The Year Ahead: 15 Most Anticipated Films of 2020

The Year Ahead

Welcome to the ’20s! A new year and a new decade means new movies coming right around the corner. Here are are my 15 most anticipated movies of 2020:

Birds of Prey (February 7)

birds of prey
Courtesy of The Mary Sue

Throughout the 2010s, DC comic book adaptations have been inconsistent, but even in at their lowest point with 2016’s Suicide Squad, Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) was a bright spot. She takes center-stage with Birds of Prey, along with an all-female crew featuring Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), and Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez). While DC has stumbled in their team-up movies, the promising trailers for Birds of Prey as well as director Cathy Yan have peaked my interest.

The Invisible Man (February 28)

invisible man
Courtesy of Pinterest

Based on HG Wells’ novel, Elisabeth Moss stars as Cecilia Kass, woman who attempts to flee from her abusive boyfriend Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen). After Adrian presumably commits suicide, Cecilia is tormented by a force no one can see. This Blumhouse-produced thriller could go either way, but the film is supported by two strong leads in Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale) and Jackson-Cohen (The Haunting of Hill House), who will doubtlessly bring emotional depth to this modern retelling of a classic story.

A Quiet Place: Part II (March 20)

a quiet place part 2
Courtesy of Digital Spy

A Quiet Place was my favorite film of 2018. Director John Krasinski impressed me with his ingenuity in crafting a suspenseful, refreshing sci-fi thriller. That being said, I was skeptical when Paramount announced a sequel to this film, because it works well as a one-off. With the release of the first trailer, however, I’m intrigued by the direction Krasinski seems to be going. Stars Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, and Noah Jupe will return for a story which looks to depict the initial invasion of the alien species which hunts by sound, as well as picking up where A Quiet Place left off. 

No Time to Die (April 8)

no time to die
Courtesy of Variety

No Time to Die marks the twenty-fifth installment of the James Bond franchise, as well as Daniel Craig’s last bow as the iconic character. I’m not a devoted fan of the Bond films, but the talent in front of and behind the camera are enough to get me into a theater. Cary Fukanaga (Beasts of No Nation) steps up to the director’s plate with a script co-written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag). Joining Craig are breakout 2019 stars Ana de Armas (Knives Out) and Lashana Lynch (Captain Marvel).

Black Widow (May 1)

black widow
Courtesy of SyFy Wire

The story of Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow is not over yet. Scarlett Johansson reprises her role as the ass-kicking avenger with Black Widow, which marks the first standalone film for the character and the third film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to feature a female lead (after Ant-Man and the Wasp and Captain Marvel). The events of this film take place after Captain America: Civil War, where Natasha must face the past she ran from. Black Widow has been an engaging character throughout her appearances in the MCU, but if I’m being honest, I’m more interested in the fact that Florence Pugh and Rachel Weisz will be costarring as other Black Widows.

The Woman in the Window (May 15)

woman-in-the-window
Courtesy of Bloody Disgusting

The Woman in the Window follows Dr. Anna Fox (Amy Adams), an agoraphobe who witnesses what she believes is a murder in her neighbor’s home. I’m a fan of AJ Finn’s novel upon which this is based, and Amy Adams can do no wrong as far as I’m concerned. I have confidence that Adams and director Joe Wright will do the story justice.

Wonder Woman 1984 (June 5)

Wonder Woman 1984
Courtesy of Tech Radar

2017’s Wonder Woman was a breath of fresh air in the dreary DCEU, with director Patty Jenkins and star Gal Gadot proving to be the perfect pairing to bring the character to life. The duo return with Wonder Woman 1984, which brings a fun, retro vibe to Diana Prince’s story as she faces off against Cheetah (Kristin Wiig). The first trailer sparked that same spark of joy I had while watching the first film, so it’s safe to say I’m just as excited for the sequel.

In the Heights (June 26)

ITH_062419_0710.dng
Courtesy of Untapped Cities

Director John M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) and actor/musician-extraordinaire Lin-Manuel Miranda unite for this musical which focuses on a Hispanic-American neighborhood in Washington Heights. Miranda composed the music and lyrics for the Broadway musical of the same name, and the addition of Chu positions this film to be a huge hit come summertime.

Tenet (July 17)

Tenet
Courtesy of Appocolypse

Christopher Nolan is one of the few directors who can sell a high budget, high-concept film to audiences based on name recognition alone. Not much is known about the film beyond the fact that it’s an action thriller involving the manipulation of time — which, in and of itself, is enough of a tease to get me excited. The trailer also echoes the aesthetics of Nolan’s 2010 film Inception. John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, and Elizabeth Debicki star.

Last Night in SoHo (September 25)

Last Night in SoHo
Courtesy of theplaylist.net

Like Nolan, Director Edgar Wright has infused each of his films with a clear style and tone. While his previous filmography is comprised primarily of comedies or comedy-action hybrids, Last Night in SoHo looks to be a darker turn for Wright. This psychological horror film stars Thomasin McKenzie (Jojo Rabbit) and Anya Taylor-Joy (The Witch), two rising talents. Little else is known about the plot, but Wright is sure to bring his signature flair to the project.

The Eternals (November 6)

eternals
Courtesy of Deadline

The MCU is at its best when it breaks free from the standard template most of its films tend to follow. Thor: Ragnarok and Guardians of the Galaxy are prime examples of this. The Eternals, which focuses on a group of unique, god-like beings, seems to fall in line with this tone, which is why I’m excited to see where director Chloe Zhao takes this. Featuring an all-star cast comprised of Angelina Jolie, Kumail Nanjiani, Kit Harrington, Richard Madden and others, The Eternals could be the breath of fresh air the MCU needs as it heads into Phase 4.

Dune (December 18)

Dune Art
Courtesy of ArtStation

Not to be dramatic or anything, but if Dune isn’t one of the best films I’ve ever seen, then I will give up on movies altogether. Just kidding (kind of). Denis Villenueve directed two of my favorite films with Arrival (2016) and Blade Runner 2049, so my expectations are high for his adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic sci-fi novel. Timothée Chalamet stars as Paul Atriedes, the son of a noble family who becomes entangled in a power struggle for one of the most precious resources in the galaxy. Behind Chalamet is a stacked supporting cast that includes Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, and Benicio del Toro. Out of every film on this list, Dune is my most anticipated.

West Side Story (December 18)

West Side Story
Courtesy of Playbill

West Side Story will be a nice double-feature alongside Dune. Steven Spielberg directs his first musical with this remake of the 1961 classic. Ansel Elgort and newcomer Rachel Zegler star as Tony and Maria, the star-crossed lovers associated with rival gangs the jets and the sharks, respectively. It gives me pause anytime Hollywood decides to remake a classic film, but I have faith that Spielberg, a helmer of many classics himself, will give the story justice.

Mank (TBD)

David Fincher
Courtesy of Filmic

David Fincher returns with his first film since his 2014 thriller Gone Girl. Mank is a biopic about Herman J Mankiewicz (Gary Oldman), the screenwriter of Citizen Kane — the proposed “greatest film ever made.” Fincher excels at unearthing what makes his protagonists tick, and Mank is similarly poised to explore the psychology of this writer. Netflix will distribute the film, with a date yet to be announced.

The French Dispatch (TBD)

Wes-Anderson
Courtesy of Pitchfork

Wes Anderson is set to release his comedy-drama The French Dispatch sometime this year. The film will entail three storylines, described as a “love letter to journalists.” As with many of his films, The French Dispatch features an ensemble cast of actors like Frances McDormand, Bill Murray, Timothee Chalamet, and Jeffrey Wright. I enjoy the whimsical, yet precise tone Anderson brings to his projects, and given my personal background in journalism, I’ll be curious to see what his “love letter” entails.

 


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