Each year, entertainment lovers ready their roster of anticipated movies (and TV series) and count the days until the next blockbuster hits. In 2024, the slate of films is a little thinner than we’re used to seeing; a by-product of the recent production delays and industry strikes, but there are some saving graces on the way. What’s more, a good chunk of them have familiar titles, with 2024 set to usher in a new era of reboots, sequels and continuations. If any of them will prove to be successful is anyone’s guess.
Expected to be a massive year for the film industry, 2024 will chart the arrival of some major sequels, whilst also continuing a recent trend. With 2023’s biggest blockbusters including Barbie and Oppenheimer, the domination of the superhero genre appears to be slowing down and instead, other big projects are being given the chance to shine.
While there are of course dozens of movies set to release next year, here are some of the most highly anticipated movies that audiences can expect to see grace the big screen in 2024. These films have been ordered according to their release date so that you know which films are coming out early in 2024 as well as those movies to look forward to towards the end of the year.
Most Anticipated Movies of 2024 at a Glance
- For action: Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
- For drama: Joker: Folie à Deux
- For sci-fi: Dune: Part Two
- For comedy: Argylle
- For kids: Kung Fu Panda 4
- Most anticipated sequel: Deadpool 3
- Most anticipated reboot: Mean Girls: The Musical Movie
Mean Girls: The Musical Movie (January 11, 2024)
- Starring: Reneé Rapp, Angourie Rice, Avantika Vandanapu, Tina Fey
- Directors: Samantha Jayne, Arturo Perez Jr.
- Story by: Tina Fey, Nell Benjamin
- Distributed by: Paramount Pictures
- Release Date: January 11, 2024
Anyone who grew up in the early and mid-2000s will know and love the original Mean Girls film. Written by Tina Fey, this comedy classic is beloved by fans, so much so that it was even recreated as a Broadway musical that ran for over 800 shows.
In light of the success of the musical, a feature film adaptation is set to release early in 2024, with Regina George and her band of plastics back once again to try and make “fetch” happen. What’s more, Renee Rapp, who played George on stage, is back to reprise her role as the Queen B. For fans of Mean Girls, this one is sure to be the movie event of the year.
Argylle (February 1, 2024)
- Starring: Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, Dua Lipa, John Cena, Bryce Dallas Howard
- Director: Matthew Vaughn
- Distributed by: Universal Pictures, Apple TV+
- Release Date: February 1, 2024
Matthew Vaughn, the man behind the Kingsman and Kick-Ass franchises is set to bring us a bold new action flick that blurs the lines between super spy and super spoof. Argylle will capture Vaughn’s signature brand of tongue-in-cheek violence and mayhem, playing up to the classic tropes of the genre with hilarious results.
The film follows Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard), an introverted spy novelist who seldom leaves her home, is drawn into the real world of espionage when the plots of her books get a little too close to the activities of a sinister underground syndicate. When Aiden (Sam Rockwell), a spy, shows up to save her (he says) from being kidnapped or killed (or both), Elly and her beloved cat Alfie are plunged into a covert world where nothing, and no one, is what it seems.
Throw in an all-star cast that includes Henry Cavill, Dua Lipa, Bryan Cranston, John Cena and a host of others, and you’ve got one action flick worth waiting around for.
Dune: Part Two (March 1, 2024)
- Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Austin Butler, Zendaya, Christopher Walken, Florence Pugh
- Director: Denis Villeneuve
- Distributed by: Warner Bros., Warner Bros. Pictures
- Release Date: March 1, 2024
When the first Dune movie was released in 2021, it took the world by storm thanks to its compelling storytelling, impressive visuals and magical score. Fast track to 2024 and the sequel is finally set to release.
This time around, Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides unites with Zendaya’s Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. When faced with a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, Atreides endeavours to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee. With all major actors returning for the sequel as well as some welcoming additions including powerhouse Florence Pugh, Dune: Part II is shaping up to be a force of nature at the theatres in 2024.
Kung Fu Panda 4 (March 8, 2024)
- Starring: Jack Black, Jackie Chan, Awkwafina, Dustin Hoffman, Viola Davis, James Hong
- Director: Mike Mitchell
- Distributed by: Universal Pictures
- Production company: DreamWorks Animation
- Release Date: March 8, 2024
Kung Fu Panda 3 was released in 2016, meaning fans will have waited eight years by the time number four releases. However, the upcoming Dreamworks project is already gaining major traction due to the confirmed return of all villains as well as new inclusions to the cast including the likes of Viola Davis and Awkwafina.
Of course, Jack Black returns as the Kung Fu Fighting Panda Po, with the Furious Five also set to appear in what is sure to be one of the biggest animated releases of 2024.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (April 12, 2024)
- Starring: Millie Bobby Brown, Kaylee Hottle, Rebecca Hall
- Director: Adam Wingard
- Story by: Terry Rossio; Adam Wingard; Simon Barrett
- Distributed by: Toho Co., Ltd., Warner Bros., Warner Bros. Pictures
- Release Date: April 12, 2024
When it comes to major crossover events, the recent Godzilla x Kong films have become massive commercial successes for pitting two of the cinemas’ biggest and baddest creatures together. The official synopsis for the film reads, “This latest entry follows up the explosive showdown of Godzilla vs. Kong with an all-new cinematic adventure, pitting the almighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal undiscovered threat hidden within our world, challenging their very existence – and our own.
The epic new film will delve further into the histories of these Titans, their origins and the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond, while uncovering the mythic battle that helped forge these extraordinary beings and tied them to humankind forever.”
The New Empire looks to dive even deeper into the conflict between the two, with trailers and footage from the movie showcases massive battles, emotional weight and lots of destruction. What more could fans want from a Godzilla x Kong movie?
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (May 24, 2024)
- Starring: Sara Wiseman, Lydia Peckham, Neil Sandilands
- Director: Wes Ball
- Prequel: War for the Planet of the Apes
- Distributed by: 20th Century Studios
- Release Date: May 24, 2024
The recent Planet of the Apes trilogy reinvigorated the franchise and brought it to new heights. With impressive CGI and another fantastic motion-capture performance from Andy Serkis, fans fell in love with the story and the idea of humanity being the villains in the world of Planet of the Apes.
While War for the Planet of the Apes did end with the death of Caesar, this film will follow a new ape as they traverse through the world, once again examining how the apes and humans interact and are able to either live harmoniously or fall into battle.
Inside Out 2 (June 14, 2024)
- Starring: Maya Hawke, Amy Poehler, Lewis Black, Phyllis Smith, Liza Lapira, Tony Hale
- Directors: Kelsey Mann, Meg LeFauve
- Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
- Production companies: Walt Disney Pictures; Pixar Animation Studios
- Release Date: June 14, 2024
Another animated film that fans are excited to see in 2024 is Inside Out 2. The original Pixar film was a massive hit, with many praising the emotional weight of the movie and how it pulls the curtain back of human emotions and the complexity, all the while being a beautiful animated spectacular.
The sequel already appears to be expanding on the themes of the first, with main character Riley set to have a dramatic shift in emotions as she goes through adolescence.
Deadpool 3 (July 26, 2024)
- Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Owen Wilson, Emma Corrin
- Director: Shawn Levy
- Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
- Release Date: July 26, 2024
For the first time in the history of the MCU, only one Marvel project will be released in 2024. However, given the hype and anticipation for Deadpool 3, fans are hoping that the company is going for quality over quantity in the near year.
With Ryan Reynolds back as the merc with a mouth and Hugh Jackman once again reprising his role as Wolverine, Deadpool 3 is shaping up to be a massive superhero crossover event. What’s more, Deadpool 3 could completely change the future of the MCU and even finally introduce the X-Men properly into the fold after being teased for the past few years.
As we wrote late last year, not much is known about the upcoming Deadpool 3 plot but initial reports indicate the film may follow the TVA (Time Variance Authority) concept explored in the breakout series Loki. The cross-over intermingling does sound on-brand for Disney, with Gamerant’s Dan Conlin making a case for the ‘buddy-cop’ concept. A time-travelling odd-couple story that forces the grumpy, weathered Wolverine to team up with the brash, unserious Deadpool could make for an interesting premise, but nothing has been confirmed.
Beetlejuice 2 (September 6, 2024)
- Starring: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Jenna Ortega, Willem Dafoe
- Director: Tim Burton
- Distributed by: Warner Bros., Warner Bros. Pictures
- Release Date: September 6, 2024
When it was announced that Beetlejuice 2 was officially in the works and that rising star Jenna Ortega would play Winona Ryder’s daughter, fans were immediately invested in the sequel. What’s more, director Tim Burton is back and Michael Keaton returns as the titular character. Of all the sequels to release in 2024, Beetlejuice 2 is arguably the most anticipated given it is almost 40 years in the making.
The first movie centred around a recently deceased married couple, portrayed by Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin, who find themselves greatly annoyed by the arrival of a new family with parents played by Catherine O’Hara and Jeffrey Jones, while Winona Ryder takes on the role of their teenage daughter. This time around, we could well see Ortega follow in her on-screen mother’s footsteps.
Joker: Folie à Deux (October 4, 2024)
- Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Robert De Niro
- Director: Todd Phillips
- Distributed by: Warner Bros., Warner Bros. Pictures
- Release Date: October 4, 2024
Actor Joaquin Phoenix won over the hearts of fans after giving an Oscar-winning performance as Arthur Fleck in Joker. The movie, which has become an instant classic, tackled the disparity between the rich and the poor, all within the context of the DC world. Over the course of the film, we saw Phoenix’s Joker rise to infamy in a Gotham City that was as bleak and hopeless as he was. His journey from failed comedian to homicidal maniac was both tragic and terrifying, and it’s easy to see why the film struck a chord with audiences.
However, the sequel is set to take a dramatic turn, with Lady Gaga cast as Harley Quinn in what is set to be a musical thriller film. The title of the film is a reference to a medical term for a shared delusion, which could suggest that we’ll be exploring the idea of Joker and Harley Quinn’s twisted relationship in more depth.
It’s not clear how large a role Harley will play in the sequel, but given Gaga’s talent and screen presence, we can’t wait to see what she brings to the character. With two bold and rarely overlapping themes at play, Joker: Folie à Deux is one movie to look out for in 2024.
Gladiator 2 (November 22, 2024)
- Starring: Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Barry Keoghan,Connie Nielsen
- Director: Ridley Scott
- Distributed by: Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures
- Release Date: November 2, 2024
2024 really is the year of sequels, with Gladiator 2 set to release despite many assuming the original classic would never be touched. For those who never got around to seeing the original, Russell Crowe wows as a soldier of the Roman Empire, earning himself an Academy Award for this performance.
The sequel will focus on Maximus’ son, played by rising star Paul Mescal, and will be set years after the epic events of the original film. According to initial reports, the narrative will centre on Lucius, now a grown man, the son of Lucilla, grappling with his lineage and the enduring legacy of the fallen gladiator Maximus.
“Lucius also was the nephew of Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), the son of Roman leader Marcus Aurelius, who murdered his father and seized the throne,” insiders at Deadline reported last year. “Commodus wound up in the gladiator ring with Maximus — who, though mortally wounded, skewered the emperor before fading into the great beyond to reunite with his slain wife and son. Maximus saved the boy and his mother while avenging his own family, and left a strong impression on the young Lucius.”
The movie will also feature Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal and more, with director Ridley Scott back to direct.
And there you have it folks! Some of the most highly anticipated movies that are set to release in 2024. While we have covered some of the big hitters here, it’s important to note that there are many other major movies releasing next year that are not on this list. As such, be sure to keep up to date with Man of Many full entertainment coverage to be completely up to date on all movies set to release in 2024.
How Man of Many Chose This List
With an editorial team full of entertainment-lovers, we have curated this list based on our personal favourites. Under the direction of entertainment journalist Eleni Thomas, the team has handpicked these documentaries after watching them first-hand. As expert journalists who guide people in the best that the world of movies and TV has to offer, we have provided our independent opinion in formulating Man of Many’s selections. You can read our review policy surrounding how we maintain our independence in our editorial lists.
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2024 Movies FAQs
‘Dune: Part Two’, the sequel to Denis Villeneuve’s 2021 sci-fi epic will release on March 1, 2024. This comes after months of scheduling delays and revisions.
According to Marvel, ‘Deadpool 3’ is scheduled to hit theatres on July 26, 2024. This follows lengthy delays to the production due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. The sequel was originally slated for September 6 and later November 8, however has settled on July for the premiere
