Ali Plumb gives us the lowdown on the 23 films to look forward to in 2020

Here's a rundown of the cinema-filling blockbusters that we’ll be talking about over the next 12 months.

The WWI thriller in which two soldiers are tasked with crossing dangerous territory to call off an impending attack drops on January 9th.

One reason to watch: Oscar-winning cinematographer Roger Deakins has pulled off the seemingly impossible here, working with ol’ pal Sam Mendes to created a thrilling wartime film that’s shot in “real time” as if it were one 118 minute take, with the cut between shots essentially invisible. It’s a heartbreaking story on its own, but the way it’s delivered is also technically outstanding.

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Director: Sam Mendes
Cast: George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Mays

The drama retelling the infamous Fox News scandal where its CEO Roger Ailes is exposed for sexually harassing women in the workplace will be released on January 23rd.

One reason to watch: The performances are outstanding all round, but Theron (as Megyn Kelly) is exceptional, and not just because of the no-doubt Oscar-worthy prosthetics and make-up applied to make her look staggeringly like the well-known US news journalist.

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Director: Jay Roach
Cast: Margot Robbie, Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman

This lively, funny retelling of the beloved rags to riches (and back again a few times) tale based on the semi-autobiographical novel by Charles Dickens will drop on January 23rd.

One reason to watch: The incredible Armando Iannucci is still probably best known for his work on The Day Today, Alan Partridge and The Thick Of It, as well as more recently Veep, and here he injects his trademark energy and sense of humour into a classic and it really, really works.

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Director: Armando Iannucci
Cast: Dev Patel, Hugh Laurie, Tilda Swinton, Ben Whishaw, Gwendoline Christie

This Suicide Squad spin-off is dropping February 7th, and tells the story of Harley Quinn (Robbie) after she finally breaks up with The Joker and heads out on her own.

One reason to watch: There’s not really been a big-screen comic-book character that’s landed with such a massive cultural impact as Harley Quinn. The year Suicide Squad came out, if you didn't go to a Halloween party dressed as her, you were making a big decision socially. In short, she’s great, and finally – four years later – we get to see more of Margot and her mallet-wielding ways.

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Director: Cathy Yan
Cast: Margot Robbie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Rosie Perez, Ali Wong, Ewan McGregor

In a modern-day fantasy world – full of elves, trolls, mermaids, and centaurs – two brothers go on a quest to find their late father. It's Pixar's first original movie of 2020 and it drops March 6th.

One reason to watch: For starters, it’s a Pixar movie, so that’s almost enough, but it’s also a totally novel one and not a sequel or a spin-off. Pixar are the guys that gave us Inside Out, Up and Ratatouille, so when they go out on a limb like this, it can really pay off.

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Director: Dan Scanlon
Cast: Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Octavia Spencer

After the harrowing events of the first Quiet Place, the Abbott family must regroup and find a new way of life in this increasingly dangerous, alien-infested world. The sequel drops on March 20th.

One reason to watch: The original was a word-of-mouth sci-fi horror hit. Its barely-a-word-spoken hook forced cinemagoers to remain truly silent across the country, and driving down popcorn sales in the process (presumably, anyway). The characters we first met were so engaging, the concept so fascinating, the idea of a follow-up is a very welcome one.

Director: John Krasinski
Cast: Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, Cillian Murphy, Djimon Hounsou

Since the final fight with his estranged brother Blofeld in London at the end of Spectre, Bond has been in retirement – until now, when international events force him back for one final mission, which lands in cinema on April 3rd.

One reason to watch: It’s Daniel Craig’s final 007 outing, and the 25th in the series. Plus, it’s a Bond film, so let’s be honest, you’ll be seeing this one anyway, right? Still, there’s also the promise of more Christoph Waltz (as seen in the first trailer), as well as a very intriguing new villain called Safin (Bohemian Rhapsody’s Rami Malek), on top of all the usual guns, gadgets and explosions we’ve come to expect…

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Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga
Cast: Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Léa Seydoux, Lashana Lynch, Ana de Armas, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris

Set after the events of 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, Johannson’s superspy Black Widow is left out in the cold, before heading home to Russia to reunite with her estranged family to tackle a new foe: The Taskmaster. The Marvel epic drops May 1st.

One reason to watch: Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow has long been one of the best characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and here, finally, is her standalone movie, close to a decade since she was first introduced in Iron Man 2. The cast is also very intriguing, with Kevin Feige and the Marvel team somehow managing to convince the legendary Rachel Weisz to get on board. And then there’s Stranger Things’ David Harbour as the Red Guardian, who could well be your new favourite in the series.

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Director: Cate Shortland
Cast: Scarlett Johansson, David Harbour, Florence Pugh, Rachel Weisz

After the events of Fast & Furious 8, the Fast & Furious team reunite for another Fast & Furious film: Fast & Furious 9. Though technically it’s the 10th F&F film, what with Hobbs & Shaw, but let’s ignore that for now. The next installment drops on May 22nd.

One reason to watch: Nine - okay ten, kind of, as mentioned above – films in, and you know what you’re getting with a Fast & Furious film: fast cars, furious bald men, explosions, more explosions, incredible action set pieces, yet more explosions, and conversations revolving around the word “family”. What more could you want?

Director: Justin Lin
Cast: Vin Diesel Michelle Rodriguez Jordana Brewster Tyrese Gibson Chris "Ludacris" Bridges

The first Wonder Woman was set during World War I, while this one – you guessed it – is set in the ‘80s. 1984, to be precise. Somehow, Chris Pine’s Steve Trevor is back… find out how from June 5th.

One reason to watch: The best part of the Justice League is finally back, and she’s got a couple of a-grade villains to contend with: Maxwell Lord (Pascal) and the Cheetah (Wiig). That’s how formidable a foe she is, she needs two bad ‘uns to really be a challenge. Last time around it was a god, remember? Looking at the first trailer, it looks like they’ve got the ‘80s mood just right, and some of the slo-mo sequences look a real treat.

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Director: Patty Jenkins
Cast: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal

Okay, this is a trippy one, so bear with: Joe Gardner, a high school music teacher, wants to be a professional jazz musician, but before that can happen, he gets in an accident and his soul is separated from his body and goes to a “You Seminar” where he must learn about himself - yep. Well, it’s Pixar, so in Pixar we trust. The film drops June 19th.

One reason to watch: Do your best to make sense of the teaser trailer, because this is one of those “out there” Pixar numbers that really wants to make you think: think about yourself, your family, your life in general, what it is to be alive. On the surface, you might think this is a kids’ film, but the more you think about Soul, the more it seems to be a cerebral piece of art – which is definitely a good thing.

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Director: Peter Docter
Cast: Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Questlove, Phylicia Rashad, Daveed Diggs

You ready for a high concept sci-fi comedy? Well, here we go: Ryan Reynolds plays a bank teller in a computer game, mercifully unaware that his life is meaningless. Then, the coders behind the game tweak things so he does know what’s going on, and suddenly Guy must become the hero of his own life in a race against time. As per. It's in cinemas from July 1st.

One reason to watch: It’s a rare thing to get this sort of bonkers sci-fi comedy made, and with such a great cast. The tone is manic to say the least, and there’s a sense that the people involved – including Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer and indie darling Taika Waititi – were having a hella good time making this movie, so fingers crossed we will too.

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Director: Shawn Levy
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Taika Waititi, Camille Kostek

A family in rural Oklahoma realise their unique connection to the Ghostbusters of yore, just as something strange rears its ugly head. The sequel drops July 10th.

One reason to watch: The OG gang is back as in, Murray, Aykroyd, Hudson and Weaver! Yes, it looks like it’s moving away from New York, but that’s okay. The 2016 reboot brushed under the carpet, director Jason Reitman – son of Ivan Reitman, director of the original Ghostbusters – is keen to do his family’s legacy justice with this new supersized sequel. Expect family legacy to be a big part of this movie, basically.

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Director: Jason Reitman
Cast: Paul Rudd, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, Annie Potts

It's unclear at this point, and with it being a Christopher Nolan movie in the vein of Inception and Memento, perhaps it’s best that way. The current rumour swirling around is that it's something to do with spies and time travel. We will have to wait till July 17th to find out.

One reason to watch: “In Nolan we trust”, as the saying goes, and that seems particularly relevant here with Tenet, a curious film, shrouded in mystery, that seems to be a sci-fi spy drama, but could be about… anything really. The fact that it’s title is a palindrome is bound to mean something, and as it’s a Christopher Nolan film, it’s safe to expect a very well made if somewhat emotionally chilly thriller that you’ll be desperate to see before someone spoils it for you.

Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Robert Pattinson, John David Washington

All these years later and Maverick is still flying fighter jets, stubbornly refusing to climb the military career ladder. But when something – or someone – from his past comes back into his life, he’s forced to confront who he really is. Hint: it’s probably still something to do with flying planes. The film hits cinemas on July 17th.

One reason to watch: The sequel to the film we never thought we’d get a follow-up to is finally here. Top Gun 2, aka Top Gun Maverick. The teaser footage we’ve seen so far leans heavily on the flying – as you might expect – but fingers crossed Cruise hasn’t lost that loving feeling and we might get some karaoke as well at some point. Seriously though, this is a real is-this-happening!? sequel, and film fans will be over the moon to be back in the danger zone.

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Director: Joseph Kosinski
Cast: Tom Cruise, John Hamm, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly

Based on the Disneyland ride – hey, so was Pirates Of The Carribbean, don’t laugh – this family-friendly adventure sees an explorer (The Rock) and a scientist (Emily Blunt) travel to a mysterious land in an attempt to find the legendary “Tree Of Life”. In cinemas from July 24th.

One reason to watch: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson seems to be obsessed with jungles. As well as both Jumanjis and Welcome To The Jungle, he’s now back under the rainforest canopy in this big budget action adventure from Walt Disney Pictures. It doesn’t look like it’ll reinvent cinema as we know it, but it also looks like a lot of fun, and happens to star some of your favourite people, so it may well be one of the most enjoyable bits of escapism out this summer.

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Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Jack Whitehall, Andy Nyman

Another much-delayed sequel lands in cinemas in 2020 in the shape of the third Bill and Ted movie, with the guitar-loving, time-travelling duo getting back in their telephone box to help their daughters save the day from August 21st.

One reason to watch: “WYLD STALLIONS!” *air guitar* Need I say more? I probably should, you’re right. Much-loved slackers Bill and Ted were the kings of ‘90s sci-fi comedy and it’s thoroughly excellent news that they’re back to write “the song that will save the world”. How will they pull it off? Probably by getting inspiration from great historical figures is my guess (though who knows where that idea came from, eh?).

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Director: Dean Parisot
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter

In this psychological horror that drops September 18th, someone wishes she was in the ‘60s and unfortunately her wish comes true…

One reason to watch: Little is known about this Goodnight Sweetheart-style time-travelling thriller, but you don’t need to know much when Edgar Wright is behind the megaphone. Probably still best known for Hot Fuzz and Shaun Of The Dead, here he’ll get to spread his wings and really mess with our minds. Plus, the cast he’s assembled is extraordinary – prepare for Thomasin McKenzie and Anya Taylor-Joy to become your new favourite actors, as they are both superb. Seriously, just watch Leave No Trace if you haven’t already, and don’t look back.

Director: Edgar Wright
Cast: Thomasin McKenzie, Anya Taylor-Joy, Matt Smith, Diana Rigg, Terence Stamp

Agatha Christie’s infamous Belgian detective Hercules Poirot is on holiday in Egypt, but as ever with Poirot, mystery (and murder) never seem to be too far away. The film drops October 9th.

One reason to watch: A follow-up to his star-studded Murder On The Orient Express, Kenneth Branagh is pulling off a similar trick here by taking Christie’s other best-known Poirot story and giving it a 21st century twist, and stuffing full of your favourite stars. If this is a success, we could be looking at a Branagh-helmed Christie-written cinematic universe, with KB’s absurdly coiffed uber-‘tache waggling all over the world. Isn’t that an image?

Director: Kenneth Branagh
Cast: Kenneth Branagh, Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer Rose Leslie, Sophie Okonedo, Jennifer Saunders, Letitia Wright

A big screen adaptation of the successful West End musical, ETAJ – as some call it – is inspired by the 2011 television documentary Jamie: Drag Queen at 16, and centres on a young gay man defying the bullies and becoming a drag queen. It is in cinemas from October 21st.

One reason to watch: Original musicals are a rare breed. Original British musicals, even more so. Here’s an impactful story about something all too important, featuring some of the best young British talent around. Plus, it’s from Warp films, who previously gave us the likes of Submarine, ’71 and Four Lions, and that alone is reason enough to pay attention to this one.

Director: Jonathan Butterell
Cast: Max Harwood, Richard E. Grant, Sharon Horgan, Sarah Lancashire

Novelist Frank Herbert’s sci-fi epic Dune is being adapted once again, telling the tale of a desert planet blessed and cursed by the all-important “spice” that serves as a drug, a source of life and an aid to interplanetary travel. Betrayal, intrigue and murder are the order of the day, so think… a science fiction Game Of Thrones and you’re, well, only a quarter of the way there to be honest.

One reason to watch: Director Denis Villeneuve has been on a hot streak for a long time now (Prisoners, Sicario, Arrival, Blade Runner 2049) so everything bodes well for his take on the first half of Herbert’s classic sci-fi tome. He’s managed to get some incredible acting talent along for the ride, with Timothée Chalamet playing Paul Atreides, Rebecca Ferguson his mother and Oscar Isaac his father. As a fan of both the novel, the director and the entire cast, this could be my most eagerly anticipated film of 2020 – and I don’t say that lightly.

Director: Denis Villeneuve
Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Zendaya

A remake of the classic ‘60s musical, itself inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo And Juliet, West Side Story centres around teenagers Tony and Maria, who fall in love in 1950s New York City despite being affiliated with rival street gangs. It drops in cinemas December 18th.

One reason to watch: It takes a brave soul to remake one of the most beloved big screen musicals of all time, and that brave soul is one Steven Spielberg. How will they do justice to ‘Tonight’, ‘Cool’, ‘Maria’, ‘Somewhere’, ‘America’ and the rest? This is Bernstein and Sondheim after all. As you can tell, I have my reservations, but this is Spielberg, and perhaps I should have a bit more faith. Still though… it’s yours to mess up Steven.

Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose, Corey Stoll, Brian d’Arcy James, Rita Moreno

32 years after the original Coming To America, Eddie Murphy is back as Prince Akeem Joffer, the prince of Zamunda, who discovers (just as he’s set to become king) that there’s a son he never knew about somewhere in America. So off he goes back to the US to find him to fulfil his sick father’s dying wish. The sequel drops December 18th.

One reason to watch: It’s the sequel to Coming To America! With all the cast back! Need I say more? Well, perhaps, but you’re going to have to trust me on this one: it’s a big, big deal and I can’t wait to see how Murphy pulls off this part of his comeback.

Director: Craig Brewer
Cast: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones, Shari Headley, John Amos, Tracy Morgan, Wesley Snipes, James Earl Jones