One year into the new decade, the movie prospects keep getting better. The releases slated for 2021 are so exciting they’ll make you salivate with anticipation, and we can’t wait to see them – especially now that it looks like we can see them. For starters we’ll be getting another Asian Blockbuster in director Destin Daniel Cretton’s Marvel entry, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. The Fast Family will be back for another action-packed installment of the Fast and the Furious franchise (can you believe we’re at 9 movies already?!). Venom: Let There Be Carnage arrives, as do horror sequels A Quiet Place 2 and Halloween Kills, and quasi-sequel Candyman. One big change in 2021: The way we watch the movies is changing big time. Warner Bros., for example, has announced that they will release their entire slate of 2021 movies on HBO Max as well as in theaters in an unprecedented move that could signal bigger changes in the industry.
The list is long and it’ll probably get longer, so start marking your calendars now. [Updated 4/19/2021]
Jan-Mar | Apr-June | July-Sep | Oct-Dec
The Best Movies of 2020 | The Most Anticipated Movies of 2022
The Dig (2021) 88%
Directed by: Simon Stone
Starring: Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, Lily James, Johnny Flynn, Ben Chaplin
Opening on: January 15, 2021 (limited), followed by Netflix premiere on January 29, 2021
Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan star in this Netflix original film based on true events and set in 1939. Mulligan plays a wealthy widow who hires an archaeologist (Fiennes) to excavate the burial mounds on her estate, leading to the discovery of a wealth of medieval Anglo-Saxon artifacts.
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run (2021) 67%
Directed by: Tim Hill
Starring: Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, Clancy Brown, Rodger Bumpass, Carolyn Lawrence, Mr. Lawrence
Opening on: February 2021 on VOD and CBS All Access (formerly August 7, 2020)
The long-running, wildly popular animated series gets another big screen outing as the whole Spongebob Squarepants gang are back for another adventure. This time out, Spongebob and Patrick embark on a rescue mission to recover Gary, who has been taken by Poseidon, and find themselves in the mystical land of Atlantic City.
Malcolm Marie (2020) 57%
Directed by: Sam Levinson
Starring: John David Washington, Zendaya
Opening on: February 5, 2021 on Netflix
If you feel like you’ve been wasting time during quarantine, wait until you hear about writer/director Sam Levinson, who wrote an entire movie script in six days, then called up John David Washington and Zendaya to be in that movie, and then filmed it, all during lockdown. The story follows a filmmaker and his girlfriend as they return from a movie premiere and, over the course of the evening, begin to hash out their relationship.
Judas and the Black Messiah (2021) 96%
Directed by: Shaka King
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Jess Plemons, Dominique Fishback, Martin Sheen, Lil Rel Howery
Opening on: February 12, 2021, with simultaneous release on HBO Max
Shaka King co-writes and directs this based-on-true-events drama focused on William O’Neal, the FBI informant who infiltrated the Illinois Black Panther Party in an effort to keep track of Fred Hampton.
To All The Boys: Always And Forever (2021) 78%
Directed by: Michael Fimognari
Starring: Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Jordan Fisher, Janel Parrish, Emilija Baranac
Opening on: February 12, 2021 on Netflix
One of three Netflix original franchises to see a third installment in 2021 (the other two being The Kissing Booth and The Princess Switch), To All the Boys concludes with Always and Forever, as Lara Jean (Lana Condor) nears the end of high school and takes a pair of “life-changing trips” that lead her to ponder life with her family — and Peter (Noah Centineo) — after graduation.
I Care a Lot (2021) 80%
Directed by: J Blakeson
Starring: Rosamund Pike, Eiza Gonzalez, Dianne Wiest, Peter Dinklage, Chris Messina, Isaiah Whitlock Jr.
Opening on: February 19, 2021 on Netflix
Rosamund Pike stars in this comedy as a con woman who takes swindles the elderly out of their money until she comes into contact with a woman who is more cunning than she appears.
Nomadland (2021) 94%
Directed by: Chloé Zhao
Starring: Frances McDormand, David Strathairn
Opening on: February 19, 2021 (following one-week virtual release on December 4, 2020)
Writer-director Chloé Zhao impressed the folks at Disney so much with her 2017 breakout film The Rider that they handed her the keys to Eternals, but before that film opens (presumably) in February, Zhao will release this drama based on the nonfiction book by Jessica Bruder. The film stars Frances McDormand as a woman who loses everything in the Great Recession and decides to see if #VanLife is all it’s cracked up to be.
The Father (2021) 98%
Directed by: Florian Zeller
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Olivia Colman
Opening on: February 26, 2021 (formerly December 18, 2020)
Two Oscar winners headline this drama based on the 2012 French play Le Père by the film’s director and co-writer, Florian Zeller. The story focuses on an aging man (Anthony Hopkins) struggling with memory loss whose daughter (Olivia Colman) moves into his flat to help care for him.
Tom Jerry (2020) 31%
Directed by: Tim Story
Starring: Chloë Grace Moretz, Michael Peña, Ken Jeong, Colin Jost, Rob Delaney
Opening on: February 26, 2021 (formerly March 5, 2021), with simultaneous release on HBO Max
The classic animated television series gets a big-screen update in the form of a live-action/animated hybrid in which mischievous mouse Jerry moves into a hotel on the eve of a big wedding and forces the wedding planner to bring Tom into the picture to get rid of him. When an even bigger threat emerges, Tom and Jerry are forced to work together to save the day.
Coming 2 America (2021) 49%
Directed by: Craig Brewer
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, KiKi Layne, Shari Headley, Wesley Snipes, James Earl Jones
Opening on: March 5, 2021 on Amazon Prime (formerly December 18, 2020)
After over three decades, it looks like Prince Akeem — ahem, King Akeem and Semmi are returning Stateside from there homeland of Zamunda. Much of the original cast are returning, including James Earl Jones as King Jaffe Joffer and John Amos as Cleo McDowell, as Akeem learns that he has a long-lost son he never knew about who might be the heir to the throne.
Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) 94%
Directed by: Don Hall, Carlos López Estrada, Paul Briggs, John Ripa
Starring: Awkwafina, Kelly Marie Tran, Gemma Chan, Daniel Dae Kim, Benedict Wong, Sandra Oh
Opening on: March 5, 2021 (formerly March 12, 2021)
In this animated film from Disney, Kelly Marie Tran lends her voice to the title character, a young warrior in a fantastical land who embarks on a quest to find the last dragon. Awkwafina, who’s been on a roll as of late, will provide the voice of said dragon, whose help Raya needs to bring peace to her land.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021) 71%
Directed by: Zack Snyder
Starring: Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Henry Cavill, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller, Amy Adams, Ray Fisher, Jesse Eisenberg, Diane Lane, Jeremy Irons
Opening on: March 18, 2021 on HBO Max
Brought to life by a rabid fan campaign, this re-cut four-hour-long version of the DC superhero team-up purports to be original director Zack Snyder’s true vision for the film, with additional footage shot and incorporated, along with new elements that were absent from the 2017 theatrical release that director Joss Whedon took over when Snyder left the project for personal reasons.
Nobody (2021) 82%
Directed by: Derek Kolstad
Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, RZA, Christopher Lloyd
Opening on: March 26, 2021 (formerly April 2, 2021)
Better Call Saul star Bob Odenkirk plays a man suffering from PTSD who unwittingly draws the ire of a Russian drug lord when he murders a pair of thieves who have been terrorizing his neighborhood.
Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) 75%
Directed by: Adam Wingard
Starring: Millie Bobby Brown, Kyle Chandler, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry
Opening on: March 31, 2021, with simultaneous release on HBO Max
It’s the showdown we’ve been waiting for since 2014’s Godzilla. Director Adam Wingard – who has proven he knows how to bring the thrills with The Guest and You’re Next – helms this climactic entry in Warner Bros.’ MonsterVerse series, which continued in 2019 with Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Who will win when the giant ape takes on the king?
Concrete Cowboy (2021) 80%
Directed by: Ricky Staub
Starring: Idris Elba, Caleb McLaughlin, Jharrel Jerome, Lorraine Toussaint, Method Man
Opening on: April 2, 2021 on Netflix
Based on the novel Ghetto Cowboy by Greg Neri, this drama stars Caleb McLaughlin (Stranger Things) as a Detroit teen who moves to Philadelphia to live with his estranged father (Idris Elba) and learns about the urban cowboy subculture.
Mortal Kombat (2021) 54%
Directed by: Simon McQuoid
Starring: Joe Taslim, Ludi Lin, Mechad Brooks, Lewis Tan, Elissa Cadwell, Ng Chin Han, Max Huang, Josh Lawson, Jessica McNamee, Hiroyuki Sanada, Sisi Stringer
Opening on: April 23, 2021 (formerly January 15, 2021), with simultaneous release on HBO Max
If you’ve been waiting for the inevitable Mortal Kombat reboot, 2021 has got you covered. With Lewis Tan, Mechad Brooks, and Joe Taslim attached to star, the newest franchise installment is bound to be everything you could want in a fantasy martial arts action film. James Wan will be producing, so there’s bound to be some of the magic that made the Saw franchise so successful.
In The Earth (2021) 76%
Directed by: Ben Wheatley
Starring: Joel Fry, Reece Shearsmith, Hayley Squires, Ellora Torchia
Opening on: April 30, 2021 (formerly April 16, 2021)
The latest thriller from Ben Wheatley (Kill List, High Rise) is a slice of supernatural horror centered on a scientist who ventures into a forest on an equipment run for research to cure a mysterious virus whose journey slowly transforms into a surreal nightmare.
Limbo (2021) 93%
Directed by: Ben Sharrock
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Vikash Bhai, Ola Orebiyi, Kwabena Ansah, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Kais Nashif
Opening on: April 30, 2021
This comedy-drama from writer-director Ben Sharrock puts a wry spin on the refugee experience as it follows a group of new immigrants to Scotland waiting to hear back on the status of their asylum claims. The film was originally set to screen at Cannes before the festival was cancelled, and it has already earned four British Independent Film Awards nominations and two nods from the BAFTAs.
Wrath of Man (2021) 67%
Directed by: Guy Ritchie
Starring: Jason Statham, Scott Eastwood, Jeffrey Donovan, Josh Hartnett, Post Malone
Opening on: May 7, 2021 (formerly April 23, 2021)
Director Guy Ritchie teams up with Jason Statham for their fourth collaboration together in a twist on the heist movies that made them famous. Based on the 2004 French film Cash Truck, Wrath of Man centers on an employee (Statham) at an armored truck company who takes part in a heist but has ulterior motives.
Spiral (2021)
Directed by: Darren Lynn Bousman
Starring: Chris Rock, Samuel L. Jackson, Max Minghella, Marisol Nichols
Opening on: May 14, 2021 (formerly May 21, 2021)
The Saw franchise officially gets revived in this new thriller, with Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II, III, and IV) back behind the camera. This time, two cops played by Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson investigate a series of gruesome murders and find themselves at the mercy of a killer reminiscent of the past (Jigsaw copycat, anyone?).
The Woman in the Window (2021)
Directed by: Joe Wright
Starring: Amy Adams, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gary Oldman, Julianne Moore, Anthony Mackie, Brian Tyree Henry
Opening on: May 14, 2021 (formerly May 15, 2020)
In Joe Wright’s adaptation of the novel of the same name that takes the premise of Rear Window to new places, Amy Adams stars as child psychologist Anna Fox, an agoraphobic woman who develops a friendship with a neighbor who lives in the building across the street (played by Julianne Moore), only to witness her friend being murdered by her husband. Except, maybe that’s not actually what happened, and maybe Anna’s medication is playing tricks on her mind.
Army Of The Dead (2021)
Directed by: Zack Snyder
Starring: Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana De La Reguera, Theo Rossi
Opening on: May 21, 2021 on Netflix
Before he set about rejiggering Justice League for HBO Max, Zack Snyder returned to his undead roots to helm this zombie thriller about a group of mercenaries who head into the heart of Las Vegas after a zombie outbreak in order to pull off a daring casino heist.
Cruella (2021)
Directed by: Alex Timbers and Craig Gillespie
Starring: Emma Stone, Joel Fry, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Paul Walter Hauser, Emma Thompson
Opening on: May 28, 2021 with Premier Access on Disney+
Emma Stone will star in Disney’s latest live-action remake of an old classic. In the vein of Maleficient, Cruella will focus on the enigmatic villain of 101 Dalmatians in her youth and show how she became obsessed with Dalmatian fur. With Emma Thompson and Mark Strong rounding out the cast, it’s bound to be worth the wait.
A Quiet Place Part II (2021)
Directed by: John Krasinski
Starring: Emily Blunt, Noah Jupe, Millicent Simmonds, Cillian Murphy, Djimon Hounsou
Opening on: May 28, 2021 (formerly September 17, 2021)
Director John Krasinski returns to helm this sequel, which he also wrote, starring his real-life wife Emily Blunt, as it follows up with the Abbott family after the events of the first film. Judging from the first trailer, we’ll also get some flashbacks to the beginning of the… invasion? Infestation? Whatever you want to call it, it looks like Krasinski has done a bang-up job ratcheting up the tension, and audiences should be in for another great ride.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)
Directed by: Michael Chaves
Starring: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Ruairi O’Connor, Sarah Catherine Hook, Julian Hilliard
Opening on: June 4, 2021, with simultaneous release on HBO Max
Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga return to reprise their roles as real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren in this third chapter of the original Conjuring franchise, focusing on a real case they investigated in which a murder suspect invoked demonic possession as a defense for his crimes. Michael Chaves, who directed 2019’s Conjuring-adjacent spinoff The Curse of La Llorona, takes the reins as director, while James Wan remains attached to the film as a producers.
Vivo (2021)
Directed by: Kirk DeMicco
Starring: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Zoe Saldana, Brian Tyree Henry, Nicole Byer, Leslie David Baker
Opening on: June 4, 2021 (formerly April 16, 2021)
Hot on the heels of the Oscar-nominated Moana and 2020’s In The Heights movie adaptation, Broadway legend Lin-Manuel Miranda will return to his musical roots with a new animated musical from Sony. Kirk DeMicco will direct, with Miranda voicing the titular musical kinkajou, and the film will stream on Netflix.
In the Heights (2021)
Directed by: Jon M. Chu
Starring: Anthony Ramos, Leslie Grace, Corey Hawkins, Jimmy Smits, Stephanie Beatriz, Dascha Polanco
Opening on: June 11, 2021, with simultaneous release on HBO Max
Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M. Chu adapts Lin-Manuel Miranda’s breakout musical, In the Heights. The show, which kicked off the Hamilton creator’s career, won four Tony Awards in 2008, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. Chu demonstrated real skill with spectacle in Crazy Rich Asians, and the new movie shares similar themes of reclaiming one’s heritage – it follows the stories of several characters in New York’s heavily Latino neighborhood, Washington Heights, over three days.
The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard (2021)
Directed by: Patrick Hughes
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Salma Hayek, Richard E. Grant, Morgan Freeman, Antonio Banderas, Frank Grillo
Opening on: June 16, 2021 (formerly August 20, 2021)
2017’s The Hitman’s Bodyguard didn’t exactly wow the critics, but it was a moderate hit at the box office, so why not give it another go? As indicated by the title, it’s Salma Hayek’s Sonia who now enlists the help of Michael (Ryan Reynolds) in order to rescue her husband — and Michael’s old rival — Darius (Samuel L. Jackson).
Luca (2021)
Directed by: Enrico Casarosa
Starring: Jacob Tremblay, Maya Rudolph, Jack Dylan Grazer, Jim Gaffigan
Opening on: June 18, 2021 on Disney+
The latest offering from Pixar (after 2020’s Soul) will be a deeply personal coming-of-age tale with a twist from director Enrico Casarosa. The story will focus on the title character, who lives on the Italian Riviera and strikes up a friendship with another boy, only to discover they are both secretly sea monsters disguised as humans.
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (2021) 61%
Directed by: Will Gluck
Starring: James Corden, Rose Byrne, Domhnall Gleeson, David Oyelowo, Elizabeth Debicki
Opening on: June 18, 2021 (formerly July 2, 2021)
First the garden, then the world. The plot for this sequel to the surprise hit loosely based on the work of Beatrix Potter is still under lock and key, but we’re sure it will involve James Corden’s cheeky rabbit causing all sorts of PG-rated trouble. We do not expect any blackberries to be involved, however.
F9 (2021)
Directed by: Justin Lin
Starring: Vin Diesel, Charlize Theron, Tyrese Gibson, John Cena, Michelle Rodriguez, Ludacris, Lucas Black
Opening on: June 25, 2021 (formerly May 28, 2021)
It’s full-throttle and pedal to the metal for the Toretto crime/adventure/anti-terrorism/what-even-are-they family yet again. Director Justin Lin was the man to turn the franchise around, delivering the series’ first Fresh entry on his third try with 2011’s Fast Five (Certified Fresh at 73%); since then, every Fast movie has landed on the red end of the Tomatometer. The new entry will bring the family back together to face off against a new villain played by John Cena… who happens to be Dom Toretto’s brother. Also, Han is back? What? The film was originally slated to open in May of 2020, but was pushed back almost a year to occupy the slot that had originally been reserved for Fast Furious 10.
Zola (2021) 89%
Directed by: Janicza Bravo
Starring: Taylour Paige, Riley Keough
Opening on: June 30, 2021
Based on a notoriously stranger-than-fiction series of viral tweets (and a subsequent Rolling Stone article) from 2015, this adventure comedy follows a Detroit waitress who embarked on a road trip to Florida with a stripper and ended up spending the craziest two days of her life with her.
The Forever Purge (2021)
Directed by: Everardo Gout
Starring: Ana de la Reguera, Josh Lucas, Tenoch Huerta, Will Patton
Opening on: July 2, 2021
Set after 2016’s Purge: Election Year, in which the Purge was officially abolished, this next chapter in the franchise goes smaller than its predecessors. Forever follows a Mexican couple who become stranded on a ranch and besieged by strangers who miss the good ol’ days of lawless anarchy.
Black Widow (2021)
Directed by: Cate Shortland
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Rachel Weisz
Opening on: July 9, 2021 (formerly November 6, 2020) with Premier Access on Disney+
The first Marvel property to kick off its Phase 4 (on the big screen, at least) will be this prequel focusing on Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff. The story takes place after the events of Captain America: Civil War and follows Natasha as she deals with dangerous people from her past as a double agent. David Harbour, Rachel Weisz, and Florence Pugh co-star, and who knows? Maybe Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye will make an appearance.
Cinderella (2021)
Directed by: Kay Cannon
Starring: Camila Cabello, Billy Porter, Idina Menzel
Opening on: July 16, 2021 (formerly February 5, 2021)
If there’s anyone who can do justice to Whitney Houston‘s turn as the Fairy Godmother, it’s none other than Broadway legend and Pose star Billy Porter. Sure, we might not need another Cinderella story, but what could be better than vocal legends like Idina Menzel and newcomers like Camila Cabello bringing a classic story to life?
Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)
Directed by: Malcolm D. Lee
Starring: LeBron James, Don Cheadle, Cedric Joe, Sonequa Martin-Green
Opening on: July 16, 2021, with simultaneous release on HBO Max
Speaking of old stories for new audiences, LeBron James‘ long-awaited Space Jam sequel will finally arrive in 2021. In this updated take on the original, Bron and his son (Cedric Joe) are transported to a digital world by an evil AI (voiced by Don Cheadle), who forces the basketball icon to team up with the Looney Toons and play a game of hoops against his digital Goon Squad.
Hotel Transylvania: Transformania (2021)
Directed by: Derek Drymon, Jennifer Kluska
Starring: Kathryn Hahn, Selena Gomez, Andy Samberg, Steve Buscemi, David Spade, Keegan-Michael Key
Opening on: July 23, 2021 (formerly August 6,2021)
The final chapter in the Hotel Transylvania series will not, in fact, include Adam Sandler as the voice of Dracula, and will reportedly focus more on Selena Gomez’s Mavis, Dracula’s daughter, who married regular guy Johnny (Andy Samberg) after stumbling into the titular hotel in the first film.
Old (2021)
Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
Starring: Gael García Bernal, Eliza Scanlen, Thomasin McKenzie, Alex Wolff
Opening on: July 23, 2021 (formerly February 26, 2021)
M. Night Shyamalan‘s newest project seems like a fairly straightforward idea, so it’ll be interesting to see where he takes it. In Old, a family on vacation discovers that the isolated beach where they’re relaxing is causing them to age rapidly. This is the first of two films the horror auteur is slated to direct for Universal in the coming years.
Snake Eyes (2021)
Directed by: Robert Schwentke
Starring: Henry Golding, Samara Weaving, Iko Uwais
Opening on: July 23, 2021 (formerly October 22, 2021)
This is reportedly an origin story (or maybe not?) for Snake Eyes, the mute ninja/commando previously portrayed by Ray Park in the live-action G.I. Joe film franchise. Snake Eyes’ past has always been shrouded in mystery, save for the fact that he was once close friends with enemy ninja Storm Shadow and the fact that an explosion not only severely disfigured his face but also fried his vocal cords. In other words, it makes sense that this will be a prequel, especially since they’ve hired Henry Golding to play the role.
The Green Knight (2021)
Director: David Lowery
Starring: Dev Patel, Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton, Sean Harris, Barry Keoghan, Sarita Choudhury
Opening on: July 30, 2021
Based on the 14th century Arthurian poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, this medieval fantasy adventure written and directed by David Lowery (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, The Old Man the Gun) appears to be splashed with a touch of horror, at least judging from the cryptic trailer. It was originally slated for a 2020 release before it moved to 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Jungle Cruise (2021)
Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Édgar Ramírez, Jack Whitehall, Jesse Plemons, Paul Giamatti
Opening on: July 30, 2021
Following the path that Pirates of the Caribbean charted so successfully, this new film (franchise?) is based on the Disney theme park attraction of the same name. Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt star, respectively, as a riverboat captain and a scientist on a hunt for a magical cure in this Depression-era action adventure. Comedian Jack Whitehall also joins in the fun, playing Blunt’s character’s brother. Collet-Serra has had a string of action-thriller hits working with Liam Neeson (Commuter, Non-Stop, Unknown), so there’s a chance this one could be slightly darker than anticipated.
Stillwater (2021)
Directed by: Tom McCarthy
Starring: Matt Damon, Abigail Breslin, Camille Cottin
Opening on: July 30, 2021 (formerly November 6, 2020)
Matt Damon stars in this thriller about an Oklahoma oil-rig worker who travels to Marseille, France to unravel a mystery and clear his daughter’s name when when she is imprisoned for a crime she says she didn’t commit. The film co-stars Abigail Breslin (likely as the daughter) and is directed and co-written by Tom McCarthy, who won a pair of Oscars for 2015’s Spotlight, so there’s considerable pedigree behind this project, and there’s no reason not to be optimistic about it.
The Suicide Squad (2021)
Directed by: James Gunn
Starring: Margot Robbie, Viola Davis, Joel Kinnaman, Jai Courtney, John Cena, Peter Capaldi, Sylvester Stallone
Opening on: August 6, 2021, with simultaneous release on HBO Max
Director James Gunn looks to erase the memory of 2016’s Suicide Squad with this soft quasi-reboot. A handful of the cast members from the first film return, while Idris Elba, John Cena, Peter Capaldi, and more join in on the fun, as Amanda Waller sends the Squad to take out a Nazi-era prison in South America.
Free Guy (2021)
Directed by: Shawn Levy
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Taika Waititi, Jody Comer, Joe Keery, Lel Rel Howery
Opening on: August 13, 2021 (formerly May 21, 2021)
Ryan Reynolds brings his sarcastic wit and boyishly good-looking everyman charm to this self-referential, special effects-driven comedy. He stars as Guy, a nondescript bank teller non-player character (NPC) in a violent, open-world video game who suddenly becomes self-aware and decides to take his destiny into his own hands. Expect a lot of ironic, self-referential humor and over-the-top action shenanigans, which, when Ryan Reynolds is involved, is essentially its own genre these days.
Respect (2021)
Directed by: Liesl Tommy
Starring: Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Marc Maron, Audra McDonald, Mary J. Blige
Opening on: August 13, 2021 (formerly January 15, 2021)
Jennifer Hudson has some big shoes to fill, as she steps into the role of Aretha Franklin in Liesl Tommy’s biopic of the legendary singer in Respect. It was originally slated for a January release before, like a lot of other films, it was delayed by coronavirus-related shutdowns.
Candyman (2021)
Directed by: Nia DaCosta
Starring: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Tony Todd, Teyonah Parris
Opening on: August 27,2021 (formerly October 16, 2020)
Longtime fan and contemporary horror maestro Jordan Peele is producing this sequel to — not a remake of — the classic 1992 horror film about the murdered son of a slave whose ghost haunts the Chicago neighborhood where the Cabrini Green housing projects once stood. The update is set after the gentrification of Cabrini Green, as an artist learns about the history of his neighborhood and begins to explore it in his work, unknowingly opening a door he may not be able to close.
The Beatles: Get Back (2021)
Directed by: Peter Jackson
Starring: The Beatles
Opening on: August 27, 2021 (formerly September 4, 2020)
On the heels of his universally acclaimed World War I documentary They Shall Not Grow Old, Peter Jackson turns his eye towards the Fab Four. Utilizing never-before-seen footage behind the scenes, the new documentary chronicles the Beatles as they record their 1970 album Let It Be, as well as their legendary performance on the rooftop of Apple Records in London.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
Directed by: Destin Daniel Cretton
Starring: Simu Liu, Tony Leung, Awkwafina
Opening on: September 3, 2021 (formerly July 9, 2021)
After bringing the true story of Bryan Stevenson to screen in this year’s Just Mercy, Destin Daniel Cretton will be joining the big leagues for his next project. Shang-Chi will be the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first Asian-led film. Kim’s Conveince‘s Simu Liu is set to star, and The Farewell’s Awkwafina has also been cast in an unknown role.
Reminiscence (2021)
Directed by: Lisa Joy
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson, Thandie Newton, Daniel Wu, Cliff Curtis
Opening on: September 3, 2021, with simultaneous release on HBO Max
Hugh Jackman stars in this sci-fi drama set in a flooded, near-future Miami about a man who offers people the chance to relive any memory. As he begins to fall for one of his clients, he discovers she may or may not be involved in a series of violent crimes and dives into her past to learn the truth. This is the feature debut of Lisa Joy, who previously worked on TV series like Pushing Daisies, Burn Notice, and most recently Westworld.
Malignant (2021)
Directed by: James Wan
Starring: Annabelle Wallis, George Young, Jake Abel, McKenna Grace
Opening on: September 10, 2021 (formerly August 14, 2020)
James Wan’s next project was initially set to debut in 2020, but like many things, it was held back until this year. We don’t know what the film — also written by Wan — is about, except that it’s a horror thriller and it’s decidedly not an adaptation of Wan’s graphic novel Malignant Man.
The Boss Baby: Family Business (2021)
Directed by: Tom McGrath
Starring: TBD
Opening on: September 17, 2021 (formerly March 26, 2021)
The Boss Baby might be Rotten, but its monster box office take shows the audience is hungry for more. Fans of Alec Baldwin‘s fast talking baby in business will be pleased to know he’ll be back to reprise his role in 2021. Tom McGrath will return to direct.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)
Directed by: Andy Serkis
Starring: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Woody Harrelson, Naomie Harris, Stephen Graham
Opening on: September 24, 2021 (formerly September 17, 2021)
Andy Serkis takes the reins for this follow-up to 2018’s Spider-Man-adjacent Sony hit Venom. Tom Hardy returns to reprise his role as journalist Eddie Brock, who entered into a mutually beneficial partnership with the alien symbiote who possessed his body in the first film, and he’ll face off against a new villain in the form of Woody Harrelson’s Carnage, who was teased in the post-credits scene of the first film.
The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021)
Directed by: Michael Showalter
Starring: Jessica Chastain, Andrew Garfield, Vincent D’Onofrio, Cherry Jones, Sam Jaeger
Opening on: September 24, 2021
Director Michael Showalter (The Big Sick) takes a more dramatic turn with this film based on the documentary of the same name that chronicles the rise and fall of televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, with Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield set to play the infamous couple.
The Many Saints of Newark (2021)
Directed by: Alan Taylor
Starring: Michael Gandolfini, Vera Farmiga, Jon Bernthal, Billy Magnussen, Ray Liotta, Corey Stoll, Alessandro Nivola
Opening on: September 24, 2021 (formerly March 12, 2021), with simultaneous release on HBO Max
Whether you feel that the end of The Sopranos — you know, that controversial fade to black — was fitting and poignant or anti-climactic and unsatisfying, you probably jumped at the news that a Sopranos movie was in the works. With the late James Gandolfini no longer around, however, the only way to go was a prequel, and who better to portray a young Tony Soprano than Gandolfini’s son himself, Michael? Alan Taylor directs this look back at the early years of the iconic TV mobster, with Vera Farmiga, Jon Bernthal, and Ray Liotta in supporting roles.
Dune (2020)
Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Josh Brolin, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Javier Bardem, Jason Momoa, Dave Bautista, Zendaya
Opening on: October 1, 2021 (formerly December 18, 2020), with simultaneous release on HBO Max
Acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve takes on the massive challenge of re-adapting Frank Herbert’s sprawling sci-fi epic more than 30 years after David Lynch attempted the same and, according to many fans, fell short. At the very least, Villeneuve has assembled an impressive cast (just look at those names!) so it’s now up to him and his co-writers to fashion an engaging script from the daunting source material.
Morbius (2022)
Directed by: Daniel Espinosa
Starring: Jared Leto, Jared Harris, Adria Arjona, Matt Smith, Tyrese Gibson
Opening on: October 8, 2021 (formerly March 19, 2021)
The first true test of Sony’s break with Marvel over Spider-Man and the various characters related to him will come in the form of Morbius, based on the Spidey villain who suffers from a rare blood disease and inadvertently turns himself into a vampire in a misguided attempt to cure himself. Jared Leto, who sparked a lot of online chatter with his portrayal of the Joker in 2016’s Suicide Squad, plays the title character. Like F9 and Ghostbusters: Afterlife, this film was pushed back from its original 2020 release.
No Time To Die (2020)
Directed by: Cary Fukunaga
Starring: Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Rami Malek, Naomie Harris, Lea Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, Rory Kinnear, Jeffrey Wright, Ana de Armas, Lashana Lynch
Opening on: October 8, 2021 (formerly April 2, 2021)
True Detective director Cary Fukunaga takes the reins for the 25th James Bond film, with Daniel Craig returning for his fifth and (presumably) final turn as 007. He’s joined by series regulars Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Rory Kinnear, and Ben Whishaw, as well as returning characters played by Lea Seydoux and Jeffrey Wright. Recent Best Actor-winner Rami Malek is reported to play the villain, while it’s presumed Captain Marvel‘s Lashana Lynch will play a newer 007 who may have to relinquish her famous code number back to Bond when he comes out of retirement.
Halloween Kills (2021)
Directed by: David Gordon Green
Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Anthony Michael Hall
Opening on: October 15, 2021
The duo of director David Gordon Green and writer Danny McBride proved successful in the 2018 sequel-that-nullified-all-the-other-sequels, Halloween, so they recently announced two more films to close out a new trilogy. The second installment, which sees the return of the newly badass Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and her grown-up daughter (Judy Greer), will hit theaters just before, well, Halloween.
The Last Duel (2020)
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Starring: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Adam Driver, Jodie Comer
Opening on: October 15, 2021 (formerly January 8, 2021)
It’s been two years since Ridley Scott did the unthinkable and reshot All The Money In The World weeks before its release date. But this time around, he’ll be racing against history with this Edwardian tale of knights and maidens. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon will reunite, with Killing Eve‘s breakout star Jodie Comer filling out the cast.
Jackass 4
Directed by: TBD
Starring: TBD
Opening on: October 22, 2021 (formerly September 3, 2021)
We don’t yet know who from the original Jackass gang might show up in this next installment, though both Johnny Knoxville and Steve-O have expressed in doing more outrageous stunts and pranks on the big screen. All we know is that paramount has officially announced a release date, so we’ll just have to wait and see who jumps on board.
Last Night in Soho (2021)
Directed by: Edgar Wright
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Matt Smith, Thomasin McKenzie, Diana Rigg, Terence Stamp
Opening on: October 22, 2021 (formerly April 23, 2021)
Any time Edgar Wright has a new movie coming out, it’s something to look forward to. But throw in the fact that he’s assembled a cast that includes up-and-coming young stars like Anya Taylor-Joy and Thomasin McKenzie, as well as legendary vets like Diana Rigg and Terence Stamp? And the fact that it’s a horror film inspired by both Don’t Look Now and Repulsion? Yes, please, and thank you.
Ron’s Gone Wrong (2021)
Directed by: Jean-Philippe Vine, Sarah Smith
Starring: TBD
Opening on: October 22, 2021 (formerly April 23, 2021)
Originally slated for a late 2020 release, Ron’s Gone Wrong was pushed back a few months after 20th Century Fox was acquired by Disney. The animated adventure is set in a world where every child’s best friend is a digitally connected device and follows one young boy who discovers his own robot pal doesn’t quite work the way it should.
Antlers (2021)
Directed by: Scott Cooper
Starring: Keri Russell, Jesse Plemons, Jeremy T. Thomas, Graham Greene
Opening on: October 29, 2021 (formerly February 19, 2021)
Keri Russell and Jesse Plemons star in this supernatural thriller about a small-town teacher and her sheriff brother who find themselves in a waking nightmare when they discover one of her students is harboring a terrifying secret in his attic.
Untitled Elvis Film
Directed by: Baz Luhrmann
Starring: Austin Butler, Tom Hanks
Opening on: November 5, 2021
Austin Butler beat out tons of hopefuls to win the role of the famed King of Rock and Roll for this biopic from Warner Brothers. With Baz Lurhmann on board to write and direct, it’s bound to be a lush cinematic experience. Tom Hanks is also attached in a supporting role.
Eternals (2021)
Directed by: Chloé Zhao
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Kumail Nanjiani, Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kit Harington, Brian Tyree Henry
Opening on: November 5, 2021 (formerly February 12, 2021)
The second film of Marvel’s Phase 4 goes cosmic again with the Eternals. Much of the cast was announced in bits and pieces, with a big reveal at Comic-Con 2019 and a key addition made in August. In brief, the Eternals are powerful immortals who helped shape humanity and history on Earth, and the cast includes a lot of big names, from Angelina Jolie and Salma Hayek to Kumail Nanjiani and a couple of Game of Thrones kings, Richard Madden and Kit Harington. Plus, director Chloé Zhao is no slouch herself; she had one of 2018’s best-reviewed films in The Rider. We’ll just have to see how well she makes the transition to big-budget, special effects-driven Blockbusters.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)
Directed by: Jason Reitman
Starring: Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Paul Rudd
Opening on: November 12, 2021 (formerly June 11, 2021)
Jason Reitman will direct a sequel to the original Ghostbusters franchise, unrelated to the all-female reboot directed by Paul Feig in 2016. We still don’t know much about what the story will be, but as casting news trickled in, we did learn that Finn Wolfhard and Mckenna Grace will play a brother and sister, with Carrie Coon as their single mother, and Paul Rudd is in the film in an undisclosed role. We’re still waiting on word if, as Sigourney Weaver stated in an interview, the remaining original Ghostbusters will appear in the film. Originally slated to open on July 10, 2020, the film was pushed back due to concerns regarding the coronavirus outbreak.
Top Gun: Maverick (2021)
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Val Kilmer, Jay Ellis, Miles Teller, Monica Barbaro
Opening on: November 19, 2021 (formerly July 2, 2021)
Great balls of fire, we’re getting a Top Gun sequel after 31 years! Not a whole lot is known about the movie, except that the filmmakers have recruited a cast of some of the most in-demand young actors in Hollywood – including Miles Teller, who will play Goose’s son – and that Val Kilmer is officially back as Iceman. And as the trailer released during Comic-Con promises, it will again feature Tom Cruise riding motorcycles, playing volleyball, and flying jets like a madman.
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021)
Directed by: Johannes Roberts
Starring: Kaya Scodelario, Robbie Amell, Tom Hopper, Hannah John-Kamen, Neal McDonough
Opening on: November 24, 2021
Nothing says Thanksgiving like a little zombie horror, right? Sony’s reboot of the massively popular Resident Evil franchise looks to hew closer to the original video games than the Paul W.S. Anderson movies starring Milla Jovovich did. The new film, directed by horror vet Johannes Roberts (The Strangers: Prey at Night, 47 Meters Down), will serve as an origin story focusing on characters and landmarks that will be very familiar to fans of the games.
Nightmare Alley (2021)
Directed by: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Willem Dafoe, Toni Collette, Richard Jenkins, Ron Perlman, Rooney Mara
Opening on: December 3, 2021
Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro always has a dozen or so plates spinning, but his next project is this adaptation of the novel of the same name by William Lindsay Graham. Starring Bradley Cooper and Cate Blanchett, the story revolves around a manipulative carnival hustler who “hooks up with a female psychiatrist who is even more dangerous than he is.” It doesn’t have a specific release date yet, but a recent Tweet by Searchlight Pictures announced it would be released in December of 2021.
West Side Story (2021)
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Rita Moreno, Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler
Opening on: December 10, 2021 (formerly December 18, 2020)
Steven Spielberg’s new adaptation of the famous Broadway musical of the same name, which is itself an alternative take on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, is finally seeing the light of day in late 2020. Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler star in the as Tony and Maria, two teens in 1950s New York City who belong to rival gangs but fall in love with each other and must deal with the consequences.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Directed by: Jon Watts
Starring: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Jamie Foxx, Benedict Cumberbatch, Alfred Molina
Opening on: December 17, 2021 (formerly November 5, 2021)
There’s a lot to break down in the upcoming third Sony/MCU Spider-Man movie starring Tom Holland as Peter Parker, with some pretty big potential implications for both studios and their respective franchises. Suffice it to say, there will be some heady, game-changing plot elements at play, and if you want to know more than that, you can always read our breakdown of everything we know about the movie so far.
The King’s Man (2021)
Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
Starring: Harris Dickinson, Ralph Fiennes, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Gemma Arterton, Matthew Goode, Charles Dance, Daniel Brühl, Stanley Tucci, Djimon Hounsou
Opening on: December 22, 2021 (formerly August 20, 2021)
While both a third installment of the Kingsman franchise and a Statesman spin-off are still on the way, audiences will first get a taste of how the whole thing came to exist in the first place with this prequel, set in the early 1900s. Ralph Fiennes leads an all-star cast in an origin story that will show how a group of ex-soldiers formed the spy agency.
The Matrix 4 (2022)
Directed by: Lana Wachowski
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jada Pinkett Smith, Lambert Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Nei Patrick Harris, Jonathan Groff, Jessica Henwick, Priyanka Chopra
Opening on: December 22, 2021 (formerly April 1, 2022), with simultaneous release on HBO Max
Somehow, some way, Neo and Trinity are set to return to the world of The Matrix, as Lana Wachowski is set to bring us another sci-fi action-adventure set in the world digital world she helped create way back in 1999. We won’t get Agent Smith or Morpheus this time around, but people like Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Neil Patrick Harris, Jessica Henwick, and Priyanka Chopra are joining the cast, so that’s exciting. The film was already delayed once to 2022 after it was originally slated to open in May of 2021, and now it’s been moved back up again to a very competitive Christmas weekend.
Sing 2 (2021)
Directed by: TBD
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Selena Gomez, Shawn Mendes, John C. Reilly, Idina Menzel, Resse Witherspoon, Nick Kroll, Scarlett Johansson
Opening on: December 22, 2021
Originally slated for Christmas 2020, Universal’s Sing 2 will release summer 2021 instead. The animated feature about a koala talent agent will see most of the principal cast return, with the addition of Idina Menzel and Selena Gomez. Chances are it’ll be another big family-friendly hit.
Sherlock Holmes 3
Directed by: Dexter Fletcher
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams
Opening on: December 22, 2021
With Robert Downey Jr. free from the MCU, it’s finally time for the long awaited Sherlock Holmes sequel. By 2021, it’ll have been a decade since RDJ and Jude Law last brought their mischievous friendship to Victorian England. Rachel McAdams is back as Irene Adler, with a script from Chris Brancato, best known for his work in television on Hannibal and Narcos, and Bohemian Rhapsody director Dexter Fletcher is at the helm, though he did report back in October of 2020 that the film was on the “back burner.”
Downton Abbey 2 (2021)
Directed by: Simon Curtis
Starring: Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Michelle Dockery, Matthew Goode, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Dominic West, Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye
Opening on: December 22, 2021
Fans of the popular ITV/PBS series rejoiced when the Crawley family and the staff of their famous estate made the leap to the big screen in 2019, and we’re getting a second trip just in time for Christmas, 2021. The original cast is returning, with new additions like Dominic West, Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, and Nathalie Baye, while Simon Curtis (My Week with Marilyn) will take on directorial duties. No word yet on what exactly the story of the new film will be.
Finch (2021)
Directed by: Miguel Sapochnik
Starring: Tom Hanks
Opening on: TBD on Apple TV+ (formerly August 20, 2021)
Tom Hanks is back, breaking our hearts again. Here he plays a sickly inventor — and the last human left on a post-apocalyptic earth — who creates a robot to protect the life of his dog when he dies and keep them both company while he’s alive. Will said robot be as lovable as, say, Wilson? Time will tell. Director Miguel Sapochnik boasts an epic resume, particularly in TV – if you need any convincing on this one, just know he directed Game of Thrones’ “Battle of the Bastards” episode.
Blonde
Directed by: Andrew Dominik
Starring: Ana de Armas, Adrien Brody, Bobby Cannavale
Opening on: TBD on Netflix
Based on the Joyce Carol Oates novel of the same name, this biographical drama directed by Andrew Dominik (The Assassination of Jesse James) offers a fictionalized look at the private life of Marilyn Monroe during the 1950s and 1960s, with Ana de Armas (Blade Runner 2049) taking the lead as the iconic model, singer, and actress.
Don’t Look Up (2020)
Directed by: Adam McKay
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Rob Morgan, Jonah Hill, Timothée Chalamet, Ariana Grande
Opening on: TBD on Netflix
Adam McKay (The Big Short, Vice) directs a massive ensemble cast led by Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence in this satirical take on the disaster movie, following a pair of low-level astronomers who discover an approaching comet will destroy the planet and embark on a media tour to try to get the world to take them seriously.
Escape from Spiderhead
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Miles Teller, Jurnee Smollett, Mark Paguio, Tess Haubrich
Opening on: TBD on Netflix
Working from a script by Deadpool writing duo Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, Joseph Kosinski (TRON: Legacy, Top Gun: Maverick) directs this action film about a pair of near-future convicts who agree to a series of experimental drug tests in exchange for shorter prison sentences. The film was initially thought to be getting a 2022 release, but Netflix is releasing it in 2021 as part of their big plan to premiere a new original film every week.
The Guilty
Directed by: Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Riley Keough
Opening on: TBD on Netflix
Jake Gyllenhaal, Riley Keough, and Peter Sarsgaard star in Antoine Fuqua’s remake of the 2018 Danish thriller of the same name about a police emergency dispatcher who becomes invested in a 9-1-1 call from a woman in the middle of an abduction.
The Harder They Fall
Directed by: Jeymes Samuel
Starring: Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz, Lakeith Stanfield, Delroy Lindo, Regina King
Opening on: TBD on Netflix
Fans of Idris Elba riding a horse should be overjoyed to know that, in addition to Concrete Cowboy, he’s also in a more traditional Western. Here, he stars alongside a powerhouse cast that includes Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz, Lakeith Stanfield, Delroy Lindo, and Regina King in a good, old-fashioned revenge tale about a man looking to hunt down the villain who murdered his parents.
The Power of the Dog
Directed by: Jane Campion
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Jesse Plemons, Kirsten Dunst, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Thomasin McKenzie
Opening on: TBD on Netflix
It’s been a while since Jane Campion helmed a feature film, and as if to prove they’re not just interested in sci-fi thrillers and action films, Netflix scooped up her latest as part of their 2021 release plan. Based on the Thomas Savage novel of the same name, the film stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Jesse Plemons as two brothers who own a Montana ranch at the turn of the 20th century and find themselves engaged in a bitter rivalry when one of them marries a local widow.
Red Notice (2020)
Directed by: Rawson Marshall Thurber
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot, Ryan Reynolds
Opening on: TBD on Netflix
Director Rawson Marshall Thurber (Central Intelligence, Skyscraper) teams up with Dwayne Johnson for a third time in this action-comedy about a top FBI agent who is forced to team up with two rival criminals (Gal Gadot, Ryan Reynolds) to take down one of the world’s most wanted.
tick, tick… BOOM!
Directed by: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesus, Vanessa Hudgens, Bradley Whitford
Opening on: TBD on Netflix
Between In the Heights and Encanto, Lin-Manuel Miranda was already going to have a big 2021, but he decided to go ahead and drop his feature directorial debut as well. This musical drama stars Andrew Garfield as an aspiring theater composer nearing 30 and hoping for his big break who begins to reexamine his life and his relationships.
Rugrats (2021)
Directed by: David Bowers
Starring: TBD
Opening on: TBD (formerly January 29, 2021)
Tommy, Chucky and the rest of the gang are back! Details are scarce, with David Bowers at the helm as director, this new live-action remake for the classic Nickelodeon cartoon is bound to be a nostalgia-inducing box office hit.
Bob’s Burgers (2020)
Directed by: Loren Bouchard
Starring: H. Jon Benjamin, John Roberts, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, Kristen Schaal, Larry Murphy
Opening on: TBD (formerly April 9, 2021)
The hit Fox animated comedy about the owner of a small hamburger restaurant and his quirky family is getting the feature film treatment in the form of a musical comedy — something the show is already quite comfortable with.
Masters of the Universe (2021)
Directed by: Adam and Aaron Nee
Starring: TBD
Opening on: TBD (formerly March 5, 2021)
The She-Ra reboot has been doing well over at Netflix, so it’s only natural that He-Man would follow. After the 1987 cult film flopped at the box office, it’s prime time for a reboot that brings all that campy goodness to screen. No cast has been announced, but anyone who follows in Dolph Lundgren’s shoes would be lucky.
The French Dispatch (2020)
Directed by: Wes Anderson
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, Léa Seydoux, Benicio Del Toro, Saoirse Ronan, Bill Murray, Jeffrey Wright, Owen Wilson
Opening on: TBD (formerly October 16, 2020)
Initially reported to be a musical, Wes Anderson’s next film will be a drama that brings to life a handful of stories from a magazine created by an American living in a fictional city in France. The film’s press release calls it a “love letter to journalists,” and it brings together several regular collaborators in a massive, star-studded cast.
Escape Room 2 (2022)
Directed by: Adam Robitel
Starring: TBD
Opening on: TBD (formerly December 30, 2020)
We don’t know who will star in the film yet, or how the story will play out, but this year’s Escape Room was a surprise hit, so we’re curious to see where they will go next with the high-concept premise.
Wicked (2021)
Directed by: Stephen Daldry
Starring: TBD
Opening on: TBD (formerly December 22, 2021)
It feels like fans of the musical have been waiting forever for a screen adaption of Wicked, and in 2021, they’ll finally get their wish. No cast details have been announced yet, but with a legacy like Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth to live up to, the lucky ladies who get the gig will have enormous shoes to fill. Here’s to Lea Michele!
Blazing Samurai (2018)
Directed by: Chris Bailey, Mark Koetsier
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Cera, Michelle Yeoh, George Takei, Gabriel Iglesias, Djimon Honsou
Opening on: 2021
Originally slated for release in 2017, the star-studded animated feature will finally see the light of day in 2021. Inspired by Mel Brooks‘ classic western Blazing Saddles, the cast includes Michael Cera, Samuel L. Jackson and Ricky Gervais.
The Power of the Dog
Directed by: Jane Campion
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Paul Dano
Opening on: 2021
In her follow up to Top of the Lake: China Girl, Jane Campion will reunite with Elisabeth Moss for Netflix’s The Power of The Dog, based on the 1967 novel of the same name. Also starring Benedict Cumberbatch, the film centers on two brothers on a ranch whose relationship shifts when one falls in love with a local widow.
Pinocchio (2021)
Directed by: Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson
Starring: TBD
Opening on: 2021
This has been one of Guillermo del Toro’s long-in-development passion projects, and it will also be his first foray into animation. The stop motion-animated adaptation of the classic tale will reportedly be a tad darker than we may be accustomed to, with del Toro calling it a “brutalist fable.” Like The Power of the Dog, this was picked up by Netflix and given a 2021 release date; whether or not the streaming giant will put it in theaters remains to be seen.
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