*Originally published 12/29/2019
A new year—and a new decade—are upon us, and we’re listing our top 5 most anticipated movies to be released in 2020. From major studios to independent films, 2020 is set to see some great films, both at the box office as well as streaming options and more.
Expect to see elongations of certain franchises, such as the Bond franchise with Daniel Craig’s latest picture, “No Time to Die,” the continuation of the horror saga with “A Quiet Place Part II,” “Fast & Furious 9,” as well as “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” “Halloween Kills” (a sequel to David Gordon Green’s 2018 film), and “Bad Boys for Life.”
We also have some remakes and re-interpretations and sequels such as “Mulan,” “Gretel & Hansel,” “The New Mutants,” “Scoob!,” “Venom 2,” “Top Gun: Maverick,” “John Wick: Chapter 4,” “The Matrix 4,” and “The Witches.”
Whatever your cup of tea, 2019 had some stellar films, both in the realm of arthouse (“The Lighthouse,” “Parasite”), as well as the blockbuster (“Avengers: Endgame,” “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum”). 2020 is sure to have some amazing films.
Check out our staff’s picks for their favorite five films coming out in 2020. Agree/disagree? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
*To see all films slated for release in 2020, click this link from IMDb.
1. ‘The Gentleman’ (R, January 24)
British-American action thriller film from Guy Ritchie who created my all-time favorite movie, “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.” I feel like we haven’t had a great crime heist movie in a while. Oh, and did I mention it stars the GOAT Matthew McConaughey?
The film is described as by IMDb as: a British drug lord tries to sell off his highly profitable empire to a dynasty of Oklahoma billionaires. The film co-stars Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant, Michelle Dockery, Charlie Hunnam, and Jeremy Strong.
Heist films are always a good time at the theatre. From the aforementioned “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,” to “Now You See Me,” “The Score,” and “Inside Man,” the genre usually provides some good old fashioned action, intrigue, and stellar/high energy casts. We’re excited to see what “The Gentlemen” brings to the table.
2. ‘Gretel & Hansel’ (PG-13, January 31)
A creepy horror movie that has some cool looking visuals and nursery rhyme hi-jinks. The story has seen much re-telling and much re-imagining over the years. The original story was penned by the famous Brothers Grimm, who wrote a plethora of fairy tales – many of which were turned into famous fairy tales such as “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves;” and, of course, “Hansel & Gretel.”
The Hansel & Gretel written story is not the only rendition to see numerous renditions over the years. There have been a multitude of films, stretching all the way back to 1909! One of its latest iterations, “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters”—starring Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton only gained modest attention: it ranks as a 6.1 on IMDb, and earned $55.7 million on a $55 million budget.
The new iteration seems to promise a return back to the legend’s original folklore – which we’re looking forward to.
3. ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ (NR, March 2021)
We’ve been waiting 36 years to see Venkman, Stanz, and company suit back up. The original is among The Movie Buff critic Matt DeCristo’s top 50 all time list, and it will be interesting to see the old cast (Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and Sigourney Weaver) together again. The major downer is that Harold Ramis passed away a few years ago.
The new trailer sets the stage for a re-uniting of this old cast, as seen by the IMDb description which reads: “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.”
4. ‘Jungle Cruise’ (NR, July 2021)
With a litany of films such as “Jumanji,” “San Andreas,” and, yes, the stinker “Doom,” Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has been trying his hardest to shed his WWE persona and create a likable actor. He’s been doing enormously well. Johnson here stars with Emily Blunt (who is readying her second turn as Evelyn Abbott in March 2020’s “A Quiet Place II”), a thoroughly accomplished actress with such films such as “A Quiet Place,” “Sicario,” and “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.”
“Jungle Cruise” is billed as a Disneyland theme park ride on a riverboat that soon becomes complete with animals, reptiles, and—as Disney hints at—a ‘supernatural element. The film is directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, director of “Unknown” and “Orphan,” and looks to be a fun, mid-summer treat.
5. ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It’ (NR, September 11, 2020)
Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson are back in “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It,” set for release on September 11, 2020. This is the third installment in “The Conjuring” franchise, and, with the amount of creep factors and cult following that the original two films have fostered are any indication, this seems to be a fitting installment.
Plot descriptions are as of yet missing for this film, and the film is currently in post production. “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” is directed by Michael Chaves, who is a relative newcomer, having only eight directing credits to his name – many of them shorts. It will be interesting to see how he treats the third installment into a franchise that previously belonged to James Wan.
6. ‘The Personal History of David Copperfield’ (PG-13, January 24 UK)
Charles Dickens’ “David Copperfield”—released as a serial novel, the last installment finally published in 1850—has been revered as a classic and relived many times, both through literature and film. There are more than two dozen TV shows, min-series, and movies on the subject, discounting, of course, the other David Copperfield, the magician, one of the highest-earning magicians who borrowed his stage name from Dickens’ character.
“The Personal History of David Copperfield, set for release on May 8, 2020, doesn’t have much of a plot description as of yet, but hints the film will be a fresh take on Dickens’ novel, following “a good-hearted young man whose rogue spirit carries him through a colorful life of poverty and opulence” (Deadline.com). The film is directed by Armando Iannucci (“The Death of Stalin”) and stars “Slumdog Millionaire’s” Dev Patel as the title character.
7. ‘Artemis Fowl’ (PG, June 12)
Directed by Kenneth Branagh (“Thor”), and based off the novel by Eoin Colfer, “Artemis Fowl” is set for release in May, 2020, branded as a fantasy/adventure starring Ferida Shaw as the title character and Judi Dench.
Following the exploits of Colfer’s novel, “Artemis Fowl” follows “Artemis Fowl II, a young Irish criminal mastermind, who kidnaps the fairy LEPrecon officer Captain Holly Short (Lara McDonnell) for ransom to fund the search for his missing father in order to restore the family fortune” (IMDb.com).
8. ‘Wonder Woman 1984′ (NR, August 14)
Gal Gadot follows up her 2017 debut film with “Wonder Woman 1984,” due out June 29, 2020. The first “Wonder Woman” was a fresh re-imagining for DC Comics, picking up on the famed history of the character left by actress Lynda Carter in the 1970s. The 2020 sequel is directed once again (and co-written) by Patty Jenkins, who also helmed TVs’ “Arrested Development” and Charlize Theron’s Oscar-winning “Monster.”
The plot so far has been secretive for “1984,” although actress Gal Gadot has hinted in an interview that Wonder Woman is “quite lonely, she’s lost all of her friends over the years, and she’s doing what she needs to do,” in the buildup to where “Wonder Woman 1984” begins. 2017’s “Wonder Woman” garnered $412.5 million at the Box Office; it will be interesting to see where “1984” ends up.
9. ‘Tenet’ (NR, July 17)
“Tenet,” short on plot description as of yet, peaks our interest by its director – Christopher Nolan – responsible for such renowned films as “Interstellar,” “Memento,” “The Dark Knight trilogy,” and, of course, “Inception.” Nolan is a director known for taking his time with films, and for breaking the mold while helming his projects. Wrote late critic Roger Ebert of “Inception” – “Christopher Nolan reinvented “Batman.” This time he isn’t reinventing anything. Yet few directors will attempt to recycle “Inception.” I think when Nolan left the labyrinth, he threw away the map.”
“Tenet” is set to star Robert Pattinson, John David Washington, Elizabeth Dibicki, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and is billed as “An action epic revolving around international espionage, time travel, and evolution.” (IMDb.com).
10. ‘Eternals’ (NR, November 6)
Angelina Jolie, who has been consumed of late with children’s movies such as “Maleficient” and its 2019 follow up – as well as “Kung Fu Panda 3” – here takes on an interesting project with “Eternals,” set for release in November, 2020. The film is produced by Marvel Studios and is based a Marvel Comics race of the same name (and, yes, will be part of the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe).
The plot for the movie is described as “The saga of the Eternals, a race of immortal beings who lived on Earth and shaped its history and civilizations” from IMDb, and is directed by Chloé Zhao, known for such films as “The Rider” and “Songs My Brother Taught Me.”
11. ‘Connected’ (September 18)
There are many reasons why we’re excited for the upcoming film “Connected.” First off, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the directing duo behind “The Lego Movie,” “21 Jump Street,” and “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,” are producing. They also produced and Lord co-wrote the BEST Spiderman movie, “Into the Spiderverse.”
Additionally, Sony Animation is coming at Disney/Pixar and really establishing itself as a credible threat. “Into the Spiderverse” was the 3rd film in the history of film to win a ‘Best Animated Feature’ Oscar over Pixar. The plot is described on IMDb as follows: “The Mitchell family road trip is interrupted by a tech uprising that threatens mankind.”
12. ‘Barbie’ (NR, TBD)
Greta Gerwig, known for her deadpan humor and mature and realistic portrayals of the female perspective, is teaming up with her partner, Noah Baumbach, writer of “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” and “Marriage story,” the Netflix film about a married couple going through the process of getting a divorce. Yes, I couldn’t think of a better pair of writers for Mattel Films to give their live-action Barbie movie to.
The film will be even better if Greta ends up directing. We also have Margot Robbie, Oscar-Nominated Actress, playing the titular role of Barbie. Apparently the film will center around her getting kicked out of “Barbie Land” (not joking) and finding a way to make it in the real world.
13. ‘The New Mutants’ (PG-13, TBD)
We don’t know who gave the guy who wrote and directed “The Fault in Our Stars”—a film about two cancer patients that fall in love while attempting to ask a reclusive author about the ending to one of his novels—the keys to this superhero/horror/Marvel movie, but we’re 100% in. Over the production of the film, Director Josh Boone has been hyping like it’s his job, saying the movie is “a full-fledged horror movie set within the X-Men Universe” and that “There are no costumes. There are no supervillains.”
It feels like we’re entering a late stage comic book movie, a period where we’ve become so accustomed to these kinds of films that in order to get our attention, especially as part of a new I.P. you’ve got to do something different, something drastic. This looks like something drastic.
14. ‘The Witches’ (NR, Likely October 9)
Robert Zemeckis, director of “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” is directing this re-adaptation of Roald Dahl’s “The Witches” a film from the ’90s that we remember being incredibly scary and interesting. “The Witches” was one of the films that has always been on the edge of moviegoers’ minds, though many can’t remember much about it. This remake looks like it’ll be one for the ages.
In addition to Director Zemeckis, we also have a stellar cast such as Anne Hathaway as the main witch, as well as Chris Rock and Octavia Spencer. IMDb describes the plot as: “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!
15. ‘Wolfwalkers’ (NR, TBD)
Apple’s first animated feature will be produced by Cartoon Saloon, the studio behind “The Breadwinner” and “Song of the Sea.” An Irish 2D, hand-drawn animated feature film, the filmmakers incorporate many different animation styles we rarely see in use these days. Watercolors and charcoal give this film a look that’s old school and refreshing.
The story looks pretty neat too. It’s easy to get lost in the beautiful art the film shows off in its concept trailer. The film follows Robyn Goodfellow, an 11-year-old who moves to Ireland with her father to hunt a pack of trouble making wolves. Some magic happens, and next thing ya know Robyn is a wolf. She’s a wolf and she sees in hand-drawn Charcoal vision and we can’t wait to see it.
16. ‘Black Widow’ (NR, November 6)
Marvel Studios seems to have pulled an interesting move with “Black Widow,” the spinoff story of Natasha Romanoff, AKA Black Widow, from its uber-sucessful “Avengers” series. But while most standalone superhero films tend to lean towards origin stories – as we’ve seen with Disney’s ”Solo,” as well as Marvel’s “Dr. Strange,” “Iron Man,” etc. – “Black Widow” will follow the character in her time between “Captain America: Civil War” and “Avengers: Infinity War.”
Some interesting notes here. The film is directed by Cate Shortland, who helmed the TV movie “The Silence,” and stars Scarlett Johansson (reprising her role as Black Widow) as well as Florence Pugh, William Hurt, Rachel Weisz, Ray Winstone, and Robert Downey Jr. (one last look at Iron Man?). Time will tell if it has the lasting impact of some other films in the MCU, or is just a throw-away.
17. ‘Antebellum’ (NR, TBD)
Directors Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz’ upcoming feature “Antebellum”—described as “Successful author Veronica finds herself trapped in a horrifying reality and must uncover the mind-bending mystery before it’s too late” by IMDb, has peaked our interests for several reasons. Firstly, it’s from the producers for “Get out” and “Us,” which were both fairly well critically acclaimed. Secondly, its directors – Bush and Renz – are relative Hollywood newcomers, having helmed mostly shorts and video shorts, and it will be interesting to see what perspective they bring to the project.
“Antebellum” additionally stars Janelle Monáe, Eric Lange, Jena Malone, Jack Huston, Kiersey Clemons, and Lily Cowles. It is further distributed by QC Entertainment, the studio responsible for such films as the aforementioned “Get Out” as well as “BlacKkK Klansman” and “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.” It makes for an interesting addition to 2020 we are looking forward to.
18. ‘A Quite Place Part II’ (PG-13, September 4)
John Krasinski is back to direct “A Quiet Place Part II,” which seems, from the looks of the teaser trailer, to pick up were his first film left off. We have some mixed feelings about this effort: on the one hand, the first film, which earned $188 million on a budget of $17 million was a unique, one-of-a-kind horror film that plowed its way through a sea of uninspired gore-fests and haunting remakes to produce an emotional and suspenseful experience that made horror relevant again. Will “A Quiet Place Part II” build on that legacy, or come off as a forced studio sequel that couldn’t leave well enough alone?
Time will ultimately tell. With Krasinski back as director – who brought depth, emotion, and a personal tough to the first film—as well as bringing back Emily Blunt, Noah Jupe, and Millicent Simmonds—set up the film for success. The addition of Golden Globe nominee Cillian Murphy intrigues us further.
19. ‘Dune’ (NR, December 18)
Oh, “Dune”—the 1965 novel by American author Frank Hebert has seen its fair share of TV miniseries, video game adaptations, feature films, and shorts over the years; and has remained a cult sci-fi classic if ever there was one. The film is described by IMDb as: “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.”
Some things that interest us about this film are its director, Dennis Villeneueve—who helmed the fantastic “Prisoners”—as well as the film starring such talent as Josh Brolin, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, Javier Bardem, and Stellan Skarsgård. The film is due out December 18, 2020.
20. ‘Mulan’ (PG-13, July 24)
Walt Disney Pictures re-imagines their 1998 animation piece with this live-action adaptation. “Mulan,” due out in March 2020, features the same plot – “A young Chinese maiden disguises herself as a male warrior in order to save her father” (IMDb) – but will leave animation behind for a more realistic rendering.
The story of Mulan has always been an interesting choice for Disney—in line with other films such as “Brave” or “Moana,” in featuring a brave, female lead, breaking out of the company’s long history of women assuming mostly bowing to patriarchy. The live-action feel should give the film some good changes for bringing in a wider audience, and it doesn’t hurt that it stars actors such as action aficionado Jet Li and TV’s “24” alum Tzi Ma. Yifei Lui plays the titular ‘Mulan.’
21. ‘The King’s Man’ (NR, September 18)
A prequel to 2014’s “Kingsman: The Secret Service” (starring “Rocketman” actor Taron Egerton), “The King’s Man” finds its way to theatres in September 2020. The film is described on IMDb “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.”
Some exciting aspects of “The King’s Man” include its inclusion of Oscar-nominee Ralph Fiennes, as well as well as Stanley Tucci, Daniel Brühl, Djimon Hounsou, and Rhys Ifans. The film is also directed by Matthew Vaughn, who also co-wrote the screenplay, and is responsible for writing such films as “X-Man: Days of Future Past” and “Kick-Ass.” The film is distributed by 20th Century Fox Film Corporation.
22. ‘No Time to Die’ (PG-13, November 25)
Despite Daniel Craig’s long-standing protestations against reprising the role of James Bond, “No Time to Die” is set for release in April 2020 as the latest installment into the James Bond world. The film is set to star such talent as Ana de Armas (who recently appeared alongside Craig in the whodunnit “Knives Out”), as well as Léa Seydoux from “SPECTRE,” Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw, and Rami Malek as Bond’s new villain.
The film is this time directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, writer for “It” and producer for “Beasts of No Nation,” and presents a forlorn view of a retired Bond who must come back into action against a new villain with new, deadly weapons (IMDb). While Craig may be weary of Bond, we’re certainly not, and are eager for his latest installment.
23. ‘Soul’ (NR, Expected November 20)
We’re definitely excited for “Soul,” Disney/Pixar’s tale of “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” (IMDb). Some reasons to be excited about the film is its direction by Peter Docter (who co-directs with Kemp Powers), who has been involved with Pixar for ages, and was the lead animator on “Toy Story.”
Additionally, the filmmakers got Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross to score the film (Reznor has previously done a great job scoring films such as “The Social Network,” “Gone Girl,” and “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” Starring Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey, the film aims to be a pleasing yet introspective offering from the animation studio powerhouse.
24. ‘Onward’ (NR, March 6)
Disney Pixar’s ”Onward” is generating buzz so far, not least of all because it is set to reunite Chris Pratt and Tom Holland outside of the MCU world that has consumed a lot of their recent work. The film is set for release in March of 2020, and is described as: “Set in a suburban fantasy world, two teenage elf brothers, Ian and Barley Lightfoot, go on an journey to discover if there is still a little magic left out there in order to spend one last day with their father, who died when they were too young to remember him.” (IMDb).
In addition to Holland and Pratt, the film is set to features other talent such as Julia-Louis Dreyfus, Octavia Spencer, and John Ratzenberger. You can check out the trailer for more information.
25. ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ (NR, November 20)
After 2019’s “Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” fans of the kaiju will doubtless be angling for the 2020 release of “Godzilla vs. Kong.” While Godzilla has been quite prolific in cinema of late, it’s been a while since King Kong has graced the big screen (with the exception of “Kong: Skull Island” and the 2005 remake “King Kong” starring Adrian Brody, Naomi Watts, and Jack Black).
On IMDb, the film is described as “As the gigantic Kong meets the unstoppable Godzilla, the world watches to see which one of them will become King of the Monsters.” The effort is directed by Adam Wingard, who helmed “V/H/S” and “You’re Next,” and will hopefully bring the monster-bashing/city-destroying action we all love.
Do you agree with our picks? Are there any 2020 upcoming films that we forgot? Let us know in the comments section or via Twitter at @The_Movie_Buff or on our Facebook page.
