The 45 Most Anticipated Movies of 2024
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So, word is Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum have a space-race rom-com releasing this year. And that Netflix’s adaptation of August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize–winning play The Piano Lesson, starring Samuel L. Jackson and John David Washington, will stream before year’s end. But with persistent studio delays, the uncertain future of AI, and every other ripple that built into a tsunami last year, these days we’re never sure a film will premiere until a date has been officially announced. Luckily, lots of amazing movies have announced their release dates. And we can’t wait to tell you about them.
From Zoë Kravitz’s long-awaited directorial debut, Blink Twice (formerly Pussy Island) to Zendaya’s mega double feature—late-winter sci-fi epic Dune: Part Two, followed by super-steamy tennis drama Challengers come springtime—the cinematic calendar is packed. Keep scrolling for the most anticipated movies of 2024, and then head over to our lists of the most anticipated new shows of 2024, as well as the scariest movies of all time and the best ’80s movies we need right now.
The Book of Clarence
Jeymes Samuel—writer and director of 2021 visionary western The Harder They Fall—lassoes another quintessential cinematic genre, the biblical epic, with The Book of Clarence. This time, the action features LaKeith Stanfield, James McAvoy, and David Oyelowo, with Stanfield playing the titular character, a streetwise hustler who feigns divinity to reap the spoils that will free him from debt.
In theaters January 12.
Mean Girls
In 2004, Mark Waters soaked the dark side of social hierarchy and high school’s survival of the hottest in several shades of pink. With the help of a brilliant adapted screenplay by Tina Fey, the film was a huge hit that eventually found its way to Broadway. Now—20 years later—we’ve been gifted with the movie version of the queen-bee musical, starring Reneé Rapp as Regina George.
In theaters January 12.
Argylle
This convoluted action film is actually a lot of fun. Even if a complex espionage narrative isn’t really your thing, go for the eye candy: Bryce Dallas Howard, Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose, and Claudia Schiffer’s Scottish Fold all star in this adventure comedy with lots of spies, lies, and questionable allies from Schiffer’s husband, Matthew Vaughn.
In theaters February 2; streaming March 5.
The Promised Land
Mads Mikkelsen stars in this sweeping historical drama set in 18th-century Denmark. He plays Ludvig Kahlen, a real-life war hero who takes on the impossible mission of settling the Jutland heath. Beyond the peninsula’s rugged landscape—which is more than a little challenging to cultivate—there are outlaws, warfare, and danger mounting with every gust of wind and failed potato crop. But it’s a Mads world out there, and his performance as the captain will whisk you away.
In theaters February 2. Streaming now.
Lisa Frankenstein
They were late to the nuances of Jennifer’s Body. Is it possible they’re missing the point with Lisa’s monster, too? Our point: Don’t let critical reviews deter you from seeing this mash-up of ’80s nostalgia and gory rage from writer Diablo Cody and director Zelda Williams. A horror rom-com about a girl, a corpse, and the morbid body puzzle they put together, this reanimated creature feature is a treat.
In theaters February 9.
Bob Marley: One Love
Reinaldo Marcus Green takes the helm here with a screenplay cowritten by Terence Winter (The Sopranos, The Wolf of Wall Street), the story of the late Bob Marley taking center stage. Over the course of his short life, the singer-songwriter overcame adversity, stood for what was right, and amassed a legacy, becoming the most legendary reggae singer of all time. One Love taps into that vibe.
In theaters February 14.
Drive-Away Dolls
Not billed adjacent to his brother Joel here, Ethan Coen runs solo for this black comedy starring Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, Beanie Feldstein, Colman Domingo, Matt Damon, and Pedro Pascal. The script, a hilarious queer caper from Coen’s wife of 33 years, Tricia Cooke, who identifies as queer, follows two women (Qualley and Viswanathan) on a road trip to Tallahassee, Florida, with a slew of bumbling crooks on their trail.
In theaters February 23.
Dune: Part Two
The massive, planet-hopping saga that swirls around Paul Atreides, Chani, and the Fremen continues with part two of Denis Villeneuve’s epic—and we mean E-P-I-C—adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic 1965 sci-fi novel. In this installment, Paul, played by Timothée Chalamet, and Chani, embodied by the indomitable Zendaya, unite in mind, body, and spirit, with Paul assuming his position at the helm of a rebellion against their enemies.
In theaters March 1.
Road House
While Patrick Swayze may have perfected the art of the throat rip in the highly stylized late-’80s action flick, we didn’t expect to get more Road House. Then, news broke that Jake Gyllenhaal was getting shredded for a new role: Dalton, a hardcore bouncer with a heart of gold. This remake’s plot tweaks include giving Dalton a past as a UFC fighter and setting the dive bar in the Florida Keys, but director Doug Liman seems to have kept the camp, aggression, and gratuitous one-liners intact. So bring it on!
In theaters March 21.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Following the discovery of Phoebe and Callie Spengler’s connection to Egon in 2021’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Frozen Empire kicks off with another adventure that reunites the new Ghostbusters with the old. This go-round, it’s summer in New York City, but an ancient artifact has transformed the world into a bone-chilling tundra. It’s an apocalypse only the Ghostbusters—and, of course, ’Buster-by-proxy Paul Rudd—can mend.
In theaters March 22.
Shirley
She was a schoolteacher from Brooklyn. But she was also the first Black woman elected to Congress and the firebrand who ran for president in 1972. Shirley Chisholm, a powerhouse in American politics, is the latest trailblazer to get her own Netflix biopic. Starring legend-in-the-making Regina King (One Night in Miami), the film is directed by Oscar winner John Ridley (12 Years a Slave), so it looks like Chisholm is on her way to getting the screen story she’s due.
Streaming March 22.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
Congress could learn a thing or two from the Titans in the next MonsterVerse installment, with sworn enemies Godzilla and Kong joining forces to defeat a monumental threat. As Dan Stevens’s Trapper says in the trailer: “They don’t have to like each other; they just have to work together.” Rebecca Hall, Fala Chen, and Brian Tyree Henry costar in this horror-action hybrid from mumblegore auteur Adam Wingard (The Guest, You’re Next).
In theaters March 29.
Monkey Man
Dev Patel was doing everything but monkeying around on this film. Not only does the British-Indian actor star in this brutal, bare-knuckle action thriller, he also directed the project and produced it with Jordan Peele. Monkey Man marks the Green Knight star’s first time directing a full-length feature—and also playing a vengeful lone warrior out for blood, turning his enemies into maimed, pulpy versions of their former selves.
In theaters April 5.
Civil War
In this near-future tension thriller from 28 Days Later writer and Ex Machina director Alex Garland, the United States are no longer united. Instead, they’re a powder keg of entrenched ideologies and polarized political convictions, where 19 states have seceded and an uprising threatens to shred the final thread from which society is hanging. Kirsten Dunst, Cailee Spaeny, Jesse Plemons, Nick Offerman, and Wagner Moura all star.
In theaters April 12.
Challengers
Luca Guadagnino, whose impressive oeuvre (Call Me by Your Name, Bones and All) explores love in all its nuances, hits the clay court with Zendaya as his muse. She plays former tennis star Tashi, whose connection with two of the sport’s male greats, Art (Mike Faist) and Patrick (Josh O’Connor), culminates in the ultimate climactic courtside ménage à trois. Even though love means nothing in tennis, it means everything in Challengers.
In theaters April 26.
The Idea of You
The director of The Big Sick and The Lovebirds, Michael Showalter, is back with another tale about human connection and the curveballs life can throw at you. Anne Hathaway stars as Solène, a single mother chaperoning her daughter’s trip to Coachella. While there, Solène falls into a situationship with Hayes Campbell, the 24-year-old frontman of a popular boy band. Nicholas Galitzine (Red, White & Royal Blue) plays said heartthrob. The film is set to hit theaters shortly after it closes SXSW.
In theaters May 2.
The Fall Guy
Two of Hollywood’s most-liked stars finally get to share the screen, and they’re doing so in David Leitch’s movie adaptation of the ’80s TV series that starred Lee Majors and Heather Thomas. We’re writing, of course, about Ryan Gosling, who plays Colt Seavers, a former stuntman who gets cast in a mega-movie, and Emily Blunt, who stars as Jody Moreno, the director of said movie. Cue the literal and figurative sparks flying.
In theaters May 3.
Back to Black
Amy Winehouse was a defining voice of her generation, and at 27, she left the world way, way too soon. Exploring the “genius, creativity, and honesty” of the vocalist behind the lyrics, this biopic from Sam Taylor-Johnson (Fifty Shades of Grey) stars Industry vet Marisa Abela as Winehouse and Jack O’Connell as Blake Fielder-Civil, her volatile other half. For more of what we know about the biopic, read this.
In theaters May 10.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Love it or loathe it, milking a franchise till the very last nickel is an American pastime. So no matter how many bows were tied and rebellions quashed in 2017’s War for the Planet of the Apes (the caboose in a trilogy that started with 2011’s Rise of and 2014’s Dawn of), the chronicle of these hairy-but-intelligent simians rolls on. Set some 300 years after the reign of those films’ hero Caesar, Kingdom tells the story of one young ape who begins to question everything he’s been taught about humankind, creating a chasm between him and his tribe. Maze Runner director Wes Ball directs.
In theaters May 10.
IF
Imaginary friends become real-life comedic relief in this family-friendly charmer from writer-director John Krasinski. Ryan Reynolds and The Walking Dead’s Cailey Fleming lead an all-star cast (including the voices of Steve Carell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Awkwafina) as a father and daughter who befriend the IFs of childhoods past, reconnecting the make-believe buddies with the now-grown kiddos who once loved them.
In theaters May 17.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Charlize Theron—who played Imperator Furiosa in 2015’s Fury Road—passes the torch to Anya Taylor-Joy for this prequel in the Mad Max universe by original helmer George Miller. An origin story about the postapocalyptic renegade warrior, Furiosa is a pulse-pounding spectacle that doesn’t take its foot off the gas until the credits roll. Fellow castmates include Chris Hemsworth, Charlee Fraser, and Tom Burke.
In theaters May 24.
The Crow
Rupert Sanders’s reimagining of the 1994 moody revenge classic gets Bill Skarsgård as its star, Eric Draven, a.k.a. the Crow. Inspired by the comic book by James O’Barr, the reboot will reportedly stick to the original narrative—with Eric going on a killing rampage, avenging his own death and the death of his fiancée (played by singer FKA twigs), after a mystical black bird resurrects his soul—but also, we’re sure, will add its own fun.
In theaters June 7.
Hit Man
After the success of 2018’s Set It Up, Netflix taps the Glen Powell well again with Hit Man, hoping the actor has a little more lightning in a bottle to share. Helmed by slice-of-life director Richard Linklater (Everybody Wants Some, Boyhood), the screwball noir borrows its bones from real life, for the story of a professor whose moonlighting gig as a fake hit man for the Houston Police Department gets upended when he falls for one of his clients.
Streaming June 7.
Bad Boys 4
As of this writing, the plot for the fourth Bad Boys movie remains under wraps. What we do know: Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are reprising their roles as buddy cops Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett. And Bad Boys for Life alums Alexander Ludwig and Vanessa Hudgens are returning. New faces to the series include Eric Dane, playing the villain, and Rhea Seehorn, in a mysterious, unnamed role.
In theaters June 14.
Inside Out 2
Riley—owner of the color-saturated emotions who made us laugh, cry, and wig out in 2015’s original Inside Out—is entering her formative years, when the journey to self-discovery is at its rockiest; we’re talking teenhood, Disgust, and the introduction of Anxiety. Amy Poehler and friends return, with Maya Hawke and Liza Lapira joining the range of emotions, ensuring another winner from the folks at Pixar.
In theaters June 14.
The Bikeriders
Inspired by the work of photojournalist Danny Lyon, writer-director Jeff Nichols (Mud, Take Shelter) makes his return to the big screen with a fictional easy-rider crime drama based on Lyon’s real-life photos of and interviews with Chicago’s Outlaws Motorcycle Club. Jodie Comer, Tom Hardy, Austin Butler, and Norman Reedus star in this story charting the rise of a biker gang that turns sinister.
In theaters June 21.
A Quiet Place: Day One
No doubt one of the noisiest places on Earth, New York City goes silent when a horde of extraterrestrials who make mush of anything that dares make a peep invade. Subtitled Day One, this creature feature is a prequel to John Krasinski’s innovative 2018 original and its 2020 sequel, which both star his IRL wife, Emily Blunt. Day One, however, features both an entirely new cast, including Lupita Nyong’o and Alex Wolff, and a new director, Michael Sarnoski.
In theaters June 28.
Horizon: An American Saga
Last year, Yellowstone star Kevin Costner shocked the show’s old faithful when he announced his departure. But reportedly, the actor ditched the drama of Dutton Ranch to make this epic, two-part Wild West saga about the expansion of the American frontier. As writer, director, and star, Costner is all in on the project, which costars Sienna Miller and Sam Worthington.
Chapter 1 in theaters June 28. Chapter 2 in theaters August 16.
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
The fourth installment in a series that kicked off 40 friggin’ years ago(!), Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F will find its way to Netflix this summer. Eddie Murphy is, of course, reprising his role as the titular Detroit detective assigned to the Beverly Hills beat. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Taylour Paige are along for the ride this time, assisting Foley in his efforts to uncover a conspiracy.
Streaming July 3.
Twisters
Last time we saw Lee Isaac Chung’s name attached to a movie, it was 2020’s Minari, the tender, authentic story about a Korean-American family’s life in Arkansas. Doing a complete 180, Chung is now the driving force behind the sequel to Jan de Bont’s cyclone thriller from the ’90s. In this updated storm-chaser tale, you can count on more funnel clouds, more souped-up action, and more of today’s A-listers. See: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, and Anthony Ramos.
In theaters July 19.
Deadpool & Wolverine
Teased during Super Bowl LVIII, this Marvel crossover gives both Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman the chance to flex their acting, comedic, and—at least in Jackman’s case—mutton chops. The two play the titular superhumans, with Reynolds’s wisecracking antihero getting front billing. Shawn Levy, helmer of Reynolds-fronted action fare including Free Guy and The Adam Project, directs, with the screenplay inviting Deadpool to be a hero among heroes.
In theaters July 26.
Borderlands
Ready or not, here comes another video-game movie. One of the most-hyped adaptations since Mortal Kombat, Super Mario Bros., and The Last of Us, Borderlands is based on a first-person shooter set in a space-western wasteland called Pandora. One of modern horror’s biggest names, Eli Roth directs, with Cate Blanchett, Ariana Greenblatt, Kevin Hart, and Jack Black all starring.
In theaters August 9.
Speak No Evil
If you haven’t yet seen the original Danish film, a chilling, slow-burn masterpiece, do that now. About two families whose cabin getaway goes so horribly, unimaginably south that they may not leave alive, Speak No Evil depicts in horrifying detail the consequences of being too nice. Here’s hoping the American remake starring James McAvoy and Mackenzie Davis lives up to its predecessor.
In theaters August 9.
Alien: Romulus
We hear the next installment in the Alien universe will be the most brutal yet. And with Uruguayan filmmaker Fede Alvarez pulling the strings, that gossip makes a lot of sense: Alvarez is behind some of the grittiest, rawest horror films and thrillers in recent years, including Don’t Breathe, Evil Dead, and The Girl in the Spider’s Web. In Romulus, his cast (Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Aileen Wu) will be confronted with the “most terrifying life-form,” and you can bet those words are right on point.
In theaters August 16.
Blink Twice
The highly anticipated directorial debut from Zoë Kravitz is just months away. (If the title isn’t ringing a bell, that’s because it was recently changed from Pussy Island to the more poster-friendly Blink Twice.) Starring Kravitz’s real-life leading man, Channing Tatum, the story, cowritten by Kravitz, is about an L.A. waitress, a tech billionaire, and his private island where bad things happen. “It’s gonna be a crazy movie,” Tatum told EW.
In theaters August 23.
Kraven the Hunter
Admittedly, we don’t follow the pack every time another superpowered person gets a film. But when the reins have been given to J.C. Chandor—a director whose signature operatic style is to hone in on the defining moments in his characters’ lives and track the slow-burn consequences of their human nature; think Margin Call, All Is Lost, A Most Violent Year—then consider us all in. In Kraven, Aaron Taylor-Johnson stars as the world’s greatest hunter (a longtime Spider-Man foe), with Ariana DeBose costarring.
In theaters August 30.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
After years of delays, the sequel to Tim Burton’s 1988 cult classic about a recently deceased couple’s use of a crass “bio-exorcist” to do a little housecleaning is finally in the can. Vets Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, and Michael Keaton are all returning, with newbies Jenna Ortega, Willem Dafoe, and Monica Bellucci joining the fun. Though the plot remains murky, we know the B-guy is now married, Ortega plays Astrid Deetz, Lydia’s daughter, and Dafoe plays a cop in the afterlife.
In theaters September 6.
Joker: Folie à Deux
Joaquin Phoenix took home the Oscar for Best Actor for his role as Arthur Fleck in Todd Phillips’s 2019 villain origin story. This year, he’s sharing the screen with a multi-hyphenate who may get similar flowers. Costarring as the Joker’s partner in chaos, Harley Quinn, is the one-and-only Lady Gaga. Her presence in the saga of a killer clown’s descent into madness really ups the ante. Bring on the anarchy, the maniacal laugh, and the absurd face paint.
In theaters October 4.
Red One
Chris Evans and Dwayne Johnson team up for an action-packed Christmas comedy that, according to the WWE star, “is a big, fun, action-packed and fresh new take on Christmas lore. Think Jumanji meets Miracle on 34th Street meets Hobbs & Shaw with a dash of Harry Potter and sprinkled on top with my all-time favorite Christmas movie, It’s a Wonderful Life.” The film will see a theater release before it sets up shop on its home streaming platform, Prime Video.
In theaters November 15.
Gladiator 2
More than 20 years after Ridley Scott released his warrior epic set in ancient Rome, the director is ready to continue the story that began with Maximus Decimus Meridius. But Russell Crowe, who starred as the enslaved general, will not be returning. Instead, this swords-and-sandals sequel belongs to indie Irish star Paul Mescal, who plays Maximus’s biggest fan, Lucius, now an adult. The cast also includes Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, and Connie Nielsen.
In theaters November 22.
Moana 2
After rescuing her native Motunui from ruin by returning the heart of Te Fiti to the island goddess it was stolen from in her first movie, our favorite bright-eyed voyager is destined for another thrilling adventure out on the open seas. This time, she’s headed to a perilous swath of Oceania and will no doubt come prepared with a new book of earworms. So far, the only names booked and billed are Auli‘i Cravalho, returning as Moana, and Dwayne Johnson, back as demigod Maui.
In theaters November 27.
Wicked
The iconic Broadway musical makes its way to the big screen this Thanksgiving. It will unfold over two parts, both starring tonsil powerhouses Cynthia Erivo (as Elphaba) and Ariana Grande (as Glinda). A reimagining of L. Frank Baum’s 1900 classic novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and a visual feat that will surely turn the heads of the Academy, Jon M. Cho’s Oz origin story will also star Jonathan Bailey, Bowen Yang, and Michelle Yeoh.
In theaters November 27.
Untitled Karate Kid movie
As yet untitled, the next film in the Karate Kid series does have a few fun details confirmed. In addition to the release date, we know it will unite elements of the 1984 original, 2010 remake, and Netflix spin-off, Cobra Kai. And we know this because of the confirmed cast: Jackie Chan, who plays Mr. Han in the remake, and Ralph Macchio, who plays Daniel in the original and the spin-off series, both star. I Am Not Okay With This creator Jonathan Entwistle is directing, and that’s about all we have to wax on for now.
In theaters December 13.
Mufasa: The Lion King
Following the success of 2019’s live-action remake of The Lion King, Barry Jenkins’s Mufasa continues the saga while also providing more backstory about its maned inhabitants. As Simba teaches his little one the ways of Pride Rock, he also digs into the life and history of his own father. Reports also say the film could explore Mufasa’s relationship with his brother, Scar. Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner, voicing Pumbaa and Timon, will narrate.
In theaters December 20.
Nosferatu
Robert Eggers (The Northman, The Witch) is a filmmaker whose meticulous attention to detail and appreciation for history and folklore bleed into his work. Nosferatu, a gothic remake of the 1922 silent film (adapted from Bram Stoker’s Dracula), about a woman who is terrorized by a vampire, will be no exception. Bill Skarsgård, Lily-Rose Depp, Emma Corrin, and Nicholas Hoult star.
In theaters December 25.
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