On The Edge Of Our Seats: The Most Anticipated Movies Of 2021
At the beginning of every year, film fans eagerly await the new titles to be released that they were given small glimpses of in the previous year. These are the upcoming films that had theater audiences clapping at the end of a preview or that are bound to take home Oscars at the Next Academy Awards. Although some of these will come to meet expectations and others will not, here are the most anticipated films of 2021.
The Marvel Universe Is Unveiling Morbius
Although Morbius was anticipated to be released in 2020, it received a new date of October 8, 2021. The film stars Jared Leto as the superhero Morbius, based on the Marvel Comic character of the same name.
It tells the story of how Michael Morbius ends up turning himself into a vampire after attempting to cure himself of a blood disease. Work on the film began at the end of 2018, and the first trailer was released on January 13, 2021.
The Dig Will Have People Searching For Their Own Buried Treasure
Based on the 2007 novel of the same name by John Preston, The Dig is a Netflix original based on the true events that occurred in 1939.
Starring Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan, the film features Mulligan's character as a well-off widow who employs an archeologist to excavate a burial mound located on her property. To both their surprise, they discover a number of important Anglo-Saxon artifacts. The movie is expected to premiere on Netflix on January 29, 2021.
Bond Is Back With No Time To Die
The twenty-fifth installment in the James Bond franchise, No Time to Die stars Daniel Craig in his fifth time as James Bond, the fictional MI6 secret agent. Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, the film also has Ralph Fiennes reprising his role from the previous film, with an inclusion of other notable actors.
Although production officially began in 2016 and was initially scheduled for release in November 2019, it was delayed for a variety of reasons and now has an expected release of April 2, 2021.
Prepare Your Senses For A Quiet Place II
After the smashing success of John Krasinski's directorial debut with his horror film, A Quiet Place, audiences were begging for a sequel, and that's exactly what they're getting. Consisting of the same original cast and Krasinski in flashbacks, the sequel also introduces Cillian Murphy and Djimon Hounsou.
The story continues as the Abbot family navigates the world after man-eating creatures with supersonic hearing take over Earth. Although the film had its world premiere in New York City in 2020, its official release is expected in April 2021.
Audiences Have High Hopes For Dune
Dune is a soon to be released science fiction film based on the 1965 novel of the same name by Frank Herbert that will cover the first half of the book.
It is an international co-production of Canada, Hungary, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It has an ensemble cast of some of the most top-rated actors and is scheduled to be released in the United States on October 1, 2021, with a month-long release on HBO Max.
Wes Anderson Returns With The French Dispatch
Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch has created a lot of buzz recently, being described as "a love letter to journalists set at an outpost of an American newspaper in 20th-century Paris and centers on three storylines."
The film has an ensemble cast including Benicio del Toro, Adrien Brody, Frances McDormand, Owen Wilson, Bill Murray, and Timothée Chalamet, among others. Scheduled for release in July 2019, it was rescheduled two other times before it reached its current anticipated release date of May 2021.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It Will Have Audiences On The Edge Of Their Seats
When the public thought there couldn't be more to the series, Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are reprising Ed and Lorraine Warren's roles in the super-successful Conjuring horror franchise. This time, the couple becomes involved in Arne Cheyenne Johnson's trial which took place in 1981 in Connecticut.
Johnson claims that he was possessed by demons when he committed the crimes. Planned to be released on June 4, 2021, it will also have a month-long release on the HBO Max streaming service.
Top Gun: Maverick Is Coming In Hot
An action drama, Top Gun: Maverick was directed by Joseph Kosinski with the story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks. The sequel to the 1986 classic, Top Gun, it stars Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Val Kilmer, and more, with Cruise and Kilmer reprising their roles.
The film was delayed for a series of reasons, with one being to "allow the production to work out all of the complex flight sequences." It is now anticipated for release in July 2021.
The Matrix 4 Is Sure To Blow Minds
The Matrix 4 is the fourth installment in The Matrix franchise that is written and directed by Lana Wachowski, who co-directed and co-wrote the three previous films.
With numerous of the original actors reprising their roles, it is planned to be released in late December of 2021 in theaters as well as available for streaming on HBO Max. Unsurprisingly, the plot of the film has been under lock and key, so audiences will just have to wait patiently to see it.
The Rebirth Of Candyman
For the past few years, comedian/writer-director Jordan Peele has been on quite a roll with his films Get Out and Us. Thankfully, he isn't done yet and is coming out with another horror movie in a sequel of 1992's Candyman.
Years after the first film events, Anthony McCoy runs into a man from his neighborhood who exposes him to the Candyman, which brings back all of his traumatic memories from the past. The film is to be released on August 27, 2021.
Endless Action Awaits In Mission Impossible 7
With Tom Cruise reprising his role as Ethan Hunt, Mission Impossible 7 is an action spy film written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie. In the seventh film in the installment, audiences have been promised some of the most impressive stunts yet, with Tom Cruise performing many of them himself as he battles against the antagonist portrayed by Hayley Atwell.
With a release date around November 2021, it's also not expected to be the final Mission Impossible film, with the eighth movie already on its way.
West Side Story Is Getting A Remake
An adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical of the same name, it is also loosely inspired by William Shakespeare's classic play Romeo & Juliet.
West Side Story is a romantic musical drama co-produced by Steven Spielberg, and it's been rumored that the remake is supposed to stay truer to the original Broadway play than the 1961 film adaptation. Starring Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler, the musical is expected to come out on December 10, 2021.
The Suicide Squad Gets A Second Chance
Although 2016's adaptation of The Suicide Squad didn't go exactly as planned, the 2021 version was announced to be a semi-sequel to the first one, making it the tenth film in the DC Extended Universe.
In this film, with many of the same cast, the supervillain task force is on a mission to destroy an old laboratory prison. The Suicide Squad is intended to be released in theaters on August 6, 2021, and on HBO Max. HBO is also planning on creating a spinoff series based on Peacemaker, played by John Cena.
The Green Knight Comes From A Medieval Poem
The Green Knight is a medieval fantasy and horror film written and directed by David Lowery. Starring Dave Pate, it is based on the old poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
It tells the story of King Arthur's nephew, Sir Gawain, who goes out in search of a green-skinned outcast known as the Green Knight. Although it was initially supposed to be released in 2020, it was eventually rescheduled for July 30, 2021.
Buckle Up For Fast & Furious 9
A seemingly endless franchise, fans of the Fast & Furious series have been chomping at the bit for a chance to see the ninth installment. Now, Dominic and his family have to face off with Dominic's brother, who is an assassin that has partnered with an old enemy of the family.
Although the film was initially scheduled to be released in 2019, after several delays, fans will finally be getting what they want on May 28, 2021.
Black Widow Was Caught In A Web Of Delays
Based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, 2021's Black Widow will be the 24th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Starring Scarlet Johannsen. the film takes place after Captain America: Civil War, and the film follows Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow) as she is forced to face her past.
Unfortunately, the film's release was delayed twice since its initial anticipated debut on May 2020 but is now scheduled to be released in theaters on May 7, 2021.
Nomadland Has Already Won Prestigious Awards
Directed, written, co-produced, and co-edited by Chloé Zhao, Nomadland is an independent contemporary western drama based on the 2017 non-fiction novel, Nomadland: Surviving American in the Twenty-First Century, by Jessica Bruder.
Starring Frances McDormand, the film is about a woman who leaves behind her small town to travel and experience the American West. It was the first film to win the top prize at the Venice and Toronto film festivals and is scheduled to be released theatrically in February 2021.
The Last Duel Is Long Awaited
Directed by Ridley Scott, The Last Duel is a historical drama based on The Last Duel: A True Story of Combat in Medieval France, by Eric Jager. Scott is accompanied by writers Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Nicole Holofcener, with Damon starring as the protagonist, opposite Adam Driver and Jodie Comer.
Affleck also plays a supporting role. The story follows two best friends that are ordered to fight to the death after one accuses the other of assaulting his wife. The movie is set to be released on October 15, 2021.
Antlers Has Horror Fans Twidling Their Thumbs
For too long, fans of horror and Guillermo del Toro's style have been impatiently waiting for the film Antlers to be released to the public.
The supernatural flick follows a small-town school teacher in Oregon and her police officer brother that believe a young student is harboring a dark secret. The film is a loose adaptation of Nick Antosca's short story "The Quiet Boy," published in Guernica magazine in January 2019, with the film expected sometime in 2021.
Space Jam: A New Legacy Is Taking It Back To The Classic
Also known as Space Jam 2, Space Jam: Legacy was directed by Malcolm D. Lee and is a live-action/animated sports comedy film. A sequel to the 1996's Space Jam, the 2021 film stars LeBron James, Don Cheadle, Sonequa Martin-Green, and Cedric Joe.
Of course, there is also a cast of Looney Tunes characters including, Daffy Duck, Tweety, Pepe Le Pew, Marvin the Martian, and others. The movie will be released in theaters and HBO Max in the United States on July 16, 2021.
Jungle Cruise is Fun for the Whole Family
After the Disney park ride Pirates of the Caribbean was successfully adapted to film, Disney knew they had to follow it up with Jungle Cruise.
Starring Dwyane Johnson as a riverboat captain and Emily Blunt as a scientist, the two go on an adventure, searching for an ancient tree that holds healing powers. The film hit theaters July 30, 2021.
Stillwater Will Bring Out The Matt Damon Fans
For movie lovers who aren't looking for laughs, Stillwater will leave a lasting impression, arriving in theaters on July 30, 2021.
Matt Damon stars as an oil rig worker who travels from Oklahoma to Marseille, France in order to find justice for his daughter, who was wrongfully imprisoned for a crime she didn't commit.
Free Guy Brings the Funny
If you're looking for laughs, pop into the theater for Free Guy, set to release on August 13, 2021. Ryan Reynolds stars as a bank teller named Guy who finds himself in a real-life video game.
Gamers will love how Director Shawn Levy brought a video game to life and of course there's no shortage of irony and ridiculous humor that Reynolds brings to the screen with his costars Taika Waititi, Ody Comer, Joe Keery and Lel Rel Howery.
Respect Has a Star Cast
Starring Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin, Respect was initially set to hit theaters in January, but was bumped to August 13, 2021. The biopic shows the lesser-known details of the life of the "Queen of Soul".
Also starring Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Forest Whitaker, Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige and Marc Maron, viewers can sit back and be transported to another era. We already know the soundtrack will be a winner!
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is Action-Packed
If you're looking for some action, catch Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, hitting theaters September 3, 2021. The first Asian-led film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Shang-Chi stars Simu Liu (of Kim's Conveince), Tony Leung, and Awkwafina.
Once Shang-Chi is pulled into the Ten Rings organization, he must confront his family lineage that he thought would remain in the past.
Malignant Is the Opposite of Family Friendly
If you want to freak yourself out, go watch Malignant, coming to theaters on September 10, 2021. Starring Jessica Chastain as Annabelle Wallis, the lead character begins to have terrifying visions of people being killed.
As the film goes on, she realizes that her visions are real, and the reason she's having the visions is because-- well you'll have to watch to find out.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage is Exactly What You Expect
Not everyone is searching for an uplifting comedy to watch. Some of us just want to watch the world burn. Luckily for those moviegoers, Venom: Let There Be Carnage is set to be released on September 24, 2021.
Starring Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Woody Harrelson, Naomie Harris and Stephen Graham, the action thriller follows Eddie Brock, a journalist who takes on a new villain, Woody Harrelson's Carnage.
Reminiscence is for the Sci-Fi Fans
If you feel like you need a new science fiction film in your life, look no further than Reminiscence. Starring Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson, Thandie Newton, Daniel Wu and Cliff Curtis, the film is set in flooded Miami.
The film follows Hugh Jackman's character, Nicolas Bannister as he meets with clients and offers them to relive any memory of the past that they wish. As you can imagine, things don't always turn out for the best...
The Card Counter is the Thriller You've Been Waiting For
The Card Counter is a highly anticipated film that will make its debut at the 78th Venice International Film Festival in September 2021. Directed by Paul Schrader, the film stars Oscar Isaac, Tiffany Haddish and Willem Dafoe.
Isaac stars as a former interrogator for the military who turns to a dangerous gambling lifestyle. This revenge thriller is one that you won't want to miss.
Flashback to the 70s and 80s with The Eyes of Tammy Faye
In the 70s and 80s, televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker and her husband Jim Bakker built the world's largest religious broadcast network, along with a theme park. Amassing wealth and living a life of luxury, the couple was on top of the world.
That is, until it all came crashing down. Watch what happens when everything stars to fall apart.
Take The Kids To See Hotel Transylvania: Transformania
Coming to theaters October 1, 2021, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania stars all of the favorite characters from the previous animated films of the same series, with the exception of Adam Sandler's character.
In this film, Drac and the other monsters are transformed into humans, while Johnny becomes a monster. While Drac no longer has his powers, it's up to Johnny to save the day.
Halloween Kills is a Must-Watch in October
Coming this October just in time for spooky season is Halloween Kills. Starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer and Anthony Michael Hall, the thriller is the second installment of the Halloween series directed by David Gordon Green, written by Danny McBride.
Watch a mother-daughter duo as they fight to get out of this slasher film alive.
Jackass Forever Brings The Crazy
In case you thought they were gone-- you were wrong. The wild cast of Jackass is back for more in their film Jackass Forever. Set to release October 22, 2021, viewers can expect more of the same from the crazy crew.
Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Wee Man, Ehren McGhehey, and Sean McInerney are all back on the big screen to cause mayhem.
Last Night in Soho for Fans of Edgar Wright
With a legendary cast and director, Last Night in Soho is one film coming out in 2021 that shouldn't be missed! Director Edgar Wright took inspiration from Don't Look Now and Repulsion to create this horror film.
Viewers can expect to watch an all-star cast that includes Thomasin McKenzie, Anya Taylor-Joy and Matt Smith. Last Night in Soho hits theaters October 22, 2021.
Ron's Gone Wrong Is A Lesson On Friendship
Get the kids out of the house and take them to see Ron's Gone Wrong beginning October 22, 2021. The animated film follows a boy named Barney who has trouble making friends at his middle school.
Instead, he spends most of his time with a robot named Ron, whose bugs make him a quirky and fun-loving friend to Barney.
Marvel and Angelina Jolie Fans Will Flock to Eternals
After a year without new films, moviegoers are ready for Eternals. Starring Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Kumail Nanjiani, Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kit Harington, and Brian Tyree Henry, Eternals is the second film of Marvel's Phase 4.
A group of immortals, the Eternals have superhuman powers and have shaped the history of humanity. Watch the action in theaters beginning November 5, 2021.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife Because Who Doesn't Love Ghostbusters?
Another Ghostbusters film his theaters on November 12, 2021! Ghostbusters: Afterlife stars Finn Wolfhard and Mckenna Grace as a brother and sister duo, while Carrie Coon plays the role of their mom.
It's not clear whether or not the film will include any storyline from the previous Ghostbusters film (that was directed by Paul Feig while this one is led by Jason Reitman. Oh yeah, and Paul Rudd is in it, too!
If You Root For The Bad Guy, Watch Nightmare Alley
Starring Bradley Cooper and Cate Blanchett, Nightmare Alley is expected to be released in December 2021. The plot follows a con man traveling with the carnival who is introduced to a psychiatrist with bad intentions.
Directed by Guillermo del Toro, this mystery thriller will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
Spider-Man: No Way Home is Another Film From MCU
Marvel fans will be elated to watch Spider-Man: No Way Home when it's released on December 17, 2021. With an all-star cast of Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Jamie Foxx, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Alfred Molina, viewers won't be let down.
You might want to refresh your mind on the MCU before watching this one-- there's a lot to catch up on!
The King's Man is the Prequel of Kingsman Franchise
Directed by Matthew Vaughn, The King's Man is the prequel to the Kingsman franchise that also includes the Statesman spinoff. But this film will allow viewers a chance to see the events that led to it all.
Starring Ralph Fiennes with other big names like Harris Dickinson, Aaron Taylor-Johnsons and Gemma Arterton, viewers will find out how a crew of former soldiers come together to establish the spy agency.
