With the calendar turning to 2020, that means it’s time to take a look at what movies are to come for this new year.
- Movies and release dates pulled mostly from Film in 2020 Wikipedia page, along with studio websites
- Unless otherwise noted, plot descriptions come from IMDB
- Release dates are not set in stone and are subject to change
- Movies will have been missed, especially those that are produced by streaming services
- I’ll probably also be missing some excellent foreign films
January
The Grudge (January 3)
” A house is cursed by a vengeful ghost that dooms those who enter it with a violent death.”
Underwater (January 10)
” A crew of aquatic researchers work to get to safety after an earthquake devastates their subterranean laboratory. But the crew has more than the ocean seabed to fear.”
An intriguing premise, but the early January release date definitely gives you some pause.
Like a Boss (January 10)
“Two female friends with very different ideals decide to start a beauty company together. One is more practical, while the other wants to earn her fortune and live a lavish lifestyle.”
Looks like one of the early front-runners for worst movie of the year.
The Informer (January 10)
” An ex-convict working undercover intentionally gets himself incarcerated again in order to infiltrate the mob at a maximum security prison.”
Dolittle (January 17)
“A physician discovers that he can talk to animals.”
Pretty heavily derided for the CGI after its first trailer, early feelings are not great for RDJ’s Endgame follow-up.
Bad Boys for Life (January 17)
“Marcus Burnett is now a police inspector and Mike Lowery is in a midlife crisis. They unite again when an Albanian mercenary, whose brother they killed, promises them an important bonus.”
The Last Full Measure (January 17)
“Thirty-four years after his death, Airman William H. Pitsenbarger, Jr. (“Pits”) is awarded the nation’s highest military honor, for his actions on the battlefield.”
The Turning (January 24)
“A young governess is hired by a man who has become responsible for his young nephew and niece after the deaths of their parents. A modern take on Henry James’ novella “The Turn of the Screw”.”
The Gentlemen (January 24)
“A very British drug lord tries to sell off his highly profitable empire to a dynasty of Oklahoma billionaires.”
This movie looks to be very much my vibe. It’s got a great cast, great trailer, and Guy Ritchie knows how to handle this kind of movie. The fact that it’s a January release is a bit worrisome, but I’m still holding out hope that it’s going to be good. Not everything in January can be bad, right?
The Rhythm Section (January 31)
“A woman seeks revenge against those who orchestrated a plane crash that killed her family.”
This is now The Rhythm Section’s third scheduled release date. As great as Blake Lively and Jude Law are, and as good as this premise could be, it’s probably best to temper expectations.
Gretel and Hansel (January 31)
“A long time ago in a distant fairy tale countryside, a young girl leads her little brother into a dark wood in desperate search of food and work, only to stumble upon a nexus of terrifying evil.”
The Assistant (January 31)
“A searing look at a day in the life of an assistant to a powerful executive. As Jane (Julia Garner) follows her daily routine, she grows increasingly aware of the insidious abuse that threatens every aspect of her position.”
Based off the trailer and Julia Garner being a great actress, The Assistant could be a good bet to buck the “everything in January sucks” trend.
February
Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (February 7)
“After splitting with the Joker, Harley Quinn joins superheroes Black Canary, Huntress and Renee Montoya to save a young girl from an evil crime lord.”
The King’s Man (February 14)
“As a collection of history’s worst tyrants and criminal masterminds gather to plot a war to wipe out millions, one man must race against time to stop them.”
Buffaloed (February 14)
“Set in the underworld of debt-collecting and follows the homegrown hustler Peg Dahl, who will do anything to escape Buffalo, NY.”
YES to all things Zoey Deutch.
Sonic the Hedgehog (February 14)
“A cop in the rural town of Green Hills will help Sonic escape from the government who is looking to capture him.”
Delayed after fan backlash, Sonic is back with (hopefully) improved CGI for the title character. I’m not expecting great things by any means, but it could at least be fun.
Fantasy Island (February 14)
“A horror adaptation of the popular ’70s TV show about a magical island resort.”
The Photograph (February 14)
“A series of intertwining love stories set in the past and in the present.”
Feels like a cheesy romance movie to take advantage of the Valentine’s Day release date, but it does boast some real star power with Lakeith Stanfield and Issa Rae.
What About Love (February 14)
“Two young lovers change the lives of their parents forever when the parents learn from the joyful experience of their kids, and allow themselves to again find their love.”
Bloodshot (February 21)
“Ray Garrison, a slain soldier, is re-animated with superpowers.”
Call of the Wild (February 21)
“A sled dog struggles for survival in the Alaskan wild.”
Emma (February 21)
“Based on the classic Jane Austen novel.”
Wendy (February 28)
“Lost on a mysterious island where aging and time have come unglued, Wendy must fight to save her family, her freedom, and the joyous spirit of youth from the deadly peril of growing up.”
The Invisible Man (February 28)
“When Cecilia’s abusive ex takes his own life and leaves her fortune, she suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of coincidences turn lethal, Cecilia works to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see.”
Bad Trip (February 28)
“Two friends embark on a cross-country road trip where they prank people using hidden cameras.”
Big time pass.
March
Onward (March 6)
“Set in a suburban fantasy world, two teenage elf brothers embark on a quest to discover if there is still magic out there.”
The Way Back (March 6)
“A former HS basketball phenom, struggling with alcoholism, is offered a coaching job at his alma mater. As the team starts to win, he may have a reason to confront his old demons. But will it be enough to set him on the road to redemption?”
The First Cow (March 6)
“A loner and cook has traveled west and joined a group of fur trappers in Oregon Territory, though he only finds connection with a Chinese immigrant. The men collaborate on a business, although its longevity is reliant upon the participation of a wealthy landowner’s prized milking cow.”
Godzilla vs. Kong (March 13)
“As the gigantic Kong meets the unstoppable Godzilla, the world watches to see which one of them will become King of the Monsters.”
My Spy (March 13)
” A hardened CIA operative finds himself at the mercy of a precocious 9-year-old girl, having been sent undercover to surveil her family.”
A Quiet Place: Part II (March 20)
“Following the events at home, the Abbott family now face the terrors of the outside world. Forced to venture into the unknown, they realize that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path.”
I still don’t think A Quiet Place needed a sequel, but I’m excited nonetheless to see where John Krasinski takes the story.
I Still Believe (March 20)
“The true-life story of Christian music star Jeremy Camp and his journey of love and loss that looks to prove there is always hope.”
Mulan (March 27)
“A young Chinese maiden disguises herself as a male warrior in order to save her father. A live-action feature film based on Disney’s ‘Mulan.'”
Yep, give me this, all of this. I love the animated Mulan, and even though this is more of a re-telling of the traditional story, I’m still quite excited.
April
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (April 3)
“Plot unknown. Follow-up to the 2018 film, ‘Peter Rabbit’.”
The New Mutants (April 3)
“Five young mutants, just discovering their abilities while held in a secret facility against their will, fight to escape their past sins and save themselves.”
Just want to make sure everyone knows the date of that trailer is from October 13, 2017. Now that Disney owns Fox, it seems like a better bet that New Mutants will finally be released. But we’ll see.
Fatherhood (April 3)
“A father brings up his baby girl as a single dad after the unexpected death of his wife who died a day after their daughter’s birth.”
The Lovebirds (April 3)
“On the brink of breaking up, a couple gets unintentionally embroiled in a bizarre (and hilarious) murder mystery. As they get closer to clearing their names and solving the case, they need to figure out how they, and their relationship, can survive the night.”
No Time to Die (April 8)
“Bond has left active service. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.”
I’ve loved the James Bond series for as long as I can remember. A new Bond adventure is usually only matched in anticipation by the bigger MCU movies (and Tenet this year).
Rise (April 10)
“The improbably true story about a janitor who took over a middle school basketball team and a won a state championship.”
Promising Young Woman (April 17)
“A young woman, traumatized by a tragic event in her past, seeks out vengeance against men who cross her path.”
Any movie that uses a violin version of Britney Spears’ Toxic is okay in my book.
Trolls World Tour (April 17)
Monster Problems (April 17)
“A young man learns how to survive a monster apocalypse with the help of an expert hunter.”
Antlers (April 17)
“A small-town Oregon teacher and her brother, the local sheriff, become entwined with a young student harboring a dangerous secret with frightening consequences.”
The Secret Garden (April 17)
“An orphaned girl discovers a magical garden hidden at her strict uncle’s estate.”
May
Black Widow (May 1)
“A film about Natasha Romanoff in her quests between the films Civil War and Infinity War.”
Considering we already know Romanoff’s ultimate fate in the MCU, the pressure is on to get viewers invested in the other parts of this story, and what it could set up down the road.
Plus, Florence Pugh so there’s that.
Greyhound (May 8)
“During World War II, a Merchant Marine skipper must maintain his ship’s place in a convoy being stalked by Nazi U-boat wolf packs.”
Untitled Legally Blond 3 (May 8)
“Plot unknown. Third installment of ‘Legally Blonde.'”
Barbie (May 8)
“A doll living in ‘Barbieland’ is expelled for not being perfect enough and sets off on an adventure in the real world. A Live-action feature film based on the popular line of Barbie toys.”
This would be completely forgettable, were it not for star Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig directing and co-writing the screenplay with Noah Baumbach.
Covers (May 8)
“A love story set in the Los Angeles music industry.”
Scoob! (May 15)
“Scooby and the gang face their most challenging mystery ever: a plot to unleash the ghost dog Cerberus upon the world. As they race to stop this dogpocalypse, the gang discovers that Scooby has an epic destiny greater than anyone imagined.”
The Woman in the Window (May 15)
“An agoraphobic woman living alone in New York begins spying on her new neighbors, only to witness a disturbing act of violence.”
Was supposed to release this past October, but was pushed back due to negative reactions from test audiences. Doesn’t bode well, but hopefully the studio took those criticisms to heart and can manage to produce a competent movie at least.
The Organ Donor (May 15)
“Plot details kept under wraps. Described as a re-imagining of the horror film ‘Saw.'”
Fast & Furious 9 (May 22)
“Plot unknown. The ninth installment of the ‘Fast and Furious’ franchise.”
There can never be too many Fast and Furious movies.
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run (May 22)
“After SpongeBob’s beloved pet snail Gary is snail-napped, he and Patrick embark on an epic adventure to The Lost City of Atlantic City to bring Gary home.”
Artemis Fowl (May 29)
“Artemis Fowl II, a young Irish criminal mastermind, kidnaps the fairy LEPrecon officer Captain Holly Short for ransom to fund the search for his missing father in order to restore the family fortune.”
June
Wonder Woman 1984 (June 5)
“lot unknown. A sequel to the 2017 superhero film ‘Wonder Woman.'”
The first one was great. Gal Gadot is great. All in for this one.
Candyman (June 12)
“A “spiritual sequel” to the 1992 horror film ‘Candyman’ that returns to the now-gentrified Chicago neighborhood where the legend began.”
After the success of Get Out and Us, Jordan Peele has carte blanche until he fails.
Soul (June 19)
“A musician who has lost his passion for music is transported out of his body and must find his way back with the help of an infant soul learning about herself.”
*Cue of the tears*
King of Staten Island (June 19)
“A semi-autobiographical comedy-drama about Pete Davidson growing up in Staten Island, including losing his father during 9/11 and entering the world of stand up comedy.”
Top Gun: Maverick (June 26)
“After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete Mitchell is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him.”
In the Heights June 26)
“A feature version of the Broadway musical, in which a bodega owner has mixed feelings about closing his store and retiring to the Dominican Republic after inheriting his grandmother’s fortune.”
July
Minions: The Rise of Gru (July 3)
“The continuation of the adventures of the Minions, always in search of a tyrannical leader.”
Free Guy (July 3)
“A bank teller discovers that he’s actually an NPC inside a brutal, open world video game.”
Ghostbusters: Afterlife (July 10)
“When a single mom and her two kids arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.”
Anything with Paul Rudd automatically gets an initial stamp of approval.
The Purge 5 (July 10)
“Plot unknown. The fifth and final installment of ‘The Purge’ film series.”
Tenet (July 17)
“An action epic revolving around international espionage, time travel, and evolution.”
I don’t even know what to say. This is my most anticipated movie of the year and it’s not even close.
Jungle Cruise (July 24)
“Based on Disneyland’s theme park ride where a small riverboat takes a group of travelers through a jungle filled with dangerous animals and reptiles, but with a supernatural element.”
Morbius (July 31)
“Biochemist Michael Morbius tries to cure himself of a rare blood disease, but he inadvertently infects himself with a form of vampirism instead.”
Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (July 31)
“A pair of best friends find themselves in over their heads.”
This trailer has been playing in some theaters and folks, this looks awful.
August
Infinite (August 7)
“A man discovers that his hallucinations are actually visions from past lives.”
The Empty Man (August 7)
“On the trail of a missing girl, an ex-cop comes across a secretive group attempting to summon a terrifying supernatural entity.”
The One and Only Ivan (August 14)
“A gorilla named Ivan tries to piece together his past with the help of an elephant named Stella as they hatch a plan to escape from captivity.”
Nobody (August 14)
“A bystander who intervenes to help a woman being harassed by a group of men becomes the target of a vengeful drug lord.”
Escape Room 2 (August 14)
*No plot listed on IMDB at time of writing*
At least it has Taylor Russell?
Respect (August 14)
“The life story of legendary R&B singer, Aretha Franklin.”
Bill & Ted Face the Music (August 21)
“Once told they’d save the universe during a time-traveling adventure, 2 would-be rockers from San Dimas, California find themselves as middle-aged dads still trying to crank out a hit song and fulfill their destiny.”
Let Him Go (August 21)
“A retired sheriff and his wife, grieving over the death of their son, set out to find their only grandson.”
The Hitman’s Wife Bodyguard (August 28)
“Sequel to the 2017 action/comedy.”
September
Monster Hunter (September 4)
“When Lt. Artemis and her loyal soldiers are transported to a new world, they engage in a desperate battle for survival against enormous enemies with incredible powers. Feature film based on the video game by Capcom.”
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (September 11)
“Plot unknown. Third installment of the Conjuring franchise.”
The Mitchells vs the Machines (September 18)
“The Mitchell family road trip is interrupted by a tech uprising that threatens mankind.”
Without Remorse (September 18)
“John Clark, a Navy SEAL, goes on a path to avenge his wife’s murder only to find himself inside of a larger conspiracy.”
The Many Saints of Newark (September 25)
“A look at the formative years of New Jersey gangster, Tony Soprano.”
Last Night in Soho (September 25)
“A young girl, passionate in fashion design, is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s where she encounters her idol, a dazzling wannabe singer. But 1960s London is not what it seems, and time seems to fall apart with shady consequences.”
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (September 25)
“The story of 7 people on trial stemming from various charges surrounding the uprising at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.”
Praise This (September 25)
“Youth choirs gather together for a music competition.”
October
Venom 2 (October 2)
“Plot unknown. Sequel to the 2018 film ‘Venom.'”
BIOS (October 2)
“On a post-apocalyptic earth, a robot, built to protect the life of his dying creator’s beloved dog, learns about life, love, friendship and what it means to be human.”
Death on the Nile (October 9)
“While on vacation on the Nile, Hercule Poirot must investigate the murder of a young heiress.”
Another star-studded cast, the Murder on the Orient Express follow-up should at least be fun, if nothing else.
The Witches (October 9)
“Based on Roald Dahl’s 1983 classic book ‘The Witches’, the story tells the scary, funny and imaginative tale of a seven year old boy who has a run in with some real life witches.”
Fatale (October 9)
“A married man is tricked into a murder scheme by a female police detective.”
Halloween Kills (October 16)
“The saga of Michael Myers and Laurie Strode continues in the next thrilling chapter of the Halloween series.”
Snake Eyes (October 16)
“A G.I. Joe spin-off centered around the character of Snake Eyes.”
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (October 23)
“Feature film adaptation of the musical about a teenager from Sheffield, England who wants to be a drag queen.”
November
The Eternals (November 6)
“The saga of the Eternals, a race of immortal beings who lived on Earth and shaped its history and civilizations.”
With Black Widow being a flashback story, The Eternals will be the first real glimpse into the future of the MCU in a post–“Infinity Saga” world.
Clifford the Big Red Dog (November 13)
“A young girl’s love for a tiny puppy named Clifford, makes the dog grow to an enormous size.”
Deep Water (November 13)
“A well-to-do husband who allows his wife to have affairs in order to avoid a divorce becomes a prime suspect in the disappearance of her lovers.”
Happiest Season (November 20)
“A young woman with a plan to propose to her girlfriend while at her family’s annual holiday party discovers her partner hasn’t yet come out to her conservative parents.”
Samaritan (November 20)
“A young boy learns that a superhero who was thought to have gone missing after an epic battle twenty years ago may in fact still be around.”
Raya and the Last Dragon (November 25)
“In a realm known as Lumandra, a re-imagined Earth inhabited by an ancient civilization, a warrior named Raya is determined to find the last dragon.”
Disney animated movie? Sign me up.
King Richard (November 25)
“A look at how tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams became who they are after the coaching from their father Richard Williams.”
December
Dune (December 18)
“Feature adaptation of Frank Herbert’s science fiction novel, about the son of a noble family entrusted with the protection of the most valuable asset and most vital element in the galaxy.”
Dune is shaping up to be one of the most hyped movies of all time. It can’t be anything less than great.
West Side Story (December 18)
“An adaptation of the 1957 musical, West Side Story explores forbidden love, and the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds.”
Uncharted (December 18)
“The story is a prequel to the games, starring Holland as a younger Drake, showing us details of how he came to meet and befriend Sully.”
Coming 2 America (December 18)
“Akeem learns he has a long-lost son in the United States and must return to America to meet the unlikely heir to the throne of Zamunda. A sequel to the 1988 comedy ‘Coming to America’.”
Tom & Jerry (December 23)
“Adaption of the classic Hanna-Barbera property, which reveals how Tom and Jerry first meet and form their rivalry.”
The Croods 2 (December 23)
“The prehistoric family the Croods are challenged by a rival family the Bettermans, who claim to be better and more evolved.”
News of the World (December 25)
“A Texan traveling across the wild West bringing the news of the world to local townspeople, agrees to help rescue a young girl who was kidnapped.”
Most Anticipated Movies
- Tenet
- No Time to Die
- Top Gun: Maverick
- Dune
- The Eternals
- The Gentlemen
- Fast & Furious 9
- Wonder Woman 1984
- A Quiet Place: Part II
- Raya and the Last Dragon
Way Too Early Best Picture Oscar Preview (in alphabetical order)
- Dune
- King Richard
- Last Night in Soho
- The Many Saints of Newark
- Netflix: It feels like a certainty that they’ll have one or two yet to be announced that will be right in the thick of the Oscar discussion
- Raya and the Last Dragon
- Respect
- Tenet
- The Trial of the Chicago 7
- West Side Story
