2020 started out as a promising year for films, with major blockbusters scheduled to open in cinemas throughout the year, ensuring fans will never go even a month without feasting on an action-packed or drama-filled Hollywood offering.
All hopes were crushed, however, when the pandemic caused cinemas worldwide to begin temporary shutdown since last March, delaying many film releases. Some of these delays even spill into next year as studios reshuffle their titles for peak release windows.
In this first part of our compilation, we list down 10 movies – arranged by release dates – that have postponed all the way to 2021. (“Mulan” is excluded as there is no confirmed date at the time of writing). Note that the release dates below are following the US schedule.
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway
New release date: 15 January 2021
At first, Peter Rabbit was set to return with his shenanigans on the big screen last April, but it was then pushed to August due to the pandemic. However, since cinemas’ situation globally remain iffy, the Rose Byrne and Domhnall Gleeson-starrer has to be postponed again to next January.
Eternals
New release date: 12 February 2021
The star-studded “Eternals” was supposed to bow into cinemas this November but the pandemic has forced it to be moved to next February. Looks like we’ll have to wait a little longer to see Angelina Jolie, Don Lee (Ma Dong-seok), Kumail Nanjiani and more as Marvel superheroes.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife
New release date: 5 March 2021
As much as we want to see Paul Rudd as summer school teacher Mr. Grooberson in “Ghostbusters: Afterlife”, the fourth movie in the “Ghostbusters” franchise had to postpone its summer release this year and move to March next year.
Raya and the Last Dragon
New release date: 12 March 2021
Also moved to next March is Disney’s animated film “Raya and the Last Dragon”, which features the voice of Awkwafina (“Crazy Rich Asians”) as the titular dragon while Canadian singer-actress Cassie Steele voices Raya. Its original November 2020 slot is now taken up by Pixar’s Jamie Foxx-starring “Soul”.
Morbius
New release date: 19 March 2021
Jared Leto’s “Morbius” was supposed to have opened in cinemas by this week but, of course, thanks to the pandemic, we will only get to see him as the titular living vampire next March. We’re looking forward to seeing Michael Keaton in the movie too, though his role is still unknown.
Fast & Furious 9: The Fast Saga
New release date: 2 April 2021
Vin Diesel and his crew were all ready to conquer the big screens (and box office charts) last May but the ninth instalment of the “Fast and Furious” franchise had to be postponed to April next year. So we’ll to wait a while before catching John Cena – can we see him? – as newly introduced Toretto family member, Jakob.
A Quiet Place Part II
New release date: 23 April 2021
Emily Blunt is back as the strong matriarch of the Abbot family in this sequel to the highly successful 2018 horror movie. Blunt reteams with real-life husband John Krasinski, who wrote and direct both movies. Unfortunately, we’ll only get to see this next year since it has been removed from its original September 2020 date.
Godzilla Vs. Kong
New release date: 21 May 2021
Whether your bet is on Godzilla or on Kong, you’ll only know who’s the winner between these two next year. We could’ve seen this epic battle this November but even these gargantuan creatures aren’t immune to the pandemic and had to postpone their big screen skirmish to next May.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
New release date: 4 June 2021
This James Wan-produced horror threequel was supposed to be scaring the life out of audiences this September, but it was recently postponed to next June. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga will be reprising their starring roles as paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, who this time investigate a murder suspect claiming demonic possession as a defence in court.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage
New release date: 25 June 2021
The title says it all. This time around we’ll get to see Tom Hardy’s Venom go up against Woody Harrelson’s Carnage, whom we previously saw in the mid-credits scene of 2018’s “Venom”. We’re robbed of our Christmas gift though, because instead of opening this December, the sequel has been moved to next summer.