Hey everyone, Jack Drees here! So I did my top 10 best list of 2020, I did my top 10 worst list of 2020, and now that we’re in the new year, it is time to talk about my top 10 MOST ANTICIPATED movies of 2021. I have never done a most anticipated list before, but I figured since there are a lot of movies that are supposedly coming out in 2021, this marks a prime opportunity to discuss some potential hits for me. Couple rules before we get started. Just because these are the movies I am looking forward to, does not mean that you should too. I mean, if we have the same list, fantastic! But remember, this is completely subjective. Also, I am only going to be talking about movies that are releasing in cinemas at some point. If it is going straight to TV, straight to Netflix, straight to Disney+, it does not count. For now at least. I dunno, depending on how long the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, I may have to make 2021 an exception year as well where I count movies that were once going to release in theaters, but couldn’t for whatever reason. Movies like “Soul,” “The Witches,” and “Superintelligence.” By the way, don’t watch “Superintelligence.” I’m not gonna waste any time, I’m not doing any honorable mentions, I just want to dive into my main ten, so let’s do it! These are my top 10 MOST ANTICIPATED movies of 2021.

#10: Top Gun: Maverick

Starting off this list is “Top Gun: Maverick.” I am really excited for this film. The cinematography looks beautiful. The flight scenes look majestic. And I think Joseph Kosinski is a really good pick to helm a project like this. He’s done big scale blockbusters like “Tron: Legacy” and “Oblivion” in the past, so I think he’s a good fit. And of course, Tom Cruise is back as Maverick, who has been serving in the Navy for thirty years. I think “Top Gun” is a good film, but I think that “Top Gun: Maverick” has the potential to be better with the advances in technology, possibly a great emphasis on Maverick himself as a character and where he stands as a person. This film was supposed to be put out in 2019, but they pushed it back to manage complex flight sequences. When the pandemic hit in 2020, the film got delayed a couple more times, and now it is hopefully in its rightful place to potentially become one of the bigger summer hits of the year. Kelly McGillis, who was Tom Cruise’s love interest in the original film, will not be returning, but I personally don’t have the biggest problem with such a thing as I’ve heard the two did not always get along on set many years ago. Although Val Kilmer is back, so if you liked him in the original film, you have that to look forward to. And of course, Tom Cruise keeps with the cliché that he does his own stunts. He flies a jet, and I love that this film is going for practicality. Here’s hoping “Top Gun: Maverick” is a competitor for top dog of the year!

#9: Eternals

Up next, we have “Eternals.” This film was supposed to release in November 2020, but now it is coming out in November 2021. It has a star-studded cast consisting of Kumail Nanjiani, Salma Hayek, and Angelina Jolie. They’ve got some talented people in this film. But I should also mention that the director of this film is Chloe Zhao and if you don’t know anything about her, one movie she made that was supposed to hit theaters in 2020 has been killing it on the festival scene. I won’t say much about it, because spoiler, it is on the list. If she created a Best Picture frontrunner, I have faith she can make a great comic book movie. I have not read the source material, but the concept behind “Eternals” is nevertheless intriguing. Partially because it involves a story that kind of spans over thousands of years. I think that there is a ton of potential with this concept, and maybe it’ll be the next “Guardians of the Galaxy.” It takes a bunch of characters that mainstream audiences do not know much about, then makes them the talk of the town.

#8: The Last Duel

Speaking of films that were supposed to come out in 2020, we have “The Last Duel.” This film was going to have a limited release this Christmas with an expansion to more theaters on January 8th of the following year. “The Last Duel” is a film that has the potential to be one of the most beautiful-looking productions of the year. It is directed by Ridley Scott, who has made quite a name for himself over the years, and it is shot by Dariusz Wolski, who also shot one of my favorite 2020 films, “News of the World.” The film itself takes place in 14th century France and is about two best friends who have to fight to the death under the order of King Charles VI after one accuses the other of raping his wife. This sounds compelling, and I do not know what they’re ultimately going for with this film, but I would not be surprised if it is rated R. Adam Driver, who is building a terrific resume, is in this movie, but I should also mention that not only do Ben Affleck and Matt Damon star in the film, but they also wrote the screenplay together. The last time they wrote a screenplay, specifically “Good Will Hunting,” it won the duo an Oscar!

Who knows? Maybe this joke from “The Late Show with David Letterman” will come true! Go to 1:50, by the way. You’ll understand.

#7: No Time to Die

I have not seen many James Bond flicks, but it does not change the fact that I am super stoked for Daniel Craig’s final outing as 007, “No Time to Die.” Again, we have another movie that was supposed to hit theaters in 2020, but got pushed back a couple times due to the pandemic. I will admit, and I don’t know if this will surprise anybody, even though Billie Eilish has put out her song for this film, I have not listened to it yet despite it being out for awhile. All I can say is that I want to be surprised. This film looks exciting, action-packed, some of the stunts look incredible, and that is exactly what a Bond movie should deliver. Plus, this movie also features Ana de Armas (Blade Runner 2049, Knives Out), who not only happens to admittedly be a celebrity crush, but someone who is becoming one of my favorite actresses. This is her second film with Daniel Craig, given how they were in “Knives Out” together, so I’m excited to see them return. Once again, this is Daniel Craig’s final movie as Bond, so I hope they pull out all the stops on this one. Did I mention they shot part of the movie in IMAX? Sign me up!

#6: Spider-Man 3

Coming in at #6 is “Spider-Man 3,” or as some are calling it, “Untitled Spider-Man Sequel.” I kind of hope this next “Spider-Man” film has the word home in the title somewhere. Even if it is just to reference a scene where Peter Parker goes see a Mets game or something. You can just call the movie “Spider-Man: Home Run.” Speaking of which, this movie sounds like a home run. You’ve got Tom Holland returning, Benedict Cumberbatch, otherwise known as Doctor Strange is set to make an appearance, and based on what I’m speculating, there’s a lot of news going around as to how many characters this movie is getting and multiple universes colliding. They’ve already confirmed Jamie Foxx’s Electro is returning, the same goes for Alfred Molina’s Doctor Octopus. I don’t think there’s any official word on Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield coming in as of yet, which I’ll be honest, is a concept that presents a double-edged sword. On one hand, the more webheads, the better! In fact, Tobey Maguire’s “Spider-Man” partially shaped my childhood and love for film. At the same time though, this almost sounds like fan service just for the sake of fan service. I don’t watch any of the CW superhero shows like “The Flash” or “Supergirl” or “Black Lightning,” but I know they have these crossovers at various points. This almost sounds like the buildup to Crisis on Infinite Earths in that universe. By that I mean it’s clunky, almost unreal, and maybe it has *too much* fan service. At the same time though, the real reason why I am anticipating this film is because of where “Spider-Man: Far From Home” left us off. I won’t spoil anything for those who have not seen the movie, but some serious s*it might be brewing up.

#5: Free Guy

What’s the next movie? It’s Ryan Reynolds trapped in a video game! AWESOME! I’m talking about “Free Guy.” Not only does “Free Guy” come with a cool concept, but it stars Ryan Reynolds as a bank teller. Reynolds has been on a solid track record as an actor. Even in some movies where I don’t think the material is something to write home about, Reynolds is a highlight. I imagine this film is going to have that traditional Ryan Reynolds humor and schtick that you may have seen in “Deadpool” or “Pokemon: Detective Pikachu,” but it has yet to get old for me, so I happily welcome it. Ryan Reynolds is like Kevin Hart, he can play the same guy to some degree in every film he’s in, but it works every time. This film is also being directed by Shawn Levy who produced “Arrival,” one of my favorite sci-fi films of the past ten years. He’s also directed the “Night at the Museum” trilogy, which maybe except the third movie, are goldmines when it comes to comedy. I am curious to see what he can do with this video game-esque film. Also, I should mention that this film may be emotional for me, because I saw in one of the trailers that Alex Trebek makes an appearance. Granted, it just appears to be a cameo, but the moment he shows up on the screen could induce a tear depending on how long he’s up there. I love my game shows, what can I say? RIP Alex.

#4: Nomadland

Some might say this is a 2020 film, but I’m currently calling it a 2021 film as it has not been publicly released yet except for some festivals. Going back to Chloe Zhao, my next entry to this list is “Nomadland.” The reason why this is so high on this list is partially because of all the buzz I’ve been hearing. I barely know about this film. Yes, I know it is about a woman who lives through the Great Recession and she journeys through the American west. I’ve seen the trailer, I know some of the people involved. But this film has been winning award after award after award. At this point, some speculate it may be a frontrunner for Best Picture at the Oscars. Going back to the concept, we are living through the COVID-19 pandemic, and I have a feeling that this film is going to highlight struggles that we as a society could translate to modern times. And depending on where we go in regards to the economy, maybe we’ll see some similarities there too when it comes to themes and storylines. I first heard about this film back in September when the Venice Film Festival was going on, where it won the Golden Lion, and since then, I would hear about it every other day. The film was originally supposed to release in December of last year, but got pushed back to February of this year. I can’t wait to see what this is all about!

#3: Mission: Impossible 7

In 2018 I declared that my favorite film of the year is “Mission: Impossible – Fallout.” Admitedly, that kind of goes back and forth between that and “Avengers: Infinity War” from time to time, but it does not change the fact that it is one of my favorite action films ever. And I’m not gonna lie, the sequel, “Mission: Impossible 7” is shaping up to be something special. The last couple of “Mission: Impossible” films, which have been directed by Christopher McQuarrie, have been the best the franchise has to offer. So I am especially glad he is coming back for a third movie, which is supposedly going to be followed by an eighth installment with the same cast and crew. My brain tells me that maybe the eighth one will be the last one, but money talks. So, who knows? At this point, that’s my guess. Also coming back is Lorne Balfe, who did the score on “Fallout.” It is a great score and it admittedly helped me get through a cavity filling at the dentist one time, so I’d say Balfe did his job. Also, let’s not forget about Tom Cruise. Say what you want about Tom Cruise. He’s crazy. He’s in a cult. He’s a weirdo. Maybe. But he is one of my favorite actors working today and if these few months have shown anything, he loves this industry and will do anything to keep it going. I seriously wonder how they are going to top the helicopter scene in the climax of “Fallout,” but I think with enough determination, it can be done. Plus you have some other cast members including Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, and Vanessa Kirby. All these people have done a great job in the other “M:I” movies they are in. Also joining them is Mantis herself, Pom Klementieff. She seems charismatic enough to join the franchise, so I hope the crew can execute the best “Mission” yet.

#2: Babylon

I often talk about how my favorite director working today is Christopher Nolan. Those of you who know me realize that’s not a secret. But if I had to pick a runner-up, Damien Chazelle is an arguable contender, and that is just part of why I am super excited for “Babylon.” There are not many details disclosed yet about “Babylon,” but what I do know about “Babylon” is that it is a period piece set in Hollywood. And if you have been following the awards circuit, notably in recent years, Hollywood loves movies about itself. “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” was a huge hit critically and won Best Picture – Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes, and let’s not forget, Chazelle himself has experience making a hit film about Hollywood, “La La Land.” That film had 14 Oscar nominations, won 6 of them, swept the Golden Globes, and earned Best Film at the BAFTAs. While that is not my favorite Damien Chazelle outing, there is no doubt that he can create something special. Speaking of which, Margot Robbie will be starring in the film as Clara Bow, a famous actress who was featured in both silent film and talkies. Also joining the cast is Tobey Maguire, Li Jun Li, and Robbie’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” co-star, Brad Pitt. They’ve got some serious talent for this film, and for a few of these people, this almost feels like a trip down a somewhat recent memory lane. Not only is Chazelle directing this film, but he’s also writing the screenplay, and I’m happy about this because he’s a solid writer! Before “Whiplash” came out and became the talk of the town, Chazelle wrote “Grand Piano” starring Elijah Wood. The film itself gets a little far-fetched at times, but if you like suspense and killer music, that film may be for you. “Babylon” takes place during the transition from when Hollywood was going from silent film to talkies, I love this premise, and I think Chazelle is going to kill it with “Babylon.”

# 1: Dune

At one point, this was my most anticipated film of 2020, as it was supposed to come out last December. But it got delayed to October 2021, so I can now confirm that “Dune” is my most anticipated film of 2021! If you know me, you know I am all about the theatrical experience. I have a seemingly unhealthy obsession with it. Let’s just start off with the obvious. Having seen the first trailer, both at home and in cinemas, “Dune” looks like it was made for the big screen. There are a few action scenes that look intricate and awe-inspiring to the naked eye. The sand environments are beautiful and are magnificently captured by legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins, who returns alongside Denis Villeneuve, another one of my favorite directors working today. I’ll admit, I’m a bit behind on his films. I have not seen “Prisoners,” I have not seen “Sicario,” but having seen “Arrival” and “Blade Runner 2049,” I can only imagine the sheer scale and glory that “Dune” will encapsulate. Villeneuve has proven that he can bring great sci-fi to the big screen, and I am hoping he continues that with “Dune.” I have not read the book, although I do have the book and I plan to read it. I’m very excited to get on that. I also have not seen the David Lynch adaptation. Who knows if I’ll have time for it? But speaking of not acknowledging source material, this film is being scored by one of my favorite Hollywood composers, Hans Zimmer (Interstellar, Man of Steel). Not only is the legend himself gearing up to make some hopefully great music for “Dune,” but he has pointed out in 2019 that he has not seen the David Lynch version of the story. I like this, because for all I know, this maybe allows for a fresh take, unless somehow the movie ends up unintentionally coming off as David Lynch’s story 2.0. The cast is incredible! Timothee Chalamet (Interstellar, Call Me by Your Name), Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones, Aquaman), Zendaya (Spider-Man: Homecoming, The Greatest Showman), Rebecca Ferguson (Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Doctor Sleep), Josh Brolin (The Goonies, Avengers: Infinity War), Oscar Isaac (Annihilation, Star Wars: The Force Awakens). It’s like they pulled out the whole cavalry on this film! The screenwriters, Jon Spaihts and Eric Roth had some great outings in recent years with “Doctor Strange” and “A Star is Born” respectively. And of course, you have Denis Villeneuve himself. This is the first thing he’s written in a while, but I have faith in him because he seems to have an enormous reverence to the source material that I think he can pull this film off. We’ll just have to see. And that is why “Dune” is my most anticipated film of 2021!

Thanks for reading this countdown! There is definitely a lot to look forward to as we head into 2021 and all it has to offer, but I am not going to say that we’re actually going to get all of it. For all I know, six of these films might not even come out until 2022. If 2020 has taught us anything, never underestimate the power of a fiendish year. If you like this sort of material but want to go back to 2020 for whatever reason… Wait, nobody wants to do that. But still! If you like this post, you may also want to check out my countdowns titled Top 10 BEST Movies of 2020 and Top 10 WORST Movies of 2020. Check those out, I think you might enjoy them! Be sure to follow Scene Before either with an email or WordPress account, and check out the official Facebook page, so you can stay tuned for more great content! I want to know, what are your most anticipated movies of 2021? And do you think we’re even going to see any big movies this year? I can tell you that “Nomadland” is practically a lock given all the festival buzz, but as for everything else, you can put a question mark on all of them to some degree. But hey, the vaccine’s coming! Here’s hoping for some good news! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!