10 Sci-Fi Films To Be Genuinely Excited About In 2016

Despite the odd glaring misfire (*cough* Jupiter Ascending *cough cough* Terminator Genisys *cough*) 2015 was a memorable year for fans of science fiction, with Star Wars making a triumphant return to the big screen and Ridley Scott deciding to turn his gaze heavenward for his brilliant adaptation of Andy Weir€™s The Martian. What really made it a great year, however, were the smaller sci-fi films that managed to escape their genre trappings and attract genuine mainstream attention. The mind-bending Predestination and the excellent Ex Machina earned themselves Rotten Tomatoes ratings of 84% and 92% respectively. A sign that the genre is, despite never failing to capture the imagination of film goers and critics, starting to demand their respect too. The trend looks set to continue well into the new year, with a number of big names signed up to, or already shooting, sci-fi projects due for release in 2016. There is plenty to be excited about. From blockbuster sequels and classic reboots to a brand new Stephen King adaptation, it is all coming our way over the next twelve months, so keep your eyes on the skies... Well, screens. Here are 10 upcoming sci-fi films to be genuinely excited about in 2016€

10. Spectral

Release Date: August 12, 2016. Described by Legendary Pictures as a supernatural Black Hawk Down, Spectral details the efforts of a Special Ops team tasked with fighting a host of phantom beings that have taken over a major European city. The film will star Emily Mortimer and James Badge Dale, who will portray a CIA mission leader and a researcher in the supernatural field respectively. Mortimer is not known for her hands-on action work, though the English actress will be looking to follow in the footsteps of her namesake Emily Blunt and prove that she can handle a gun as well as a glass of wine. There is an increasing clamour for strong female leads and if it is what it says on the tin (essentially a Ghostbusters-go-to-war movie) then Spectral could be one of the films of the year. Setting movies in Europe has proven a risk worth taking for some American film-makers in recent years, though it will be a baptism of fire for Spectral€™s director Nic Mathieu, who has only ever directed TV commercials. The studio must be confident in his ability, however, as they are lining up Spectral as a franchise and have high hopes for it this coming summer. Watch this space.