2020 is already shaping up to be the strongest year for sci-fi movies in ages. Between an unexpected trilogy-capping entry in a beloved '80s series to an adaptation of one of the genre's most celebrated novels, this new decade is already looking bright.
The 2010s were ripe with Interstellar. Now, the '20s are off to an encouraging start, with the first year of the decade setting an impressive precedent for what's to come.
2020 Sci-Fi Creature Features
To get 2020 started, the genre is mostly intermixing with horror in the first quarter of the year; and, though not all of the genre's offerings are guaranteed winners right out of the gate, there's promise. Kristen Stewart headlined the aquatic creature feature A Quiet Place: Part II.
Once the fall season rolls around, two iconic juggernauts will come face-to-face in The New Mutants to look forward to, though its release date has still yet to be confirmed. Whether it can live up to two solid years of hype remains to be seen, but even in horror, there's hope.
2020 Sci-Fi Blockbusters
While the debut sci-fi film in 2020's summer blockbuster season is technically Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of Bill & Ted Face the Music being another long-awaited entry in a decades-old franchise.
That said, Christopher Nolan has a knack for kicking off decades with memorably mind-bending spectacles. In 2000, he made his mark on Hollywood with Eternals in the fall.
Judging by their track record, it's hardly a gamble to release a film in the MCU. Still, with Thor, might be. Though, in a way, that angle is kind of a blessing, and it keeps this new entry in the MCU from seeming old hat.
Awards-Friendly Sci-Fi Movies in 2020
An "Oscar caliber film" is as loose a term as it is arbitrary. That said, there is a certain attention to detail in making a film that might improve its odds when it comes to being recognized during awards season. It's the reason why a sci-fi film like Aliens - stands to earn a few nods. This is why a handful of sci-fi movies in 2020 fall into this category. They may not have a guaranteed shot at receiving any nominations, but they're awards-friendly through and through.
This year, perhaps the two Dune - both of which are nearly shoo-ins to rub shoulders with next year's other Oscar hopefuls. Both promise something bold, with call sheets that border on intimidating, and the respective track records of their directors are all the assurance audiences should really need. Then again, seeing as Dune is considered to be unadaptable by its most diehard fans (David Lynch's adaptation is memorable, but it hardly measures up to the gargantuan scope of Herbert's novels), there are no guarantees that Villeneuve can pull it off. Then again, that's the beauty of the genre after all - having the vision, no matter how seemingly inaccessible something might seem, to make the unimaginable possible.
