With entertainment being limited to at-home activities, movies have become one of many diversions during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent families from becoming bored in quarantine. With the virus outbreak extending into 2021, people are running out of already-released films to rewatch, so what movies does the new year have in store for us?

5. Raya and the Last Dragon

     Disney is one of the largest film companies in the US, producing internationally-known classics of new and old such as Frozen, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, and Cinderella. Their newest project, Raya and the Last Dragon, tells the story of the swordfighter Raya on her quest to find a lost dragon to save her homeland. With a promising storyline, classic Disney character and animation style, and inherent popularity of any Disney-produced movie, Raya and the Last Dragon is a highly anticipated movie, being released in theaters and Disney+ Premier Access on March 5, 2021.

4. The Matrix 4

     After 18 years since The Matrix Revolutions, the Matrix series is making a comeback in 2021. While not everyone has seen The Matrix, it’s certainly hard to find someone who hasn’t heard of it, as references to the series can be found throughout many other TV shows and movies. Well-known movie tropes from The Matrix include dodging bullets in slow-motion and taking the blue or red pill. The story of the series revolves around Neo—a computer programmer and cybercriminal—and his pursuit of the truth as he fights mysterious agents and computers. The Matrix 4 is to be released in theaters on December 22, 2021.

3. Spider Man: No Way Home

     The Marvel Cinematic Universe—otherwise known as the MCU—is one of the most well-known movie series of all time. MCU movies dominate the list of highest-ranking superhero movies, with Avengers: Endgame surpassing Avatar as the highest-grossing film of all time according to buisinessinsider.com. Any movies within the MCU are bound to find success, as they are all high-budget films with realistic CGI and easily-recognizable actors. Spider Man: No Way Home is no different, featuring Tom Holland, who received worldwide recognition through the first MCU Spider Man film. No official plot details have been revealed yet, and the movie is set to be released on December 17, 2021.

2. Godzilla vs. Kong

     It has been 59 years since their last duel, and the internet is split as to who the next victor shall be. For those who haven’t seen the original movie, King Kong vs. Godzilla is a 1962 film about a duel between the two monsters filled with cheesy 60s style special effects. Godzilla, a dinosaur-like lizard with atomic powers faces off against King Kong, a giant prehistoric ape. Social media users have been sharing their thoughts on the predicted match results through memes. As for the movie itself, the intricate CGI from recent Godzilla and King Kong movies ensures that this one will be worth the watch based on visuals alone. Godzilla vs. Kong will be released in theaters on March 31, 2021.

1. Eternals

     Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, the standards for the new Eternals movie is set high. Looking at the chronological MCU movie order on IMDb.com, Eternals is the first “main storyline” movie since Endgame, introducing the next major component of the MCU. New fans of the MCU who enjoyed Endgame may want to see where the story goes, and older Marvel fans who read the Eternals comics could be curious as to how they’re portrayed in the modernized movie. The film will be about the Eternals, an ancient race of immortals who have influenced the structure of our civilizations. The Eternals will be released in theaters on November 5, 2021.

     To find all movies to be released in 2021, use the advanced search function on IMDb.com and enter “2021” into the “Release Date” section, along with any other optional filters that may be added. Additionally, the option to sort the results based on popularity, rating, or chronological release date is also given, allowing further specification.