25 Of The Best New Movies Coming In 2021, From 'Promising Young Woman' To 'White Tiger'
Get the popcorn ready.
2020 was not what we thought. Plans were cancelled, holidays and weddings rescheduled, and orders to stay at home and for businesses to temporarily close their doors were made.
Sadly, this included cinemas too - some of which are still struggling due to the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. Many of our cinemas were hit two-fold, firstly at having to close their doors, and secondly because many big movies slated for release in 2020 were ultimately postponed in order to deliver a cinematic release at a later date.
What this does mean, however, is that hopefully a lot of these films will be released next year in 2021 when, though the news about Covid-19 remains gloomy, the advance of a vaccine, hospitals having a better understanding of the devastating virus and businesses finding new ways to work within the restrictions will hopefully mean cinemas can show the films and more people can enjoy them.
Clinging to this hope, here are the most exciting films, from big blockbusters to magical indies - starring A-Listers from Olivia Colman to Priyanka Chopra-Jonas - to look forward to viewing in 2021.
25 Movies Coming To Cinemas In 2021
The Father
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Olivia Colman, Rufus Sewell.
What's the gist?
In award-worthy performances, the film follows an ageing Welshman who must deal with his progressing memory loss in this emotional film about a devastating illness.
Release Date: January 8, 2021.
One Night In Miami
Starring: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Aldis Hodge, Eli Goore, Leslie Odom Jnr.
What's the gist?
Directed by Oscar-winner Regina King, the film chronicles a night (in Miami, of course) after legendary all-time great boxer Muhammad Ali (known as Cassius Clay at the time) beats heavyweight champion Sonny Liston and marks the night celebrating with three friends: Civil rights leader Malcolm X, soul singer-songwriter Sam Cooke and American football player Jim Brown. While the story is fictional, it's inspired by a night the four revolutionary figures did spend together in a Miami hotel room in 1964.
Release Date: January 15, 2021 on Amazon Prime Video.
The Dig
Starring: Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, Lily James
What's the gist?
Set in pre-WW2 Great Britain, a wealthy widow (Mulligan) hires an amateur archaeologist to excavate the burial mounds on her estate. When they make a discovery, 'the echoes of Britain's past resonate in the face of its uncertain future.'
Release Date: January 22, 2021 on Netflix, UK cinema release January 2021
White Tiger
Starring: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Adarsh Gourav, Rajkummar Rao.
What's the gist?
Based on the New York Times' bestselling book which chronicles Balram Halwai (Gourav) who since growing up in an impoverished village was only ever trained to be a servant. Working as a driver for a wealthy couple, he realises the lengths they will go to to save their skin (including betraying him) so rebels against the system he has always followed.
Release Date: January 22, 2021 on Netflix and in UK cinemas.
Sound Of Metal
Starring: Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke.
What's the gist?
Ruben (Ahmed) and Lou (Cooke) live together in a band travelling gig to gig until one day Ruben is overwhelmed by a severe ringing in his ears, which quickly gives way to deafness. Suddenly overcome by anxiety, depression and anger, he checks himself into a home for deaf addicts run by an eccentric deaf veteran, Joe. In this world of silence and under Joe’s tough, observant care, Ruben must confront himself more honestly than ever before.
Release Date: January, 29, 2021 on Amazon Prime Video.
Twist
Starring: Rafferty Law, Lena Heady, Rita Ora, Michael Caine and Noel Clarke.
What's the gist?A 2021 remake of the classic Charles Dickens tale of Oliver Twist set in modern London.
Release Date: January 29, 2021.
Promising Young Woman
Starring: Carey Mulligan, Adam Brody, Laverne Cox.
What's the gist?
Emerald Fennell's directorial debut (delayed due to Covid-19) is one to get seriously excited about. The conversation-starting #MeToo era film is a timely look at consent and features a rousing performance by Mulligan.
Release Date: February 12,2021
Nomadland
Starring: Frances McDormand
What's the gist?
Chloe Zhao’s movie is likely to be the talk of awards season having been crowned the winner of Toronto Film Festival People’s Choice Award and Golden Lion for best film. Following the economic collapse of a company town in rural Nevada, Fern (Frances McDormand) packs her van and sets off on the road exploring a life outside of conventional society as a modern-day nomad.
Release Date: February 19, 2021.
Rare Beasts
Starring: Billie Piper, Lily James
What's the gist?
Piper's directorial debut - which follows an incredible 2020 performance in I Hate Suzie - tells the story of a career-driven single mum, Mandy (Piper) who soon meets a 'troubled' man.
Release Date: February 19, 2021.
The Mauritanian
Starring: Tahar Rahim, Shailene Woodley, Jodie Foster and Benedict Cumberbatch.
What's the gist?
Based on Mohamedou Ould Slahi's New York Times best-selling memoir, this true story chronicles Slahi's (who is Mauritanian) capture by the U.S. Government and 14-year-long imprisonment at Guantanamo Bay without charge or trial. Slahi finds allies in defence attorney Nancy Hollander (Foster) and her associate Teri Duncan (Woodley) whose fight for justice is aided by evidence uncovered by a formidable military prosecutor, Lt. Colonel Stuart Couch (Cumberbatch).
Release Date: February 26, 2021.
Everybody's Talking About Jamie
Starring: Max Harwood, Sharon Horgan, Richard E. Grant.
What's the gist?
Based on the award-winning West End musical (which is based on the real-life story of Jamie Campbell), the film follows 16-year-old Jamie growing up on a Sheffield council estate with dreams of becoming a drag queen.
Release Date: February 26, 2021.
To Olivia
Starring: Keeley Hawes and Hugh Bonneville.
What's the gist?
Downton Abbey's Bonneville portrays Roald Dahl while Hawes is his actress wife Patricia Neal who relocates to the English countryside. Their world turns upside down when their daughter Olivia dies and the family are engulfed in a shared grief which becomes a source of strength.
Release Date: February, 2021.
The United States Vs. Billie Holiday
Starring: Andra Day, Trevante Rhodes and Natasha Lyonne.
What's the gist?
Lee Daniels tells the story of jazz icon Billie Holiday including when she was targeted by the Federal Department of Narcotics in an undercover sting operation led by an agent who Holiday has an affair with, reports Deadline.
Release Date: February, 2021.
Coming 2 America
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, Teyana Taylor and James Earl Jones.
What's the gist?
The long-awaited sequel to Murphy's 1998 comedy about the Prince of a fictional African country called Zamunda's visit to the US to find a wife. Fast forward 20 years and the prince is now King Akeem, but finds himself on another overseas journey to New York City's borough of Queens.
Release date: March 5, 2021 on Amazon Prime Video.
Palm Springs
Starring: Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti and JK Simmons.
What's the gist?
Film buffs might have already seen some of this film's hype as it was released on US streaming site Hulu earlier this year and aggregated a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Now, we in the UK can finally watch it as it comes to Amazon Prime Video. In the movie, the two lead characters meet at a Palm Springs wedding but 'things soon get complicated when the pair find themselves unable to escape the venue, themselves, or each other', the trailer looks very Groundhog Day-esque.
Release Date: Early 2021 0n Amazon Prime Video.
James Bond: No Time To Die
Starring: Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch and Naomie Harris.
What's the gist?
It's Craig's last time as the British spy with a license to kill in this long-awaited Bond film which was initially due to be released this year and will be accompanied with a Billie Eilish soundtrack.
Release Date: April 2021
Respect
Starring: Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans and Mary J Blige.
What's the gist?
Hudson is Aretha Franklin in the long-awaited biopic of the legendary soul singer.
Release Date: 2021
Black Widow
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh and David Harbour.
What's the gist?
Postponed from 2020, Johansson's 'Black Widow' character finally gets her solo Marvel movie. Providing context about the superhero's background, we meet her sister (Pugh) as they take on Black Widow's enemies.
Release Date: 2021
Marry Me
Starring: Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson.
What's the gist?
A rom com based upon the graphic novel of the same name by Bobby Crosby. It’s about two strangers who get hitched first, then get to know each other second. A romantic comedy for the Married at First Sight era and starring two rom-com heroes Lopez - who was photographed wearing an extravagant wedding dress while filming the movie in New York last year - and Wilson.
Release Date: 2021
Romeo and Juliet
Starring: Josh O'Connor and Jessie Buckley
What's the gist?
Well, we all know the story of these star-crossed lovers. Two of Britain's most exciting actors take on the classic Shakespearian roles in a National Theatre performance of Romeo and Juliet.
Release Date: On Sky Arts and NOW TV in Spring 2021
Olivia Blair is Entertainment Editor (Luxury) at Hearst UK, working across ELLE, Esquire and Harper's Bazaar. Olivia covers all things entertainment and has interviewed the likes of Margot Robbie, Emma Stone, Michaela Coel and Ryan Gosling over the years.
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