Last Updated: April 12, 2021
A long list of franchises are getting new installments in 2021, which is set to be another huge year for Marvel Studios, Warner Bros., and more. For example, Marvel is set to release some big movies in 2021, with WB releasing several films in theaters and on HBO Max.
Interestingly, several of the movies scheduled for 2021 will end their respective franchises. Some, on the other hand, like Mortal Kombat and The Suicide Squad, are reboots that will provide fresh starts for their characters and worlds.
Several highly-anticipated franchise movies are hitting theaters in 2021, many of which have been delayed from 2020 and will finally see the light of day. Here’s every franchise movie coming in 2021.
Mortal Kombat - April 23, 2021
The first major release of 2021 is Mortal Kombat, which will serve as a reboot of the franchise. Based on the fighting video game series of the same name, Mortal Kombat will be an R-rated martial arts film from James Wan’s production company, Atomic Monster Productions.
Spiral: From the Book of Saw - May 14, 2021
Spiral: From the Book of Saw is a reboot of the horror franchise starring and executive produced by noted comedian Chris Rock. Saw veteran Darren Lynn Bousman returns to direct, with Samuel L. Jackson cast as Rock’s police detective character’s veteran cop father.
A Quiet Place Part II - May 28, 2021
After a year’s delay, A Quiet Place Part II will finally be released in theaters in May. The sequel will be directed by John Krasinski and star Emily Blunt. Krasinski will also appear in the movie, though it will be in a flashback since his character died in the first film. After 45 days in theaters, the film will be available to stream on Paramount+.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It - June 4, 2021
The eighth installment in The Conjuring franchise series and a direct sequel to 2016’s The Conjuring 2. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga will return as Ed and Lorraine Warren, respectively. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It will see the Warrens investigate another supernatural case, one that involves a young boy possessed.
The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard - June 16, 2021
The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is a sequel to the hit 2017 action/comedy The Hitman’s Bodyguard, with Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, and Salma Hayek all reprising their roles. Patrick Hughes is back in the director’s chair, and writer Tom O’Connor returns as well.
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway - June 18, 2021
Peter Rabbit 2 is a sequel to the 2018 smash hit Peter Rabbit. Originally set to be released in 2020, the film was bumped back 2021 due to the coronavirus. Writer-director Will Gluck is back to helm the sequel, while the main cast - both animated and live-action is also onboard.
Fast & Furious 9 - June 25, 2021
Fast & Furious 9 was originally set to race into theaters in 2020, but thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, will now release in 2021. Justin Lin will be in the director’s chair for the fourth time in the series, which will see the return of Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, and more.
The Forever Purge - July 2, 2021
The fifth installment in The Purge franchise. Directed by Everardo Gout, the film follows a Mexican couple who are stranded on a Texas ranch in the middle of an unlawful Purge.
Black Widow - July 9, 2021
Black Widow may be dead in the current MCU timeline, but Natasha will return to Russia to finish some business in Black Widow, which is set between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War. The film saw several delays, but is being released in theaters and on Disney+.
Space Jam 2 - July 16, 2021
1996’s Space Jam was a live-action/animated hybrid that combined NBA superstars with Looney Tunes characters. The sequel, Space Jam 2, will replace Michael Jordan with LeBron James in the leading role.
Hotel Transylvania: Transformania - July 23, 2021
Todd Durham’s Hotel Transylvania is an animated horror comedy franchise that revolves around Dracula (Adam Sandler) and his family. The fourth installment was announced in February 2020 and will be out later this year.
Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins
Henry Golding stars in the titular role of Snake Eyes, who appeared before in G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra and G.I. Joe: Retaliation (though he was played by Ray Park in these films). Snake Eyes will be an origin story, with Robert Schwentke directing from a screenplay by Evan Spiliotopoulos.
The Suicide Squad - August 6, 2021
As the title implies, The Suicide Squad is a soft reboot of the franchise. James Gunn, who is directing and writing the project, has brought together a massive cast of actors to play the DC Comics characters.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings - September 3, 2021
Marvel’s Master of Kung Fu is set to make his MCU debut in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Starring Simu Liu as Shang-Chi and Hong Kong super star Tony Leung as the Mandarin, Shang-Chi is Marvel’s first foray into the martial arts genre.
The Boss Baby: Family Business - September 17, 2021
Released in 2017 and directed by Tom McGrath, The Boss Baby was an animated comedy featuring Alec Baldwin as the voice of a baby with a mind of an adult who operates as a secret agent. A sequel, titled The Boss Baby: Family Business, will see Alec Baldwin return to voice the Boss Baby.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage - September 17, 2021
A sequel to 2018 mega hit Venom, Venom: Let There Be Carnage is set to payoff the villain’s introduction at the end of the first film, played by Woody Harrelson. Tom Hardy is back as Venom/Eddie Brock, with Andy Serkis replacing Ruben Flesicher as director.
The Addams Family 2 - October 1, 2021
The animated adaptation of the 1960s sitcom did well enough at the box office to earn a sequel. After an impressive opening weekend, a sequel was announced, with Greg Tiernan and Conrad Vernon returning to direct.
Halloween Kills - October 15, 2021
2018’s Halloween revived the popular slasher movie franchise with the beginning of a new trilogy. The second film, Halloween Kills, was supposed to release in 2020, but will now be released this year. Halloween Ends, the sequel, will be out in 2022.
Eternals - November 5, 2021
The second entry into Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Eternals was bumped from 2020 to 2021 as a result of Black Widow’s delay from May 2020 to July 2021. Chloe Zhao directs an all-star cast of new heroes and villains, including Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Kumail Nanjiani and more.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife - November 11, 2021
Another sequel to get moved from 2020 to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, Ghostbusters: Afterlife is a follow-up to the 1980s classics, directed by Jason Reitman. The original surviving cast is all set to return, minus Rick Moranis, with new stars like Paul Rudd and Finn Wolfhard also included.
Spider-Man: No Way Home - December 17, 2021
A third film in Marvel’s Spider-Man trilogy was in doubt until Sony and Marvel reached a deal that would allow Tom Holland’s Peter Parker to come back for a third solo film. Spider-Man: No Way Home joins a crowded lineup of Marvel movies in 2021.
The Matrix 4 - December 22, 2021
The Matrix trilogy concluded in 2003, so it understandably came as a surprise to fans when a fourth film in the series was announced, with Keanu Reeves reprising his role as Neo. The Matrix 4 already has an impressive cast that includes names like Neil Patrick Harris, Jonathan Groff, Yahya Abdul Mateen II, and returning cast members Carrie-Anne Moss and Jada Pinkett-Smith. The Matrix co-creator Lana Wachowski is directing.
Sing 2 - December 22, 2021
Illumination Entertainment’s Sing was an animated musical centered around animals in a singing competition. Supported by an A-list voice cast, Sing was a big hit for a the studio that grossed $634.2 million at the worldwide box office. A sequel, Sing 2, was originally planned for a summer release, but this date was pushed back to December 2021.
More: Every Movie Confirmed For 2021 (So Far)
