40. “Vox Lux”
Director: Brady Corbet (“Childhood Of A Leader”)
Cast: Rooney Mara, Jude Law
Synopsis: Drama set between 1999 and the present day, following a young woman as she rises from tragedy to become a pop superstar
What You Need To Know: Having done an apprenticeship of sorts by working with an impressive array of European auteurs (including Michael Haneke, Lars Von Trier, Olivier Assayas, Mia Hansen-Love and Ruben Ostlund), Brady Corbet’s been stepping behind the camera in recent years, writing the powerful “Simon Killer” and “The Sleepwalker,” before directing the impressive, if not all-the-way-there “Childhood Of A Leader.” As ever, he’s not lacking in ambition for his second feature: it’s a musical drama telling the story of the 21st century so far, with original songs by Sia, and a pair of A-listers in Mara and Law. Oh, and it’ll be shot on 65mm film too. Even if it’s another swing-and-a-miss like his last movie, it should be a fascinating to watch, and maybe, just maybe, the ambition pays off.
Release Date: Starts shooting in January, so could be ready for Venice or similar.
39. “Thelma”
Director: Joachim Trier (“Oslo August 31st”)
Cast: Eili Harboe, Kaya Wilkins, Ellen Dorrit Petersen, Henrik Rafaelsen
Synopsis: A young woman falls in love, only to discover she has terrifying powers.
What You Need To Know: One of the most under-appreciated films of the last year or so was Joachim Trier’s “Louder Than Bombs,” the English-language debut by the Norwegian helmer behind “Reprise” and “Oslo August 31st.” But while the beguiling, fascinating film failed to find much of an audience, we’re as excited as ever by Trier, and news that he’s going into more genre-ish territory for his next film, which sees him return to Norway, only has us more keen. Not much is known exactly how this one will work, but expect it to be very different from most supernatural fare, given the director in charge.
Release Date: A return to Cannes seems fairly likely.
38. “Where Life Is Born”
Director: Carlos Reygadas (“Post Tenebras Lux”)
Cast: Unknown
Synopsis: A bull-breeding rancher is left distraught when his wife leaves him for another man.
What You Need To Know: As one of the most singular talents to emerge this century, the five-year absence of Carlos Reygadas from our screens since “Post Tenebras Lux” has been felt more than most. But that absence is coming to an end, as Reygadas reportedly began shooting his latest feature, “Where Life Is Born” last year, and we should see the fruits soon. Seemingly retaining the Mexican rural setting he’s mostly worked with before now, this apparently examines, among other things, open relationships, and sounds like a potential step away from the experimenta of his last movie. But then, with Reygadas, you never quite know.
Release Date: Surely headed for Cannes.
37. “Kong: Skull Island”
Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts (“The Kings Of Summer”)
Cast: Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John C. Reilly, John Goodman
Synopsis: In the 1970s, a group of scientists, government officials and soldiers travel to an uncharted island in the Pacific, but soon find that they’ve stumbled upon the home of a giant ape named Kong — and he might be the friendliest thing on the island…
What You Need To Know: With only a little more than ten years since we last saw seminal movie monster King Kong on screen, in Peter Jackson’s often great but deeply bloated 2005 film, we wondered if there was much more to do with everyone’s favorite giant monkey. But from the buzz and footage so far, it seems like Jordan Vogt-Roberts has delivered on the promise of his excellent debut “The Kings Of Summer” with a very different take on the story from anything we’ve seen before. Riffing principally on “Apocalypse Now” but with a bunch more influences in the mix too, trailers so far have seemed both genuinely epic and light-footed in tone, thanks in part to a terrific and eclectic ensemble of actors. Potentially the blockbuster surprise of the year.
Release Date: March 10th
36. “Thor: Ragnarok”
Director: Taika Waititi (“Hunt For The Wilderpeople”)
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Mark Ruffalo, Tessa Thompson
Synopsis: In an attempt to restore his father to the throne, and fend off new villain Hela, Thor must team with old ally Bruce Banner/the Hulk and his brother Loki for a journey that will cross the Nine Realms.
What You Need To Know: Amidst the might of the Marvel Cinematic Universe so far, the “Thor” films feel like the slightly unloved black sheep, particularly the rightly lamented sequel “The Dark World.” So why are we more excited about the third film in the series than the other two Marvel movies this year? Well, for one, the cast is superb: Ruffalo’s Hulk joining the fun, Cate Blanchett as the villain, Tessa Thompson as new hero Valkyrie, and Jeff Goldblum, Karl Urban and Sam Neill joining all the existing players. But mainly it’s director Taika Waititi, who’s been on a hell of a run after “What We Do In The Shadows” and “Hunt For The Wilderpeople,” and seems like an inspired choice to make the “Thor” universe finally click on screen.
Release Date: November 3rd
35. “The Circle”
Director: James Ponsoldt (“The End of the Tour”)
Cast: Emma Watson, John Boyega, Tom Hanks, Patton Oswalt, Karen Gillan
Synopsis: A young woman lands a job at a mysterious Google-style tech giant
What You Need To Know: Best-selling author and McSweeneys founder Dave Eggers has had mixed success on screen so far — his script for Spike Jonze’s “Where The Wild Things Are” was masterful, his one for Sam Mendes’ “Away We Go” slightly less so, and Tom Tykwer’s adaptation of his novel “Hologram for The King” was kind of a bore. But given James Ponsoldt’s A+ track record so far (with “Smashed,” “The Spectacular Now” and “Master Of None” also on his CV), this tech-world satirical thriller could be something special, particularly the fascinating cast, including John Boyega’s first big post-“Star Wars” role, Ellar Coltrane’s first after “Boyhood,” and America’s dad Tom Hanks in a rare supporting turn.
Release Date: April 28th – we’d guess a SXSW premiere first, or maybe Sundance
34. “Get Out”
Director: Jordan Peele
Cast: Daniel Kaluuya, Alison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Catherine Keener, Lakeith Stanfield
Synopsis: An African-American man visits his white girlfriend’s parents in suburbia for the first time, and though he’s initially welcomed, starts to suspect that something sinister is going on under the surface.
What You Need To Know: With “Key & Peele’ sadly finishing its amazing five-year run in 2015, Keegan-Michael Key has become virtually omnipresent, in both leading roles and supporting ones. But Jordan Peele, their joint star vehicle “Keanu” aside, has been quieter on screen, but that’s because he’s been busy behind camera, with his feature filmmaking debut. And while it seems to show the dark and provocative sense of humor that he’s known for, it’s actually a horror movie first and foremost, with an irresistible — and frankly, timely — premise, and backing from low-budget horror maestro Jason Blum. The cast looks killer (including a well-deserved lead role for Daniel Kaluuya) and the trailer was excellent, so this could well be one of the big sleepers of 2017.
Release Date: February 24th, with possibly a Sundance bow first.
33. “Mudbound”
Director: Dee Rees (“Pariah”)
Cast: Carey Mulligan, Jason Mitchell, Garret Hedlund, Jason Clarke, Mary J. Blige
Synopsis: Henry and Laura, a Memphis married couple move to a cotton farm in the Mississippi Delta in 1946, while Henry’s brother Jamie returns from war with a friendship forged with Ronsel, an African-American son of the tenant farmers on the family farm.
What You Need To Know: Dispiritingly, six years have passed since director Dee Rees premiered her sublime feature debut “Pariah” without her releasing another big-screen movie (though her HBO film “Bessie” won deserved acclaim a few years back). Fortunately, she’s back in 2017 with a melodrama that could turn out to be a stealth Oscar contender. Based on Hillary Jordan’s best-selling 2008 novel that examines racial injustice, PTSD and family tragedy, all timely subjects despite the period setting, and with backing from “The Imitation Game” producer Black Bear, and a terrific cast led by Carey Mulligan, expect to hear a lot more about this one.
Release Date: Filming was wrapped by the summer, so this could be at Cannes, but Telluride/TIFF are probably more likely.
32. “How To Talk To Girls At Parties”
Director: John Cameron Mitchell (“Hedwig and the Angry Inch”)
Cast: Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, Ruth Wilson, Matt Lucas, Alex Sharpe
Synopsis: In 1970s London, hapless punk wannabe Enn falls for a girl at a party only to discover she and her friends are aliens sent to prepare the way for a mysterious interplanetary ritual that will put Enn and his newfound love in mortal peril.
What You Need To Know: After two carnal classics in ‘Hedwig’ and “Shortbus‘ director John Cameron Mitchell surprised everyone with a left turn into somber drama with the Nicole Kidman film “Rabbit Hole.” Kidman returns for this whimsical coming-of-ager, based on an award-winning Neil Gaiman short story which the director co-wrote for the screen with Philippa Goslett. It’s a punk-inflected story (so we expect a cracking soundtrack) and a romantic comedy with sci-fi-ish elements, so it’s another brand new string to Mitchell’s bow, and it’s looking increasingly like he can do anything. Plus this cast, with the destined-for-greatness Fanning, and the already-great-in-everything Wilson as well as Kidman? We’re there.
Release Date: No word yet.
31. “T2: Trainspotting”
Director: Danny Boyle (“Trainspotting”)
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, Johnny Lee Miller, Ewan Bremner, Kelly MacDonald
Synopsis: Sequel to the cult hit “Trainspotting,” picking up with Renton, Spud, Sick Boy, Begbie and Diane twenty years on.
What You Need To Know: Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose an Oscar-winning movie with “Slumdog Millionaire.” Choose to become a national hero by directing an amazing Olympics opening ceremony. Choose a widely-derided scuzzy thriller follow-up with “Trance.” Choose an Oscar-bait biopic of a tech genius that fails to connect with an audience (undeservedly). Choose to make a long-talked about sequel to the film that broke you into the mainstream. Choose to mostly discard “Porno,” Irvine Welsh’s novel sequel to his original book. Choose to reunite with the A-list actor you made a star but who you fell out with after choosing Leonardo DiCaprio to star in “The Beach” instead of him, as well as the rest of the original cast, many of whom have become U.S. network TV staples since. Choose to release a trailer that suggests the same inventive energy of the original, but with everyone a little bit older. Choose to give your film the same name as “Terminator 2,” for some reason. Choose “T2.”
Release Date: March 3rd, with an earlier UK date of January 27th. Expect a Sundance premiere.