The most anticipated movies of 2021
As a result of the chaos of COVID-19, many of the movies intended for release were instead shuffled to 2021 (or, in some cases 2022). While that made for a relatively lacklustre 2020 in Hollywood, it does mean we’ve got an exciting slate of films heading our way this year. So, in order of release, here are a few of the most anticipated movies of 2021.
Top Gun: Maverick
Thirty-five years after Tony Scott’s 80s classic Top Gun comes Top Gun: Maverick from relative newcomer Joseph Kosinski. It sees Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) return to confront his past while training a new squad of graduates, and includes the likes of Jennifer-Connelly, Val Kilmer, Jon Hamm and Miles Teller. What exactly the film is about after that is anyone’s guess but if it involves Cruise pulling outrageous stunts in aviator sunglasses, I’m well and truly in.
Projected release date: July 2021.
Dune
Perhaps the most awaited film of the year is Denis Villeneuve’s remake of beloved science-fiction epic Dune, which follows the journey of the young and gifted Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) who is leading the battle to control the desert planet Arrakis. With a star-studded cast that includes Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, Javier Bardem, Rebecca Ferguson and Dave Bautista, the film has long-time fans and newcomers alike brimming with excitement.
Projected release date: October 2021.
Last Night in Soho
From the director of beloved cult classics like Hot Fuzz and Baby Driver, Last Night in Soho is Edgar Wright’s London-set psychological thriller-horror. The film follows an up-and-coming fashion designer (Thomasin McKenzie) who is mysteriously able to travel back to the 1960s where she meets glamorous wannabe singer named Sandy (played by recent 'It Girl' Anya Taylor-Joy). From there, things take a strange turn as 1960s London isn’t quite what it first seems.
Projected release date: October 2021.
House of Gucci
House of Gucci is an upcoming crime thriller chronicling the events in the lead-up to and aftermath of the murder of Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver), the Gucci family heir, by his ex-wife Patrizia Reggiani (Lady Gaga). For those who have seen the set photos, the appeal is abundantly clear. Between the extravagance of Lake Como and the Italian Alps, as well as a turtleneck-donned, moustached Adam Driver, it’s sure to be a wild ride.
Projected release date: November 2021.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
The third “Spider-Man” film in the MCU canon already has fans in an uproar over the continually fuelled rumours of a possible multi-verse, which would see familiar faces from previous “Spider-Man” iterations make an appearance, including the confirmed return of Alfred Molina (who played Doctor Octopus in Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man 2) and Jamie Foxx (who played Electro in the Andrew Garfield’s Amazing Spider-Man 2). What exactly the film is about is somewhat unknown ahead of any official trailer release, but it’s sure to be an ambitious and expansive look at one of our most beloved superheroes.
Projected release date: December 2021.
Honourable mentions:
- No Time to Die (October 2021)
- The French Dispatch (October 2021)
- The Matrix Resurrections (December 2021)