We skipped doing a most-anticipated list for 2020, and that unintentionally paid off as most of the movies we were looking forward to ended up in 2021 anyway. However, with a vaccine already rolling out and studios having largely adjusted to life under COVID, the releases on deck for 2021 are more likely to hold their dates although there will probably still be some shifts.
With that disclaimer out of the way, these are the movies we’re most excited to see in 2021. Some will get dual releases on HBO Max and theaters, and we’ve chosen to leave off most Netflix titles since Netflix tends to keep their release plans under wraps until 4-6 weeks before the film arrives on the streamer. Obviously, there will be great movies this year that aren’t on this list, and some films on this list will disappoint. But from where we stand at the beginning of the year, these are titles to put on your radar. And if a title doesn’t have a release date next to it, that means it’s intended for a 2021 release, but lacks a firm release date.
The Little Things (January 29th)
Writer/Director:John Lee Hancock
Cast:Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto, Sofia Vassilieva, Michael Hyatt, Natalie Morales, Chris Bauer, Terry Kinney, Jason James Richter
Why We’re Excited for This:Well, it’s a serial killer thriller for starters, so this film already had my attention. Throw in a trio of Oscar winners and a supporting cast stacked with talented HBO alums fromOzandThe Wireand that should explain my interest. Denzel and Rami play a couple of cops with very different approaches to police work, and I’m looking forward to that star pairing given the contrast between the two actors' styles, which may lead to a more interesting movie. Plus, Denzel hasn’t done anything in this world in a long time. I also happen to enjoy Leto’s manic energy when he plays dangerous characters (seePanic Room) and he’s reportedly playing the serial killer here, so we’ll see how he measures up to hisAmerican Psychoco-starChristian Balein that department. Meanwhile, Hancock is a fairly solid if workmanlike director who impressed withThe Founderand also wroteClint Eastwood’sA Perfect World, which has to count for something in the realm of crime movies. Its January release date has always made me nervous, but Denzel doesn’t really make bad movies, so here’s hopingThe Little Thingsproves worthy of its big-name cast. You’ll also be able to catch it on HBO Max the same day it hits theaters. -Jeff Sneider
Minari (February 12th)
Director/Writer:Lee Isaac Chung
Cast:Steven Yeun, Han Ye-ri, Alan Kim, Noel Kate Cho, Youn Yuh-jung, and Will Patton
Why We’re Excited for This:I’ve already seen this one, but I’m excited for others to finally get a look at this thoughtful and powerful immigrant story. The film follows a family of immigrants who move from California to Arkansas when the father (Steven Yeun) decides to be a farmer. However, the film is largely told from the perspective of his young son (Alan Kim), and that brilliant little touch makesMinariso potent because you see this story through different generations, cultures, and where they intersect and conflict. Rather than romanticizing America or damning it with cynicism,Minariwalks a careful line that makes the movie honest, melancholy, and essential. –Matt Goldberg
Judas and the Black Messiah (February 12th)
Director:Shaka King
Writers:Shaka King and Will Berson
Cast:Daniel Kaluuya, LaKeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons, Dominique Fishback, Ashton Sanders, and Martin Sheen
Why We’re Excited for This:It’s not difficult to see why Warner Bros. feels so confident in this movie that they’re putting it into the 2020 Oscar race even though it skipped the fall festival circuit and likely won’t be seen by critics until early 2021. The first trailer was fantastic, and you’ve got two of our most exciting young actors in the lead roles. The story looks at how the FBI aimed to infiltrate the Black Panther Party by spying on its leader Fred Hampton, and we need new stories about the Black Panthers because too often their story has been filtered through a white lens. Here’s hoping thatJudas and the Black Messiahwill make for an unforgettable education. –Matt Goldberg
Nomadland (February 19th)
Director/Writer:Chloé Zhao
Cast:Frances McDormand, David Strathairn, Linda May, Charlene Swankie, and Bob Wells
Why We’re Excited for This:My favorite film of 2020,Nomadland, which is scheduled to open in February, is a film that reckons where America is right now and how we can still find beauty and humanity in a country that feels like it’s decaying. With her graceful touch, writer-directorChloé Zhaocrafts a film that is unflinching in its look at how working-class Americans struggle to get by, but never veers into nihilism or grandiose statement. Instead, she lets the gorgeous scenery speak volumes along with the powerful performances that tap into our common bonds. In a time where we feel so divided,Nomadlandfeels like a bridge that honestly examines America without damning it or venerating it. –Matt Goldberg
Nobody (February 26th)
Director:Ilya Naishuller
Writers:Derek Kolstad
Cast:Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, Christopher Lloyd, RZA, Gage Munroe, Aleksey Serebryakov
Why We’re Excited for This:Bob Odenkirkplaying a John Wick-esque badass while on hiatus fromBetter Call Saul? Sign me the hell up! This high-octane action-thriller was actually written byJohn WickcreatorDerek Kolstad, only this time, imagine Wick with a wife and two kids and you’ll get the picture. Odenkirk plays an auditor, but not for the IRS – no, that’s what this movie calls some of the most lethal killers on the planet. He gave up his deadly career to focus on building a family, but when he fails to defend his home after it is broken into by thieves, the rage he’s been hiding for all these years suddenly resurfaces and he begins to fight back, relying on his old training to makeJohn Wicklook like a Pixar movie. The red-band trailer for this film was legitimately awesome, and seeing Odenkirk stick a gun in a guy’s face and demand the return of a “god damn kitty cat bracelet” suggests thatNobodyknows exactly what it is – an incredibly fun B-movie.Ilya Naishulleris the inventive director behindHardcore Henry, and not only does it look like he delivers some wild action sequences here, but seeing Odenkirk play against type will no doubt be worth the price of admission. See it in theaters in late February, or just wait what will likely be 17 days and watch it in the relative safety of your own home. -Jeff Sneider
Cherry (February 26th)
Director:Joe and Anthony Russo
Writers:Angela Russo-Otstot and Jessica Goldberg
Cast:Tom Holland, Ciara Bravo, Jack Reynor, Michael Rispoli, Jeff Wahlberg, Forrest Goodluck, Michael Gandolfini
Why We’re Excited for This:Tom Hollandis great as Spider-Man, but does he have a future as a movie star outside of the MCU? The jury is still out on that front. He held his own among more seasoned co-stars in the period filmsIn the Heart of the Sea,The Lost City of ZandThe Current War, but his Netflix movieThe Devil All the Timefailed to catch on, andChaos Walkingjust got delayed for roughly the 200th time, so it seems thatCherrywill be the true test of his star power, and it’s a hell of a role for the young actor. That theRusso brotherschose to follow the biggest movie of all time,Avengers: Endgame, with this much more modest character piece speaks volumes. Based on a true story,Cherrystars Holland as a drug-addicted Army medic with PTSD who starts robbing banks to pay for his habit, whileCiaro Bravo(Wayne) plays his love interest. The film also boasts an intriguing supporting cast of rising stars includingJack Reynor,Jeff Wahlberg,Forrest GoodluckandMichael Gandolfini. Apple will release this one on its streaming service in mid-March, and I can’t wait to see the Russos’unique approachto this material, and whether or not Holland rises to the occasion. -Jeff Sneider
The Father (February 26th)
Director: Florian Zeller
Writer: Florian Zeller, Christopher Hampton
Cast: Olivia Colman, Anthony Hopkins, Olivia Williams, Mark Gatiss, Imogen Poots, Rufus Sewell
Why We’re Excited for This: DirectorFlorian Zeller’s dramaThe Fatheris set to be anacting showcase for its star,Anthony Hopkins. The venerated actor plays Anthony, the titular patriarch whose grip on reality loosens with every passing day. This is due is large part to his age and fading mental faculties, which only heightens his ornery tendencies. As Anthony struggles with his daughter, Anne (Olivia Colman), he must also contend with what feels like a separate reality where a different version of his daughter (Olivia Williams) tries to guide him through his current situation. Thetrailer forThe Fatherteases one of the most Hopkins’ most mature performances to date, a culmination of the actor’s work rolled into a complex role that tackles aging from a new perspective.The Father, which arrives just in time for 2021 Oscars consideration, will be a movie for audiences that prioritize performances, grounded drama, and well-crafted stories when it comes to what they watch. In all of these areas, you’re able to’t do much better than a movie starring Hopkins and Colman. —Allie Gemmill
Raya and the Last Dragon (March 5th)
Director: Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada; Paul Briggs and John Ripa (co-directors)
Writers: Adele Lim, Qui Nguyen
Cast: Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina
Why We’re Excited for This: For one, it’s the first Walt Disney Animation Studios feature sinceFrozen 2back in the fall of 2019.Raya and the Last Dragonwas originally supposed to open this past Thanksgiving, but with the coronavirus still raging (and Pixar’sSoulbecoming the big Disney Christmas release, this time on Disney+), it was moved to spring 2021, when it will debut in theaters and on Disney+ simultaneously. The tale of the titular warrior (Tran) who teams up with a shape-shifting water dragon (Awkwafina) to reclaim their mystical kingdom, test footage was previewed at last year’s D23 Expo and was absolutely jaw-dropping. (A recently released trailer gives you some additional flavor.) Full of mythological creatures, elaborately choreographed fight sequences, and some of the most beautiful animation ever witnessed in a Disney animated movie (most of it completed at the animators’ homes). While the production of Raya had a substantial amount of turbulence, with the entire directorial team getting turned completely upside down (withDean Wellins, a longtime Disney Animation unsung genius, was removed altogether) and the story getting substantially overhauled, this could be one of those stories where all of that turmoil was in service of a new classic. –Drew Taylor
The Many Saints of Newark (March 12th)
Director: Alan Taylor
Writer: Lawrence Connor
Cast: Michael Gandolfini, John Magaro, Billy Magnussen, Alessandro Nivola, Jon Bernthal, Vera Farmiga, Ray Liotta, Cory Stoll, Leslie Odom Jr.
Why We’re Excited for This: As a recent but fervent fan ofDavid Chase’s acclaimed HBO seriesThe Sopranos, I can’t say that it was a show which demands a prequel — or a prequel movie, at that. But then I remind myself that the forthcoming prequel movie,The Many Saints of Newark, boasts an incredible cast led byMichael Gandolfini, son of the lateJames Gandolfini, a.k.a. Tony Soprano, and my interest increases. The young Gandolfini is set to play a young version of the role made famous by his father in a movie that will take a look at Tony’s formative years. Younger versions of Tony’s best buddies in crime will be present and accounted as well as members of the Soprano crime family in their prime.The Many Saints of Newarkwill primarily be for the fans of the show looking to get another taste ofThe Sopranosmore than a decade after the show wrapped. It will be a chance to spend a little more time with some of our favorite New Jersey criminals and, even better, a chance to see all the lore of the Sopranos come to life. What’s not to love? —Allie Gemmill
Morbius (March 19th)
Director: Daniel Espinosa
Writer: Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless, Art Marcum, Matt Holloway
Cast: Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Tyrese Gibson, Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Michael Keaton
Why We’re Excited for This: Sony Pictures' Marvel universe (technicallyknown as “SPUMC") is a funny little thing. For a long time, it was primarily a collection of justSpider-Manmovies, existing outside the MCU and with little variety to offer viewers. That changed when the studio broke new ground with 2018’sVenom, a sympathetic look at a Marvel antihero. 2021 will see Sony Pictures return to the well of Marvel antiheroes withMorbius, starringJared Letoas Dr. Michael Morbius, a scientist living with a rare blood condition that has left him weakened.Morbiusis a SPUMC adaptation of the Marvel comics character Morbius the Living Vampire — a name that evokes a moody vibe that is greatly capitalized on inthe trailer released backin January 2020. What is most fascinating aboutMorbiusis how it ties into the SPUMC, by telling us yet another origin story about yet another longtime Spider-Man foe, and how it feels like a very different kind of movie altogether. Morbius is certainly not the kind of character you’d expect to be introduced so early into a relatively nascent comic book universe (to draw an MCU comparison, Marvel Studios opted to introduce major players Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, and Captain America by this point). Given the interesting oddness surrounding the character and theMorbiusmovie, who among us would dare ignore it? On that point, Leto is a reliable box office draw and here, in comic book movie mode, watching him turn into a “living vampire" might be a fun way to pass a few hours (safely) at the local multiplex. —Allie Gemmill
