5 to Find: Movies you should see because the sequel is coming out this holiday season
The holiday movie season is approaching soon, and that means movies to satisfy all ages.
It also means sequels, so if you’re behind on your moviegoing, check out these original blockbusters before your family and friends make plans to see the second editions of these upcoming movies.
‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’
This 2016 thrill ride was movie magic, which is exactly what fans wanted out of J.K. Rowling’s return to her wizarding world. Truly special effects and creatures, a 1920s New York full of street life and under-construction skyscrapers — it was all gorgeous eye candy and yet dark and spooky. The new characters — it’s set 70 years before Harry Potter ever goes to Hogwarts — cast a spell, too, that made us look forward to their next adventure. Get ready to watch: “Fantas- tic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” opening Nov. 16.
‘Creed’
“Creed” was the best “Rocky” movie in more than 30 years, and it was one of the most enjoyable movies of 2015. Before he became Marvel’s best villain in “Black Panther,” Michael B. Jordan played the son of Apollo Creed to perfection, and Sylvester Stallone was a knockout in the supporting role of trainer and friend Rocky Balboa.
Get ready to watch: “Creed II” opening Nov. 21.
‘Wreck-it Ralph’
Disney Animation’s 2012 story of a video-game villain who just wants a chance to play the good guy achieved a high score with audiences of all ages. John C. Reilly was great, and Sarah Silverman was perfection.
Get ready to watch: “Ralph Breaks the Internet” opening Nov. 21.
‘Mary Poppins’
If you haven’t seen it since you were a kid, no matter your age, it’s worth a second look. It took 54 years to produce a sequel, so reacquaint yourself with the magic of Julie Andrews and all those songs. And see if you don’t have a very different perspective on the movie now, especially if you saw the story-withinthe-story that was “Saving Mr. Banks” in 2013.
Get ready to watch: “Mary Poppins Returns” opening Dec. 19.
‘Deadpool’
Ryan Reynolds was the perfect X-man to blow up the comic-book movie, playing the bad boy of the Marvel Comics world in his Rrated movie that was totally bonkers, hyper-violent and laugh-a-minute. It was the best comedy and best action movie of 2016.
Get ready to watch: “Untitled Deadpool Movie” opening Dec. 21 — which is actually a PG-13 version, with some new scenes that are being shot, of May’s smash hit “Deadpool 2.”