Upcoming Films in 2021: A Review of Coming Attractions

With the start of 2021 comes the release of many highly anticipated films. Like every year, the lineup is packed, but hopefully unlike last year, this year’s films may actually get released on time. Below is just a sample of the most interesting and anticipated releases to come this year.

Candyman (Director Nia DaCosta)

Clive Barker’s 1992 horror classic “Candyman” is often a favorite of many horror fans. Filled to the brim with cutting allegory about racism, terrifying moments, and memorable characters, “Candyman” has taken up a life of its own, which this reboot seeks to honor. With a new story and new characters (along with the return of Tony Todd as the titular Candyman) this film promises to at least be worthy of being a follow-up to the original.

Dune (Director Denis Villeneuve)

There have been countless attempts to adapt Frank Herbert’s incredibly influential (not to mention incredibly long) sci-fi novel to the silver screen. Some have been more successful than others, but Denis Villeneuve’s new attempt may be the best version yet. Starring beloved actors such as Timothée Chalamet, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, and Zendaya, Villeneuve plans this to be his “greatest film yet.” The trailers look stunning, so let’s hope the film is stunning, as well.

F9 (Director Justin Lin)

Some people may look at the approach of the ninth installment of the “Fast and Furious” franchise and groan, while others may shake with excitement. It’s no secret that this franchise has taken many ridiculous turns over the years, and while that may be off-putting to some, many find the franchise entertaining. “F9” may be the most ridiculous one thus far. From the introduction of Dom’s evil brother being played by John Cena, to the reveal that this film will at least partially take place in outer space, to the rumors that it may in fact be three hours long, there’s no way that this film won’t be entertaining at the very least.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife (Director Jason Reitman)

It’s safe to say the last attempt to bring back the “Ghostbusters” franchise was unsuccessful. Whether or not you liked the 2016 attempt at revival, it simply did not make enough money to justify continuing with that cast. However, Hollywood seemingly does not want to give up on this property, so here we have “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.” This attempt plans to follow the grandchild of one of the original Ghostbusters as he and his friends discover some of the old technology from the first film and begin busting ghosts of their own. Let’s hope it works better this time.

Godzilla vs. Kong (Director Adam Wingard)

Although they have fought before (Check out 1962’s “King Kong vs. Godzilla” if you haven’t; it’s pretty great!), the upcoming battle between the world’s most famous giant lizard and the world’s most famous giant monkey has an incredible amount of hype behind it. Many people online have taken to using the hashtags #TeamKong and #TeamZilla to show their support for their side. Personally, I don’t understand why anyone thinks a giant ape could beat a nuclear-powered dinosaur, but one thing I think we all can agree on is how much people love a good versus movie, and I’m sure many are excited to see how this one turns out.

Halloween Kills (Director David Gordon Green)

“Halloween Kills” was delayed last year due to COVID-19, much to the disappointment of horror fans. This film directly follows the events of “Halloween” (2018), not to be confused with the original “Halloween” from 1978, which it is a direct sequel to and not a remake, despite having the same name for some reason. All that aside, “Halloween Kills” is certain to be filled with Michael Myers killing teenagers and more story into the background of the mysterious masked murderer.

The Matrix Resurrections (Directors Lana Wachowski and James McTeigue)

Fans of Keanu Reeves rejoice! “The Matrix” is back after 18 years, and hopefully it will be a great return. Not much is known about the film plot-wise, but what we do know is that Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss will be returning. Many people may be skeptical due to the mixed reaction to the last two installments, but many fans hold out hope that this will be a worthy continuation.

Mortal Kombat (Director Simon McQuoid)

Films based on video games have a pretty bad reputation, and even though it may be warranted, it’s hard to not be excited for “Mortal Kombat.” This is the third attempt to bring this game to the big screen, and even though the first adaptation from 1995 is beloved by many, this film has something that one didn’t: an R rating. Now if you aren’t familiar with “Mortal Kombat,” you’ll probably have no idea why that’s a big deal at all, but fans will know that the “Mortal Kombat” franchise is so brutal, that it was considered to be one of the most controversial games ever made. Nowadays the series isn’t as controversial (mainly because it’s tame by today’s standards), but it is still as popular as ever, making this a highly anticipated film.

Space Jam: A New Legacy (Director Malcom D. Lee)

The popularity of “Space Jam” (as well as the movie’s existence) has never really made any sense. Starting as a series of Nike commercials featuring Bugs Bunny squaring off against Michael Jordan in a game of basketball, and then being turned into a film where Jordan teams up with the Looney Tunes to defeat a group of aliens in a game of basketball, “Space Jam” just seems like a bad idea through and through. Somehow it remains one of the most successful films of all time, so much so that we now have a sequel approaching. A sequel, that by all means shouldn’t work, but knowing this franchise, it probably will. “Space Jam: A New Legacy” will feature LeBron James on a quest to save his son Bronny from the evil Al-G (played by Don Cheadle) who has recruited a team of villains from various Warner Brothers films (including “The Iron Giant,” “Osmosis Jones,” “Batman,” “IT,” and even “The Mask”) for his team in a basketball match — go figure. Despite how much I make fun of it, though, I am frankly excited to see it, as I imagine lots of others are, too.

Spider-Man 3 (Director Jon Watts)

Somehow Marvel has successfully announced a film that almost has more anticipation and excitement behind it than “Avengers: Endgame.” “Spider-Man 3” will not only continue the story of everyone’s favorite web-slinging superhero, but has also been confirmed to be bringing back beloved characters from not only past “Avengers” movies but past “Spider-Man” adaptations. Of the confirmed cast, the familiar faces include Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Strange, Jamie Foxx as Electro, and Alfred Molina as Doctor Octopus. There are also heavy rumors of Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire returning as their versions of Spider-Man, as well as plenty of other classic villains. One thing is for sure, the people can’t wait.

Spiral: From the Book of Saw (Director Darren Lynn Bousman)

“The Saw” franchise is an interesting one. It currently spans eight films — the first seven of which were released year after year on a very low budget, and each one made a ton of money. Although it’s debatable if the franchise itself is even any good, it’s hard to say that the films aren’t at the very least entertaining. “Spiral” plans to return the franchise through the lens of a new character, Detective Ezekiel Banks (played by Chris Rock). Although the film will allegedly not feature an appearance from the franchise’s main antagonist, it will directly tie in to the mysterious and confusing story.

The Suicide Squad (Director James Gunn)

It’s pretty safe to say the first attempt at making a film about DC Comic’s “Suicide Squad” was a massive failure. Sure it made money, but almost no one liked it, so DC decided to take initiative and reboot it five years later. “The Suicide Squad” promises a bigger cast, more humor, more fun, and thankfully less Joker. With a cast larger than a football field and characters both beloved and wacky, this film will likely be an incredibly fun ride.

Top Gun: Maverick (Director Joseph Kosinski)

“Top Gun: Maverick” plans to revisit and return to the story “Top Gun” started 35 years ago. Of the original cast, Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer are returning, along with the new faces of Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller, Ed Harris, and Jon Hamm. The story is said to be about the end of the dog-fighting era, and will include the introduction of drone technology.

West Side Story (Director Steven Spielberg)

Steven Spielberg has returned once again to the silver screen to deliver a new adaptation of “West Side Story.” This version plans to be more flashy and energetic than the original, but will hopefully keep the same story and plot points.

Zack Snyder’s Justice League (Director Zack Snyder)

For those who are wondering if this is the same “Justice League” that came out in 2017, the answer is both yes and no. The original release of “Justice League” was critically panned and widely hated. Many cite the reason for the film’s unevenness to be director Zack Snyder’s leave from the project for personal reasons, and him being replaced (and much of the film being re-shot) by Joss Whedon. Fans of Snyder, and of DC alike, have been rallying for DC to let Snyder release his version, and in mid-2020 they announced that they were releasing it. “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” boasts more characters, more development, better animation, better performances, and a staggering four hour runtime. Although a handful of people are likely not excited, it’s admirable that the studio let Snyder finish the film he wanted to make all along, and for that reason fans are excited.