Sisters are doing it for themselves! From Greta Gerwig’s masterful depiction of sisters struggling to survive the Civil War while searching for their place in the world in Little Women to Daisy Ridley’s Rey — a lonely scavenger turned Jedi Knight in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Hollywood’s heroines have been killing it both behind and in front of the camera. And with no less than five major blockbusters — all helmed by women — releasing this year, this fangirl is super excited for 2020!
Here’s what’s coming to (or is already available in) a theater near you…
Out February 7 — Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn
Director Cathy Yan gives my favorite DC “villainess” Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) her own, much deserved movie (and I can’t think of a more fitting title).
When last we saw Harley, she’d just dumped her abusive boyfriend, Joker, and teamed up with the Suicide Squad to save the world. Now this loveable looney is joining forces and flying high with DC’s Birds of Prey. Along with Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez), Harley will smash some heads, wreak some havoc, and maybe have a slumber party all while saving a little girl from crime lord, Black Mask (Ewan McGregor).
As promised by the trailer, this flick is one crazy ride. Check out my full review HERE.
Out March 27 — Mulan (2020)
Based on the Chinese legend, Mulan (1998) tells the story of a girl who, in order to save her ailing father from being conscripted into the military, impersonates a man, joins the army and goes to war. It’s one of the few Disney movies that doesn’t feature a princess as its main heroine, which is why I gravitate to this particular film. I can’t remember an animated movie before Mulan that featured a heroine who is as clever as she is honorable and as kind-hearted as she is badass.
So, I was excited to check out the trailer to the newest version of Mulan. I must say it looks like New Zealand director Niki Caro (Whale Rider) has transformed this beautifully animated feature into a live-action epic. With sweeping landscapes, action-packed battles and kick-butt fight scenes, Mulan could be the best of all the recent Disney remakes.
Out May 1 — Black Widow
I know it hasn’t been that long since Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home came out, but I’ve been jonesing for the next Marvel movie. That it’s Black Widow gives me the warm fuzzies.
Over that last decade, the character of Black Widow has gone from (let’s face it) a bit of eye candy with some cool martial arts moves in Iron Man 2 to a full-fledged, deeply layered woman with a harrowing past — a past we’ve only gotten glimpses of.
Now under Cate Shortland’s direction, Scarlett Johansson reprises her role as we follow her Natasha back to Russia to where it all began for the Black Widow. She has “unfinished business,” and if there’s red in the Widow’s ledger, I, for one, can’t wait to see how she wipes it out.
Out June 5 — Wonder Woman 1984
Of all the blockbusters coming out this year, I’m most excited for Wonder Woman 1984. Director Patty Jenkins and star Gal Gadot made magic in 2017 with their smash hit Wonder Woman (Check out my original review here). I still get goosebumps when I think of the “No Man’s Land” scene.
So now that these amazing women have teamed up once again to bring us the next chapter in the saga of Themyscira’s favorite daughter, I expect come June I’ll be doing my Wonder Woman twirl all the way to the theater!
Out November 6 — Eternals
I’m going to be honest here, I know nothing about Eternals. But my husband (a huge comic book geek) assures me this is a very cool, very strange, very Jack Kirby superhero story.
What I do know is that it’s helmed by director Chloé Zhao (The Rider), inaugural winner of the Independent Spirit Bonnie Award honoring “female directors with a remarkable body of work that demonstrates their uniqueness of vision and groundbreaking approach to film.” It also has a great cast including: Salma Hayek, Angelina Jolie and Kit Harrington (Game of Thrones).
To learn a bit more about comic book legend Jack Kirby and his Eternals, check out this sneak peek.
Until next time, may the flicks be with you.