February isn’t typically a great time for major movie releases, but this year fans have two long-awaited films to check out: the profane, wise-cracking Deadpool and the really, really, really, good looking Zoolander 2.
Keep reading for all of team Fandom’s entertainment recommendations in February.
Feb. 5: Watch Hail, Caesar! in Theaters
Joel and Ethan Coen have delivered some of the finest films of the last 20 years across a wide variety of styles and genres. After the complex tone poem that was Inside Llewyn Davis and writing the drama Bridge of Spies for Steven Spielberg, the duo is back in touch with their funny bone in Hail, Caesar!, releasing this month. Featuring an all-star cast including George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Channing Tatum, Josh Brolin, and Jonah Hill, the film satirizes Hollywood and the political scheming of the studio system of the 1950s. It also aspires to capture the balance of absurdist humor and luxurious filmmaking that made films like The Big Lebowski and O Brother, Where Art Thou? instant classics. Whether it’s a film we love instantly or one that takes time to sink in, the end result with any Coen film is that it’s required viewing. [Nick Nunziata]
Feb. 9: Play Firewatch on PC or PS4
The independent game studio Campo Santo, comprised of former Telltale Games developers, debuts its first title this month. Firewatch is a story-driven first-person adventure game, and it also happens to be one of our most anticipated indie games of 2016. We’re thrilled to finally see what mysteries are hidden in the gorgeously rendered wilds of Wyoming. This is a no-brainer for those interested in seeing just how powerful game storytelling can be when done well. [Jorge Albor]
Feb. 9: Read Morning Star by Pierce Brown
The Red Rising book series by Pierce Brown has been one of my favorites over the last few years. If you’ve never heard of the series, give the first book a try. It totally sucks you right in. The books straddle the line between Young Adult and adult science fiction, looking at mankind 700 years in the future where human society is broken into a color-coded strata, with by the superhuman Golds at the top and Reds as slaves at the bottom. The trilogy follows a teenager named Darrow, who is selected by the revolutionary group Sons of Ares to transform into a Gold and infiltrate the elites in order to start a revolution. After two stellar, drama-filled books, the series comes to an end with Morning Star, which promises answers and a conclusion. This is one I’ve been waiting over a year for, and I already have it pre-ordered. Can’t wait! [Annette Cardwell]
Feb. 12: Watch Deadpool in Theaters
It’s hard to imagine a time where everyone’s favorite anti-hero wasn’t in our faces with his irreverent, hilarious, fourth-wall breaking self. Deadpool helped us celebrate Halloween, Christmas, Australia Day, and Betty White’s birthday. He made bold statements via a giant emoji billboard and a PSA about a man’s, um, “smooth criminals.” If these gifts are even half as outrageous as the film’s expected R-rated glory, then hold onto your chimichangas: It’s going to be a wild ride. [Lesley Chen]
Feb. 14: Watch The Walking Dead‘s Midseason Premiere on AMC
Prepare yourselves, Walking Dead fans. The back half of season six is going to be brutal, even by The Walking Dead standards. That’s because Negan, the most profane and sadistic villain to appear in the comic (seriously, he puts the Governor to shame with his gleeful disregard for humanity), crosses paths with Rick and crew. Fun Fact: Negan makes his first appearance in issue 100 of the comic, and he does such a terrible thing to such a personally beloved character for literally no reason at all that I haven’t read an issue since. Hopefully his TV counterpart won’t cause the same reaction… [Brett Bates]
Feb. 16: Play Street Fighter V on PS4
This is a tough one to call, since two of our most anticipated AAA games of 2016 debut this month. While I can’t wait to join the Extraterrestrial Combat Unit (XCOM) in taking back Earth from the alien overlords in XCOM 2, my quarter will be sitting firmly on the (virtual) arcade cabinet, signaling that “I got next” for a game of Street Fighter V when it arrives Feb. 16. It’s hard to believe it’s been seven years since an official Street Fighter sequel on consoles. Despite seeing some excellent fighting game releases during that time, such as Mortal Kombat X and Marvel vs. Capcom 3 — not to mention an abundance of DLC and alternate versions of Street Fighter IV — I’m ready for a true sequel that allows me to try out new moves and fighting systems with my favorite character, Ryu, against other series regulars and new combatants entering the fray. [Matthew Allen]
Feb. 29: Watch Gotham‘s Midseason Premiere on Fox
The first half of Gotham season two was a vast improvement over season one, and I can’t wait to see what else the writers have in store when the show returns on Feb. 29. We’ll see the rise of more villains, as Gordon contends with the arrival of Victor Fries, a.k.a. Mr. Freeze. And fans will be treated to an appearance by Pee Wee Herman himself, Paul Reubens, playing Penguin’s dad. We’ll also learn more about what’s going on at Indian Hill, and young Master Wayne will get closer to the truth about his parents’ murder. [Brian Linder]
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