2021 feels like a breath of fresh air, compared to 2020. Vaccines have started rolling out around the world—meaning there is an end in sight to the pandemic—and a lot of the highly-anticipated films we didn’t watch in 2020 will come out this year.
You could be seeking blockbusters—this year will have numerous tentpoles—or indie films—Netflix alone has guaranteed to release a new movie every week this year. So, it’s a major year for cinephiles.
Here are some of the movies that should be on your watch list for the year. Let’s keep our masks on and hope that the cinematic road ahead is bright.
No Time To Die
The latest Bond film is also the last to feature Daniel Craig (unless he gets an offer he can’t refuse). It has received multiple delays, directors have changed, and cast members have been injured while filming. However, No Time To Die will finally hit theaters this year, though rumors have started circulating that it will get a further release from April 2nd to sometime in the fall.
The movie’s plot focuses on Bond searching for a kidnapped scientist. During his search, he encounters a mysterious villain wielding some dangerous new tech.
Coming 2 America
Eddie Murphy’s career is back on an upward trajectory, thanks in large part to the success of Dolemite Is My Name. So, we are naturally interested in Murphy’s next project, which happens to be a sequel to his most-loved film: Coming to America.
In the first film, Murphy plays Prince Akeem, an African prince who heads to the US in search of his future wife. The film packs everything we love about Eddie Murphy movies: a romantic arc, tons of humor, and Murphy playing multiple characters. If Coming 2 America is even half as good as the first one, it’s certain to be a success.
A Quiet Place Part II
2018’s A Quiet Place was a smash hit, so it’s no surprise that a sequel is on the way. Initially meant to come out in March 2020, it’s now been scheduled for April 2021.
The sequel follows the Abbott family as they adapt to a new life without the father. They are forced to venture beyond their home and look for people who can help them survive the monsters they faced in the first film. However, they soon learn that the monsters aren’t the only threat they should fear.
F9
F9 is the ninth installment in the Fast & Furious franchise. Here, Dominic Toretto and his crew face the most skilled driver and assassin they have encountered to date: Dom’s brother, Jakob. Jakob has teamed up with Cipher, who was the main baddie in The Fate of the Furious.
The Fast & Furious franchise has never been one for subtleness. Judging by the bonkers trailer, the latest entry is going to be more ludicrous and action-packed than ever.
Dune
Dune is one of the most celebrated science fiction novels of all time. So, it makes sense that the upcoming movie adaptation is one of the most anticipated movies of the past few years. Alongside the popularity of the novel, the film has a revered director in Denis Villeneuve, and it boasts a stellar cast with everyone from Jason Momoa to Josh Brolin. Expectations are sky-high for Dune, and after Blade Runner 2049, we know the director can make something special.
Dune will come out on October 1st.
Mission: Impossible 7
The Mission: Impossible films aren’t just among the most popular and highest-grossing action films; they are also among the best-made. With each sequel, the movies get progressively better, with better action, higher stakes, and an ever-increasing bond with Ethan Hunt and his team.
The studio hasn’t released any details of the plot, but there’s little doubt it will be as bombastic as the rest. Here’s hoping it actually releases on its scheduled date, on November 19th.
The Matrix 4
What a time to be Keanu Reeves. His career stalled in the late 2000s, but then John Wick came out and his action-star status returned. The first three films have all been hits with both critics and audiences, to the extent that two more sequels are being produced. And that’s not all; Keanu Reeves has also returned to his most popular franchise: The Matrix.
We don’t know much about this latest entry, especially since Reeves’ character Neo died at the end. However, it’s sure to be an interesting movie for fans of the original trilogy.
