Theatrical Releases 2021: Movies To Watch Out For - Part 2

We are back with Part 2 of the three part series of theatrical release series of 2021. To read the Part 1, click here. Let's dive right in and cover the releases from May to August.

May

Infinite | Science-Fiction

Theatrical Release: 28 May 2021 (United States)

Based on D. Eric Maikranz's 2009 novel The Reincarnationist Papers, and directed by Anton Fuqua, the film focuses on a schizophrenic whose hallucinations turn out be memories from his previous lives, where he acquired skills he still possesses.

This action flick stars Mark Wahlberg, Dylan O’Brien, Sophie Cookson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Liz Carr, and Toby Jones among others, and its screenplay is written by Ian Shorr and John Lee Hancock.

Black Widow | Superhero-Action

Initial Release: 7 May 2021 (United States)

The much-awaited standalone Black Widow movie is finally here. Scarlett Johansson reprises her role as Natasha Romanoff in the 24^th movie of the MCU and is set after the events of the 2016 Captain America: Civil War movie, where Natasha is on the run and is forced to confront her past.

The film also stars Little Women fame Florence Pugh and Stranger Things fame David Harbour, and is the first film in the Phase Four of the MCU. Directed by Cate Shortland, and produced by Kevin Feige, the film delves into the origin of Black Widow, from her time and training with the KGB under USSR and then becoming a freelance operative after its subsequent dissolution.

Spiral | Horror-Crime

Theatrical Release: 21 May 2021 (United States)

When the city is enveloped in a series of murders that are eerily reminiscent of the ones that gripped it back in the day, it falls upon the the officers of the law to get to the bottom of this, but soon the young detective finds himself in the middle of the killer’s web.

Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman, and written by Josh Stolberg and Peter Goldfinger, this is the ninth installment in the Saw movie franchise and revives the slasher classic of yesteryear. As if that wasn’t reason enough, the film stars Chris Rock and Samuel L Jackson, playing the role of a brash police detective and an esteemed police veteran respectively.

Free Guy | Comedy-Action

Theatrical Release: May 21, 2021 (United States)

Have you ever questioned the fabric of reality? If you have, you probably went somewhere along the lines of that Black Mirror episode and got super bummed. Well, this movie is about a bank teller who realizes he’s a background character in an open-world video game Free City soon to go offline. And it’s a comedy.

Directed by Shawn Levy from a screenplay by Matt Lieberman and Zak Penn and a story by Lieberman, the film stars Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer of Killing Eve fame, the Irish YouTuber Jacksepticeye, and Taika Waititi and would be released in IMAX 3D.

 

Fast & Furious 9 | Action

Theatrical Release: 28 May 2021 (India)

Also called F9, this is the ninth main installment, and the tenth full-length film released overall in the Fast & Furious franchise. A sequel to The Fate of the Furious (2017), the film brags of an enormous ensemble case as usual.  Vin Diesel, John Cena, Charlize Theron, Helen Mirren, Nathalie Emmanuel of the Game of Thrones fame, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Jordana Brewster, and Sung Kang would light up our summers. The film promises to a mega-event and much bigger than the previous outings.

 

June

Venom: Let There Be Carnage | Action-Superhero

Initial Release: 24 June 2021 (Singapore)

People loved the first Venom movie and began asking for a sequel ever since, so Marvel listened, and the result is this second installment in the Venom series. Directed by Andy Serkis from a screenplay by Kelly Marcel, this one sees Tom Hardy reprise his role as Eddie Brock/Venom alongside a stellar cast comprising Woody Harrelson, Michelle Williams, Reid Scott, and Naomie Harris.

The film picks up after the events of the first film, and Harrelson is to be the main villain in this outing. It releases in IMAX.

The Green Knight | Fantasy

Theatrical Release: 30 July 2021 (United States)

This medieval epic is written and directed by David Lowery and is based on the poem of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. This modern retelling of the 14^th century tale stars Dev Patel as Sir Gaiwan – King Arthur’s headstrong nephew, Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton, Sarita Choudhury, Sean Harris, Kate Dickie, Barry Keoghan and Ralph Ineson.

The tale follows the quest that Sir Gaiwan embarks upon to confront the eponymous Green Knight, a gigantic green-skinned stranger, and is based on the Arthurian legend, The Green Knight.

 

 July

Top Gun: Maverick | Action-Drama

Initial Release: 2 July 2021 (Canada, United States)

Directed by Joseph Kosinski from a screenplay by Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer, and Christopher McQuarrie, and a story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks, this heavily-anticipated sequel to the 1986 movie stars Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Ed Harris. Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer reprise their role from the first film.

Based on the characters by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr, this outing has the trademark Cruise action sequences, most of which would be based in the air.

The Forever Purge | Science-Fiction-Horror

Theatrical Release: 9 July 2021 (USA)

Directed by Everardo Gout and written and co-produced by James DeMonaco, this American dystopian horror film is the fifth and final installment of the Purge franchise, serving as a direct sequel to 2016's The Purge: Election Year.

The story picks up an year after the presidential elections from the last year when the Purge was abolished. A Mexican couple escaping from a drug cartel and stranded on a Texas ranch find themselves at the mercy of a group of outsiders who decide to unlawfully continue their own Purge. The film stars Ana de la Reguera, Josh Lucas, Tenoch Huerta, Leven Rambin, Will Patton, and Cassidy Freeman.

The Tomorrow War | Science-Fiction

Theatrical Release: 23 July 2021 (Netherlands)

This military action is set in the near future when humans are fighting the aliens and the scientists have figure out a way to draft soldiers from the past to the war.

Directed by Chris McKay and written by Zach Dean, the film stars Chris Pratt, Yvonne Strahovski, Betty Gilpin, Keith Powers, Mike Mitchell, Sam Richardson, and J. K. Simmons, with Pratt also executive producing the film.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings | Superhero-Action

Theatrical Release: 9 July 2021 (United States)

Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton from a screenplay by David Callaham, it is intended to be the 25th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as part of Phase Four of the MCU. The film stars Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, alongside Awkwafina, Tony Leung, Fala Chen, Meng'er Zhang, Florian Munteanu, Ronny Chieng, and Michelle Yeoh. In the film, Shang-Chi is forced to confront his past after he is drawn into the Ten Rings organization.  

 

Jungle Cruise | Adventure

Theatrical Release: 30 July 2021

Fighting against dangerous wild animals, and competing Germans, a riverboat captain takes a scientist and her brother on a mission into a jungle to find the Tree of Life which is believed to possess healing powers

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra from a story by Glenn Ficarra & John Requa and a screenplay written by Michael Green, Ficarra and Requa, the film is based on Walt Disney's theme park attraction of the same name. The film stars Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Édgar Ramírez, Jack Whitehall, Jesse Plemons, and Paul Giamatti.

August

The Suicide Squad | Superhero

Initial Release: 6 Aug 2021 (United Stated) | Digital Release: HBO Max

A standalone sequel to 2016’s Suicide Squad and the tenth film in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), the film is written and directed by James Gunn, and stars an ensemble cast including Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman, Peter Capaldi, Sylvester Stallone, and Viola Davis. Building on a similar premise as the first one, this movie also follows a task force of imprisoned convicts who are sent to destroy a Nazi-era prison and laboratory.

The King’s Man | Period Action-Spy

Theatrical Release: 20 August 2021 (USA)

A man and his protégé race against time to stop the history's worst tyrants and criminal masterminds who have gathered to plot a war to wipe out millions.

Directed and produced by Matthew Vaughn, who wrote the screenplay with Karl Gajdusek, the film is a spin-off prequel and the third film in the Kingsman film series, loosely based on the comic book series Kingsman, created by Dave Gibbons & Mark Millar. The film features an ensemble cast including Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, Matthew Goode, Tom Hollander, Harris Dickinson, Daniel Brühl, Djimon Hounsou and Charles Dance.

The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard | Action-Comedy

Theatrical Release: 20 August 2021

Directed by Patrick Hughes and written by Tom O'Connor and Brandon and Phillip Murphy, this is a sequel to the 2017 film The Hitman's Bodyguard and picks up four years after the events of the original film, as bodyguard Michael Bryce continues his friendship with assassin Darius Kincaid when they embark on a new adventure to save Sonia, Darius's wife, from new threats.

The film stars Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Salma Hayek, Frank Grillo, Richard E. Grant, Tom Hopper, Antonio Banderas and Morgan Freeman with Reynolds, Jackson, and Hayek reprising their roles from the previous film.

PAW Patrol: The Movie | Adventure-Comedy

Theatrical Release: 20 August 2021 (United States)

Based on the children's television series PAW Patrol created by Keith Chapman, this computer-animated family film, the film follows Ryder and the pups who are called to Adventure City to stop Mayor Humdinger from turning the bustling metropolis into a state of chaos. Exciting missions and high-stake rescues galore.

Directed by Cal Brunker based on the screenplay by Bunker, Bob Barlen, and Billy Frolick, the characters are voiced by Iain Armitage, Marsai Martin, Dax Shepard, Tyler Perry, Jimmy Kimmel, Yara Shahidi, Randall Park, Kim Kardashian West, and Will Brisbin.

Click here for Part 3