Every Upcoming Sci-Fi Movie In 2021

2021 features the release of several new science fiction movies, including sequels to already popular franchises, adaptations of sci-fi classics, and completely original properties. Sci-fi films have carved out a solid swath of the film industry, allowing filmmakers and audiences to explore concepts of futurity and the impact of new technology and ideas. Many recent sci-fi films, such as Denis Villeneuve's Arrival, have proven to be commercial and critical successes, garnering audience favor and awards season buzz alike.

Sci-fi is also one of the most versatile film genres right now. From box office juggernauts like the Star Wars films to more contained independent films like Ex Machina, sci-fi movies open audiences' minds to new worlds and possibilities, often with the help of groundbreaking visual effects.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the landscape of sci-fi movies has shifted. Many highly anticipated sci-fi movies slated for release in 2020 were pushed back to 2021. Similarly, several sci-fi movies scheduled for 2021 have been pushed back to 2022, including high-profile sequels like Avatar 2 and Jurassic World: Dominion. However, 2021 still promises to pack a punch with the following sci-fi movies.

Chaos Walking - March 5

Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley sitting underneath a canopy in Chaos Walking

Based on Patrick Ness's highly popular YA trilogy, Chaos Walking imagines a future in which a germ has wiped out all women on Earth and left the men with the Noise, the ability to hear all living creatures' thoughts at all times. Tom Holland plays Todd Hewitt, a teenager whose world is upended when he meets a lone woman named Viola Eade (Daisy Ridley). Chaos Walking was filmed in 2017, but its release has been delayed multiple times because of reshoots as well as Holland and Ridley's schedules, which have only grown busier as the two stars have become more and more well known.

Morbius - March 19

Jared Leto stars as the titular character in Sony's Morbius, a blend of sci-fi and horror based on the Marvel Comics character Dr. Michael Morbius. Dr. Morbius suffers from a rare blood disease, and in an extreme attempt to heal himself he ends up with a slew of vampiric powers, making him a living vampire. The film's trailer shows Morbius' origin story and also teases an appearance from Michael Keaton as MCU Spider-Man villain Vulture, suggesting that Sony may be trying to create a larger antihero franchise including Morbius and their other antihero, Venom.

Free Guy - May 21

Jodie Comer and Ryan Reynolds in Free Guy

Originally scheduled to release in 2020, Free Guy features Ryan Reynolds as Guy, a non-player character in an open world video game. When Guy realizes he's in a game, he works to make himself a hero and prevent the game from being shut down. The movie has an all-star cast, including Emmy-winner Jodie Comer and film director Taika Waititi, and is directed by Stranger Things director and producer Shawn Levy. Expect plenty of action and send-ups of video game tropes in this combination of sci-fi and comedy.

Godzilla vs. Kong - May 21

Godzilla king of the monsters Kong skull island Godzilla vs king kong

The King of the Monsters faces off against the King of the Apes in Godzilla vs. Kong, the follow-up to both Kong: Skull Island and Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Godzilla and King Kong are two of sci-fi's most iconic cinematic monsters, and this match-up marks the first time they have fought on the big screen since Toho's 1962 King Kong vs. Godzilla, which saw Kong triumphant. A highly anticipated rematch plus the possibility for a Titan Civil War could make this the biggest film in Legendary's MonsterVerse yet.

Infinite - May 28

Known for action films like Training Day and The Equalizer, Director Antoine Fuqua now turns to sci-fi with Infinite, an adaptation of D. Eric Maikranz's The Reincarnationist Papers. Mark Wahlberg plays Evan Michaels, a man haunted by hallucinations that he comes to realize are memories from past lives. Evan joins up with other people like him - other "infinites" - in order to use this ability for the good of humanity.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife - June 11

Mckenna Grace and Finn Wolfhard in Ghostbusters Afterlife

Ghostbusters: Afterlife is a family affair, as director Jason Reitman helms the sequel to his father Ivan's original Ghostbusters films. Just one of many movie sequels delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, this new addition to Ghostbusters canon follows a mother (Carrie Coon) and her two children (Mckenna Grace and Finn Wolfhard) as they move to a small town. There, they'll discover their connection to the first Ghosbusters. Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Ernie Hudson, and Sigourney Weaver will reprise their roles from the first movies.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage - June 25

Another release from Sony, Venom: Let There Be Carnage follows up from 2018's hit movie Venom. Tom Hardy's Eddie Brock continues to live as the host for an alien symbiote that turns him into Venom. This sequel introduces another symbiote-host relationship, as serial killer Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson) becomes Carnage, Venom's nemesis. Although there is debate about whether Sony's Venom films are a part of the MCU, this sequel will surely escalate Eddie and Venom's story even further.

The Tomorrow War - July 23

Director Chris McKay - who most recently helmed The Lego Batman Movie - marks his first foray into live action with military sci-fi movie The Tomorrow War. In the future, humans are losing a war against an alien invasion. Scientists devise a potential way to win the war by recruiting soldiers from the past. Chris Pratt leads a large ensemble cast that includes Yvonne Strahovski, Betty Gilpin, and J.K. Simmons.

Dune - October 1

Paul and Lady Jessica look at the desert in Dune (2021).

Denis Villeneuve's highly anticipated Dune is based on Frank Herbert's seminal sci-fi novel of the same name. Dune is one of the most influential books in the genre, notably inspiring many elements of Star Wars. It is also considered unadaptable - David Lynch's 1984 version was a critical and commercial failure. However, Villeneuve has proven himself as a sci-fi auteur with films like Arrival and Blade Runner 2049, putting him in a good position to adapt the unadaptable. Timothee Chalamet plays Paul Atreides, the heir to House Atreides. He and his family are sent to the barely habitable planet Arrakis, also known as Dune. Vast dessert landscapes, iconic sandworms, and the spice melange - which allows interstellar travel - abound. The film features an all-star cast, including Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Javier Bardem, and Jason Momoa.

The Matrix 4 - December 22

The iconic Matrix series returns after almost two decades with The Matrix 4, directed and co-written by Lana Wachowski, one half of the sibling duo that made the originals. Details about the sequel are under wraps, but Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss are reprising their roles as Neo and Trinity. Several newcomers have been added to the cast, including Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jessica Henwick, and Jonathan Groff. Whether the film reaches the heights of the original or makes the same errors as The Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions remains to be seen. However, a new story, new cast, and updated visual effects may be just what the franchise needs to succeed.

Next: The Most Anticipated Movies of 2021