2021 has a mind-blowing amount of major movies set to release, and that could be good or bad depending on who you ask. The theatrical release schedule continues to shift due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and it's likely other titles will be delayed in the coming weeks. As for now, the 2021 calendar year is jam-packed with blockbusters.
Before the coronavirus crisis swept through the globe, 2021 was already set to be a big year in terms of movies. Monumental franchises like the MCU were gearing up to release 4 installments in 2021 while the DCEU has The Batman, The Suicide Squad, and Black Adam. The year's original schedule also featured blockbuster titles like Mortal Kombat, Jurassic World: Dominion, Space Jam 2, Mission Impossible 7, Uncharted, Fantastic Beasts 3, and Avatar 2.
Due to the various production delays and theater shutdowns, studios took action but pushing back several major titles to 2021. The MCU moved The Eternals to 2021 to join Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and the next Spider-Man sequel slated for next year. Marvel's Morbius was also delayed to 2021 along with films like Jungle Cruise, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and F9. These titles are in addition to the previously mentioned 2021 releases. It's likely that some of the previously planned movies set to debut in 2021 will also be pushed, the year is still emerging as a busy year for film lovers.
What Does The 2021 Release Schedule Mean For Moviegoers & Studios?
Seeing the enormous slate of films coming out in 2021 is probably very exciting for moviegoers. In these uncertain times, most people are dreaming of the days when they can visit their local theaters to once again feel a sense of normalcy in their lives. With the restrictions, 2020's movie history will always have an asterisk next to it because of the unprecedented series of events that took place. Once theaters reopen, movie fans will hope for a constant flow of long-awaited content and 2021 looks to go above and beyond expectations in terms of blockbuster-quality releases.
On the other hand, film studios might cringe at the long list of releases on the 2021 calendar. Studios certainly don't want fans to wait longer for their titles but there will undoubtedly be a concern when it comes to a convoluted market. Releases will definitely bring in enormous numbers at the box office but longevity could be an issue.
Take May 2021 as an example when Shang-Chi, The Matrix 4, John Wick 4, and Cruella are set to debut. They will all draw interest but do studios want these titles competing with one another at the same time when the surrounding months also have other titles with blockbuster potential. There are several months in 2021 that will run into that problem which could result in serious drop-offs in box office earnings following release weekends. It wouldn't be surprising to see studios reconsider the originally planned 2021 releases and move them to 2022, causing a domino effect.