As fun as it is to binge watch Netflix films on a lazy day, it's just not a replacement for the big-screen experience. Back in May, cinemas reopened in Dubai, and they have just reopened in Abu Dhabi as well. However, theatres have mostly been showing reruns of old movies because of workflow issues due to the pandemic in the film industry.
While this has been an opportunity to catch up on some of the biggest films of the past decade, it’s left many eagerly waiting for new blockbusters.
“It’s been a challenging period for our industry with content being delayed. We have been showing classic films and older films. That ends today," said Cameron Mitchell, chief executive of Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas, late last week.
"There is a real pent-up demand for new releases and, with major tentpoles such as Tenet about to hit our theatres, we're expecting a significant increase in box office sales."
From Peninsula to No Time To Die, here are when the year's biggest blockbusters are scheduled to screen at Vox Cinemas across the country.
'Peninsula', August 20
The eagerly awaited sequel to the hit Korean zombie thriller Train to Busan is set four years after the events of the first film. It isn't a direct sequel, but rather a stand-alone series of events that take place in the same zombie-infested universe.
It features a new cast with no ties to the first film and tells the story of marine captain Jung-seok who is tasked with going back into a quarantined Korea with a team to reclaim $20 million (Dh73.4m) from an abandoned food truck while trying to survive a zombie apocalypse.
The film is out in UAE cinemas.
'Tenet', August 27
Christopher Nolan's Tenet is about to hit the big screen. In a break from tradition, the espionage thriller will launch in overseas territories, including the Middle East ahead of the US, which means UAE audiences will be among the first to see the movie.
An action epic with a time-travel twist, Tenet tells the story of an international spy trying to prevent another world war from breaking out. The film stars John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Michael Caine and Kenneth Branagh.
The film will be released in the UAE on Thursday, August 27.
'Mulan', September 4
Mulan is the live-action remake of the 1998 Disney classic. The movie, which stars Liu Yifei in the title role, was originally set to release in March, but, as the coronavirus pandemic took hold, the film's release got pushed back several times. In some markets, the film will forgo a theatrical release in favour of a digital one, but in the UAE it will hit cinemas.
Mulan will be released in the UAE on Friday, September 4.
'The King’s Man', September 17
Matthew Vaughn's period spy action comedy is the third film in the Kingsman franchise. Starring Ralph Fiennes and Gemma Arterton, the film tells the story of a spy and his protege who rush to stop a collection of history's worst tyrants and criminal masterminds from waging a war that could kill millions.
The film releases in the UAE on Thursday, September 17.
'Death on the Nile', October 22
After Murder on the Orient Express grossed more than $250 million (Dh918m) internationally, it makes sense that Kenneth Branagh is reprising his role as Belgian detective Hercule Poirot.
Death on the Nile, based on the Agatha Christie novel, explores a mystery that surrounds the death of a newly-wed heiress aboard a cruise ship on the Nile. It is up to Poirot to sift through the litany of murderous motives of those on the ship – many dislike the heiress for their own reasons – to find out who is responsible for her death. The film also stars Gal Gadot, Tom Bateman and Russell Brand.
Death on the Nile is slated to hit cinemas on Thursday, October 22.
'Wonder Woman 1984', December 25
A sequel that continues the story of its eponymous heroine, Wonder Woman 1984 sees Gal Gadot and director Patty Jenkins return once again to face a number of new baddies including Cheetah, a villain who possesses superhuman powers.
The film releases in the UAE on Friday, December 25.
'No Time To Die', April 2, 2021
As eager as we’ve been to see Daniel Craig reprise his role as James Bond for the last time, we’re more excited to see Rami Malek take on the role as his villainous counterpart.
The film sees Bond break out of his retirement after his old friend Felix Leiter turns up asking for his help to stop a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.
No Time To Die has had its release date moved to April 2, 2021.
'Black Widow', May 7, 2021
The stand-alone Marvel film tells the story of Scarlett Johansson's character Natasha Romanoff and takes place after the events of Captain America: Civil War. It shows her confronting her history as a spy and the broken relationships she left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.
The film has had its release date pushed back to May 7, 2021.
