Bryan Alexander

USA TODAY

Star Wars mania won't subside in the new year.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was voted the most anticipated 2016 film in a survey of moviegoers conducted by ticket site Fandango.com. The results come as Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the seventh film in the saga, is setting box office records.

"Star Wars is conquering everything out there — it's a box office behemoth," says Erik Davis, Fandango managing editor. "Seeing Rogue One at No. 1 for 2016 shouldn't be a surprise, even if I don't think many people know it's not a sequel."

'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' sails past 'Titanic' at box office

Rogue One (in theaters Dec. 16, 2016) is the first stand-alone Star Wars Anthology film, exploring characters and events beyond the core saga. Set before 1977's Star Wars, it tells the story of resistance fighters who have united to steal plans to the dreaded Death Star.



Pixar's Finding Dory (in theaters June 17), the widely anticipated sequel to 2003's Finding Nemo, swam to second place in the poll.

"Adults loved the original, and there's a whole generation of kids who have grown up with a true fondness for Finding Nemo," Davis says. "People have wanted to see these characters on the screen for a very long time."

See two new 'Finding Dory' friends with familiar voices

Finding Dory will bring back the voices of Albert Brooks as the clownfish Marlin and Ellen DeGeneres as the forgetful fish Dory, now searching for her lost mother (Diane Keaton) and father (Eugene Levy).

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice landed third on the list. Matt Damon's still-untitled return to the Jason Bourne franchise came in fourth, while Damon was also chosen as most anticipated actor.

"This speaks to the popularity of that franchise when Matt Damon is in the role," Davis says. "The fifth installment is right in this mix, but it doesn’t even have a title and we haven’t seen a trailer."

More tentpole sequels dominated the remaining spots with Captain America: Civil War at No. 5, Star Trek Beyond at No. 6, the Will Smith-less Independence Day: Resurgence at No. 7 and X-Men: Apocalypse at No. 8.

Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson's return to comedic male modeling in Zoolander No. 2 landed in ninth. Director Jon Favreau's live-action The Jungle Book rounded out the top 10.

Other Fandango 2016 poll highlights:

Melissa McCarthy was voted most anticipated actress for her upcoming role in the all-female Ghostbusters.

Sophie Turner of X-Men: Apocalypse was picked as top rising female movie star, followed by Leslie Jones in Ghostbusters.

Tom Holland from Captain America: Civil War was chosen as the lead rising male star, followed by Riz Ahmed in Rogue One.

Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) beat out Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) as the most anticipated comic book character debuting in a major role. Gadot will appear in Batman v Superman.

"People have been waiting for Wonder Woman to appear onscreen for a long time," Davis says. "I don’t know if a lot of people are familiar with the actress, but they really want to see that character."

The full results:

FANDANGO FAN PICKS FOR 2016

Most anticipated movie

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Dec. 16, 2016) Finding Dory (June 17) Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (March 25) Untitled Jason Bourne movie (July 29) Captain America: Civil War (May 6) Star Trek Beyond (July 22) Independence Day: Resurgence (June 24) X-Men: Apocalypse (May 27) Zoolander No. 2 (Feb. 12) The Jungle Book (April 15)

Most anticipated actress

Melissa McCarthy (Ghostbusters) Scarlett Johansson (Captain America: Civil War) Jennifer Lawrence (X-Men: Apocalypse) Emily Blunt (The Girl On the Train) Charlize Theron (The Huntsman: Winter’s War)

Most anticipated actor

Matt Damon (Jason Bourne movie) Will Smith (Suicide Squad) Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool) Ben Affleck (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice) George Clooney (Hail, Caesar!)

Rising female movie star

Sophie Turner (X-Men: Apocalypse) Leslie Jones (Ghostbusters) Karen Fukuhara (Suicide Squad) Christina Wren (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice) Nadia Hilker (The Divergent Series: Allegiant)

Rising male movie star

Tom Holland (Captain America: Civil War) Riz Ahmed (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) Tye Sheridan (X-Men: Apocalypse) Stephan James (Race) Ed Speleers (Alice Through the Looking Glass)

Most anticipated comic book character debuting in a major role