In 2020 we missed out on a lot, including several new movies that were supposed to premiere. Instead, they got pushed back to 2021, which makes this year a good one for movie fans. Of course, with the state of the world changing all the time, there's potential for more delays when it comes to release dates. Everything is subject to change, but if things stay on track, there's going to be a lot to look forward to in 2021.
One exciting thing that's happening is that more films are coming to streaming sites these days, giving people the option to watch new content from home. Warner Bros. is releasing its entire 2021 slate in theaters at the same time they'll be available on HBO Max. Other movies will come to Amazon Prime, Netflix, or Hulu as release dates get closer and studios decide the best way to distribute their content.
Among some of the most anticipated films for 2021 are several long-awaited sequels to beloved '80s and '90s movies, as well as some remakes of classic Broadway plays and Disney stories. Here are all the best movies on their way.
'Cinderella'
Premiering: February 5, 2021
This classic tale is getting the live action treatment. This time, former Fifth Harmony singer Camila Cabello will play the lead role. Other notable cast members include John Mulaney and James Corden as the mice and Billy Porter as Cinderella's fairy godmother. The movie has already been delayed once, and fans can't wait to see it when it finally comes out.
'Coming 2 America'
Premiering: March 5 on Amazon Prime
After 30 years, Eddie Murphy is returning to his beloved Prince Akeem role in a sequel to the 1988 film Coming to America. In the follow-up film (cleverly titled Coming 2 America) Akeem returns to the US to meet his long-lost son. Arsenio Hall will also reprise his role of Semmi in the sequel.
'No Time To Die'
Premiering: April 2, 2021
The 25th James Bond installment is also set to be Daniel Craig's final time playing the super spy. It was initially slated for a 2020 release before being moved to 2021. It's such a suspenseful wait for the movie considering its importance to the Bond legacy as a whole. After this one, there will need to be a new actor cast in any future films and a new era of Bond will begin.
'A Quiet Place Part II'
Premiering: April 23, 2021
The sequel to John Krasinksi's horror movie was supposed to come out in 2020 before it got delayed. Now it's scheduled for April, and hopefully nothing else postpones it. John is again directing the movie which stars his real-life wife Emily Blunt. In the follow-up film, the characters meet new terrifying threats in addition to the monsters that attack when they hear sound.
'Black Widow'
Premiering: May 7, 2021
After first being introduced into the Marvel universe in 2010, Scarlett Johansson is finally getting her own standalone film. If Black Widow feels like it's been in the making for years, it's because it has been. Talks of a Black Widow film first began in 2004 — long before Johansson had even been cast in the role. Nearly a decade later, it's happening.
'Cruella'
Premiering: May 28, 2021
Following in the footsteps of Maleficent, Disney is giving another movie villain an origin story. Emma Stone will play the titular Cruella de Vil as fans learn what led her to be the evil person she eventually became. In the first image released by Disney, Emma looks pretty punk rock. It'll be interesting to see her take on the infamous villain.
'The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It'
Premiering June 4, 2021 on HBO Max
In this sequel to 2016's The Conjuring 2, Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga will reprise their roles as paranormal investigators — and they're ready to tackle more terrifying spirits. The original Conjuring movie was based on a true story, which gives an extra sense of creepiness to this franchise.
'Ghostbusters: Afterlife'
Premiering: June 11, 2021
Serving as a sequel to the '80s films, Ghostbusters: Afterlife is set 30 years after the events of the original movies. The plot follows a single mom and her two children who move to a new town and begin to discover connections to the Ghostbusters through their grandfather. Many of the original stars are set to appear, including Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, and Dan Aykroyd.
'Luca'
Premiering June 18, 2021
It's always fun to see which story Pixar is cooking up next. Following the Christmas Day release of their movie Soul, the next Pixar movie to watch is Luca. It follows the story of an unlikely friendship between a boy and a sea monster with the ability to disguise itself as a human. It's already pretty much guaranteed to make us cry.
'In the Heights'
Premiering: June 18, 2021 on HBO Max
Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda and Anthony Ramos star in this movie adaptation of the popular Broadway musical. It follows the story of a convenience store worker who is able to close his shop and retire after inheriting a fortune from his grandmother. But as they always say, money can't solve every problem, and he has mixed feelings about his new life.
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Premiering: July 2, 2021
The last time we saw Tom Cruise as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell was in 1986. Now, 35 years later, the actor has returned to the iconic role for this sequel. The new storyline will follow Maverick as he continues to be what he was nicknamed for — a test pilot who always pushes the envelope no matter the consequences.
'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the 10 Rings'
Premiering: July 9, 2021
The newest installment in the Marvel movie universe also adds some much-needed diversity the the mostly white superhero lineup. This film will focus on the comic character Shang-Chi, also known as the Master of Kung-Fu. Like Black Panther allowed Black comic fans to be seen in the Marvel universe, now this film will be a beacon for Marvel fans of Asian descent.
'Space Jam: A New Legacy'
Premiering: July 16, 2021 on HBO Max
In the '90s, having Michael Jordan star in Space Jam was the perfect combo. He was at the top of his game at the time. But it wouldn't make much sense to have him reprise his role for the sequel. Instead, the starring position is now going to LeBron James — who is kind of like the Michael Jordan of the 21st century.
'Jungle Cruise'
Premiering: July 30, 2021
Disney loves making the Disneyland rides into movies. Joining films like The Haunted Mansion, The Country Bears, and Pirates of the Caribbean is Jungle Cruise. Starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Emily Blunt, the movie follows the adventures of a riverboat when it sails through a dangerous jungle. Hopefully the film has just as many bad puns as the ride itself.
'Candyman'
Premiering: August 27, 2021
Jordan Peele is back at it again with a new horror movie. Following the success of Get Out and Us, he penned the screenplay for Candyman, the sequel to the 1992 film of the same name. If it's anything like his other movies, it will be just as terrifying in several ways as it expertly explores topics like race and class.
'Halloween Kills'
Premiering: October 15, 2021
Initially planned for a 2020 release, now this Halloween sequel will debut just in time for the holiday in 2021. It's the next installment in the series reboot that brings Jamie Lee Curtis' original character back for more slasher thrills. After this movie, another sequel called Halloween Ends is slated for release in 2022.
'West Side Story'
Premiering: December 10, 2021
The original West Side Story movie came out in 1961, so it was due for a reboot — which should drop at the end of 2021. The storyline will reportedly be more of an adaptation of the original 1957 play than a direct remake of the film itself. Ansel Elgort will play Tony, and Rita Moreno — who played Anita in the 1961 movie — is back to play wise mentor Valentina.
'Wicked'
Premiering: December 22, 2021
Another Broadway play that's getting the movie treatment in 2021 is Wicked. The origin story of the Wicked Witch from The Wizard of Oz has been in production for a long time now. According to Deadline, the play has been considered for film adaptation since 2010, but it's hit a lot of snags along the way. Most recently, the director left the project, leaving things up in the air. But if it can be put back together again, it's sure to be one of the biggest hits of 2021.
'Sing 2'
Premiering: December 22, 2021
The voice cast of this musical film is what makes it such a highly anticipated sequel. Among the talented stars voicing the characters in the second film are Bono, Pharrell, and Halsey. And those are just the new characters joining the voice cast from the original movie, which includes Reese Witherspoon, Matthew McConaughey, and more.
'Pinocchio'
Premiering: TBD in 2021
The story of Pinocchio is already a pretty dark one, so we can't wait to see how it gets made even darker in the upcoming stop-motion version. The remake is directed by famed horror filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, so that should give us an indication of the direction things might go. Not much is known about the film thus far, but it does have an epic voice cast, including Ewan McGregor, Cate Blanchett, Finn Wolfhard, and more.
