Yearly, there are a unique set of film anniversaries to have fun. There are milestones just like the twenty fifth or fiftieth anniversary of a movie’s launch, and 2026 can have loads of these, resembling Star Wars celebrating its fiftieth. However, that is additionally when 2016 films will all flip 10 years previous.
2016 was a monumental yr for the film trade, with Marvel, DC, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and different franchises releasing new installments. This yr’s movies additionally led to one of the vital controversial moments in Oscars historical past throughout the 2017 ceremony. For all of those titles, it is arduous to imagine that 10 years have already handed since they debuted and created new reminiscences for film watchers.
Batman v Superman: Daybreak of Justice
Batman, Superman and Marvel Girl lastly shared the massive display for the primary time in live-action with 2016’s Batman v Superman: Daybreak of Justice. Zack Snyder’s second entry within the DC Prolonged Universe laid the groundwork for Justice League and was meant to be a launching pad to a sprawling interconnected universe.
Batman v Superman was one of many extra divisive movies of 2016, and that status has not light after a full decade. Snyder’s interpretation of the DC Trinity has no scarcity of vocal supporters who recognize him pushing these characters in new instructions. The best way he did it additionally turned off loads of viewers, even when it nonetheless did large enterprise on the field workplace, incomes $874 million worldwide.
Captain America: Civil Conflict
The Marvel Cinematic Universe kicked off Section 3 with certainly one of its greatest films by making Captain America: Civil Conflict. Also known as Avengers 2.5, the Captain America solo film introduced in Iron Man and plenty of different Avengers as Earth’s Mightiest Heroes have been turned in opposition to one another.
This may at all times be a landmark second for the MCU, because it marked the introduction of Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther and Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. Because the film that proved the Russo brothers may deal with Avengers-level movies, the tenth anniversary is quite well timed since they’re formally returning to the MCU in 2026 for Avengers: Doomsday.
La La Land
It is arduous to imagine that we’ll quickly be 10 years faraway from Sebastian and Mia’s emotional farewell. Damien Chazelle’s brightly coloured musical with a large number of toe-tapping songs and extremely choreographed dances is certainly one of my favourite films of 2016.
Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are large in La La Land, delivering all of the emotional appearing, singing, and dancing essential to make it work. The truth that this went on to be such a large success (incomes $447 million worldwide) is an ideal reminder of how a lot the field workplace has modified in a decade.
Deadpool
The film that just about by no means occurred, Deadpool proved Ryan Reynolds had the products to be Wade Wilson if given a correct likelihood. Using the character’s fourth wall breaking and taking full benefit of the extent of violence and vulgarity doable with an R-rating, this stays a defining superhero film.
In any case, if it wasn’t for Deadpool‘s success, we by no means would’ve gotten Logan or any of the Deadpool sequels. Now we have loads to thank this film for within the superhero film style, in addition to Hollywood at massive. And to assume it would by no means have been made if Reynolds did not leak the take a look at footage all these years in the past.
Arrival
Denis Villeneuve delivered a sci-fi masterpiece 10 years in the past with Arrival. Taking over the arrival of an alien species via the lens of communication, the film tells a really human story in opposition to its sci-fi backdrop, with Amy Adams main the best way with an emotional efficiency.
Whereas not solely an unbelievable movie in its personal proper, Arrival performed a significant function in Villeneuve’s ascention via the trade and changing into certainly one of Hollywood’s signature sci-fi storytellers. If it hadn’t been so properly obtained, maybe we by no means would have gotten his Blade Runner 2049 or his Dune films.
The Good Guys
2016 was an enormous yr for Ryan Gosling, along with his different launch, The Good Guys, remaining a cult-favorite 10 years later. He stars alongside Russell Crowe in Shane Black’s buddy-cop movie that’s completely hilarious, loaded with nice motion, and extremely sensible.
The love for The Good Guys over time could be seen with how usually requires The Good Guys 2 to be made flow into on-line. It will be an actual disgrace if Gosling and Crowe by no means get an opportunity to return to this world. Maybe the tenth anniversary will deliver some long-awaited excellent news on that entrance.
Moonlight
Moonlight stands out as top-of-the-line films of 2016, with it even successful Greatest Image on the Oscars following the La La Land card mix-up. That is the film that actually put Barry Jenkins on the map as a director due to the distinctive and touching approach he showcased Chiron’s life over time.
Moonlight‘s Oscars win is among the most vital of the twenty first Century. It pushed A24 to a brand new degree and made Mahershala Ali a uncommon Black actor to win an Academy Award. Moonlight additionally gave Jenkins the ability to make many different films as a director, author, or producer, resembling If Beale Avenue May Discuss.
10 Cloverfield Lane
Bear in mind the Cloverfield franchise? The J.J. Abrams-produced sci-fi collection bought its second installment in 2016, with Dan Trachtenberg’s 10 Cloverfield Lane impressing viewers when it did arrive. Regardless of its small scale, the movie is extremely tense, boasts sturdy performances (particularly from John Goodman), and sufficient sci-fi motion by the top.
The Cloverfield collection won’t have discovered a lot success after 10 Cloverfield Lane, however it did do wonders for Trachtenberg. It took some time, however he is now crafting the Predator franchise and taking the talents he displayed right here to a a lot larger scale. None of that may have occurred if not for 10 Cloverfield Lane.
Star Trek Past
It is arduous to imagine that the final Star Trek film got here out 10 years in the past. The third entry within the Kelvin Timeline introduced the crew of the usS. Enterprise again as soon as extra, with Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldaña, Karl City, Simon Pegg, and the late Anton Yelchin all featured. Star Trek Past is an immensely enjoyable installment of this collection, with director Justin Lin ramping up the motion and spectacle.
Regardless of making $343 million on the field workplace, Paramount didn’t ever get a sequel off the bottom. Whereas there’re loads of Star Trek TV reveals on Paramount+, the collection has left followers dissatisfied by not making Star Trek 4 or just any film over the past decade.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
After celebrating Star Wars: The Power Awakens‘ tenth anniversary in 2025, Lucasfilm and Disney now get to relive the glory of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The franchise’s first standalone film expanded what a Star Wars film could possibly be and seem like, even when the trail to get there was fairly rocky, and introduced Darth Vader again for an all-time nice last scene.
Not solely is Rogue One usually within the dialog to be Disney’s greatest Star Wars film, however it’s liable for arguably giving the franchise its greatest launch that George Lucas wasn’t concerned in: Andor. The hit Disney+ collection by no means would’ve occurred if audiences did not love Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor 10 years in the past.