10 Movies Releasing in 2024

After an exciting year of critical and commercial box office hits in 2023, the film industry is gearing up for a new year of prequels, sequels, reboots and original movies. In anticipation of the new year in film, the following list contains 10 major movies releasing in 2024:

Cinema Theater, Urbana Illinois by Randy von Liski

1. Dune: Part Two (March 1^st, 2024) directed by Denis Villeneuve

After a delay in release from late 2023 to early 2024, Dune: Part Two (2024) will adapt the latter half of Frank Herbert’s epic science fiction novel, Dune (1965). Timothée Chalamet (Paul Atreides), Rebecca Ferguson (Lady Jessica), Josh Brolin (Gurney Halleck), Stellan Skarsgård (Baron Vladimir Harkonnen), Dave Bautista (Glossu Rabban), Stephen McKinley Henderson (Thufir Hawat), Zendaya (Chani), Charlotte Rampling (Gaius Helen Mohiam), and Javier Bardum (Stilgar) return from the first film, Dune (2021). New cast members Florence Pugh (Princess Irulan), Austin Butler (Feyd-Rautha), Christopher Walken (Shaddam IV), Léa Seydoux (Lady Margot), and Souheila Yacoub (Shishakli) are set to appear. While other adaptations of the novel have failed to make a prominent impact with critics and audiences, Dune (2021) was well-received and did well enough at the box office for production partners Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures to produce and distribute a sequel together. Dune: Part Two will continue to follow main protagonist Paul Atreides as he works toward exacting his revenge on those who conspired against House Atreides.

2. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (March 15^th, 2024) directed by Adam Wingard

After the smash success of Godzilla vs. Kong (2021), the next film in the MonsterVerse franchise will focus on the marquee monsters working together to fend off a new enemy from inside Hollow Earth as well as explore the mysterious origins of the Titans’ existence. The film features new cast members Dan Stevens, Alex Ferns, Fala Chen and Rachel House as well as returning cast members Rebecca Hall (Dr. Ilene Andrews), Brian Tyree Henry (Bernie Hayes) and Kaylee Hottle (Jia). While relatively recent Japanese incarnations of Godzilla produced by Toho, particularly Godzilla Minus One (2023) and Shin Godzilla (2016), have highlighted the political and social impact that the appearance of a creature like Godzilla would have on society, the MonsterVerse emphasizes action and adventure above all else. Unlike the first American adaptation of the monster in Godzilla (1998), a major disappointment both critically and financially, this modern American retelling of the Godzilla and King Kong stories is ironically similar to the Japanese monster films of old with both characters essential cosplaying as mega-sized superheroes.

3. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (March 29^th, 2024) directed by Gil Kenan

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024) is a direct sequel to Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) which itself was the long-awaited sequel to the first two original Ghostbusters films, Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters II (1989). In the upcoming film, newer and original Ghostbusters must once again join forces in New York City to save the world from the Death Chill, an evil force with the terrifying power to create a second Ice Age. New cast members Kamail Nanjiani and Patton Oswalt join returning cast members Paul Rudd (Gary Grooberson), Carrie Coon (Callie Spengler), Finn Wolfhard (Trevor Spengler), Mckenna Grace (Phoebe Spengler), Celeste O’Connor (Lucky Domingo), Logan Kim (Podcast), Bill Murray (Dr. Peter Venkman), Dan Aykroyd (Dr. Raymond “Ray” Stantz), Ernie Hudson (Dr. Winston Zeddemore), Annie Potts (Janine Melnitz), and William Atherton (Walter Peck). With a screenplay written by Jason Reitman, son of the late Ghostbusters scribe Ivan Reitman, Frozen Empire looks to further establish the frigid reign of the supernatural comedy film franchise.

4. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (May 24^th, 2024) directed by George Miller

A prequel/spinoff to the critically acclaimed post-apocalyptic action film, Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) tells the origin story of the title character, Imperator Furiosa, who seeks to return home to the “Green Place of Many Mothers” after having been kidnapped and caught in a war between two tyrants over ownership of the Citadel, a large rock tower sitting above an aquifer of fresh water. The film stars Anya Taylor-Joy (Imperator Furiosa), Chris Hemsworth (Warlord Dementus), Nathan Jones (Rictus Erectus), Angus Sampson (The Organic Mechanic), and Daniel Webber (War Boy) as well as Tom Burke, Alyla Brown, Quaden Bayles and Lachy Hulme in undisclosed roles. Director George Miller returns for his fifth outing in the Mad Max series with a refreshed focus on a character other than Max for the first time in the 40-year film franchise’s history.

5. Inside Out 2 (June 14^th, 2024) directed by Kelsey Mann

Inside Out 2 (2024) returns filmgoers to Pixar Animation Studios’ award-winning world of emotions, first seen nearly 10 years prior via Inside Out (2015). In the sequel, Riley has now become a teenager, resulting in the introduction of new emotions into her mind who all take the form of individual characters. Emotions Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust must learn how to contend with these new emotions, such as Anxiety, and properly integrate them into Riley’s psyche so that she can manage day-to-day life. Amy Poehler (Joy), Phyllis Smith (Sadness), Lewis Black (Anger), Tony Hale (Fear), Liza Lapira (Disgust) and Maya Hawke (Anxiety) star in the film. Because Inside Out is one of the most well-known Pixar films in recent years, Inside Out 2 has a great deal to live up to – hopefully Riley’s emotions are up to the challenge.

6. Deadpool 3 (July 26^th, 2024) directed by Shawn Levy

Once a film franchise produced by 20^th Century Fox, the Deadpool series has since moved over to The Walt Disney Company by way of studio acquisition as an official addition to Marvel Studios’ robust roster of superheroes. While plot details remain scarce for the time being, Deadpool 3 (2024) sees frenemies Deadpool and Wolverine reluctantly team-up for a road trip of sorts, potentially on a journey together through the multiverse which has been a popular plot-device in recent Marvel Studios’ films. Longtime X-Men franchise cast members Ryan Reynolds (Wade Wilson / Deadpool) and Hugh Jackman (James “Logan” Howlett / Wolverine) are joined by Morena Baccarin (Vanessa), Brianna Hildebrand (Negasonic Teenage Warhead) and Jessica Garner (Elektra Natchios) for what is likely to be another action-packed and absolutely hilarious film. Although several years have passed since the release of Deadpool (2016) and Deadpool 2 (2018), excitement for the third installment remains at an all-time high, especially because audiences were informed in no-uncertain terms that Logan (2017) would be the final film to feature Jackman in his most quintessential role as the Wolverine.

7. Joker: Folie à Deux (October 4^th, 2024) directed by Todd Phillips

Joker (2019) adapted the Batman’s archenemy in a standalone story to shocking effect with director Todd Phillips delivering a film that continues to haunt film-goers long after its conclusion. Joker: Folie à Deux (2024) looks to recreate the psychological thrill of the first film by following the ongoing journey of Arthur Fleck, a former party clown and stand-up comedian disregarded by society who seeks revenge on those he perceives to have failed him. Joaquin Phoenix (Arthur Fleck / Joker) and Zezie Beetz (Sophie Dumond) return for the sequel. Phoenix and Beetz are joined by Lady Gaga (Dr. Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn) as well as Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Jacob Lofland, and Harry Lawtey in undisclosed roles. The critical and financial success of the first film came as a quite a surprise to the film industry, but the greatest surprise for the newly minted franchise is that the sequel will feature a musical element, much to the intrigue of filmgoers.

8. Wicked (November 27^th, 2024) directed by Jon M. Chu

Based on the stage musical Wicked (2003) written by Winnie Holzman and Stephen Schwartz and adapted from the novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (1995) by Gregory Maguire, the first part in a two-part film series titled Wicked (2024) revisits characters from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz franchise for a prequel story told from a different point of view. The plot centers around how a green-skinned woman is framed by the Wizard of Oz and subsequently becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, one of the most celebrated villains in film history. Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba Thropp / Wicked Witch of the West), Ariana Grande (Galinda Upland), Jonathan Bailey (Fiyero Tigelaar), Jeff Goldblum (the Wizard of Oz), Ethan Slater (Boq), Michelle Yeoh (Madame Morrible), Marissa Bode (Nessarose Thropp), Bowen Yang (Pfanee), Bronwyn James (ShenShen), Keala Settle (Miss Coddle), Aaron Teoh (Averic), Colin Michael Carmichael (Professor Nikidik) and Adam James (Galinda’s father) feature in the film. Filmgoers have long awaited the arrival of this cinematic adaptation of the iconic story and it’s finally arriving in late 2024.

9. The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (December 13^th, 2024) directed by Kenji Kamiyama

After exploring Middle Earth in both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit live-action trilogies, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (2024) tells a new story in animation for the first time since the unrelated 1978 animated The Lord of the Rings film directed by Ralph Bakshi. The War of the Rohirrim takes place 183 years before the events of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) and revolves around Helm Hammerhand, a legendary King of Rohan who must defend against an army of Dunlendings. Hammerhand’s exploits in the film eventually earn him the namesake for the stronghold, Helm’s Deep. While this project from New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Animation is not associated with Amazon Studios’ popular television series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022), curiosity in seeing future cinematic installments of the franchise remains.

10. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (December 20^th, 2024) directed by Jeff Fowler

Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) brought the blue blur to the silver screen for the first time ever while Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022) further established the franchise as one of the best video game-to-film adaptions produced yet. In Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024), Sonic, Tails and Knuckles return for a new adventure, this time involving the enigmatic Shadow, a black hedgehog with similar powers of speed as Sonic. The cast includes Ben Schwartz (Sonic the Hedgehog), Colleen O’Shaughnessey (Miles “Tails” Prower), Idris Elba (Knuckles the Echidna), James Marsden (Tom Wachowski), Tika Sumpter (Maddie Wachowski) and Lee Majdoub (Agent Stone) with more to be announced. While 2023 may have been the year of Nintendo’s video game mascot à la the monumental success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), Sega looks to take center stage with Sonic once again for a story adapted from one of the most popular Sonic video games of all time, Sonic Adventure 2 (2001).

In addition to these 10 films, the following are 20 honorable mentions of other movies releasing in 2024:

1. Mean Girls (January 12^th, 2024) directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr.
2. Madame Web (February 14^th, 2024) directed by S. J. Clarkson
3. Bob Marley: One Love (February 14^th, 2024) directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green
4. Kung Fu Panda 4 (March 8^th, 2024) directed by Mike Mitchell
5. Mickey 17 (March 29^th, 2024) directed by Bong Joon-ho
6. The First Omen (April 5^th, 2024) directed by Arkasha Stevenson
7. The Garfield Movie (May 24^th, 2024) directed by Mark Dindal
8. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (May 24^th, 2024) directed by Wes Ball
9. The Watchers (June 7^th, 2024) directed by Ishana Night Shyamalan
10. A Quiet Place: Day One (June 28^th, 2024) directed by Michael Sarnoski
11. Despicable Me 4 (July 3^rd, 2024) directed by Chris Renaud
12. Twisters (July 29^th, 2024) directed by Lee Isaac Chung
13. Borderlands (August 9^th, 2024) directed by Eli Roth
14. Alien: Romulus (August 16^th, 2024) directed by Fede Álvarez
15. Beetlejuice 2 (September 6^th, 2024) directed by Tim Burton
16. Transformers One (September 13^th, 2024) directed by Josh Cooley
17. Smile 2 (October 18^th, 2024) directed by Parker Finn
18. Gladiator 2 (November 22^nd, 2024) directed by Ridley Scott
19. Mufasa: The Lion King (December 20^th, 2024) directed by Barry Jenkins
20. Nosferatu (December 25^th, 2024) directed by Robert Eggers

* Please note release dates for all films are subject to change at the discretion of the movie studios

Based on this impressive release schedule, 2024 is poised to be another a massively exciting year at the box office.

Thank you for reading this list, covering 10 movies releasing in 2024!

The Mercer County Library System (MCLS) catalog as well as the MCLS Virtual Branch databases hoopla and Kanopy feature an enormous number of films, including titles released in 2023.

What 2024 films are you looking forward to the most? Comment with your thoughts below!

- by Jamie, Lawrence Headquarters Branch