Winter is here and spring is on the way, so we’re counting down the movies to see over the first four months of 2020. (May, per Screen Rant tradition, will be covered in our summer preview.) 2019 was, in many ways, a massive year for franchise movies. The MCU’s Infinity Saga and Star Wars’ Skywalker saga were both concluded over the last twelve months, with numerous event films arriving in-between them. In that regard, it’s almost comforting to know 2020 is going to be quieter, as far as tentpole releases go.
“Quieter”, of course, is a relative term in this case. The first four months of 2020 alone will see the release of Daniel Craig’s final James Bond film, a Disney live-action remake, and the first R-rated entry in the DC Extended Universe (2019’s R-rated Joker, for those unaware, isn’t part of the DCEU). In addition, a handful of anticipated sequels will either hit theaters or stream over that same period of time, along with some intriguing original movies of the horror, crime caper, romantic, and thriller variety.
To help narrow things down, we’ve put together a list of 20 Winter & Spring 2020 movies to see (along with some honorable mentions, at the end). The films are numbered in the order of their theatrical release date.
20. The Grudge (January 3)
Plot Summary: A small-town detective investigates a mysterious house, unaware it’s been cursed by a vengeful ghost that dooms anyone who enters it to a horrible death.
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The Breakdown: The U.S. Grudge reboot definitely looks… grosser than its predecessors. That’s not a surprise either, given it was directed by Nicolas Pesce aka. the filmmaker behind the disturbing The Eyes of My Mother and Piercing. Pesce has described his reboot as being more of a cop drama (a la Seven) than Grudge movies past, which is also interesting. Will that and a spooky John Cho shower scene be enough to set this one apart from the thousand other Grudge and/or Ju-On films before it? Other early January horror releases have surprised in the past (see: Escape Room), so here’s hoping this one does too.
19. Bad Boys for Life (January 17)
Plot Summary: “Bad Boys” Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett must join forces one last time when Mike is targeted by a crime boss whose brother they defeated on a case years ago.
The Breakdown: Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are finally back with another Bad Boys movie, but is this franchise past its expiration date? At one point, Joe Carnahan was set to direct Bad Boys for Life, and promised to inject some fresh life into the ’90s brand. However, his replacements Adil El Arbi and Billall Fallah seem to have taken more of a Michael Bay-lite approach, in keeping with Bay’s work on the prior two films. If Netflix’s 6 Underground is any indicator, though, that style of blockbuster feels pretty dated nowadays, and it may fall to Smith and Lawrence to ensure the Boys ride out on a high note.
18. The Turning (January 24)
Plot Summary: A newly-appointed nanny is hired to care for two unusual orphans at a mysterious estate in Maine, but soon comes to realize both they and the house are hiding dark secrets.
The Breakdown: The Turning hasn’t had it easy so far. An earlier iteration of the film (titled Haunted) was cancelled a month before shooting, and its original 2019 release date was later postponed by eleven months. Not to mention, it’s the far less buzzed-about of the two Turn of the Screw adaptations arriving in 2020, behind Mike Flanagan’s The Haunting of Bly Manor. Still, it looks as striking as director Floria Sigismondi’s previous music videos and TV shows, with Mackenzie Grace holding her own against an extra-creepy Finn Wolfhard. Its trailer is a bit heavy on easy scares, though, so best to approach this one with caution.
17. The Gentlemen (January 24)
Plot Summary: When American expat Mickey Pearson tries to cash out on his lucrative marijuana empire in London, it inspires those around him to do whatever it takes to steal his kingdom out from under him.
The Breakdown: Remember when Guy Ritchie made snappy British crime comedies? It’s been more than ten years since his last one (RocknRolla), but the filmmaker is getting back to his roots after directing a string of Hollywood tentpoles (some successful, others not so much). He’s assembled a crack team of actors for this one, too, with Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Hugh Grant, and Henry Golding among those starring. And if The Gentlemen is a bit of an overly nostalgic trip down memory lane for Ritchie (as early, but mostly positive, reviews suggest), it’s one his longtime fans may still want to take.
16. The Rhythm Section (January 31)
Plot Summary: After learning the plane crash that killed her family three years ago was no accident, a woman assumes the identity of an assassin in order to track down those responsible.
The Breakdown: It’s rarely a good sign when a film’s delayed multiple times, but in this case The Rhythm Section has a valid excuse. The movie’s release date was pushed back nine months after star Blake Lively suffered an injury during shooting, then another two months to avoid the busy Thanksgiving frame. Its trailer suggests this stylish-looking revenge thriller has some real meat on its bones, though, thanks to the efforts of its cinematographer-turned helmsman Reed Morano (I Think We’re Alone Now). Similarly, it gives Lively the chance to continue expanding her range as an actor following her memorably deceitful turn in A Simple Favor.
15. Gretel & Hansel (January 31)
Plot Summary: A young girl and her little brother set out into a dark wood in a desperate search for work and food, only to stumble upon a terrifying evil in the form of a child-eating witch.
The Breakdown: Judging by its marketing, Gretel & Hansel wants to remind everyone that, when retold the right way, Brothers Grimm fairy tales are still very freaky. It’s got the perfect stars for the job too, in the forms of Sophia Lillis (IT, Sharp Objects) as Gretel and Alice Krige (Star Trek: First Contact, Silent Hill) as the witch in the woods. Director Oz Perkins’ previous films (The Blackcoat’s Daughter, I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House) were perhaps too slow and atmospheric for their own good, so that is a concern here. Still, at least studios have stopped trying to turn every classic folktale into an action movie.
14. Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (February 7)
Plot Summary: Fresh off her break-up with the Joker, Harley Quinn teams up with the Birds of Prey and Detective Renee Montoya to young protect Cassandra Cain from the crime lord Roman Sionis.
The Breakdown: Birds of Prey looks like the movie equivalent of Harley Quinn herself (Day-Glo color palate, off-the-walls action and humor) in the very best way. Director Cathy Yan has clearly been afforded a good deal of freedom to make this DC property her own, and may well shake-up the larger franchise in creative and invigorating ways. Plus, for anyone who missed I, Tonya, this will be their first taste of just how great Margot Robbie can be playing a messy and multilayered antihero in an R-rated vehicle. Fingers crossed, then, Birds of Prey will deliver the experience many wanted (but didn’t get) from Suicide Squad.
13. To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You (February 12)
Plot Summary: Lara Jean and Peter’s attempts to date for real are complicated when another recipient of Lara Jean’s love letters, John Ambrose, enters the picture.
The Breakdown: Mid-credits sequel teasers are usually reserved for tentpoles, but it was a smart call to include one in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. The YA rom-com was a huge hit for Netflix in 2018, and the streamer wasted little time before green-lighting a followup based on Angie Han’s second Lara Jean novel. P.S. I Still Love You has most of the same ingredients as its predecessor (save for director Susan Johnson, who was replaced by Michael Fimognari), so there’s reason to think it can recapture To All the Boys’ infectious charm. Helping matters, Jordan Fisher is already making waves with his casting as the “new” John Ambrose.
12. Sonic the Hedgehog (February 14)
Plot Summary: Video game icon Sonic the Hedgehog makes his way into our world and teams up with a regular human cop to avoid being captured by the evil Dr. Robotnik.
The Breakdown: Now that Sonic the Hedgehog no longer looks like nightmare fuel in live-action (courtesy of a much-needed redesign), attention is starting to turn to the rest of his big screen debut. The movie seems like the sort of by the numbers, family-friendly, action comedy you would expect, but without the madcap touch that made 2019’s Detective Pikachu one of the better video game films to date. Fortunately, Jim Carrey ought to bring on more than enough looney with his ’90s-era mugging as Dr. Robotnik (even before he gets his trademark ‘stache). Heck, his performance alone might be worth the price of admission.
11. The Photograph (February 14)
Plot Summary: When a famed photographer dies, her estranged daughter undertakes a journey to learn more about her mother’s early life and ignites an unexpected romance with a journalist along the way.
The Breakdown: Mainstream romantic dramas intended for adults are hard to come by, which makes The Photograph noteworthy right off the bat. Of course, the movie has much more going for it than that; it’s further anchored by a pair of charismatic stars (Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield) and its story deals with deeper issues like how our connections to our parents can affect our romantic relationships. And since she already has a couple of critical hits under her belt, The Photograph has the potential to really cement director Stella Meghie’s status as a filmmaker to watch. All in all, this one may prove to be a perfect viewing option for Valentine’s weekend.
10. The Call of the Wild (February 21)
Plot Summary: Buck, a St. Bernard/Scotch Collie dog, is stolen from his home in California only to befriend a loner in the Alaskan Yukon during the 1890s Gold Rush.
The Breakdown: Harrison Ford on an adventure with a CGI dog doesn’t sound quite as promising as pairing Ford with a real dog, but it’s close enough. It helps that The Call of the Wild’s Buck looks very expressive for a digital character, and will be able to perform far more dangerous stunts than a flesh-and-blood doggo could. Director Chris Sanders has already proven to be a master at telling endearing stories about friendships between humans and non-humans in animation (see: How to Train Your Dragon), so Jack London’s source material should be in safe hands. Between this and Togo, it’s a good time for movies about man’s best friend.
9. The Invisible Man (February 28)
Plot Summary: A woman tries to rebuild her life after her abusive ex-boyfriend commits suicide, but comes to believe he’s still alive and has somehow turned himself invisible.
The Breakdown: Leigh Whannell’s reboot is basically The Invisible Man for the #MeToo era, and it looks pretty compelling (not to mention, unnerving). Whannell and producer Jason Blum are coming off the critical success of their cult film Upgrade, so it will be interesting to see if the pair can deliver the goods again with their latest blend of sci-fi, horror, and thrills. The Invisible Man could further prove to be a great acting showcase for star Elisabeth Moss, much in the same way Us was for Lupita Nyong’o. If nothing else, it sounds far better than the Johnny Depp Invisible Man redo that was planned for the Dark Universe (RIP).
8. Onward (March 6)
Plot Summary: Two teenaged elf brothers set out on a quest to find enough magic to complete a spell that will bring their deceased father back to life for one more day.
The Breakdown: Having only released a single original film in the last four years, Pixar will debut two brand-new offerings in 2020, starting with Onward. The movie looks like it could be their wackiest feature yet, between its urban fantasy setting and a zany plot that pairs Tom Holland and Chris Pratt’s elf brothers with… their late father’s legs (they have to figure out how to bring his upper half back). Frankly, though, it’s refreshing to see Pixar going extra weird after so many safe sequels. And given its inspiration (director Dan Scanlon’s relationship with his brother after their dad died), Onward may prove to be a real tear-jerker too.
7. The Way Back (March 6)
Plot Summary: Struggling with alcoholism and the ghosts of his past, a former high school basketball superstar accepts a coaching position at his alma mater.
The Breakdown: Yes, Gavin O’Connor tends to make Dad Movies, but he also typically makes good Dad Movies (like Warrior). The Way Back touches on several of the recurring themes in his work (alcoholism, redemption) and reunites him with his The Accountant star Ben Affleck in what has the makings of a personal project for Affleck especially (who’s been admirably open about his own real-life struggles with drinking). And while this one isn’t being positioned as an awards contender as expected, that comes as welcome news in some ways. After all, it would be a shame if manly melodramas like this were only produced as Oscar bait.
6. Bloodshot (March 13)
Plot Summary: Having been killed in action, a soldier is resurrected as a nanotech-powered superhero, only to realize the company behind his revival is using him to serve its nefarious purposes.
The Breakdown: Oddly enough, Bloodshot marks the first time Vin Diesel has played a full-blown comic book superhero (his voice-work as Groot aside). The Fast & Furious veteran has basically focused on creating his own original superhero franchises up to this point - some of them (mostly) successful like xXx and Riddick, others not so much (The Last Witch Hunter). Valiant Comics’ Bloodshot character has a lot in common with superheroes like Wolverine and RoboCop on paper, so it’s up to Diesel and director Dave Wilson to really set him apart from his peers. If things don’t work out, well, it’s not like Diesel is hurting for IPs to work on.
5. A Quiet Place Part II (March 20)
Plot Summary: As they flee their home, the Abbotts face the terrors of the outside world and come to realize they have more than sound-sensitive creatures to fear.
The Breakdown: Will A Quiet Place 2 join Aliens and Terminator 2 on the list of terrific sequels to acclaimed sci-fi “monster” thrillers? John Krasinski, who’s back as a writer-director only, is being careful to avoid going too big with his followup, simply adding Djimon Hounsou and Cillian Murphy to the franchise’s human cast. Instead, A Quiet Place 2 will try to expand the setting of its much-praised (and widely-seen) predecessor while still serving up the same low-key suspenseful filmmaking and building on its themes about being a parent. That alone makes this one a must-see, however it fares compared to the first A Quiet Place.
4. Mulan (March 27)
Plot Summary: Hua Mulan, the eldest daughter of an ailing warrior, takes her father’s place in the Imperial Army when China is attacked by Northern Invaders.
The Breakdown: Perhaps the most promising thing about Mulan is how different it feels and looks from Disney’s animated adaptation of the Chinese legend. Unlike the Mouse House’s other recent live-action remakes, this one promises to hew closer to a classical Wuxia epic than a shot-by-shot redo that tries to “fix” the problematic aspects of the original animated film. The trailers suggest director Niki Caro has still included some nostalgic elements harkening back to the animated Mulan, but this retelling may yet prove to have a greater reason for existing other than branding. That said: we won’t object if someone hums “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” in the movie.
3. No Time to Die (April 8)
Plot Summary: James Bond has left active service when he’s called upon to rescue a scientist, only to find himself battling a dangerous criminal mastermind with deadly technology.
The Breakdown: After going through a director change-up, Daniel Craig’s final outing as 007, No Time to Die, is officially set to arrive next spring. The trailer further hints at some exciting twists and turns, along with the expected big set pieces and potentially shocking payoffs to the story threads from Craig’s previous Bond movies (Skyfall and Spectre in particular). That’s not to say No Time to Die is avoiding Bond cliches completely (Rami Malek’s mystery villain is a stereotypical scarred baddie) or guaranteed to end Craig’s run on a high note. Still, with Cary Fukunaga directing from a script co-written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the film has a lot going for it.
2. Antlers (April 17)
Plot Summary:When a small-town Oregon teacher notices something is off about one of her students, she comes to discover he’s hiding a very dangerous (and horrifying) secret.
The Breakdown: Adapted from a short story by Channel Zero creator Nick Antosca, Antlers has the makings of a freaky supernatural horror parable in the tradition of Guillermo del Toro (who, not so coincidentally, produced the film). Antlers’ monster - a Wendigo (?) from Native American folklore - is certainly as terrifying as any creature del Toro’s imagined, but the credit really belongs to cowriter and director Scott Cooper. The latter’s movies are known for being bleak and moody in ways both good and bad, so hopefully his storytelling will mesh well with Antosca and del Toro’s sensibilities. A film that stars both Keri Russell and Jesse Plemons is doing something right, anyway.
1. Promising Young Woman (April 17)
Plot Summary: Having led a secret double life since a mysterious event derailed her promising career, a young woman gets an unexpected chance to right the wrongs of her past.
The Breakdown: Phoebe Waller-Bridge isn’t the only Killing Eve creative with a new project arriving over the next four months. Promising Young Woman marks the feature directing debut for writer Emerald Fennell (who show-ran Killing Eve season 2), and its fascinating setup and equally captivating trailer have quickly secured it a spot among cinephiles’ more anticipated early 2020 releases. It will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival well ahead of its theatrical run, so it won’t be long before critics starting weighing in with their thoughts. So far, though, this subversive revenge thriller appears to feature its Oscar-nominated star, Cary Mulligan, in top acting form.
Honorable Mentions
Dolittle (January 17) - Universal’s $175 million Doctor Dolittle reboot underwent heavy reshoots in 2019 and its trailer tries to trick viewers into thinking it’s for a Disney movie. Still, this is RDJ’s first post-Endgame role, so that’s… something.
Downhill (February 14) - English-language remakes of acclaimed non-American films tend to pale by comparison, but the combination of stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell and the directors of The Way Way Back could elevate this redo into something special.
Fantasy Island (February 14) - Blumhouse’s reboot cleverly puts a horror-comedy spin on the premise for the ’70s TV series. Problem is, the studio’s last film with director Jeff Wadlow, Truth or Dare, also sounded fun on paper, but didn’t turn out so well.
Emma (February 21) - The latest adaptation of Jane Austen’s satirical romance novel is, well, exceptionally white, but its frothy style and Anya Taylor-Joy’s lead performance are looking promising. And speaking of Taylor-Joy movies…
New Mutants (April 3) - Josh Boone’s long-delayed spinoff will be the last of Fox’s pre-Disney X-Men films to hit theaters… assuming it finally sticks to its release date this time. Will it actually be worth checking out? Your guess is as good as ours.
