It’s a bit of an understatement to say that 2020 left cinephiles and movie lovers alike starved of theatrical releases and experiences. And while Netflix, Disney+, AppleTV, and almost every major streaming service available—HBOMax being the most recent to throw chips into the pot—made sure audiences at home had new content to binge on their TVs and smart devices, nothing can truly replace a trip to the cinema. There’s nothing like the immersive experience you get when you’re sitting in a dark room and you, with no phones, and therefore no contact with the outside world, are left to surrender to the picture and/or sound, to be whisked away to wherever it is that the film wants to take you. That is, after all, how films were meant to be watched.
With recent news of a vaccine being distributed and ministered, it is—with hopeful caution and cautious hope—safe to say that there is light at the end of the darkest tunnel many of us have seen.
Film studios certainly think so as the film slate for 2021 is bountiful and sure to make up for last year. So, without further ado, here are the, at the time of writing, projected film releases of 2021. Things, of course, are subject to change at a moment’s notice. (Remember: hopeful caution and cautious hope!)
JANUARY
One Night In Miami (dir. Regina King)
One Night in Miami is a fictional account of one incredible night where icons Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown gathered discussing their roles in the civil rights movement and cultural upheaval of the 60s.
The Little Things (dir. John Lee Hancock)
Deputy Sheriff Joe “Deke” Deacon joins forces with Sgt. Jim Baxter to search for a serial killer who’s terrorizing Los Angeles. As they track the culprit, Baxter is unaware that the investigation is dredging up echoes of Deke’s past, uncovering disturbing secrets that could threaten more than his case.
The Marksman (dir. Robert Lorenz)
A rancher on the Arizona border becomes the unlikely defender of a young Mexican boy desperately fleeing the cartel assassins who’ve pursued him into the U.S.
FEBRUARY
Cinderella (dir. Kay Cannon)
Based on the fairytale we all know and love, this musical romantic-comedy features Camila Cabello as the titular princess, Billy Porter as the Fab G (a genderless fairy godparent), and Idina Menzel the evil stepmother.
Minamata (dir. Andrew Levitas)
Based on the autobiography / photo essay of the same name by Aileen Mioko Smith and Eugene Smith, the film stars Johnny Depp as Smith, an American photojournalist who travels to Japan and documents what would become known as the first sightings of mercury poisoning in the city of Minamata.
The Mauritanian (dir. Kevin Macdonald)
This upcoming political thriller is based on the memoir Guantanamo Diary By Mohamedou Ould Salahi, which details Salahi’s unlawful and unsanctioned detention and torture at Guantanamo Bay. Tahar Rahim stars as Salahi. He is joined by Jodie Foster, Shailene Woodley, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Zachary Levi.
MARCH
Raya and the Last Dragon (dir. Paull Briggs, Dean Wellins)
Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina lend their voices as Raya and the last dragon (respectively) in Disney’s highly anticipated animated release that was inspired by Southeast Asian cultures.
The King’s Man (dir. Matthew Vaughn)
Vaughn returns to the Kingsman spy action-comedy universe with a prequel film that stars Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, Matthew Goode, Tom Hollander, Harris Dickinson, Daniel Brühl, Djimon Hounsou, and Charles Dance. While plot details are scarce, the film, set in early 20th-Century, illustrates the formation of the Kingsman agency.
Morbius (dir. Daniel Espinosa)
Sony’s second film in the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters, Morbius stars Jared Leto as Michael Morbius who becomes a vampire after he fails to cure himself of a rare blood disease. This film is allegedly part of Sony’s plans for a shared universe of Spider-man characters (following Tom Hardy’s Venom), and stars Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Al Madrigal, and Tyrese Gibson in supporting roles.
Chaos Walking (dir. Doug Liman)
Based on the novel by Patrick Ness, Daisy Ridley and Tom Holland star in Chaos Walking which follows a dystopian world where there are no women and all living creatures can hear each others’ thoughts in a stream of images, words, and sounds called Noise.
APRIL
No Time to Die (dir. Cary Fukunaga)
After being delayed (twice) due to COVID-19, the twenty-fifth film in the James Bond franchise—and Daniel Craig’s final curtain call—is finally being released! In this film, Bond is pulled out of retirement to help rescue a kidnapped scientist, but the mission unearths the plot of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous technology. In addition to Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw, Léa Seydoux, Christoph Waltz, and Jeffrey Wright all return, with Rami Malek, Ana de Armas, and Lashana Lynch in new roles.
BIOS (dir. Miguel Sapochnik)
Tom Hanks stars as one of the last men on Earth who builds an android (played by Caleb Landry Jones) to keep him and his dog company. Laura Harrier, Samira Wiley, and Skeet Ulrich also star.
A Quiet Place Part II (dir. John Krasinski)
The much anticipated sequel sees the return of Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, and Noah Jupe as the Abbott family who must fight for survival in a world plagued by monsters with acute senses of hearing. Cillian Murphy and Djimon Hounsou play characters the Abbott family meets as they venture away from their home.
Last Night in Soho (dir. Edgar Wright)
Wright’s psychological-horror film stars Thomasin McKenzie as a young woman with a passion for fashion design, who mysteriously travels back in time to 1960s England. There, she sparks a connection with Anya Taylor-Joy’s character, but, as with all time-travel, dark consequences ensue. (Matt Smith, Diana Rigg, and Terence Stamp round out the cast.)
MAY
Black Widow (dir. Cate Shortland)
Scarlett Johansson first appeared as Natasha Romanoff in Iron Man 2 back in 2010. Much to the chagrin of many fans, it’s only now that the (arguably) most beloved original Avenger is finally getting her own solo movie. As with every MCU project, the plot details remain a mystery, but what we do know is that the film—which incidentally kicks of Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe—takes place between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War and sees Natasha returning to Russia to deal with some unfinished business. Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and Rachel Weisz also join the adventure.
Free Guy (dir. Shawn Levy)
Ryan Reynolds plays Guy, a non-playable character, in a video game called Free City. As a result of new programming, Guy realizes that he is a background character and learns that the video game is set to be turned offline indefinitely. Taking upon the role of hero, Guy races against time to save the day (and the game). Reynolds is joined by Jodie Comer and Taika Waititi.
Spiral (dir. Darren Lynn Bousman)
This is the ninth instalment of the Saw franchise, starring Chris Rock and Samuel L Jackson as a detective and police veteran (respectively) who, as they investigate a string of murders, find themselves trapped in the killer’s twisted game.
Cruella (dir. Alex Timbers and Craig Gillespie)
Set in 1970s London, this film serves as a origin story of the beloved villainess and a prequel to the live-action remakes that starred Glenn Close. This time around, Emma Stone is set to play a young Estella de Vil, a fashion designer whose obsession with dogs’ skins—particularly that of Dalmatians—turns her into the Cruella we all know and love to hate.
Infinite (dir. Antoine Fuqua)
Mark Wahlberg, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Dylan O’Brien star in this sci-fi film about a man who discovers that his hallucinations are actually memories from his past lives.
F9 (dir. Justin Lin)
It’s a family affair within the ninth film of the Fast & Furious series: Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his family must face off against Jakob Toretto (John Cena) who teams up with Cipher (Charlize Theron). Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Helen Mirren all return in their respective roles.
JUNE
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (dir. Michael Chaves)
This film serves as the sequel to The Conjuring (2013) and The Conjuring 2 (2016) and sees the return of Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren.
In the Heights (dir. Jon M Chu)
Based on the 2007 stage musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes, the film adaptation stars Anthony Ramos as a charismatic bodega owner who dreams (and sings) of a better life.
Luca (dir. Enrico Casarosa)
A Disney-Pixar original, the film tells the story of a young boy on the Italian Riviera whose friendship with a newfound friend is jeopardised by the fact that he is actually a sea monster from another world that exists just beneath the water’s surface.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage (dir. Andy Serkis)
Tom Hardy returns as the titular Venom who, this time around, faces off against serial killer Carnage (Woody Harrelson). Michelle Williams and Reid Scott also return, and Naomie Harris is set to play Shriek, Carnage’s love interest.
JULY
Top Gun: Maverick (dir. Joseph Kosinski)
A sequel to the 1986 film Top Gun, Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer return as Maverick and Iceman (respectively). Plot details are scarce, but after decades of flying, Maverick finds himself training a new squad of graduates for a dangerous mission. Cruise and Kilmer are joined by Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, and Glen Powell.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (dir. Destin Daniel Cretton)
This is Marvel’s first film with an Asian lead, with Simu Liu playing the titular character, a skilled martial artist, who must face off against the Mandarin (played by Tony Leung), leader of the terrorist Ten Rings organisation. The film also features Awkwafina and Michelle Yeoh.
Space Jam: A New Legacy (dir. Malcolm D Lee)
A sequel to Space Jam (1996), this film stars LeBron James who finds himself trapped in a video game with young son Dom (Ceyair J Wright) by a rogue AI (played by Don Cheadle). With the help of the Looney Tunes gang, James must find a way out.
Jungle Cruise (dir. Jaume Collet-Serra)
Emily Blunt and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson star in this adventure-fantasy film that sees Blunt’s character, Dr Lily Houghton, enlisting the help of Frank Wolff (Johnson) to take her down the Amazon in search of ancient healing tree that holds the key to changing the future of medicine.
Uncharted (dir. Ruben Fleischer)
Based on the video game of the same name, Uncharted stars Tom Holland as fortune hunter Nate Drake. Mark Wahlberg plays Sully, Nate’s mentor and father figure. The film also features Antonio Banderas in an undisclosed role.
The Green Knight (dir. David Lowery)
AUGUST
The Suicide Squad (dir. James Gunn)
Serving as a soft reboot and standalone sequel to 2016’s Suicide Squad, the film stars Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman, Peter Capaldi, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, and more as imprisoned convicts who are sent to the island of Corto Maltese to destroy a Nazi-era prison and laboratory.
The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard (dir. Patrick Hughes)
This action-comedy is a sequel to the 2017 film The Hitman’s Bodyguard and sees the return of Ryan Reynolds as the bodyguard, Samuel L Jackson as the hitman, and Salma Hayek as the wife (who, this time around, finds herself as the one in danger).
Candyman (dir. Nia DaCosta)
Starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Teyonah Parris, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, and Colmon Domingo, and written by Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, and DaCosta herself, Candyman is a direct sequel to the 1992 film of the same name.
Respect (dir. Liesl Tommy)
Jennifer Hudson stars as Aretha Franklin in this biopic (a casting choice made by Franklin herself). Forest Whitaker, Mary J Blige, Audra McDonald, Marlon Wayans, and Titus Burgess also star.
SEPTEMBER
Death on the Nile (dir. Kenneth Branagh)
A follow-up to Murder on the Orient Express (2017), Branagh returns as the legendary Hercule Poirot to investigate a murder aboard the S.S. Karnak, featuring an all-star ensemble cast that includes Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie, Sophie Okonedo, Jennifer Saunders, and Letitia Wright.
The Man From Toronto (dir. Patrick Hughes)
Kevin Hart and Woody Harrelson star in this action-comedy about a screw-up who is forced to team up with an assassin after the two are mistaken for one another while staying at an Airbnb.
OCTOBER
Dune (dir. Denis Villeneuve)
Arguably one of the most anticipated films of 2021, after being pushed back (twice) from an initial 2020 release, this sci-fi film stars Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, and Zendaya.
Halloween Kills (dir. David Gordon Green)
Jamie Lee Curtis returns as Laurie Strode in this sequel to 2018’s Halloween and the twelfth film in the Halloween franchise. With her family and new and old allies, Strode must face off against Michael Myers (Nick Castle) who is still loose and murderous in Haddonfield.
Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins (dir. Reobert Schwentke)
Henry Golding plays the titular character in this spin-off of the G.I. Joe film series alongside a cast that features Andrew Koji, Iko Uwais, Peter Mensah, Úrsula Corberó, and Samara Weaving.
The Last Duel (dir. Ridley Scott)
A historical drama-thriller set in 14th-Century France detailing the last legally sanctioned duel, this film reunites Matt Damon and Ben Affleck (both of whom co-wrote the script together along with Nicole Holofcener) and features Adam Driver and Jodie Comer in principal roles.
NOVEMBER
Eternals (dir. Chloe Zhao)
The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s third film of 2021 (and Phase 4), the story centres around an immortal alien race called the Eternals, who have lived on Earth, hiding in plain sight, for over 7000 years, and must band together to protect the world from their evil counterparts, the Deviants. Angelina Jolie leads an epic cast that includes Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, and Gemma Chan. (A spot of trivia: this film will also feature the MCU’s first openly gay superhero.)
Elvis (dir. Bad Luhrmann)
Austin Butler stars as the titular rockstar alongside Tom Hanks in this biopic of the legendary artist.
Mission: Impossible 7 (dir. Christopher McQuarrie)
Tom Cruise returns as the legendary Ethan Hunt in the seventh instalment of the Mission: Impossible franchise. Set to return as well are: Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, and Angela Bassett. Joining the cast are: Shea Whigham, Henry Czerny, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, and Hayley Atwell.
King Richard (dir. Reinaldo Marcus Green)
Will Smith plays Richard Williams—father and coach of tennis royalty Serena and Venus Williams—in this biopic that details how the tennis superstars came to be.
Encanto (dir. Byron Howard, Jared Bush, Charise Castro Smith)
This Disney animated film, featuring music by Lin-Manuel Miranda, tells the story of a Colombian girl named Mariana who grows up as the only non-magical person in her family.
Gucci (dir. Ridley Scott)
Based on the book The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed by Sara Gay Forden, the murder-dram film stars Jeremy Irons opposite Lady Gaga with a supporting cast that includes Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Al Pacino, Jack Huston, and Reeve Carney.
DECEMBER
West Side Story (dir. Steven Spielberg)
This latest film adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical of the same name tells the love story between two teenagers, Tony and Maria (Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler, respectively), who belong to rival gangs in 1950s New York.
The Matrix 4 (dir. Lana Wachowski)
Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jada Pinkett Smith, Lambert Wilson, and Daniel Bernhardt all return in the fourth instalment of The Matrix franchise. Joining the cast in new roles are: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jessica Henwick, Neil Patrick Harris, Jonathan Groff, Max Riemelt, Brian J Smith, and Priyanka Chopra.
Sherlock Holmes 3 (dir. Dexter Fletcher)
Robert Downey Jr returns as the titular Holmes, alongside Jude Law as Watson and Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler, in this sequel to 2011’s Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.
Babylon (dir. Damian Chazelle)
Chazelle’s directorial follow-up to La La Land (2016) stars Margot Robbie opposite Brad Pitt in a film that is set in old Hollywood when the industry transitioned from silent films to talkies.
Minamata! This is the one I’m awaiting! A touching story all should know about as it is still happening. Mr.Depp turns in another award winning, high caliber performance. A treasure for all of us.