2024 is here. With another year comes a new slate of movies. For my 2024 movie preview, I decided to delve into the 24 most anticipated films of the year.
The MCU and DC universe are largely retooling in 2024. Sony has three films in its Spidey verse set for 2024 in Madame Web, Kraven the Hunter and Venom 3. None of these films are on my list, but the MCU’s Deadpool 3 sure is. The resurgence of musicals at the end of 2023 will continue in 2024 with three high-profile musicals set to release throughout the year. Meanwhile, due to the writer’s and actor’s strikes, several films on last year’s slate such as Dune: Part II and The Bike Riders are also on the docket for this year. Many of the October, November and December releases could move to 2025 due to production delays.
Out of the 24 films featured, here are my five most anticipated films of 2024.
- Dune: Part II
- Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
- Deadpool 3
- Horizon: An American Saga
- The Lord of The Ring: The War of the Rohirrim
2024 Movie Preview January – March
Mean Girls
Tina Fey’s coming-of-age comedy celebrates its 20-year anniversary with a musical adaptation of the Broadway show. Fey and Tim Meadows return in their roles as Ms. Norbury and Principal Norvell.
The cast is full of talented newcomers as well. Angourie Rice (The Nice Guys) takes over Lindsey Lohan‘s role as Cady Heron. Renee Rapp reprises her role from the Broadway show as Regina George. Auliʻi Cravalho (voice of Moana) takes over Lizzy Caplan‘s role as Janis.
Mean Girls will debut in theaters January 12
Argylle
After successfully launching The Kingsmen franchise, Matthew Vaughn returns to the spy genre with Argylle.
This spy film centers around fictional spy novelist Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard) who is something of a Nostradamus. Her books depict a real-life spy syndicate. After Aidan (Sam Rockwell) prevents an attempt on Elly’s life, she’s thrust into a world of espionage.
Similar to Colin Firth in Kingsman, it’s refreshing to see Rockwell as the co-lead in an action film. In addition to the premise, Argylle features one of the best ensembles of the year. Joining Howard and Rockwell are previous Vaughn collaborators such as Samuel L. Jackson and Sofia Boutella. Henry Cavill, Bryan Cranston, Dua Lipa, John Cena, Catherine O’Hara and Ariana DeBose (Wish) round out the diverse cast.
Argyle will debut in theaters February 2 before streaming on Apple TV Plus.
Bob Marley: One Love
2023 was a fantastic year for biopics. 2024 looks to continue the trend with this biopic depicting Bob Marley.
Kingsley Ben-Adir is no stranger to taking on historic figures. His terrific performance as Malcolm X in One Night in Miami showcased his ability to honor the legacy of a cultural titan. Lashana Lynch is an outstanding choice as Rita Marley.
Bob Marley: One Love will debut in theaters February 14.
Dune: Part II
Originally scheduled for release in November 2023, Dune: Part II was pushed to 2024 due to strikes.
Dune: Part II has the best cast of the year although Gladiator 2 will certainly challenge that designation. Returning stars Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Javier Bardem, Dave Bautista and Josh Brolin are reason enough to be excited. Director Denis Villeneuve decides to up the stakes by adding Austin Butler (Elvis), Florence Pugh, Léa Seydoux and Christoper Walken to the ensemble.
Dune Part II will debut in theaters March 1.
Roud House
After 35 years, Road House is getting a remake with Jake Gyllenhaal taking over the Patrick Swayze role of John Dalton. Adding Doug Liman (Edge of Tomorrow) as director is another reason to get excited about this remake.
Road House will debut on Amazon Prime March 21.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
2021’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife was a pleasant surprise thanks to Paul Rudd, a compelling young cast and clever callbacks to the original films. While Jason Reitman won’t be in the director’s chair as Afterlife writer Gil Kenan takes the reins, the same cast returns from Afterlife.
With Frozen Empire shifting the film’s setting back to New York as well as the returns of Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson in more prominent roles, Frozen Empire looks to be combining past and present in intriguing ways.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire will debut in theaters March 29.
2024 Movie Preview: April – June
Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire
Following in the footsteps of the fantastic Godzilla Minus One and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, can Godzilla and Kong’s latest adventure continue the hot streak? We will find out in April.
The key to success in the 2023 Japanese film and American television series was in marrying compelling human stories with monster action. Bryan Tyree Henry and Rebecca Ferguson are outstanding actors and can do wonders with the right material. The action certainly looks epic enough.
Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire will debut in theaters April 12.
Civil War
Alex Garland‘s (Annihilation) newest film looks to be the most stressful film of 2024.
Civil War is set in the United States in the near future and follows a team of journalists across the United States during a rapidly escalating civil war. The action and performances look intense. The impressive ensemble cast includes Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons and Nick Offerman.
Civil War will debut in theaters April 26.
The Fall Guy
Former stuntman turned director David Leitch is behind the camera for this part action-comedy, part romantic-comedy.
The Fall Guy features two of the most charasmatic actors on the planet in Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. Gosling plays Colt Seaver, an aging stunman who had a brief fling with Jody Moreno (Blunt). They reunited on the set of Moreno’s first film as a director, but when the film threatens to go off the rails due to the lead actor’s disappear. Colt must step up to save the film.
Blunt and Gosling look to have fantastic chemistry.
The Fall Guy will debut in theaters May 3.
If
John Krasinski follows up his spectacular directing work on the Quiet Place franchise with another family-oriented, but much more family-friendly film.
A young girl can see imaginary friends and has the ability to help them after they’ve been abandoned. Ryan Reynolds plays an adult neighbor with this ability. The film looks adorable and features an impressive supporting cast. Steve Carell, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Maya Rudolph and Jon Stewart voice some of the imaginary friends.
IF will debut in theaters May 17
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
George Miller returns to the Mad Max franchise with a prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road. Furiosa focuses on the character played by Charlize Theron in the 2015 film.
Anya Taylor-Joy takes over the role from Theron and Chris Hemsworth joins the franchise as an antagonist. The action setpieces and visuals look fantastic.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga will debut in theaters May 24.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
The Planet of the Apes trilogy is one of the best trilogies of all time. This new Apes film is set centuries after the trilogy.
Humans have regressed to a feral state. The leader of the apes Proximus Caesar, perverts the teachings of Caesar to enslave other clans. Meanwhile, a common chimpanzee who has never even heard of Caesar, teams up with a young human to determine the fate of the gorilla and humankind.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes will debut in theaters May 24.
Ballerina
This John Wick spinoff stars Ana De Armas as an assassin looking for revenge following the death of her family.
Keanu Reeves, Angelica Huston, Ian McShane and Lance Reddick (his final performance before his death) all reprise their John Wick roles. Armas was fantastic with the action sequences in No Time to Die and deserves an opportunity to lead an action film.
Ballerina will debut in theaters June 7.
Inside Out 2
Following a down year from Pixar, Inside Out 2 is set to hit theaters nine years after the original told the story of 11-year-old Riley’s emotions.
Amy Poelher, Lewis Black and Phyllis Smith reprise their roles as Joy, Anger and Sadness. While new emotions such as Anxiety emerge. Inside Out 2 will feature a teenage Riley in what should be an emotional rollercoaster.
Inside Out 2 will debut in theaters June 14.
The Bikeriders
Originally set to release in December 2023. The Bikeriders was dropped by Disney’s 20th Century Studio and picked up by Focus Features for domestic distribution.
Set in the 1960s, the film follows the rise of a fictional Chicago motorcycle club. While Tom Hardy‘s Johnny leads the motorcycle club, the story mostly revolves around a love story between his right-hand man Benny (Austin Butler) and Kathy (Jodie Comer). The conflict centers on Kathy wanting Benny to give up the motorcycle club and Benny’s loyalty to Johnny.
The Bikeriders will debut in theaters June 21.
Horizon: An American Saga
Kevin Costner steps behind and in front of the camera in this sprawling two-part Western film set in pre– and post–American Civil War eras.
Costner has been wanting to make this film since the late 80s. Alongside Gladiator 2 and Dune Part II, Horizon: An American Saga features one of the most impressive ensembles of 2024.
\The first chapter of this epic will debut in theaters June 28. Part two will arrive August 16.
2024 Movie Preview: July – September
Deadpool 3
Hugh Jackman‘s Wolverine and Ryan Reynolds‘s Deadpool finally properly share the screen in Deadpool 3.
While the plot is under wraps, it does appear like Deadpool and Wolverine will be hopping between different universes. Perhaps fittingly meta fashion, they’re killing off the Fox franchises following the Disney merger. Regardless it’s sure to be a funny, action-packed thrill ride.
Deadpool 3 will debut in theaters July 26
Beetlejuice 2
Tim Burton, Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder all return to the comedy-horror franchise.
While the plot is under wraps, the writing team and newcomers to the universe are the reason for excitement. Alfred Gough and Miles Millar who created Smallville, but more recently teamed with Burton in Netflix’s excellent Wednesday series penned the screenplay. Jenna Ortega, Monica Bellucci and Willem Dafoe round out the impressive cast.
Beetlejuice 2 will debut in theaters September 6.
Transformers One
This theatrically released animated Transformers film is set on Cybertron. The film is an origin film of sorts chronicling the relationship between Optimus Prime and Megatron.
Chris Hemsworth voices Optimus Prime, while Bryan Tyree Henry voices Megatron. Transformers One is also an MCU reunion of sorts as Scarlett Johansson is part of the cast as Elita.
Transformers One will debut in theaters September 13.
2024 Movie Preview: October – December
Joker: Folie à Deux
Todd Phillips follows up his 2019 Joker film starring Joaquin Phoenix with a musical sequel featuring Lady Galga as Harley Quinn.
Not much else is known about the film aside from Zazie Beetz reprising her role, but this certainly has awards potential.
Joker: Folie à Deux will debut in theaters October 4.
Gladiator 2
Ridley Scott returns to helm this long-gestating sequel to the 2000 film.
Paul Mezcal takes on the lead role of Lucius Verus. Verus is Commudus’s nephew from the original film. He’s believed to be dead at the outset. Outside of Verus, not much is known about the plot. However, the cast is impressive. Denzel Washington, Connie Nielson, Pedro Pascal and Moon Knight bright spot May Calamawy form one of the best ensembles of the year.
Gladiator 2 will debut in theaters November 22.
Wicked Part 1
The 2004 Broadway smash hit is finally being adapted into a feature film. John M. Chu, who did a terrific job adapting In the Heights, helms this two-part adaptation.
Cynthia Erivo takes on the role of the green witch Elphaba. Ariana Grande is Galinda. The most delightful casting choice is Jeff Goldblum as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Wicked Part 1 will debut in theaters November 22.
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
That’s right, there’s a new Lord of the Rings film hitting theaters in 2024. The War of the Rohirrim is an animated film set nearly 300 years before the events of The Two Towers.
Brian Cox leads the cast as the king of Rohan while Miranda Otto reprises her role as Éowyn and serves as the narrator for this story.
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim will debut in theaters December 13.
Nosferatu
Leave it to David Eggers to close out 2024 in a horrific fashion.
Nosferatu is a passion project for Eggers and features a terrific cast that includes Bill Skarsgård, Lily Rose-Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin and Willem Dafoe.
Nosferatu will debut in theaters December 25.
