Most Anticipated Movies of 2021 (Or What’s Left)

September 6, 2021 | Benjamin Carpenter

COVID has forced many films that should’ve been released in 2020 to be released this year instead. When it comes to the film industry, last year was a sort of a dud. However, this year has been promising so far and the year isn’t over yet. We still have a few months left in 2021, and there are several more new movies on the way in the coming months.

In this blog post, we have compiled a list of the 24 best upcoming movies of 2021. These movies are highly anticipated and expected to be some of the best movies of the year. The list is in chronological order.

 

24 Best Upcoming Movies of 2021

 

1. The Eyes of Tammy Faye – September 17th

Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield look unrecognizable in this biopic of megachurch evangelists, Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. Set in the 1970s, this biopic takes an intimate look at the rise, fall, and redemption of televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker.

 

Where To Watch The Eyes of Tammy Faye

The Eyes of Tammy Faye will be released in theaters on September 17th.

 

 

2. Everybody’s Talking About Jamie – September 17th

One of the many musicals coming out in the latter half of the year, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is an under-the-radar coming-of-age tale. The film is based on a stage play that was inspired by the real-life Jamie Cambell. The film is about a 16-year-old teenager who overcomes the prejudice coming from his community and steps out of the darkness to become a drag queen.

 

Where To Watch Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie will be released on Amazon Prime on September 17th.

 

3. Dear Evan Hansen – September 24th

Dear Evan Hansen is one of the most anticipated musicals of the year. The film was based on the Broadway play with the same name written by Steven Levenson who also wrote the screenplay for the film. Following the suicide of a fellow classmate, a high school senior with Social Anxiety disorder goes on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance in Dear Evan Hansen. The musical stars Ben Platt, Kaitlyn Dever, and Amandla Stenberg.

 

Where To Watch Dear Evan Hansen

Dear Evan Hansen will be released in theaters on September 24th.

Dear Evan Hansen is one of the many movies about high school on our list of best movies for teens in 2021. Check it out for more teen movie recommendations.

4. The Many Saints of Newark – October 1st

If you were a fan of The Sopranos, then you need to add this movie to your watch list. The Many Saints of Newark chronicles a young Tony Soprano during the 1967 Newark riots when racial tensions between African Americans and Italian Americans were at an all-time high. The movie will tell the tale of how Tony Soprano went from troubled regular kid to legendary mob boss.

 

Where To Watch The Many Saints of Newark

The Many Saints of Newark will be released on HBO Max and in theaters on October 1st.

 

5. No Time To Die – October 8th

No Time To Die is the last movie in the 007 franchise with Daniel Craig. It is also the 25th James Bond movie ever made. After James Bond has left the active service, he is recruited to rescue a kidnapped scientist from a mysterious villain armed with dangerous technology.

 

Where To Watch No Time To Die

No Time To Die will be released in theaters on October 8th.

 

6. Halloween Kills – October 15th

Halloween Kills is the sequel to the Halloween reboot from 2018. Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, and Andi Matichak reprise their roles as members of the Strode family in their rivalry with Michael Myers. The film begins where the 2018 film leaves off, Michael Myers continues his reign of terror and an injured Laurie Strode leads a vigilante mob to hunt down the unstoppable killer.

 

Where To Watch Halloween Kills

Halloween Kills will be released in theaters on October 15th, right in time for October’s spooky season.

 

7. The Last Duel – October 15th

Directed by Ridley Scott and written by the Ben Affleck/Matt Damon duo, The Last Duel is one of the most anticipated movies of the year. The film is based on Eric Jager’s novel “The Last Duel: A True Story of Trial by Combat in Medieval France”. Set in Middle Age France, the film tells the story of one of the last legally sanctioned duels in the country’s history, ordered by King Charles VI himself.

 

Where To Watch The Last Duel

The Last Duel will be released in theaters on October 15th.

 

8. Venom: Let There Be Carnage – October 15th

Tom Hardy returns as the symbiote-powered Spider-Man villain in this upcoming Venom sequel. Venom: Let There Be Carnage is set in the aftermath of the first film. Eddie Brock will be put to the test against a symbiote-powered killer named Carnage. The sequel stars Tom Hardy, Woody Harrelson, and Michelle Williams.

 

Where To Watch Venom: Let There Be Carnage

Venom: Let There Be Carnage will be released in theaters on October 15th.

 

9. Dune – October 22nd

The upcoming Dune film is the 2nd adaptation of the novel written by Frank Herbert. The first adaptation was directed by David Lynch in 1984 and the second adaptation is directed by Dennis Villeneuve. The long-awaited movie has a star-studded cast with Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Josh Brolin, and Oscar Isaac. Dune is about a brilliant and gifted young man who is thrown into a conflict between malevolent forces and entrusted to protect the most valuable element in the galaxy.

 

Where To Watch Dune

Dune will be released on HBO Max and in theaters on October 22nd.

 

10. The French Dispatch – October 22nd

Wes Anderson is a well-known filmmaker who has won several Academy Awards for his work. The French Dispatch, one of the many films on our list starring Timothée Chalamet, is the latest film from Wes Anderson. Set in the twentieth century, the movie features a collection of fictitious stories that were previously published in The French Dispatch magazine.

 

Where To Watch The French Dispatch

Originally, the film was scheduled to be released in July 2020 but is now scheduled for October 22nd.

 

11. Antlers – October 29th

Guillermo Del Toro, who is famous for his unique creature features, is producing a new supernatural horror titled, Antlers. The film is based on the short story written by Nick Antosca. Antlers takes place in an isolated Oregon town where a middle-school teacher and her sheriff brother become embroiled in the secrets of her enigmatic student, which leads to terrifying encounters with a mysterious creature.

 

Where To Watch Antlers

Antlers will be released in theaters on October 29th.

 

12. Last Night in Soho – October 29th

Baby Driver made waves in Hollywood when it was released in 2018 and now, Edgar Wright is releasing a new feature film that departs from his typical quirky comedy. Last Night in Soho is a psychological thriller about an aspiring fashion designer who is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s where she encounters a dazzling wannabe singer. However, the glamour is not all it appears to be, and the dreams of the past start to crack and splinter into something darker.

 

Where To Watch Last Night in Soho

Last Night in Soho will be released in theaters on October 29th.

 

13. Eternals – November 5th

Directed by Academy Award-winning Nomadland director Chloé Zhao, Eternals is the 2nd movie release in the MCU’s 4th phase. The film follows an immortal alien race who have secretly lived on Earth and have helped shape human history for centuries. This alien race is called The Eternals and after the events of Avengers: Endgame, they are forced out of the shadows to battle their ancient enemy, The Deviants.

 

Where To Watch Eternals

Eternals will be released in theaters on November 5th. Disney has not announced whether the film will be available on Disney Plus.

 

14. Spencer – November 5th

Kristen Stewart has grown a lot since her Twilight debut. Previously she played angsty teenagers in movies, but now she is portraying Princess Diana in this biopic. Spencer takes an intimate look at Princess Diana by exploring one weekend of her life. Set in 1991, the film follows Princess Diana as she spends the Christmas holiday with the royal family at Sandringham House and makes the decision to leave Prince Charles.

 

Where To Watch Spencer

Spencer will be released in theaters on November 5th.

 

15. Tick, Tick…BOOM! – November 10th

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s film career has been skyrocketing after the releases of Hamilton and In The Heights. Now he is making his directorial debut with Tick, Tick…BOOM! The film is based on Jonathan Larson’s autobiographical stage musical and follows a young theater composer who works as a diner waiter in New York City while attempting to write what he believes will be the next big American musical. When the composer reaches thirty years old, he must confront an age-old question that all of us face at some point: What are we supposed to do with our time?

 

Where To Watch Tick, Tick…BOOM!

Tick, Tick…BOOM! will be released on Netflix and in select theaters on November 10th.

 

16. Ghostbusters: Afterlife – November 11th

This Ghostbusters sequel will be the 4th installment in the Ghostbusters franchise. Many stars from the original movies are reprising their roles like Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver, Ernie Hudson, and Dan Aykroyd. The sequel follows a single mom and her children as they discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.

 

Where To Watch Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Ghostbusters: Afterlife will be released in theaters on November 11th.

 

17. King Richard – November 19th

Will Smith, Jon Bernthal, Dylan McDermott, and Tony Goldwyn star in this biopic of Venus and Serena Williams. King Richard follows the journey of Richard Williams, an undeterred father instrumental in raising two of the most extraordinarily gifted athletes of all time. Driven by a clear vision of their future and using unconventional methods, Richard has a plan that will take Venus and Serena Williams from the streets of Compton, California to the global stage as legendary icons.

 

Where To Watch King Richard

King Richard will be released in theaters and HBO Max on November 19th.

 

18. Encanto – November 24th

Lin-Manuel Miranda created the music for this Disney film Encanto. Encanto is the first Disney film based in Colombia. The film is about a young girl in Colombia who faces the frustration of being the only member of her family that doesn’t have magical powers.

 

Where To Watch Encanto

The Disney film will be released exclusively in theaters which makes it the first Disney animated movie to not go straight to Disney Plus since March of 2020.

 

19. House of Gucci – November 24th

House of Gucci is another film directed by Ridley Scott coming out this year. Starring Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Salma Hayek, and Jared Leto, the film shows the turbulent divorce of Patrizia and Maurizio Gucci spanning three decades and ultimately leading to murder.

 

Where To Watch House of Gucci

House of Gucci will be released in theaters on November 24th.

 

20. West Side Story – December 10th

The long-awaited West Side Story remake is the last musical on our list of upcoming movies. Directed by Steven Spielberg, this movie is one of the most anticipated movies of the year. West Side Story is an adaptation of the 1957 musical, which was inspired by Romeo and Juliet. The film explores forbidden love and the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds.

 

Where To Watch West Side Story

West Side Story will be released in theaters on December 10th.

Interested in watching more modern day musicals? Then check out our list of the Best Musical Movies From The 21st Century!

21. Spider-Man: No Way Home – December 17th

Spider-Man: No Way Home is the third installment in the MCU Spider-Man trilogy. The film takes some inspiration from Spider-Man: Into The Spider-verse and explores a story with the multiverse. The film continues from where Spider-man: Far From Home left off. Mysterio exposed Peter Parker as Spider-man to the entire world and now Parker has to deal with the ramifications. Wanting his old life back, he seeks out help from Doctor Strange but things go terribly wrong, which forces him to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.

 

Where To Watch Spider-Man: No Way Home

Spider-Man: No Way Home will be released in theaters on December 17th.

22. The Matrix Resurrections – December 22nd

The plot for the 4th Matrix film is currently under wraps but some actors are returning to reprise their roles such as Carrie-Ann Moss, Keanu Reeves, and Jada Pinkett Smith. Lawrence Fishburne will not be returning to reprise his role as Morpheus which raises many questions about the state of the human resistance. Warner Bros. has launched a website for Resurrections that contains multiple teaser videos with footage from the upcoming film.

 

Where To Watch The Matrix Resurrections

Matrix Resurrections will be released in theaters and HBO Max on December 22nd.

 

23. The King’s Man – December 22nd

The King’s Man is a prequel to the previous King’s films, Secret Service and Golden Circle. Ralph Fiennes reprises his role as the duke of Oxford alongside newcomers Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, and Matthew Goode. The film is about one man who creates the Kingsman agency to stop history’s worst tyrants and criminal masterminds from enacting a war that would wipe out millions.

 

Where To Watch The King’s Man

The King’s Man will be released in theaters on December 22nd.

 

24. Don’t Look Up – December 24th

Don’t Look Up is written and directed by Adam McKay, who also directed Step Brothers and the Anchorman franchise. The film has an all-star cast with the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Rob Morgan, Jonah Hill, Mark Rylance, Tyler Perry, Ron Perlman, and Timothée Chalamet. Don’t Look Up tells the story of two low-level astronomers, who must go on a giant media tour to warn mankind of an approaching comet that will destroy planet earth.

 

Where To Watch Don’t Look Up

Don’t Look Up will be released in theaters on December 24th.

 

A Better Year For The Film Industry

2020 may have been bad year for the film industry but 2021 is looking a lot more promising. A variety of films coming from well-known filmmakers are set to come out just in the next 4 months. However, these release dates are expected and not set in stone. Many movies have already pushed their release date back a year and any one of these movies could do the same. There are a lot more upcoming movies to look forward to but these are expected to be some of the best.