It's not been a good year for cinema. 2020 box office sales are forecast to be the lowest in in nearly 30 years, with almost £1bn wiped from ticket returns due to coronavirus.
With lockdown, followed by strict social distancing restrictions, it's no surprise that UK cinema admissions are set to reach their lowest point since records began.
Recent news that the 25th James Bond movie No Time To Die would be pushed back to April 2021 was a gut punch to struggling venues counting on the draw of the universally popular British spy franchise to get people back into the auditorium.
Image:Daniel Craig will have to wait a bit longer for his James Bond finale. Pic: MGM
Days after that blow, news that Pixar's Soul, featuring the voice of Jamie Foxx, would bypass the big screen and stream direct on Disney + (in the same vein as Mulan) left cinemas across Europe "shocked and dismayed".
So, with film-lovers forced to rely on streaming platforms, or re-runs of golden oldies, what new films can you actually still see in the cinema this year?
I Am Greta – In UK cinemas now
This big screen documentary follows two years in Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg's life.
Image:From unknown schoolgirl to superhero – I Am Greta. Pic: Dogwoof
In it, we see her transformed from unknown 15-year-old schoolgirl staging a one-woman "climate strike" outside the Stockholm parliament to a universally recognised campaigner, scolding world leaders for their lack of action and winning celebrity fans.
Diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, Thunberg has credited the disorder with giving her the "laser-focus" to campaign relentlessly, and this recognition in a film about her cause is yet another step forward in her calls for action on climate change.
Shirley – In UK cinemas 30 October 2020
A biographical drama starring Elisabeth Moss, the movie's based on the life of American horror writer Shirley Jackson, whose novels include The Haunting Of Hill House.
Image:Elisabeth Moss is horror writer Shirley. Pic: Curzon
Looking for inspiration for her next novel, Shirley invites a young couple into her home, before psychologically abusing the pair with the help of her literary critic husband, making them doubt their sanity.
Early reviews have praised Moss's performance, but not surprisingly the son of the real Shirley Jackson, hasn't been too complementary about the film's portrayal of his parents.
Relic – In UK cinemas 30 October 2020
This horror film focuses on three female generations of the same family – a daughter, mother and a granddaughter – all dealing with the fallout of dementia.
Image:Things get a bit otherworldly in Relic. Pic: Signature Entertainment
The directorial debut of filmmaker Natalie Erika James, Mary Poppins star Emily Mortimer leads the cast along with Australian actresses Robyn Nevin and Bella Heathcote.
A haunted house movie, which doesn't go easy on the supernatural scares, possibly not one to watch on your own.
Wonder Woman 1984 – In UK cinemas 16 December 2020
Gal Gadot will reprise her role as the supernatural Diana Prince in Wonder Woman 1984.
Image:Gal Gadot is a woman in demand, back again as Wonder Woman. Pic: Warner Bros
Based on the DC Comics creation, and directed by Patty Jenkins, Wonder Woman finds herself with two new foes to contend with in this movie, Max Lord and The Cheetah (played by Kristen Wiig).
US fans of the female-led comic book sequel will have to wait until Christmas day to watch the film, but will also be able to view it on HBO Max for one month from the same day (sadly, the streaming channel isn't currently available in the UK).
The Nightingale – In UK cinemas 26 December 2020
Based on Kristin Hannah's novel The Nightingale, the film tells the story of two sisters living in France at the start of World War II.
Image:Elle Fanning stars alongside her sister in The Nightingale. Pic: Sony Pictures
Played by real life sisters Elle and Dakota Fanning, Vianne and Isabelle resist the German occupation as they struggle to stay alive.
Sony will no doubt be hoping The Nightingale follows in the footsteps of their 2019 female-led Christmas release Little Women, which saw both box office and critical success.
Image:There's already an Oscars buzz around Nomadland. Pic: Searchlight Pictures
Looking ahead to 2021, there's already Oscar buzz around Nomadland starring Frances McDormand which is in cinemas in January.
Younger audiences can look forward to The Croods: A New Age which comes to UK screens in February.
