20 Highly-anticipated movies we were so ready for but didn’t get to see in 2020

One of the many things the COVID-19 pandemic had denied us of this year is movies.

"Black Widow," "A Quiet Place Part II," the latest James Bond movie... Production delays and theater closures only prolonged that already-painful wait for sequels and scene-stealers, whose titles we couldn't get out of our heads.

2020 presented a torturous scenario for moviegoers with movie trailers released but with premieres being pushed back and back and back and back. 

While production companies made the best use of streaming sites for pictures to reach viewers at home, many would agree that there's nothing quite like waiting in line at the theater with a big tub of popcorn just to experience some movie magic on the big screen.

Here are just some of the highly-anticipated films we were excited to buy tickets for this year, but didn't get a chance to:

1. A Quiet Place II

Actor turned-director John Krasinski and his wife Emily Blunt got everyone on the edge of their seats when "A Quiet Place" came out in 2018.

"A Quiet Place Part II" was set to roll out on March 18, 2020, but the premiere was delayed to 2021 as global concerns related to COVID-19 started to escalate.

The terrifying trailer released on the first day of 2020 hyped up so many fans, almost as much as the long stretches of silence before a creature jumps out of the screen to scare you in the movie.

2. No Time To Die

Who doesn't get excited over the new James Bond film?

Also, "No Time To Die" is also expected to be Daniel Craig's fifth and final crack as the debonaire 007 after “Casino Royale,” “Quantim of Solace,” “Skyfall” and “Spectre.”

The action-packed follow-up to one of Hollywood's gold-standard movie franchises —which also features original music from Billie Eillish -- was initially set for release in April 2020, but it was delayed to 2021.

3. Black Widow

After what happened in "Avengers: Endgame," the origin story of Natasha Romanoff a.k.a. the Black Widow is a definite must-see.

"Black Widow" was originally set to come out in May 2020 but COVID-19 happened, so Marvel fans are going to have to wait until 2021 to see it.

The trailer didn't make the wait any easier, already having given fans a first look at the characters played by Florence Pugh, Rachel Weisz, David Harbor and more.

4. The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run

Even kids weren't saved from movie delays. "The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run" was initially set to hit theaters in May 2020, but was later slated for a digital release that has yet to be announced.

The trailer released as early as November last year even features a super-cool cameo from none other than Keanu Reeves.

5. West Side Story

"E.T." director Steven Speilberg has been working on a film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical "West Side Story."

According to Vanity Fair, the movie stars Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler as the star-crossed pair, Tony and Maria.

"West Side Story" is expected to premiere in 2021 instead of its initial release date this December 2020.

6. Top Gun: Maverick

A highly-anticipated sequel to the 80s classic “Top Gun,” Tom Cruise returns to play his iconic role as the ace pilot "Maverick."

The film was initially slated for release in June 2020, but is now expected to hit theaters in July 2021.

"Maverick" is directed by Joseph Kosinski and stars and Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, and Ed Harris.

7. Ghostbusters: Afterlife

The next chapter in the original Ghostbusters universe reveals itself in “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.”

The film, however, is expected to come out a month from now in 2021 instead of its initial 2020 premiere.

“Ghostbusters: Afterlife” is directed by Jason Reitman and stars Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace and Paul Rudd.

8. The Beatles: Get Back

"Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson making a movie about The Beatles? Yes, please!

The upcoming music documentary comes 50 years after their last performance together, and it features exciting interviews and unseen studio footage.

But fans are going to have to wait until next year to see "The Beatles: Get Back" as the film premiere was postponed from its original September 2020 date.

9. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It

The “The Conjuring” is based on a true story about world renowned paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren helping families terrorized by dark entities.

Plenty of horror fans were just frothing to watch the follow-up "The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It" starring Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, and Sterling Jerins, initially scheduled for September 2020.

The film has been rescheduled to premiere sometime next year.

10. The King's Man

The third film in the hit “Kingsman” series was supposed to arrive this year, but it was also pushed back to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The King’s Man” is expected to reveal the origins of the very first independent intelligence agency.

The stellar cast includes Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, Matthew Goode, Tom Hollander, Harris Dickinson, Daniel Brühl, with Djimon Hounsou, and Charles Dance.

11. Venom: Let There Be Carnage

Did you love the first “Venom” movie where Tom Hardy plays Eddie Brock, a journalist who acquires dark, twisted alien powers?

Sony finally released a teaser-trailer for the much-awaited sequel last April 22, but the premiere date was moved to 2021.

Aside from Hardy, “Venom” (2018) also starred Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed and Woody Harrelson.

12. The Witches

"The Witches" is based on the book by Roald Dahl and directed by Robert Zemeckis ("Back to the Future, "The Polar Express").

Anne Hathaway plays the world’s Grand High Witch who comes across a young orphaned boy who, in late 1967, goes to live with his loving Grandma in the rural Alabama town of Demopolis. It also stars Octavia Spencer and Stanley Tucci.

Instead of a movie premiere, “The Witches” was made available for streaming on HBO Max this October 2020.

13. Death on the Nile

Adapted from Agatha Christie’s famous mystery novel, “Death on the Nile” follows Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot’s Egyptian whose vacation aboard a glamorous river steamer turns into a terrifying search for a murderer.

The film stars Kenneth Branagh as the iconic detective alongside Tom Bateman, Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Ali Fazal, Dawn French, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie, Emma Mackey, Sophie Okonedo, Jennifer Saunders and Letitia Wright.

"Death on the Nile" was supposed to premiere on October 2020, but Disney moved back the date.

14. The French Dispatch

Sadly for Wes Anderson's fans, his newest film "The French Dispatch" didn't come out this year.

The spectacular trailer for the upcoming romance-comedy-drama unveiled an exciting all-star cast that includes Adrien Brody, Timothée Chalamet, Saoirse Ronan, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Frances McDermont, and more.

"The French Dispatch" was earlier slated to come out October 2020 but was pushed back to 2021.

15. Godzilla vs. Kong

In 2017, “Kong: Skull Island” starring Tom Hiddleston and Brie Larsson came out.

The story might just continue with a gigantic sequel as fans were hyped for a film called “Godzilla vs. Kong” this year.

According to comicbook.com, HBO Max announced it will be streaming “Godzilla vs. Kong” in May 2021.

16. Jungle Cruise

Inspired by the famous Disneyland theme park ride, fans were supposed to get an adventure-filled film titled "Jungle Cruise" starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt this year.

As per the trailer that came out in March, "Jungle Cruise" was initially expected to hit theaters in July 2020.

The upcoming film also stars Edgar Ramirez, Jack Whitehall, with Jesse Plemons, and Paul Giamatti and is directed by Jaume Collet-Serra.

17. Dune

Based on the legendary 1965 novel by Frank Herbert, "Dune" follows young Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet) as he comes home to Arrakis, a dangerous spice-rich desert planet which he is destined to rule as Duke.

However, what was supposed to be one of the biggest sci-fi events of the year has yet to happn — "Dune" was initially set to be released last December 18, but the premiere has been delayed to October next year.

The film by "Blade Runner 2049" director Denis Villeneuve also stars Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac and more.

18. Tom and Jerry

Tom and Jerry were supposed to take their decades-old cat-and-mouse chase to the big screen this year.

According to comicbook.com, "Tom and Jerry" was originally supposed to hit theaters this December 23rd but was delayed to 2021.

The film, which is a mix of classic animation and live action, is top-billed by Chloë Grace Moretz, Michael Peña, Rob Delaney, Colin Jost and Ken Jeong.

19. In the Heights

Broadway fans are going to have to wait until next year for the film adaptation of musical "In the Heights.”

"Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, who composed the original "In the Heights" musical, and co-produced the film adaptation, made the announcement on Twitter.

"...We're going to have to wait a little bit longer. With the uncertainty in our world, right now, the release of 'In the Heights' is being postponed," he wrote.

20. Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway

Hopefully, it can be safe enough for parents in the Philippines to take their kids to the theaters for the premiere of "Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway" next year.

Based on the iconic children's books of the same name, "Peter Rabbit" (2018) is about a clever and resourceful rabbit whe deals with new problems after the death of his previous owner.

The first film directed by Will Gluck starred James Corden, Domnhal Gleeson, Rose Byrne, Margot Robbie and more.

— LA, GMA News