In the world of film, the words ‘release date’ have become more of a vague stop-gap than a definitive event. However, with cinemas (hopefully) opening up next month, we have a wealth of films to look forward to: some have been pushed back, and some are new releases. Narrowing down this list was incredibly difficult. We’ve been waiting so long for the return of cinema, and so a lot of these films have previously been released on platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime. But who can deny that viewing something up on a big screen is better than on your laptop screen?
- Sound of Metal
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Though it has been released on Amazon Prime since October, Sound of Metal is hitting UK cinemas on the 17th May. You may have seen that Riz Ahmed was nominated for an Oscar for his performance in this film – 2020 was still a huge year for him, as he also produced and starred in Mogul Mowgli (2020). Sound of Metal tells the story of Ruben, a drummer, who begins to lose his hearing. The film includes performances from real members of the Deaf community, and the sound design is what Tenet (2020) wishes it had been.
- After Love
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Coming out of slightly more left field, After Love is the directorial debut by Aleem Khan, starring Joanna Scanlen. It debuted at the London Film Festival in 2020, and I was obsessed – set in Dover and Calais, the film explores the relationship between the two facing port towns, and what it means to shape your life around someone else. Joanna Scanlen is mesmerizing, and you will cry buckets. It will be in cinemas on the 4th June.
- A Quiet Place II
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A Quiet Place II, much like No Time To Die (2020, 2021, who knows?), has been one of the more elusive blockbusters to have fallen through the cracks. Every two months or so, I’ve frantically Googled to see if we have a release date, and at least (fingers crossed), it seems set to be released on the 4th June. After the events of A Quiet Place (2018), the Abbott family are forced to venture far afield and brave the monsters which continue to roam North America. And Cillian Murphy is going to be there!
- In The Heights
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Starring the ever-magnetic Anthony Ramos (you may recognise him from Hamilton), In The Heights is the movie-musical which has been on the books for over a year. Lin Manuel Miranda has turned his hand to adapting the legendary musical for the screen, and with director Jon M. Chu on board (Crazy Rich Asians (2018)), it looks set to be a hit. Look forward to this movie musical on the 18th June.
- The Green Knight
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30th July is the date that Dev Patel’s loyal fanbase (including me) will resurrect itself – The Green Knight is the tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, retold. It also stars Alicia Vikander and Joel Edgerton. The design also looks stunning.
- Candyman
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Jordan Peele has returned with the ‘spiritual sequel’ to Candyman (1992). I was devastated when this film was taken off the books last year – in particular, this version of Candyman looks to explore ideas surrounding social mobility and race. Part of the publicity for this film have been sequences using paper puppets, and the eerie music and themes are reminiscent of Coraline (2009). The trailer even includes Peele’s signature reappropriation of noughties RnB hits. In other words, I’m excited for the 27th August, which is when the film is set to be released.
- The French Dispatch
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Wes Anderson’s 10th feature, The French Dispatch, is a “love letter to journalists set at an outpost of an American newspaper in a fictional 20th century French city”. It is set to be released on the 28th August. With a star-studded cast, including Bill Murray and Timothée Chalamet, The French Dispatch is shaping up to be another charming turn for auteur Anderson.
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings
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If we look past the fact that it shouldn’t have taken Marvel over a decade to introduce an Asian superhero (they just about got in under the wire with Captain Marvel (2019) for women, but Black Widow (2021) does still feel like an after-thought – Black Widow is already dead!), Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings picks up on the escapades of ‘The Master of Kung-Fu’. Marvel, ever intricate in their planning, have dropped hints about the Ten Rings organisation in the past (Iron Man 3 (2013)), and this film seems to follow Shang-Chi being called upon to take over from his father as the leader of the real organisation.
It also looks set to include some stunning visual effects, and Simu Liu is hilarious on Twitter – Marvel is back in the cinema on the 3rd September.
Side note: though not much is known about the film, Oscar-winning Chloe Zhao is also directing Marvel’s Eternals, which is set for release on the 3rd November. It stars Angelina Jolie, Gemma Chan, Salma Hayek, Richard Madden and Kit Harrington.
- Dune
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Expected on the 17th September, Dune’s director Denis Villeneuve has previously stated that if he can’t debut Dune on the big-screen, he doesn’t want to debut it at all! After all, he did direct Blade Runner 2049 (2017), which sets expectations high. 2021 seems to be the year of stunning cinematography.
Based on Frank Herbert’s science fiction novel by the same name, Dune is about the son of a noble family (Timothée Chalamet) who is entrusted with the most vital element in the galaxy. Zendaya will also be starring, alongside a star-studded cast (but I am a Zendaya fan, first and foremost).
This list was initially over 20 films long, and though I wish I could fit in even more honourable mentions, I fear I would be overloading you with information. For now, enjoy the feeling of entering a cinema during the day and leaving at night time. You know you love it.