As people are still immersed in the recent Christmas atmosphere, new surprises and anticipations are already on the horizon! In the past two years, the global film market suffered significant blows due to the pandemic. It wasn’t until last year that the film industry gradually began to recover. As we step into 2024, more than 30 films are already confirmed for release. Among them, we’ve selected the top 10 most anticipated movies, listed below in order of their release dates. Let’s take a look together and see if there’s anything that piques your interest!
1. Dune: Part 2 Released on 1 March
Dune: Part 2 made BBC Culture’s 2023 must-watch list but faced delays due to Hollywood strikes, now set for a 2024 release. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, 2021’s Dune: Part 1 adapted Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novel, with Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides gearing up for battle in the desert alongside Zendaya’s Chani and the Fremen. Part 2 boasts a star-studded cast, including Christopher Walken, Florence Pugh, and Austin Butler (Elvis), engaging in epic 166-minute battles on Arrakis. Villeneuve plans a trilogy, with Herbert’s second Dune novel as the foundation for Dune: Part 3.
2. Civil War Released on 26 April
In this near-future action thriller by Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Men), the US faces a civil war as 19 states secede, portraying a chillingly familiar dystopia. Kirsten Dunst stars as a photojournalist in the war-torn streets of Washington, DC, where colleagues warn of dangers for journalists. Cailee Spaeny and Nick Offerman join the cast, depicting a US president sending the military against rebellious cities. Garland’s narrative features fictional alliances that mirror real political divisions between Texas and California. Without clarification, this fiction might be interpreted as a cautionary tale or prophecy.
3. If Released on 17 May
John Krasinski wrote and directed this family film featuring Bea (Cayley Fleming), who sees IFs – imaginary friends left behind by kids. Ryan Reynolds, known as The Man Upstairs, shares her talent, and CGI brings these creatures to life with voices from stars like Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Matt Damon, Awkwafina, Jon Stewart, and Steve Carell (voicing the giant, fuzzy IF named Blue). Bea and her neighbor aim to pair IFs with new children, potentially limiting imaginations, but let’s not split hairs. During the Covid-19 lockdown, Krasinski created Some Good News, and he envisions If as “Some Good News in movie form.”
4. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Released on 24 May
The revamped Planet of the Apes franchise, starting in 2011 with Rise of the Planet of the Apes, has been a success both commercially and creatively. With compelling plots and advanced motion-capture technology, this fourth installment unfolds 300 years post-War for the Planet of the Apes (2017), following the demise of Caesar, skillfully portrayed by Andy Serkis. Now, in a world where apes calmly dominate humans, a power-hungry ruler named Proximus Caesar emerges. Owen Teague (It) takes the lead motion-capture role as Noa, an idealistic ape challenging Proximus, joined by the defiant Mae (Freya Allen). Wes Ball, known for the Maze Runner trilogy, steps in as director, inheriting the legacy from Matt Reeves.
5. Inside Out 2 Released on 14 June
Disney faced challenges in 2023, with several high-profile films struggling. Executives are now looking to replicate the success of Pixar’s Oscar-winning Inside Out, the seventh-highest-grossing film of 2015. The sequel, directed by Kelsey Mann and written by Meg LeFauve, revisits the mind of teenager Riley, introducing new emotions alongside the original ones – Joy (voiced by Amy Poehler), Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust. The additional emotions include Anxiety (Maya Hawke), with rumors of Embarrassment, Ennui, and Envy. Despite the slight disturbance in Pixar’s belief about the prevalence of negative emotions, perhaps, after a challenging 2023, the company resonates with Anxiety, Embarrassment, Ennui, and Envy.
6. Deadpool 3 Released on 26 July
This Marvel installment, featuring Ryan Reynolds as the witty, scarred superhero, remains officially untitled, but the concept is clear: Deadpool Meets Wolverine. Hugh Jackman, initially reluctant to reprise his role after Logan (2017), returns to play Wolverine in a story predating those events. Deadpool and Wolverine share a bickering, buddy-movie dynamic, with Jackman noting, “He’s the fast-talking loudmouth, and my character just wants to punch him in the head.” Emma Corrin portrays a seductive villain, and director Shawn Levy brings his touch from the Night at the Museum movies. This project should be a better fit for Levy than the recent drama debacle All the Light We Cannot See.
7. Alien: Romulus Released on 16 August
There have been eight Alien films, including Alien vs Predator crossovers, but their quality declined since Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986). Ridley Scott, the first film director, returned for Prometheus (2012) and Alien: Covenant (2017), but even they couldn’t recapture the original magic. Can Fede Álvarez do better? The director of Don’t Breathe and The Girl in the Spider’s Web promises a standalone monster movie set between Alien and Aliens with new characters. Cailee Spaeny stars as one of “a group of young people on a distant world” who find a batch of very strange-looking eggs.
8. Joker: Folie à Deux Released on 4 October
Over the past decade, DC’s superheroes dominated megabudget blockbusters, but the company’s cinematic triumph came with Joker, a gritty supervillain drama inspired by Scorsese’s Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy. Directed by Todd Phillips, the film follows Arthur Fleck’s evolution into Batman’s archenemy, earning two Oscars and becoming the highest-grossing R-rated film. In the sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, Lady Gaga takes on the role of Harley Quinn, and rumors circulate about the film adopting a musical format – a seemingly absurd idea that echoes the original’s unexpected success.
9. Gladiator 2 Released on 22 November
Crafting a sequel to Ridley Scott’s Oscar-winning Gladiator posed a considerable challenge, especially considering the demise of the hero. At one point, Nick Cave drafted a screenplay featuring Russell Crowe’s Maximus resurrected by Roman gods, engaging in wars spanning 2,000 years. However, the creators of Gladiator 2 opted for a more pragmatic approach. Directed once again by the 86-year-old Scott, the sequel unfolds approximately 15 years after the original. It features Paul Mescal as Lucius, the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), and intriguingly, it is revealed that he is the clandestine offspring of Maximus himself. This narrative choice promises to add depth and complexity to the continuation of the swords-and-sandals saga.
10. Mufasa: The Lion King Released on 20 December
Barry Jenkins, the acclaimed director of Moonlight and The Underground Railroad, brings a fresh artistic perspective to this prequel. A live-action musical, it unveils the journey of Mufasa, portrayed by Aaron Pierre, as he rises to become a revered king in the Pride Lands. The narrative unfolds through the storytelling of Rafiki, Timon, and Pumbaa (reprised by John Kani, Billy Eichner, and Seth Rogen). Kelvin Harrison Jr takes on the role of Scar. Jenkins sheds light on Mufasa’s early life, emphasizing his origins as an orphaned cub navigating the world alone. Collaborating with cinematographer James Laxton, known for his work on all of Jenkins’s films, the production employs the photorealistic technology seen in the 2019 remake of The Lion King. The soundtrack, curated by composer Nicholas Brittell, also features music from Hans Zimmer and Pharrell Williams, enhancing the cinematic experience.