Netflix is trying its darnedest to make it’s name in the feature film industry and so far it’s pushing out movies faster than some major motion picture companies… Like New Line Cinema or another company that’s wicked slow… either way, they had 2 very impressive films as of last year including the widely hated (yet profitable) Ridiculous Six and for 2016 they’ve already slated a dozen to be released.
It’s pretty easy to get lost with all their media seeing how they’re also blazing through Netflix original series like a hot knife through butter… can I stick any more one liners like that in this intro? Nah. I just wanted to give you an easy what’s what guide for all the Netflix original filmscoming out in 2016.
1. XOXO
This one is newly acquired by Netflix… The film is basically a female version of We Are Your Friends… set amidst the biggest EDM festival in America, XOXO, and follows six strangers whose lives collide in one frenetic, dream-chasing, hopelessly romantic night.It’s set to star Modern Family’s Sarah Hyland, as well as Graham Phillips (The Good Wife) and Chris D’Elia (Undateable).
2. CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON: THE GREEN LEGEND
The sequel to 2000’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, written by John Fusco and directed by Yuen Woo-ping (Iron Monkey, Kill Bill: Vol 2), was supposed to come out in 2015 but because of a theatrical backlash the film was pushed to find a better venue. The film stars Michelle Yeoh from the original film, along with Donnie Yen, Harry Shum Jr and Jason Scott Lee. It will have its Netflix release in the first quarter of 2016, along with an IMAX release in the United States and a theatrical release in China.
3. REBIRTH
Another of Netflix’s recent indie acquisition is the twisted psychological thriller, Rebirth, from writer-director Karl Mueller (Mr. Jones). It follows a white-collar suburban father Kyle (Fran Kranz) who is surprised at his office by long-lost college buddy Zack (Adam Goldberg). Zack is as wild and crazy as ever, brimming with excitement about the self-actualization program he’s just finished called Rebirth. He talks Kyle into going on a weekend-long Rebirth retreat,handing over his keys, wallet, and phone. Thus begins his journey down an bizarre rabbit hole of psychodrama, seduction, and violence.
4. PEE-WEE’S BIG HOLIDAY
This time Pee Wee is back… and his skin is tighter than ever (because they pulled it back… FACELIFT) The movie involves a fateful meeting with a mysterious stranger and is set to be an epically wonderful tale of friendship and adventure. Set to come out this March.
5. JADOTVILLE
The war drama, directed by Richie Smyth and written by Kevin Brodbin (Constantine), features Fifty Shades of Grey star Jamie Dornan. Jadotville chronicles the true story of the 1961 siege of a 150-member Irish U.N. battalion under Commander Patrick Quinlan(Dornan) by 3,000 Congolese troops, led by French and Belgian mercenaries working for mining companies. The movie also co-stars Guillaume Canet (Tell No One) as the French commander who sought to defeat Quinlan and his men.
No exact release date for the film has been revealed yet, but it’s expected to hit Netflix sometime next year.
6. THE MOST HATED WOMAN IN AMERICA
Starring Melissa Leo (The Fighter), this indie feature will chronicle the true story of the controversial rise and untimely demise of Madalyn Murray O’Hair — iconoclast, opportunist, and America’s most outspoken atheist for the separation of church and state.
Tommy O’Haver (An American Crime) penned and is set to direct the film. Meanwhile, Pitch Perfect 2 producers Max Handelman and Elizabeth Banks will produce through their Brownstone Productions. Netflix only recently acquired worldwide distribution rights and is expected to give it a theatrical and transactional release sometime in 2016, although a more specific date has not been revealed yet.
7. WAR MACHINE, 2016
In June, Netflix acquired one of its most high-profile feature film projects yet in this satirical war comedy. TheDavid Michod-directed drama will star Brad Pitt as a four-star rock star U.S. military general. The film is inspired by Michael Hasting’s bestselling book The Operators: The Wild And Terrifying Inside Story Of America’s War In Afghanistan and Pitt’s character is patterned after Gen. Stanley McChrystal, once the commanding general of international and U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
The movie will get a qualifying theatrical run, and then a big Netflix worldwide bow sometime in late 2016.
8. GIRLFRIEND’S DAY
The project will expand Netflix’s relationship with Odenkirk, whose sketch series W/ Bob & David(in which he stars with his Mr. Show With Bob and David collaborator David Cross) premiered on the streaming site in November.
No exact premiere date has been revealed, but Netflix is reportedly planning a day-and-date theatrical release for sometime in 2016.
9. MERCY
Mercy centers on four estranged brothers who return to their childhood home to be with their dying mother, and find their bond tested after old family secrets begin to surface.Mad Men’s James Wolk (seen above) and Master of Sex’s Caitlin FitzGerald will star in the home invasion thriller, which recently completed filming. Tom Lipinski (The Knick), Michael Godere (The Affair)and Dan Ziskie (House of Cards) also star in the film. Meanwhile, Chris Sparling, who penned the 2010 Ryan Reynolds thriller Buried and Gus Van Sant’s The Sea of Tree, wrote and also directed the project.
Per THR, Netflix is planning on using its new model of an initial brief theatrical film release first, followed shortly after by exclusive streaming, for this project. The movie is expected to be released sometime in 2016, although no premiere date has been confirmed yet.
This article was assembled thanks to the folks at Cheat Sheet.