While the major studios were breaking records and releasing some of the biggest films of 2019, the small and mid-sized distributors released some truly powerful films. While they may not have the range of Disney or Warner Bros, companies like A24, Lionsgate, Focus Features and others have steadily premiered some of the most innovative and powerful filmmaking in recent memory. 2020 looks to continue that trend with new films from Edgar Wright, Julius Avery, and many others. Just because the logo at the front of the film may not be as recognizable doesn't mean they don't deliver some top notch movies. So take a look at 25 films coming from studios other than the big boys in Hollywood and you will surely find a few anticipated films for the upcoming year.
Check out the full slate of releases coming from A24, STX, Focus Features, Lionsgate, United Artists, MGM, and more in 2020.
Please note that all release dates are subject to change. Films coming in 2020 that do not have confirmed release dates are not included here.
January 24th – THE GENTLEMEN (STX)
A British drug lord tries to sell off his highly profitable empire to a dynasty of Oklahoma billionaires.
Starring Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Henry Golding, Michelle Dockery, Jeremy Strong, Eddie Marsan, Colin Farrell and Hugh Grant.
Written and directed by Guy Ritchie (SNATCH, ALADDIN)
January 31st – GRETEL & HANSEL (United Artists)
A long time ago in a distant fairy tale countryside, a young girl leads her little brother into a dark wood in desperate search of food and work, only to stumble upon a nexus of terrifying evil.
Starring Sophia Lillis, Jessica De Gouw, Alice Krige
Written by Rob Hayes
Directed by Osgood Perkins (I AM THE PRETTY THING THAT LIVES IN THE HOUSE, THE BLACKCOAT'S DAIGHTER)
February 7th – THE LODGE (Neon)
A soon-to-be-stepmom is snowed in with her fiance's two children at a remote holiday village. Just as relations finally begin to thaw between the trio, strange and frightening events threaten to summon psychological demons from her strict religious childhood.
Starring Riley Keough, Jaeden Martell, Lia McHugh, Alicia Silverstone, and Richard Armitage.
Written by Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala and Sergio Casci (THE CALLER)
Directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala (GOODNIGHT MOMMY)
February 14th – ORDINARY LOVE (Bleecker)
An extraordinary look at the lives of a middle-aged couple in the midst of the wife's breast cancer diagnosis.
Starring Liam Neeson, Lesley Manville, Amit Shah
Written by Owen McCafferty
Directed by Lisa Barros D'Sa, Glenn Leyburn (CHERRYBOMB)
February 21st – BRAHMS: THE BOY II (STX)
After a family moves into the Heelshire Mansion, their young son soon makes friends with a life-like doll called Brahms.
Starring Katie Holmes, Owain Yeoman, Ralph Ineson
Written by Stacey Menear (THE BOY)
Directed by William Brent Bell (THE BOY)
February 21st – EMMA (Focus Features)
Handsome, clever, and rich, Emma Woodhouse is a restless queen bee without rivals in her sleepy little town. In this glittering satire of social class and the pain of growing up, Emma must adventure through misguided matches and romantic missteps to find the love that has been there all along.
Starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Josh O'Connor, Bill Nighy
Written by Eleanor Catton
Directed by Autumn de Wilde
March 6th – FIRST COW (A24)
A loner and cook (John Magaro) has traveled west and joined a group of fur trappers in Oregon Territory, though he only finds connection with a Chinese immigrant (Orion Lee). The men collaborate on a business, although its longevity is reliant upon the participation of a wealthy landowner's prized milking cow.
Starring Alia Shawkat, John Magaro, Rene Auberjonois
Written by Jonathan Raymond (MEEK'S CUTOFF)
Directed by Kelly Reichardt (MEEK'S CUTOFF)
March 13th – MY SPY (STX)
A hardened CIA operative finds himself at the mercy of a precocious 9-year-old girl, having been sent undercover to surveil her family.
Starring Dave Bautista, Greg Bryk, Kristen Schaal
Written by Erich Hoeber, Jon Hoeber (THE MEG)
Directed by Peter Segal (GET SMART)
March 20th – I STILL BELIEVE (Lionsgate)
The true-life story of Christian music star Jeremy Camp and his journey of love and loss that looks to prove there is always hope.
Starring Britt Robertson, K.J. Apa, Melissa Roxburgh
Written by Jon Erwin, Jon Gunn
Directed by Andrew Erwin, Jon Erwin (MOM'S NIGHT OUT)
March 27th – SAINT MAUD (A24)
Follows a pious nurse who becomes dangerously obsessed with saving the soul of her dying patient.
Starring Jennifer Ehle, Morfydd Clark, Lily Frazer
Written and Directed by Rose Glass
April 17th – PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN (Focus Features)
A young woman, traumatized by a tragic event in her past, seeks out vengeance against men who cross her path.
Starring Carey Mulligan, Bo Burnham, Laverne Cox
Written and Directed by Emerald Fennell
April 17th – THE SECRET: DARE TO DREAM (Roadside Attractions)
A feature film adaptation of the self-help book, 'The Secret', which focuses on the power of positive thinking.
Starring Katie Holmes, Josh Lucas, Jerry O'Connell and Celia Weston
Written by Andy Tennant, Bekah Brunstetter and Rick Parks
Directed by Andy Tennant (FOOL'S GOLD, HITCH)
April 24th – ANTEBELLUM (Lionsgate)
Successful author Veronica finds herself trapped in a horrifying reality and must uncover the mind-bending mystery before it's too late.
Starring Janelle Monáe, Eric Lange, Jena Malone
Written and Directed by Gerard Bush, Christopher Renz
April 24th – BAD TRIP (United Artists)
Two friends embark on a cross-country road trip where they prank people using hidden cameras.
Starring Eric Andre, Lil Rel Howery and Tiffany Haddish
Written by Dan Curry, Eric Andre, and Kitao Sakurai
Directed by Kitao Sakurai (The Eric Andre Show)
May 8th – COVERS (Focus Features)
A love story set in the Los Angeles music industry.
Starring Dakota Johnson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Zoë Chao.
Written by Flora Greeson
Directed by Nisha Ganatra (LATE NIGHT)
May 8th – LEGALLY BLONDE 3 (MGM)
Third film featuring the misadventures of lawyer and socialite Elle Woods.
Starring Reese Witherspoon, Alanna Ubach, Jessica Cauffiel
Written by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith (THE HOUSE BUNNY)
Directed by Jamie Suk (THE GOOD GIRL)
May 15th – THE ORGAN DONOR (Lionsgate)
A re-imagining of the horror film SAW.
Starring Chris Rock, Samuel L. Jackson, Max Minghella, and Marisol Nichols.
Written by Josh Stolberg and Peter Goldfinger from a story by Chris Rock
Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (SAW II)
July 31st – BARB AND STAR GO TO VISTA DEL MAR (Lionsgate)
The story of best friends Barb and Star, who leave their small Midwestern town for the first time to go on vacation in Vista Del Mar, Florida, where they soon find themselves tangled up in adventure, love, and a villain's evil plot to kill everyone in town.
Starring Kristen Wiig, Annie Mumolo, Jamie Dornan, Damon Wayans Jr. and Wendi McLendon-Covey
Written by Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo (BRIDESMAIDS)
Directed by Josh Greenbaum (BECOMING BOND)
August 21st – BILL & TED FACE THE MUSIC (United Artists)
Once told they'd save the universe during a time-traveling adventure, 2 would-be rockers from San Dimas, California find themselves as middle-aged dads still trying to crank out a hit song and fulfill their destiny.
Starring Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, William Sadler, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Samara Weaving, Jillian Bell, Anthony Carrigan and Jayma Mays
Written by Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon (BILL & TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE)
Directed by Dean Parisot (GALAXY QUEST)
September 25th – LAST NIGHT IN SOHO (Focus Features)
A young girl, passionate in fashion design, is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s where she encounters her idol, a dazzling wannabe singer. But 1960s London is not what it seems, and time seems to fall apart with shady consequences.
Starring Thomasin McKenzie, Anya Taylor-Joy, Matt Smith, Diana Rigg, and Terence Stamp
Written and Directed by Edgar Wright (BABY DRIVER, SHAUN OF THE DEAD)
October 9th – FATALE (Lionsgate)
A married man is tricked into a murder scheme by a female police detective.
Starring Hilary Swank, Michael Ealy, Mike Colter and Geoffrey Owens.
Written by David Loughery (THE INTRUDER)
Directed by Deon Taylor (THE INTRUDER, BLACK AND BLUE)
October 9th – RESPECT (MGM)
Following the rise of Aretha Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom, RESPECT is the remarkable true story of the music icon’s journey to find her voice.
Starring Jennifer Hudson, Forrest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans
Directed by Liesl Tommy
November 6th – STILLWATER (Focus Features)
A father travels from Oklahoma to France to help his daughter who has been arrested for murder.
Starring Matt Damon Camille Cottin and Abigail Breslin
Written by Thomas Bidegain, Noe Debre, Marcus Hinchey, and Tom McCarthy
Directed by Tom McCarthy (SPOTLIGHT)
November 20th – SAMARITAN (United Artists)
A young boy learns that a superhero who was thought to have gone missing after an epic battle twenty years ago may in fact still be around.
Starring Sylvester Stallone
Written by Bragi F. Schut (ESCAPE ROOM)
Directed by Julius Avery (OVERLORD)
Late 2020 – RUN (Lionsgate)
A home schooled teenager begins to suspect her mother is keeping a dark secret from her.
Starring Sara Paulson, Kiera Allen, Luke Gross
Written by Aneesh Chaganty and Sev Ohanian
Directed by Aneesh Chaganty (SEARCHING)
