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New year, new Netflix films. Like, a lot of new Netflix films. The movies coming to Netflix in 2020 are even more star-studded and buzz-worthy than last year’s Netflix original slate, and considering that last year included both The Irishman and 6 Underground, that’s saying something.
Last Friday, Netflix teased the first look at 29 of those films via a massive, Disney Plus-style Twitter thread, which teased the title, cast, and logline. And, the Netflix Film Twitter account added, this list is only a portion of the upcoming original films this year. We have no doubt that many more titles will be announced before the year is up.
From Best Picture hopefuls like David Fincher’s Mank and Ron Howard’s Hillbilly Elegy, to much-anticipated teen rom-com sequels like To All the Boys: PS I Still Love You and The Kissing Booth 2, there’s something for everyone on Netflix’s 2020 film slate. And, hey, even though Netflix had a disappointing night at the Golden Globes last Sunday, there’s always next year! When you have films coming up with actors like Taraji P. Henson, Glenn Close, Gary Oldman, Spike Lee, Anne Hathaway, and more, you’re bound to get some award nominations.
We’ve highlighted 18 of what we think are the most exciting 2020 Netflix films coming soon. Most don’t have release dates yet, but, as of now, we’re expecting to see all of these titles sometime this year. And if that’s not enough content to keep you busy this year, you can also check out our 2020 streaming films preview, which includes titles from Amazon, Hulu, Disney Plus, and HBO. Or you can check out our preview of 2020 TV shows, which includes Star Trek: Picard, Little Fires Everywhere, and more. Basically, there’s going to be plenty to watch in 2020, so maybe it’s time to rethink that New Year’s Resolution to exercise more.
'To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You'
Release date: February 12
The wait is almost over for the sequel to Netflix’s popular romantic comedy, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. Noah Centineo and Lana Condor are back, bringing us even more adorableness as Lara Jean Song Covey and Peter Kavinsky. But those who’ve read the book series by author Jenny Han know that this sequel also introduces a new love interest: John Ambrose McClaren, a former crush of Lara Jean’s (played by actor Jordan Fisher). Get ready for the ship wars. (Or maybe we could all just get along!)
'Taylor Swift: Miss Americana'
Release date: Early 2020
Mega pop star Taylor Swift is getting her own Netflix original documentary, which will premiere later this month at the opening night of the Sundance Film Festival, on January 23, 2020. Emmy award-winning director Lana Wilson (After Tiller, The Departure) is bringing, according to the Netflix description, “a raw and emotionally revealing look at one of the most iconic artists of our time during a transformational period in her life as she learns to embrace her role not only as a songwriter and performer but as a woman harnessing the full power of her voice.” Don’t worry, Swift hive, you don’t have much longer to wait: The doc is slated to hit Netflix in early 2020.
'The Last Thing He Wanted'
Release date: 2020 TBA
Another Netflix film premiering at Sundance this month is The Last Thing He Wanted. Written and directed by Dee Rees (who was nominated for an Academy Award for her 2017 film, Mudbound) and based on a book by Joan Didion, this political thriller stars Anne Hathaway as a journalist covering the 1984 U.S. Presidential election. Willem Dafoe plays her father, while Ben Affleck plays a U.S. State Official. I can smell the award nominations already.
'Hillbilly Elegy'
Release date: Early 2020
Ron Howard is directing this film adaptation of the 2016 best-selling memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, in which writer J.D. Vance recounted his Kentucky family history and weighed it against the social issues in his hometown of Middletown, Ohio. Gabriel Basso stars as Vance, while Amy Adams and Glenn Close have supporting roles in the Vance family. There’s no doubt Netflix hopes to earn some nominations for this film. Hillbilly Elegy is expected to receive a limited theatrical release before heading to Netflix, like many of the streaming service’s awards-bait films last year.
'I'm Thinking of Ending Things'
Release date: Early 2020
Another book adaptation—this time from the 2016 novel by Iain Reid—I’m Thinking of Ending Things will be the first Netflix film from filmmaker Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), who is following in the footsteps of directors like Martin Scorsese and Noah Baumbach by moving to Netflix. The story is a drama-horror-thriller about a road trip gone terribly wrong, and the cast includes Jesse Plemons, Jessie Buckley, David Thewlis, and the one and only Toni Collette.
'The Kissing Booth 2'
Release date: Spring 2020
Joey King, Joel Courtney and Jacob Elordi are all back in this sequel to The Kissing Booth, aka the teen romance that critics hated but was still a hit for the streaming service. What will happen now that Elle and Noah are officially dating? Who knows! So far all we know, besides this cute announcement video, is that the film is coming in Spring 2020.
'The Prom'
Release date: Late 2020
Ryan Murphy has several Netflix projects coming next year, including The Prom, a movie musical based on the hit 2018 Broadway show about two high school girls who go to prom together in a conservative town in Indiana. If you saw the show, you know it’s great, and if you’ve heard about the cast—Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Awkwafina, James Corden and Ariana Grande—you’re likely very excited for the film. Filming began last month, and for now, the film is expected to release in late 2020.
'Army of the Dead'
Release date: Winter 2020
Netflix will not be #ReleasingTheSnyderCut, but they will be releasing a Snyder cut, aka the upcoming zombie film directed by Justice League‘s Zack Snyder and starring Guardians of the Galaxy‘s Dave Bautista. Snyder has said he plans to release the film in Winter 2020.
'Rebecca'
Release date: 2020 TBA
While it doesn’t seem likely that any film adaptation of the famous 1938 crime novel by Daphne du Maurier, Rebecca, will ever top Alfred Hitchcock’s 1940 film, director Ben Wheatley (Free Fire, Kill List) is going try. Lily James and Armie Hammer will take the starring roles—previously played by Joan Fontaine and Laurence Olivier—as a newly-married couple plagued by the husband’s late ex-wife, Rebecca.
'Da 5 Bloods'
Release date: 2020 TBA
Prestige filmmakers jumping to Netflix, you say? That includes the one and only Spike Lee, whose next film, Da 5 Bloods, is about four African-American Vietnam War veterans going back to the country where they fought years ago. The cast includes Black Panther himself, Chadwick Boseman, along with Delroy Lindo, Clarke Peters, Isiah Whitlock Jr., and Norm Lewis.
'The Old Guard'
Release date: 2020 TBA
If you saw Atomic Blonde, you know that Charlize Theron was destined to be in another badass action film. Thanks to director Gina Prince-Bythewood (Love & Basketball) we’re getting just that, in this adaptation of the comic book of the same name. Theron and Kiki Layne will star as two immortal mercenaries fighting to keep their team together. How dope is that?
'Mank'
Release date: 2020 TBA
Make way for director David Fincher’s next critically-acclaimed biopic about a real-life genius! This film is not about a Facebook founder, but a Hollywood screenwriter: Herman J. Mankiewicz who fought with director Orson Welles over writing credit for Citizen Kane, widely regarded as one of the best films of all time. Gary Oldman will play the titular role, and Amanda Seyfried, Charles Dance, and Lily Collins also star.
'Eurovision'
Release date: 2020 TBA
Get ready for a Will Ferrell comedy, but on Netflix! Eurovision, written by
Will Ferrell and Andrew Steele and directed by David Dobkin, will star Ferrell and Rachel McAdams as Icelandic singers Lars Erickssong and Sigrit Ericksdottir competing in the worldwide music competition known as Eurovision. In 2018, Ferrell attended the real Eurovision in Portugal for inspiration.
'Tigertail'
Release date: 2020 TBA
This drama from writer/director Alan Yang (Master of None) stars John Cho as a character named Grover, a Taiwanese factory worker who emigrates to America and struggles to adjust to his new life there.
'The Half of It'
Release date: 2020 TBA
This upcoming teen romance may not have any big-name stars, but we’re mostly excited that the streaming service is finally premiering an LGBT story, about two teen girls who fall in love. Listen to this description: “Shy, straight-A student Ellie is hired by sweet but inarticulate jock Paul who needs help wooing the most popular girl in school. But their new & unlikely friendship gets tricky when Ellie discovers she has feelings for the same girl.” Is that not adorable? The film is written and directed by Alice Wu, and stars Leah Lewis, Alexxis Lemire, Daniel Diemer, and Becky Ann Baker.
'Coffee & Kareem'
Release date: 2020 TBA
An action-comedy starring Cookie from Empire and Andy from The Office? You love to see it. Directed by Michael Dowse and written by Shane McCarthy, this film stars Taraji P. Henson and Ed Helms and follows a Detroit cop who needs to clear his name by teaming up with the son of his girlfriend.
'Hubie Halloween'
Release: TBA
The Netflix film Twitter didn’t include this Adam Sandler Halloween movie with Kevin James, Maya Rudolph, Ray Liotta, and Steve Buscemi in its Twitter thread, but assuming the film is still on schedule for its 2020 release, we’ll likely see it in the fall, for Halloween. (Duh.) It’s directed by Steven Brill, who directed some of the classic Sandler films, including Little Nicky, Mr. Deeds and Without a Paddle.
'Out of the Fire'
Release date: 2020 TBA
Stranger Things dad David Harbour is never leaving Netflix. For his next project, he’s teaming up with Chris Hemsworth, aka Thor, who plays a mercenary tasked with rescuing the kidnapped son of an international crime lord in this action-thriller directed by Sam Hargrave.
More Netflix Original Films Coming in 2020
The other Netflix films coming in 2020 that we know about so far are:
Jezebel: A coming-of-age drama directed, written, and co-starring Numa Perrier as a 19-year-old girl working as an “internet fetish cam girl,” coming January 16.
A Fall From Grace: A Tyler Perry-directed thriller coming January 17.
Airplane Mode: A Brazilian film starring Larissa Manoela coming January 23.
All The Bright Places: A young adult romance starring Elle Fanning and Justice Smith coming February 28.
Spenser Confidential: A mystery starring Mark Wahlberg, Winston Duke, Post Malone, and Alan Arkin, coming March 6.
Sergio: A biopic about Sérgio Vieira de Mello biopic starring Wagner Moura (Narcos), Ana de Armas, and Bradley Whitford.
The Willoughbys: An animated family film about four children featuring the voices of Ricky Gervais, Maya Rudolph, Will Forte, Martin Short and more.
Jingle Jangle: A holiday musical tale starring Forest Whitaker, Keegan-Michael Key, and Madelen Mills.
The Princess Switch: Switched Again: A sequel to the popular Netflix Christmas movie starring Vanessa Hudgens and Vanessa Hudgens.
Robin Robin: An animated musical from the studio behind Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep.
Crip Camp: A documentary produced by the Obamas about a summer camp for teens with disabilities in the ’70s.
Dick Johnson Is Dead: A documentary from director Kirsten Johnson (CAMERAPERSON) about her 86-year-old father.
Lost Girls: A drama from filmmaker Liz Garbus about the true story of Mari Gilbert (Amy Ryan), whos investigates the disappearance of her daughter and brings attention to over a dozen murdered sex workers.
Uncorked: Courtney B. Vance and Niecy Nash star in Prentice Penny’s feature directorial debut. Elijah (Athie) must balance his dream of becoming a master sommelier with his father’s expectations that he carry on the family’s Memphis BBQ joint.
The Boys In The Band: Another Ryan Murphy adaptation of a Broadway play, starring Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer, and Andrew Rannells as gay men gathering to attend a birthday party.
The Platform: A Spanish film that premiered at TIFF in 2019 about a future dystopia, prisoners housed in vertically stacked cells watch hungrily as food descends from above — feeding the upper tiers, but leaving those below ravenous and radicalized.
Over the Moon: A musical adventure about a girl who builds a rocket ship to travel to the moon in order to prove to her father that a legendary Moon Goddess really exists, from animator Glen Keane.
Horse Girl: A drama starring Alison Brie, who co-wrote the script with director Jeff Baena (Life After Beth).
