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Kids’ Guide to the Most Anticipated Movies of 2017

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January 5, 2017

There is SO much to look forward to this year–live-action Disney, giant robot battles and superheroes galore! It’s noteworthy that a time when the real world is becoming a scarier and darker place, Hollywood will battle good versus evil in a more comforting and familiar way with sequels, spinoffs, and remakes of our favorite franchises–it’s as if the Guardians of the Galaxy sequel is America’s warm blanket to snuggle with to feel that it’s all going to be okay. The best news: on the big screen, good always (eventually) wins!

Below is a list of the films kids, teens and families are most excited about in 2017, followed by a deeper exploration of the top 7 most anticipated movies of the year. Also, check out the clip below of SocialMoms.com discussing why we’re frothing for these films on “The Insider!”

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:

Superheroes movies:

  • The LEGO Batman Movie (Feb. 10)
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (May 5)
  • Wonder Woman (June 2)
  • Spider-Man: Homecoming (July 7)
  • Thor: Ragnarok (Nov. 3)
  • Justice League (Nov. 17)

Remakes of favorite familiars:

  • Kong: Skull Island (March 10)
  • Beauty and the Beast (March 17)
  • Baywatch (May 26…this one may be for parents only)
  • The Mummy (June 9)

Further stories of our faves:

  • Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (May 26)
  • Cars 3 (June 16)
  • Despicable Me 3 (June 30)
  • War for the Planet of the Apes (July 14)
  • Star Wars VIII (Dec. 15)
  • Pitch Perfect 3 (Dec. 22)

BEAUTY & THE BEAST

Moviegoers have proven to love these Disney live-action remakes of animated classics. From Alice in Wonderland (2010) to The Jungle Book (2016), all have ranked among the Top 10 films of their respective year. However, 2017’s contribution, Beauty and the Beast, brings an elevation of hope and antsy behavior of fans, because the 1991 animated classic ranks among the most beloved Disney Princess movies and Belle among one of the most beloved Disney Princesses.

Part of Belle’s appeal is that she is the brainiest and most substantial princesses, turning down the town’s hot hunk and unselfishly putting others needs before her own. Belle isn’t a damsel in distress, in fact, she rescues the beast. It’s a film that Millennials believe belongs to them–it’s their princess movie (while Gen Xers, who were young adults when it was released, think it belongs to them). Who better, then, to play Belle than Emma Watson, whom both generations know and love as brainy, beautiful and quite capable Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter movies–it’s like the merging of Millennials’ childhood. Of course, even more exciting is that the songs of Beauty and the Beast are outstanding (the title song was a legit Billboard hit) and the live action version will include them all, from “Be My Guest,” “Something There” and the hilarious “Gaston.”

THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS

The World is excited for the next Fast and Furious movie, these films are like Hollywood’s global outreach program. Boys love this franchise and, thus, the films have become more aware of this in their storytelling. For instance, the “family,” which started as a bunch of criminals, have morphed into good guys doing good. On the other hand, it’s still gratuitously masculine with plenty of close-ups of half-naked women shaking what God gave them, so, there’s that. Each film always up the ante, creating an even bigger spectacle, and in this eighth go-round viewers are psyched to get:

  • exotic international locations (like Cuba!)
  • eye popping stunts
  • the fiercest modes of transportation (including a submarine!)
  • sizzling car chases (one involves a wrecking ball)
  • old favorites like Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham and Kurt Russell returning along with exciting new cast members, (Charlize Theron and Scott Eastwood)
  • and, a shocker of a premise: Dom Vs His Family…now, that’s irresistible

THE MUMMY

Is The Mummy remaking the 1932 Boris Karloff original monster film or rebooting the Brendan Fraser trilogy that encompassed the aughts? Both. And Neither. The Mummy is being resurrected as a film that will reboot not just one monster, but many. So, it is a remake of both films while also telling an entirely different story, taking place in the modern day with new characters including an entirely different ancient soul. It’s exciting because it’s the first domino in Universal’s reboot of their monster universe–in fact, Dr. Jekyll (Russell Crowe) shows up in this first film because all of the forthcoming monster films will be connected.

The talent who signed up for The Mummy is an indicator of its awesomeness potential: the creative team is also behind the Star Trek, Mission: Impossible, Fast and Furious and Transformers films. And, of course, there’s TOM CRUISE, a guy who knows how to put on a show. The trailers are promising the very things that Cruise is known for:  jaw-dropping action sequences and astounding international locations. It will be visually SPECTACULAR. However, parents, be warned: it will be terrifying. Crowe says it’s designed to “seriously share the s**it out of you,” and it’s doubtful he meant it in a Frankenweenie way – so your 9-year old should probably sit out this one.

JUSTICE LEAGUE and WONDER WOMAN

Warner Brothers continues to dangle the most enticing carrots to comic book fans–first, Batman battling Superman (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice); then, villains uniting to fight evil (Suicide Squad). Now, moviegoers minds are exploding with the concept that the most iconic and popular superheroes are being brought together to fight crime as the Justice League. Additionally, DC Comics is giving us the first female superhero movie of the modern era with Wonder Woman, who was the shining light of the dark and dreadful Batman v Superman. Maybe we moviegoers don’t learn, but even those who hate Zach Snyder’s DC Universe so far JUST. CAN’T.WAIT.

THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE

While Snyder’s Batman is even darker and less kid-friendly than Christopher Nolan’s Batman series, the fact remains: little boys love Batman! LEGO Batman was definitely the scene stealer of The LEGO Movie, which is saying something because everything was awesome about the 2014 animated film. Even more brilliant is a hero who is so insufferably and laughably full of himself yet still dedicated to only doing good–in this era of reality show role models and metahumor, LEGO Batman is perhaps the most needed hero of the decade. 

TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT 

Transformers’ master move is transforming one of boyhood’s coolest toys into one of Hollywood’s biggest moneymakers (each of the last two films crossed the billion dollar mark at the box office). The key to success is never letting the films get boring. Since fans have now seen the robots taking on outer space and dinosaurs, The Last Knight puts the Transformers in Medieval times as part of King Arthur’s Court and dealing with the Nazis in World War II. Additionally, trailers will have us believe that Optimus Prime has turned bad and is now operating against the Autobots. The Last Knight will create the foundation for a Transformers Universe (if not a Hasbro Cinematic Universe), so there’s extra anticipation in how this film will set up the Bumblebee solo movie and what other clues may lie within.

DESPICABLE ME 3

Illumination Entertainment has turned its attention to pets, singing animals and solo minions, but let’s all be honest: it’s Gru we love the most. Despicable Me returns with a new story, this time Gru and wife Lucy fighting an ‘80s obsessed villain, keeping its silly humor high for the kids and memory lane hysterics for mom and dad.

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