Top 10 Movies & TV Shows from 2016 That Defined the Year
10 Movies & Shows From 2016 That Perfectly Captured the Year
Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re looking at movies and seasons of TV shows that make us say, “Yep, that was 2016.”
“Deadpool” (2016)
By 2016, superhero movies basically printed money. Yet, “Deadpool” completely caught the industry off guard. Not only was it rated R, but the film also had a more satirical edge, even taking shots at the ill-received superhero movies that came before. This included “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” and 2011’s “Green Lantern,” both starring Ryan Reynolds. At a time when many felt the genre had become too dour and self-serious, audiences were hungry for a more self-aware superhero in 2016. Meme culture and viral marketing helped propel “Deadpool” to the top of the box office. It also signified a turning point for Reynolds, as he went from the face of several financial flops to one of the last true movie stars in Hollywood.
“Westworld” (2016-22)
Season 1
This series would be unceremoniously cancelled after four seasons and, as of writing, isn’t available to stream on HBO Max. What makes “Westworld’s” erasure from the public consciousness so jarring is that it wasn’t just an instant hit for HBO upon debuting in 2016. It was a cultural phenomenon, igniting numerous theories across Reddit. One of the overarching questions concerned which characters were human and which were hosts. In 2016, this was considered science fiction. Ten years later, the line between AI and humanity is harder to differentiate. “Westworld” was ahead of its time while still being rooted in 2016. Even if you didn’t always understand what was going on, “Westworld” was priority viewing at the height of Peak TV.
“Saturday Night Live” (1975-)
Seasons 41 & 42
If there are two long-running comedies that the masses will always look to for timely commentary, it’s “SNL” and “South Park.” The latter’s twentieth season put its own spin on the 2016 presidential election, among other then-current events. As far as political satire goes, though, “SNL” dominated the conversation with Kate McKinnon’s dead-on impression of Hillary Clinton and Alec Baldwin taking over the role of Donald Trump in late 2016. Parody and real-world politics were almost becoming interchangeable, and this trend wouldn’t diminish in the years to come. Even so, audiences turned to “SNL” for insight, humor, and, amid the election’s surprising results, comfort as McKinnon’s Clinton lamented the loss of her presidency (and possibly more) on piano.
“Arrival” (2016)
A decade later, we still haven’t made first contact. Yet, Denis Villeneuve’s “Arrival” feels more urgent than ever. Despite being science fiction, the film approaches its subject matter in a way that comes off as grounded. Just replace “extraterrestrials” with “immigrants,” and you’ll begin to see the real-world parallels. Instead of trying to communicate with the unknown, many would rather respond with force. Amy Adams’ Louise is the only one who can break through this wall, establishing a bridge between worlds. In ways even the filmmakers likely didn’t anticipate, “Arrival” mirrored a time when people were becoming increasingly disconnected due to fear and uncertainty. If somebody can listen, though, hope and empathy may persevere, even if what looms on the horizon won’t be without heartache.
“The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story” (2016)
Almost two decades after the O. J. Simpson murder case captivated a nation, audiences relived the trial of the century in this star-studded miniseries. Debuting as the true crime genre reached another level of popularity, “The People v. O. J. Simpson” arguably remains the gold standard in terms of writing, performances, and relevance. Although it chronicles events that occurred between 1994 and 1995, the show reflected 2016’s widening political and cultural divide. So many people were convinced that Simpson was guilty, and the jury would share that verdict. When they didn’t, half of the public rejoiced while the other felt like they were living in a parallel universe. If that sentiment doesn’t sum up 2016, we don’t know what will.
“Captain America: Civil War” (2016)
2016 gave us two superhero crossovers that culminated in a fight where a crucial detail about a character’s mother is revealed. While both generated enormous hype, “Captain America: Civil War” was undoubtedly better than “Batman v Superman.” Although 2016 wasn’t the best time to be a DC fan, Marvel just kept gaining momentum. “Civil War” not only marked the debut of Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther, but also brought Tom Holland’s Spider-Man into the MCU. Beyond fan service, the film told a relevant story about two groups with differing views, neither of which is necessarily wrong. It’s not good vs. evil, but sides are inevitably taken with friends becoming enemies. One wins the physical fight, the other wins the political battle, yet loss looms over both.
“Moonlight” (2016) & “La La Land” (2016)
As awards season revved up in 2016, a rivalry between “La La Land” and “Moonlight” brewed... at least among cinemagoers. The filmmakers themselves were quite courteous to one another, as exemplified by the following year’s “Envelopegate.” The two frontrunners couldn’t have been more different. “La La Land” tapped into Hollywood’s golden era with whimsy and escapism. “Moonlight,” meanwhile, was championed as the movie of the moment, reflecting a changing cinematic landscape that wasn’t afraid to tell bleaker, more personal stories. Ironically, “Moonlight” ends on an optimistic reunion while “La La Land” leaves us on a bittersweet goodbye as reality sinks in. In that sense, the two made for a compelling double feature that together encapsulated the end of one era and the beginning of another.
“Veep” (2012-19)
Season 5
“Veep” and “House of Cards” were among the buzziest shows of the 2010s. Both were naturally talking points in 2016, being an election year. Looking back, Season 5 of “Veep” perhaps best encompassed the year and what was to come. As the season opens, Selina Meyer has already achieved one term as president. That might not have been how things panned out for Hillary Clinton. Yet, the season ends with Selena losing her presidency, which now feels like an omen. While you can connect the dots to Clinton, Selena also has a fair deal in common with Trump. Both lost reelections, but came back years later for a second term. Politics haven’t been the same since 2016, and “Veep” captured how satire was becoming reality.
“Zootopia” (2016)
We entered 2016 feeling like Judy Hopps when she first arrived in Zootopia: naively optimistic that the hard times were in the past. We left 2016 seeing things from Nick Wilde’s perspective, recognizing that while the world may seem more inclusive than it was years ago, prejudice hasn’t gone anywhere. Judy confronts this truth by the end, realizing that even she isn’t as forward-thinking as she thought. At the same time, this only encourages Judy to keep trying to make a difference. The world may never be perfect, nor will the people (or animals) who inhabit it. That doesn’t mean we should stop striving toward a world that’s more accepting and understanding. It was a message we needed in 2016, and still need now.
“Stranger Things” (2016-25)
Season 1
It sounds strange saying that a show set in the 1980s defined 2016. Then again, this was the era of nostalgia. No show spoke to our inner 80s kid more than “Stranger Things.” While in the spirit of “Goonies,” “Stand by Me,” and other classics from that decade, “Stranger Things” created its own mythology while launching several careers that are still flourishing a decade later. Rewatching Season 1, we’re taken back to a time when a then-unknown Millie Bobby Brown gave Eggos the ultimate endorsement and #JusticeForBarb made the rounds on Twitter. We suppose things have come full circle, as we’ve grown nostalgic for “Stranger Things,” which immediately captured the zeitgeist and didn’t let go. It was a generation-defining show, and it all started here.
Which movies and shows take you back to 2016? Let us know in the comments.
