SUMMARY
- The anticipated films of 2024 are filled with big-budget bonanzas, including superhero sequels, franchise reboots, and crossovers from theater productions and video games.
- Despite the SAG-AFTRA strike causing some delays, many films are still on schedule and expected to attract audiences back to movie theaters and streaming platforms.
- From Kraven the Hunter to Thunderbolts to Furiosa, these films boast star-studded casts, promising storylines, and the potential to break box office records in 2024.
Thanks to a cadre of blue chip films that have been pushed into 2024 release dates due to strikes by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA, next year is shaping up to be a murderer’s row of big-budget bonanzas. Along with the expected superhero sequels and franchise reboots in the form of The Karate Kid and Beetlejuice 2, we’ll see some big name theater productions and video game IP crossing over to the silver screen. Although Hollywood appears to be evolving further into franchise expansion, we’re also slated to see biopics, new Marvel movies, and even a sports drama.
While most of these films have been issued release dates, many are subject to change, as the SAG-AFTRA strike continues to stymie shooting schedules. Beetlejuice 2, to point, was only one day of shooting away from completion before their production got shut down. Still, many of these films are on schedule and promising to make audiences ring up a big-grossing year in streaming and have people trickling back from their couches into movie theaters. Between animated films, a continued move towards high action, and some clever reconstituting of beloved franchises — 2024 could set records for buttered popcorn consumption.
The following are the 20 most anticipated films of 2024.
20Kraven the Hunter — August 30, 2024
Kraven the Hunter
Release DateOctober 6, 2024
DirectorJ.C. Chandor
CastAaron Taylor-Johnson, Fred Hechinger, Russell Crowe, Alessandro Nivola, Christopher Abbott, Ariana DeBose
Main GenreAction
Marvel’s Kraven the Hunter has long been rumored to jump into the Sony Spider-Man Universe, now doing so with its own film. Early snaps have star Aaron Taylor-Johnson looking enormous and donning some Conan-like garb, and he may finally shoot to stardom after Bullet Train and Winter Soldier heralded his potential.
Why Aaron Taylor-Johnson is the Perfect Fit for Kraven
Taylor-Johnson has steadily grown into leading man status within the MCU, after acting in supporting roles in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Avengers: Age of Ultron. The 33-year-old actor looks set to take the mantle from Chris Hemsworth as the MCU’s new Übermensch, as Hemsworth intends to leave his Thor role before audiences tire of it further.
19 Challengers — April 26, 2024
Challengers has already gotten plenty of buzz thanks to early press releases that have included some steamy photos of Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist, enjoying themselves — to put it delicately. If Zendaya’s work on Euphoria is any indicator, this film could mimic the anticipation felt for Fifty Shades of Grey leading up to its Spring premier.
Why We’re Pumped to See Challengers
Director Luca Guadagnino made a huge splash at Cannes in 2017 with the premier of Call Me By Your Name, which would go on to win Best Adapted Screenplay at the Oscars. Challengers will be penned by a different screenwriter, playwright and novelist Justin Kuritzkes, and promises to be something akin to Match Point meets Y tu mamá también.
18 Wicked Part 1— November 27, 2024
Officially the second part of the sequel, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse will be expected to tie up the cliffhanger left for Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) and his crew in the previous film. Most of the voice cast from the franchise’s second installment will be appearing again, including Oscar Isaac and Hailee Steinfeld.
Can Beyond the Spider-Verse Compete With a Large Field of Animated Films?
If Across the Spider-Verse was any indication, this film could set box office records this year. It earned upwards of $690 million, thanks to its enormous target audience and a brilliant re-imagining of the original film. With Lord and Miller still at the helm of the writer’s room, we doubt Beyond the Spider-Verse will waver.
16IF — May 17, 2024
IF recently had its release date moved a week earlier, so as not to compete with Paramount’s SpongeBob Squarepants sequel. Such is the state of theatrical releases these days — as production companies move to squeeze every dollar out of dual releases. With a split live-action/computer-animated approach that features Ryan Reynolds in the flesh and a star-studded voice cast, the film could be formidable.
Why IF Could Be Great
John Krasinski has gradually expanded from acting to working as a producer (Manchester By the Sea) and directing the highly-successful A Quiet Place franchise. Now he’s moving into lighter fare with IF, with a script about a young girl who can see people’s discarded imaginary friends. With an A-List voice ensemble including Matt Damon, Steve Carell, and Emily Blunt, the film figures to give 2024’s deep field of animated content a run for its money.
15 Fall Guy — March 1, 2024
Fall Guy is a re-fashioning of an ’80s TV series of the same name, with scribe Drew Pearce (Rogue Nation, Iron Man 3) promising an engaging story. Ryan Gosling will play Colt Seavers, a battered and bruised stunt coordinator who finds himself investigating a star’s disappearance.
Why Fall Guy Has Exactly the Right Director
Director David Leitch has some serious set-piece prowess, evident in his earlier action films John Wick and Deadpool 2, but brings unique perspective to this stuntman story — having been one himself earlier in his career. The concept has been bounced around for over a decade, and the success of another stuntperson slice-of-life, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood possibly accelerating Fall Guy into a green light.
14Thunderbolts — December 20, 2024
Thunderbolts
A reclusive English teacher suffering from severe obesity attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter. Directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Brendan Fraser.Release DateJuly 26, 2024DirectorJake SchreierCastSebastian Stan, David Harbour, Olga Kurylenko, Wyatt Russell, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Florence Pugh, Hannah John-KamenRatingPG-13
Thunderbolts has quickly become the most-anticipated of Marvel’s properties expanding in 2024 thanks to casting that includes Stranger Things favorite David Harbour and Pam and Tommy‘s Sebastian Stan as they’ve ascended to A-List status thanks to Pandemic Era primes. The Marvel movie got a recent press release and trailer in October, that appeared dead set on distinguishing this franchise from The Avengers.
13 Borderlands — August 9, 2024
Borderlands is slated to be 2024’s biggest transfer of a gaming property to film, as the source material will provide for a zany space epic with a comedic cast to match. Director Eli Roth, who has the horror film Thanksgiving premiering this month, will no doubt provide the film with a dark sheen, as the humor and horror have never interfered with one another in his movies.
Why Borderlands Could Elevate Eli Roth to a New Level
While Eli Roth did make a big-budget fantasy with The House With a Clock in Its Walls, he has yet to fully cross over from the mid-budget horror that’s made his name famous to, say, the superhero realm as a director. While Thanksgiving is right in his wheelhouse, Borderlands could be a riskier proposition if it doesn’t compete as expected at the gate.
12Furiosa — May 24, 2024
Director George Miller had already begun Furiosa, in earnest, in October 2020 — wrapping production the following year — after Mad Max: Fury Road had made the property into a juggernaut. Still, pending reshoots and the strike, its May release could get pushed if the film’s actors are unable to do the usual spate of junkets and promotions after the holidays.
What’s So Promising About Furiosa?
Anya Taylor-Joy will play a younger Furiosa in the prequel, stretching her range even further, as she’s already tackled roles in everything from stylized thrillers to period dramas. Now she’s attempting to become a full-fledged action star, as well — and if Charlize Theron’s earlier performance in Fury Road is any indicator, we’ll find out the origins of Furiosa’s amputated arm and bad attitude.
11Captain America: Brave New World – July 26, 2024
Anthony Mackie is set to reprise his role as Sam Wilson from the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Now Mackie will fill big boots in Captain America: Brave New World, with Harrison Ford replacing the dearly departed William Hurt in the role of Thaddeus Ross.
Why We Are Super Pumped to See Harrison Ford in Captain America: Brave New World
As Thaddeus Ross, Harrison Ford is set to have a big character arc befitting of his franchise-making career. Marvel has teased some early photos showing Ford as the Red Hulk, and it looks like Indiana Jones himself donned the motion-capture suit — judging by his striking facial features coming through in the Red Hulk stills.
10Dune: Part Two — March 15, 2024
Denis Villeneuve’s Dune adaptation got off swimmingly, earning over $400 million at the box office during the malaise of 2021’s dearth of content thanks to the pandemic. Now Villeneuve has completed shooting on Dune: Part Two, with a late-Winter release date and Austin Butler set to beef up the franchise as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen.
Why Audiences Will Like Dune: Part Two Better Than the First Installment
The cast for Dune: Part Two got a major revamp, also including Dave Bautista and Christopher Walken in key roles. Given how much groundwork had to be laid in the first film, the sequel promises to be more action-packed. We still don’t know what Tim Blake Nelson’s role will be — a prospect that always gets us excited. This was a two-part deal in the first place for Villeneuve, so expect all the many loose ends of the first film to get wrapped with a nice bow.
RELATED:Dune: Will Warner Brothers Leave The Franchise Alone After Part 2?
9Bob Marley: One Love — February 14, 2024
Bob Marley: One Love
Release Date February 14, 2024Director Reinaldo Marcus Green CastKingsley Ben-Adir, James Norton, Lashana Lynch, Michael Gandolfini, Micheal Ward Main GenreBiography
The sprawling biopic Bob Marley: One Love is fittingly set to debut on Valentine’s Day. Factor in the notion that King Richard director Reinaldo Marcus Green is at the helm of this Paramount Pictures product, with Kingsley Ben-Adir set to play Marley and the sultry Lashana Lynch playing his wife Rita, and there’s a lot to be excited about.
Why Kingsley Ben-Adir Will Be Perfect as Bob Marley
Ben-Adir is the biopic sensei, having already giving a stirring performance as Barack Obama in The Comey Rule, then giving a wholly convincing performance in One Night in Miami… as Malcolm X.Ben-Adir has a way of inhabiting these historical characters the way few can.
8Venom 3 — July 11, 2024
We’ll just call the “Untitled Venom: Let There Be Carnage Sequel” Venom 3, for now, with a summer blockbuster release date set to expand the property even further. Given the last film made half-a-billion dollars — that could be a tall order, but if anyone can do it, it’s Marvel. Lined up for the film are new-to-the-franchise Juno Temple and Andrew Garfield.
Why We’re Expecting Big Things
Nobody has quite the screen presence of Tom Hardy, these days, as he’s taken one of Marvel’s goofier franchises into the earning territory of bigger properties. With a seriously beefed-up cast, Venom 3 may end up being Marvel’s biggest theatrical release of the year.
7Twisters — July 19, 2024
Oh, how we long for the days of Bill Paxton, as the under-appreciated Twister star didn’t truly gain the recognition he deserved until his death in 2017. Hopefully his legacy will remain firmly entrenched in the franchise, with Twistersset for a Summer 2024 release. With the amount of global calamities and natural disasters of late, we think a solid disaster movie is just what the doctor ordered.
Why Twisters Could Live Up to the Original
With Daisy Edger-Jones set to star as the strong female lead established in the earlier film by Helen Hunt, the table is set for director Lee Isaac Chung, whose film Minari leads us to believe this sequel will have a soul, on top of the expected roof-ripping action.
6Inside Out 2 — June 14, 2024
Inside Out 2
Release DateJune 14, 2024CastAmy Poehler, Lewis Black, Phyllis Smith, Diane Lane, Maya Hawke, Liza Lapira, Tony Hale
Inside Out 2 is expected to be 2024’s highest-grossing animated film, as the original yielded nearly a billion dollars in box-office gross. Despite the ever-changing landscape at Disney-Pixar since the original film’s release in 2015, we’re still surprised it’s taken this long for a sequel to come about. Given the amount of time that computer animated films require in production, as well as the pandemic and strike delays — it makes a little more sense.
Why Inside Out 2 Will Appeal to New Generation
In the new film, Riley will enter college, given a new set of problems for the forces inside her head to battle. Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith and Lewis Black will all reprise their roles, but we’re hoping they bolster their ranks as Bill Hader and Mindy Kaling have dropped off.
5Deadpool 3 — May 3, 2024
Deadpool 3
Main Genre Superhero CastRyan Reynolds Genres Super hero
With the success of Cobra Kai, it was only a matter of a time before we got a movie reboot for the Karate Kid franchise. Jackie Chan is rumored to be attached to The Karate Kid, but we’re still awaiting announcement on who his protege will be.
How The Karate Kid Could Live Up to the Hype
It would seem to be an oversight if this reboot doesn’t somehow incorporate the Netflix series’ new batch of characters, as well as Ralph Macchio and Billy Zabka. If they truly take advantage of this opportunity, and incorporate Chan (who is aging perfectly into the Miyagi role), then this could end up being the biggest film of the holiday season.
3Beetlejuice 2 – September 6, 2024
Beetlejuice 2
Release Date September 6, 2024 Director Tim Burton Cast Jenna Ortega, Michael Keaton, Monica Bellucci, Justin Theroux, Willem Dafoe, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara Main Genre Comedy
With Ridley Scott’s Napoleon release quickly approaching, the 85-year-old director seems to be as determined as ever to continue extending his king-like action-filmmaking leadership into his ninth decade on this planet. With Gladiator 2, Scott is starting anew, introducing Paul Mescal into the lead role with Denzel Washington (famous for working with Ridley’s brother Tony Scott) into a key role.
Why Gladiator 2 Will Remind Us of Ridley Scott’s Importance
Blade Runner 2049‘s budget swelled to enormous size in proportion to less-than-expected numbers at the gate, leading some to question Ridley Scott’s relevance in a Hollywood dominated by comic-book franchises. The elder statesman of the action movie, Scott is reticent to relinquish his mantle, nor the importance of the director to these franchises, opting to make a sequel on the scale of his mid-career films.
