release almost every week of the year — and superheroes blazing the trail. Here is our verdict on the five launches that mattered most.
You can brag that 2017 delivered some of the biggest movie launches in memory, and you won’t be wrong. There was a film slated for release in almost every week of the year. Some made it to the Oscar nominations; others simply grabbed the top spot at the box office.
Superhero movies are blazing the trail — and some of them have made it to the top list. Here is my verdict on the biggest movie launches in 2017.
Launches ranked
5
Biggest gross here
$404m+
Superhero entries
2
Vin Diesel entries
2
DC’s Amazonian character made her solo debut in Wonder Woman, building up to the Justice League. Although it was initially unclear how she would be woven into that larger story, Princess Diana of Themyscira had already helped Superman and Batman defeat Doomsday in Dawn of Justice. The film carried a PG-13 rating — no surprise for the superhero genre — and, released on June 2, Wonder Woman can only be called a success, grossing over $404 million.
Two different stars — Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield — had previously worn the mask under Sony. Now, in the creative hands of Marvel Studios, the mantle of Peter Parker passes to Tom Holland. He made his debut in Captain America: Civil War, but Homecoming is his first solo outing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Alongside his new-found mentor Tony Stark, Peter struggles to balance life as a regular school kid with life as a superhero. Homecoming has earned more than $350 million since release.
The death of Paul Walker was a huge blow to the Fast and Furious franchise, and as the seventh instalment closed there was a burning question over the saga’s fate. But for a series that had grossed more than a billion dollars worldwide, a sequel was only ever a matter of time. This time the crew faces its biggest threat yet, as Dominic (Vin Diesel) is forced to work for the cyber-terrorist Cipher. As always, the film is packed with insane car stunts.
I was thrilled to spot Neymar Jr. in this explosive third chapter of the blockbuster series. Xander Cage — Vin Diesel again — is forced out of self-imposed exile to team up with Xiang on a quest to recover Pandora’s Box. Some of the seemingly impossible stunts pulled off in this movie will simply blow your mind.
Trailing the success of the first chapter, Chapter 2 offers a glimpse into the past life of the former hitman John Wick, played exceedingly well by Keanu Reeves. It ends on a cliffhanger that sets up a very promising third chapter.
