As theaters slowly continue to reopen, studios are starting to release movies they’ve pushed back over the past year. That’s great news for fans of family movies because there are tons of awesome flicks to look forward to this summer and beyond. Plus, even if you’re not ready to go to a theater yet, there are also plenty of new movies to choose from on streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime. Keep reading to find out what’s in store for the rest of 2021.
Cruella
What makes one of Disney’s most infamous villains just so villainous? And what’s with her obsession with dalmatians? Find out in Cruella, the origin story of Cruella de Vil, which is based in 1970’s London and features Emma Stone as the title character.
Directed by: Alex Timbers and Craig Gillespie
Starring: Emma Stone, Joel Fry, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Paul Walter Hauser, Emma Thompson
Studio: Disney
Opening on: May 28, 2021
Spirit Untamed
Horse lovers, take note! This movie follows a city slicker who moves to a small frontier town and befriends a wild mustang named Spirit.
Directed by: Elaine Bogan and Ennio Torresan
Starring: Mckenna Grace, Eiza González, Jake Gyllenhaal
Studio: DreamWorks
Opening on: June 4, 2021
Wish Dragon
Friendly dragons are having a moment, and we’re not mad about it! This movie follows Din, a college student who’s desperate to reconnect with his childhood best friend with help from a wish-granting dragon.
Directed by: Chris Appelhans
Starring: John Cho, Jimmy Wong, Constance Wu, Jimmy O. Yang
Studio: Netflix/Sony
Opening on: June 11, 2021
Luca
Follow along as an unusual friendship develops along the Italian Riviera between a local human and a sea monster in this new original movie from Pixar.
Directed by: Enrico Casarosa
Starring: John Ratzenberger, Drake Bell
Studio: Disney Pixar
Opening on: June 18, 2021
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway
Everyone’s favorite talking rabbit will find himself in new surroundings in this sequel, having left the farm for the big city. You can bet the beloved rabbit will be knee-deep in mischief and will find some pretty hilarious ways to get out of trouble. The movie is currently slated to open in theaters, but given the uncertainty of Covid restrictions this, as well as the release date, can change.
Directed by: Will Gluck
Starring: James Corden, Rose Byrne, Domhnall Gleeson, David Oyelowo, Elizabeth Debicki
Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Opening on: June 18, 2021
Space Jam: A New Legacy
LeBron James and Bugs Bunny star in this long-awaited sequel which puts LeBron and Company up against an evil A.I. basketball team. In order to get back home, they must win the game.
Directed by: Malcolm D. Lee
Starring: LeBron James, Don Cheadle
Studio: Warner Bros
Opening on: July 16, 2021, with a simultaneous release on HBO Max
Cinderella
This reimagining of the fairytale features Camila Cabello as Cinderella, Billy Porter as her genderless fairy Godmother, and Idina Menzel as the stepmother. With musical powerhouses like that, it’s sure to be a fantastic live-action version of the classic. Plus, James Corden is producing and starring as one of the famed mice, along with John Mulaney. Music, laughs and magic? Sign us up.
Directed by: Kay Cannon
Starring: Camila Cabello, Billy Porter, Idina Menzel
Studio: Sony Pictures
Opening on: July 16, 2021
Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans
Executive producer Guillermo del Toro brings this popular trilogy to a close with Rise of the Titans. The heroes are back for another epic adventure in Arcadia. Your favorite characters are reunited on a quest to control the magic that connects them.
Directed by: Johane Matte, Francisco Ruiz-Velasco, Andrew L. Schmidt
Starring: Nick Frost, Nick Offerman, Diego Luna, Steven Yeun, Kelsey Grammer, Charlie Saxton
Studio: Netflix
Opening on: July 21, 2021
Hotel Transylvania: Transformania
We can safely say this fourth installment makes Dracula and fam an official franchise. Expect more “bleh bleh bleh,” but specifics for the plot aren’t being released just yet. But really, who doesn’t know what to expect from these fun films by now?
Directed by: Derek Drymon, Jennifer Kluska
Starring: Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez
Studio: Sony Pictures
Opening on: July 23, 2021
Jungle Cruise
This long-awaited movie, which was originally pushed back because of the pandemic, will be released in theaters this summer Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt will take fans on quite the adventure down the Amazon in this movie based on Disneyland’s ride. In an alternate move, Disney is so far only releasing this one in theaters and not on Disney +.
Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Édgar Ramírez, Jack Whitehall, Jesse Plemons, Paul Giamatti
Studio: Disney
Opening on: July 30, 2021
Paw Patrol: The Movie
It was only a matter of time before everyone’s favorite furry pals got their own movie. Kids can follow Chase, Marshall, Rubble, Skye, Rocky, Zuma, Everest and Tracker as they head out on a major rescue mission.
Directed by: Cal Brunker
Starring: Dax Shepard, Iain Armitage, Tyler Perry
Studio: Paramount
Opening on: August 20, 2021
The Boss Baby: Family Business
The sequel to the Oscar-nominated blockbuster Boss Baby brings the Templeton brothers back together and on a mission to start a family business (with some direction from a new boss baby).
Directed by: Tom McGrath
Starring: Amy Sedaris, James Marsden, Jeff Goldblum, Alec Baldwin
Studio: Dreamworks
Opening on: September 17, 2021
The Addams Family 2
Featuring an all-star cast headed up by Charlize Theron and Oscar Isaac, this sequel to the popular 2019 animated film follows everyone’s favorite spooky family as they encounter more crazy adventures.
Directed by: Greg Tiernan, Conrad Vernon
Starring: Charlize Theron, Oscar Isaac, Chloë Grace Moretz
Studio: Universal Pictures
Opening on: October 1, 2021
Ron’s Gone Wrong
This sci-fi story takes a look at friendship in the social media age. Follow awkward middle schooler Barney and his new best friend: a walking, talking, digitally connected device named Ron.
Directed by: Sarah Smith and Jean-Philippe Vine
Starring: To be announced
Studio: Twentieth Century Studios
Opening on: October 2021
Clifford the Big Red Dog
Clifford gets a live-action computer-animated makeover in this new film that follows a young girl and her giant puppy.
Directed by: Walt Becker
Starring: Darby Camp, Sienna Guillory, Rosie Perez
Studio: Paramount
Opening on: November 5, 2021
Encanto
This film follows a magical family in Colombia where one daughter doesn’t have any magical powers like the rest of her family. With songwriting brilliance from Lin-Manuel Miranda, we’re sure this movie will boast quite a few songs to remember.
Directed by: Jared Bush
Starring: Stephanie Beatriz
Studio: Disney
Opening on: November 24, 2021
Sing 2
This sequel to the toe-tapping 2016 film follows Buster Moon and his friends as they try to persuade a reclusive rock star to join them for the opening of a new show. We're betting that this one will have an amazing soundtrack!
Directed by: Garth Jennings, Christophe Lourdelet
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Selena Gomez, Shawn Mendes, John C. Reilly, Idina Menzel, Reese Witherspoon, Nick Kroll, Scarlett Johansson
Studio: Illumination
Opening on: December 22, 2021
Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Adventure
This animated feature from Netflix will tell the story of the 1969 moon landing from two very different points of view.
Directed by: Richard Linklater
Starring: Zachary Levi, Jack Black, Glen Powell, Josh Wiggins, Samuel Davis
Studio: Netflix
Opening on: 2021
Vivo
Vivo is an animated musical adventure featuring songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda and tells the story of music and friendship. Specific plot points are being kept under wraps, but expect dazzling locales not seen before in animated film.
Directed by: Kirk DeMicco
Starring: To be announced
Studio: Sony Pictures
Opening on: 2021
— Jesseca Stenson
Featured image: iStock
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