The 25 Most Anticipated 2021 Movies!
2021 is FINALLY here! Given 2020’s impact on the entertainment industry, ComingSoon.net doesn’t have to be clairvoyant to figure out which movies our readers can’t wait to see over the next 12 months. With that in mind, we present our 25 Most Anticipated 2021 Movies. Check out our list below!
RELATED: ComingSoon.net’s Favorite Movies of 2020 Lists!
Health and safety concerns revolving around the coronavirus pandemic halted productions and closed cinemas for the bulk of 2020, prompting studios to delay their films…over and over again. Films like Black Widow, No Time To Die, A Quiet Place Part II, and F9 were all supposed to release last year. Their inability to grace our screens has revolutionized the entertainment industry, shifting the focus to smaller films and streaming services—a future reliant on video-on-demand.
Rather than push it to 2021, Warner Media decided to release Wonder Woman 1984 on HBO Max (simultaneous with theaters). If that blockbuster does well in our homes, other studios may follow suit and send their bid-budget films to respective services. However, many hope for a return to form—a steady resurgence of theatrical releases spearheaded by a tidal wave of shelved blockbusters. As the industry adapts, ALOT of films are itching to be seen. You’ll find a handful of thought-to-be 2020 films on this list as well as ones fortunate enough to be on track for 2021.
RELATED: Death to 2020 Trailer: ‘Experts’ Weigh in On the Most Historic Year
25. A Quiet Place Part II (April 23)
Following the success of 2018’s A Quiet Place, John Krasinski returns (as both actor and director/writer) to helm A Quiet Place: Part II. The sequel again follows the Abbott family as they adapt to the outside world plagued by creatures that hunt by sound (among other things). Joining the cast is Cillian Murphy and Djimon Hounsou.
24. Uncharted (July 16)
The long-awaited take on Naughty Dog’s beloved Uncharted series finished filming this year. Ruben Fleischer’s film stars Tom Holland as Nathan Drake, Mark Wahlberg as his mentor Victor Sullivan, and will serve as a prequel to the video games. Here’s hoping it’s even remotely as faithful as that Nathan Fillion fan film from 2018.
23. Mortal Kombat (April 16)
Simon McQuoid is set to make his feature directorial debut in Mortal Kombat, an adaptation of the video game franchise and a reboot of the cult film series. The film will star Ludi Lin, Joe Taslim, Tadanobu Asano, Jessica McNamee, Mehcad Brooks, Josh Lawson, Lewis Tan, Chin Han, and Hiroyuki Sanada. In addition to releasing in theaters on April 16, 2021, Mortal Kombat will also be available on HBO Max (as will the rest of the Warner Bros. films on this list).
22. West Side Story (December 10)
Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical of the same name will explore forbidden love and the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. The cast includes Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, and Ariana DeBose.
21. Encanto (November 24)
The Colombia-set Encanto with Zootopia co-director Byron Howard (Zootopia, Tangled), co-writer Jared Bush (Zootopia), and co-director Charise Castro Smith (The Death of Eva Sofia Valdez) follows a young girl named Mariana, who grows up being the only non-magical member of her family. The film features all-new songs by Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, Moana, In the Heights).
20. Elvis (November 5)
Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic stars Austin Butler (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, The Dead Don’t Die) the King alongside Tom Hanks, who is playing Presley’s manager Colonel Tom Parker. Olivia DeJonge will play Presley’s only wife Priscilla. It will star Maggie Gyllenhaal as Gladys Presley, Rufus Sewell as Vernon Presley, and English musician Yola as Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
19. Candyman (August 27)
Oscar-winner Jordan Peele (Us) produces a fresh take on the 1992 film Candyman, written by Bernard Rose, and the short story “The Forbidden” by Clive Barker. Rising filmmaker Nia DaCosta (Little Woods) directs and co-writes this contemporary incarnation of the cult classic. The film stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Teyonah Parris, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, and Colman Domingo, along with Tony Todd and Vanessa Estelle Williams reprising their roles from the original film.
18. In the Heights (June 18)
Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) directs In the Heights, based on Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s award-winning Broadway musical of the same name. Alongside Miranda, the film stars Anthony Ramos (Hamilton, A Star is Born), Corey Hawkins (Straight Outta Compton), and Golden Globe winner Jimmy Smits (NYPD Blue).
17. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (June 4)
This third installment in the core Conjuring films (eighth overall) will feature Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren as they investigate a murderer’s claim of demonic possession. The film is based on the trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson, a murder trial that took place in 1981 in Connecticut. Ruairi O’Connor, Sarah Catherine Hook, and Julian Hilliard also star.
16. Halloween Kills (October 15)
2018’s Halloween brought the iconic slasher franchise back to its roots (serving as a direct sequel to the 1978 original) and returning Jamie Lee Curtis to the role of Laurie Strode. Halloween Kills will continue the “adventures” of Michael Meyers and company on October 15, 2021.
15. Last Night in Soho (April 23)
The upcoming psychological horror film directed by the inventive Edgar Wright will explore twists and time travel in a plot uniquely its own. It stars Terrence Stamp, Matt Smith, and Anya-Taylor-Joy (Emma, Queen’s Gambit)—she seems to be on a roll lately.
14. Venom: Let There Be Carnage (June 25)
Andy Serkis directs the second Venom film after appearing in two Marvel Studios movies. Sony’s Venom: Let There Be Carnage sees Tom Hardy his role as Eddie Brock alongside Michelle Williams as Anne Weying. Venom’s archenemy, Cletus Kasady, aka Carnage (Woody Harrelson), who was briefly introduced in the first film, will serve as the antagonist as Venom’s archenemy. Naomie Harris will also play the role of villain Shriek, who is Carnage’s love interest and accomplice.
13. F9 (May 28)
Fast & Furious 9 reunites Justin Lin ( Fast & Furious, Fast Five, and Fast & Furious 6) with the franchise in an entry that sees the bulk of the original cast starring as well as newcomers John Cena, Cardi B, Michael Rooker, Finn Cole, and Keanu Reeves himself. It peels into theaters on May 28, 2021.
12. Top Gun: Maverick (July 2)
Top Gun: Maverick sees Tom Cruise again as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell as he mentors a new generation of fighter pilots and rides another Kawasaki Ninja (presumably). The film also star The film stars Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Ed Harris, and Val Kilmer.
11. No Time to Die (April 2)
Daniel Craig’s fifth and final outing as James Bond sees 007 leave retirement to help Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright) rescue a kidnapped scientist, leading to a mysterious villain (Rami Malek) with a treacherous plan. No Time to Die is directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and also stars Léa Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Christoph Waltz, Rory Kinnear, and Ralph Fiennes, Lashana Lynch, Ana de Armas, Dali Benssalah, Billy Magnussen, and David Dencik.
10. Godzilla vs Kong (May 21)
In the culmination of the monster-verse, Godzilla and King Kong will square off in an epic battle for dominance as humanity deals with the two’s destructive existence. The film stars Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Shun Oguri, Eiza González, Jessica Henwick, Julian Dennison, Kyle Chandler, and Demián Bichir.
9. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (July 9)
Destin Daniel Cretton’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings stars Simu Liu (Blood and Water, Taken) as the titular hero in Marvel Studios’ first Asian superhero-led movie. Joining Liu are Golden Globe-winning actress Awkwafina (The Farewell) and renowned Hong Kong actor Tony Leung, who is portraying the role of The Mandarin.
8. Ghostbusters: Afterlife (June 11)
Ignoring 2016’s lackluster Ghostbusters, Ghostbusters: Afterlife will serve as a sequel to the original two films while simultaneously adopting a new look and feel. It stars Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, and Paul Rudd, while Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, and Annie Potts reprise their roles from the original films.
7. Mission: Impossible 7 (November 19)
Christopher McQuarrie’s Mission: Impossible 7 will be his third entry in the franchise. It will see Tom Cruise return as MIF agent Ethan Hunt alongside Ving Rhames, Henry Czerny, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, and Angela Bassett, all of whom reprise their roles from the previous films. Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff, Shea Whigham, and Esai Morales join the franchise as new characters.
6. Eternals (November 5)
Marvel’s game-changing Phase 4 film about a group of immortal (kind of) humanoids tasked with defending earth is set to redefine the MCU. Its star-studded cast includes Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Brian Tyree Henry, Lauren Ridloff, Lia McHugh, Salma Hayek, Don Lee, Barry Keoghan, Gemma Chan, and Kit Harington.
5. The Suicide Squad (August 6)
Famed Guardians of the Galaxy writer/director James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad will serve as a quasi-sequel/spiritual reboot of 2016’s Suicide Squad. It stars Pete Davidson as Blackguard, John Cena as Peacemaker, Idris Elba as Bloodsport, Alice Braga as Sul Soria (new character), Nathan Fillion is T.D.K. (another new character), Michael Rooker as Savant, David Dastmalchian as Polka-Dot Man, Sean Gunn as Weasel, Peter Capaldi as the Thinker, Flula Borg as Javelin, Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher 2 (presumably related to the original Ratcatcher), and Mayling Ng as Mongal. Margot Robbie, Viola Davis, Joel Kinnaman, and Jai Courtney will be reprising their roles from 2016’s Suicide Squad.
4. Black Widow (May 7)
After her demise in Avengers: Endgame, Black Widow will see Scarlett Johansson reprise her role in a prequel, taking place between Captain America: Civil War and Endgame, might feature the rumored return of Tony Stark (and a handful of other characters from the comics). The main cast also includes David Harbour, Florence Pugh, O-T Fagbenle, and Rachel Weisz.
3. Dune (October 1)
This new adaptation of Frank Herbert’s source material by director Denis Villeneuve (Arrival) will be the first of two parts. Its ensemble cast includes Timothée Chalamet, Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, Stellan Skarsgård, Zendaya, David Dastmalchian, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem.
2. The Matrix 4 (December 22)
Lana Wachowski returns to helm The Matrix 4. The film will see Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jada Pinkett Smith, Lambert Wilson, and Daniel Bernhardt reprise their roles from previous films in the series and Yahya Abdul Mateen II will reportedly play a young Morpheus. How will Neo and Trinity return? Will time travel/flashbacks be involved?
1. Untitled Spider-Man 3 (December 17)
The untitled Spider-Man Far From Home sequel will see Tom Holland reprise his role as Peter Parker (whose secret is out). It will also see the return of Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, and Marisa Tomei. Joining them will be Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange who will presumably be dealing with some multiverse madness. That said, Jamie Foxx and Alfred Molina are reprising their roles from past Spider-Man films and Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield are heavily rumored to appearing as their versions of the web-slinger. With the multiverse open, there’s no telling who may show up in this movie or the Marvel Cinematic Universe at large moving forward.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Cherry (February 26), Nobody (February 26), Coming 2 America (March 5), Chaos Walking (March 5), Raya and the Last Dragon (March 5), The King’s Man (March 12), Morbius (March 19), The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (March 19), Free Guy (May 21), Spiral (May 21), Samaritan (June 4), Minions: The Rise of Gru (July 2), Space Jam: A New Legacy (July 16), Old (July 23), Jungle Cruise (July 30), Deep Water (August 13), Death on the Nile (September 17), The Last Duel (October 15), Snake Eyes (October 22), Sing 2 (December 22), Babylon (December 25), The French Dispatch (2021)
Which of our 25 Most Anticipated 2021 Movies are you the most excited about? What are some other films not included in our list that you are looking forward to? Let us know in the comments below!