Top 10 Most Anticipated Films of 2020

With the end of one year comes the beginning of another which means an entire year of new releases to look forward to. As with every year I am going to count down my current top 10 most anticipated films of the year but first I want to clarify that this is my list as of now. There are plenty of films coming out in the year that have not been announced so there is no way that I can anticipate them. To get a better idea of the films I am anticipating as the year goes on make sure to keep your eye on my monthly top 5 lists of my most anticipated films of the next month. This is also just what I am looking forward to, these are not necessarily predictions on what films will be the objective best.

#10-Saint Maud

Normally A24 has a rough start of the year but after getting rave reviews at it's debut during the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival, Saint Maud honestly isn't a film I know much about but am strangely looking forward to. Serving as Rose Glass's debut feature and dealing with themes of religion, Saint Maud really could be a surprise for the beginning of the year in a similar matter to a film like Thoroughbreds. I don't fully know what to expect but I have a strange faith in this film and look forward to eventually checking it out.

Saint Maud is scheduled to be released on March 27th

#9-Soul

With two Pixar originals on the horizon of course the hype is real and where I am greatly anticipating both and fully expect both to be of quality my hype seems to be opposite of most. Soul for many looks to be the most anticipated animated film of the year and where it does seem to have a wonderful exploration of purpose and belonging within it I am a bit worried about the plot itself. It does seem a bit like it is playing around with some of the same concepts and ideas originated in Inside Out and I am worried that the plot is going to fail to be as engaging as the deeper ideas this movie is bringing up. Still though I have faith in Pixar and am excited to see Soul.

Soul is scheduled to release on June 19th

#8-No Time to Die

To celebrate the Bond Franchise reaching 25 original films I decided to review every single James Bond film for Buttered Popcorn Movie Month 2020 so of course No Time to Die is a film I have my eye on. Serving as a defining film in the franchise not only acting as Daniel Craig's departure from the iconic role but a film that finally will bring Bond to the modern era exploring elements like his relationship with women, there is no doubt that No Time to Die will rub some people the wrong way but especially with the inspired Cary Joji Fukunaga taking over the role of director I have full faith in No Time to Die to be one of the more interesting and unique films from the franchise.

No Time to Die is scheduled to be released on April 8th

#7-The Invisible Man

For 2018's Buttered Popcorn Movie Month I reviewed the main films from the classic Universal Monster series and 1933's The Invisible Man stood out as one of my clear favorites. After the failure of the relaunch of the Dark Universe with The Mummy, the idea of a remake for The Invisible Man did absolutely nothing for me but after seeing the trailer I can't help but say it is one of my most anticipated films of the year. Not only is it exciting to see Elisabeth Moss really in anything but the psychological angle they seem to be taking with this film is so smart and interesting. I really hope it doesn't break down into a generic jump-scare horror movie as judging by the trailer it looks like one of the most intriguing psychological horror films in recent memory.

The Invisible Man is scheduled to be released on February 28th

#6-The Last Duel

Right when I was getting into film, Good Will Hunting stood out as one of my favorites and at one time was the film I called my favorite of all time. Where I don't know if I can go that far with my love for the film now, I still can say that I loved it greatly. Being the first script from Ben Affleck & Matt Damon since Good Will Hunting, of course I would be excited for The Last Duel. It doesn't even matter what the film is about, I am so excited to see another screenplay from these two and director Ridley Scott has had some misses in the past he has also delivered greatly with some of his more serious recent outings such as All the Money in the World which remains a really underrated film. Being so far from the films release, there really is nothing to go off of other than the crew involved but the talent here is so strong that it absolutely is one of my most anticipated films of the year and I hope as more is revealed that hype stays high.

The Last Duel is scheduled to be released on December 25th

#5-Last Night in Soho

Despite making some really enjoyable films in the past there hasn't been a project from Edgar Wright which I would call a full on masterpiece, but maybe that will change with Last Night in Soho. Being described as a psychological thriller I can't help but be excited to see what the dynamic Edgar Wright will do with this genre of film. It also helps that Thomasin McKenzie & Anya Taylor-Joy are attached to the project as I think they are two of the most talented young actors working today and I really do think this has potential to become something really special and possibly even Wright's masterpiece. Nonetheless even if it isnt a masterpiece I have full faith that Last Night in Soho will be a great time to watch as is nearly all of Wright's filmography.

Last Night in Soho is scheduled to be released on September 25th

#4-Onward

As I mentioned earlier, where most are looking at Soul as their most anticipated 2020 release from Pixar for me that has to go to Onward. At first this did just seem like one of Pixar's more fun and less emotional outings following two boys who go on a quest in a medieval world. Yet once I saw the trailer I saw that this was definitely going to be a tearjerker. With the emotional complexity of a kid getting to finally meet his dad who he has never met in his life I fully think that this is going to be a film that catches people off guard with how powerful and moving it is. Sure it is done in kinda a goofy way in a fun fantasy world but I really don't think that is going to take away from the raw, human emotion within this film.

Onward is scheduled to be released on March 6th

#3-Tenet

Christopher Nolan started the last decade with Inception which turned out to be one of the best films of the decade so of course seeing that Nolan would once again start the decade with a new film made me excited. Seeing it was a return to the same mind bending & high concept level of Inception made me even more excited for Tenet as his more grounded last project Dunkirk left me a bit underwhelmed. I am also just extremely excited to see John David Washington in something big again after he really impressed with his work in BlacKkKlansman. Robert Pattinson also being in it is simply icing on the cake.

Tenet is scheduled to be released on July 17th

#2-The French Dispatch

Wes Anderson easily is one of my favorite working filmmakers so anytime he has a project on the horizon I immediately have eyes on it and The French Dispatch is no different. With Wes Anderson it doesn't even matter what the plot or crew looks like for me to be exicted for it, but with that said having a cast that consists of Tilda Swinton, Timothée Chalamet, Frances McDormand, Bill Murray, Benicio del Toro, Saoirse Ronan, Owen Wilson, Willem Dafoe, & Elisabeth Moss does not hurt.

The French Dispatch does not currently have an official release date

#1-Dune

I mean come on! Of course my most anticipated movie of the year is Dune! Denis Villenuve is one of my favorite filmmakers not just working now but of all time with every single project he touches turning to gold. Especially after seeing how he handled Blade Runner 2049, I have nothing but anticipation to see him take a large scale sci-fi adventure again which is exactly the look he is serving with Dune. With an A+ ensemble filled with newer actors who have really established themselves over the past few years like Timothée Chalamet, Dave Bautista, Oscar Issac, Zendaya,& Jason Momoa. This really feels like it could be something fresh and interesting raising everyone involved into a new level of stardom. On paper this sounds like a movie I would dream of being made and I am sure that the experience watching it will be no less amazing.

Dune is scheduled to be released on December 18th