[Updated 2/21/2024]

Just as Hollywood seemed to be recovering from its pandemic woes, the industry had to contend with both a WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, which caused production delays and shifted big release dates. But we’ve finally moved past that, and 2024 is nigh upon us, bringing with it exciting superhero movies, a highly anticipated musical adaptation, George Miller’s return to Mad Max, a third Avatar, and much, much, more. See below for the movies we’re most looking forward to in 2024, and check back regularly as we make more updates to the list!

Mean Girls
(2024)

Directed by: Arturo Perez Jr., Samantha Jayne
Starring: Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp, Auliʻi Cravalho, Bebe Wood, Jaquel Spivey, Tina Fey, Tim Meadows, Jenna Fischer, Jon Hamm, Ashley Park
Opening on: January 12, 2024

Though it may look like a remake of the 2004 comedy, this new interpretation isn’t quite that. Written by Tina Fey (who also wrote the original and makes an appearance in this film), this is an adaptation of the stage musical Mean Girls, which was itself an adaptation of the original film. Angourie Rice plays new girl Cady Heron, while Reneé Rapp takes on the role of head Mean Girl Regina George.

Argylle
(2024)

Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
Starring: Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Henry Cavill, John Cena, Dua Lipa, Bryan Cranston, Sofia Boutella, Ariana DeBose, Samuel L. Jackson
Opening on: February 2, 2024

Kingsman director Matthew Vaughn returns to the world of cheeky spies with this action comedy about a novelist (Bryce Dallas Howard) who draws the attention of an underground crime syndicate when the plots of her espionage novels uncannily mirror their activities. It’s up to an undercover spy (Sam Rockwell) to save her and her cat.

Lisa Frankenstein
(2024)

Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
Starring: Kathryn Newton, Cole Sprouse, Carla Gugino
Opening on: February 9, 2024

Juno and Jennifer’s Body writer Diablo Cody is also behind the script for this ’90s twist on the classic Mary Shelley horror story. Kathryn Newton (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania) stars as a misunderstood teen named Lisa whose crush is the young man from the Victorian era who happens to be buried in the cemetery behind her family’s home. That young man is mysteriously brought back to life, and the two embark on unlikely romance.

Bob Marley: One Love
(2024)

Directed by: Reinaldo Marcus Green
Starring: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Lashana Lynch, James Norton, Tosin Cole
Opening on: February 14, 2024

Coming off an appearance in last year’s Barbie, One Night in Miami star Kingsley Ben-Adir headlines this biopic about the legendary reggae superstar directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, whose last biographical film, King Richard, earned six Oscar nominations and a Best Actor win for Will Smith. The film looks to be a fairly complete look at the singer’s life, including his rise to fame and his death.

Madame Web
(2024)

Directed by: S.J. Clarkson
Starring: Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O’Connor, Isabela Merced, Tahar Rahim, Emma Roberts, Mike Epps, Adam Scott, and Zosia Mamet
Opening on: February 14, 2024

Sony’s “Spider-Man Movie Franchise (Without Spider-Man)” has had highs (Venom) and lows (Morbius), but Madame Web, which stars Dakota Johnson as the clairvoyant Spidey side character, might be worth sticking around for, even if Peter Parker himself never shows up. Sydney Sweeney, Adam Scott, and Zosia Mamet co-star.

Drive-Away Dolls
(2024)

Directed by: Ethan Coen
Starring: Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, Beanie Feldstein, Colman Domingo, Pedro Pascal, Bill Camp, Matt Damon
Opening on: February 23, 2024

After Joel Coen went solo for the first time with 2019’s Macbeth, Ethan Coen is now following suit with his own solo directorial effort. This road comedy follows a pair of friends played by Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan whose road trip to Tallahassee is disrupted when they cross paths with a group of inept criminals.

Stopmotion
(2023)

Directed by: Robert Morgan
Starring: Aisling Franciosi, Stella Gonet, Tom York, Therica Wilson-Read
Opening on: February 23, 2024

For anyone bemoaning the lack of original horror films — which, by the way, we think you can find if you look for them — we have this gem that originally premiered at last year’s Fantastic Fest. Directed by Robert Morgan, who co-wrote the script with Robin King, the film centers on a stop-motion animator who suddenly becomes obsessed with her latest film when a neighbor suggests the addition of a monstrous new character.

Dune: Part Two
(2024)

Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård
Opening on: March 1, 2024

The first installment’s day-and-date release on HBO Max initially put this sequel into question, but WB thankfully saw fit to give Denis Villeneuve the green light. Part Two sees big names like Florence Pugh, Léa Seydoux, Austin Butler, and Christopher Walken join the cast as Villeneuve tells the second half of Frank Herbert’s epic sci-fi novel.

Imaginary
(2024)

Directed by: Jeff Wadlow
Starring: DeWanda Wise, Tom Payne, Taegen Burns, Pyper Braun, Veronica Falcon, Betty Buckley
Opening on: March 8, 2024

This original horror film from Blumhouse centers on a woman (DeWanda Wise) who moves back into her childhood home with her family, only to discover her stepdaughter (Pyper Braun) has become attached to a stuffed bear she found in the basement that compels her to engage in increasingly dangerous games.

Kung Fu Panda 4
(2024)

Directed by: Mike Mitchell
Starring: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, Dustin Hoffman, and David Cross
Opening on: March 8, 2024

DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda series is quietly incredible, taking what could have been a silly premise (Jack Black voices a fat panda who does martial arts) and turning it into something funny, heartfelt, and full of impressive fight scenes. At CinemaCon 2023, we learned that Mike Mitchell (Trolls, The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part) would be directing the film, and that the story would follow Po as he faces off against a chameleon foe and searches for a new Dragon Warrior.

Road House
(2024)

Directed by: Doug Liman
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Daniela Melchior, Billy Magnussen, Jessica Williams, Joaquim de Almeida, Conor McGregor, Lukas Gage, Arturo Castro
Opening on: March 21, 2024 on Prime Video

The 1989 Patrick Swayze action drama Road House is an undeniable cult classic, but director Doug Liman and Jake Gyllenhaal are putting their own spin on it. Gyllenhaal stars in the updated version as Elwood Dalton, a former UFC fighter who takes up a job at a roadhouse (of course) in coastal Florida and gets mixed up with all the wrong people. Will any throats be ripped? Only time will tell.

Arthur the King
(2024)

Directed by: Simon Cellan Jones
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Simu Liu, Juliet Rylance, Nathalie Emmanuel, Ali Suliman
Opening on: March 22, 2024

Mark Wahlberg stars in this remarkable based-on-true-events story about a man who befriends a stray dog during his journey to win the Adventure Racing World Championship, a treacherous 435-mile endurance race through the Dominican Republic.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
(2024)

Directed by: Gil Kenan
Starring: Carrie Coon, Paul Rudd, McKenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt
Opening on: March 22, 2024

We don’t have a lot of confirmed details about this sequel, except that director Jason Reitman has been replaced by Gil Kenan (Monster House, Poltergeist 2015), who co-wrote Afterlife. We also know that stars Carrie Coon, McKenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, and Paul Rudd are returning, joined by names like Kumail Nanjiani and Patton Oswalt. And lastly, we also know that the film’s setting will indeed be New York and the firehouse from the original films, which was teased at the end of Afterlife.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
(2024)

Directed by: Adam Wingard
Starring: Dan Stevens, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Kaylee Hottle, Fala Chen, Alex Ferns, and Rachel House
Opening on: March 29, 2024

The two greatest kaiju of all time are back for round two in the follow-up to the Monsterverse’s 2021 showdown. However, the synopsis suggests that they might be allies from the start rather than enemies this time around, as Godzilla and Kong will face “a colossal undiscovered threat hidden within our world.” Dan Stevens has been cast as the lead of the film, alongside returning GvK actors Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, and Kaylee Hottle. Adam Wingard, who directed the previous bout, will be behind the camera for this one, too.

Monkey Man
(2024)

Directed by: Dev Patel
Starring: Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley, Pitobash, Vipin Sharma, Sikandar Kher, Sobhita Dhulipala, Ashwini Kalsekar
Opening on: April 5, 2024

If the poster for Monkey Man makes it look a bit like a horror film, you might be surprised to learn that it’s actually a John Wick-styled action thriller set in Mumbai. Not only that, but it marks Dev Patel’s feature directorial debut (he also co-wrote it), and he stars in the film as an underground bare knuckle fighter who embarks on a vengeful rampage through the city’s corrupt underbelly.

Civil War
(2024)

Directed by: Alex Garland
Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Jesse Plemons, Nick Offerman
Opening on: April 12, 2024

Alex Garland’s (Ex Machina, Annihilation) fourth film sees the United States plunged into, well, a civil war. The film’s official description calls it a “race to the White House in a near-future America balanced on the razor’s edge,” and the trailer showcases a number of provocative images, so get ready for this one to be controversial, even if we can all agree that Nick Offerman would make a great president.

Abigail
(2024)

Directed by: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Starring: Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton, Angus Cloud, Kevin Durand, Alisha Weir
Opening on: April 19, 2024

If you enjoyed 2019’s Ready or Not or the recent Scream films, then this one might be for you, because the directorial duo behind those films is also at the helm of Abigail. Melissa Barrera and Dan Stevens are among the cast who play a ragtag group of criminals who are tasked with watching over a kidnapped 12-year-old ballerina, the daughter of an underworld kingpin, for one night. The twist? That little girl is a vampire.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
(2024)

Directed by: Guy Ritchie
Starring: Henry Cavill, Eiza González, Henry Golding, Alan Ritchson, Cary Elwes, Til Schweiger, Alex Pettyfer
Opening on: April 19, 2024

The next Guy Ritchie joint sees the director reuniting with his The Man from U.N.C.L.E. star Henry Cavill (and, incidentally, The Gentlemen star Henry Golding), who leads an ensemble cast in a spy action comedy inspired by true events. The story centers on a secret military organization created by Winston Churchill in World War II to battle the Nazis — think Inglourious Basterds, but real. Ritchie has taken the serious route with a couple of his recent films, but this looks like a return to his snarkier fare.

Challengers
(2024)

Directed by: Luca Guadagnino
Starring: Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, Mike Faist
Opening on: April 26, 2024

Zendaya headlines the latest film from Luca Guadagnino, which centers on the relationships between a tennis prodigy-turned-coach (Zendaya), the struggling former champion who is her husband (Mike Faist), and his former best friend (Josh O’Connor) — who also happens to be her ex-boyfriend.

The Fall Guy
(2024)

Directed by: David Leitch
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt
Opening on: May 3, 2024

Is there a better action director than David Leitch these days? Leitch, a former stuntman who previously helmed John Wick, Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, and Hobbs & Shaw, is tackling a film adaptation of an ‘80s TV show about a stuntman who moonlights as a bounty hunter. Sounds right up his alley. Ryan Gosling will play the lead alongside Emily Blunt.

Back to Black
(2024)

Directed by: Sam Taylor-Johnson
Starring: Marisa Abela, Jack O’Connell, Lesley Manville, Eddie Marsan
Opening on: May 10, 2024

This biopic of jazz singer-turned pop star Amy Winehouse traces her life and rise to fame leading up to the release of her studio album, Back to Black. Sam Taylor-Johnson (Fifty Shades of Grey) directs the film, which stars Marisa Abela of HBO’s Industry as the troubled singer.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
(2024)

Directed by: Wes Ball
Starring: Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Peter Macon, Eka Darville, and Kevin Durand
Opening on: 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 reboot trilogy of the classic sci-fi franchise. However, there’s more monkey business to be had. (Yes, apes and monkeys are different, but let us have this.) Wes Ball, who helmed the Maze Runner films, directs the fourth film in the series, which takes place many years after the events of War.

IF
(2024)

Directed by: John Krasinski
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski, Fiona Shaw, Cailey Fleming, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Steve Carell, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Maya Rudolph, Awkwafina
Opening on: May 17, 2024

John Krasinski and Ryan Reynolds — both of whom also star in this film, by the way — developed this fantasy comedy also written by Krasinski about a young girl who learns she has the ability to see Imaginary Friends (hence the title IF) that have been abandoned. Reynolds and Krasinski are joined by massive voice cast (presumably for those imaginary friends) that includes Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Matt Damon, Steve Carell, Emily Blunt, Awkwafina, and more.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
(2024)

Directed by: George Miller
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Nathan Jones, and Angus Sampson
Opening on: May 24, 2024

Anya Taylor-Joy will play a younger version of the war rig-driving badass Imperator Furiosa in this prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road, one of the best films of the century so far. George Miller will, naturally, direct once more, and Chris Hemsworth will co-star in the movie, which tells the tale of Furiosa’s kidnapping and her rise through Immortan Joe’s ranks.

The Garfield Movie
(2024)

Directed by: Mark Dindal
Starring: Chris Pratt, Samuel L. Jackson, Nicholas Hoult, Cecily Strong, Hannah Waddingham, and Ving Rhames
Opening on: May 24, 2024

After Chris Pratt voiced Mario, he wept, for there were no more animated characters to conquer. Just kidding! He’ll be voicing everybody’s favorite lasagna-loving, Monday-hating cat, Garfield, in a new movie adaptation of the long-running comic strip. Samuel L. Jackson will voice Vic, Garfield’s father. Sure! Okay!

The Crow (2024)
Directed by: Rupert Sanders
Starring: Bill Skarsgård, Danny Huston, Laura Birn, Jordan Bolger, FKA Twigs
Opening on: June 7, 2024

When the John Wick spin-off Ballerina moved out of this release date, Lionsgate moved its The Crow reboot into its place. Based on the same comic book series as the 1994 film starring Brandon Lee (who famously died during filming), this new iteration stars Bill Skarsgård as Eric Draven aka The Crow, and it’s directed by Rupert Sanders, who previously helmed Snow White and the Huntsman and Ghost in the Shell.

Hit Man
(2023)

Directed by: Richard Linklater
Starring: Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio, Retta
Opening on: June 7, 2024

Based on a 2001 article in Texas Monthly, this action comedy from Richard Linklater stars Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick, Anyone but You) as undercover police officer in Houston, TX posing as a hitman who breaks protocol to help a woman stuck in an abusive marriage.

Bad Boys 4
(2024)

Directed by: Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah
Starring: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence
Opening on: June 14, 2024

If the third film in the Bad Boys franchise had gotten a different title, then this fourth installment could have easily been named Bad Boys 4 Life. But that’s not how reality works, so for now, we’ll just call this one Bad Boys 4, which will see detectives Mike Lowery (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) reunite for another explosive action-adventure.

Directed by: Kelsey Mann
Starring: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, and Lewis Black
Opening on: June 14, 2024

The wonderful Pixar film Inside Out showed us what things are like inside of an emotional young girl’s head. How do you raise the stakes for the sequel? Go inside a teenager’s head, of course. Inside Out 2 will revisit Riley now that she’s in college, and it will fittingly introduce a host of new emotions. There are reports that, aside from Amy Poehler, not all of the original voice cast, whose ranks included Bill Hader and Mindy Kaling, will return for the sequel.

The Bikeriders
(2023)

Directed by: Jeff Nichols
Starring: Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, Mike Faist, Norman Reedus, Boyd Holbrook
Opening on: June 21, 2024

After being pulled from the 2023 release schedule due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, Jeff Nichols’ period drama switched hands from 20th Century Studios to Focus Features and earned a new release date in the summer of 2024. Inspired by the 1967 photobook of the same name, the fictional story chronicles the rise of a Chicago motorcycle club over the course of a decade through the lens of its members.

A Quiet Place: Day One
(2024)

Directed by: Michael Sarnoski
Starring: Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, Djimon Hounsou, Denis O’Hare
Opening on: June 28, 2024

With the thrilling exception of the second movie’s opening scene, the action in the A Quiet Place franchise has taken place after the super-hearing, super-deadly aliens have already invaded and destroyed society as we know it. As the title here implies, the third film in the series will show the first days of the alien attack, well before anybody knows what’s going on or what to expect from these monsters, and it will be directed by Michael Sarnoski, who gave us one of Nicolas Cage’s best performances ever in 2021’s Pig. While most of the cast announced so far are new, we will see the return of Djimon Hounsou’s character from Part II.

Directed by: Mark Molloy
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, Bronson Pinchot, Taylour Paige, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Kevin Bacon
Opening on: 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 look like he’s missed a beat as the Detroit cop who returns to Los Angeles to investigate corruption after the death of an old friend. Franchise stalwarts like Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot also return, alongside Taylour Paige, who plays Axel’s daughter, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Despicable Me 4
(2024)

Directed by: Chris Renaud, Patrick Delage
Starring: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Steve Coogan, Will Ferrell, Sofia Vergara, Joey King, Pierre Coffin
Opening on: July 3, 2024

Don’t forget which master the Minions serve. Coming two years after the last installment in the franchise, the spin-off Minions: The Rise of Gru, Despicable Me returns to the mainline series, with Gru and his family — including a baby Gru Jr. — squaring off against an enemy out for revenge voiced by Will Ferrell.

Longlegs
(2024)

Directed by: Osgood Perkins
Starring: Maika Monroe, Nicolas Cage, Alicia Witt, Blair Underwood
Opening on: July 12, 2024

Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage star in this horror thriller about an FBI agent (Monroe) on the trail of a serial killer who discovers links not only to the occult but also to her own family and must act quickly to prevent another tragedy. It comes courtesy of Oz Perkins, best known for The Blackcoat’s Daughter and Gretel and Hansel.

Twisters
(2024)

Directed by: Lee Isaac Chung
Starring: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos, Brandon Perea, Maura Tierney
Opening on: July 19, 2024

Originally planned as a remake of the 1996 disaster movie Twister, Twisters eventually took form as a sequel, though it’s being called a “new chapter” and it isn’t clear if it will have any connection to its predecessor. Minari director Lee Isaac Chung makes the leap from indie drama to summer blockbuster, with Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, and Anthony Ramos set to star.

Deadpool & Wolverine
(2024)

Directed by: Shawn Levy
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, and Leslie Uggams
Opening on: July 26, 2024

The Merc With a Mouth is back — and so is Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine? The first Deadpool movie since Disney bought Fox will certainly be a sight to behold, as the Ryan Reynolds-led franchise is beloved for its R-rated humor. How that will blend with the MCU’s decidedly PG-13 tone is a mystery, as is how and why Jackman has returned as Wolverine, though the trailer does reveal the involvment of the TVA (as seen in Loki), so that may be a hint.

Borderlands
(2024)

Directed by: Eli Roth
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Ariana Greenblatt, Jamie Lee Curtis, Edgar Ramirez, Haley Bennett, Florian Munteanu
Opening on: August 9, 2024

Get ready for some outer space shenanigans as Eli Roth takes the helm for 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 was written by Craig Mazin, who recently helped make a hit out of another acclaimed video game franchise, The Last of Us.

Speak No Evil
(2024)

Directed by: James Watkins
Starring: James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Scott McNairy
Opening on: August 9, 2024

James McAvoy and Mackenzie Davis star in this remake of the 2022 Danish psychological thriller about a married couple with kids who meet another family on vacation, accept an invitation to visit their home later, and begin to sense increasingly undertones lurking behind the hospitality of their hosts. The film is directed by James Watkins, who gave us the similarly disturbing Eden Lake, as well as The Woman in Black and one of the darker episodes of Black Mirror, “Shut Up and Dance.”

(Photo by 20th Century Fox)

Alien: Romulus
(2024)

Directed by: Fede Alvarez
Starring: Isabela Merced, Cailee Spaeny, Archie Renaux, David Jonsson, Spike Feam, Aileen Wu
Opening in: August 16, 2024

The new film comes from Don’t Breathe director Fede Álvarez and will follow “a group of young people on a distant world, who find themselves in a confrontation with the most terrifying life form in the universe.”

Kraven the Hunter
(2024)

Directed by: J.C. Chandor
Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Opening on: August 30, 2024

Originally set to appear sometime in the Andrew Garfield Spider-Man franchise before it was discontinued by Sony, the classic Spidey villain finally makes the jump to the big screen. The film will be directed by J.C. Chandor (All Is Lost, Triple Frontier), with Aaron Taylor-Johnson (who portrayed Pietro Maximoff/Quicksilver in Avengers: Age of Ultron) set to play the character.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
(2024)

Directed by: Tim Burton
Starring: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Monica Belluci, Willem Dafoe
Opening on: September 6, 2024

Tim Burton reteams with Michael Keaton to return to one of his early iconic characters in this sequel to 1988’s Beetlejuice. Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara are also both on board to reprise their characters Lydia and Delia Deetz, while Jenna Ortega joins the cast as Lydia’s daughter.

Transformers One
(2024)

Directed by: Josh Cooley
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Jon Hamm, Laurence Fishburne, Keegan-Michael Key
Opening on: September 13, 2024

The Transformers franchise returns to its roots with an animated prequel that explores the origins of the titular robots’ home world of Cybertron and the rivalry between Optimus Prime and Megatron. It will be separate from the ongoing narrative of the live-action films, and it will be helmed by Toy Story 4 director Josh Cooley, with Chris Hemsworth as the voice of Optimus Prime and Brian Tyree Henry as Megatron.

Untitled Saw Sequel (2024)
Directed by: TBA
Starring: TBA
Opening on: September 27, 2024

While we don’t know much about it yet, other than its release date, we do know that we will be getting a new chapter in the Saw franchise on September 27, 2024. Will it somehow follow the events of Saw X? Maybe it will serve as a continuation of Spiral: From the Book of Saw? We’ll have to wait and see for more details.

(Photo by ©Bloody Disgusting)

Terrifier 3
(2024)

Directed by: Damien Leone
Starring: David Howard Thornton
Opening on: October 25, 2024

We don’t know much about the third installment of the cult favorite horror franchise Terrifier, but we do know that David Howard Thornton will return to play Art the Clown and that the film will be set on Christmas Eve. The budget is also reportedly much larger than the previous two films, so fans can look forward to upgraded production value.

Wolf Man
(2024)

Directed by: Leigh Whannell
Starring: Julia Garner, Christopher Abbott
Opening on: October 25, 2024

It’s still a bit early to speculate too much about this film, but Universal’s next classic monster reboot comes courtesy of the director who brought us the surprise 2020 hit The Invisible Man, namely Leigh Whannell. We do know that Julia Garner and Christopher Abbott have signed on to star, but that’s about it. If Whannell can bring the same kind of flair that made The Invisible Man a runaway success, we can expect good things.

Venom 3
(2024)

Directed by: Kelly Marcel
Starring: Tom Hardy, Juno Temple, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Opening on: November 8, 2024

Tom Hardy returns for this third installment of the Spider-Man-adjacent antihero franchise, centering on a San Francisco reporter possessed by an alien symbiote. Writer Kelly Marcel steps in behind the camera for this one, whose plot we really don’t know much about yet.

Gladiator 2
(2024)

Directed by: Ridley Scott
Starring: Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Djimon Hounsou, Joseph Quinn, Derek Jacobi
Opening on: November 22, 2024

Ridley Scott returns to direct this sequel to the historical epic Gladiator. The story will reportedly revolve around a grown-up Lucius (played by Paul Mescal), who has become emperor, and will see the return of Connie Nielsen as Lucilla.

Moana 2 (2024)
Directed by: Dave Derrick Jr.
Starring: TBA
Opening on: November 27, 2024

Disney made an unexpected announcement in February that a sequel to their hit 2016 animated film Moana, featuring the voices of Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson, would be releasing in theaters in November. The announcement gave us the name of the director, Dave Derrick Jr., who previously worked on films like How to Train Your Dragon, Megamind, and other Disney projects like Raya and the Last Dragon, Encanto, and of course the first Moana, and while no cast has been officially announced yet, we can expect Cravalho and Johnson to return as Moana and Maui.

Wicked
(2024)

Directed by: Jon M. Chu
Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Bronwyn James, Bowen Yang
Opening on: November 27, 2024

The legendary Broadway musical that tells the tale of the Wicked Witch of the West from a different perspective is getting a two-part film adaptation. Director Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights) will take audiences to Oz, while Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande will play Elphaba and Glinda, respectively.

The Karate Kid (2024)
Directed by: TBA
Starring: TBA
Opening on: December 13, 2024

The popular Netflix series Cobra Kai has helped keep the iconic ‘80s martial arts franchise alive and kicking in the popular consciousness, and in 2024 Sony will head back to the IP dojo with a new installment. Originally thought to be unconnected to the original films or the Netflix show, a casting call announcement revealed that Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan would star alongside each other in the new film as their characters Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Han. Few other details have been revealed.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
(2024)

Directed by: Kenji Kamiyama
Starring: Brian Cox, Miranda Otto
Opening on: 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, home of the horsemen known as the Rohirrim that played a big part in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Brian Cox will lend his voice to the central character, who reigned 183 years before the events of The Two Towers, while the latter film’s Miranda Otto reprises her role as Eowyn, who will serve as a framing device for the story.

Mufasa: The Lion King
(2024)

Directed by: Barry Jenkins
Starring: Aaron Pierre, Kevin Harrison Jr., Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, and John Kani
Opening on: December 20, 2024

The “live-action” Lion King (which was 100 percent computer-generated and not actually live action, to be clear) is getting a prequel that will explore the backstory of Simba’s father, Mufasa. James Earl Jones, who voiced Mufasa in the original Lion King and the remake, will not voice this younger version of Mufasa, and instead Aaron Pierre will play the character. Kelvin Harrison Jr. will play Scar, who goes by Taka when the events of the film take place.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3
(2024)

Directed by: Jeff Fowler
Starring: Ben Schwartz, Idris Elba, James Marsden, and Colleen O’Shaughnessey
Opening on: December 20, 2024

The Sonic the Hedgehog film franchise is speeding right along with a third installment that will presumably bring back Ben Schwartz as Sonic, Colleen O’Shaughnessey as Tails, and Idris Elba as Knuckles. Jim Carrey, who played the villainous Dr. Robotnik in the first two movies, might sit this one out as he’s been talking about retiring from acting. But, there will be at least one foe giving Sonic a run for his money, as Sonic 2 teased a new villain, Shadow the Hedgehog, in its post-credits scene.

Nosferatu
(2024)

Directed by: Robert Eggers
Starring: Bill Skarsgård, Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Willem Dafoe
Opening on: December 25, 2024

Robert Eggers (The Witch, The Lighthouse) follows up his action epic The Northman with a passion project he’s been working on for years. This remake of the classic 1922 vampire film of the same name looks to follow a similar plot, centering on a young woman (Lily-Rose Depp) and the vampire (Bill Skarsgård) who is infatuated with her.

(Photo by Sony Pictures)

Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse
(2024)

Directed by: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson
Starring: Oscar Isaac, Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Jake Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Vélez, Issa Rae, and Jason Schwartzman
Opening on: TBD (previously March 29, 2024)

The 2018 film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is one of the best superhero movies and one of the best animated movies to grace theaters in recent years, so it’s only natural that there would be a sequel. However, there were simply too many Spider-Men for just one movie, and the sequel was split into two films. 2023’s Across the Spider-Verse premiered to rave reviews and a monster opening weekend but ended on a cliffhanger for Miles Morales and his friends, which Beyond the Spider-Verse will look to conclude. The film was originally dated for a March opening in 2024, but was removed from the schedule amid industry strikes in 2023.

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