The year 2017 will be remembered as a year with a multitude of superhero flicks, an overkill of biopics and too many unsuccessful sequels.
Independent movies rose to the top and summer did not scorch at the box office this time. The challenges of marketing and when exactly the right time is to release a film continue to this day. Labor Day weekend was abysmal and had not hit that low of a number since 1998. The highest-grossing film in 2017 was Beauty and the Beast ( released earlier in the year ), and it is the 10th highest grossing film of all time.
Going to the movie house can be an expensive trip after tickets, parking and concessions. Audiences are now wisely watching sites like Rotten Tomatoes before spending their hard earned cash.
It was a very unpredictable year. For example, one minute Stephen King's It is a smash—and then his Dark Tower is suddenly tumbling down. Movie versions of TV shows were disappointing as Baywatch was buried in the sand and Chips drove off the road. Tom Cruise tanked with The Mummy, then entertained in American Made.
Raunchy female comedies ruled and became a trend with Girls Trip, A Bad Moms Christmas and Rough Night. The horror genre released movies throughout the year, not just to scare in October. Look at Get Out, Raw, 47 Meters Down and It Comes at Night, each different in its own unique way.
Wonder Woman heroically broke the record for highest box office for a female directed film this past summer. Also, she joined the Justice League to make one of the most expensive movies ever; however, continuing the streak of unpredictability, that film struggled to just break even. Other comic books brought in the cash, though, such as Logan, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Thor: Ragnarok. Spider-Man: Homecoming took home more loot worldwide than any of his other amazing friends.
Despicable Me stepped on the previous champion Shrek to become the highest-grossing animated franchise of all time this year. Coco cleaned up with ticket sales, although The Emoji Movie ( which was critically panned ) earned a sad face in that department.
Dunkirk overtook Saving Private Ryan to become the highest-grossing World War II film to date.
As far as LGBT cinema, there were several praised offerings, such as Princess Cyd, Beach Rats, Call Me By Your Name and BPM. Thanks to Moonlight in 2016, Hollywood is finally taking notice of the LGBT market and what the gay dollar can do.
Here are a few memorable hits or misses that were released in the past 12 months:
Worst Movies of 2017
5. Fifty Shades Darker
4. Chips
3. Transformers: The Last Knight
2. The Mummy
1. The Emoji Movie
Best Movies of 2017
5. Get Out
4. The Big Sick
3. The Shape of Water
2. Baby Driver
1. Lady Bird
Honorable mentions for creativity include Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri; The Florida Project; and Dunkirk. Seeing these quality films on the big screen are simply a must over home viewing. Be sure to check them out before award season kicks off Sunday, Jan. 7, with the 74th Golden Globe Awards.
