In 2019, Long running sagas came to thrilling conclusions, animated films reached new levels of visual fidelity and Netflix raised the standards for films on streaming services. With the beginning of a new year comes an opportunity to look ahead to the 20 most anticipated films.
The preview is specific to theatrically released movies and doesn’t include Netflix, Disney Plus, HBO Max or any other streaming service. Those films deserve their own separate preview.
For the 20 must-see films, the list will be in the order of release date with information about the cast, plot, genre as well as reasons to be excited about the particular movie.
1. The Gentlemen | 01/24/2020 | Genre: Crime
Cast and director:
- Matthew McConaughey
- Charlie Hunnam
- Michelle Dockery
- Jeremy Strong
- Colin Farrell
- Henry Golding
- Hugh Grant
- Directed by: Guy Ritchie
What you need to know:
After building a profitable marijuana empire in London, Mickey Pearson (McConaughey) returns to the United States. Amidst rumors that he’s looking to cash out of his drug empire, his return triggers schemes, bribes and all manner of trickery in an effort to steal his domain out from under him.
Ritchie helming his 1st crime film in over decade is enough for The Gentlemen to reach the most anticipated films list.
2. The Way Back | 03/06/2020 | Genre: Sports
Cast and director:
- Ben Affleck
- Janina Gavankar
- Michaela Watkins
- Directed by: Gavin O’Conner
What you need to know:
Jack Cunningham (Affleck) was a star high school basketball player. Years later, Jack experiences tremendous losses that lead to a downward spiral into alcoholism. An opportunity to coach at his alma mater may be his last chance to find a way back to a better life.
3. A Quiet Place Part II | 03/20/2020 | Genre: Suspense – Horror
Cast and director:
- Emily Blunt
- Cillian Murphy
- Noah Jupe
- Millicent Simmonds
- Djimon Hounsou
- Directed by: John Krasinski
What you need to know:
After the events in A Quiet Place, the Abbott must venture out into the unknown world. In addition to the creatures, there are some new dangers lurking in the sequel.
4. Mulan | 03/27/2020 | Genre: Action Adventure – Disney Live-Action Adaptation
Cast and director:
- Yifei Liu
- Donnie Yen
- Jet Li
- Li Gong
- Jason Scott Lee
- Directed by: Niki Caro
What you need to know:
After China is invaded, a young woman named Hua Mulan (Liu) takes her father’s place in the Imperial Army. Adapted from one of the best 90’s Disney animated films for live action. The songs are transformed into an orchestral arrangement, while Mushu (voiced by Eddy Murphy) will not be in the movie.
5. The New Mutants | 04/03/2020 | Genre: Comic Book – SciFi – Horror
Cast and director:
- Anya Taylor-Joy
- Maisie Williams
- Antonio Banderas
- Alice Braga
- Charlie Heaton
- Directed by: Josh Boone
What you need to know:
Five young mutants are held at a secret facility that forces the quintet to experience their worst fears until you die. The five teens will work together to escape the sins of their past and the facility.
6. No Time to Die | 04/10/2020 | Genre: James Bond
Cast and director:
- Daniel Craig
- Ana De Armas
- Léa Seydoux
- Rami Malek
- Ralph Fiennes
- Directed by: Cary Joji Fukunaga
What you need to know:
James Bond (Craig) is called back into service after a friend in the CIA asks for his help tracking down a villain (Malek) with dangerous technology.
7. Black Widow | 05/01/2020 | Genre: Comic Book – MCU
Cast and director:
- Scarlett Johansson
- Florence Pugh
- David Harbour
- Rachel Weisz
- William Hurt
- Directed by: Cate Shortland
What you need to know:
Set between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War, Johansson reprises her role as Natasha Romanoff. Based on the preview, it looks like Romanoff dives into her past, which includes reuniting with her sister played by Pugh.
8. Wonder Woman 1984 | 06/05/2020 | Genre: Comic Book – DC
Cast and director:
- Gal Gadot
- Chris Pine
- Kristen Wiig
- Pedro Pascal
- Connie Nielsen
- Directed by: Patty Jenkins
What you need to know:
Specific plot points are being kept under lock and key. However, Jenkins returns to the helm by setting the film in 1984 and features Wonder Woman (Gadot) tangling with two villains in the sequel: Max Lord (Pascal) and Cheetah (Wiig). Steve Trevor (Pine) also returns amidst mysterious circumstances after the events of Wonder Woman.
9. Soul | 06/19/2020 | Genre: Animated – Pixar
Cast and director:
- Jamie Foxx
- Tina Fey
- John Ratzenberger
- Daveed Diggs
- Phylicia Rasha
- Directed by: Pete Docter and Kemp Powers
What you need to know:
Soul follows a musician (Foxx) from the streets of New York to a cosmic realm that will hopefully lead to a reinvigorated passion for music.
The animation style has a similar aesthetic to Inside Out. Docter seems poised to elicit unparalleled emotions from audiences of all ages based on his previous accomplishments with Inside Out and Up. Strong candidate for best animated movie of the year makes Souls one of the most anticipated films of the year.
10. Top Gun: Maverick | 06/26/2020 | Genre: Action
Cast and director:
- Tom Cruise
- Jennifer Connelly
- Val Kilmer
- Miles Teller
- Jon Hamm
- Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
What you need to know:
Kosinski and Cruise reteam after working together on the underwhelming Oblivion. Top Gun: Maverick will hit theaters 34 years after the original Top Gun. Great nostalgia and terrific additions to the ensemble should lift this film to new heights.
11. Free Guy | 07/03/2020 | Genre: Action Comedy
Cast and director:
- Ryan Reynolds
- Jodie Comer
- Taika Waititi
- Directed by: Shawn Levy
What you need to know:
Free Guy looks like The Truman Show, with the major difference being that the protagonist (Reynolds) is trapped as an NPC in a video game. Levy does a great job of adding depth to family features. His work on the Stranger Things Netflix series and Real Steel are great examples of Levy’s skill with tapping into teen-based topics.
12. Ghostbusters: Afterlife | 07/10/2020 | Genre: Comedy – Thriller
Cast and director:
- Paul Rudd
- Carrie Coon
- Bill Murray
- Annie Potts
- Finn Wolfhard
- Mckenna Grace
- Directed by: Jason Reitman
What you need to know:
Jason Reitman takes over the helm for a franchise his father started with the original Ghostbusters. The story centers around Dr. Peter Venkman’s (Murray) daughter (Coon) and grandchildren. With the help of Mr. Groonberson (Rudd), the grandchildren discover the legacy that their grandfather left behind.
13. Tenet | 07/17/2020 | Genre: Action – Thriller
Cast and director:
- John David Washington
- Robert Pattinson
- Elizabeth Debicki
- Kenneth Branagh
- Michael Caine
- Directed by: Christopher Nolan
What you need to know:
Make this one short and sweet. Nolan + time manipulation plot + killer cast featuring John David Washington (Denzel Washington‘s son) in the lead role after his great turn in BlacKkKlansman = not one of the most anticipated films of 20202, but the must-see movie of the year.
14. The King’s Man | 09/18/2020 | Genre: Action Adventure
Cast and director:
- Matthew Goode
- Ralph Fiennes
- Gemma Arterton
- Aaron Taylor-Johnson
- Stanley Tucci
- Charles Dance
- Djimon Hounsou
- Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
What you need to know:
Prequel to the Kingsman: The Secret Service franchise. Centers around a group of tyrants gathering together to wipe out millions of people. One man races across the planet to assemble a team to fight against these powerful men.
15. The Trial of the Chicago 7 | 09/25/2020 | Genre: Drama – History
Cast and director:
- Eddie Redmayne
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt
- Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
- Jeremy Strong
- Sacha Baron Cohen
- Michael Keaton
- Frank Langella
- Written and Directed by: Aaron Sorkin
What you need to know:
Sorkin’s (The Social Network, The West Wing) directorial follow up to the underrated Molly’s Game. A historical drama that tells the story of seven people on trial surrounding protests that occurred during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. The combination of cast and screenwriting skills makes this one of the top 5 most anticipated films of the year.
16. Venom 2| 10/02/2020 | Genre: Comicbook
Cast and director:
- Tom Hardy
- Woody Harrelson
- Michelle Williams
- Directed by: Andy Serkis
What you need to know:
The only information we know about the film is that it’s a sequel to Venom, Serkis is directing and the leads from the first film are returning (Hardy and Williams). I wasn’t a fan of the first film, but there are promising signs that a director like Serkis can take the franchise in a less campy, more horror-tinged direction. This will not be a turd in the wind.
17. Eternals| 11/06/2020 | Genre: Comicbook – MCU
Cast and director:
- Angelina Jolie
- Richard Madden
- Salma Hayek
- Kumail Nanjiani
- Gemma Chan
- Kit Harington
- Directed by: Chloé Zhao
What you need to know:
There isn’t even a plot synopsis for the film. Variety has a great write up about the Eternals in the comics. The diverse cast is full of great actors. Based on the comics, it looks like the film could have an epic scope similar to Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings with super powers.
18. Coming 2 America| 12/18/2020 | Genre: Comedy
Cast and director:
- Eddie Murphy
- James Earl Jones
- John Amos
- Wesley Snipes
- Directed by: Craig Brewer
What you need to know:
Finally, a sequel to one of the best 80s’ comedies, Coming to America, is heading to theaters this year. The sequel finds Akeem (Murphy) returning to the United States after learning he has a long-lost son.
19. Dune| 12/18/2020 | Genre: Sci-Fi
Cast and director:
- Timothée Chalamet
- Rebecca Ferguson
- Oscar Isaac
- Zendaya
- Jason Momoa
- Dave Bautista
- Josh Brolin
- Stellan Skarsgård
- Javier Bardem
- Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
What you need to know:
Adaptation of Frank Herbert‘s acclaimed science fiction novel. In Dune, the son of a noble family is tasked with protecting the most valuable asset in the galaxy. Those of you missing a December Star Wars fix will find it with Villeneuve’s version of Dune.
20. West Side Story| 12/18/2020 | Genre: Musical
Cast and director:
- Rita Moreno
- Ansel Elgort
- Corey Stoll
- Directed by: Steven Spielberg
What you need to know:
Adaptation of the 1957 musical. The story centers around two teens from rival gains of different ethnic backgrounds falling into forbidden love.
These 20 films are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the most anticipated films of the year. Here are 10 additional films to keep on your radar in 2020:
Bad Boys for Life
Birds of Prey
Onward
Artemis Fowl
In the Heights
Jungle Cruise
Bill & Ted Face the Music
Without Remorse
Godzilla vs. Kong
The Tomorrow War
What are your most anticipated films of year? Sound off in the comments.
