Yes, there really are upcoming movies heading to the cinema. It may feel like an eternity since we visited a dark room to watch a movie with a bunch of strangers, and that may feel alien to us right now, but things are changing as vaccine rollouts continue worldwide.
Hopefully, sooner rather than later, it will be safe to visit the theater again so we can watch blockbusters on the big screen.
While we wait for such a time, it’s worth browsing the best upcoming movies heading our way. The following list is a mixture of streaming, theater, and cinema + theater releases. With Warner Bros. and Disney starting to release more movies onto HBO Max and Disney Plus, respectively, 2021 looks set to feature some excellent cinematic monsters – and we’re not just talking about Godzilla vs Kong. These are the upcoming movies that we’re most excited about.
Nomadland
Release date: February 19 (US), March 19 (UK)
Set in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crash, Frances McDormand plays Fern, a woman who’s still reeling after losing both her husband and her home. Widowed and homeless, she now lives in a van, travelling from town to town looking for whatever work she can get. The movie is based on the real-life experiences of modern-day American nomads, whose stories were documented by Jessica Bruder in her book, Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century. It’s the third feature from Zhao, whose previous movies include 2017’s contemporary western The Rider. We predict Oscar nominations a-plenty.
Raya and the Last Dragon
Release date: March 5, 2021 (Cinemas + Disney Plus)
Set in the fictional land of Lumandra, Star Wars’ Kelly Marie Tran voices the titular hero in this epic tale, a warrior who goes in search of – you guessed it – the last dragon left in the world (voiced by Awkwafina). The animated feature is directed by Carlos López Estrada and Disney veteran Don Hall, whose previous work includes Big Hero 6 and Moana. It’s set to release simultaneously in cinemas and on Disney Plus under the streamer’s Premiere Access range.
Cherry
Release date: March 12, 2021 (Apple TV Plus)
How do you follow up the highest-grossing film of all-time? For Avengers: Endgame directors Anthony and Joe Russo, the answer was reteaming with their Spider-Man, but on a much more intimate scale. The movie will follow the titular young man, played by Tom Holland, through his experiences as an army medic in Iraq, to the opioid addiction that resulted from his PTSD.
Godzilla vs Kong
Release date: March 26 (international), March 31 (HBO Max + US theaters)
Godzilla became King of the Monsters in 2019, and now Kong’s coming for the crown. Adam Wingard directs the fourth movie in the so-called Monsters-Verse, bringing together the recent iterations of Godzilla and Kong in what promises to be a huge monster-mash. Many of the human characters from Godzilla: King of the Monsters will return, including Millie Bobby Brown, while Godzilla is the only confirmed monster, although Rodan, who was last seen bowing to ‘Zilla, could potentially make a comeback.
Mortal Kombat
Release date: April 16, 2021 (HBO Max + theaters)
Shout it: Mortal Kombat! The video-game series is once again getting the movie treatment. The first attempt has not exactly aged well, so hopefully producer James Wan has a few tricks up his sleeve when it comes to bringing the fighting saga back to the big screen. Tadanobu Asano – who appeared in the MCU as Hogun in Thor – leads the cast as Raiden, while other fighters set to appear include Jax, Nitara, Shang Tsung, Kano, and many more. Johnny Cage will apparently appear, though no actor has yet been announced.
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