10 Movies You May Still See in Theaters in 2020

With theater chains preparing for reopening, these major releases are still on the schedule.

Many states are now coming out of lockdown; a few never started it to begin with. And major theatrical chains are preparing to open their doors to moviegoers again. (Regal, Cineworld, and Cinemark have announced that they'll be back in business by July, for a start. Other chains will certainly follow.) From March through now, however, you've probably noticed that the industry has been scrambling to account for the pandemic. Some release dates were shifted months or even years, while other movies went straight to streaming. Even the Academy Awards have been pushed to their latest date ever. But the rest of 2020 may not be a total wash when it comes to seeing movies in theaters. Distribution plans may change, but as of publication, these 10 major movies are still set to hit the silver screen this year. And for what to expect when you return to your favorite movie house, here are 7 Bizarre Things You'll See When You Go to the Movies This Summer.

1
Tenet

John David Washington in Tenet
Warner Bros. Pictures

A 2020 movie that's simultaneously one of the most hyped and the most mysterious is Tenet, from The Dark Knight and Inception filmmaker Christopher Nolan. Starring John David Washington (BlacKkKlansman), this espionage thriller involves secret agents who are tasked with helping humanity to avoid World War III. And, aptly enough, it seems to have something to do with the malleability of time. Originally scheduled for release in regular and IMAX theaters on July 17, it's only been pushed forward two weeks, to July 31. And for at-home recs, here are 11 Classic Summer Movies You Can Stream Right Now.

2
Black Widow

Scarlett Johansson in Black Widow
Walt Disney Studios

This prequel to Avengers: Infinity War was supposed to make its way to Marvel fans in May, but Disney shifted the entire upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe release schedule due to the pandemic. Black Widow fills in the story of assassin-turned-Avenger Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) after the events of Captain America: Civil War, when she goes on the run and faces the past she left behind. Co-starring Florence PughDavid Harbour, and Rachel WeiszBlack Widow is now on the docket for a Nov. 6 release.

3
No Time to Die

Daniel Craig in No Time to Die
United Artists Releasing

Daniel Craig's last go-round as 007 was supposed to kick off this year's blockbuster season in April and was one of the first releases to be significantly delayed by coronavirus. In this installment, Bond is out of game five years after the events of Spectre, but is roped back in to save the world once again. The film was so close to release when it was pulled that the title song, by influential teen artist Billie Eilish had already hit streaming services. It'll now be out on Nov. 20 in the U.S., barring any further changes. And for critically acclaimed films, These Are the Top-Rated Movies on Rotten Tomatoes.

4
Wonder Woman 1984

Gal Gadot in Wonder Woman
Warner Bros. Pictures

Wonder Woman 1984 has been ping-ponging around the release calendar since before the pandemic began. First, it was a December 2019 debut, then it was moved up to that November, then pushed all the way out until July 2020. Now, due to the virus keeping people at home, the sequel to 2017's acclaimed Wonder Woman is eyeing an Oct. 2 release. While the first movie was set during World War I, this adventure catches up with the immortal Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) during the year in the title. How Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), her American pilot love interest, ends up there as well is one plot point that's being kept under wraps.

5
Mulan

Yifei Liu in Mulan
Walt Disney Studios

The next Disney live-action remake of one of its animated hits won't have characters breaking into song or a talking dragon sidekick, but it still revolves around the core fable of Mulan (Yifei Liu), a young woman who disguises herself as a man to take her aging father's place in a war. Once set for a late March premiere, Mulan was pushed back to July 24, which is when the studio was planning to release Jungle Cruise, adapted from the attraction. That film, starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, is now delayed to summer 2021. And for Mouse House flicks you can watch in your living room, These Are the Best Movies to Stream on Disney+.

6
Free Guy

Ryan Reynolds in Free Guy
20th Century Studios

The rare summer flick (at least as it was first intended to be) that's not a sequel, comic book adaptation, or kids movie, Free Guy stars Ryan Reynolds as a regular Joe who comes to realize that he's a background character in a video game. Breaking out out of the cycle of code that's written for him, on the other hand, will be more difficult proposition. Free Guy also features Lil Rel HoweryJodie Comer, Joe Keery, and Utkarsh Ambudkar in supporting roles, and was shifted from a July 3 date to a Dec. 11 release.

7
A Quiet Place Part II

Noah Jupe, Millicent Simmonds, and Emily Blunt in A Quiet Place II
Paramount Pictures

The almost-silent original was a surprise thriller hit, which made actor-turned-director John Krasinski's followup to the story of a family trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world where deadly aliens respond to the slightest sound a highly awaited 2020 release. A Quiet Place Part II is another movie that was supposed to reach audiences in late March, but it's been rescheduled for Sept. 4 in the hopes that somewhat-regular moviegoing will have resumed by that time. And for more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter.

8
Antebellum

Janelle Monáe in Antebellum
Lionsgate/Matt Kennedy

Starring actress and musician Janelle MonáeAntebellum appears from its trailers to be a horror film that sends a modern woman back in time to experience the terrors of slavery firsthand. But the studio and filmmakers Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz have been tight-lipped about the details of its plot, leaving horror fans in the dark until it finally arrives in theaters on Aug. 21, after being delayed from April.

9
Top Gun: Maverick

Tom Cruise in Top Gun Maverick
Paramount Pictures/Scott Garfield

Of course the very long-awaited sequel to the 1986 Tom Cruise pilot vehicle Top Gun includes an homage to the original's famous beach volleyball scene, which made it seem suited to a summer release. But Top Gun: Maverick has been shifted from June to Dec. 23 in light of the pandemic. In this chapter, Maverick (Cruise) ends up training the son (Miles Teller) of his late best friend Goose, which dredges up a lot of feelings that he's tried to keep buried.

10
Candyman

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in Candyman
Universal Pictures

Clive Barker's Candyman was released in 1992 and has come to be considered a horror classic, especially as it explores themes of racial and class inequity. The story is being brought into the present in this followup helmed and co-written by Little Woods director Nia DaCosta. (Get Out and Us filmmaker Jordan Peele also has a screenplay credit and produced the film.) In this sequel, Watchmen star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II plays the grownup version of the baby who was kidnapped by the Candyman in the original, and who finds himself still haunted by the urban legend decades later. It was moved from June 12 to Sept. 25.

Sage Young
Sage Young is the Deputy Entertainment Editor at Best Life, expanding and honing our coverage in this vertical by managing a team of industry-obsessed writers. Read more
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