While the future may be uncertain, one thing isn’t … the love for all things film. From Horror to Comedy to Romance, there is something for everyone. They ‘allow us to escape’ from reality, even if only for a few hours. And in a time like this, having the ability to allow the movies to ‘offer us a window onto the wider world’ is the perfect way to relax.
After the newest James Bond film ‘No Time to Die’ was pushed from an April to a November release, it was clear that COVID-19 had taken a toll on the film industry. If the new Bond film wasn’t to be released, would any more movies be released this year?
The answer is yes! Despite the unwelcome knockback that
many industries experienced, a multitude amazing films were released this year. Either just before the pandemic hit or right in the middle of it. This article highlights the top 9 movies of 2020 so far.
- The Invisible Man
This rated R Horror/Thriller was released in late February; just before worldwide lockdown measures were put into place. After escaping her violent ex, Cecilia starts to experience some strange occurrences. And as the eerie happenings turn lethal, Cecilia goes above and beyond to prove she ‘is being hunted by someone nobody can see’.
Described as ‘a thriller of suspense that catches you from the beginning’, this revamp of the ‘classic old story’ was by far one of the best movies to come out of 2020.
If you liked this movie, you may also like:
- Happy Death Day 2U
- Upgrade
- The Craft: Legacy
- The Gift
- You Should Have Left
- 1917
Set during World War 1, this dramatic war film was released at the start of 2020 in early January, just missing the pandemic outbreak by a hair and grossing around $159.2M in the box office. Two soldiers are deemed with what seems to be an impossible order: to cross ‘over into enemy territory to deliver a message that could potentially save 1,600 of their comrades’.
With disturbing images and violence from the offset, this is no family movie. However, it provides an extremely ‘immersive’ and ‘hard-hitting’ story that perfectly ‘captures the trench warfare’ of WW1. Yet another amazing film to come out of 2020!
If you liked this movie, you may also like:
- Hacksaw Ridge
- Dunkirk
- Greyhound
- Unbroken
- Fury
- Bad Boys for Life
Action/Comedy ‘Bad Boys for Life’, starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as Miami detectives on a drug bust gone wrong, was also released towards the start of the year. Grossing approximately $204.3M at the box office. After being injured by the vengeful family of an imprisoned Mexican drug lord, Marcus and Mike go on a mission to ‘bring the culprits to justice’.
While this movie is jam-packed with strong violence and action packed scenes, it doesn’t fall short on the comedic aspect and makes for a great Action/Comedy.
If you liked this movie, you may like:
- 21 Jump Street
- Kingsman
- Men in Black
- Kick A**
- Spy
- Military Wives
This touching comedy, following the lives of a group of ‘Military Wives’, was released for streaming in Mid may, meaning it never quite made it to theatres in the US! After their loved ones go to serve in Afghanistan, ‘women from different backgrounds’ form a choir to help each other through some of ‘life’s most difficult moments’.
Despite only being available for streaming in the US, the movie did well in other countries. And, is undoubtedly one of the most heart-warming movies to come out of 2020.
If you liked this movie, you may also like:
- Hope Gap
- Misbehaviour
- High Note
- Summerland
- Radioactive
- Birds of Prey
Based around Harley Quinn’s life, after her ‘explosive breakup with the Joker’, this fast-paced action comedy was released at the start of February, grossing around $84M at the box office. After breaking up with the Joker, Harley Quinn unexpectedly forms an alliance with ‘three deadly women’ in order to escape the thugs in the city.
Carrying on from ‘The Suicide Squad’, this was a great way of getting a closer look at Harley Quinn’s life afterwards.
If you liked this movie, you may like:
- Suicide Squad
- Joker
- Wonder Woman
- Aquaman
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Gretel and Hansel
Visually pleasing and a great twist on the classic tale, this Fantasy/Horror was released at the end of January and grossed around $15M at the box office. Siblings Gretel and Hansel are left to ‘fend for themselves’ as their mother goes insane. They run into trouble as they find an isolated home in the middle of the woods when a ‘seemingly friendly owner’ turns sinister.
Although this film didn’t do as well as the other movies on this list, visually, it is outstanding and has rightly earned its place in the top 9.
If you liked this movie, you may like:
- The Lodge
- Underwater
- Fantasy Island
- The Hunt
- Relic
- To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You
The sequel to the Netflix original ‘To All the Boys I Loved Before’, was released for streaming at the start of February and was a hit with the teens! Lara Jean and Peter return to our screens as their ‘relationship continues to grow’. However, along the way, Lara Jean ‘reunites’ with another one of her old flames.
Although the sequel didn’t do as well as the first movie, this still proved to be a great rom-com and caused a lot of stir on social media.
If you liked this movie, you may like:
- Kissing Booth
- After
- The Duff
- Sierra Burgess is a Loser
- The Perfect Date
- Scoob!
Released in mid-May, this film never made it to theatres and unfortunately was only ever available for streaming. In this Adventure/Comedy, Scooby and the Mystery Gang face one of their ‘biggest’ challenges ever – ‘the plot to unleash the ghost dog Cerberus upon the world’.
Despite not being shown in American theatres; this was a great family film to add to the ‘Scooby Doo’ collection.
If you liked this movie, you may like:
- Trolls
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Onward
- The Addams Family
- Spies in Disguise
- Mulan
The live-action version of the Disney classic ‘Mulan’ was also only available for streaming at the start of September, which disappointed a fair few. While it would have been amazing to see in theatre’s, it still did well regardless. Much like the animation, a young, ‘fearless woman disguises herself as a man to battle northern invaders in China’.
Despite the disappointment of it only being available for streaming, this movie was still amazing and lived up to its famous animation.
If you liked this movie, you may like:
- Cinderella
- Beauty and the Beast
- Snow White and the Huntsman
- Jungle Book
- Lion King
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