80. “Ghostbusters: Afterlife”
Director: Jason Reitman (“Juno,” “The Front Runner”)
Cast: Paul Rudd, Annie Potts, Finn Wolfhard, Carrie Coon, Sigourney Weaver, Bill Murray
Synopsis: When a single mom and her two kids arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.
What You Need To Know: Toxic fans of the original “Ghostbusters” weren’t happy with Paul Feig’s female-led re-telling, and Jason Reitman, apparently, is here to right the ship. Reitman is obviously the son of original “Ghostbusters” director Ivan Reitman: maybe he feels that the 1984 film is partially his birthright. Reitman made waves last year when he controversially stated that he’s “not making the ‘Juno’ of ‘Ghostbusters’ movies,” and yet, there’s no denying that when Reitman is on, he’s on, so let’s hope he brings his A-game for this splashy blockbuster reboot.
Release Date: June 11, 2021, via Sony Pictures. – NL
79. “False Positive”
Director: John Lee
Cast: Justin Theroux, Ilana Glazer, Pierce Brosnan, Josh Hamilton
Synopsis: Unknown.
What You Need to Know: Taking into account that John Lee previously directed episodes of “Wonder Showzen” and “Xavier: Renegade Angel” and the involvement of Ilana Glazer, who is best known for “Broad City,” “False Positive” might be the absurdist horror event of 2021. Or, on the other hand, “False Positive” could function as Glazer and Lee’s breakout from the comedy scene. It certainly worked for Jordan Peele, and even Chris Rock is involved with the “Saw” drop next year. Regardless of its intentions, Justin Theroux and Pierce Brosnan appear alongside Glazer in the film, meaning that whatever madness unfolds on the screen will be exponentially heightened by powerhouse talent. God bless you, A24.
Release Date: TBD – Jonathan Christian
78. “Land”
Director: Robin Wright (“House Of Cards”)
Cast: Robin Wright, Demián Bichir, Kim Dickens
Synopsis: A bereaved woman seeks out a new life, off the grid in Wyoming.
What You Need To Know: Celebrated actress Robin Wright caught the directing bug on “House Of Cards,” starting in Season 2 and eventually directing ten episodes of the show, including the series finale. She clearly learned a thing or two, having to control people like Kevin Spacey and work alongside producers like David Fincher and more on top of every great filmmaker she’s ever worked with. Her directorial debut features a screenplay written by Jesse Chatham, Liz Hannah, and Erin Dignam, “Land” sounds like an in-depth exploration of grief, finding solace, and survivalism that could shake up the indie arthouse.
Release Date: TBD, but it feels like a Sundance picture. – RP
77. “Cherry”
Director: The Russo Brothers (“Avengers: Endgame”)
Cast: Tom Holland, Kelli Berglund, Jack Reynor, Michael Gandolfini
Synopsis: An Army medic suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder becomes a serial bank robber after an addiction to drugs puts him in debt.
What You Need To Know: Nico Walker’s “Cherry” is one of the most harrowing books about the violent and desperate cycle of heroin addiction since the glory days of Hubert Selby Jr., and the film adaptation is sure to be a punishing and propulsive affair. The talent attached here is intriguing: “Cherry” sees Joe and Anthony Russo stepping outside the Marvel sandbox to try their hand at a grimy, character-focused crime thriller, and will see Tom Holland following his terrific performance in Antonio Campos’ “The Devil All The Time” with another dark, grown-up turn that will surely turn heads.
Release Date: February 26, 2021, via Apple TV+. – NL
76. “‘The Electrical Life of Louis Wain”
Director: Will Sharpe (“Flowers”)
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Claire Foy, Andrea Riseborough, Toby Jones
Synopsis: A biopic about the life of 19th-century painter Louis Wain, famous for distinctive paintings of cats.
What You Need To Know: Following in the footsteps of “Big Eyes,” Benedict Cumberbatch trades his detective hat for a brush, as he’s now playing the eponymous English artist famous for his distinctive paintings for cats. Will Sharpe directs this film about Wain, his inspirations, his love of the world, and Emily, the love of his life. Sharpe has experience doing comedy-dramas that touch on outlandish characters while capturing honest emotion, so a film about a guy who painted cats but probably suffered from schizophrenia is poised to be both weird and very emotional. Plus, cat lovers will be happy that Wain is finally getting his due.
Release Date: TBD. – RP
75. “Luca”
Director: Enrico Casarosa (“La Luna”)
Cast: Unknown.
Synopsis: On the Italian Riviera, an unlikely but strong friendship grows between a human being and a sea monster disguised as a human.
What You Need To Know: You gotta love Pixar for being the biggest game in town in animation, and for the most part, don’t make a lot of sequels and generally focus on original films that seem to a) always be terrific, b) always seem to make a lot of money at the box office. You sort of wish every studio could get awarded with their original stories like they are. Not much is known aside from the setting and logline and Pixar lucky charm John Ratzenberger is said to have a voice role, but the main voice cast, presumably Italians, has not yet been revealed. “Luca” will be Pixar’s 24th feature and Casarosa is an art department story and storyboard artist who has been elevated to the director’s chair after helming the “Pixar” short, “La Luna.”
Release Date: June 18, 2021, via Pixar and Disney.
74. “Cinderella”
Director: Kay Cannon (“Blockers”)
Cast: Camila Cabelo, Billy Porter, Minnie Driver, John Mulaney, Charlotte Spencer, James Corden
Synopsis: A modern musical version of the classic fairy tale “Cinderella.”
What You Need To Know: The teen gross-out sleeper “Blockers” was one of the most unexpectedly charming studio comedies of 2018, and it gave us ample reason to look forward to whatever writer/director Kay Cannon decided to tackle next. As it turns out, Cannon has set her sights on a splashy musical retelling of a traditional fairy tale, “Cinderella,” which is nothing if not a considerable step up in ambition from her last project. While there’s a part of us that wishes Cannon would opt for something a little riskier, we’re confident that she will bring her trademark wit and vigor to this star-studded affair.
Release Date: February 5, 2021, via Sony Pictures. – NL
73. “Dog”
Director(s): Channing Tatum and Reid Carolin.
Cast: Channing Tatum, Q’orianka Kilcher
Synopsis: An army ranger and his dog embark on a road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway to attend a friend’s funeral.
What You Need To Know: When “Dog” finally comes out, it will have been four years since Channing Tatum was seen on screen in live-action. The actor just vanished in 2017, but divorce with kids can sometimes do that to you. Tatum and his writing/directing/producing partner Reid Carolin tried for years to get the “X-Men” movie “Gambit” made and even tried to convince Fox to let them direct it. That never happened, but the pair finally got their co-directing wish with this movie that Carolin wrote. There’s not a lot of names in it either, so Tatum’s re-introduction to the movie business looks like it’s a small, personal indie made on his own terms.
Release Date: TBD, but MGM bought it in a big bidding war earlier this year. Feels like a summer film. – RP
72. “Godzilla Vs. Kong”
Director: Adam Wingard (“You’re Next,” “The Guest”)
Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Eiza González
Synopsis: Titans from the Monsterverse clash, Godzilla and the mighty Kong – with humanity caught in the balance. What You Need To Know: While “Godzilla: King Of The Monsters” wasn’t as critically or commercially well-received as “Godzilla” or “Kong: Skull Island,” Legendary seems to be hoping that the Godzilla stans come out in full force for this next super-sized smackdown. Sure, the film has been delayed a couple of times, but the cast is undeniably solid, with many cast members from “King of the Monsters” returning. Time will tell if the release date change did much,
Release Date: May 21, 2021, via HBO Max and Warner Bros. – RP
71. “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton (“Short Term 12,” “Just Mercy”)
Cast: Simu Liu, Tony Leung, Awkwafina, Ronny Chieng, Michelle Yeoh
Synopsis: Based on Marvel Comics, the story will focus on Shang-Chi, The Master of Kung-Fu.
What You Need To Know: Marvel certainly put their mouth is in the last few years when it comes to diversity. The company’s most famous martial arts character is easily Iron Fist, but for Marvel’s first foray into this genre, they instead went with the lesser-known Shang-Chi character and hired an unknown for the lead part based on his charisma and athletic talents (Simu Liu), that’s great faith in your vision. Not much is known, but Tony Leung plays the real Mandarin (last spoofed in “Iron Man 3” by Ben Kingsley), and his Ten Rings organization are obviously central to the plot. Two films since breakout film, “Short Term 12,” Cretton hasn’t recaptured that magic yet, but clearly, Kevin Feige has faith.
Release Date: July 9, 2021, via Marvel and Disney. – RP