By Abby Ramirez
As COVID-19 spread across the world and citizens of all countries were advised to stay home and at least six feet away from others, it became clear that America would not return to normalcy for the foreseeable future. For me, that meant not being able to go to the movie theaters with my dad every Friday night. Because they are enclosed, have close seating arrangements, and hold large crowds, cinemas are breeding grounds for the virus to spread. Some have begun to reopen in the recovering areas of the country, but it seems that theaters in Los Angeles will continue to remain closed as we head into the new year.
Although some films, such as “Mulan,” “Antebellum,” and “Bill and Ted Face the Music,” were shifted to streaming platforms, many have had their release dates delayed to 2021. Unfortunately, there is still a possibility that these dates could be pushed back even further if the current conditions do not change as we head into the new year.
Here are some of the highly anticipated movies that we have missed out on as a result of the global pandemic:
“A Quiet Place Part II”
Directed and written by John Krasinski
In this sequel to “A Quiet Place” (2018), the Abbot family continues to struggle for survival in silence as they fight off the creatures that lurk beyond.
Original release date: March 8, 2020
Current release date: April 23, 2021
“Black Widow”
Directed by Cate Shortland
Years after they wrapped on Phase One, the series of Avengers origin films including “Iron Man,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Iron Man 2,” “Thor,” “Captain America: The First Avenger, and
“The Avengers,” Marvel Studios announced the release of a Black Widow origin movie for Natasha Romanoff. This film follows her journey from her time working as a KGB operative in the U.S.S.R. to coming to America and working for S.H.I.E.L.D. “Black Widow” is the first movie in Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Original release date: May 11, 2020
Current release date: May 7, 2021
“Death on the Nile”
Directed by: Kenneth Branagh
“Death on the Nile,” like any other murder mystery, follows the inquiries of a detective in a murder on a cruisehip on the Nile River. Although this film adaptation of Agatha Christie’s novel seems to have a typical plot for its genre, its star-studded ensemble cast, including Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Letitia Wright, Rose Leslie and more brings hope for the potential of this film.
Original release date: October 9, 2020
Current release date: December 18, 2020 (in some theaters)
“Dune”
Directed by Denis Villeneuve
After directing the cinematographic marvels that are “Arrival” and “Blade Runner 2049,” Canadian-French director Denis Villeneueve took on “Dune,” a story that follows Duke Leto Atreides and his leadership of nomadic tribes on the desert planet of Arrakis, also known as “Dune,” as they try to find a rare substance capable of enhancing human life. Beyond the science fiction plot, “Dune” has a cast filled with Hollywood stars like Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Issaac, Jason Mamoa, Rebecca Furgeson, and Stellan Skarsgård.
Original release date: December 18, 2020
Current release date: October 1, 2021
“The Eternals”
Directed by Chloé Zhao
This MCU film follows the story of a group of eternal beings who have hidden themselves and their contributions to the world from humanity over the course of history. After the fall of the Avengers, the group emerges to protect Earth from their enemies, the Deviants. “The Eternals” has been praised for its diverse cast, including Ma Dong-Seok, Brian Tyree Henry, Salma Hayek, Gemma Chan, Angelina Jolie, and Kit Harrington. It is the second film in Phase Four of the MCU.
Original release date: November 6, 2020
Current release date: November 5, 2021
“In the Heights”
Directed by Jon M. Chu
Based on Lin Manuel Miranda’s hit Broadway play, “In the Heights” follows the lives of Usnavi, Vanessa, Benny, Nina, and many more living in Washington Heights, a largely Latino neighborhood on the northern side of Manhattan. Filled with music and dancing, the film acts as an ode to Latino heritage and what Lin Manuel Miranda describes as “the worlds we haven’t seen yet” on Broadway and in Hollywood. This is the second major film in the last three for “Crazy Rich Asians” director Jon M. Chu, and the first major film role for former Broadway actor, Antony Ramos.
Original release date: June 26, 2020
Current release date: June 18, 2021
“Jungle Cruise”
Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra
In this Disney live action film, Jaume Collet-Serra brings the loved Disneyland ride to life as we follow Dr. Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt) and Frank Wolff (Dwayne Johnson) through the Amazon on their quest to find an ancient tree that is said to have healing abilities that would change the future of medicine.
Original release date: July 24, 2020
Current release date: July 30, 2021
“Raya and the Last Dragon”
Directed by Carlos López Estrada and Don Hall
This Walt Disney Animation film follows Raya in her quest to save the last dragon from the Druun, monsters that once tormented Kumandra and nearly eradicated all of the dragons that lived there. This film is highly anticipated as it is the first Disney film centered around Southeast Asian culture and a Southeast Asian main character.
Original release date: November 25, 2020
Current release date: March 12, 2021
“Top Gun: Maverick”
Directed by Joseph Kosinski
In this “Top Gun” sequel, we follow Lieutenant Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) as he trains a new group of United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program graduates, including Bradley Bradshaw (Miles Teller), for a dangerous mission.
Original release date: June 24, 2020
Current release date: July 2, 2021
“West Side Story”
Directed by Steven Spielberg
The Jets and the Sharks have always been rivalling gangs in the streets of Manhattan. However, their attempts to gain more turf and beat the other becomes more complicated when Tony (Ansel Elgort), a member of the Jets, and Maria (Rachel Zegler), the sister of the leader of the Sharks, fall in love. Through hours of singing and dancing, we see the pair struggle to be with each other in the heat of their rivaling groups. This is Rachel Zegler’s breakout role, and Academy Award winning director Steven Spielberg’s 33rd film.
Original release date: December 18, 2020
Current release date: December 10, 2021
“Wonder Woman 1984”
Directed by Patty Jenkins
After leaving the Amazons and joining Steve Trevor (Chirs Pine) to fight against the enemy forces in what they described as the “war to end all wars” (World War I), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) returns in this blockbuster film in the backdrop of the Cold War to fight against Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal) and Cheetah (Kristin Wiig).
Original release date: June 5, 2020
Current release date: December 25, 2020
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