The most anticipated movies of 2024
Just when it seemed like Hollywood was recovering from its pandemic-induced woes, the industry had to contend with both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, which led to production delays and pushed back scheduled premiere dates.
We finally got past all that and 2024 arrived, bringing with it exciting superhero movies, a long-awaited musical adaptation, the return of George Miller to „Mad Max„", third "„Avatar“" and many, many more. See below the films we're most looking forward to in 2024 and check back regularly for updates to the list!
JANUARY
Mean Girls
Director: Arturo Perez Jr., Samantha Jane
Starring: Angourie Rice, Renee Rapp, Auli Cravalho, Bebe Wood, Jackel Spivey, Tina Fey, Tim Meadows, Jenna Fischer, Jon Hamm, Ashley Park
Premiere: January 12, 2024.
While it may look like a remake of the 2004 comedy, this new interpretation is anything but. Written by Tina Fey (who also wrote the original and stars in this film), it's an adaptation of the stage musical. Mean Girls, which itself is an adaptation of the original film. Angourie Rice plays new girl Cady Heron, while Rene Rapp takes on the role of main bad girl Regina George.
FEBRUARY
Argyle: Superspy (Argylle)
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Starring: Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Henry Cavill, John Cena, Dua Lipa, Bryan Cranston, Sofia Boutella, Ariana DeBose, Samuel L. Jackson
Premiere: February 2, 2024.
The director of "„Kingsman“"Matthew Vaughn returns to the world of sassy spies with this action comedy about a female writer (Bryce Dallas Howard), who attracts the attention of an underground crime syndicate when the plots of her spy novels strangely mirror their activities. From an undercover spy (Sam Rockwell) her survival, as well as that of her cat, depends on it.
Madame Web
Director: S. J. Clarkson
Starring: Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O'Connor, Isabella Merced, Tahar Rahim, Emma Roberts, Mike Epps, Adam Scott and Zosia Mamet
Premiere: February 14, 2024.
The film franchise Spider-Man Sony had peaks (Venom) and declines (Morbius), but Madame Web, which stars Dakota Johnson as the clairvoyant sidekick Spidey, might be worth sticking around for even if Peter Parker himself never makes an appearance. Sidney Sweeney, Adam Scott, and Zosia Mamet co-star.
MARCH
Dune: Part Two
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård
Premiere: March 1, 2024
The release of the first part on HBO Max on the same day and date initially put this sequel in doubt, but WB thankfully saw fit to give Denis Villeneuve the green light. The second part features big names like Florence Pugh, Lea Seydoux, Austin Butler and Christopher Walken, who join the cast as Villeneuve narrates the second half of Frank Herbert's epic science fiction novel.
Imaginary
Director: Jeff Wadlow
Cast: DeWanda Wise, Tom Payne, Tegan Burns, Piper Brown, Veronica Falcon, Betty Buckley
Premiere: March 8, 2024
This original horror film from Blumhouse focuses on a woman (DeWanda Weiss), who returns to her childhood home with her family, only to discover that her stepdaughter (Piper Brown) has become attached to a teddy bear she found in the basement, which forces her to participate in increasingly dangerous games.
Kung Fu Panda 4 (Kung Fu Panda 4)
Director: Mike Mitchell
Starring: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, Dustin Hoffman and David Cross
Premiere: March 8, 2024
The series "„Kung Fu Panda“" on DreamWorks Animation is incredible, taking a story that could have been silly at first glance (Jack Black voices a fat panda who practices martial arts) and turning it into something funny, heartfelt, and full of impressive fight scenes. CinemaCon 2023 it was revealed that Mike Mitchell (Trolls, The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part) would direct the film and that the story would follow Poe as he faces a chameleon enemy and searches for a new Dragon Warrior.
Arthur the King
Director: Simon Celan Jones
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Simu Liu, Juliette Rylance, Nathalie Emmanuel, Ali Suliman
Premiere: March 22, 2024
Mark Wahlberg stars in this remarkable story, based on true events, about a man who befriends a stray dog during his journey to win a dangerous, 435-mile multi-discipline world endurance race through the Dominican Republic.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Director: Gil Kenan
Starring: Carrie Coon, Paul Rudd, McKenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt
Premiere: March 22, 2024
We don't have many confirmed details about this sequel, other than that director Jason Reitman has been replaced by Gil Kenan (Monster House, Poltergeist 2015), who co-wrote "„Ghostbusters: Afterlife„". We also know that stars Carrie Coon, McKenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, and Paul Rudd are returning, and they're joined by the likes of Kumail Nanjiani and Patton Oswalt. Finally, we also know that the film will indeed be set in New York City, and we'll see the return of the firehouse from the original films, which was hinted at at the end of Afterlife.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
Director: Adam Wingard
Starring: Dan Stevens, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Kaylee Hottle, Fala Chen, Alex Furnes and Rachel House
Premiere: March 29, 2024
The two greatest kaiju of all time are back for a second go-round in the sequel to the 2021 monster universe clash. However, the synopsis suggests that this time around, they may be allies from the start, rather than enemies, as Godzilla and Kong will face „a colossal unknown threat lurking within our world.“ Dan Stevens has been cast in the lead role in the film, alongside returning actors Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, and Kaylee Hottle. Adam Wingard, who directed the previous fight, will be behind the camera for this one as well.
APRIL
Civil War
Director: Alex Garland
Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Kaylee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Jesse Plemons, Nick Offerman
Premiere: April 12, 2024
Alex Garland's fourth film (Ex Machina, Annihilation) shows the United States plunged into civil war. The official description of the film calls it „a race to the White House in a near-future America teetering on the edge of a razor’s edge,“ and the trailer features a number of provocative images, so prepare for this to be a controversial film, even if we all agree that Nick Offerman would make a great president.
Abigail
Director: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Cast: Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Catherine Newton, Angus Cloud, Kevin Durand, Alicia Weir
Premiere: April 19, 2024
If you liked 2019's Ready or Not or the recent Scream movies, then this one might be for you, as the directing duo behind those films is also at the helm of Abigail. Melissa Barrera and Dan Stevens are among the actors who play a ragtag group of criminals who are tasked with keeping a one-night stand over a kidnapped 12-year-old ballerina, the daughter of an underworld king. The twist? The little girl turns out to be a vampire.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
Director: Guy Ritchie
Cast: Henry Cavill, Eiza Gonzalez, Henry Golding, Alan Ritchson, Cary Elwes, Til Schweiger, Alex Pettyfer
Premiere: April 19, 2024
This Guy Ritchie film sees the director reunite with „The Man from UNCLE“ star Henry Cavill (and, incidentally, „The Gentlemen“ star Henry Golding) to lead the cast in his new spy action film inspired by true events. The story centers on a secret military organization created by Winston Churchill during World War II to fight the Nazis—something like „Inglourious Basterds„", but real. Considering that Ritchie has taken a serious path with several of his recent films, it remains unclear whether this one will come close to his familiar style or not.
The Challengers
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Starring: Zendaya, Josh O'Connor, Mike Feist
Premiere: April 26, 2024
Zendaya stars in Luca Guadagnino's latest film, which centers on the relationship between a tennis prodigy turned coach (Zendaya), the struggling former champion who is her husband (Mike Feist), and his former best friend (Josh O'Connor), who turns out to be her ex-boyfriend.
MAY
Back to Black
Director: Sam Taylor-Johnson
Starring: Marisa Abella, Jack O'Connell, Leslie Manville, Eddie Marsan
Premiere: May 10, 2024
This biopic about the jazz singer-turned-pop star follows the life and rise of Amy Winehouse to fame, leading up to the release of her studio album "„Back to Black„". Sam Taylor-Johnson (Fifty Shades of Grey) directed the film, which stars Marisa Abella from HBO Industry in the role of the troubled singer.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Director: Wes Ball
Starring: Owen Teague, Freya Allen, Peter Macon, Eka Darville and Kevin Durand
Premiere: May 10, 2024
Caesar, the chimpanzee who led the apes to world domination, died at the end of 2017's "War for the Planet of the Apes," the third film in the rebooted trilogy of the classic sci-fi franchise. But there's still more ape work to be done. Wes Ball, who helmed the "„Maze Runner“", directed the fourth film in the series, which takes place many years after the events of the War.
Imaginary Friends (IF)
Director: John Krasinski
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski, Fiona Shaw, Kaylee Fleming, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Steve Carell, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Maya Rudolph, Awkwafina
Premiere: May 17, 2024
John Krasinski and Ryan Reynolds (both of whom also star in the film, by the way) developed this fantasy comedy, written by Krasinski, about a young girl who learns she has the ability to see Imaginary Friends (hence the title IF) who have been abandoned. Reynolds and Krasinski are joined by a huge voice cast (presumably for these imaginary friends) that includes Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Matt Damon, Steve Carell, Emily Blunt, Awkwafina, and more.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Director: George Miller
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Nathan Jones and Angus Sampson
Premiere: May 24, 2024
Anya Taylor-Joy will play the younger version of the dangerous Imperator Furiosa, who controls a combat platform for movies, in the prequel to „Mad Max: Fury Road„", one of the best films of the century so far. George Miller will of course direct this film as well, and Chris Hemsworth will star in the film, which tells the story of Furiosa's kidnapping and her rise to the ranks of Immortal Joe.
Garfield: The Movie (The Garfield Movie)
Director: Mark Dindal
Starring: Chris Pratt, Samuel L. Jackson, Nicholas Hoult, Cecily Strong, Hannah Wadingham and Ving Rhames
Opening: May 24, 2024
After Chris Pratt voiced Mario, he cried because there were no more animated characters to conquer. Just kidding! He'll be voicing everyone's favorite lasagna-loving, Monday-hating cat, Garfield, in a new film adaptation of the long-running comic book. Samuel L. Jackson will voice Vic, Garfield's father.
JUNE
Ballerina
Director: Len Wiseman
Starring: Ana de Armas, Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, Norman Reedus, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne
Premiere: June 7, 2024
In the first spin-off film in the John Wick universe, Ana de Armas takes on the role of one of the female assassins trained by Ruska Roma, the criminal organization headed by Anjelica Huston's "The Director" and seen in "„John Wick 3 (John Wick: Chatter 3 – Parabellum)". Details are scarce at the moment, but we know that this will be another revenge story, and we know that it will take place specifically between the events of the 3rd and 4th parts of the film, so Keanu Reeves and his continental cohort will also appear.
Bad Boys 4
Director: Adil El Arbi, Bilal Fallah
Starring: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence
Premiere: June 14, 2024
If the third film in the Bad Boys franchise had been given a different title, then this fourth installment could have easily been titled "„Bad Boys 4 Life„". But reality doesn't work that way, so for now we'll just call this Bad Boys 4, in which detectives Mike Lowery (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) will reunite for another explosive action-adventure.".
The Bikeriders
Director: Jeff Nichols
Starring: Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, Mike Feist, Norman Reedus, Boyd Holbrook
Premiere: June 21, 2024
After being pulled from the 2023 release schedule due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, Jeff Nichols' drama has changed hands from 20th Century Studios to Focus Features and received a new premiere date of summer 2024. Inspired by the 1967 photobook of the same name, the story chronicles the rise of a Chicago motorcycle club over a decade through the lens of its members.
Not a Sound 3 (A Quiet Place: Day One)
Director: Michael Sarnosky
Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, Djimon Hounsou, Dennis O'Hare
Premiere: June 28, 2024
The action in the first two films of the franchise "„Not a sound“" is set after super-sensing, super-deadly aliens have already invaded and destroyed society as we know it. As the title here suggests, the third film in the series will show the early days of the alien attack, long before anyone knew what was going on or what to expect from these monsters, and will be directed by Michael Sarnosky, who gave us one of Nicolas Cage's best performances in the film "„Pig“" from 2021. Although most of the actors in the cast announced so far are new, we will see the return of Djimon Hounsou's character from "„Not a sound 2„".
JULY
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Director: Mark Molloy
Cast: Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, Bronson Pinchot, Taylor Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Kevin Bacon
Premiere: July 3, 2024
Axel Foley is back! It's been almost 30 years since 1994's Beverly Hills Cop III, but Eddie Murphy doesn't seem to have missed a beat as the Detroit cop who returns to Los Angeles to investigate corruption after the death of an old friend. Series stars Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot also return, along with Taylor Paige, who plays Axel's daughter, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
Despicable Me 4
Director: Chris Reno, Patrick Delage
Starring: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove and Steve Coogan
Premiere: July 3, 2024
Don't forget whose master the minions serve. Coming two years after the last installment of the franchise, the spin-off "„Minions: The Rise of Gru„", "„I, the damned one“" (Despicable Me) returns to the main series, although at this point there are no specific details about what problems Gru and the Minions will have in this film.
Twisters
Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Starring: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos, Brandon Perea, Maura Tierney
Premiere: July 19, 2024
Originally planned as a remake of the film "„Twister“" since 1996, "„Twisters“" is ultimately shaping up as a sequel, although it's called "a new chapter" and it's unclear whether it will have any connection to its predecessor. Director Lee Isaac Chung is making the leap from indie drama to summer blockbuster, and Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, and Anthony Ramos are in the lead roles.
Deadpool & Wolverine
Director: Sean Levy
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman and Leslie Ughams
Premiere: July 26, 2024
The tough-guy hero is back, as is Hugh Jackman's Wolverine? The first Deadpool movie since Disney buy Fox, will certainly be a sight to behold, as the Ryan Reynolds-led franchise is beloved for its wacky humor. How that will mesh with the studio's desire to make the film "appropriate for ages 13 and up" is a mystery, as is how and why Jackman is pulling out Wolverine's claws after the famous swan song that was Logan.
AUGUST
Borderlands
Director: Eli Roth
Cast: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Ariana Greenblatt, Jamie Lee Curtis, Edgar Ramirez, Haley Bennett, Florian Munteanu
Premiere: August 9, 2024
Get ready for some space jokes as Ilya Roth takes the helm of this adaptation of the popular and wacky video game series. The cast includes big names like Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, and Jack Black, and the film is written by Craig Mazin, who recently helped make another acclaimed video game franchise a hit, „The Last of Us„".
Speak No Evil
Director: James Watkins
Starring: James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Scott McNairy
Premiere: August 9, 2024
James McAvoy and Mackenzie Davis star in this remake of the 2022 Danish psychological thriller about a married couple with children who meet another family on vacation, accept an invitation to visit their home later, and begin to sense more and more nuance behind their hosts' hospitality. The film is directed by James Watkins, who gave us the similar "„Eden Lake„", as well as "„The Woman in Black“" and one of the darker episodes of "„Black Mirror„", „"Shut Up and Dance"“.
Alien: Romulus
Director: Fede Alvarez
Cast: Isabella Merced, Kylie Spaeny, Archie Reno, David Johnson, Spike Fiem, Eileen Wu
Premiere: August 16, 2024
The new film from the cult series "„The Alien“" comes from the director of "„Don't Breathe“" Fede Alvarez and follows a group of young people on a distant world who find themselves in confrontation with the most terrifying life form in the universe.
Kraven The Hunter
Director: J. S. Chandor
Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Premiere: August 30, 2024
Originally planned to appear at some point in Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man franchise before being scrapped by Sony, the classic Spidey villain finally makes the leap to the big screen. The film is directed by J. S. Chandor (All Is Lost, Triple Frontier) and stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson (who plays Pietro Maximoff/Quicksilver in Avengers: Age of Ultron), who will play the character.
SEPTEMBER
Beetlejuice 2 (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice)
Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Willem Dafoe
Premiere: September 6, 2024
Tim Burton teams up with Michael Keaton again to return to one of his early iconic characters in this sequel to Beetlejuice (Beetlejuice) from 1988. Winona Ryder and Catherine O'Hara are also on board to reprise their characters Lydia and Delia Dietz, and Jenna Ortega joins the cast as Lydia's daughter.
Transformers One
Director: Josh Cooley
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Jon Hamm, Laurence Fishburne, Keegan-Michael Key
Premiere: September 13, 2024
The Transformers franchise is returning to its roots with an animated prequel that explores the origins of the robot homeworld of Cybertron and the rivalry between Optimus Prime and Megatron. It is separate from the ongoing plot of the live-action films and is directed by the director of„Toy Story 4“"Josh Cooley, with Chris Hemsworth as the voice of Optimus Prime and Brian Tyree Henry as Megatron.
OCTOBER
Joker: Folie à Deux
Director: Todd Phillips
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, Zazie Beetz, Catherine Keener and Jacob Lofland
Premiere: October 4, 2024
Director Todd Phillips is at the helm of this highly successful R-rated sequel to the iconic Batman villain that earned Joaquin Phoenix an Oscar for Best Actor. He's joined in "The Walking Dead" by Lady Gaga, who plays his beloved Harley Quinn, and according to the announcement, the film will be a musical. Yes, you read that right.
Terrifier 3
Director: Damien Leone
Starring: David Howard Thornton, Chris Jericho, Lauren LaVera
Premiere: October 25, 2024
We don't know much about the third installment of the beloved cult horror franchise "„Terrifier„", but we do know that David Howard Thornton is returning as the clown Art and that the film is set on Christmas Eve. It's also reported that the budget is much larger than the previous two films, so fans can look forward to increased production values.
The Wolf Man
Director: Leigh Whannell
Starring: Julia Garner, Christopher Abbott
Premiere: October 25, 2024
It's still a little early to speculate too much about this movie, but the next classic monster reboot of Universal comes courtesy of the director who brought us the surprise 2020 hit The Invisible Man, namely Leigh Whannell. We know that Julia Garner and Christopher Abbott have signed on to star in the film, but that's about it. If Whannell can apply the same flair that made The Invisible Man such a huge success, we can expect a good product.
NOVEMBER
Venom 3
Director: Kelly Marcel
Starring: Tom Hardy, Juno Temple, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Premiere: November 8, 2024
Tom Hardy returns for this third installment of the anti-hero Spider-Man franchise, which centers on a San Francisco reporter who becomes possessed by an alien lifeform. Screenwriter Kelly Marcel is behind the camera for this film, the plot of which is still unknown.
Gladiator 2
Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Djimon Hounsou, Joseph Quinn, Derek Jacobi
Premiere: November 22, 2024
Ridley Scott returns to direct this sequel to the historical epic "„Gladiator„". The story reportedly revolves around a grown-up Lucius (played by Paul Mescal) who has become emperor and will see the return of Connie Nielsen as Lucilla.
Wicked Part 1
Director: John M. Chu
Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey
Premiere: November 27, 2024
The legendary Broadway musical, which tells the story of the Wicked Witch of the West from a different perspective, is getting a two-part film adaptation. Director John M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights) takes audiences to Oz as Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande play Elphaba and Glinda, respectively.
DECEMBER
The Karate Kid
Director: Jonathan Entwistle
Starring: Jackie Chan, Ralph Macchio
Premiere: December 13, 2024
The popular Netflix series "„Cobra Kai“" helped keep the iconic 1980s martial arts franchise alive and well in the public consciousness, and in 2024... Sony will return to the film series with a new installment. Initially thought to have no connection to the original films or the Netflix show, a casting announcement revealed that Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan will star together in the new film as the characters Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Han. Other details were barely revealed at the time of publication.
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
Director: Kenji Kamiyama
Starring: Brian Cox, Miranda Otto
Premiere: December 13, 2024
Warner Bros.„ latest film in the “Lord of the Rings„ universe is this animated prequel that follows the exploits of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary King of Rohan of the House of Riders, known as the Rohirrim, who played a major role in “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.„ Brian Cox voices the title character, who reigns 183 years before the events of “The Two Towers,” while Miranda Otto reprises her role as Éowyn from the last film, who serves as the setting for the story.
Mufasa: The Lion King
Director: Barry Jenkins
Starring: Aaron Pierre, Kevin Harrison Jr., Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner and John Cena
Premiere: December 20, 2024
The live-action Lion King movie (which was 100 percent computer-generated, not actually live-action, to be clear) is getting a prequel that explores the early life of Simba's father, Mufasa. James Earl Jones, who voiced Mufasa in the original Lion King and the remake, will not be voicing this younger version of Mufasa, with Aaron Pierre playing the character instead. Kelvin Harrison Jr. plays Scar, who goes by the name Taka during the time the film takes place.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Director: Jeff Fowler
Starring: Ben Schwartz, Idris Elba, James Marsden and Colleen O'Shaughnessy
Premiere: December 20, 2024
The movie franchise„Sonic“" (Sonic the Hedgehog) is picking up steam with a third installment that could star Ben Schwartz as Sonic, Colleen O'Shaughnessy as Tails, and Idris Elba as Knuckles. Jim Carrey, who played the villainous Dr. Robotnik in the first two films, may have to wait for this one, as he's been talking about retiring from acting. But there's at least one enemy that's giving Sonic a run for his money, as in "„Sonic 2“" teases a new villain in the film's post-credits scene.
Nosferatu
Director: Robert Eggers
Starring: Bill Skarsgård, Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Willem Dafoe
Premiere: December 25, 2024
Robert Eggers (The Witch, The Lighthouse) follows up his action epic „The Viking“" with a passion project he's been working on for years. This remake of the classic 1922 vampire film of the same name appears to follow a similar plot, centering on a young woman (Lily-Rose Depp) and the vampire (Bill Skarsgård) who is infatuated with her.
