Another year means more movies to watch. There might be fewer movies given how long the dual strikes of 2023 took to resolve. We can already see the effects of that given how barren the slate for 2024 looks on paper. Below is my spiel from 2023 which works again for this year so I wholesale borrowed it from myself:
It’s time to look ahead to the 2024 movies coming this year. As usual, there promises to be plenty of movies based on existing IP, sequels, and the like. Some movies should be on your radar even if they don’t have the marketing push some of these other mega movies have.
Here is last year’s list if you’d like to see how I did:
Even as I launch this newsletter I am reminded that one of the biggest casualties of the strikes, Dune: Part Two, is now scheduled to come out in March 2024. It was a bad idea for the MPA to let the strikes go on for as long as they did, not least of all, that all the momentum from having audiences go to the theaters for Barbie and Oppenheimer would be lost by the time the studios finally released something interesting again. The first three movies on the list for 2024 are movies that were delayed from 2023! Nevertheless, there are movies to get excited about, and here are some I’m particularly interested in seeing.
Anticipated Movies of 2024
Drive-Away Dolls (02/23/24 Theaters)
Directed by Ethan Coen and starring Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, Matt Damon, Colman Domingo, Pedro Pascal, and more.
The Coen Brothers (Ethan and Joel) separated a few years back to do their movies and while Joel did an adaptation of Macbeth, Ethan did something more reminiscent of the brothers’ early works in the Road Comedy movie, Drive-Away Dolls. Maybe this one will have more of the charm the brothers are known for.
Dune: Part Two (3/1/24 Theaters)
Directed by Denis Villeneuve and starring Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, and more.
Villeneuve and Warner Bros. took a risk by splitting Dune into two movies. It’s a big enough story to support it, but when the movie launched there was no guarantee that it would make enough money to support adapting the second half of the book. Thankfully, it was a success and now we’ll see part two in theaters this November. Joining the already terrific cast is Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan and 2022 breakout star Austin Butler (Elvis) in the role that Sting played in the 1980s adaptation.
Challengers (4/26/24 Theaters)
Directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor.
Zendaya had two movies pushed to 2024 and that’s most likely due to her inability to market them to her millions of followers due to the strikes. It’s a tennis love triangle story and usually, that wouldn’t interest me, but Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name, Bones and All) certainly makes some fascinating movies. I’m certain that the trailer for Challengers hasn’t revealed everything that’s in store.
Furiosa (5/24/24 Theaters)
Directed by George Miller and starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth.
It’s been so long since Mad Max: Fury Road (nine years!) that some momentum regarding a prequel to that story has been lost. Not to mention that you can only do something as groundbreaking as Fury Road once, and then the magic is gone. I hope I’m wrong with George Miller’s latest entry in the post-apocalyptic driving franchise. I think Anya Taylor-Joy was a great choice for this role despite loving Theron’s involvement with the last one. Maybe lightning will strike twice and this will be spectacular as well.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (5/24/24 Theaters)
Directed by Wes Ball and starring Freya Allan, Dichen Lachman, Kevin Durand, and more.
I was a big fan of the latest trilogy of Planet of the Apes movies, especially the last two. That being said I was shocked to learn that Disney was going to revive that franchise once again. I don’t know how much juice this story has, but Wes Ball is directing. Why is that interesting? He’s currently signed on to direct the live-action Legend of Zelda movie.
Twisters (7/19/24 Theaters)
Directed by Lee Issac Chung and starring Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos, Sasha Lane, Kiernan Shipka, and more.
Another franchise that doesn’t need a sequel, but hear me out. Lee Issac Chung (Minari) decided to join this project after his Academy Award-nominated film moved audiences and critics alike. Not only that but it has a strong cast involved in the project. So while Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt aren’t here, there’s plenty of reason to be excited about this blockbuster.
Gladiator 2 (11/22/24 Theaters)
Directed by Ridley Scott and starring Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, and more.
Even though Ridley Scott’s latest movie failed to connect with critics’ (I did not watch Napoleon yet), I still believe he’s capable of making great features. Despite years of hearing about it, I was so sure that Gladiator 2 wouldn’t get made. But if it has to be done at least it has Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington involved. My expectations for this are pretty low compared to the original, but we’ll see!
Mufasa: The Lion King (12/20/24 Theaters)
Directed by Barry Jenkins and starring Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and more.
The new Lion King movie (not really live-action since the entire cast is CGI, but also not to be confused with the animated version from the ‘90s) was one of Disney’s biggest movies of all time. They learned the wrong lesson from that and decided that what the world needed was more Lion King stories. The only reason I’m interested is because they’ve given the director of the Oscar-winning movie, Moonlight, a mega-budget Disney feature. Please be good.
Nosferatu (12/25/24 Theaters)
Directed by Robert Eggers and starring Emma Corrin, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Nicholas Hoult, Willem Dafoe, and more.
Eggers (The Lighthouse, The Northman) has been working on this project on and off for the last decade. It’s considered the second remake of the 1922 German film, Nosferatu, but I have no idea what to expect from this. If nothing else, Eggers always gives extra attention to the production design so this should be stunning to look at.
Mickey 17 (TBA)
Directed by Bong Joon-ho and starring Robert Pattinson, Mark Ruffalo, Toni Collette, Steven Yeun, and more.
This morning Warner Bros. took Mickey 17 off their schedule. Seeing as there has been zero publicity for the Robert Pattinson Sci-fi movie, it’s not entirely surprising. Mickey 17 will be the newest film from the Academy Award-winning director Bong Joon-ho (Parasite) about a man who has agreed to clone himself. It’s based on the novel Mickey 7 by Edward Ashton which I’ve read and recommend. I’m excited at how the premise has been expanded for a motion picture though.
Blockbusters
Deadpool 3
Beetlejuice 2
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Dune: Part Two
Venom 3
Despicable Me 4
Inside Out 2
Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim
Gladiator 2
A Quiet Place: Day One