Upcoming Movies That Are Being Released Despite Coronavirus

Gerard Butler stars in this thriller about a family facing a potentially apocalyptic natural disaster. If nothing changes, “Greenland” may be the first major movie released to theaters following the coronavirus-driven shutdown.

“Unhinged” stars Russell Crowe as a motorist who takes road rage to the extreme. Caren Pistorius plays a driver who is the object of Crowe’s rage. Mark Gill, one of the founders of Solstice Studios, an independent film company releasing the movie, said he was reassured by theater owners’ plans of enhanced cleaning of movie theaters and staggered show times.

“Tenet” is a Christopher Nolan-helmed thriller about espionage and evolution in which a man time travels to prevent World War III. The movie stars Robert Pattison (The Twilight series) and Elizabeth Debicki (“The Great Gatsby”). Also appearing in the film are Kenneth Branagh, Michael Caine, and John David Washington. Nolan sped up editing of “Tenet” — which is being released by Warner Bros. and cost more than $200 million — so it could be released as planned in July. The film industry is closely watching to see how the release of the film goes.

Disney’s live-action version of the animated film will be released on July 24. Disney CEO Bob Chapek told CNBC that the first two nights of the release might be a concern because movie theaters are offering limited seating capacity. According to Chapek, the entertainment company might adjust its strategy depending on audience fears of COVID-19 about the release of films. The movie about a Chinese girl who disguises herself to rescue her father from barbarians stars Yifei Liu, who has appeared in action and adventure movies and series in China.

“Amulet” is the directorial debut of Romola Garai, who also wrote the film. The movie is about a homeless former soldier in London who encounters strange phenomena after being taken in by a young woman caring for her elderly mother. Imelda Staunton (“Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” “Shakespeare in Love”) and Carla Juri (“Blade Runner 2049,” “Brimstone”) star in the film.

“The Rental” is a horror movie that marks the directorial debut of Dave Franco, who co-wrote the film with Joe Swanberg. It stars Alison Brie (“Community” and “GLOW”), Dan Stevens (“Downton Abbey”), and Jeremy Allen White (“Shameless”). The film is scheduled to be released in theaters and on video on demand on July 24.

“Summerland,” set to be released by Lionsgate, was written and directed by Jessica Swale. The movie stars Gemma Arterton (“Quantum of Solace”), Gugu Mbatha-Raw (“Belle,” “Concussion”), and Tom Courtenay (“Doctor Zhivago”) and is about a woman who becomes close to a refugee from the Blitz in 1940.

The full-length movie of the long-running television animated series about the adventures of the aquatic creatures is set to be released on Aug. 7 by Nickelodeon Animation Studios, United Plankton Pictures, and Nickelodeon Movies. Bob Bakish, CEO of Nickelodeon parent ViacomCBS, said on an investors call on May 7 that the August date was too far into the future to firmly say the movie will be released at that time.

“The Empty Man” is a horror film directed and co-written by David Prior about an ex-cop looking for a missing girl who encounters a group trying to summon a supernatural force. The film stars Stephen Root (“On the Basis of Sex,” “Get Out”) and Joel Courtney (“Super 8”).

Capel Green is an independently made documentary about possible UFO sightings and other unexplained phenomena near two American Air Force bases in Great Britain in 1980. Much of the film focuses on former Airman First Class Larry Warren, a whistleblower in these events. In addressing the possible issues arising from COVID-19, writer and director Dion M. Johnson said on Facebook on March 19, “We do live in very uncertain times, but we want to assure you that we remain steadily focused on getting the film completed and ready for release as soon as is humanly possible.”

Three years after “Wonder Woman” made history as the first action flick directed by a woman (Patty Jenkins), the sequel starring Gal Gadot, “Wonder Woman 1984,” is planned for an August release in theaters. In a statement in late March, Toby Emmerich, Warner Bros. Pictures Group chairman, said, “When we greenlit ‘Wonder Woman 1984,’ it was with every intention to be viewed on the big screen and are excited to announce that Warner Bros. Pictures will be bringing the film to theatres on Aug. 14.”

“The Secret Garden” is a remake of a 1993 film based on the Frances Eliza Hodgson novel about a recently orphaned girl from England who is sent to live with her uncle in India, where she discovers a magical garden on his estate. The movie was moved to an Aug. 14 release date from April 17. The film stars Dixie Egerickx (“The Little Stranger”).

Darius Marder directed and co-wrote “Sound of Metal,” about how the life of a heavy metal drummer is thrown into disarray when he begins to lose his hearing. The film stars Olivia Cooke (“Thoroughbreds”), Emmy winner Riz Ahmed (“The Night Of”), and Mathieu Amalric (“The Grand Budapest Hotel”).

An all-star cast of Sam Rockwell, Angelina Jolie, Bryan Cranston, and Helen Mirren voices the characters in the animated film “The One and Only Ivan.” The movie is about a gorilla and elephant who plot to escape captivity and is based on the book by Katherine Applegate.

The retelling of the reported witnessing of the Virgin Mary in 1917 in Portugal by three children stars Harvey Keitel (“Pulp Fiction,” “Mean Streets”) and Goran Visnjic (“ER”). The movie was planned to be released on Easter, and the filmmakers said they intended to use the delay to increase awareness of the motion picture on social media.

Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter return to their iconic roles in the upcoming “Bill & Ted Face the Music.” Now middle-aged, the California rockers will find themselves trying to write a hit song to fulfill their destiny in the series’ third film. The summer release date will undoubtedly be a relief for fans, who have been waiting for a decade since news of a potential sequel were first reported.

Janelle Monáe (“Hidden Figures,” “Moonlight”) stars as tormented author Veronica Henley in this horror flick from filmmaking team Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz. The movie was originally set to be released April 24, but was later rescheduled for August 21 due to the pandemic. Lionsgate’s President of domestic theatrical distribution David Spitz said in a statement, “We believe that by August 21, audiences will be eager for the distinctive, unique story and voice of these groundbreaking filmmakers’ debut.”

“Let Him Go” stars industry veterans Kevin Costner and Diane Lane as a retired Montana sheriff and his wife who set out to find their grandson following the death of his father. The film is directed by Thomas Bezucha (“The Family Stone”) and is based on a novel by writer Larry Watson.

This X-Men spin-off has had numerous scheduled release dates dating back to August 2018. The newest release date is August 28 of this year. “The New Mutants” portrays a group of young mutants who are trying to break free of the facility in which they’re imprisoned.

This historical drama stars Benedict Cumberbatch as British intelligence agent Greville Wynne, a real historical figure who worked with Russian spy Oleg Penkovsky to assist the West during the Cold War. Co-presidents of distribution company Roadside Attractions Howard Cohen and Eric d’Arbeloff said in a statement that the film “is just the type of film that will have audiences excited to return to their local cinemas in late August.”