Biggest Movies Coming in 2021: 'Dune,' 'Spider-Man 3' and More – Variety

(March 5)

Featuring the voices of Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina, Walt Disney Animation’s upcoming animated feature is its first to center on a Southeast Asian heroine and will premiere both on Disney Plus and in theaters. It will follow the journey of Raya, a passionate warrior on a quest to find the last dragon to restore peace in a mythical world. Watch the trailer here.

(March 5)

Eddie Murphy is back as Prince Akeem in this long-awaited sequel to the 1988 film. Directed by Craig Brewer from a screenplay written by Kenya Barris, Barry W. Blaustein and David Sheffield, Prince Akeem is set to become King of Zamuda when he discovers he has a son in America (Jermaine Fowler). Of course, hilarious antics ensue. Watch the trailer here.

(March 31)

Set to debut on both HBO Max and in theaters, the crossover sequel to “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” and “Kong: Skull Island” will see the iconic monsters square off in an epic battle for the ages, while humanity hopes to wipe out both of them in order to take back the planet.

(April 23)

Adapted from the popular video game, MMA fighter Cole Young (Lewis Tan) seeks out the Earthrealm’s greatest champions to stand against the forces of Outworld in a high-stakes battle to save the universe.

(May 7)

David Oyelowo’s feature directorial debut follows Gunner (Lonnie Chavis), a boy who sets out on a quest to save his ill mother (Rosario Dawson) by searching for the Water Man, a mythic figure who holds the secret to immortality. Gunner and Jo (Amiah Miller), a mysterious local girl, journey into the remote Wild Horse forest and discover that the deeper they venture, the more dangerous the forest becomes. Their only hope for rescue is Gunner’s father (Oyelowo), who will stop at nothing to save them.

(May 7)

Based on one of the most notorious crimes in FBI history, Emilia Clark stars as Susan Smith, a young woman desperate to escape a seedy life in a Kentucky coal mining town. Enter Mark Putnam (Jack Huston): a new FBI agent who may be the answer to changing her bad luck. He recruits Susan as his informant for a high-profile case, but as their relationship deepens, so does the danger. The cast includes Sophie Lowe, Austin Hébert, Karl Glusman, Chris Mulkey, Omar Miller, Kevin Dunn, Thora Birch and Johnny Knoxville. Watch the trailer here.

(May 14)

Do you wanna play a game? Tobin Kramer might not be back to play the primary villain of the “Saw” franchise, but the ninth installment of the series is back this spring and finds a stacked cast in Chris Rock, Max Minghella, Marisol Nichols, Samuel L. Jackson and Zoie Palmer. This next chapter of “Saw” is rocked by a new criminal mastermind who unleashes a twisted form of justice. Detective Ezekiel “Zeke” Banks (Rock) works under the shadow of his father, an esteemed police veteran (Jackson), with his rookie partner (Minghella). Ensuring his own legacy, Zeke and his partner take charge of a grisly set of murders that are eerily reminiscent of the city’s gruesome past. However, it’s only a matter of time before he is trapped in the middle of the killer’s morbid game.

(May 14)

Starring Amy Adams, Julianne Moore, Gary Oldman and Anthony Mackie, director Joe Wright’s new Netflix movie appears a bit more ominous than its “Rear Window” predecessor. Dr. Anna Fox is an agoraphobic phycologist obsessed with her new neighbors. When she witnesses a disturbing act of violence from her window, she becomes consumed with solving the brutal crime from the confines of her home.

(May 21)

One highly anticipated movie of the year just wasn’t enough for Zack Snyder! From the “Justice League” director comes an apocalyptic tale about a group of mercenaries who take the ultimate gamble after a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas. Taking a cue from their Rat Pack predecessors (or maybe George Clooney), the group ventures into the quarantine zone for the greatest heist of all time. The cast includes Dave Bautista, Huma Qureshi, Ella Purnell, Hiroyuki Sanada, Matthias Schweighöfer and Tig Notaro, who replaces original cast member Chris D’Elia.

(May 28)

Set against the punk and fashion scenes of 1970s London, Disney’s live-action feature will introduce Emma Stone as a younger Cruella de Vil, the iconic villain from 1961’s “101 Dalmatians.” It will also star Emma Thompson, Joel Fry Paul, Walter Hauser and Mark Strong.

(May 28)

“A Quiet Place Part II” will again see the family members played by Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe stay silent and evade deadly monsters in a dystopian world. Despite his character’s demise in the first movie, John Krasinski returned to direct the sequel. Watch a trailer here.

(June 4)

Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson are back as Lorraine and Ed Warren for a chilling story of terror, murder and unknown evil that shocked even the real-life paranormal investigators “The Conjuring” franchise is based on. Pulling from one of the most sensational cases from their files, “The Devil Made Me Do It” begins with the fight for a young boy’s soul and ends up taking the Warrens beyond anything they’ve ever seen before. For the first time in U.S. history, a murder suspect claims demonic possession as their defense.

(June 11)

Debuting both on HBO Max and in theaters, the musical drama — directed by “Crazy Rich Asians” director Jon M. Chu and produced by Lin-Manuel Miranda — explores three days in New York City’s Dominican American neighborhood of Washington Heights. Based on Miranda’s musical of the same name, the adaptation stars Stephanie Beatriz, Anthony Ramos, Melissa Barrera and more. Watch the trailer here.

(June 18)

Set along the Italian Riviera, Pixar’s coming-of-age story about one young boy’s unforgettable summer rests on a deeply-held secret: his best friend is a sea monster from another world. The cast includes Jacob Tremblay, Maya Rudolph, Jack Dylan Grazer, Emma Berman, Marco Barricelli and Jim Gaffigan.

(June 25)

This ninth installment of the beloved action franchise again follows Dominic Toretto, played by Vin Diesel, whose crew and family members join forces to battle one of the world’s most talented assassins and high-performance drivers — his estranged brother, Jakob, played by John Cena. The new movie also sees the return of Han Lue, a fan-favorite character thought to be long-dead. Watch the trailer here.

(June 30)

Based on the viral 2015 Twitter thread, what could possibly be this summer’s wildest movie centers on Zola (Taylour Paige), a Detroit waitress who befriends Stefani (Riley Keough), an exotic dancer who convinces her new friend to join her on a road trip to a high-end strip club in Florida where they can make a fortune in just one night of dancing. In the face of Stefani’s pimp (Colman Domingo) and idiot boyfriend (Nicholas Braun), Tampa gangsters and loads of debauchery, the 48-hour adventure spirals out of control.

(July 16)

Director Morgan Neville explores the life story of legendary chef and restauranteur Anthony Bourdain by piecing together footage from around the world, past interviews, and current interviews with his friends, fellow chefs and closest associates. The documentary reveals a new side of Bourdain, who stole the hearts of viewers worldwide with his TV series “Parts Unknown” and died by suicide in 2018.

(July 2)

“The Purge” series is set to come to an end with its fifth movie. With no official description from Universal Pictures, the plotline is still relatively unknown. However, Will Patton revealed in a recent interview with Collider that he plays a rancher. Back in January, director Everardo Gout revealed to Total Film that it takes place following the events of “Purge: Election Year” and things take a turn when a group of outsiders continue purging beyond the allotted amount of time. The movie also features Josh Lucas, Ana de la Reguera, Tenoch Huerta, Cassidy Freeman and Veronica Falcón.

(July 9)

Scarlett Johansson is finally getting a standalone Black Widow movie. The long-awaited Marvel film, also starring David Harbour, Florence Pugh and O-T Fagbenle, is set after 2016’s “Captain America: Civil War.” It will see Natasha Romanoff on the run and forced to confront her past as a spy, long before she became an Avenger. Watch a special clip here.

(July 16)

NBA superstar LeBron James teams up with Bugs Bunny and the rest of the Looney Tunes crew for this long-awaited sequel to the 1996 classic, which debuts on HBO Max and in theaters. The family comedy, directed by Malcolm D. Lee, includes Sonequa Martin-Green, Don Cheadle and NBA players like Klay Thompson, Chris Paul and more.

(July 16)

Director Adam Robitel and producer Neal H. Moritz return for the sequel to the 2019 psychological thriller, in addition to actors Taylor Russell and Logan Miller. Plot details are scarce, but we know Indya Moore, Holland Roden, Isabelle Fuhrman, Carlito Olivero, Thomas Cocquerel and James Frain joined the cast and there is likely to be another life-and-death game propelling the storyline.

(July 23)

Based on the graphic novel “Sandcastle” by Pierre Oscar Lévy and Frederik Peeters, “Old” centers on a family on a tropical holiday. Things take a turn when they discover a secluded beach that causes them to age rapidly— reducing their entire lives into a single day. From thriller veteran director M. Night Shyamalan, it stars Gael García Bernal, Vicky Krieps, Rufus Sewell, Ken Leung, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Abbey Lee, Aaron Pierre, Alex Wolff, Embeth Davidtz, Eliza Scanlen, Emun Elliott, Kathleen Chalfant and Thomasin McKenzie.

(July 30)

The Green Knight is not this tale’s hero, but rather a gigantic emerald-skinner stranger who Sir Gawain (Dev Patel) must confront. In this fantasy adventure, King Arthur’s reckless, headstrong nephew comes face-to-face with ghosts, giants, thieves and schemers, all the while learning to better define his own character and prove his worth in the eyes of his family and the kingdom. It also features Alicia Vikander, Sean Harris and Joel Edgerton.

(July 30)

Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson star in the adventure fantasy film based on Disneyland’s park ride where a small riverboat transports a group of travelers down the Amazon through a supernatural jungle. Watch the trailer here.

(Aug. 6)

French director Leos Carax is set to make his English-language debut with “Annette,” a musical film starring Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard. Written by sibling duo Ron and Russell Mael — also known as the band Sparks — “Annette” tells the story of a stand-up comedian and his world-famous soprano wife. But, their lives take an unexpected turn when their daughter, Annette, is born. The film will debut at Cannes Film Festival and will then be available in theaters and on Amazon Prime in late summer.

(Aug. 6)

Directed by James Gunn and premiering on both HBO Max and in theaters, the “Suicide Squad” standalone sequel follows the comic book roots of Harley Quinn and her gang of supervillains, rather than continuing the narrative of the 2016 film. The star-studded cast features Viola Davis, Margot Robbie, Taika Waititi, Sylvester Stallone, Idris Elba, Jai Courtney and Pete Davidson.

(Aug. 11)

The final chapter of the rom-com trilogy, “The Kissing Booth 3” follows Elle (Joey King) as she must decide which college to attend while balancing her friendship with Lee (Joel Courtney) and relationship with Noah (Jacob Elordi). Of course, Taylor Perez returns as Marco to stir up trouble and potentially win Elle back after their kiss in the sequel. Directed by Vince Marcello, the film comes out on Aug. 11 via Netflix.

(Aug. 13)

In Shawn Levy’s bright and inventive summer Blockbuster “Free Guy,” Ryan Reynolds plays a video game character who doesn’t know that his world isn’t real. Somewhere between “Deadpool,” “The Matrix” and “The Lego Movie,” “Free Guy” follows what happens when an “NPC” (non-playable character) gains consciousness and falls in love. The film premieres in theaters on Aug. 13.

(Aug. 13)

As the sole hearing member of a deaf family, 17-year-old Ruby (Emilia Jones) focuses her life on being the interpreter for her parents (Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur) and working on the family’s struggling fishing boat every day before school. She ends up joining her school’s choir and is encouraged to apply to music school when she discovers she has a gift for singing. However, Ruby comes to feel torn between her obligations to her family and the pursuit of her own dreams.

(Aug. 20)

Written and directed by Neill Blomkamp, this horror thriller sees a young woman unleash terrifying demons when supernatural forces at the root of a decades old rift between mother and daughter are ruthlessly revealed. The cast includes Carly Pope, Chris William Martin and Michael Rogers.

(Aug. 27)

Addison Rae makes her feature debut in “He’s All That,” a gender-swapped reboot of the 1999 rom-com. Mark Waters, the filmmaker behind “Mean Girls” and “Freaky Friday,” directs, while R. Lee Fleming, who wrote the original movie, also penned the remake. Also starring Tanner Buchanan, Matthew Lillard, Rachael Leigh Cook, Madison Pettis and Peyton Meyer, the film is set for an Aug. 27 release on Netflix.

(Aug. 27)

Audiences were deeply excited to see Nia DaCosta’s take on the “Candyman” last October, but like many films on this list, it was pushed. We’ve only seen glimpses of the director’s vision including a couple trailers and this haunting, shadow puppet short which she released with these thoughts via her Twitter account: “CANDYMAN, at the intersection of white violence and black pain, is about unwilling martyrs. The people they were, the symbols we turn them into, the monsters we are told they must have been.”

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who recently won an Emmy for his work on “Watchmen,” stars as the film’s lead and Oscar-winning director Jordan Peele co-wrote the script along with DaCosta and Win Rosenfeld. If you’re looking for something to tide you over until August, we strongly recommend watching DaCosta’s 2018 feature “Little Woods” (written by DaCosta as well) and getting familiar with her work – you’re going to be hearing a lot from her, as she’s already slated to direct the sequel to “Captain Marvel.”

(Sept. 3)

Featuring a star-studded cast of Camilla Cabello, Nicholas Galitzine, Billy Porter, Idina Menzel, James Corden, John Mulaney and Pierce Bronson, the classic Disney princess film chronicles the fairytale in a revamped, modern twist. Instead of having her biggest goal be finding her Prince Charming, Cinderella — with the help of her Fab G (Porter) — has a bigger ambition of making it as a fashion designer. The film is set to premiere on Sept. 3 on Amazon Prime Video.

(Sept. 3)

Another installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, “Just Mercy” director Destin Daniel Cretton introduces Shang-Chi (Simu Liu), a master martial artist. Co-starring Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh, Florian Munteanu and more, this will be the first MCU film with a mostly Asian and Asian American cast.

(Sept. 17)

Set in 1978, a former rodeo star and horse breeder takes a job to bring an ex-boss’ young son home and out of the hands of his alcoholic mom. The pair face a challenging journey as they cross over from rural Mexico to Texas and all the while the horseman has a chance at redemption by teaching the boy the meaning of being a good man. Clint Eastwood directs and star.

(Sept. 17)

Starring Andrew Garfield and Jessica Chastain, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” based on a true story, follows the life of mega-televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker in their colorful, clean-cut world. Being positioned as trusted, spiritual leaders takes a toll on the couple as financial improprieties, a sex scandal and rivals break up their marriage — and their empire. With props to the hair and makeup artists of the film, Garfield and Chastain look unrecognizable as their characters grow older throughout the years.

(Sept. 17)

Adapted from the popular West End musical, “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” brings viewers into the world of Jamie New, a teenager from Sheffield who dreams of life on stage. As he gets mentored by a local drag queen legend, Jamie dives into the world of glamour, while also dealing with his unsupportive father and ignorant classmates. The cast stars Max Harwood as Jamie New, Sarah Lancashire, Lauren Patel, Shobna Gulati, Ralph Inseson, Adeel Ahktar, Samuel Bottomely, Sharon Horgan and Richard E. Grant. The film will premiere on Sept. 17 on Amazon Prime Video.

(Sept. 24)

Ben Platt returns in his Tony-winning titular role in the big-screen adaptation of the Broadway musical hit created by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. “Dear Evan Hansen” follows Evan Hansen, an anxious and isolated high school student who gets caught in a complicated lie after one of his classmates commits suicide.

(Oct. 1)

The prequel to HBO’s wildly successful series “The Sopranos,” “The Many Saints of Newark” depicts the 1967 riots in Newark, N.J. and the tension between the town’s Italian and Black communities. Directed by Alan Taylor, who also helmed several episodes of “The Sopranos,” the film stars Alessandro Nivola, Leslie Odom Jr., Jon Bernthal, Corey Stoll, Michael Gandolfini, Billy Magnussen, John Magaro, Michela De Rossi, Ray Liotta and Vera Farmiga. “The Sopranos” creator David Chase is also on board as a producer and writer, as is Lawrence Konner.

(Oct. 1)

After winning the top prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Julia Ducournau’s body horror film, “Titane,” will creep up on American audiences this fall. Ducournau, the mind behind the 2017 cannibalism thriller “Raw,” subverts and shocks traditional ideas about gender, sex and power through protagonist Alexia, who, after sustaining intense trauma from a major car accident with her family, becomes impregnated by… a car.

(Oct. 1)

The hardly-seen Broadway musical about “the people’s princess” will soon be available to the people. After live preview performances of “Diana” shut down after only a few runs last March due to COVID-19, a stage recording will debut on Netflix. And while shows like “The Crown” and real-life scandals are already keeping Princess Diana on everyone’s minds, why not throw a few showtunes into the mix?

(Oct. 8)

The 25th movie in the James Bond franchise, starring Daniel Craig in what is likely his last tour as the iconic spy, sees Bond’s retirement in Jamaica cut short when an old friend, Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright), comes seeking help. 007’s mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist puts him on a collision course with Safin (Rami Malek), a mysterious masked villain armed with dangerous technology. Watch a trailer here.

(Oct. 15)

Tom Hardy is back as the classic Spider-Man villain, this time ready to take on the superpowered serial killer Carnage, played by Woody Harrelson. Andy Serkis directs the sequel, which fans speculate could be building up to more Marvel crossovers down the road.

(Oct. 15)

In “The Velvet Underground,” director Todd Haynes paints a dazzling historical collage of the seminal rock ‘n’ roll band. Featuring home movies and archival footage of Lou Reed and Co., the film plays out like a “scrapbook of images that moves,” according to Variety film critic Owen Gleiberman. With a limited release in July, the documentary premieres on Apple TV Plus on Oct. 15.

(Oct. 15)

The sequel to 2018’s “Halloween” once again pits Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) against Michael Myers. She and her family are forced to confront the psychotic, masked serial killer. It also features Judy Greer and Anthony Michael Hall.

(Oct. 15)

Based on Eric Jager’s book “The Last Duel: A True Story of Trial by Combat in Medieval France,” Ridley Scott’s historical drama tells the story of two 14th-century men ordered to engage in a fight to the death. It stars Matt Damon, Adam Driver and Jodie Comer.

(Oct. 22)

Edgar Wright’s next film is a London-set psychological thriller that follows an up-and-coming fashionista who is able to reach back in time and meet her idol, a dazzling singer named Sandy, in the 1960s. The cast includes Anya Taylor-Joy, Thomasin McKenzie and Matt Smith.

(Oct. 22)

Premiering on both HBO Max and in theaters, the long-awaited Denis Villeneuve remake of the sci-fi epic stars Timothée Chalamet as a young duke named Paul Atreides leading a battle to control the desert planet Arrakis. Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson, Dave Bautista, Jason Momoa and Javier Bardem round out the star-studded cast. Watch the trailer here.

(Oct. 22)

Wes Anderson’s latest film boasts a cast of Timothée Chalamet, Tilda Swinton, Saoirse Ronan, Bill Murray, Jeffrey Wright, Frances McDormand, Elisabeth Moss, Willem Dafoe, Christoph Waltz and many more. Set at the office of an American magazine in a fictional French city, the movie is described as a “love letter to journalists” and follows three different storylines. Watch the trailer here.

(Nov. 5)

From the Oscar-winning “Nomadland” director Chloé Zhao, the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s latest space outing will follow an immortal alien race, called the Eternals, who have secretly lived on Earth for thousands of years and possess different powers and abilities, including super strength and the ability to fly. The ensemble cast includes Angelina Jolie, Kit Harrington, Millie Bobby Brown, Richard Madden, Gemma Chan, Kumail Nanjiani, Salma Hayek and more.

(Nov. 11)

The upcoming installment of the iconic franchise picks up 30 years after 1989’s “Ghostbusters II” and follows a family that moves to a small town to discover their connection to the ghost-catching business. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver and Annie Potts reprise their roles from the original movie, and they’re joined by Finn Wolfhard, McKenna Grace, Paul Rudd and Carrie Coon.

(Nov. 26)

Paul Thomas Anderson’s 1970s-set film is a coming-of-age tale set in California’s San Fernando Valley. Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman star, with Bradley Cooper co-starring with Joseph Cross and Benny Safdie. Hoffman plays a high-schooler who develops an affection for a photographer’s assistant in her 20s, played by Haim.

(Nov. 24)

Adam Driver and Lady Gaga are a force to be reckoned with as they portray Mr. and Mrs. Gucci. The film details the assassination of Maurizio Gucci (Driver), and the downfall of the Gucci family fashion dynasty. Al Pacino, Jared Leto and Jeremy Irons co-star in Ridley Scott’s deliriously over-the-top family saga.

(Dec. 10)

Directed by Steven Spielberg, this long-awaited adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical stars Ansel Elgort and newcomer Rachel Zegler as star-crossed lovers Tony and Maria. In comparison to the 1961 film adaptation, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner’s script is expected to closely mirror that of the original theater production. Rita Moreno, who played Anita in the 1961 film, also appears in a supporting role.

(In theaters Dec. 10; on Netflix Dec. 24)

Netflix’s comedy about two low-level astronomers who must go on a giant media tour to warn mankind of an approaching comet that will destroy Earth has stirred quite the buzz with its star-studded cast. Written and directed by Adam McKay, it features Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Cate Blanchett, Timothée Chalamet, Meryl Streep, Jonah Hill, Ariana Grande, Ron Perlman and Tyler Perry.

(Dec. 17)

Based on the novel of the same name by William Lindsay Gresham, “Nightmare Alley” is a psychological thriller directed by Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro. Bradley Cooper and Cate Blanchett star as a manipulative carny and a psychiatrist with dangerous tendencies, respectively. Willem Dafoe, Toni Collette and Rooney Mara are just a few more names in the all-star cast.

(Dec. 17)

The third “Spider-Man” film led by Tom Holland is already making fans excited at the seemingly endless rumors about returning villains from past movies. Alfred Molina’s Doctor Octopus from “Spider-Man 2” starring Tobey Maguire and Jamie Foxx’s Electro from Andrew Garfield’s “Amazing Spider-Man 2” will reprise their roles, in what is sure to be an ambitious, universe-crossing superhero film.

(Dec. 22)

Get ready to re-enter the Matrix. Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jada Pinkett Smith, Lambert Wilson and Daniel Bernhardt will reprise their roles for the fourth film in the beloved sci-fi franchise, directed by Lana Wachowski.

(Dec. 22)

A sequel to the 2016 animated movie musical, “Sing 2” reimagines our favorite actors as singing animals. Premiering in theaters on Dec. 22 and starring Scarlett Johansson, Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Taron Egerton, Nick Kroll, Seth MacFarlane, Tori Kelly, John C. Reilly, Nick Offerman, Jennifer Hudson and more, “Sing 2” is the perfect Christmas movie for the family.

(Dec. 25)

Based on the Shakespeare play, Denzel Washington stars in the title role with Joel Coen in the director’s chair – a rare case where he isn’t directing with his brother, Ethan. Frances McDormand will play Lady Macbeth, with Brendan Gleeson as King Duncan and Corey Hawkins as Macduff.