Now that we're in the early days of 2020, film fans are looking ahead at what's coming to cinemas and streaming services this year. Not surprisingly, the most anticipated films of the year are filled with sequels to some of the biggest franchises, with movies like Wonder Woman 1984 and No Time to Die.
However, this year will also see some unexpected sequels that may have flown under the radar. Some are long-awaited continuations others are sequels that seemed to come out of nowhere. While you might not have been aware of them before, these follow-ups could be worth checking out. Here are some movies you may have forgotten were getting sequels in 2020.
The Purge 5
The Purge franchise started as a simple home invasion movie with a very interesting premise around it. Set in a not-too-distant future, crime in America is controlled through an annual "purge" in which all crime is legal for 24 hours.
The sequels wisely took that concept further and began exploring larger-scale stories set on this terrifying night. A fifth entry is one the way with some rumors suggesting it will be the final film in the series. Let's hope they go out with a bang.
Bill & Ted Face The Music
There are some devoted fans to the adventures of Bill & Ted who are more than aware of the long-awaited sequel is coming this year. However, for the average movie fan, Bill & Ted Face the Music may have snuck up on them.
This is one of those sequels that has been talked about for a long time and never seemed able to get off the ground. However, the original stars have returned, the filming has wrapped, and now it's just a matter of time before we see if these two airheads can still rock.
Escape Room 2
Escape Room was one of the surprise hits of 2019. Taking advantage of the trend of popular escape rooms, the movie follows a group of strangers inside a maze of rooms with deadly traps who must work together and use their wits to get out alive.
The modest success of the first film warranted a sequel, but it's surprising how quickly the follow-up is coming. The movie is currently filming and star Taylor Russell is returning but nothing is yet known about the plot.
The Croods 2
Family-friendly animated films are usually a big draw at the box office, even if not all of them have the same lasting power as the Pixar movies. 2013's The Croods seemed to have been one of those films. It came to theaters, was a decent hit and left without many people really remembering it.
However, the film must have its fans as a sequel is finally coming seven years after the original. The original cast is returning, some of who have become superstars since the first film, like Emma Stone and Ryan Reynolds. The adventure about a dysfunctional prehistoric family could become an unexpected franchise.
The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard
Ryan Reynolds will be returning for another unexpected sequel this year with The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard. Though Reynolds hit it big with the Deadpool films, his other films haven't always found a wide audience. The Hitman's Bodyguard was a fun if disposable action comedy that was a modest success in 2017.
Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson are set to return as the mismatched pair. Given the title, we can also assume Salma Hayek will return as Jackson's wife who is apparently the one in need of protection this time around.
Minions: The Rise Of Gru
The Despicable Me franchise has had an interesting trajectory. The film started as an animated adventure about an evil genius named Gru who adopts three young kids. Though the film received two sequels, the side characters of the Minions eventually took the spotlight in their own spinoff.
Now, in a sequel to Minions, the story comes full circle as Minions: The Rise of Gru will tell the story of the minions' first encounter with their future master, with Steve Carrell returning to voice Gru.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
While the cinematic universe that has been built off The Conjuring films continues to be a solid success, some fans might be surprised to learn that a genuine sequel to the original series is coming in 2020.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It is the third Conjuring film and will see the return of Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as paranormal investigators and authors Ed and Lorraine Warren. The movie is said to deal with the first instance in U.S. history of someone using demonic possession as a defense.
Death On The Nile
The whodunit genre seems to be making something of a comeback with the success of Knives Out this year and Murder on the Orient Express in 2017. While Knives Out might be launching a franchise soon, the latter murder mystery receives a 2020 follow-up with Death on the Nile.
Kenneth Branagh will return as director and actor, playing detective Hercule Poirot in a similarly star-studded affair, featuring Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer and Letitia Wright. The Agatha Christie story centers on the murder of a young heiress.
Coming 2 America
Eddie Murphy is currently experiencing a major comeback with an acclaimed performance in the delightful comedy Dolemite Is My Name. However, 2020 looks to be a big year for him as well as he will be returning to one of his most popular films with Coming 2 America.
Once again, this is a film that has been discussed as a possibility for a long time and the fact that it is really happening might some as a surprise to many people. Murphy has shown he still has that spark so it will be fun to see him return to this role.
Halloween Kills
The Halloween franchise has had a very confusing timeline, but 2018's Halloween sought to simplify things by ignoring everything that came after the original and acting as the first sequel to the 1978 film.
The result was a back-to-basics slasher film that proved very effective for fans of the genre. The smashing success of the sequel was followed by the promise that it would be the start of a new trilogy that will bring the story to an end. Halloween Kills has the interesting job of following up on the events of the last film and setting up the conclusion, Halloween Ends.