2016 was a huge year for movies, and some have earned their place on our personal favorites collection.  Let us take a look at the movies that made 2016 memorable.

• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

This Harry Potter Prequel had Potterheads crying in delight. Directed by David Yates, and written by J.K. Rowling, this movie took us back to the Wizarding World. This time, it is 1926, and mysterious creatures are running rampant in New York City. Amongst it all, there seems to be an eccentric zoologist, an awkward witch, a No-Maji (Muggle – Someone who does not use magic), and a Dark Wizard. Starring Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Colin Farrell and more, this action-packed movie is just what we needed to immerse ourselves into Harry Potter again. The twisting plot and amazing effects contributed to the excellent movie.  

• Sully

Tom Hanks is a genius. He is well-known for playing unique characters, and in this historically based film, he does not miss a beat. The protagonist of the story is Sully Sullenberger, a pilot who guides his damaged plane into the Hudson River. All 155 passengers on board survive because of his actions. However, soon after this incident, an investigation unfolds, getting in the way of his reputation and his pilot’s license. Directed by Clint Eastwood, the movie was an unexpected success and is guaranteed to have the audience on the edge of their seats.

• The Marvel Movies: Civil War/Deadpool/Doctor Strange

Who does not like a good Marvel movie to watch? Fans were not disappointed after seeing the on-screen tension between Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans in Civil War. New additions to the Avengers crew (like Black Panther) kept the audience hopeful for upcoming movies in the future. Deadpool was another story. The movie was an unexpected success, and the crude humor and swearing involved was a great addition to the plot. Ryan Reynolds managed to portray the mercenary perfectly, making jokes at good times to make sure that the audience never got bored. Doctor Strange was another addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Benedict Cumberbatch’s ability to shift time and space opened up a new dimension of more movies to come.  

• Hidden Figures

Meet the women behind the NASA operations. More importantly, meet the African-American women who struggled to break boundaries, but did not receive any credit for the work that they did. Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson were all incredibly talented mathematicians, and they were the backbone of the project that sent John Glenn into orbit. Although the movie conveys different senses of historical themes, it also makes the audience leave the theater with a feeling of empowerment, carrying almost the same feeling as those ladies who persevered in the face of a world that discriminated against them.

• Passengers

If you are looking for a movie that leaves you with an existential crisis, this is the movie to watch. Not to spoil the ending, but it is so awkward and bizarre that it leaves the audience completely bewildered. The action scenes are quite nice and the blossoming romance between co-stars Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt on-screen is a nice addition to the plot.  

There were more movies in 2016, but these were the movies that people have stated were the best. With the new year, we are all anticipating a new and exciting round of movies!