Editor’s note: This page will be updated live as more information is made available.
Last updated: March 16, 2020, at 2:40p CST.
This week, the World Health Organization officially classified the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a pandemic. In the run-up to and the wake of that announcement, we have seen a wave of cancellations of public events, limits placed social gatherings in high-risk areas, and even the suspension of major sporting events across Europe and the United States, notably including the suspension of the NBA’s season following a player testing positive.
The pop culture space that we love so dearly has also been hit hard by the impact of this global pandemic. Austin’s annual mega-conference SXSW was canceled just less than a week before it was set to begin, rendering a devastating blow to local workers, the independent film community, and ultimately to the still-unknown future of SXSW itself. Elsewhere, we’ve seen cancelations of events like Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC) and CinemaCon (the annual meeting of theatrical exhibitors) and the expected delays or cancellation of major film festivals, including Cannes.
The current CDC guidelines recommend that you wash your hands, stay home if you’re sick, and do your part in order to help prevent the spread of the virus.
As the spread is expected to continue for an unknown period of time, Hollywood studios and other domestic distributors have begun preemptively rescheduling some of their theatrical releases. The expectation appears to be that the spread will have an impact on movie theater attendance if it hasn’t already. Which titles are among those being held back? To help you with your own release calendar management, we’ll be using our extra time at home to keep this list updated with all the changes to the US domestic theatrical release schedule. So bookmark this page for future updates and be safe out there, dearest readers.
Titles are listed in alphabetical order.
Antlers
Original release date: April 17, 2020
New release date: TBD
This Guillermo del Toro-produced thriller is on our list of the 52 most anticipated movies of 2020.
The Artist’s Wife
Original release date: April 3, 2020
New release date: TBD
Hot off the festival circuit, this drama starring Bruce Dern as a famous artist with dementia and Lena Olin as his wife was due to open in New York City on April 3 followed by Los Angeles and San Francisco later in the month. Distributor Strand Releasing now expects to get the film in theaters later this year. It’s still planning to screen at the Sarasota Film Festival in April.
Blue Story
Original release date: March 20, 2020
New release date: TBD
One of the smaller releases to be delayed, Paramount’s crime thriller is the directorial debut of British rapper Rapman, who based the feature on his YouTube channel. The movie was released in the UK last fall.
The Climb
Original release date: March 20, 2020
New release date: TBD
A comedy about a longtime friendship that ends when one man sleeps with the other’s fiancee. The movie debuted at Cannes last year to great acclaim but now general audiences will have to wait “several months,” according to Hook Publicity.
The Conversation (Re-Release)
Original re-release date: March 20, 2020
New release date: TBD
Francis Ford Coppola’s classic paranoia thriller starring Gene Hackman was originally released in 1974. Film Forum has a new 35mm print overseen by the filmmaker for a re-release but is now closed through at least March 31st.
Deerskin
Original release date: March 20, 2020
New release date: TBD
From visionary filmmaker Quentin Dupieux (Rubber), this movie stars Oscar-winning actor Jean Dujardin as a man obsessed with his deerskin jacket. Greenwich Entertainment says it’s postponed “until further notice.”
A Dog Called Money
Original release date: March 18, 2020
New release date: TBD
NYC’s Film Forum was set to release this documentary following the making of PJ Harvey’s latest album. But Film Forum is closed now at least through March 31st.
F9
Original release date: May 22, 2020
New release date: April 2, 2021
One of the world’s biggest movies of this year will now have to be one of next year’s. The Fast & Furious sequel isn’t taking any chances of a 2020 release following Universal’s decision to suspend its Memorial Day opening more than two months in advance was joined by the announcement of a new date set for almost one year later.
The Lovebirds
Original release date: April 3, 2020
New release date: TBD
Michael Showalter’s new action-comedy, starring Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani, was initially going to premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival, but the event was canceled. Paramount later decided to delay the release indefinitely.
Mulan
Original release date: March 27, 2020
New release date: TBD
Mulan had previously been tracking for an $80-90 million opening in a few weeks.
The New Mutants
Original release date: April 3, 2020
New release date: TBD
In a statement to Deadline, Disney confirmed that they are delaying New Mutants (and Mulan and Antlers) and that they are looking for dates later in 2020.
Nina Wu
Original release date: March 20
New release date: TBD
A Taiwanese drama about a small-town theatre actress (Ke-Xi Wu) who moves to the big city to pursue her dreams and become a movie star. US distributor Film Movement pulled the film, which debuted at Cannes last year, and will announce a new date in the future.
No Time to Die
Original release date: April 10, 2020
New release date: November 25, 2020
The 25th James Bond movie was the first release to be moved, with MGM deciding to delay the sequel until November, which appropriately enough is when other recent 007 installments opened. At the time, the delay was mostly seen as being for the sake of other countries affected by the virus.
On a Magical Night (Chambre 212)
Original release date: March 27, 2020
New release date: TBD
French filmmaker Christophe Honoré (Love Songs) reunites with actress Ciara Mastroianni for this comedy about a woman unhappy in her marriage who moves into a hotel across the street for a new perspective. Following its Cannes premiere last year, the movie’s US opening courtesy of Strand Releasing is now delayed.
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway
Original release date: April 3, 2020
New release date: August 7, 2020
Sony appears to be hoping that this all blows over by late summer, as they held back this family film sequel only four months, until August (longer for many international releases that were set for March). The original Peter Rabbit opened in February 2018.
A Quiet Place Part II
Original release date: March 20, 2020
New release date: TBD
Director John Krasinski personally sent out a social media message about the delay of his horror sequel, stating that this is a movie that deserves to be watched with a crowd. A Quiet Place Part II was set to come out about the same time of year as the original, which opened in early April 2018.
#AQuietPlacePart2…Take2 pic.twitter.com/YrCXLLpxjh
— John Krasinski (@johnkrasinski) March 12, 2020
Radium Girls
Original release date: April 3, 2020
New release date: TBD
Based on a true story, this drama starring Joey King is about sisters working with radium in a factory making watch dials. When they become sick they uncover a corporate scandal. Juno Films announced the movie is postponed “until further notice.”
The Truth (La Vérité)
Original release date: March 20, 2020
New release date: TBD Summer 2020
The latest drama from Shoplifters filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda, which stars Catherine Deneuve as a French movie star plus Juliette Binoche and Ethan Hawke, was to begin its limited opening on March 20 with other cities to follow in subsequent weeks. IFC Films announced a postponement until the summer but no new date has been revealed yet.
More will be added as they are announced.
