2021 and 2022 will be the most exciting 2 years in movie history
Ya'll, we're gonna be eating good
This past year was horrible. While I’ve thankfully been blessed in my personal life, I’ve never thus far lived through a period with more death, economic devastation, anxiety, and uncertainty. And while it isn’t anywhere near the top of the list of things most negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, most depressing for me has been the drought of great new studio movies. For the past year if you happened to drive by an open cinema, you’d notice the marquee promoting features you probably already have in your movie collection instead of the biggest, most extravagantly produced movies that motion picture technology has to offer. Our most anticipated movies that we would otherwise be discussing and debating right now have been pushed into the future.
As we’re now at the beginning of the second quarter of 2021 teetering at the edge of putting the worse of the pandemic behind us, we have much to look forward to - including what could very well be the most exciting 2 years in movie history.
The pandemic forced all the major studios to make a hard decision for all their movies originally scheduled for release over the past year.
A. Push the movie release further out
B. Distribute via SVOD/PVOD
C. Keep the original release date/release during the height of the pandemic
D. All/some of the above
We’ve seen how this played out. Some studios sold films to Netflix and other steaming platforms like Paramount did with The Lovebirds. Universal took a chance with Trolls World Tour releasing strait to PVOD and made bank. Disney+ started distributing some of it’s planned releases in theaters and on Disney+ simultaneously via Premiere Access. Christopher Nolan forced his studio backers to release Tenet during the middle of the pandemic and less exciting (mediocre) offerings also kept their 2020 debuts. Notably, the most anticipated movies got their 2020 and early 2021 release dates pushed. But that doesn’t mean all or most of the other movies originally planned for 2021-2022 release also got pushed - these movies also need to be released expeditiously so the studios and investors can get their return. It does mean that 2021 and 2022 will have the most densely packed (blockbuster) movie release schedule in modern history.
My readers, if you are movie lovers…and if you’re subscribed to this newsletter I assume that you have an interest in the topic, you are about to witness competition for your eyeballs at the cinema like you’ve never seen before. The sheer quantity of highly produced movies that we’re going to see over the next year and a half will be staggering.
This past year was tough for so many reasons, including the pandemic, but we also have so much to look forward to and be thankful for. For movie lovers, we can be thankful that the drought of 2020 is about to produce a monsoon of new movies that we’ll be able to experience together. I’m excited and I can’t wait to watch.
Here is the best new movies available this week on streaming video
The Fisherman's Diary (2020)
Available Sunday, April 4 on Netflix
Ekah is determined to go to school in a village of fishermen where a girl child's education is considered a taboo. Her drive to break this old adage gets her embroiled with her father, Solomon's past.
Thunder Force (2021)
Available Friday, April 9 on Netflix
In a world where supervillains are commonplace, two estranged childhood best friends reunite after one devises a treatment that gives them powers to protect their city.
The New Mutants (2021)
Available Saturday, April 10 on HBO Max
Five young mutants, just discovering their abilities while held in a secret facility against their will, fight to escape their past sins and save themselves.
Best new international films to watch this week on streaming video
Night in Paradise (2021)
Available Thursday, April 8 on Netflix
Hiding out in Jeju Island following a brutal tragedy, a wronged mobster with a target on his back connects with a woman who has her own demons.
Other movies available this week
Netflix
Hulu
Disney +
Mark Twain and Me (1991)
Amazon Prime Video
Peacock
HBO Max
If you’ve made it this far, share this newsletter with a friend. It’s how I evaluate if this newsletter is valuable and something I should continue.
Smash this subscribe button to get his list in your inbox every week.
Be sure to share with a movie lover you know!
Want to have a great experience watching movies at home? Watch this!