Which new movies and TV shows will release on Amazon Prime in 2021? The streaming service delivered highly acclaimed productions all throughout the year of COVID-19, albeit with a slightly different approach than its main competitors. Now, Amazon Prime will arguably have its biggest year ever in 2021 by releasing a blockbuster TV series.
In 2020, Amazon Prime further established itself as a filmmaker-friendly platform, evidenced by its vast collection of SXSW festival titles, a diverse anthology collaboration with Blumhouse, and Steve McQueen’s groundbreaking five-film series Small Axe. And while high-profile shows like Hunters and Tales from the Loop didn’t quite make a cultural splash, Amazon Prime did gain some momentum with innovative productions like Upload and Truthseekers.
Amazon Prime has some major feature films on the schedule for 2021, but the most-anticipated production is undoubtedly The Lord of the Rings – a prequel to the original movie franchise (and the most expensive TV series ever produced). Aside from the January debut of One Night in Miami – a feature that technically premiered in 2020 – the upcoming 2021 titles don’t have official release dates yet. Here’s a full list of what to expect from Amazon Prime throughout the year.
Back To The Rafters
Created by Bevan Lee, Back to the Rafters picks up on the events of Packed to the Rafters – an Australian series that aired from 2008 to 2013. The narrative revolves around the life experiences of the titular family, with the following performers starring in the primary roles: Rebecca Gibney (The Dressmaker) as Julie Rafter, Erik Thomson (The Black Balloon) as Dave Rafter, Hugh Sheridan (Isn’t It Romantic) as Ben Rafter, Georgina Haig (Once Upon a Time) as Rachel Rafter, and Michael Caton (The Animal) as Ted Taylor.
Bingo
Directed by Gigi Saul Guerrero (El Gigante), Bingo will be part of the Welcome to the Blumhouse collection. The cast hasn’t been announced, but the story will follow a group of elderly friends who refuse to be gentrified and then protect their local Bingo hall.
Black As Night
Another Welcome to the Blumhouse release, Black as Night centers on a teenage girl who spends a summer battling vampires in New Orleans. Abbie Gayle (Looking for Alaska) has been cast, along with Keith David (The Thing) and Fabrizio Guido (Mr. Iglesisas). Black as Night was written by Sherman Payne (Shameless) and directed by Maritte Lee Go.
Invincible
Based on the eponymous comic series by Robert Kirkman, Invincible follows a 17-year-old whose father is the world’s most powerful superhero. Steven Yeun voices the teenage protagonist, Mark Grayson, who slowly begins to to develop powers like his pops, Nolan Grayson aka Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons). Invincible features an extraordinary supporting cast in voice roles, including Mark Hamill (Star Wars), Seth Rogen (Knocked Up), Gillian Jacobs (Parks and Recreation), Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Mahershala Ali (Green Book), Zazie Beetz (Deadpool 2), Sandra Oh (Grey’s Anatomy), Zachary Quinto (Star Trek), Jason Mantzoukas (Big Mouth), and many more notable names.
Louis Wain
Directed by Will Sharpe, Louis Wain examines the life of the titular subject – an artist who began drawing anthropomorphized cats during the late 18th century. Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Who, Doctor Strange) stars in the main role, with Claire Foy (The Queen) co-starring as Louis’ wife, Emily Richardson-Wain. Written by Sharpe and Simon Stephensen, the Amazon Studio feature film features supporting performances from Andrea Riseborough (Mandy), Toby Jones (the MCU’s Arnim Zola), and Stacy Martin (Nymphomaniac).
Madres
A Welcome to the Blumhouse release, Madres takes place in the ’70s and follows a Mexican-American couple who moves to a California farming community. When the wife develops unusual symptoms, they learn about a legendary curse. Directed by Ryan Zaragoza, Madres stars Tenoch Huerta (Sin Nombre) and Ariana Guerra (Helstrom).
One Night in Miami
Based on real events, One Night in Miami takes place in a Miami hotel room in 1964 after Muhammad Ali defeated Sonny Liston in a now-iconic boxing match. The storyline imagines what kind of conversations might’ve transpired between Ali (Eli Goree) and other influential Black Americans such as Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge), Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), and Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.). One Night in Miami marks the directorial debut for Regina Kind, and premiered on January 15.
Narcos vs Zombies
A Mexican horror series, Narcos vs Zombies stars Sergio Peris-Mencheta (Rambo: Last Blood) as a drug trafficker, Alonso Marroquín, who discovers that U.S. soldiers have transformed into zombies after a test experiment gone wrong. He also learns that members of the Mexican military have been infected, which sets the stage for the titular premise. Narcos vs Zombies co-stars Giovani Florido (Sin Nombre), James Moses Black (Snowfall), and Fátima Molina (Soulmates).
Run Sweetheart Run
Run Sweetheart Run stars Ella Balinska (Charlie’s Angels) as a single mother who experiences a blind date gone horribly wrong. Written and directed by Shana Feste, the Blumhouse film co-stars Game of Thrones actor Pilou Asbæk as the central villain, and features supporting performances from Clark Gregg (the MCU’s Agent Phil Coulson), Aml Ameen (The Maze Runner), and Dayo Okeniyi (The Hunger Games).
Tell Me Your Secrets
Created and written by Harriet Warner, Tell Me You Secrets follows three main characters with troubled pasts. Lily Rabe (American Horror Story) stars as Emma, a woman with dark memories about confronting a killer, and Amy Brenneman co-stars as a mother named Mary who tries to find her missing daughter. Hamish Linklater (Legion) rounds out the main cast as one of the predatory characters, along with Enrique Murciano (Without a Trace). Tell Me You Secrets also features supporting performances from Chiara Aurelia (Gerald’s Game) and Ashley Madekwe (Revenge). The series was picked up by Amazon Prime in October 2020 after being dropped by TNT.
The Lord of the Rings
Undoubtedly the main draw for Amazon Prime in 2021, The Lord of the Rings is a prequel series that takes place before the events of J. R. R. Tolkien’s novel franchise and the feature film adaptations. The storyline is set in the Second Age of Middle-Earth, with J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay serving as the show runners. The Lords of the Rings stars Robert Aramayo (Game of Thrones) as the primary male protagonist Beldor, along with Markella Kavenagh (True History of the Kelly Gang) as the lead female character, Tyra. Joseph Mawle (Game of Thrones) co-stars as the main villain, Oren.
The Mad Woman’s Ball
Directed by and starring Mélanie Laurent (above in Inglourious Basterds), The Mad Woman’s Ball is based on Victoria Mas’ novel Le bal des folles. Set in late-19th century Paris, the storyline follows a woman, Eugénie, who learns that she can hear the dead. The thriller marks the first original French movie for Amazon Prime, and co-stars Lou de Laâge in a supporting role, after previously starring in Laurent’s 2014 drama Respire (Breathe).
The Manor
A Welcome to the Blumhouse release, The Manor follows a woman who moves into a nursing home and believes that a supernatural force looms within the building. Barbara Hershey (Black Swan) stars in the main role, with Bruce Davison (X-Men) and Stacey Travis (Ghost World) providing supporting performances. The Manor was written and directed by Axelle Carolyn (The Haunting of Bly Manor, “The Romance of Certain Old Clothes”).
The Map of Tiny Perfect Things
The Map of Tiny Perfect Things follows two teenagers who relive the same day over and over, and work together to create a map of events that transpire all over the world. Kathryn Newton (Freaky) and Kyle Allen (American Horror Story) star as Margaret and Mark, respectively, with Josh Hamilton (Eighth Grade) and Al Madrigal (The Way Back) leading the supporting cast. The Map of Tiny Perfect Things was written by Lev Grossman (The Magicians), based on his short story of the same name.
The Underground Railroad
Based on Colson Whitehead’s eponymous 2016 novel, The Underground Railroad is the latest project from acclaimed filmmaker Barry Jenkins (Moonlight, If Beale Street Could Talk). The storyline follows African-American slaves who use the titular network to find freedom, with the narrative twist being that the railroad is indeed literal, as opposed to being a group of safe houses that real-life slaves utilized during the 19th century. The Underground Railroad stars Thuso Mbedu (Is’Thunzi), Joel Edgerton (Star Wars’ Owen Lars), Aaron Pierre (Krypton), and Chase W. Dillon (Little America).
The Voyeurs
Starring Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria) and Justice Smith (Detective Pikachu), The Voyeurs follows a couple who move into their dream apartment and find trouble upon trying to befriend their attractive neighbors. Written and directed by Michael Mohan, the erotic thriller co-stars Natasha Liu Bordizzo (The Society) and Ben Hardy (Bohemian Rhapsody).
Without Remorse
Without Remorse stars Michael B. Jordan as John Clark, a U.S. Navy Seal who uncovers a conspiracy while trying to solve his wife’s murder. The action thriller is directed by Stefano Sollima, who is best known for helming the Italian crime series Romanzo criminale – La serie and Gomorrah, along with the 2020 Amazon series ZeroZeroZero. Based on Tom Clancy’s eponymous 1993 novel, Without Remorse was written by Taylor Sheridan (Hell or High Water, Sicario) and Will Staples (The Right Stuff). The Jack Ryan spin-off series features supporting performances from Jamie Bell (Turn: Washington’s Spies), Jodie Turner-Smith (Queen & Slim), and Luke Mitchell (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.).
Other 2021 Amazon Prime Releases:
Do, Re & Mi: Three bird friends navigate a world of rhythm, beats and melodies.
Fairfax: Four kids seek fame and fortune in the titular Los Angeles neighborhood.
La Templanza: Based on the eponymous novel by María Dueñas, Leonor Watling (Talk to Her) stars in a Spanish production set in 1860.
LOL: Si te ríes, pierdes: A charity-themed competition series about a group of comedians who try not to laugh over the course of several hours.
Operations Totems: Set in 1964, a love story about enemy spies during the Cold War.
Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten: An animated series starring Arnold Schwarzenegger in a voice role.
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The End: A drama series featuring Bollywood star Akshay Kumar.
Un Asunto Privado: A serial killer series set in 1940s Spain.
Untitled David Weil series: A sci-fi series with seven different stories about the human experience.
Voltaire, Mixte: In 1960s France, women are allowed to join an all-male high school.
