My Most Anticipated Movies of 2020

A risk if ever there was one, "Daddy Denis" Villeneuve takes on this iconic, weird fantasy sci-fi epic and brings with him a posse of talent. While Frank Herbert's classic novel has seen adaptations of middling to little success before, Legendary's megabudget attempt (with an accompanying TV series to boot) is definitely the most ambitious so far. It'll be wildly interesting to see if Villeneuve and company's swing for the fences is a home run or total dud- though Denis' rock-solid track record has me very optimistic. At any rate, it will be fun to see the strange mix of Dune superfans and Zendaya superfans in the cinema next Christmas.

After years in development hell (including an unfortunate journey through the Weinstein blender), the film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda's first hit Broadway show is seeing the light of day. I'm already a big fan of the show and its soundtrack, and the first trailer that dropped this week was everything I was hoping for from a movie. And while I wasn't a fan of director Jon Chu's breakout hit Crazy Rich Asians, he totally brings the right visual style to bring this story to screen. In the Heights is going to rule!

Of all the films on this list, Tenet is by far the most mysterious. All we know is that it's a big-budget sci-fi action thriller written and directed by Christopher Nolan and boasts an impressive cast with awesome out-of-the-box picks like John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, and Elizabeth Debicki. Nolan's ever-impressive ambition doesn't always match his execution, but he is one of precious few directors who can get unique original ideas greenlit into major studio gambles. And the man's very solid body of work thus far means his latest enigmatic project is always one to watch out for.

Wes Anderson is on a hot streak. While the man has yet to make a bad movie, Moonrise Kingdom, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and Isle of Dogs right in a row is some of his best work yet. As usual, Anderson has put together a staggering cast for his next movie which at one point was a musical but is about journalism and France. It's going to be splendid.

We really can't know what to expect from Edgar Wright's latest project- an original psychological horror feature that seems could be far removed from the zany fun of his filmography. After Baby Driver proved to be the largest success of his career yet, I'm impressed to see Wright continue to push his creative limits rather than fall into the trappings of franchise money. The film's intriguing cast includes Anya-Taylor Joy, Matt Smith, and the meteorically rising Thomasin McKenzie. I can't wait to find out what the hell this movie is.

In between almost killing himself time and time again for our entertainment in the increasingly awesome Mission: Impossible franchise, the (57-year-old?!) Tom Cruise has found time for a sequel to one of his most beloved classics. Top Gun is very 80s, so I will be interested to see the tone this follow-up strives for, and if it will click with audiences. Regardless, director Joseph Kosinski and cinematographer Claudio Miranda are sure to bring more of their beautiful visual style to the film, so at the very least it should be dazzling to look at.

It's a cycle- Daniel Craig says he's done with James Bond, they search for a replacement, they throw money at Daniel Craig, Daniel Craig comes back as James Bond. While the star has always been great in the lead role, these films have been hit or miss over the last 15 years. 2012's Skyfall was excellent, but the franchise lost steam again with the forgettable Spectre. Hopefully 007 finds its mojo again with an interesting director choice in Cary Funakaga and a really fun cast with promising new additions like Rami Malek and Ana de Armas.

The first entry in this budding horror franchise utilized its gimmicky premise to surprisingly great effect, thanks to smart writing and directing from the multi-talented John Krasinski. The former sitcom star returns behind the camera for this sequel which is a direct continuation of what came before. If Quiet Place II captures the very effective suspense-terror of the first flick, it will prove the very rare successful horror sequel. Regardless, it will be interesting to see where Krasinski takes his characters next.

Here's a series that got off to a stunning start back in 2015, but then lost all of its momentum with a lackluster sequel. This prequel/origin story of sorts separates itself from the current continuation, likely to breathe new life into the already stagnating brand. I'm cautiously optimistic that Matthew Vaughn, Jane Goldman, and the excellent cast can bring back some of the goofy violent fun that made Kingsman feel so fresh and exciting in the first place.

Usually when I throw an indie film into my anticipated list, it backfires terribly. But I just can't help myself- here we go again. Oz Perkins' first two horror features, I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House and The Blackcoat's Daughter, were very deliberately paced movies that boldly defy expectations. I left both movies feeling disappointed but their imagery, unsettling mood, and meticulous craft stuck with me. Gretel & Hansel's minimalistic forest horror looks to be another very creepy time.