Monday the 17th of May sees cinemas open around the U.K. for the first time this year, delighting many a filmgoer as we look to return to normality. Vue and Odeon's up and down the country will be opening their doors this coming Monday whilst Cineworld will be welcoming back customers on Wednesday the 19th, as well as a whole host of independent cinemas reopening this week. For more information and clarity, head to your local's website to see details of their opening and safety guidelines. Of course, not all will feel safe to make the return to the big screen just yet but for those coming back instantly, here are some of the films you can look forward to (subject to availability).
Spiral: From The Book of Saw (Rated 18- ID May Be Required - 95 mins)
One of the first brand new releases in the cinema this year will be the 9th edition of the 'Saw' franchise, 'Spiral: From The Book of Saw'. The famed horror franchise is making yet another return with comedian Chris Rock in the starring role, alongside Samuel L Jackson. The franchise is known for its excessive gore and insane traps which have become the franchise's staple in most of its instalments. Acting also as an executive producer, Rock has expressed desires to try and 'reinvigorate the brand with his wit, creative vision and passion for this classic horror franchise'. Comments from the film's production suggest that this film will be taking a step back from the immense blood and guts, only using them to progress the story rather than it being the main feature, with ideas to further explore characters, tension and fear. In recent years we have seen different creatives jump from comedy into the world of horror with great success, most notably Jordan Peele. As a clear passion project from Chris Rock, 'Spiral' looks certain to be an interesting exercise of horror within a famed property that will hopefully deliver more than just the gore we've come to expect from the series.
'Spiral: From The Book of Saw' is an 18 Rated film, so ID may be required for entry if you are deemed to look underage.
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (Rated U - 95mins)
For those looking to take in a film with young kids or families in general, 'Peter Rabbit 2' is set to be the most popular movie this week to keep children amused. The sequel to the 2018 family comedy sees James Corden return as the titular character's voice, with Domhnall Gleeson and Rose Byrne also returning to their roles. With Peter getting into more mischief that ends up with him questioning his own doings, 'The Runaway' looks to be ideal to keep younger viewers entertained for its hour and a half runtime. With the first film making a whopping £351 million, expect to see this film on the show lists for a good while as cinemas ease into returning.
Mortal Kombat (Rated 15 - ID May Be Required - 110 mins)
After a short stint on VOD channels, the new 'Mortal Kombat' film will be available in cinemas on opening day. Based on the famous video game series, this is the first feature adaptation since the 1995 film with the characters of Scorpion, Sub Zero and many more making their grand return to the big screen. Another franchise that is famed for its brutality, this time through fight scenes, the 2021 feature will look to play up to that reputation as much as they possibly can in a film. This will be toned down a little due to the differences in allowance for ratings between video games and movies but still looks certain to deliver on the famous 'fatalities. Described as a film that appeals to fans of the source material, an over the top action-fest is to be expected with quippy one-liners and the occasional dose of wit. 'Mortal Kombat' (2021) has already proved to be quite the success, becoming the most successful launch in HBO Max's short history and earning over £70 million despite lack of cinemas.
'Mortal Kombat' is a 15 Rated film, so ID may be required for entry if you are deemed to look underage.
Tom & Jerry (Rated PG - 101 mins)
'Tom & Jerry' is yet another film that is making its debut on the big screen this week following a stint of only being available on streaming platforms, offering a choice of family films to see alongside 'Peter Rabbit'. Yet another film based off an existing property, the usual antics of the classic cartoon characters can be expected but this time interacting with real-life people and environments. Starring Chloe Grace Moretz and Michael Pena, 'Tom & Jerry' currently stands as the eighth highest-grossing film of the year, appealing massively to young audiences and families.
Godzilla Vs. Kong (Rated 12A - 113 mins)
A film truly made for the big screen, the spectacle of King Kong and Godzilla facing off will also be on showcase for those returning to cinemas on opening day. A CGI-fest with excessive visuals and blaring sound, blockbusters like this are truly made for the cinema. The 4th film in the recent 'Monsterverse', you know what you're getting into with these characters as this Sci-fi, Monster-Action film looks set to deliver a battle for the ages between two icons of cinema. This film will be entirely about the WOW factor and seems like an ideal film for the causal filmgoer to head out to see in the best venue possible.
Those Who Wish Me Dead (Rated 15 - ID May Be Required - 100 mins)
Due to the pandemic, 'Those Who Wish Me Dead' looks to have gone completely under the radar which appears to be mental regarding the talent involved. Not only is Angelina Jolie in a leading role but this film comes from Taylor Sheridan, writer of tremendous thrillers 'Hell Or High Water' and 'Sicario', as well as directing the fantastic 'Wind River'. Taking on a story of a woman protecting a young boy from two relentless killers, this gritty film looks right down Sheridan's wheelhouse as shown by his previous work. With Jon Bernthal, Nicholas Hoult and Aiden Gillen also in the supporting cast, this could wind up being quite an underseen film that flies under the radar for many people. With an intriguing premise and cast of creatives behind it, 'Those Who Wish Me Dead' looks like quite a promising prospect.
'Those Who Wish Me Dead' is a 15 Rated film, so ID may be required for entry if you are deemed to look underage.
The Unholy (Rated 15 - ID May Be Required - 99 mins)
Based on the 1983 novel 'Shrine' by James Herbert comes the directorial debut of Evan Spiliotopoulos, writer of Disney's live-action 'Beauty and the Beast' and 2019's 'Charlie's Angels'. Steering away from the family film work that he has done mostly within his career, Spiliotopoulos is looking to make a name for himself as a director in the horror genre. Following the story of a young girl who appears to have the power to heal the sick, things seem to turn more sinister once a disgraced journalist decides to investigate these 'miracles'. Starring Marina Mazepa and 'The Walking Dead's Jeffrey Dean Morgan, this may be the film for horror fans to check out on opening week.
'The Unholy' is a 15 Rated film, so ID may be required for entry if you are deemed to look underage.
The Little Things (Rated 15- ID May Be Required - 128mins)
'The Little Things' has the ability to boast about having three Oscar-winning actors in its leading roles as detectives played by Denzel Washington and Rami Malek go on the search for a serial killer terrorising Los Angeles, leading them to Jared Leto's character. Leto's performance earned him Best Supporting Actor nominations at the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards as this thriller contains an incredible crop of talent. Drawing comparisons to David Ficher's 'Seven' for its portrayal of a serial killer investigation, 'The Little Things' appears to be a well-acted and directed film despite it mirroring several predecessors in the genre.
'The Little Things' is a 15 Rated film, so ID may be required for entry if you are deemed to look underage.
Classic Films
Just as it were when cinemas were last open, a whole host of classic films will be screened daily in order to draw audiences in. This week alone shows a large number of great pictures, including ’Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’, Martin Scorsese’s ‘Taxi Driver’ and Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator’. As well as this, the hit musical ‘Grease’ returns to cinemas 43 years after its initial release alongside the sci-fi classic ‘Total Recall’ starring Arnold Schwarzenegger which celebrates the 30th anniversary of its release. There may also be more specific classics released into certain areas so it is worth keeping an eye on your local's listings so that you don’t miss the chance to see one of your favourites on the big screen.
The aforementioned list of films may not be available at all cinemas as well as not being the only films listed for this week. For precise information about what you can see this week, head to the website of your local cinema to see what is playing this week. If you are heading to a cinema this week, please make sure to obey the safety guidelines so that we can all enjoy getting back to the cinema together.
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