Best of 2016 Films, Egypt and the US

by Sherif Awad

Top Best Worldwide Box Office (Figures in Million Dollars)

1-Captain America: Civil War ($1,153)

Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

Stars: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson

When the US government decides to push for the Hero Registration Act, division in The Avengers results. While Iron Man stands with this Act, Captain America feels that they cannot rely on the government to protect the world. The story will continue in The Avengers: Infinity War due in 2018 and 2019

2-Finding Dory ($1,025)

Directors: Andrew Stanton, Angus MacLane

Stars: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Ed O'Neill             

A sequel to Disney’s Finding Nemo where Dory is blue tang fish who suffers from memory loss every 10 seconds or so. The one thing she can remember is that she somehow became separated from her parents as a child. With help from her friends Nemo and Marlin, Dory embarks on an epic adventure to find them.

3-Zootopia ($1,023)

Directors: Byron Howard, Rich Moore

Stars: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba

In the city of Zootopia, Judy Hopps becomes the first rabbit to join the police force where she quickly learns how tough it is to enforce the law by working with Nick Wilde, a wily fox who makes her job even harder.

4-The Jungle Book ($0.966)

Director: Jon Favreau

Stars: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley

After a threat from the tiger Shere Khan forces him to flee the jungle, a man-cub named Mowgli embarks on a journey of self-discovery with the help of panther, Bagheera, and free spirited bear, Baloo.            

5-Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice ($0.873)

Director: Zack Snyder

Stars: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams

Fearing that the actions of Superman are left unchecked, Batman takes on the Man of Steel, while Lex Luthor has a plan to get rid of both. First appearance of Wonder Woman before the release her first solo film in 2017. 

Top Egyptian Films in Egyptian Box Office (Figures in Million Egyptian Pounds)

1- Laf We Dawaran (Back and Forth, 39.138 EGPs)

Director: Khaled Marei

Stars: Ahmed Helmy, Donia Samir Ghanem

Noor is a touristic guide who travels to Sharm el-Sheikh only to meets Leila, a young woman staying in in the same villa that is supposed to reside. Fifth film marking the collaboration between Marei and Helmy was shot only during two weeks.

2- Gahem Fel Hend (Hell in India, 32,873 EGPs)

Director: Moataz El-Tony

Stars: Mohamed Adel Imam, Yasmine Sabry

Egyptian special agents were sent to rescue the Egyptian ambassador to India after he was kidnapped. Unbeknownst to everybody, they are only musicians mistaken of being professionals.  Mohamed is following the footstep of his father Adel Imam who once starred in Geziret El-Shaytan (Hell’s Island) in 1990.

3-Hepta (26,813 EGPs)

Director: Hady El-Bagory

Stars: Amr Youssef, Yasmine Rayes

The surprise hit of the year. When Dr. Mokhtar decides to present a final lecture about how people fall in love, four stories interweave.

4- Men Talateen Sana (30 Years Ago, 22,713 EGPs)

Director: Amr Arafa

Stars: Ahmed El-Sakka, Mona Zaky

Omar returns home to divide his fortune to his family members who discovers that his money is cursed.

5- Ocean’s 14 (16,993 EGPs)

Director: Shady El-Ramly

Stars: Amr Mostafa Metwaly, Mohamed Anwar

An Egyptian sequel, in producer Sobky’s style, to Ocean’s Eleven films starring George Clooney. This comedy starred a cast of unknowns as a bunch of stupid burglars who plan to steel the jewelries of Emirati singer Ahlam.

Top US Films in Egyptian Box Office (Figures in Million Egyptian Pounds)

1-Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (13,320 EGPs)

Director: Zack Snyder

Stars: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams

The Egyptian audience favored Batman v Superman over Captain America: Civil War

2-Suicide Squad (12.689 EGPs)

Director: David Ayer

Stars: Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie

A secret government agency recruits some of the most dangerous incarcerated super-villains to form a defensive task force. Their first mission: save the world from the apocalypse. The stories from behind the scenes and the much talked about deleted scenes of the joker offered more hype than the final film.

3-The Conjuring 2 (10.806 EGPs)

Director: James Wan

Stars: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Madison Wolfe

Lorraine and Ed Warren travel to north London to help a single mother raising four children alone in a house plagued by a malicious spirit.

4-The Legend of Tarzan (9.075 EGPs)

Director: David Yates

Stars: Alexander Skarsgard, Rory J. Saper, Christian Stevens

Tarzan, having acclimated to life in London, is called back to his former home in the jungle to investigate the activities at a mining encampment.

5-Captain America: Civil War (8,201 EGPs)

Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

Stars: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson

In Egyptian theaters, most of the audience leaves before the post-credits scenes which create a cliffhanger for the next Marvel film and this if the projectionist doesn’t shutdown the film before they start to roll.