The Biggest 2017 Blockbuster: Superhero Showdown or Reboot Reckoning?

With a plethora of highly-anticipated 2017 projects releasing their first trailers this month, I thought it was only necessary to toss in my predictions as to which one could be the biggest blockbuster of the new year. From the coming-of-age comedy-meets-superhero flick of July's Spider-Man: Homecoming to the latest entry in the box-office ruler of the Transformers franchise, there's no telling which of these films (and the hundreds of others to come) could reign supreme next year. But, for the sake of this post, I'll throw together some quick thoughts on just how and why any of these could end up ruling the silver screen in 2017.  

Spider-Man: Homecoming - Before I discuss all the excitement surrounding the second live-action reboot of the web-slinger Spider-Man in detail (you'll have to wait till January), here I'll just discuss the potential for the July 2017 release to be one of the biggest cinema debuts in the superhero's history. While the appeal of a much-younger Peter Parker in actor Tom Holland may not be for everyone, it certainly has me on the hook after his promising debut in this year's Captain America: Civil War. Now, with the first trailer for the summer flick setting the tone for its coming-of-age John Hughes-esque superhero adventure feel -- and also promising a very prominent appearance of Marvel's golden boy Robert Downey Jr. -- Spider-Man: Homecoming will surely be a force to be reckoned with this summer. 

Transformers: The Last Knight - While Spider-Man: Homecoming will surely be a major box-office player for Marvel Studios come July, the Spider-Man reboot might have some powerful competition this summer as the fifth (and final?) Transformers film (yes, still directed by the Michael Bay) sets its sights on taking the throne. With its first trailer debuting everything from an evil Optimus Prime to Anthony Hopkins giving a rousing speech about history, June's Transformers: The Last Knight could still reign supreme with its fan-base alone. While some -- including me -- may have dropped off after Part 4 (Yes, I actually do miss Shia LaBeouf!), the franchise has still maintained its equilibrium of dominating the silver screen and reeling in as much money it can. With that, no matter how far evil Optimus Prime goes in this sequel, people will still eat it up like popcorn.  

The Fate of the Furious - Optimus Prime isn't the only one going rogue next year, as the eighth installment in the Fast and the Furious franchise plans to roll into the theater with another outrageous and high-octane action-adventure -- this time with Vin Diesel not obsessed about family?? Tossing a major curveball in its first trailer this month with the promise of the Furious family divided by a rogue Dom Toretto, the fast-paced franchise aims to continue its stunt-filled blockbuster formula, tossing in as many new-fangled gadgets (and plot devices) into its films as it can. But with Charlize Theron now joining the likes of Vin Diesel, The Rock, Jason Statham, and Kurt Russell, this franchise obviously still has some gas left in its tank.

The Mummy - While reboots like Kong: Skull Island and Beauty and the Beast may take the cake in the Spring before June's The Mummy remake rolls around, the Tom Cruise-starrer could still make some bank at the theater this summer, relying not only on its attractive cast, but also on its promising kick-off of a horrifying, new franchise. Set to ignite a shared universe headed by Universal Studios, which will include the likes of popular monsters like Frankenstein, Dracula, The Invisible Man, and the Wolf Man, The Mummy aims to leap off from the mixed acclaim of the 1999 film (itself based on the 1932 film), and deliver a whole new adventure surrounding the hunt for an ancient enemy. The question remains, however, if Tom Cruise can steal the spotlight from under Mummy actor Brendan Fraser's feet. Yeah, he probably can. 

Baywatch - Another reboot set to shake up the summer is the upcoming Baywatch film, based off the sun-bathed and oiled-up 1989 television series. Putting in just the right amount of "franchise viagra" Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and "the hottest thing in crude comedies today" Zac Efron, this unorthodox yet highly unsurprising reboot plans to slow-motion run its way to the top of the box-office. While this reboot could surely be the next Ghostbusters (yeah, you know which one), it certainly has the comedic (and sex) appeal to be a dynamic player at the box-office 

War for the Planet of the Apes - Swinging into theaters just one week after Spider-Man: Homecoming, the third entry in the prequel Planet of the Apes franchise, War for the Planet of the Apes, already looks like it could sustain the franchise's blockbuster formula, as it pits its primate protagonist Caesar against the biggest battle he's faced yet. While 2014's Dawn of the Planet of the Apes may not have been the most memorable flick from the year, it still garnered a hefty $710 million worldwide to continue the ape takeover of the silver screen. With War promising even more ape-vs.-human warfare (this time with Woody Harrelson!), as well as further progression of Andy Serkis' phenomenal lead as Caesar, this trilogy could end up becoming one of the richest of them all.  

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 - While DC's Wonder Woman could put a damper on Marvel's success before Spider-Man swings in, May's highly-anticipated follow-up to 2014's outlandish superhero flick Guardians of the Galaxy may still set the bar pretty high as next summer kicks off. With its first trailer teasing not only a return to director James Gunn's fantastic realm of intergalactic hijinks, but also a whole new level of excitement set to a rocking soundtrack, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 could be Marvel's next big hit as we gear towards Phase Four of the box-office king known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  

While I might not have included other upcoming money-makers, like November's Justice League or the fifth Pirates of the Caribbean film, there's no doubt these seven franchise-crafting projects could make for hefty competitors for the biggest blockbuster of the 2017. While the box-office turnout and critical reception for these major films may still be a mystery until they actually release (well, maybe not for the Marvel films), the latest teases at these 2017 projects promise huge surprises just waiting to be uncovered.

What film are you most excited to see dominate the box-office come next year? Will Wonder Woman save DC's muddled track record? Can Spider-Man beat out Justice League? Or will the fast cars, Autobots, and talking apes reign supreme? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below, and stay tuned for more reviews and discussions about the biggest films of the new year coming soon! With that, I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season!