Last year was difficult for cinemas. The COVID pandemic left theaters around the world shuttered, with film studios pivoting many movie releases to streaming services. Only a few major blockbusters made their way to the big screen – such as Tenet – while dozens of others were pushed back to 2021. Now, finally, we're going back to the cinema!
Thanks to the astonishing work being done by vaccinators around the world, we're able to safely sit in a dark room, surrounded by strangers, and watch the biggest and best movies. From new Fast and Furious to a rush of Marvel Phase 4 movies, there's a lot coming our way.
Over the next few weeks, we will be celebrating the best movies heading to cinemas. Every Friday, 12DOVE and Total Film will release a long-read article, featuring interviews with the cast and crew, about the biggest films coming this year. This week, we sat down with 007 himself, Daniel Craig.
So, Get your web-slingers fired up, your Dalmatian-spotted coat on, and your dancing shoes ready – we're going back to the cinema!
12DOVE and Total Film present... Back to the cinema!
Fast and Furious 9 review
In cinemas now!
The Family are back – and this time, they're furiouser. Well, actually, that's not quite true. F9 starts with Dom and Letty settling down for a life of no more crime, when the rest of the team come knocking. Dom's long-forgotten (AKA never-before-mentioned) brother, Jakob, is causing trouble, and it's up to the Toretto clan to stop him and his overseer, Cypher (the returning Charlize Theron). It's action packed, but is it worth the cinema trip? Here's the Total Film review to help you decide.
On set of The Suicide Squad
In cinemas August 6
So, you've read our massive The Suicide Squad preview (if not, why not? Keep scrolling to fin it) and want more? We're here to help. Our writer visited the set of this year's most anticipated supervillain team-up and spoke with James Gunn, Margot Robbie, and more about the upcoming film. Plus, there's a lot of fun color from the set, with Gunn stressing how practical effects were his priority.
The Suicide Squad: James Gunn on the deadly new DC adventure
In cinemas August 6
The supervillains have been dispatched on another off-the-books mission, but this time they've brought a "douchey Captain America", a talking shark, and the director of Guardians of the Galaxy. Idris Elba, John Cena, Peter Capaldi, Margot Robbie, and more all star in this thrilling new installment in the DCEU. We meet the cast and crew behind the explosive new movie. Just don't call it a sequel... or a reboot... Just call it The Suicide Squad. We think. No-one seems quite sure.
The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard review
In cinemas now!
After a dumb-fun, excessively violent romp? Well, you couldn't do better than Ryan Reynolds, Salma Hayek, and Samuel L. Jackson's latest. A follow-up to the surprisingly funny The Hitman's Bodyguard, this one sees Hayek employing Reynolds' character to help find her missing husband. The laughs soon ensue – as does the blood-splattering. Prepare for things to get seriously messy in all the right ways.
Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh talk Black Widow
In cinemas from July 9
It's been a long time coming, but we're finally heading to the Red Room. Ahead of Black Widow's first standalone adventure, Total Film spoke to Marvel mainstay Scarlett Johansson, newcomer Florence Pugh, and director Cate Shortland on telling Natasha's final story and handing the baton over to a new Black Widow. This one's been a long time coming – and it looks set to launch Marvel Phase 4 on the big screen in style.
In The Heights review
In cinemas now!
“This is a vaccine for your soul,” director Jon M. Chu promised of his ebullient, high-energy, big-screen adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony-award-winning 2007 musical, In the Heights, about young Latino New Yorkers chasing their dreams in a tough neighborhood. And this fun, family-friendly, big-energy outing – albeit one that doesn’t hit Hamilton’s heights – is certainly that. This is one all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza that will have the cinema on its feet.
A Quiet Place Part 2 review
In cinemas now!
Can the horror sequel live up to the original? Our reviewer certainly thinks so. "Against the odds, Part II manages to expand its predecessor’s world, realign its POV and develop its themes in controlled, satisfying ways, largely without losing its forerunner’s lean pitch and capacity to jolt," writes our critic. "Tight (97 minutes) and often cruelly tense, it cuts as close to the original’s equal as might be expected, one or two stumbles aside." And once you've seen the sequel, be sure to read our piece on the A Quiet Place 2 ending.
The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It review
In cinemas now!
The Conjuring series continues with The Devil Made Me Do It. The horror series leaves the haunted house setup and instead focuses on a (real) court case in which a murderer pleas that the devil was inside him. Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) are on fantastic form in this threequel that acts as a slight course correction for the wildly expanding series. "Better than The Conjuring 2 and most of the Annabelles, this latest entry gives some zip to a stumbling franchise," reads our review.
Godzilla vs. Kong: The making of a monster hit
In cinemas now!
While Godzilla vs. Kong may have been made available on HBO Max, that's no way to watch this monster mash – you need the big screen! Speaking to Total Film, the cast and crew explain just what went into making the clash of the century, with director Adam Wingard confirming that, yes, there was always going to be just one victor. "I knew who I thought should win, 100 percent," he reveals. Plus, after you've seen the showdown, read our piece on the Godzilla vs. Kong ending.
Promising Young Woman review
In cinemas now!
Another Oscar-nominated movie that now, finally, is available in cinemas. Promising Young Woman centers on Carey Mulligan's Cassie, who spends her evenings in bars, feigning legless inebriation until a 'nice guy' picks her up. How far they go is up to the guy, but consent is never given and if they ignore Cassandra’s repeated protests... well, that would be telling. Promising Young Woman is certainly a conversation starter – and not one to miss.
Judas and the Black Messiah review
In cinemas now!
There are some movies that need to be seen on the big screen, and Judas and the Black Messiah is one of them. There's a reason Daniel Kaluuya won the Oscar for his portrayal of Fred Hampton, the assassinated leader of the Illinois Black Panthers chapter. Alongside Kaluuya’s galvanizing lead, LaKeith Stanfield tackles the more reserved role of William O’Neal, a petty thief manipulated by Jesse Plemons’ fed Roy Mitchell into informing on Hampton. Both leads bring their A-game, making for a thrilling, powerful movie that will be talked about for years to come.
Mortal Kombat review
In cinemas now!
MOOOORTTTAAALLLL KOOOMMBBBAAATTT. It's impossible to just say the name. And while the reviews have been mixed with regards to the movie's cliche "chosen one" story, there's one thing everyone can agree on: the action is fantastic. And, guess what? Action movies were made for the big screen. There's nothing quite like seeing someone's head ripped off surrounded by other people. You can hear the "OMG!" screams from here. So if you have a hankering for some gruesome fatalities, then make sure to book a cinema ticket for this one.
The major movie release dates you need to know
Are you sitting comfortably? Because you're going to need a few minutes to memorize when every major movie is coming to cinemas this year. Or, of course, you could just use our handy guide. There are plenty of films that were pushed back from last year, and even a few that were made entirely during the pandemic. Turns out, actors aren't that lazy after all. Who knew? Highlights include Shang-Chi, Dune, Spider-Man 3: No Way Home, and The Matrix 4. If none of those massive franchise blockbusters scream "I need to see this on the biggest screen possible!" then we don't know what does.
Back to the cinema celebrates all the major movies coming to the big screen over the next year, with more features coming every week. Next up: A Quiet Place Part II. In the meantime, be sure to check out the Total Film homepage for all the latest news, reviews, features, and more.
