Photo: 2021 Movie Releases
With the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns, the film industry has been struggling to release reliable information concerning upcoming movie premieres and where to watch them. But never fear! Hollywood Insider is here to help you get your 2021 movie calendar in order. We’ll discuss all the biggest releases of 2021, as well as where to access these films and when.
2021 Movie Releases – Schedule:
- The Little Things
- Release Date: January 29, 2021
- Where to Watch: Theaters/HBO Max
- Brief Summary: A detective and a deputy clash in attempts to bring down a serial killer
- Directed By: John Lee Hancock
- Starring: Jared Leto, Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Natalie Morales
- Cinderella
- Release Date: February 5, 2021
- Where to Watch: Theaters
- Brief Summary: A modern, musical retelling of the classic fairytale that features singer Camila Cabello in her feature film debut and Billy Porter as a genderless fairy godmother.
- Starring: Camila Cabello, Idina Menzel, Billy Porter, and John Mulaney
- Directed By: Kay Cannon
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Related article: Roberto Benigni in ‘Pinocchio’: Matteo Garrone’s Daring New Interpretation of a Fairytale Classic
- Malcolm and Marie
- Release Date: February 5, 2021
- Where to Watch: Netflix
- Brief Summary: One of the first films to be entirely produced during the COVID-19 pandemic, this simple story follows a filmmaker and his lover as they return to their home following a successful premiere.
- Directed By: Sam Levinson
- Starring: Zendaya and John David Washington
- Nomadland
- Release Date: February 19, 2021
- Where to Watch: Theaters
- Brief Summary: A woman leaves her small town to travel about the American west after losing her job at a plant.
- Directed By: Chloé Zhao
- Starring: Frances McDormand and David Straithairn
- Tom and Jerry
- Release Date: February 26, 2021
- Where to Watch: HBO Max/theaters
- Brief Summary: In this live-action, animation-hybrid film, Tom is hired to protect a wedding from Jerry’s hijinks.
- Directed By: Tim Story
- Starring: Chloë Grace Moretz, Michael Peña, Colin Jost, and Ken Jeong
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- Coming 2 America
- Release Date: March 5, 2021
- Where to Watch: Amazon Prime
- Brief Summary: In the second installment of the series, Eddie Murphy plays Prince Akeem Joffer, who returns to America after learning he has a son living in Queens.
- Directed By: Craig Brewer
- Starring: Eddie Murphy, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, and Jermaine Fowler
Related article: ‘Coming 2 America’: Everything We Know About Eddie Murphy’s Anticipated Sequel 30 Years Later
- Raya and the Last Dragon
- Release Date: March 5, 2021
- Where to Watch: Disney+/theaters
- Brief Summary: In order to stop the return of evil forces, a lone warrior searches for the last living dragon.
- Directed By: Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada
- Starring: Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina
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- No Time to Die
- Release Date: April 2, 2021
- Where to Watch: Theaters
- Brief Summary: The twenty-fifth installment of the James Bond series featuring Daniel Craig returning from a hiatus as the infamous British spy.
- Directed By: Cary Joji Fukunaga
- Starring: Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, and Léa Seydoux
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- Bob’s Burgers: The Movie
- Release Date: April 9, 2021
- Where to Watch: Theaters
- Brief Summary: As an extension of the television show by the same name, this musical-comedy follows the Belchers and their typical family hijinks as they continue to run their restaurant.
- Directed By: Loren Bouchard, in his directorial debut
- Starring: H. Jon Benjamin, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, and Larry Murphy
- Mortal Kombat
- Release Date: April 16, 2021
- Where to Watch: Theaters/HBO Max
- Brief Summary: Based on the video game of the same name, this film represents the third installment of the live-action films and a reboot of the series, as the last film was released in 1997.
- Directed By: Simon McQuoid, in his directorial debut
- Starring: Ludi Lin, Joe Taslim, and Jessica McNamee
- A Quiet Place Part 2
- Release Date: April 23, 2021
- Where to Watch: Theaters
- Brief Summary: The film takes place directly after the events of the first film, following the remaining Abott family members as they venture into the unknown.
- Directed By: John Krasinski
- Starring: Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, Noah Jupe, and Millicent Simmons
Related article: Video: Full Rendezvous At The Premiere of ‘A Quiet Place Part II’ Reactions From John Krasinski, Emily Blunt
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- Black Widow
- Release Date: May 7, 2021
- Where to Watch: Theaters
- Brief Summary: This film fleshes out the backstory of Marvel-favorite, Black Widow, before she joined the Avengers.
- Directed By: Cate Shortland
- Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, and David Harbour
- Godzilla vs Kong
- Release Date: May 21, 2021
- Where to Watch: HBO Max/Theaters
- Brief Summary: In a futuristic world where monsters roam the earth, Godzilla and Kong clash in a battle for the ages.
- Starring: Alexander Skårsgard, Millie Bobby Brown, and Rebecca Hall
- Cruella
- Release Date: May 28, 2021
- Where to Watch: Theaters
- Brief Summary: The live-action backstory of one of Disney’s most iconic villains, Cruella Deville.
- Directed By: Craig Gillespie
- Starring: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, and Joel Fry
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- The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
- Release Date: June 4, 2021
- Where to Watch: Theaters/HBO Max
- Brief Summary: Following a case from the files of supernatural investigators Lorraine and Ed Warren, the film portrays one of the first times that a murder supsect claims demonic possession as defense for the crime.
- Directed By: Michael Chaves
- Starring: Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson
- In the Heights
- Release Date: June 18, 2021
- Where to Watch: HBO Max/Theaters
- Brief Summary: Based on the musical of the same name, In the Heights follows a group of mostly Latino characters living in Washington Heights, New York City.
- Directed By: Jon M. Chu
- Starring: Anthony Ramos, Corey Hawkins, and Leslie Grace
- The Suicide Squad
- Release Date: August 6, 2021
- Where to Watch: HBO Max/Theaters
- Brief Summary: Instead of serving as a direct sequel to the 2016 film, ‘Suicide Squad’, this film serves to introduce new characters to the DC universe and expand on the story using the original comics for inspiration.
- Directed By: James Gunn
- Starring: Margot Robbie, John Cena, Idris Elba, and Sylvester Stallone
Related article: Video: ‘Birds of Prey’ – Full Commentary & Reactions From Stars with Margot Robbie, Ewan McGregor, Cathy Yan & Team
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- Candyman
- Release Date: August 27, 2021
- Where to Watch: Theaters
- Brief Summary: A young painter becomes obsessed with the urban legend of a supernatural killer.
- Directed By: Nia DaCosta, written by Jordan Peele
- Starring: Colman Domingo, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Teyonah Parris
- Death on the Nile
- Release Date: September 17, 2021
- Where to Watch: Theaters
- Brief Summary: Based on the Agatha Christie novel of the same name, Death on the Nile serves as a follow-up to the 2017 film Murder on the Orient Express, featuring Kenneth Branagh reprising the role of Hercule Poirot
- Directed By: Kenneth Branagh
- Starring: Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Kenneth Branagh, Gal Gadot and Armie Hammer
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- Dune
- Release Date: October 1, 2021
- Where to Watch: Theaters/HBO Max
- Brief Summary: Based on Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel, the film follows Duke Leto Atreides during his search for “the spice” on the desert planet, Dune.
- Directed By: Denis Villeneuve
- Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Issac, Josh Brolin
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- Mission Impossible: Libra
- Release Date: November 19, 2021
- Where to Watch: Theaters
- Brief Summary: The seventh installment of the Mission Impossible film franchise.
- Directed By: Christopher McQuarrie
- Starring: Tom Cruise, Haley Atwell, and Rebecca Ferguson
- West Side Story
- Release Date: December 10, 2021
- Where to Watch: Theaters
- Brief Summary: Based on the Broadway musical of the same name, this remake serves to provide a fresh take on the original story of two star-crossed lovers in 1950s New York City.
- Directed By: Steven Spielberg
- Starring: Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, and Rita Moreno
- The Matrix 4
- Release Date: December 22, 2021
- Where to Watch: Theaters/HBOMax
- Brief Summary: The fourth installment of The Matrix series
- Directed By: Lana Wachowski
- Starring: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Brian J. Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith and Priyanka Chopra Jonas
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- Don’t Look Up
- Release Date: TBD
- Where to Watch: Netflix
- Brief Summary: A pair of astronomers embark on a media tour in an attempt to warn the public of an approaching asteroid.
- Directed By: Adam McKay
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothée Chalamet, Meryl Streep, Timothée Chalamet and Jennifer Lawrence
More coming soon. Check back for live updates.
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