Most Anticipated Movies of 2020

At the beginning of 2019, I listed 16 movies I was excited to see. Of the 16, I saw 12 of them. Of the 12, I genuinely loved five of them. (I actively disliked three of them!) So why do I bother with these lists? I have been asking myself that question for years, and am still not any closer to coming up with an answer. So anyway, here’s a list of movies I think I will enjoy in 2020, but let’s face it, some of them will suck and there’s nothing I can do except be disappointed when the time comes.
Of course, I am fully aware that some of the best movies of 2020 will be ones I’ve never even heard of as of this writing. (After all, my favorite film of 2019, Jojo Rabbit, was wholly unknown to me when I created my last list a year ago.) The list below consists of the higher-profile pictures—including one that was on my 2019 list, but got pushed back for some reason.

THE RHYTHM SECTION— An international spy thriller that follows the story of Stephanie Patrick (Blake Lively), a woman who seeks to uncover the truth behind a plane crash that killed her family three years earlier. With Jude Law and Sterling K. Brown. (Jan. 31)

THE LODGE—In this psychological horror movie, a young woman (Riley Keough) and her reticent new stepchildren (Jaeden Martell and Lia McHugh) find themselves isolated in the family's remote winter cabin, locked away to dredge up the mysteries of her dark past and the losses that seem to haunt them all. (Feb. 7)

THE CALL OF THE WILD—Adaptation of Jack London's 1903 novel features Harrison Ford, Dan Stevens and Bradley Whitford. In it, a domesticated St. Bernard/Scotch Collie dog named Buck is stolen from his Santa Clara, CA, home and sold to freight haulers in the Yukon. Looks like a pretty good rem(Feb. 21)

EMMA—Another remake! Jane Austen’s classic novel about Emma Woodhouse, a "handsome, clever and rich" woman who meddles in the romantic affairs of her friends and loved ones. (Feb. 21)

THE INVISIBLE MAN—Based on the trailer, this movie doesn’t appear to retain much of the H.G. Wells novel, so I’m not sure we can call this a remake. But I’m a sucker for all movies about invisible men, including the unfairly maligned 2000 sci-fi film Hollow Man, starring Kevin Bacon. (Feb. 28)

A QUIET PLACE, PART II—Sequel to the excellent 2018 aliens-will-get-you shocker.  (March 20)

NO TIME TO DIE—James Bond is back, and this is reportedly Daniel Craig’s last outing as 007. This news has left me quite shaken, but not stirred. (April 8)

ANTEBELLUM—Successful author Veronica Henley finds herself trapped in a nightmarish reality and must find a way to break free of the horrors at hand. (April 24)

BLACK WIDOW—Following the events of Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War (2016), Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) finds herself alone and forced to confront her past. (May 1)

THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW—Psychological thriller film from director Joe Wright based on the bestselling 2018 novel by A. J. Finn. Amy Adams, Gary Oldman, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Julianne Moore star. (May 15)

WONDER WOMAN 1984—Gal Gadot returns as Wonder Woman in this sequel to the 2017 hit superhero adventure. (June 5)

IN THE HEIGHTS— Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 2008 Broadway success becomes a musical-drama film. (June 26)

THE ETERNALS—Marvel superhero film featuring Angelina Jolie. (Nov. 6)

STILLWATER—A man works to exonerate his estranged daughter of a murder she didn’t commit. With Matt Damon. (Nov. 6)

COMING 2 AMERICA—Eddie Murphy reassembles the cast of his beloved ’80s comedy for a sequel that hopefully will not suck. (Dec. 18)

ON THE ROCKS— Director Sofia Coppola reunites with her Lost in Translation star Bill Murray in a comedy-drama about a young mother (Rashida Jones) who reconnects with her larger-than-life playboy father on an adventure through New York. (TBA)