Top 5 – Awesome Movies Coming Out in February

Over the last couple years, February has been one of the stronger months for movies.  Studios have been taking the opportunity to capitalize on what was largely considered one of the slowest months and released big blockbusters and even some Oscar contenders.  This year is no different, as we get one of the biggest blockbusters of the year and a Clint Eastwood flick, among others.  Here are my picks the best movies coming out in February.

5 – WINCHESTER (The Spierig Brothers, February 2)

Helen Mirren and Jason Clarke are two actors who I enjoy watching immensely, particularly Mirren, who seems to own every movie that she is in.  Winchester is one of those “based on a true story” horror movies that looks like haunted house fun.  The Spierig Brothers are still up and coming directors, but they did direct last year’s Jigsaw, which was a pleasant surprise and easily the best Saw movie since Saw II.  Let’s hope the Spierig Brothers continue their growing filmography and Mirren and Clarke give the performances that we all expect from them.

4 – THE 15:17 TO PARIS (Clint Eastwood, February 9)

It’s interesting to have a Clint Eastwood movie come out in February.  Eastwood’s go-to studio, Warner Bros, usually releases his films in the fall so that is lands in prime Oscar season.  Hopefully this means the studio has a lot of faith in the movie as opposed to stuffing it away early in the year.  This is a true story about three Americans who discover a terrorist plot while on a train to Paris.  One of the films biggest selling point is that the movie is portrayed by the people who actually lived the event, which I find more problematic than cool, as it has the possibility to hurt the actual acting of the film and kind of spoils the end of the movie.  But, it is Eastwood and he is a Hollywood icon and a great director, so it is hard to not get excited for any of his movies.

3 – GAME NIGHT (John Francis Daly and Jonathon Goldstein, February 23)

Game Night looks like a fun, inventive action comedy.  Featuring great actors in Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Kyle Chandler, Jesse Plemons, and a slew of character actors, the movie looks at a group of friends who, during their routine, weekly game night, get involved in a murder mystery.  The marketing for this movie has been great, giving away as little as possible.  This should be a good time and hopefully one of the stronger comedies of the year.

2 – ANNIHILATION (Alex Garland, February 23)

Garland bursted onto the cinematic scene in 2015 with his minimalist sci-fi masterpiece Ex-Machina.  It’s always hard to follow up a sensational debut, but I think Garland has something special here.  Adapted from a book of the same name, Annihilation brings Natalie Portman in as a biologist who enters in a secret expedition to a dangerous new world where the laws of nature don’t apply.  Teaming with Portman is a plethora of badass women in Tessa Thompson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Gina Rodriguez.  This movie looks fascinating, creepy, and brilliant.  Let’s see is Garland can go two for two.

1 – BLACK PANTHER (Ryan Coogler, February 16)

Black Panther made his debut in Captain America: Civil War and he was far and away the best part of the film.  Civil War is an incredible movie, yet all I wanted after I left the theater was more Black Panther.  Director Ryan Coogler is responsible for two of my favorite movies of the decade in Fruitvale Station and Creed and now he gets the big budget movie he deserves.  The cast is brilliant, with Chadwick Boseman reprising his role as the King of Wakanda and features the likes of Michael B. Jordan, Daniel Kaluuya, Angela Bassett, Lupita NYong’o, Danai Gurira, Andy Serkis, Martin Freeman, and many more.  And, the music to the film is produced by Kendrick Lamar, the finest hip-hop artist in the game today.  The action looks thrilling, the visuals look stunning, and I can’t wait to see what Coogler does with a big budget.  This could be a game-changer in terms of comic book movies and I cannot wait to check this one out.

What movies coming out in February are you excited for?  Comment below or hit me up on Twitter and Instagram, @kevflix, or on Facebook by searching Kevflix.