2020 being the year that it was, we saw countless releases delayed, pushed back, or scaled down. Movies that have been a long time coming have been held back by restrictions on set and releases have been postponed due to cinema closures and people’s reluctance to sit in theaters.
While the landscape of how movies are released appears to be shifting further towards exclusive streaming platforms such as HBO Max, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of 2021 releases to get excited about.
So let’s take a look at 10 movies set to release this year that Corner of Film can’t wait to see.

10. Deep Water
Image: ©Penguin
Scheduled Release: August 2021
Deep Water tells the story of a couple who come to an unusual arrangement in order to keep up appearances, and the complications that arise when the wife’s many lovers begin turning up dead.
Based on the book of the same name by Patricia Highsmith and directed by Adrian Lyne, Deep Water promises to be a dark, intriguing window into a dysfunctional marriage and the ways in which it can affect those entangled in it.
Starring Ben Affleck, Deep Water marks Lyne’s return to filmmaking after a 19 year absence.

9. The Last Duel
Image: ©Arrow
Scheduled release: October 2021
The Last Duel is Ridley Scott’s retelling of the last officially recognized judicial duel fought in France in the 14th century, based on the book by Eric Jager.
While the subject matter might sound a little dry, The Last Duel stars Matt Damon and Adam Driver as best friends that must fight to the death after one accuses the other of raping his wife.
Ben Affleck is also set to appear as King Charles VI, but really -for Corner of Film, at least – the draw here is Adam Driver.
He’s a rising star with bags of talent and an impressive range, so seeing what he does with this historical drama is truly exciting.
Also, all those lightsaber duels probably came in pretty handy for training, so our money’s on Driver.

8. Chaos Walking
Image: ©Lionsgate
Scheduled release: March 2021
Based on the first novel in the sci-fi trilogy of the same name, Chaos Walking is an upcoming sci-fi fantasy starring Daisy Ridley and Tom Holland.
Each have proven their worth as part of massive cinematic franchises, so their casting alone seems indicative of the faith that Hollywood have in this to be the next big thing.
Set in a world in which men’s thoughts are displayed for everyone to see, Todd (Holland) vows to keep Viola (Ridley) safe after she crash lands on his planet.
With Doug Liman at the helm of this intriguing sci-fi premise, it’s certainly one to keep an eye on.

7. Ghostbusters: Afterlife
Image: ©Sony Pictures
Scheduled release: June 2021
Three decades of waiting for a new Ghostbusters film (not including that one) have finally paid off.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife (also marketed as Ghostbusters: Legacy and Ghostbusters: From Beyond) is a directed sequel to 1989’s Ghostbusters II, following on thirty years after the events of that movie.
Set to star Mckenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Carrie Coon and Paul Rudd, Ghostbusters: Afterlife will also feature Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson and Sigourney Weaver reprising their roles from the earlier movies.
The franchise alone is reason enough to watch this one, but the presence of the original team gives justice to fans of the franchise that sat through the absolute mess that was the 2016 reboot.

6. The King’s Man
Image: ©20th Century
Scheduled release: March 2021
Finding a niche as spy movies that don’t take themselves overly seriously, the Kingsman franchise is now well and truly underway.
Loosely based on the comic book series Kingsman by Dave Gibbons and Mark Millar, Kingsman offers all the high-octane thrills of the Bond movies with the addition of a little subtle comedy, and the first two entries into the franchise starring Taron Egerton have done remarkably well.
The King’s Man is a prequel, set in the early 20th century. While not a massive amount has been revealed around the movie’s plot, only that it will depict the forming of the Kingsman agency with the goal of combatting a cabal of the world’s worst tyrants and criminal masterminds.
It’s safe to say that the movie will feature the same unique style established in its predecessors, with Matthew Vaughn returning to direct with Ralph Fiennes and Harris Dickinson starring.

5. Uncharted
Image: ©Sony Pictures
Scheduled release: July 2021
In certain circles, this entry has been a cause for an awful lot of debate.
Based on the award winning video game franchise of the same name, Uncharted is a movie that has been a long time coming.
Originally hinted at way back in 2008, the movie was seemingly stuck in development hell, but fans have long since held out hope for its eventual release.
Despite fan petitions (and a little campaigning from the actor himself), the obvious casting of Nathan Fillion as protagonist Nathan Drake was passed over, with the studio opting for a younger star in Spider-Man’s Tom Holland, who will portray a younger version of the character.
With Mark Wahlberg also set to star as Victor Sullivan, it seems that the Uncharted movie might set the franchise down a new cinematic path.

4. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Image: ©WireImage
Scheduled release: March 2021
Nicolas Cage is undoubtedly one of Hollywood’s most erratic and inconsistent stars.
For every award-winning performance he delivers, there’s another that’s bizarre and confusing and delightfully over-the-top, but whether you love him or hate him (personally, I think he’s incredible), you can’t deny that Cage is mesmerising.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent – which may just be the greatest movie title ever – is set to star Cage as himself.
When the actor accepts a $1 million offer to attend the birthday of a Mexican billionaire, things begin to take a turn into action movie territory, and Cage must channel some of his former roles in order to rescue his family.
The movie’s wacky premise is perfect for an actor like Cage, and even if this one’s awful, it’ll still be one hell of a thrill ride.

3. Raya and the Last Dragon
Image: ©Walt Disney Studios
Scheduled release: March 2021
In recent years, Disney has delivered some of its finest animated offerings to date.
They seem to have nailed down a formula that works for just about every demographic, capturing drama, comedy and fantasy all in one and still making it appropriate for all ages.
Raya and the Last Dragon looks to continue this trend, following a young warrior princess who sets out to find the Last Dragon, the only one who can save her people from the evil Druun.
You can be sure that there’ll be highs, lows, and some stunning animated visuals, so if you’re looking for the next big family adventure, Raya and the Last Dragon is probably one for you.

2. The Little Things
Image: ©Warner Bros
Scheduled release: January 2021
Directed by John Lee Hancock, The Little Things is a neo-noir thriller that tells the story of two cops hunting a series killer.
Denzel Washington and Rami Malek are set to play, respectively, a county sheriff and an LA detective, and Jared Leto is billed as Albert Sparma, a young man suspected to be the killer.
The movie’s trailer promises a tense, atmospheric cop thriller that showcases the best that Washington, Malek and Leto have to offer.

- Last Night in Soho
Image: ©Universal
Scheduled release: April 2021
Director Edgar Wright teams up with Anya Taylor-Joy and Matt Smith in this upcoming pychological horror.
Not much is known about Last Night in Soho, other than the central plot revolves around a young girl finding herself in the 1960s who encounters her idol, a charismatic singer – but London in the ’60s isn’t quite what it seems, and time starts to fall apart around her.
Tipped to be one of 2021’s most exciting horror movies, Last Night in Soho is exciting purely on the merit of its two biggest stars in Taylor-Joy and Smith, both outstanding actors with a handful of outstanding performances under their respective belts.