Update: September 23, 2020: We have updated this post with official word from Disney that, due to continuing coronavirus movie delays, the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie Black Widow is having its release date pushed back again. The new release date for theaters is May 7, 2021. Another Marvel movie, Eternals, has also been delayed, to November 5, 2021.
The coronavirus outbreak is upon us, and it’s affecting daily life for nearly everyone. That includes the movie industry. A number of upcoming major film releases have announced lengthy delays to their release schedules. Not only that, but most movie theaters shut down for several months, and are just now starting to reopen. So, what specific coronavirus movie delays can you expect? Also, what films should you watch in their place? While obviously nothing is going to be as exciting as watching a new movie, there are plenty of decent similar (or prequel) movies that you might want to watch while you wait!
1. A Quiet Place Part II
Writer-director John Krasinski’s highly anticipated sequel to his monster invasion hit from 2018 was supposed to come out on March 20. However, you can now expect to see the movie on April 23, 2021, in theaters.
Streaming alternatives
While it’s not the same, now might be a great time to rewatch the first one. The original film, A Quiet Place, is currently available to stream for Amazon Prime Video subscribers. You can also see Krasinski himself playing Tom Clancy’s action hero Jack Ryan in Amazon Prime’s series of the same name.
2. Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway
The CGI-live action sequel to the surprise 2018 adaptation of the classic children’s book was supposed to get its sequel on April 3. Now, the movie won’t be released until January 15, 2021.
Streaming alternatives
While the original Peter Rabbit movie is not available on any streaming services, you can watch another bunny-themed GCI-live action film on Netflix, Hop.
3. No Time To Die
The 25th official James Bond film, and the 5th to star Daniel Craig, has also seen its release date pushed back more than once. It was supposed to be released in the US on April 10, but instead, it was the first of the major coronavirus movie delays. 007 won’t return until November 20, 2020.
Streaming alternative
You can watch the first Daniel Craig James Bond movie, Casino Royale, on Netflix.
4. Antlers
This horror film, about a creature that attacks the citizens of a town in Oregon, was due in theaters on April 17. The movie’s new release date is  February 19, 2021.
Streaming alternative
You can stream Hostiles, the 2017 Western film directed by Antlers director Scott Cooper, right now on Netflix.
5. Fast 9
The highly popular, over-the-top, car-themed spy thriller movie series was going to release its ninth installment on May 22. Now, the film won’t be released until April 2021.
Streaming alternative
If you sign up for HBO Max, you can watch Fast Five via streaming.
6. Black Widow
The next movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starring Scarlett Johansson as the skilled super-spy, was not released on May 1 as previously announced. It will now be released to theaters over a year later on May 7, 2021.
Streaming alternative
Disney Plus has all of the previous MCU films that feature Black Widow, starting with her first appearance in Iron Man 2.
7. Spiral
This is a reimagining of the Saw franchise, starring Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson. It was coming to theaters on May 15 but has been pushed back indefinitely as one of the coronavirus movie delays.
Streaming alternative
Check out the first movie in the series, Saw, on Cinemax.
8. Minions 2
The next movie in the CGI animated series was supposed to be released to theaters on July 3. However, this coronavirus movie delay was due to the outbreak causing the Illumination animation studio from completing the movie. It is now scheduled for release on July 2, 2021.
Streaming alternative
You can rent the first Minions movie via Amazon Prime Video right now.
9. Wonder Woman 1984
Warner Bros. has pushed back the sequel to the hit 2017 DC Comics superheroine film. Originally set for June 5, 2020, the new release date is currently for Dec. 25, 2020.
Streaming alternative
You can stream the first Wonder Woman movie on HBO Max right now.
10. Soul
Disney’s latest movie from its Pixar studio centers on a middle-school band teacher who unexpectedly finds his soul removed from his body. The movie was due in theaters on June 19, but it will now be coming to theaters on November 20.
Streaming alternative
Pixar’s last movie, Onward, is available now on Disney Plus.
11. Morbius
This Spider-Man spinoff film, starring Jared Leto as a man who becomes a vampire-like creature, was supposed to be released on July 31, 2020. It’s now due for release on March 19, 2021.
Streaming alternative
Starz has another Spider-Man spin-off movie, Venom, available for streaming on its service.
12. Ghostbusters: Afterlife
The latest attempt to reboot the Ghostbusters horror-comedy series was supposed to be released on July 10, 2020. It’s now due for release on March 5, 2021.
Streaming alternative
Rent the original, and still funny, 1984 Ghostbusters via Amazon Prime Video right now
13. Top Gun: Maverick
There will be a delay in getting back into the danger zone. The long-awaited sequel to the naval aviator action movie Top Gun, starring Tom Cruise, joins the coronavirus movie delays list. Originally scheduled for June 24, it is now due for release on July 2, 2021.
Streaming alternative
You can rent the original 1986 Top Gun movie via Amazon Prime Video.
14. Free Guy
This is the next big movie starring Ryan Reynolds. He plays an NPC in an open world video game that becomes aware he’s in a game. Originally set for release on July 3, it is now due on December 11.
Streaming alternative
You can check out Reynolds’ last big movie, the action film 6 Underground, right now on Netflix.
15. Jungle Cruise
Based on the Disney theme park ride, this movie with Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. Originally set for release on July 24, it’s been pushed back over a year and will now be released to theaters on July 30, 2021.
Streaming alternative
Disney Plus has four out of the five movies of Pirates of the Caribbean, based on another popular theme park ride. You can watch the first right now at the link below.
16. The Eternals
With Black Widow now taking the May 7, 2021 release date from another MCU movie, The Eternals, that film, starring Angelina Jolie, has also been pushed back to November 5, 2021.
Streaming alternative
You can watch another MCU cosmic movie, Guardians of the Galaxy, on Disney Plus now.
17. The Batman
The highly anticipated movie reboot of the Dark Knight Detective was in the middle of production when the coronavirus outbreak started getting worse. Now the movie, starring Robert Pattinson, has suspended production, and its release date has been pushed back from June 25, 2021, to October 1, 2021.
Streaming alternative
You can watch Batman Begins, the first movie in the Christopher Nolan-Christian Bale Batman trilogy, on HBO Max.
18. Candyman
The reboot of the horror franchise, written and executive produced by Get Out’s Jordan Peele, was supposed to be released on June 12. The coronavirus threat has caused Universal to delay its release to sometime in 2021.
Streaming alternative
The original 1992 Candyman movie can be rented or bought via Amazon Prime Video.
19. The King’s Man
This is the third film in the Kingsman spy movie series. This one is actually a prequel, set in WWI, where we see the origins of the Kingsman spy group. After a couple of delays, one due to coronavirus, the movie is now set to be released in theaters on February 12, 2021.
Streaming alternative
The original Kingsman: The Secret Service can be rented or bought at Amazon Prime Video.
20/21. Halloween Kills/Halloween Ends
The 2018 sequel/reboot of the long-running Halloween slasher-horror franchise, starring Jamie Lee Curtis, is getting two sequels. The first, Halloween Kills, was supposed to come out October, 16, 2020. Universal is now delaying that film until October 15, 2021. The final movie, Halloween Ends, was due on that date, but will now be released one year later on October 14, 2021.
Streaming alternative
The original 1978 Halloween is available now on the Shudder streaming service.
22/23. Avatar 2 and 3
James Cameron was filming the second and third movies in his Avatar sci-fi series back to back. However, they have both fallen victim to the coronavirus movie delays outbreak. Avatar 2, originally scheduled for December. 17, 2021 is now coming out on December 16, 2022. Avatar 3, due out on December 22, 2023 is now not expected until December 20, 2024.
Streaming alternative
The original Avatar from 2009 is available now on the Disney Plus streaming service.
24/25/26. – New Star Wars trilogy
The next Star Wars theatrical trilogy won’t be coming out, due to the coronavirus movie delays shifting dates on this unfilmed series of movies. The first of these films, originally due on December 16, 2022, will now be coming out on December 22, 2023. The second movie has been delayed from December 20, 2024, to December. 19, 2025. Finally, the third movie, due on December 18, 2026, has been pushed back all the way to December 17, 2027.
Streaming alternative
Of course, all of the previous live-action Star Wars movies are available now on the Disney Plus streaming service.
More coronavirus movie delays coming soon?
While the major theater chains like AMC, Regal, and Cinemark have started opening theaters in many parts of the US, some cities and states have ordered theaters to remain closed. That includes New York, North Carolina, and most parts of California, which have the most theaters in the country. Therefore, we could still see more delays of movies in the coming months, as some studios may not want to open their films without the support of the major movie theater locations.
Furthermore, other films that were in production for release later in 2020 or in 2021 have suspended production as well. It’s likely some of their release dates will be changed as well. We’ll be sure to update this post to keep you up to date.
