- The 2020 movie release schedule is drastically changing because of the coronavirus.
- Keep coming back to this story to see the most up-to-date changes.
- The latest date changes are from movies like “A Quiet Place II,” and “Top Gun: Maverick.” Both will now open in 2021.
- Also listed are the titles that had release dates pulled because of the virus and now are in limbo or opening in 2021.
- Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.
These are dark times for your local movie theaters. In a business that is known for never closing its doors, the entire industry is taking a huge hit with the outbreak of the coronavirus.
Currently, numerous theaters are closed, including huge chains like AMC and Regal, and studios have quickly reshuffled the release dates of its upcoming movies.
But what will happen to 2020’s biggest blockbusters? In the case of titles like “The New Mutants” and “Black Widow,” the titles were first pulled from the calendar and now are opening in August and November, respectively. “Wonder Woman 1984” has been moved off its June release date and will now open in October. The next James Bond title, “No Time To Die” will not open until November and “F9,” the latest “Fast & Furious” release, won’t open until over a year from now, April 2, 2021. Numerous titles from Sony (“Ghostbusters: Afterlife” and “Morbius”) and Disney (“Jungle Book” “The Eternals”) have also moved to 2021.
While less anticipated movies are going straight to streaming like “The Lovebrids” (Netflix), “Atremis Fowl” (Disney Plus), “My Spy” (Amazon Prime Video), “Greyhound” (Apple TV), and “The One and Only Ivan” (Disney Plus).
Here are 19 movies on the 2020 theatrical release slate that we are still excited about. Also listed are the titles affected by the coronavirus that we will hopefully see before the year is over.
Note: This post was originally published on March 17 and will be updated as movie releases continue to be impacted by the coronavirus.
MOVIES WITHOUT RELEASE DATE DUE TO CORONAVIRUS:
"Antlers"
This spooky thriller starring Keri Russell and Jesse Plemons being released by Searchlight Pictures was to open on April 17. But the coronavirus stopped those plans.
"The French Dispatch"
Wes Anderson's latest movie surrounds around a group of American journalists living in France.
Elisabeth Moss, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Willem Dafoe, Timothée Chalamet, and Saoirse Ronan star. The movie originally was to open July 24. Then it had a October 16 date. Now it's unknown when it will open.
"The Broken Hearts Gallery" - August 7
Lucy (Geraldine Viswanathan) is an art gallery assistant who after getting dumped by her latest boyfriend decides to create a pop-up space for items love has left behind. It leads to an inspirational trend for all hopeless romantics. The movie was originally to open in early July, then August 7, now it's TBD.
"Mulan"
The live-action version of the 1998 Disney animated movie had already had its China release pulled due to the coronavirus. Then when it traveled to the states, Disney finally pulled its entire release.
It was set for a March 27 opening. Then moved to August 21. Now it's unknown when we'll see it.
"Tenet"
Christopher Nolan's latest anticipated title is a spy thriller, a time travel movie, and is all set around the possibility of World War 3.
John David Washington, Robert Pattinson and Nolan regular Michael Caine star. The movie was originally to open on July 17, then August 12, now Warner Bros. says it will announce a new announcement soon.
"Unhinged"
Russell Crowe plays a guy who is having a bad day. And then while in traffic he gets honked at. Big mistake. The movie has been touted as the first big release post COVID, but we're still waiting. It has jumped release dates from July 1, July 10, and July 31. It will now open, according to a rep for the movie, "two weeks prior to the first big film release."
2020 RELEASE SLATE — SO FAR:
"Trolls World Tour" - April 10 (Also available On Demand)
Universal announced Monday that this animated movie will not just open in theaters, but also be available On Demand.
This is the first time a movie from a major studio releases a title as a day-and-date.
"The New Mutants" - August 28
My goodness, this movie just can't catch a break.
Preproduction on this began back in 2017 with a release date set in April 2018. After a slew of release date changes, the studio that made the movie, 20th Century Fox, was bought by Disney. The most recent news was this X-Men spin-off was to finally come out on April 3, 2020.
But then the coronavirus happened. Now it's trying to come out in August.
"Bill & Ted Face the Music" - September 1 (Also available On Demand)
Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter return to play the popular time-traveling characters they brought into the world back in the late 1980s. The movie moved up a week to theaters from its original August 21 release date. Now its moved again.
"Connected" - September 18
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller once more put on their producing hats to team with Sony for another animated movie. This time, they follow a family who needs to save the world after a tech uprising.
Last time Lord, Miller, and Sony worked together they won an Oscar for "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse."
"The King's Man" - September 18
The slick super-spy "Kingsman" franchise now gets a prequel.
"Wonder Woman 1984" - October 2
We meet up with Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) in the 1980s for the sequel. And Chris Pine returns as Steve Trevor! The movie was originally to open June 5, but was moved to August due to the coronavirus. Now it's not opening until October.
"Death of the Nile" - October 9
Kenneth Branagh directs and returns as Agatha Christie's popular detective Hercule Poirot in this whodunit sequel to "Murder on the Orient Express."
This time, stars include Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Annette Bening, and "Black Panther" star Letitia Wright.
"Candyman" - October 16
Jordan Peele co-wrote and produced this "spiritual sequel" to the classic 1992 horror. The movie was originally to open in June, then had a September 25 release date for a while.
"Black Widow" - November 6
This was one of the last titles Disney moved off its release schedule due to the coronavirus. The Marvel title was originally to open May.
"Deep Water" - November 13
It's the movie where reported couple Ben Affleck and "Bond" star Ana de Armas hit it off.
"The Man from Toronto" - November 20
Woody Harrelson plays the world's deadliest assassin. Kevin Hart plays a guy who is not that at all. But somehow they get mistaken at an Airbnb rental.
"Soul" - November 20
Pixar will try to rebound from the underperformance of "Onward" with this celebration of music and the human spirit. It was originally to open in June.
"Happiest Season" - November 25
This romantic comedy follows Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis playing a loving couple who get in a spat when it's revealed at a family party that one of them hasn't yet come out to her parents.
"No Time to Die" - November 20
Daniel Craig is back one last time to play James Bond. And boy has it been a process to get to the finish line. A director change, on-set injury by Craig, and now the coronavirus changing the movie's release date has kept this movie from audiences. The latest tweak: the movie has moved up to a November 20 release date after previously being slated for November 25.
"Free Guy" - December 11
Ryan Reynolds discovers he's an NPC (non-player character) in a video game. Get ready for laughs and action. The movie also stars Taika Waititi, Jodi Comer, and "Stranger Things" star Joe Keery. The movie originally was to open in August.
"Dune" - December 18
The latest adaptation of the famous Frank Herbert novel stars Timothée Chalamet, Josh Brolin, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, and Zendaya.
"Coming 2 America" - December 18
Eddie Murphy returns for the much-anticipated sequel to "Coming to America."
"West Side Story" - December 18
Steven Spielberg adapts the famous musical, which stars Ansel Elgort.
"News of the World" - December 25
Tom Hanks teams once more with director Paul Greengrass ("Captain Phillips") for a western about a man (Hanks) who travels the west bringing news of the world to local towns.
2021 RELEASE SLATE:
"Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway" - January 15
This wacky sequel to the surprise original hit had to first move its release date April to August due to the coronavirus. Now it won't open until 2021.
"Eternals" - February 12
Marvel's look at a race of immortal beings stars Angelina Jolie, Kit Harrington, Salma Hayek, Kumail Nanjiani, Richard Madden, and Brian Tyree Henry. The movie was originally to open in November.
"Nobody" - February 19
Bob Odenkirk plays a regular guy who takes action when he stands up for a woman being harassed by a group of guys (who turn out to be part of a drug cartel). This is basically Odenkirk's "John Wick" movie. It was originally to open August 14. The movie has moved from February 26 up to February 19.
"Without Remorse" - February 26
The latest Hollywood adaptation of a Tom Clancy novel stars Michael B. Jordan as a Navy SEAL out to avenge his wife's murder. It was originally to open September 18. Then moved to October 2. Now it's in early 2021.
"Ghostbusters: Afterlife" - March 5
Jason Reitman, whose father Ivan made the original "Ghostbusters" movie, is the latest director to try to relaunch the comedy franchise.
Original Ghostbusters Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Ernie Hudson return. The movie also stars Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, and "Stranger Things" star Finn Wolfhard.
The movie was originally supposed to open on July 10, 2020.
"Raya and the Last Dragon" - March 12
This Disney animated movie follows a warrior named Raya who is in search of the last dragon. The movie was originally to open in November
"Morbius" - March 19
The latest Marvel character to hit the big screen is this one in which Jared Leto plays the living vampire. The movie was originally to open on July 31, 2020.
"F9" - April 2
The "Fast and Furious" saga hits movie number nine. This time John Cena is in on the fun. And It will mark the return of Han. But we'll have to wait another year until seeing it.
"Bios" - April 16
Tom Hanks plays Finch, who has been living underground for a decade following a solar event that has left the world a wasteland. Falling ill, Fince creates a robot to help him in his quest to find a way for his beloved dog to be taken care of after he's gone. The movie was originally to open in October 2020.
"A Quiet Place Part II" - April 23
John Krasinski's sequel to his surprise hit movie was originally going to open March 20, but due to the coronavirus, the release was pulled.
According to a tweet by Krasinski, the film will open "once we have a better understanding of the impact of this pandemic." It looks like the hope is by September all will be well. It's now being moved to 2021.
"Godzilla vs. Kong" - May 21
It's finally going to happen. After movies showing the might of King Kong and Godzilla, the two will finally face off in an ultimate monster battle. The movie was originally to open in November 2020.
"Infinite" - May 28
Director Antoine Fuqua ("The Equalizer" movies) teams with Mark Wahlberg in which he plays a man who learns that his hallucinations are in fact visions from the past. The movie was originally to open in August 2020.
"In the Heights"- June 18
Jon M. Chu, director of "Crazy Rich Asians," brings Lin-Manuel Miranda's play to the screen. But we will have to wait to see it. The movie was originally to open June 26, 2020.
"Jungle Cruise" - June 20
This is the latest Disney ride to get the movie treatment. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Emily Blunt lead us through this action-comedy. The movie was originally supposed to open on July 24, 2020.
"Venom: Let There Be Carnage" - June 25
Tom Hardy returns to play the Marvel villain, and this time Andy Serkis is the director. It was originally to open October 2020.
"Minions: The Rise of Gru" - July 2
The lovable minions were to team again with Steve Carell (who voices the supervillain character, Gru) for a big July 4th weekend release in 2020. Now it will do it in 2021.
"Top Gun: Maverick" - July 2
Tom Cruise returns to play hotshot pilot "Maverick." The cast also includes Jon Hamm, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller, Ed Harris, and Val Kilmer reprising his role as "Ice Man." The movie was originally to open in June. Then it had a December 23, 2020 release. Now it will open in 2021.
"The Forever Purge" - July 9
The latest movie in this successful horror franchise from Blumhouse Productions will return. The movie was to open July 10, 2020, then Universal said it would be "redated at a later time," now it's July 2021.
"Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar" - July 16
Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, who previously teamed on writing the hit "Bridesmaids," are sharing writing credits again for this comedy that they both star in. Originally the movie was to open July 31, 2020.
"The Tomorrow War" - July 23
Chris Pratt plays a man drafted to fight in a war that can only be won in his ability to correct his past. Betty Gilpin and J.K. Simmons also star. The movie was originally to open in December 2020.
"The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard" - August 20
Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson return for the sequel to the 2017 action-comedy. Originally it was to open on August 28, 2020.
"Halloween Kills" - October 15
Legendary horror character Michael Myers returns in this sequel to the latest reboot of the franchise. It was originally to open October 16, 2020.
"The Last Duel" - October 15
In this movie, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are going to share the same screen for the first time since 1999's "Dogma." The duo also share screenwriting credits. The last time they did that they won Oscars for penning "Good Will Hunting."
The movie was to originally open Christmas Day 2020.
"King Richard" - November 19
What is certain to receive Oscar consideration, Will Smith plays Richard Williams, the driven father who made his daughters Venus and Serena Williams into tennis superstars. It was originally to open November 25, 2020.
