From deep space missions to alien beings, exotic new worlds and superheroes ranging from “Black Widow” to “Wonder Woman,” this year will be jam-packed with thrilling space and science fiction movies.Â
Here is our list of some of the most interesting sci-fi movies to see in 2020 (and the movies that got delayed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic).
Related: 20 sci-fi movies and TV shows to binge watch on Netflix right now
“Wonder Woman 1984” (Aug. 2)
Wonder Woman’s next big screen adventure finds her up against two new enemies: Maxwell Lord, a wealthy TV personality and Dr. Barbara Minerva (played by Kristen Wiig), an archaeologist turned warrior cheetah. “Wonder Woman 1984” is the sequel to 2017’s “Wonder Woman,” where we saw Diana (played by Gal Gadot) cross the trenches of No Man’s Land in World War I and ultimately destroy Ares. Now, we see her at the end of the Cold War in brand-new gold armor.Â
“Bill & Ted Face the Music” (Aug. 21)
This will be the third film in the Bill & Ted franchise. Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter will reprise their roles as best friends Theodore “Ted” Logan and William “Bill” Preston, respectively. Bill and Ted are met by a visitor from the future, who instructs them to create a song in 78 minutes in order to save all life on Earth and the entire universe.Â
“Bios” (Oct. 2)Â
Set in a post-apocalyptic world, Tom Hanks stars as Finch, an ailing inventor and one of the last men on Earth. Facing his own death, Finch creates a robot named Jeff (played by Caleb Landry Jones) to take care of his dog when he dies. As the trio embarks on a cross-country journey, Finch has to teach the robot to be “human-like” and train his beloved pet to listen to his new master.Â
“Black Widow” (Nov. 6)Â
Natasha Romanoff (played by Scarlett Johannson) finally gets her own standalone Marvel movie. This installment is set shortly after “Captain America: Civil War,” when Romanoff finds herself alone and is forced to confront a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past as a spy. She also must face the aftermath of broken relationships from before she became an Avenger.Â
“Dune” (Dec. 18)
Scheduled to be released Dec. 18, 2020, “Dune” is the first of a planned two-part adaptation of the 1965 novel of the same name by Frank Herbert. Set in the future, the movie follows a brilliant and gifted young man named Paul Atreides, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. The planet, called Arrakis (or Dune), is the only known source of a drug called “the spice,” which extends human life, provides superhuman levels of thought and makes “foldspace” travel possible. Atreides is entrusted to protect the planet and its valuable resources.Â
“Stowaway” (2020)Â
“Stowaway” follows the crew of a spaceship headed to Mars that discovers an accidental stowaway shortly after launch. With the journey planned for only a certain amount of people, the crew runs into a series of unintended consequences as resources quickly begin to dwindle. Anna Kendrick is set to star as the ship’s medical researcher and voice of reason as the crew decides how to best handle the grim situation. The exact release date for “Stowaway” has not yet been announced.Â
“Voyagers” (2020)
A group of 30 young men and women are sent deep into space on a multi-generational mission in search of a planet to populate and call home. However, the group quickly descends into chaos after the captain of the mission is mysteriously killed. The film stars Colin Farrell, Isaac Hempstead Wright, Tye Sheridan, Lily-Rose Depp and others. It is currently in post-production and is set to release Nov. 25, 2020.Â
In case you missed itÂ
In case you missed them, there were a few awesome sci-fi movies released early in 2020, in January and February.
“Underwater” (Jan. 10)Â
“Underwater” is set on a corporate research rig seven miles beneath the ocean’s surface, where a team will drill to the bottom of the Mariana Trench for resources. When an earthquake hits, the undersea station suffers a breach from the pressure and water starts crashing through the walls. The surviving crew ultimately has to put on pressurized suits and walk across the ocean floor to another drilling station. Along the way, they encounter strange creatures that threaten the crew’s survival.Â
“Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey” (Feb. 7)Â
The newest “Harley Quinn” movie is based on the DC Comics team and follows the story of Harley Quinn after her breakup with the Joker. The female squad led by Harley Quinn teams up against Gotham City crime lord Black Mask.Â
“Invisible Man” (Feb. 28)Â
Based on the 1952 novel by Ralph Ellison, “Invisible Man” follows the story of Cecilia. She is trapped in a violent, controlling relationship but it seems that she’s escaped when her abusive ex-husband appears to commit suicide, leaving her his fortune. However, Cecilia (played by Elisabeth Moss) suspects his death was a hoax and that he is still alive. Her friends and family start to question her sanity as she tries to prove she is being hunted by someone nobody can see.Â
“Bloodshot” (March 13)Â
This new superhero film is based on the Valiant Comics character Bloodshot (played by Vin Diesel). After marine Ray Garrison and his wife are murdered, Ray is resurrected by a team of scientists and enhanced with nanotechnology that makes him a superhuman, biotech killing machine. “Bloodshot” was first released in Switzerland on Feb. 20, and was released in the United States on March 13.Â
“The New Mutants” (April 3)Â
This long-awaited Marvel film follows a team of five teenage mutants who are just discovering their superpowers. Due to their unique abilities, the mutants are held in a secret psychiatric facility against their will. As a result, they are faced with sins from the past and encounter strange, seemingly supernatural events.Â
2020 movies delayed to 2021
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, several space and scifi movies that were originally scheduled to be released this year have been bumped to 2021. Here’s what we can look forward to watching next year.
“Eternals” (Feb. 12, 2021)
The Eternals are a race of ancient alien beings who were created by the Celestials — a powerful extraterrestrial race — and have secretly shared the Earth with humankind for thousands of years. Following “Avengers: Endgame” (2019), the Eternals are forced out of the shadows to reunite against mankind’s most ancient enemy: The Deviants. The Eternals — featuring Thena (Angelina Jolie), Ikaris (Richard Madden) and Black Knight (Kit Harrington) — are among the most powerful characters in the Marvel Universe.
“Venom 2” (June 25, 2021)
“Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” the sequel to 2018’s Venom, was slated to hit theaters Oct. 2, 2020, and has been delayed to 2021. While the film is still in production and many of the plot details have not been released, it is believed that “Venom 2” will focus on the relationship between protagonists Eddie Brock and Venom. Audiences can also expect to see more of the supervillain Carnage.Â
“The Tomorrow War” (July 23, 2021)Â
To fight the war against an alien invasion, scientists have developed a way to draft soldiers from the past. “The Tomorrow War” follows the story of a husband and father (played by Chris Pratt) who is drafted into a war against invading aliens. Set in the future, the fate of humanity relies on Pratt’s character and his ability to correct issues of the past.
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