Staff Reporter | On 04, Jan 2021

With England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all in their own respective lockdowns once again to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the start of 2021 sees a number of planned cinema releases push back their theatrical debut or head to digital platforms instead. Our thoughts are with those in the entertainment and arts whose jobs are impacted by this shifting, uncertain landscape, as well as those who have lost loved ones.

For audiences at home, here’s our guide to the major movies and premium VOD releases available to buy and rent from your sofa in the weeks ahead – plus the subscription streaming exclusives that would have been playing in a multiplex near you.

For a full guide to VOD releases in the UK for this month across all major VOD platforms (subscription and transactions), head to our Coming Soon channel. For films coming to Netflix UK, see our guide to what’s coming soon here. For films coming soon to Amazon Prime, click here, and for films coming soon to Sky Cinema, click here.

Tenet – 4th January

John David Washington is the Protagonist in Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi thriller, which takes us on a twisting journey through a twilight world of international espionage on a mission that will unfold in something beyond real time. Now available to rent, following its online release in December.

Our review – plus where to watch it online

The New Mutants – 4th January

The 13th instalment in the X-Men franchise has certainly proven unlucky so far, as the sequel only now makes its way to home screens. Starring Maisie Williams, Anya Taylor-Joy, Alice Braga and Charlie Heaton, it follows five teenage mutants – Mirage, Wolfsbane, Cannonball, Sunspot and Magik – who undergo treatments at a secret institution that promise to “cure” them of their dangerous powers.

Our review – plus where to watch it online

Jiu Jitsu – 4th January

Nicolas Cage, Frank Grillo and Tony Jaa in the same film? This sci-fi actioner follows a group of martial arts fighters who face off against an alien who comes to Earth every six years. Released on disc and more digital platforms from Monday 4th January.

Our review – plus where to watch it online

Shirley – 4th January

Elisabeth Moss is electric in Josephine Decker’s enthralling portrait of writer Shirley Jackson. Released on disc and more digital platforms from Monday 4th January.

Our review – plus where to watch it online

Bill & Ted Face The Music – 9th January (25th)

The stakes are higher than ever for the time-traveling exploits of William S Preston Esq. and Theodore Logan. Yet to fulfil their rock and roll destiny, the middle-aged best friends set out on a new adventure when a visitor from the future warns them that only their song can save life as we know it. Along the way, they will be helped by their daughters, a new batch of historical figures, and a few music legends. Available online from 9th January and on disc from 25th January.

Available on: iTunes / Prime Video (Buy/Rent) / Virgin Movies / Rakuten TV / Google Play / Sky Store / CHILI

David Byrne’s American Utopia – 11th January

“What if we could eliminate from the stage except for the stuff we care about the most?” That’s David Byrne taking to the stage for American Utopia, his Broadway show that’s been captured on film by Spike Lee for the world to see. Spoiler: it doesn’t disappoint. Released on disc from Monday 11th January, out now on digital.

Our review – plus where to watch it online

Relic – 11th January

Natalie Erika James’ thoughtful, terrifying debut about a grandmother in a remote country estate who is increasingly not herself is a haunted house tale with heart. Released on disc on 18th January, after its digital release in November 2020.

Our review – plus where to watch it online

Wonder Woman 1984 – 13th January

The blockbuster sequel to Patty Jenkins’ groundbreaking 2017 hit sees Gal Gadot’s Diana Prince fast forward to the 1980s, riding lightning across the sky, donning wings of gold, and chasing a dream while in pursuit of two new formidable foes: Max Lord and the Cheetah. Co-starring Chris Pine as Steve Trevor, Kristen Wiig as the Cheetah, Pedro Pascal as Max Lord, Robin Wright as Antiope and Connie Nielsen as Hippolyta. Released as a premium VOD rental, priced at approximately £15 for a 48-hour rental.

Our review – plus where to watch it online

One Night in Miami – 15th January

There are directorial debuts, and there are directorial debuts. Regina King’s is the latter, as she brings Kemp Powers’ stage play of the same night to the screen. It tells the imagined story of what happened after Cassius Clay won his world heavyweight title in 1964, spending the night with Malcolm X, Jim Brown and Sam Cooke as the four all face decisions about the direction their lives will take. Layered, profound and stirring stuff, it was set for UK cinema release on Boxing Day, but had its theatrical run disrupted by the coronavirus tiers and lockdowns. An Amazon Studios film.

Available on: Amazon Prime

Blithe Spirit – 15th January

The film, which is based on the play by Noël Coward, stars Dan Stevens, Judi Dench, Leslie Mann and Isla Fisher. It was originally set to hit cinemas on Boxing Day in the UK, but has since pivoted to Sky Cinema instead.

Available on: Sky Cinema

Stardust (2019) – 15th January

Johnn Flynn stars in this unofficial biopic, which introduces us to Bowie as a 24-year-old on his first road trip to America in 1971. Travelling with Mercury Records publicist Ron Oberman, he finds a world not yet ready for him. Stardust aims to offer a glimpse behind the curtain of the moments that inspired the creation of Bowie’s first alter-ego, Ziggy Stardust.

Available on: Curzon Home Cinema / iTunes / Prime Video (Buy/Rent) / Rakuten TV / Google Play / Sky Store

MLK/FBI – 15th January

From Sam Pollard (4 Little Girls) comes an expose of the FBI’s covert surveillance and persecution of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. Crafted solely from restored footage of the time, overlaid with narration of declassified materials, MLK/FBI is a document of institutional racism and harassment of Civil Rights activists.

Available on: BFI Player / Curzon Home Cinema / iTunes / Prime Video (Buy/Rent) / Google Play / Sky Store

Dear Comrades – 15th January

The USSR, 1962. Lyudmila is a member of the local Communist Party. She’s a staunch upholder of the Communist regime and despises any form of dissent. During a labour strike at the local electromotive factory, she witnesses the shooting of protesters by the Army sent by the government to quell the strike. This massacre changes her vision of the world forever. The city is torn apart by riots, arrests, hasty convictions. Many people are injured and several are missing. When Lyudmila’s daughter disappears, she starts to search, in spite of the blockade, the arrests and the attempt at a cover-up by the authorities. Dear Comrades is based on a true story that happened in Novocherkassk and kept secret until the 90s.

Collective – 18th January

On October 30, 2015, a serious fire broke out at the Colectiv nightclub in Bucharest. It was one of the worst disasters in recent Romanian history, with 27 people killed and 180 injured. Fierce protests erupted when 37 of the injured subsequently died from bacterial infections. Director Alexander Nanu followed a team of investigative journalists as they uncovered vast healthcare fraud, highlighting the role of a free press in calling out corruption. Released on disc, after its digital release in October 2020.

76 Days – 22nd January

This timely documentary follows patients and frontline health workers battling the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan, China.

Available on: iTunes / Prime Video (Buy/Rent) / Google Play / Sky Store

Baby Done – 22nd January

From the makers of Hunt for the Wilderpeople, this New Zealand comedy stars Rose Matafeo and Matthew Lewis as wannabe-adventurer Zoe and her boyfriend Tim, who are caught off-guard when they discover they are about to have a baby.

Available on: iTunes / Prime Video (Buy/Rent) / Google Play / Sky Store

12 Hour Shift – 25th January

One night, do no harm. For one nurse that’s not an oath she’s willing to keep. Mandy (Angela ) finds herself one night beholden to organ-traffickers (David Arquette, Mick Foley) and when a kidney goes missing she’s willing to do whatever it takes to make sure these men get what they came for. After its FrightFest debut online last year, Brea Grant’s horror comes home.

Available on: iTunes / Prime Video (Buy/Rent) / Google Play / Sky Store

Synchronic – 29th January

Starring Jamie Dornan and Anthony Mackie, this new thriller from Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead follows two New Orleans paramedics who encounter a series of horrific deaths linked to a designer drug. Released as a premium VOD rental, priced at approximately £15 for a 48-hour rental.

Available on: iTunes / Prime Video (Buy/Rent) / Google Play / Sky Store

Twist (2020) – 29th January

The Charles Dickens classic is brought up to date in this Sky Cinema Original film, where in the teeming heartland of modern London a group of street-smart young hustlers plan the heist of the century. Michael Caine and Raff Law star. Originally set for a day-and-date release.

Available on: Sky Cinema / NOW TV

The Capote Tapes – 29th January

In the 35 years since his death, Truman Capote has remained a source of curiosity to many. Answered Prayers was meant to be Truman Capote’s greatest masterpiece, an epic portrait of NYC’s glittering jet-set society. Instead, it sparked his downfall. Through never-before-heard audio archive and interviews with Capote’s friends and enemies, this intimate documentary reveals the rise and fall of one America’s most iconic writers.

Available on: iTunes / Prime Video (Buy/Rent) / Google Play / Sky Store

Vanguard – 1st February

Stanley Tong (Rumble in the Bronx, Supercop) and action legend Jackie Chan (Police Story, Rush Hour) team up for this action-comedy about the Vanguard security agency, which is deployed to rescue a client kidnapped during Chinatown’s famous Lunar celebrations in London. Released on disc and more digital platforms from Monday 1st February.

Available on: iTunes / Prime Video (Buy/Rent) / Rakuten TV / Google Play / Sky Store / CHILI

Come Away – 5th February

Directed by Brenda Chapman (Brave), this live-action fairy-tale is a prequel to Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan, following the adventures of siblings Alice and Peter who transform into Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland in a bid to help their parents overcome the tragedy of losing their eldest son. Starring Angelina Jolie, David Oyelowo, Anna Chancellor, Michael Caine, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Reece Yates.

Available on: iTunes / Prime Video (Buy/Rent) / Google Play / Sky Store

Possessor – 8th February

Andrea Riseborough delivers an intense, unsettling performance in Brandon Cronenberg’s mind-melting sci-fi thriller about an assassin who body-hops to carry out each job. Released on disc, after its digital release in November 2020.

Our review – plus where to watch it online

Music – 15th February

The directorial debut of internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter, multi-Grammy nominee and pop icon Sia. Music follows Zu (Kate Hudson), a free spirit estranged from her family who suddenly finds herself the sole guardian of her half-sister, Music (Maddie Ziegler), a teenager on the autism spectrum whose whole world order has been beautifully crafted by her late grandmother.

Coming 2 America – 5th March

Eddie Murphy returns to our screens for this long-awaited comedy sequel. Set in the lush and royal country of Zamunda, newly-crowned King Akeem (Eddie Murphy) and his trusted confidante Semmi(Arsenio Hall) embark on an all-new adventure that has them traversing the globe from their great African nation to the borough of Queens, New York – where it all began. Originally set for a cinema release, this was acquired exclusively by Amazon Studios last year.

Available on: Amazon Prime Video

Palm Springs – Date TBC

The romantic comedy, starring Andy Samberg alongside Cristin Milioti, follows carefree Nyles (Andy Samberg) and reluctant maid of honour Sarah (Cristin Milioti) who have a chance encounter at a Palm Springs wedding. Things soon get complicated when the pair find themselves unable to escape the venue, themselves, or each other. Another Amazon Studios acquisition, this will be released in the UK early 2021.

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