With the Hollywood strike over, film is back in business and there are countless reasons to return to the big screen in 2024.
Here are some of the most exciting movies to be released this year.
– January
Director Sofia Coppola shifts the focus from Elvis Presley to his teenage love interest Priscilla in this film based on the latter’s life with the singer.
Cailee Spaeny plays the title role while Euphoria’s Jacob Elordi follows in Austin Butler’s footsteps as Elvis.
Poor Things – January 12
Emma Stone gives a tour de force performance in Yorgos Lanthimos’ black comedy, about a woman brought back to life by Willem Dafoe’s unconventional scientist.
Mean Girls: The Musical – January 17
Tina Fey revisits her 2004 masterpiece for a musical version, starring pop star Renee Rapp in the role made famous by Rachel McAdams, as queen bee Regina George.
The musical is already a hit on Broadway and will soon open in the West End.
All We Strangers – January 26
Andrew Haigh’s quietly devastating drama about a screenwriter haunted by the death of his parents has earned star Andrew Scott some serious awards.
He stars opposite Paul Mescal, Claire Foy and Jamie Bell in this powerful tearjerker.
The color purple – January 26
A new musical version of the beloved Book by Alice Walker has been produced by Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey.
Fantasia Barrino stars as Celie, who overcomes adversity to find extraordinary strength in the unbreakable bonds of a new kind of sisterhood.
– February
American Fiction – February 2
Jeffrey Wright is tipped for an Oscar nomination for his turn as a frustrated novelist who writes a book that thrusts himself into the center of the hypocrisy he despises.
The film also stars Sterling K Brown, Issa Rae and Tracee Ellis Ross.
Madame Web – February 14th
Dakota Johnson makes her superhero debut as Cassandra Webb, a Manhattan paramedic who may have clairvoyant abilities.
Also with The White Lotus’s Sydney Sweeney and American Horror Story’s Emma Roberts, Webb is forced to confront revelations about his past.
Bob Marley: One Love – February 14
Kingsley Ben-Adir stars as the most famous reggae musician in the world in this biopic directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, who earned Will Smith an Oscar in King Richard.
Marley’s children are among the film’s producers.
– March
Dune: Part 2 – March 1
After the release was pushed back due to the strikes, the wait for the second installment of Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic will end in March.
Timothee Chalamet is back as Paul Atreides, alongside Zendaya, Josh Brolin and Rebecca Ferguson, while Florence Pugh and Austin Butler join the cast.
Virgo – March 8
Millie Bobby Brown’s Netflix dominance continues in this film about a dutiful girl who agrees to marry a handsome prince, only to discover that the royal family has recruited her as a victim to repay an old debt.
Thrown into a cave with a fire-breathing dragon, she must rely on her wits and will to survive.
Mickey 17 – 29 March
Parasite auteur Bong Joon-ho follows up his Oscar-winning satire with his next project, starring Robert Pattinson as a one-time employee sent on a human expedition to colonize the ice world of Niflheim.
After an iteration dies, a new body is recreated with most of his memories intact.
– April
Back To Black – April 12
Marisa Abela as Amy Winehouse in the new film, Back To Black (StudioCanal)
Industry star Marisa Abela stars as singer Amy Winehouse in this biopic about her high-flying years in London and her intense journey to fame.
British stars Lesley Manville, Eddie Marsan and Jack O’Connell will also star in the film, which is backed by The Amy Winehouse Estate.
Contenders – April 26 (US)
Another casualty of the 2023 strikes, Challengers has been highly anticipated and stars Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist as three tennis players who knew each other when they were teenagers.
Zendaya plays the wife and coach of a Grand Slam champion, who signs him up for a Challenger event where he will meet her former lover.
The Civil War – April 26
Alex Garland’s new film, presented as an adrenaline-fueled thrill ride through a near-future divided America balanced on a razor’s edge, stars Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemmons and Nick Offerman.
– May
Fall guy – 3 May
Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Winston Duke, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham, Stephanie Hsu lead the all-star cast in this comedy about a stuntman, from real-life stuntman and director David Leitch.
Gosling’s working class hero must track down a missing movie star, solve a conspiracy and try to win back the love of his life while doing his day job.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga – May 24
Director George Miller revisits the character made famous by Charlize Theron in Mad Max: Fury Road, this time played by Anya Taylor-Joy.
The standalone action-adventure will reveal the origins of the powerhouse character.
– June
Inside Out 2 – June 14
A new emotion joins the gang inside Riley’s head in this sequel to the Pixar hit.
Voiced by Maya Hawke, angst joins joy, sadness, anger, fear and loathing in the animated story set in a fledgling teenager.
Ballerina – June 7, 2024 (US)
Hannah of Arms (Ian West/PA)
This John Wick spin-off follows a young female assassin who seeks revenge against the people who killed her family.
Knives Out and No Time To Die star Ana De Armas takes on the title role.
– July
Despicable Me July 4 – 5 (US)
Steve Carell to reprise his role as Gru in Despicable Me 4 (Ian West/PA)
Although the plot of this upcoming animation is unknown, it is safe to assume that Gru, Edith and Margot will return as everyone’s favorite entertainers.
Twisters
Daisy Edgar Jones to appear in Twisters (Doug Peters/PA)
This disaster film starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell is not described as a sequel to the 1996 film Twister, but is instead billed as “a new chapter”.
Deadpool 3 – July 26 (US)
The badass superhero is back and this time he’s bringing Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine with him.
-August
Alien: Romulus – August 14 (US)
Cailee Spaeny stars in Alien: Romulus (Ian West/PA)
This sci-fi is a standalone installment in the Alien franchise, set between the events of Alien and Aliens, and is directed by Fede Alvarez, who previously terrified audiences with Speak No Evil and Don’t Breathe.
– September
Beetlejuice September 2 – 6
Tim Burton to direct Beetlejuice 2 (Matt Crossick/PA)
A long-awaited follow-up to the 1988 comedy about a ghost recruited to help haunt a house, the new installment sees Tim Burton back in the director’s chair.
– October
Joker: Folie A Deux – October 4 (US)
Joaquin Phoenix reprises his role while Lady Gaga joins the cast in this sequel to the 2019 film that earned Phoenix an Oscar.
– November
Gladiator 2 – November 22 (US)
Russell Crowe to appear in Gladiator 2 (Ian West/PA)
Sir Ridley Scott returns to the helm and Russell Crowe reprises his role as Paul Mescal and Barry Keoghan join the line-up.
Wicked Part 1 – November 27 (US)
A long-awaited big screen adaptation of the Broadway and West End hit will star Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
– December
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 – December 20 (US)
Ben Schwartz (Ian West/PA)
Ben Schwartz is set to return as Sonic the Hedgehog, while James Marsden will likely be back as Tom Wachowski.
