A Movie Lover’s Guide To The Top Films To Watch Out For In 2024
Oftentimes, there are one or two big movies that dominate a year. Barbie and Oppenheimer were in an incredibly successful symbiotic relationship last year, while Avengers: Endgame and Joker ruled the public's interest in 2019. However, nothing that's come out in 2024 so far has reached similar heights.
While this has inspired some significant handwringing about the death of movie theaters, there's another way to look at it. In practical terms, this suggests that 2024 is still any movie's game, which means the next world-conquering hit could be just around the corner. Unless it comes completely out of nowhere, these upcoming releases are the most likely candidates.
Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1 - June 28
After the runaway success of Yellowstone, Kevin Costner felt compelled to throw his reinvigorated influence behind another project as risky and ambitious as Dances with Wolves and The Postman. This time, it's a sprawling two-part epic set in America's western frontier during the Civil War.
Given its intimidating length, only half of the project will see its American release on June 28. To finish the story and take in part two, Costner fans and Western fans alike will have to wait until August 16. At least they'll have plenty of time to gauge their interest.
Daddio - June 28
Although Daddio has attracted rave reviews from the few critics who had the chance to see it early, information about the film is surprisingly sparse. It stars Dakota Johnson as a woman who gets into a New York City cab driven by a man named Clark — played by Sean Penn — after landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The two apparently strike up an unexpected conversation that leads to an adventure, but viewers will simply have to wait until the movie comes out to see what that adventure entails.
A Quiet Place: Day One - June 28
After the success of John Kransinki's inventive, dramatic, and tense post-apocalyptic thriller A Quiet Place, a sequel to the 2018 original was sure to follow. However, it seems that A Quiet Place Part II in 2020 didn't quite scratch the public's itch for this tense, sound-based concept.
However, that doesn't mean that the public is getting another sequel. As the title suggests, A Quiet Place: Day One follows two characters named Eric and Samira — played by Joseph Quinn and Lupita Nyong'o — as they experience humanity's first contact with the otherwordly predators that terrorize what's left of humanity in the first movie.
Chronicles Of A Wandering Saint - June 28
This Argentinian film's fascinatingly original premise sees a deeply religious but bitterly competitive woman long to become a saint. To make her dream come true, she stages a miracle. However, it soon becomes clear that there's more to her story than even she realizes.
Advance critical reviews have given this a coveted 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, though it remains to be seen whether this reception holds once Chronicles Of A Wandering Saint's upcoming international release occurs. The film is steeped in magical realism, and critics cryptically warn that viewers will never look at blinking lightbulbs or moths the same way again.
Last Summer - June 28
Although it debuted at France's Cannes Film Festival last year, Last Summer is on the cusp of its American release. This French film follows a lawyer named Anna as she lives with her husband Pierre and their daughters, only to have Pierre's 17-year-old son from a previous marriage, Théo, move in.
Before either of them realizes it, Théo and Anna get close enough to cross some worrying lines. Worrying enough, as it turns out, to threaten almost every aspect of the life she and her family have built together.
Despicable Me 4 - July 3
Although Despicable Me 4 has already attracted some pre-release buzz due to Pharrell Williams' unprecedented decision to diss Drake in a children's movie soundtrack, details of the movie's actual plot are sparse.
However, what is known is that Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Pierre Coffin, Miranda Cosgrove, and Steve Coogan are all expected to return to their beloved roles. Gru is back, and the Minions are back, but so is Chris Renault, the director of the first two Despicable Me movies.
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F - July 3
Beverly Hills Cop was one of the biggest boosts to Eddie Murphy's superstardom in the mid-80s but faced diminishing returns after two sequels were released in 1987 and 1994. However, 30 years after the last installment in the uneven trilogy, Murphy has returned to don Axel Foley's trademark jacket once again.
He's not alone, either, as Judge Reinhold and John Ashton have also returned to play Det. Billy Rosewood and Sgt. Taggart once again. Although the nature of Foley's adventures is unclear, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F promises to be every bit as action-packed as its predecessors.
Kill - July 4
This tense Indian thriller follows an army commando named Amrit, who goes from trying to rescue the love of his life from an unwanted arranged marriage to a high-octane situation that leaves him outnumbered on a train to New Delhi.
A vicious gang takes both his love and his fellow passengers hostage, leading Amrit in a desperate life-or-death struggle to protect the innocent. Kill has attracted rave reviews from critics in the lead-up to its international release, with reports indicating that the action would feel excessive if it wasn't so well executed.
MaXXXine - July 5
Over the last two years, writer/director Ti West has made a dark and risqué trilogy of films starring Mia Goth. X and Pearl are set half a century apart, but both star Mia Goth as characters who face deeply disturbing situations after trying to break into the adult film industry.
Although X featured both of her characters and Pearl served as a prequel to that film's events, MaXXXine follows adult star Maxine Mink as she finally gets her big break after X. However, the darkness of her past and a new threat converge in this provocative thriller.
Oddity - July 19
This Irish thriller's plot unfolds in the wake of a woman's murder, and that plot only thickens when the prime suspect for the crime turns up deceased himself. However, the mysterious case becomes unearthed anew when the victim's twin sister arrives at her former home.
Armed with self-proclaimed psychic powers and a collection of cursed items (including a seriously creepy wooden mannequin), the psychic plots to uncover her sister's true killer and enact revenge. Critics praised the movie for its technical excellence and its suspenseful use of timing.
Widow Clicquot - July 19
In the barest possible terms, Widow Clicquot is the origin story for the venerable Veuve Clicquot champagne brand. However, it's perhaps more accurate to say that it's a historical drama about a trailblazing entrepreneur who arose from tragedy.
Following her husband's death, Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Clicquot took the reins of the wine business they built together and made brilliant enough moves during a hostile time for women to revolutionize the industry. Critics have praised Widow Clicquot as inspiring, romantic, and as packing a surprising amount of substance into its 89-minute runtime.
Twisters - July 19
Although Bill Paxton's passing and that of Philip Seymour Hoffman sadly make reforming the original Twister cast from 1996 impossible, the minds behind Twisters have apparently decided to sidestep that issue by featuring an all-new cast of characters.
Despite being considered an "update" to the original film, Twisters instead follows former storm chaser Kate Cooper — played by Dasiy-Edgar Jones — as she reluctantly returns to the job in central Oklahoma. Together, she and a thrill-seeking social media influencer face a tense intersection of multiple devastating storm systems.
The Abandon - July 19
After experiencing an injury in Iraq, a U.S. solider witnesses a mysterious bright light that seems to take over the sky and cloud his vision. However, it's all he sees before he wakes up in a mysterious cube. Although his equipment is still with him, violent shifts in gravity and cryptic writing on the walls suggest that he's part of someone's deadly game.
Although The Abandon shares a similar premise with the 1997 Canadian horror movie Cube, critics nonetheless considered the film an intelligent and impressive blend of science fiction and psychological horror.
The Good Half - July 23
The latest and one of the most highly regarded films by writer/director Robert Schwartzman, The Good Half is reputedly proving a surprisingly credible vehicle for Nick Jonas as an actor. As for what the movie is actually about, the dramedy follows Jonas's character Renn as he returns home for his mother's funeral.
While the movie deals with his guilt about his distance from his family at the time of her passing and his reluctance to confront his grief, it's also a charming story that sees him rekindle his old relationships while falling into new ones.
Deadpool & Wolverine - July 26
Those who were deeply moved by Logan and now worry that Deadpool & Wolverine may mess with the 2017's poignant plotline need not be concerned because this movie takes place five years before its events.
Instead, viewers can sit back and enjoy the long-awaited team-up that promises to put Ryan Reynolds' chemistry with Hugh Jackman and Deadpool's one-sided bromance with Wolverine on the big screen. Although it's unclear what common enemy they'll face and what their adventures entail, the clash in these characters' personalities is sure to be entertaining.
The Beast Within - July 26
Although 10-year-old Willow's life seems idyllic at first in this British horror movie, her family's unusual behavior leads her to question why they live on an isolated compound in the English wilderness. Her curiosity gets the best of her on one fateful night when she follows her parents as they venture into the woods late at night.
After she sees her father — played by Game Of Thrones star Kit Harrington — undergo a violent transformation, Willow comes face-to-face with her family's dark, long-hidden ancestry. With no advanced screenings or festival appearances, The Beast Within remains a mysterious but exciting prospect for horror fans.
Starve Acre - July 26
Although the lives of the rural family at the center of U.K. horror film Starve Acre seem happy and harmonious at first, that changes when their child starts behaving strangely. In an effort to get to the bottom of his issues, his parents unwittingly let a dark, ancient presence into their home.
While critics described Starve Acre's characters as unpredictable and acting just a little offside from normal human behavior, that only adds to the disturbing, disorienting atmosphere at the heart of the movie. The horror is as compelling as it is surreal.
Kneecap - August 2
Described as a "mostly true story," Kneecap follows the tale of Belfast schoolteacher JJ, who forms an unlikely bond with the young, brash, and messy hip-hop act KNEECAP. Although the group is involved in its share of criminal activities, their decision to rap in Irish Gaelic makes them the unexpected face of a civil rights movement dedicated to the preservation of their marginalized language.
Although the movie is funny in many ways, it also makes for a substantive story of defiance, cultural preservation, and respectability politics. It's true that KNEECAP faces legitimate hardships at the hands of police, politicians, and even paramilitary groups, but the messiness of their own behavior means that some of their problems are of their own making.
Harold And The Purple Crayon - August 2
Based on the adorable children's book series about a little boy's power to bring his imagination to life with his magical purple crayon, Harold And The Purple Crayon brings Zachary Levi back to the sense of childlike wonder that made him a star in Shazam!
This time, the movie follows a grown-up Harold as he figures out how to use his trademark purple crayon to draw himself into the real world. Through this feat, not only does Harold learn about the unexpected challenges of the real world the hard way, but accidentally threatens the fabric of its very reality with his fantastical abilities.
Detained - August 2
This psychological thriller stars Abbie Cornish as Rebecca, a woman who wakes up in a police station with no memory of how she got there. Worse yet, she finds herself facing two unfriendly detectives who she learns are trying to charge her with a hit-and-run.
As Rebecca gets into more trouble while in custody, however, it's hard not to notice how dilapidated this police station is. Given how mysterious both her and the officers watching over her are, it's hard for Detained's audience to know who to trust until the twist is finally revealed.
Trap - August 9
The latest release from legendary yet unpredictable filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, Trap features Cooper — a doting dad played by Josh Hartnett —taking his teenage daughter to a hotly anticipated pop concert. However, he soon learns the show is at the epicenter of a mysterious but deeply concerning trap.
Faced with a fleet of armored vehicles surrounding the building and event staff who are evasive to his questions, Cooper must protect himself and his daughter from an unknown threat. Although the quality of Shyamalan's films has varied sharply throughout his career, it's hard not to be intrigued by Trap's premise.
Borderlands - August 9
Although video game adaptations have historically been considered box office poison, the success of more recent properties like the Sonic The Hedgehog movies and the most recent Super Mario Bros. Movie have shown how much times have changed.
Although the Borderlands games take place in a harsh, violent world, their frenetic energy and wacky sense of humor make them an ideal candidate for a major film adaptation like this. Hopefully, everyone behind it will be able to stick the landing on its August 9 release date.
Cuckoo - August 9
Cuckoo stars Euphoria actress Hunter Schafer as Gretchen, a 17-year-old girl who is pressured into leaving the United States to join her father at a seemingly perfect resort in the German Alps. While the resort seems like a paradise at first, Gretchen grows suspicious of Mr. König, her father's boss with a mysterious interest in her mute half-sister.
Although Gretchen is haunted by strange noises and disturbing visions at first, the danger of her situation ramps up quickly, leading both her and audiences on a chaotic journey that doesn't let up the tension and excitement until the very end. It appears that Cuckoo is well named.
Alien: Romulus - August 16
According to Variety, Alien: Romulus is a standalone movie that doesn't require viewings of any of the other installments in the lengthy Alien franchise to be understood. However, fans of the series may be interested to know that it's set between the events of Ridley Scott's Alien and James Cameron's Aliens.
Although details are sparse, any hints to the plot that do exist will likely sound familiar to long-time fans. A group of scavengers picks through the remains of a derelict space station only to discover the terrifying presence that had been lurking among its cramped halls all along.
The Crow - August 23
Equal parts beloved for its groundbreaking gothic aesthetic and infamous for Brandon Lee's tragic on-set accident, The Crow has maintained a cult classic status since its 1994 release. And while each of the sequels made through the late '90s and early 2000s failed to impress, enough time has passed to build hope that someone can do the dark original justice.
IT star Bill Skarsgård fills Lee's shoes as Eric, while eclectic pop singer FKA Twigs co-stars as Shelly, Eric's fiance for whom he makes an otherwordly pact to save following their double murder. Charismatic veteran character actor Danny Huston is also a co-star.
Strange Darling - August 23
In the gorgeously lit and stylized thriller Strange Darling, a mysterious woman embarks on a seductive one-night stand. However, she soon learns that her adventures are about to be far more than racy when she discovers she is now involved in a serial killer's rampage.
Information about the movie is a little sparse aside from that, but critics noted that it's best to keep it that way to get the most out of this film. As Michael Nordine wrote for Variety, "Best experienced with as little foreknowledge as possible, Strange Darling demands a bit of patience, but it also rewards it."
Reagan - August 30
In some ways, the Dennis Quaid-helmed film Reagan has the elements of a traditional biopic. Indeed, the movie explores the 40th president's rise to Hollywood and then to increasingly vital political arenas. The movie also emphasizes how much of that journey was made possible thanks to the support of Nancy Reagan.
However, this story isn't told from either of their perspectives. Instead, its narrator is supposed to be ex-KGB agent Viktor Petrovich, who was assigned to monitor Reagan while he was still a Hollywood fixture. Naturally, Soviet interest in the man would only increase as he became a political leader.
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice - September 6
Tim Burton has said that the only way he'd make a sequel to Beetlejuice is if Michael Keaton was involved, while Keaton said that such a movie would be the only sequel he'd be interested in doing. Sure enough, the stars seemed to align for both of them because after 36 years, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice is right around the corner.
Since Catherine O'Hara and Winona Ryder were also able to reprise their roles, this movie takes place well after the 1988 original and Lydia Deetz is now a grown woman with a teenage daughter of her own. Her name is Astrid — played by Wednesday star Jenna Ortega — and without meaning to, she's the one who brings the chaotically fun but malevolent Betelgeuse back into the Deetz family's lives.
Speak No Evil - September 13
This dramatic horror film starts off innocently enough with an American family meeting a particularly charming family from the U.K. while they're on vacation. After both parties hit it off, the Americans are delighted to learn that their new friends have an impressive country estate and they're welcome to be the guests of honor.
However, an intimidating turn from co-star James McAvoy reveals that the host family was far more superficially charming than they seemed. Without giving too much more away, Speak No Evil works as both a straightforward thriller and a satire of middle-class sensibilities.
Booger - September 13
After the sudden passing of her best friend and roommate, a New York woman named Anna copes with her grief by obsessing over Booger, the cat they took in together. When Booger runs away, Anna becomes desperate to find it, which would normally lead to a heartfelt journey that sees Anna process her grief.
Although it wouldn't be fair to say that those elements aren't present in Booger, they don't emphasize how starkly compelling the movie is as a comedy and a body-horror experience. That's because when Anna finds Booger and gets bitten, she discovers that this is the catalyst for her own jarring feline-like transformation.
A Different Man - September 20
A Different Man premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January but is now on the cusp of its wider release for those who couldn't attend. It stars Sebastian Stan and Adam Pearson — a British actor who lives with a rare condition called neurofibromatosis type I.
Stan plays Edward, an aspiring actor with a similar condition who transforms his face after undergoing experimental surgery. Although the operation is a success, Edward becomes obsessed with his former life after losing a role to another actor who shares his condition.
Transformers One - September 20
Although Michael Bay's run of Transformers movies were undoubtedly popular, many fans of the original cartoon nonetheless felt that the film series stripped away much of its charm. Hopefully, those fans will find what they're looking for in Transformers One.
Not only are the character designs much more faithful to the original toys and animated series but the setting reflects this retro charm. That's because this is an origin story set on Cybertron that chronicles how the war between the Autobots and the Decepticons began in the first place.
Joker: Folie à Deux - October 4
When Joker was released in 2019, it didn't take long for the film to be both an incredible box office sensation and a serious contender for Oscar gold. Naturally, that hype would make it hard to resist producing a sequel, which is precisely what director Todd Phillips announced in 2022.
At the time, both the title and the fact that Lady Gaga would costar as Harley Quinn was known. However, one unexpected element of this movie that would be revealed later is its musical numbers. Apparently, Joker: Folie à Deux is not a "full musical" but its musical elements are essential to the story.
Smile 2 - October 18
Although Smile 2 features the same disturbing gimmick as the psychological and supernatural horror film from 2022, only one character survived to return to the sequel. For that reason, the story takes place from a completely different main character's perspective.
This time, the audience follows a pop star named Skye Riley, who witnesses unexplained phenomena all around her in the lead-up to an incredibly stressful world tour. As fans of the previous movie might expect, these phenomena escalate into sudden fatalities all characterized by an odd smile on the victim's face.
Terrifier 3 - October 25
The Terrifier film series is infamous for the deeply violent and sadistic actions of its signature character, Art The Clown. Even for horror fans, the level of depravity depicted in these movies is so beyond the pale of even slasher flick standards that major movie studios refused to touch it.
That is, until Terrifier 2 attracted enough morbid curiosity to become a surprise hit. Nonetheless, writer/director Damian Leone decided to keep Terrifier 3 independent so that his ultraviolent vision didn't have to be compromised. That means fans of the other films can rest easy in the knowledge that the gore won't be watered down.
Venom: The Last Dance - November 8
After the enthusiastic (if polarizing) reception of Venom and its sequel, Let There Be Carnage, the third part of this strange but fun trilogy finds both Eddie Brock and his symbiote pal on the run. It's not enough to have the human world hunting them, but the dynamic duo have managed to attract the attention of even more of Venom's fellow symbiotes.
Tom Hardy's willingness to give himself over the movie's wild energy was a major selling point of the first installment and he's seeing the trilogy through to its exciting conclusion. Although what will happen remains under wraps, the events of the film will apparently force the bonded pair to make a devastating decision.
Red One - November 15
Right out of the gate, this holiday-themed family-friendly adventure has an eye-catching premise. Santa Claus has been kidnapped, which presents a critical mission for the North Pole's head of security — played by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson — to solve the crime and save Christmas.
While CGI-heavy fare like these hulking snowman prove that the agent's quest won't be easy, he has help in the form of an unlikely partnership with the world's most high-profile yet infamous bounty hunter — played by Chris Evans. Their mission spans the globe and is loaded with action.
Gladiator 2 - November 22
Considering how the first Gladiator movie ended in 2000, it would be hard for fans not to wonder who could possibly star in the sequel. After all, there weren't many characters left alive by the time the credits rolled.
However, one of them was Lucius Verus II, the nephew of Emperor Commodus. It's unclear how or why he will end up in the gladiatorial arena after he comes of age, but that's simply what fans will have to find out when Gladiator 2 comes out.
Moana 2 - November 27
Although Disney has often focused on giving its classic properties live-action remakes in recent years, the company will still take notice when one of its newer properties captures audiences' imaginations. That's why Frozen got a sequel, and it seems to be why Moana is getting one as well.
This time, the brave young adventurer is setting a course for the treacherous seas of Oceania. By her side is a returning Maui, as well as a new cast of adorable shipmates. With any luck, the kids will love this one as much as the 2016 original.
Wicked Part I - November 27
After over 20 years of smashing success on Broadway, the revolutionary musical Wicked is finally coming to the big screen. Although Universal Pictures released a Lego trailer for the movie, the final version will nonetheless be live-action and star Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda.
Considering the musical bona-fides both women can boast, audiences certainly won't have to worry about the quality of the singing. They should know, however, that they'll have to wait for the same time next year before part two comes out.
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim - December 9
Although The Lord Of The Rings franchise has seen multiple prequels in the form of The Hobbit film series and the Rings Of Power TV show, animated features set in Middle Earth have been few and far between. However, that is the nature of The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.
Fans of the Castlevania animated series will notice some similarities in the art style, but the plot takes the audience 183 years before the events of the Lord Of The Rings trilogy. It will depict the legendary Rohan King Helm Hammerhand (and namesake of the famous Helm's Deep fortress) as his family defends their land from an army of Dunlendings.
Kraven The Hunter - December 13
Although Kraven The Hunter has been long understood as part of a series of films that expand the stories of some lesser-known members of Spider-Man's classic rogue's gallery, it would be misleading to call this a terribly hyped movie.
After all, Kraven The Hunter is in the unfortunate position of coming just after flops like Morbius and Madame Web. However, it may not be wise to count out the Russian-born ultimate hunter with superpowers yet. Remember, people weren't that enthusiastic about The Guardians Of The Galaxy at first, either.
Mufasa: The Lion King - December 20
Although the 2019 remake of The Lion King was a polarizing experience for audiences, one could hardly expect Disney to ignore the film's $1.6 billion box office returns. As is Hollywood's wont in recent years, that means the classic Lion King story is about to get its own prequel.
As the title suggests, audiences are about to be treated to the untold legend of Mufasa in the same photorealistic style that dazzled viewers before. However, the unique framing device for this story presents it as a tale told by Rafiki to Simba and Nala's daughter, Kiara.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 - December 20
After 2020's Sonic The Hedgehog movie arose from its troubled production as a success, a sequel incorporating the blue blur's longtime friend and rival Knuckles came in 2022. That also turned out to be a solid watch for audiences, so the minds behind it are upping the ante yet again for Sonic The Hedgehog 3.
This time, the filmmakers are taking inspiration from the beloved Sonic Adventure series. That means the popular yet mysterious and morally conflicted character, Shadow The Hedgehog, is now joining the series as well
Nosferatu - December 25
The original version of Nosferatu emerged from the German expressionist scene in 1922 but paved the way for over a century of horror films to come. Now, the classic tale is getting a moody, full-length update that features the macabre talents of Bill Skarsgård.
However, the movie actually stars Lily-Rose Depp as Ellen Hutter, a woman whose charms have sadly made her the object of the infamous vampire's grim obsession. Witness the horror as his single-minded pursuit leaves a trail of destruction in his wake.