Movies and theatres all over the world have finally come back to haunt us – which means we have a lot of fun movies to watch. Following the Year of Disease, we have a host of major producers heading to the big screen, including the first cinema installations in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a new Fast and Furious movie, and potential rivals. Not only do we find delayed movies – like No Time to Die and Dune – but other colossus films are in the form of The Matrix 4, Spider-Man 3, and The Batman. There has never been a better time to be a movie lover. Below, we go through all the upcoming big movies that we are most excited about. So, open your dance shoes, get your web slingers ready, and get your precious maps out – these are the blockbusters you should watch in 2021 and beyond.
Judas and the Black Messiah
The true story of Fred Hampton, the leader of the Black Panther Party who was assassinated in 1969 at the behest of the FBI, becomes the epitome of director Shaka King’s film, which is a suspicious turn, full of action and intimacy. The performance of Oscar-nominated Daniel Kaluya as Hampton is impressive – he was a loving changer and heir to the public platform – which shows why the FBI feared Hampton would become the Messiah. LaKeith Stanfield brings sharpness and despair to the man of Judas, who joins the Panthers in government and betrays Hampton. Aside from these exciting personal stories, the film’s themes of dark power and police brutality are widely heard in the social justice movement today.
Minari
Lee Isaac Chung’s written but glamorous play introduces a Korean-American family moving to a 50-hectare farm in Arkansas in the 1980s. All the details are so clear and concise that everything sounds real, from the fear of the children (Alan Kim and Noel Kate Cho) to the quarrel between their tired parents (Steven Yeun and Jeri Han) to the pitfalls of their peace-making grandmother (Yuh -Jung Youn). Miner is also a historical film. Most of the conversations are in Korean, so it comes from all previous American exposures on immigrant life. When you look at it, however, you quickly forget how great it is, because you are immersed in the hardships and rewards of making life somewhere new.
Raya and the Last Dragon
Funny, colourful and full of action, this Disney family film set in the ancient Asian empire of Kumandra is delightful. Raya is the heroine of a young hero (heard with a perfect mix of spirit and doubt by Kelly Marie Tran) who must find the last surviving dragon to overcome the power of evil and save her father. That dragon turns out to be a traditional, powerful, smart-mouthed producer, played by the well-played Awkwafina. With Daniel Dae Kim as the father of Raya and Gemma Chan as his fearsome rival, the film is a visual demonstration of a dynamic and fast-paced adventure, with a sugar-free lesson on learning to trust.
Nomadland
Chloé Zhao follows The Rider – one of the best films of 2017 – with another humane and insightful study of the lowly American life that Hollywood often ignores. Adapted from a book by Jessica Bruder, Nomadland star Frances McDormand as Fern, a retired widow with no children. As a staggering number of pensioners, he is unable to stay in his house, so he packs a few of his belongings in an old RV and wanders around the desert (with an amazing shot by Joshua James Richards). McDormand is one of the most talented actors in the field of acting – in many scenes collaborating with real wanderers who recount their experiences. But he and Zhao blurred the boundaries between fact and fiction so skillfully that Fern never seemed out of place. Nomadland is an amazing success. With the exception of The Rider, there are no similar films.
French Exit
Michelle’s Pfeiffer brings glamour, love, biting and a low voice of sympathy to the role of Frances, a wealthy broken woman, fleeing to Paris with her grown son but not yet (Lucas Hedges). Pfeiffer’s amazing twist is the backbone of a film that easily manages its deceptive tone, the intricate balance of dark, farce and real emotions. An unexpected group of healthy characters includes an unattractive person (Danielle Macdonald) who can talk to Frances’ cat and a progressive American writer (Valerie Mahaffey). Attractive and touching, the film is a combination of a broken heart.
Supernova
This gift of love and friendship stars Colin Firth as an English concert pianist and Stanley Tucci as his partner, an American writer with dementia in the first place. As these men traverse the beautiful Lake District with their trustworthy van, they must face the possibility that this will be their last vacation together – and consider what to do next. It’s a sad situation, but for now, this couple is happy to have it: gentle, funny, open, and full of uncomplicated love. The film too. Without going into the vision, Harry Macqueen’s highly polished script and delicate guidance highlight the importance of men’s communication, and how it will hurt them at a loss.
With a dead period of cinema where no one could go to the cinema to experience their favourite films, these masterpieces are beginning to come out again and there are a lot of the greatest films to choose from that have been released in 2021. Use our list to pick your favourite and then head to your local cinema to see it!
