Can you imagine getting through 2020 without the escapism and entertainment of movies?
I sure as heck can’t.
As Caity Weaver writes for The New York Times Magazine, “movies, ordinarily vehicles to transport us out of our quotidian existence, became in 2020 the means to escape from our new science-fiction reality.”
I, like countless others, spent this year diving into many fictitious worlds, indulging both in new releases and nostalgic favorites. I swiftly avoided Groundhog Day and Contagion as they hit far too close to home.
As we wrap up 2020, a year that will surely be adapted into many future sci-fi films, we’d like to take a moment to look back at some of the top new releases in 2020 while also rounding up 2021 movies that we can’t wait to watch in theaters––just like old times.
Best Movies Releases of 2020
If we listed and summarized every movie released in 2020, you would be reading this far into the new year. We’ll keep it short and sweet by recapping some of the best movies in theaters in 2020.
Bad Boys for Life
The year started off strong with the January release of Bad Boys for Life, the third installment of the Bad Boys trilogy starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. Looking back at photos from the premiere in Miami is like stepping back through time.
Dolittle
Dolittle was another January release that topped the box office. While some say it’s more entertaining for kids than parents, we love watching Robert Downey Jr.’s hilarious audition with his animal cast members with plenty of references to classic Hollywood movies.
Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn
Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn was released February 7th. While some may have considered the film a flop, those who loved Margot Robbie’s take on Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad couldn’t get enough of this spin-off. We love watching how they took over Hollywood and Vine to become Harleywood––watch it here on our Youtube channel. We’ve never seen so many Harley Quinns in one place!
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog followed one week later on Valentine’s Day. Again, looking back at premiere photos is seriously a time warp. This version luckily did a better job at making Sonic resemble the character kids grew up loving on their SEGA genesis.
The Call of the Wild
The Call of the Wild was released in movie theaters on February 21st. The film, based on the book of the same name by Jack London, starred Harrison Ford playing an outdoorsman (John Thornton) who bonds with a dog named Buck as they trek through the Alaskan wilderness. Although Sonic ended up beating the film in movie ticket sales during its opening weekend, anyone who read the novel would appreciate the film (especially the impeccable CGI as previewed in the trailer). For my fellow bookworms, take a look at a handful of movies adapted from books worth adding to your watch list.
Onward
Onward was one of the last movies released in theaters prior to the pandemic. The Pixar film follows two elf brothers (voiced by celebs Tom Holland and Chris Pratt) on an other-worldly quest. You can watch it now on Disney+.
Tenet
While many 2020 movie releases were postponed, Tenet is a 2020 new release that proved that the Hollywood movie magic we all know and love isn’t going anywhere. The thriller, starring celebs Robert Pattinson (also known as the most handsome man in the world) and John David Washington, was expected to be one of the biggest new releases of 2020…then the pandemic happened.
And yet, the film didn’t disappoint! In November, we reported how filmmaker Christopher Nolan was thrilled with its box office performance: “Long term, moviegoing is a part of life, like restaurants and everything else.”
With determined filmmakers like Nolan ready to adapt to a new way of movie making, we can all look forward to enjoying many more successful films in the future.
The Croods: A New Age
The Croods: A New Age was released over Thanksgiving weekend. The world’s first family returns to the big screen with this sequel following the original 2013 Dreamworks film that is sure to be a hit for fans of the original animated flick. It’s been a while, so before watching, read our review of the first version here or reminisce about the time celeb Emma Stone taught Ryan Reynolds what a GIF was.
Starring Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, and Leslie Mann, the sequel follows the Croods family as they search for a safer place to call home. Along the way, they encounter a more modern and high-tech family. The film follows their rivalry and some unexpected challenges along the way. Buy movie tickets online and view local theater showtimes here.
Wonder Women 1984
Wonder Women 1984 is another new movie out now in theaters since Christmas (it’s also streaming exclusively on HBO Max). The latest DC Comics film shattered box-office records for 2020 despite its Christmas weekend release, opening in America with $16.7 million. We recently reported how Warner Brothers executives are already fast-tracking a third-film with celeb Gal Gadot returning as Wonder Woman. Yet another box office hit that has us excited for the future of movies! View showtimes and buy movie tickets online right here.
Movie release dates are constantly changing, but you can count on us to share an up-to-date list of movies out now in theaters every week, right here on Hollywood.com. See a full list of recent Christmas weekend releases here.
2021 Movies We’re Excited To Watch In Theaters
2020 was full of surprises, but all of us at Hollywood.com are grateful to have so many new movies to look forward to in 2021.
Keep reading to learn about our very own surprise to look forward to in the new year!
Raya and the Last Dragon
Raya and the Last Dragon is a Disney movie set in the fantasy world of Kumandra. Long ago, humans and dragons peacefully lived alongside each other in this fantasy world. As monsters known as the Druun began to threaten the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. 500 years later, the Druun have returned, putting all of humanity at stake. A young warrior named Raya is determined to track down the last remaining dragon to finally stop the Druun and save humanity. The movie follows her adventure, accompanied by her adorable sidekick, Tuk Tuk. This family-friendly flick is set to be released in March 2021. Watch the trailer here.
No Time to Die
No Time to Die is expected to be the last Bond film starring 007 celeb actor Daniel Craig. In this film, Bond is enjoying a peaceful life in Jamaica, until an old friend from the CIA comes and asks for help on what ends up being an action-packed mission. This 2021 movie is expected to be released in theaters in April. Did you hear that Billie Eilish wrote the theme?
Black Widow
In Black Widow, celeb Scarlett Johansson will grace the silver screen again as Natasha Romanoff in this 2021 movie set to be released in May. Romanoff wasn’t always an Avenger––this film follows her as she is forced to confront some of the dangers of her past and “go back to where it all started.”
Free Guy
Another May release to look forward to is Free Guy starring celeb hearthrob Ryan Reynolds as Guy. Reynold’s character is an NPC (short for a non-playable-character) in a video game set in a world called Free City. NPCs are programmed to do simple tasks and no one really cares if they live or die, but Guy is different. He ends up falling for someone in the game that turns out to be a player, who reveals to him that he’s actually “stuck” in a video game. When we shared the trailer back in October, a fellow Hollywood.com writer said, “It’s kind of a Truman Show in the video game world.”
In the Heights
For lovers of Broadway and Hamilton, the film adaptation of In the Heights should be well worth the wait. This 2021 movie is slated to hit the big screen in June 2021.
Respect
If you loved Dreamgirls, you’re in for a treat with this 2021 movie. Respect follows the life of Aretha Franklin played by Oscar-winning celeb Jennifer Hudson. The star-studded cast includes Mary J. Blige, Tituss Burgess, and Forest Whitaker. Watch the trailer here and start counting down the days until August 2021!
Death on the Nile
Death on the Nile is a mystery thriller that was originally slated to be released in 2020 but ended up getting pushed to September 2021. Based on the 1937 novel by bestselling mystery author Agatha Christie, the film follows Hercule Poirot, played by Wonder Woman 1984 star Gal Gadot. Gadot’s character investigates the murder of a young heiress while on vacation cruising the Nile River. The romance of the desert mixed with the puzzling plot will be sure to hook anyone who loves a murder mystery (or anyone who loves celeb Gal Gadot).
The future of 2021 movies is still up in the air, but Hollywood isn’t going anywhere. This is just a handful of the movie releases we have to look forward to in 2021––aren’t we lucky?!
Even with black-out curtains and at-home popcorn makers, there’s no place like the movie theater to watch a new release. I must say, I can’t wait to head to a movie theater near me to get hypnotized by a larger than life screen with a buttery bucket of popcorn on my lap.
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