Release date: December 25th, 2020
Any Pixar release gets me excited. This one is about an adventure through New York City and “cosmic realms.” The voice actors include Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Phylicia Rashad, and Daveed Diggs. The art looks fantastic already! This Pixar movie was an absolute hit. Of course! It's a Disney and Pixar collab movie! Audiences and critics adored it alike. Honestly, it was just nice to see something other than a pretty princess prancing about.
The unfortunate part is that it didn't make back its budget, so it may be considered a flop. Part of this is due to the fact that Soul didn't come out in theaters. It was released on Disney+, making it difficult to make a ton of money like a theatrical release would have done. It was a hard time, and Disney took the hit just to give us a little joy.
Budget: $150+ Million
Box Office: $119.2 MIllion
Release date: December 25th, 2020
Don’t be fooled by the title. This Wonder Woman movie is the sequel to the 2017 film that blew everyone away. Set in the ’80s, Diana Prince has to fight the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Wonder Woman 1984 will also introduce Cheetah, a supervillainess with super speed and strength (among other powers).
While I'd love to say this movie was amazing, it was awful. Like -- it was really, really awful. I wouldn't watch it again if someone paid me to. Kristen Wiig played Cheetah, and while I wanted to give her a chance, she was terrible. Overall, it feels like the movie made a mockery of the Wonder Woman franchise. Pretty much everyone hated it. Critics put it at 60% on Metacritic while Google Users gave it a 67%. It's almost impossible to get below 75% on there!
Budget: $200 Million
Box Office: $166.5 Million
Release date: March 5th, 2021
A new Disney movie? Uh, yeah! This one looks incredibly amazing, mostly because it’s about dragons. The story follows Raya as she tracks down the last surviving dragon to figure out how to save the world from an evil force. Disney has been working on this one since 2017, and it was originally set to release in 2020. As we all know, that didn’t quite pan out, but 2021 will be the year of the Dragon!
The only complaint I have? It didn't seem like Disney put as much work into this movie as they did all the other pretty princess films that have come out recently. Despite my complaints, Raya and the Last Dragon is pretty funny and cute. Definitely worth a watch whether you're a kid or an adult.
Budget: $100+ Million
Box Office: $121.9 Million
Release date: March 5th, 2021
Chaos Walking is a new movie that’s based on a book series. The movie is about a world where women have disappeared, and men are affected by “the Noise.” It stars Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley. The director, Doug Liman, also did Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Bourne Identity, and Edge of Tomorrow, so this is a movie to put on your watch list.
Chaos Walking had a couple of sins that weren't really its fault. First of all, it came out during a pandemic. No one wanted to run to theaters to watch it. Second, it didn't come out like ten years ago. This kind of film would kill the box office back when Hunger Games was all the rage. The critics hated it, but the fans enjoyed it. Even I kind of enjoyed the ride. However, it's doubtful that we'll see much more of the series.
Budget: $100 Million
Box Office: $21.9 Million
Release date: May 21st, 2021
Even I have to admit that the King Kong and Godzilla movies were a lot better than expected, so this one had me psyched. Audiences have been waiting for these two to square up for a while. Now, we’ll finally get to see them in the battle for the ages. Will they wipe out each other or will a victor remain? This one you can catch on HBO Max thanks to WB.
Unfortunately, when it came out. It was kind of a flop! Regardless, audiences loved it. Millie Bobby Brown gave a pretty good performance. Critics weren't fans, however. They hit it pretty hard, leaving it with a 59% Metacritic score. The good news though? It made back all the money it cost to make the film!
Budget: $155-200 Million
Box Office: $463.1 Million
Release Date: May 28th, 2021
The first Quiet Place was literally one of the best movies of the year, so you can bet I was excited about the sequel. Who knew that a movie where you can’t make a single sound would be so good?! With Papa Abbott gone, the family had to figure out how to go on, but now there’s a new threat on the horizon.
The movie was absolutely amazing. John Krasinski is showing that he can do more than act. The film, directed by the former Office star, made loads at the box office. Even better, critics and audiences alike adored it. It currently sits at a 91% Rotton Tomatoes score and a 92% Google users score. Oh, did we mention that the film cost basically nothing to make?
Budget: $55-61 Million
Box Office: $281 Million
Release date: May 28th, 2021
At first, you may think, “We don’t need another Cruella movie.” Glenn Close did an amazing job, but this one looks even better. It stars Emma Stone, and it’s all about the iconic villain. The puppies make an appearance, but Cruella explores the character a little more than any other movie before it.
Don't take my word for it, though. I'm always down for a good villain origins story. Critics and fans thought it was a great addition to a character that hadn't really been explored prior. It sits at a 74% Rotton Tomatoes score and a 93% Google User review. On top of that, news broke in early August that Emma Stone will seek her own lawsuit following Scarlett Johansson's suit. Apparently, they don't get any money from the Disney+ releases, making the whole thing super sketch on Disney's part.
Budget: $100 Million
Box Office: $244.1 Million
Release Date: June 25th, 2021
Somehow, The Fast and Furious franchise is still going strong. The newest movie is about Dominic Toretto and his crew being forced to battle a skilled assassin. The guy is also a great driver. There's a twist I won't reveal just yet, but it's sure to be a great movie. Soak it up while you can, though. Apparently, there will only be two more films for the series.
While you have your ride-or-die fans, F9 released to some pretty lukewarm reviews. Metacritic put it at 58%, which isn't great at all. However, those who adore the series can't get enough of the series. Overall, the film was a success as far as money is concerned.
Budget: $200-225 Million
Box Office: $594.7 Million
Release date: June 4th, 2021
The Conjuring series is easily one of the best modern horror movies you could watch, even though La Llorona wasn’t a huge hit, this one will be—fans didn’t know La Llorona was part of the series. The new film will follow a guy who was put on trial for committing murder, claiming he was possessed as an excuse.
The only problem is that it came out during a pandemic. The movie more-or-less was released under the radar and hardly anyone watched it. As if that wasn't enough, critics hated it. They slammed it saying the quality has decreased over time. Considering I'm a history nerd, I loved the movie. It was never one to scare my socks off in the first place.
Budget: $39 Million
Box Office: $64.8 Million
Release date: July 9th, 2021
Finally! A Black Widow movie! I’ve been waiting on this one for ages. Instead of a sequel to Endgame (obviously), Black Widow is going to be about how she became the hero we know and love. The film had plenty of action and funny scenes, thanks to the addition of David Harbour, but not everyone was happy with the release. Scarlett Johansson was extremely unhappy. In fact, she filed a lawsuit with the Los Angeles Superior Court against Disney.
Johansson states that her salary was largely based in part on the box-office performance of the film. The suit explains, "Disney intentionally induced Marvel’s breach of the agreement, without justification, in order to prevent Ms. Johansson from realizing the full benefit of her bargain with Marvel." A Disney rep responded saying it"fully complied with Ms. Johansson’s contract and furthermore, the release of Black Widow on Disney+ with Premier Access has significantly enhanced her ability to earn additional compensation on top of the $20 million she has received to date.
Budget: $200 Million
Box Office: $275.2 Million
Release Date: July 16th, 2021
Come on and slam, and welcome to the Jam! That’s right – a new Space Jam movie is coming. LeBron James joins the Looney Tunes gang to remind us of the best part of the ‘90s. I didn't have high hopes going into the movie, but you know what? Nothing beats a healthy dose of nostalgia. WB is putting the new Space Jam on HBO Max.
Then, I learned, the nostalgia was a lie. The movie was awful, and I mean worse than WW84 awful. We should have known better when they chose LeBron James to be the lead. Rotten Tomatoes put it at a generous 28% while Metacritic was even nicer placing it at 37%. If this film never pops up in history again, then it would be too soon.
Budget: $150 Million
Box Office: $93.96 Million (too much, in my opinion)
Release Date: August 6th, 2021
Suicide Squad was awful. From the writing, directing, acting, and editing, the whole thing was a mess. After Disney fired James Gunn (director of Guardians of the Galaxy), DC scooped him up almost immediately. They hired him to re-do Suicide Squad, so this time it’ll actually be worth watching. The cast already looks better, so put this one on your 2021 watch list. Luckily, we'll be able to watch this on HBO Max.
Release date: August 27th, 2021
Candyman is still one of the best horror movies released during the ’90s. Now, Jordan Peele reigns supreme as the recent horror master. Combine those two, and you have a winning combination. After Us and Get Out, Jordan Peele’s Candyman is undoubtedly going to be just as terrifyingly good. Who knew this comedian had it in him?
Release Date: September 24th, 2021
Part of the newest Sony/Disney deal, the Venom franchise is set to continue with the newest film being released in 2021. This one features a villain we’ve been waiting to see for ages: Carnage. Tom Hardy is still an iffy pick, but everyone should be excited about seeing Carnage, especially since Woody Harrelson is playing Cletus Kasady.
Release date: December 22nd, 2021
The Kingsman is a fun action series, but we’re left with one question: where did all this start? Well, The King’s Man is going to tell that story. This film is about the origins of the secret organization that’s designed to stop evil masterminds and save the world. The trailers already look action-packed and much better than the last Kingsman film that came out.
Release date: November 5th, 2021
It’s time to move onto Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The first stop? Eternals. They’re a group of near-immortal aliens with powers like atomic manipulation, super-speed, super-strength, and so on. With the Avengers gone, the Eternals have some big shoes to fill, but I believe in them.
Release Date: November 19th, 2021
Top Gun is getting revived! Tom Cruise will appear in the film years after the original. Now, he has to deal with the past while training a new group of graduates for a dangerous mission. Naturally, Top Gun is no holds barred, so the action will be off the carts. If you’re a Top Gun fan, this is a must-watch for 2021.
Release date: November 11th, 2021
Ghostbusters 2021 will serve as a direct sequel to the ’80s movies and will have no connection to the 2016 reboot. This one is directed by Jason Reitman (director of Thank You For Smoking and Juno) and will have a cast consisting of Paul Rudd, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, and possibly Bill Murray—the last one is rumored, but I’m crossing my fingers.
Release Date: December 17th, 2021
This Spider-Man sequel might be postponed again, but I'm hoping it'll release in 2021. The hero was on thin ice after the Sony/Disney deal broke up, but Tom Holland got it back on track. Now, all we have to do is cross our fingers. It's currently untitled and set to release in late December, so there’s a pretty big chance we won’t see it until 2022.
Release date: October 8th, 2021
No Time to Die made headlines when Daniel Craig stated this would be his last outing as Bond. Other than Craig, the movie has a pretty dang good cast including Rami Malek, Ralph Fiennes, and Naomi Harris. Unfortunately, Lea Seydoux is also returning despite the fact she’s one of the dullest Bond girls to date.
Release date: October 22nd, 2021
The announcement of a Dune remake got fans super excited, and it’s shaping up pretty nicely. The cast includes Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, and so many more huge stars that I can’t list them all. The director is the same guy that did Blade Runner 2049, so it’s safe to say this one is going to be super good. Check this one out on HBO Max.
Release date: February 18th, 2022
I want to say the Uncharted movie had a rocky start, but the truth is that the whole thing has been rough. For over a decade, the movie has lost writers and directors, which leaves people wondering what’s going on. Regardless, this movie has a July 18th release date. Will it be another Suicide Squad situation? Possibly. Let’s hope not.
Release Date: May 27th, 2022
This is exciting news for anyone that loves the Mission Impossible series. Considering all the news headlines about the stunts, I’m guessing it’s going to be the most exciting MI yet. How long can Tom Cruise keep this one up? Especially since he’s working on Top Gun stuff, too.
Release date: September 10th, 2021
The Conjuring series is probably one of the best horror movies out there, but James Wan is ready to move on. He’s coming out with a new film called Malignant. Right now, the plot is under wraps, but it will release sometime in 2021. I, for one, can’t wait to see it.
Release date: January 19th, 2022
The age of superheroes isn’t over yet. Jared Leto moved on from the Joker to Morbius. Morbius is a biochemist who tries to cure himself of a rare blood disorder only to mess it up and turn himself into a vampire. Jared Leto is a hit-or-miss kind of actor, but this could be a massive success.
Release date: September 3rd, 2021
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is another Marvel movie that’s sure to knock some socks off. Development started in 2001, but the actual work didn’t begin until 2018. The series is about a skilled martial artist who is working to take down a gang called the Ten Rings. The Mandarin makes a return (this time for real) is the main baddie in this film.
Release date: December 22nd, 2021
There are a lot of sequels to old movies happening, and The Matrix is one that got the greenlight. Thankfully, Keanu Reeves is coming back as Neo. On top of that, the original writers are also returning to do the film. One thing is for sure: the new Matrix will be a big hit or a massive flop. I’m hoping for the former. This is one WB is putting on HBO Max, too.
Release date: October 16th, 2021
Do yourself a favor and watch The French Dispatch. Why? It’s directed by Wes Anderson. He’s the genius behind the Grand Budapest Hotel, Moonrise Kingdom, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and so many other off-the-wall hits you likely enjoyed. Like the previous ones listed, the French Dispatch is a comedy-drama. It’s about a staff who wants to publish a memorial edition in their paper about the last decade’s best stories.
Release date: October 15th, 2021
There seems to be a serious lack of good scary movies lately, right? If you loved the 2018 Halloween movie, then this is the next on your watch list. Naturally, the wonderful Jamie Lee Curtis and Nick Castle are reprising their roles, but there’s also a bigger surprise: a lot of the original cast are also returning! Following Halloween Kills, Halloween Ends will release sometime in 2022 as long as nothing delays it.
Release date: July 1st, 2022
Maybe this isn’t one you’re directly excited about, but if you have kiddos, they’re probably psyched. The plot of this one is obvious from the title: Gru’s rise to evil-dom. Little 12-year-old Gru is on his path to supposedly become the world’s greatest supervillain, or so he thinks. The minions aren’t very helpful on this quest, even though that’s why they were created.
