Every Marvel And DC Comics Superhero Movie Opening From 2020 To 2023

For those who’ve lost track of all of this release date tomfoolery, here’s a quick guide, for now, as to what big DC and Marvel (MCU or otherwise) superhero movies are opening and when. These are all releases dates as affirmed as of this moment, and obviously these could all end up changing between now and whenever each respective movie actually opens theatrically. Yes, next year will see six (!) Marvel movies thanks to three Sony Spider-Verse flicks and three non-Spidey MCU movies, while DC Films will offer just Wonder Woman 1984 this Christmas (for now) and The Suicide Squad next August.

With Fox now owned by Disney and Sony trying to attach its Spidey flicks to Disney’s MCU, the entire ecosystem of comic book superhero movies is now down to two studios (Warner Bros. and Disney) and two franchises (DC Films and the MCU). And, yes, I’d argue that Sony, WB and Disney are almost entirely dependent on their respective superhero movies for the next few years. I’m not arguing that the long-discussed “superhero fatigue” will actually come to fruition, but we’re certainly going to risk superhero saturation between late 2020 and mid-2023. And without further ado…   

DC Films’ Wonder Woman 1984 (December 25)

Will the Patty Jenkins-directed sequel move for the seventh time? Probably, as I doubt Warner Bros. wants to let one of its mega-bucks blockbusters play sacrificial lamb (and then get blamed for hurting theaters) a second time in one year. Gal Gadot’s Amazon princess may be mighty, but even she cannot hold up an entire global theatrical industry all by herself. Considering WB’s soft summer 2021 slate (Godzilla Vs. Kong, Space Jam: A New Legacy, In the Heights and The Suicide Squad), I’d expect it to take the June 4, 2021 slot occupied by The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It and push the New Line chiller to September 10, 2021 allowing both films to open a year after their initial 2020 release date. But that’s all speculation for now.

Sony’s Morbius (March 19, 2021)

Initially slated for July 31 of this past summer, this Jared Leto-starring flick was supposed to further connect the, uh, “Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters” into Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe. The one trailer back in January revealed both pictures of Spider-Man and a cameo from Michael Keaton presumably playing his Adrian Tombs (The Vulture) from Spider-Man: Homecoming. Tom Hardy’s Venom was a blow out hit two years ago, earning $216 million domestic, $269 million in China and $854 million worldwide. Nobody was expecting a similar run for Morbious, since the character isn’t as well known as Eddie Brock and Tom Hardy is a bigger/better-liked performer compared to Leto. Still, a well-received Morbious film would have shown that Into the Spider-Verse, Venom and the MCU Spider-Man movies were no flukes.

Marvel’s Black Widow (May 7, 2021)

By the time Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow opens next May, it will have been almost two years since the last MCU movie, namely Sony’s Spider-Man: Far from Home which earned $1.13 billion in July of 2019. This prequel, set between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War, is intended to give the late Natasha Romanoff a swan song and potentially introduce Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova (Nat’s sister) as a proverbial “new” Black Widow. Will absence make the heart grow fonder or will audiences want to get to the new stuff and see what Marvel looks like after Avengers: Endgame? At this point, it feels less like an essential MCU chapter than taking fair of unfinished business for a character who should have gotten her own (present-tense) movie years ago.

Sony’s Venom: Let There Be Carnage (June 25, 2021)

Originally scheduled for October 2, 2020, Andy Serkis will direct the second Tom Hardy-as-Eddie Brock action comedy fantasy. Venom: There Will Be Carnage is in an odd conundrum, as it was a huge hit partially because of its willingness to embrace its “badness” and relish its absurdity. Does the sequel try to be a conventionally better movie? Does it lean into the madness and hope it doesn’t come off as too self-aware? Woody Harrelson as Carnage and Naomi Harris as Shriek are excellent added-value elements, but this could be a “folks were just curious the first time” sequel. Nonetheless, Venom earned 9.5x its $90 million budget, so Venom 2 could earn a lot less here and abroad and still be a huge hit just by earning about what we expected from the first film.

Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (July 9, 2021)

With Jurassic World: Dominion having just moved to summer 2022, Marvel’s martial-arts action fantasy is arguably the front runner to rule next summer. Positioned as (commercially speaking) the Black Panther for Asian moviegoers, as well as a big deal for everyone else who likes butt-kicking action, the film’s recent delay into mid-July puts the hurt on a number of mid-summer releases (especially Top Gun: Maverick and Space Jam: A New Legacy) which were banking on strong business in China. Marvel has become overwhelmingly big in China (Spider-Man: Far from Home earned 71% more than Spider-Man: Homecoming), so that this is an MCU movie that happens to feature an Asian cast (Simu Liu, Tony Leung, Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh, etc.) feels like a double whammy. That’s especially if it’s less “honorable” than Mulan.

DC Films’ The Suicide Squad (August 5, 2021)

As David Ayer’s initial Suicide Squad was pretzeled, somewhat against his will, into something resembling James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy, there’s a skewed irony in DC Films hiring Gunn (while he was temporarily fired from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 over unearthed controversial tweets) to helm the loose sequel to the critically-slammed but successful ($745 million without playing in China) supervillain ensemble flick. Gunn’s follow-up will throw an unholy number of new villains into Task Force X, which means a number of them can get blowed up, while bringing back old favorites like Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn and Jai Courtney’s Captain Boomerang. But without Will Smith and without cameos from Batman and the Joker, and arriving five years after its predecessor, this one is a commercial coin toss.

Marvel’s The Eternals (November 5, 2021)          

Chloé Zhao’s allegedly anime-inspired MCU fantasy will feature an all-star cast (Angelina Jolie, Kumail Nanjiani, Salma Hayek, Gemma Chan, etc.) to prop up what is easily Marvel’s most “cult” property since Guardians of the Galaxy. The film will indeed take place after the events of Avengers: Endgame and will allegedly feature Marvel’s first out-and-proud LGBTQIA superhero. As for the movie itself, it concerns an immortal alien race created by the Celestials who have lived on Earth for 7,000 years and who have to reunite to do battle with their evil counterparts, the Deviants. In a sane world, Disney would be just starting to screen this film, originally slated for November 6, 2020, for press and critics. But now we got to wait a year and hope for the best.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 3 (December 23, 2021)

We got word last week that Jamie Foxx’s Electro from Sony’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will be popping up in Jon Watts’ third MCU Spider-Man movie, which could mean anything from a quick “Tom Holland’s Peter Parker sticks his head into an interdimensional portal and sees other versions of Spider-Man” or a full-on multi-verse adventure akin to whatever DC is planning with The Flash. Regardless, little is known, other than that the title will again feature the word “home,” about this follow-up to Spider-Man: Far from Home. The film will be a Sony and Disney co-production. But if you count Sony’s Spider-Verse flicks as loose extensions of the MCU, which seems to be Sony’s goal, then next year will technically feature six Marvel/MCU movies.  

Marvel’s Thor: Love and Thunder (February 11, 2022)

Taika Waititi has understandably become one of Disney’s favorite sons, having given the Thor franchise a kick in the ass with Thor: Ragnarok (one of the very best MCU movies and with a story that served as a template for a deluge of other Trump era blockbusters) and then won an Oscar for Searchlight’s Jojo Rabbit. He’s developing a Star Wars movie too, and Thor is now the first solo MCU franchise to make it past a trilogy. Natalie Portman (who wasn’t remotely happy about Patty Jenkins being replaced by Alan Taylor on Thor: The Dark World) will return as Jane Foster becomes the new Thor alongside Chris Hemsworth and Ragnarok breakout Tessa Thompson (whose Valkyrie will be openly bisexual this time). Sounds like a perfect Valentine’s Day date night.

DC Films’ The Batman (March 4, 2022)

Matt Reeves’ flick is trying to emphasize the “detective” part of “Dark Knight Detective,” with a seemingly ground-level serial killer mystery that (judging from the DC Fandome trailer) feels like a mix of Batman Begins, Se7en and Saw. Robert Pattinson will play a young Bruce Wayne in this allegedly disconnected-from-the-DC Films-franchise offering, while Andy Serkis will play Alfred and Jeffrey Wright is the new Gordon. An against-type Colin Ferrell is the Penguin and Paul Dano’s Riddler may or may not be the murderer leaving clues and bumping off the hypocritically corrupt members of Gotham’s elite. After decades of Batman being the definitive blockbuster superhero property, this one seems to be selling itself as an anti-blockbuster. Unless folks have truly overdosed on Batman, it’ll likely become the first blockbuster serial killer movie since Se7en.

Marvel’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (Mar 25, 2022)

This was supposed to open on May 7, 2021 as the first big Phase Four “mythology episode” which set the table for the next wave of MCU movies. Whatever complications arise from the events of Disney+’s WandaVision (debuting by the end of this year), which was supposed to lead into this MCU sequel, will have to wait for a while or discreetly inserted into the likes of Spider-Man 3 or Thor 4. Sam Raimi is taking over from Scott Derrickson, an interesting choice considering his Spider-Man trilogy helped cement superhero cinema as A+-level box office tentpoles and considering that he too has a deep background in supernatural horror. Considering this will arrive over five years after Doctor Strange earned “only” $677 million, emphasizing the “essential” nature of this sequel will be of prime importance.

Marvel’s Black Panther II (May 6, 2022)

We have no idea what Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther II will be like. Will Marvel recast and continue the story of T’Challa? Will they acknowledge Chadwick Boseman’s passing from cancer and have another character (Letitia Wright’s Shuri, if we’re taking the path of least resistance) become the ruler of Wakanda? Will it take place before the events of Infinity War or after the events of Endgame? Disney needs Black Panther II. It’s the one MCU franchise that folks who otherwise jump ship after Avengers: Endgame will sample in theaters, as well as the one franchise that obviously pulled in many a moviegoer who otherwise didn’t care about superhero movies. Whatever form it takes, it’s a front runner to top the domestic box office for summer 2022, even if Jurassic World: Dominion will provide a fair fight for the global crown.

Marvel’s Captain Marvel 2 (July 8, 2022)

The only thing we know about this follow-up to the $1.128 billion-grossing prequel is that it’ll be directed by Nia DaCosta, fresh off Little Woods (an excellent indie thriller that makes a fine double-feature with Winter’s Bone) and MGM’s Candyman sequel (which Universal delayed to next year). Again, will the second Brie Larson sci-fi fantasy take place sometime between the events of Captain Marvel (which was set in 1995) and the events of Avengers: Infinity War (set in 2018) or will it indeed take place sometime after 2023 and thus leave a 28-year gap ripe for exploration in another medium? How will WandaVision’s introduction of Teyonah Paris as the grown-up daughter of Lashana Lynch’s Maria Rambeu affect who does what in the second Captain Marvel movie? We’ll know when we know.

Sony’s Spider-Verse 2 (October 7, 2022)

Even arriving four years after its Oscar-winning predecessor, the Joaquim Dos Santos-directed follow-up to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is the most obvious candidate for “breakout sequel” status since Pitch Perfect 2 and John Wick: Chapter 2. The first film was shockingly great, becoming a modern classic of the form and winning the Best Animated Feature Oscar over Pixar’s $1.2 billion-grossing (and also excellent) Incredibles 2. It legged out to $190 million domestic from a $35 million debut, making it the leggiest comic book superhero movie since Batman in 1989. $375 million worldwide on a $90 million budget is excellent for a superhero toon, but the folks who rewatch and discover this Miles Morales gem in post-theatrical, as well as the earned goodwill, will almost certainly make the sequel into a blow-out event.

Marvel’s Ant-Man 3 (October 7, 2022) (?)

Disney currently has an untitled Marvel movie slotted for October 7, 2022, and everyone presumes it’ll be Peyton Reed’s third Ant-Man movie. Granted, that’s not official and I’m guessing that Disney is not going to open Ant-Man 3 against Sony’s Spider-Verse 2, but I digress. Whenever the third Paul Rudd/Evangeline Lilly kid-friendly adventure opens in theaters, it’ll feature Jonathan Majors as the time-traveling baddie Kang the Conqueror. That implies, speculation alert, that Marvel is positioning this third Ant-Man movie as a “mythology episode” and essentially to the big narrative, which is one way to help Ant-Man break out from being Marvel’s smallest franchise ($519 million in 2015 and $619 million in 2018). To be fair, Iron Man 3, Captain America: Civil War and Thor: Ragnarok all soared above their respective second sequels. We’ll see if Ant-Man 3 can perform likewise.

DC Films’ The Flash (November 8, 2022)

Andy Muschietti (It and It Chapter Two) is currently directing this long-suffering attempt to give Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) his own solo superhero movie. As of now, it’ll involve time travel and multiverses, which will allow both Ben Affleck’s Batman and Michael Keaton’s Batman to return in some capacity. Will this movie ever actually get made? Will it arrive in theaters before or after CW’s The Flash wraps up its televised run? Will Ray Fisher reprise his role as Cyborg in some capacity even as he publicly accuses Joss Whedon of on-set abuse during the making of Justice League? If this movie actually opens on November 8, 2022, it’ll be just over eight years since it was announced. And it’ll open head to head with Tom Cruise’s eighth (and allegedly final) Mission: Impossible. Good luck…

DC Films’ Aquaman 2 (December 16, 2022)

James Wan’s Aquaman turned one of the least-respected (at least by those who don’t pay much attention to DC’s comics, toons and TV shows) superhero into a A-level movie star. Jason Momoa’s fantasy adventure rode a wave of solid reviews and good buzz to pull $1.148 billion worldwide, including $298 million in China, to become the third-biggest solo superhero movie ever after Black Panther and Iron Man 3. After a well-liked (and highly rewatchable, natch) stuffed-to-the-gills origin story, what the hell do Wan and friends do for an encore? Well, I guess they could delve into the icky complications of having a complete stranger show up in Atlantis and successfully declare himself king (think Black Panther if Killmonger had won). The bigger question is whether it’ll stay in its current release date and face off against James Cameron’s underwater Avatar sequel.

DC Films’ Shazam 2: Fury of the Gods (June 2, 2023)

David Sandberg and Zackary Levi’s cheerfully scary and surprisingly poignant foster kid superhero origin earned rave reviews and terrific buzz and was well on its way to being a leggy hit before it got stomped by Avengers: Endgame in its fourth weekend. Still, $139 million domestic and $363 million worldwide on a $90 million budget was good enough, especially with folks discovering the film in post-theatrical and spreading the word. I still think the sequel, apparently pitting Shazam against Mister Mind and (speculation) possibly featuring Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam in some capacity, could break out when it opens on the same day where, in a sane world, Wonder Woman 3 likely would have launched. It’s unfortunate that the coronavirus halted the momentum of DC Films just when the WB superhero universe was becoming interesting.

DC Films’ Black Adam (TBD)

This Dwayne Johnson flick, also starring Aldis Hodge as Hawkman and Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher, was supposed to introduce both Dwayne Johnson’s anti-hero and the Justice Society of America into the DC Films franchise. It has just been delayed indefinitely, but I will assume that it is still in some form of pre-production courtesy of director Jaume Collet-Serra. Whether Black Adam and Shazam 2 will lead to a kind of redo of Batman v Superman with Levi and Johnson doing battle in a future movie (just as Godzilla, King of the Monsters and Skull Island led to Godzilla Vs. Kong), but that certainly seems to be the goal. Considering how much success DC Films has had with “challenging” properties like Aquaman and Wonder Woman, I wouldn’t be shocked if we end up with a DC Films universe with Shazam and Black Adam as the focal points.