33 2024 Movies That Are Worth Watching and Worth Adding to Your Watchlist
I love Marvel movies as much as the next billion people, but in 2024 – for the first time in living memory – the studio is giving us a break (sort of; we still have MCU spin-offs like Deadpool 3 and Madame Web “ ) and I plan to take advantage of this by watching a few movies in the theater that don’t have superheroes in them.
Overall, the coming year seems to be a bit lacking in ready-made franchise blockbusters, and after 2023 proved that audiences are more inclined towards Barbenheimer than The Flash , that’s definitely not a bad thing. Of course, I’m hoping that the Marvel/DC breather will give some of the year’s other releases more breathing room. Or maybe we’ll just watch Deadpool 3 and end the year by retreating to our streaming caves. But hopefully not—and in that spirit, and to help you plan your viewing list, here’s a list of some of the most anticipated films of 2024, along with when to watch them.
Night swimming (January 5)
Director James Wan’s latest horror film, Malignant , was absolutely crazy, and it was the best time to make it in 2021. Considering this new movie is about a haunted pool, it looks like he hasn’t lost his willingness to get a little wild. This is it, honestly.
Where to watch: At the cinema.
Good Grief (January 5)
Dan Levy ( Schitt’s Creek ) makes his directorial debut with the Netflix project, in which he also stars as Mark Dreyfuss. When Mark’s unlikely husband (Luke Evans) dies, he takes a trip to France with his two best friends (played by Ruth Negga and Himesh Patel).
Where to watch: Netflix
Mean Girls (January 12)
Opening this event in January rather than October 3rd seems like a huge missed opportunity, but here we are. It’s not exactly a remake of the original film, but rather an adaptation of the musical based on the 2004 classic (not that you’d know it from the trailer). Tina Fey reprises her role as Miss Norbury and also writes the script (as well as the book for the musical). Angourie Rice (Easttown Mayor) stars as Cady Herron, but what about mother-daughter casting as Regina (Renee Rapp) and her mom (Busy Phillips)?
Where to watch: At the cinema.
Kitchen (January 12)
Oscar winner Daniel Kaluuya co-writes and directs this dystopian sci-fi drama with Kibwe Tavares, set in London’s famous housing estate The Kitchen. The local population refuses to rent out their home, even in a world where social housing has been eliminated. The film has already received some very good reviews at the recent BFI London Film Festival.
Where to watch: Netflix
Argyll (2 February)
Director Matthew Vaughn, best known for the Kingman films, appears to be working in a similar vein with Argyle , which stars Bryce Dallas Howard as a spy writer who accidentally scares an underground syndicate when the plot of her book is too close to their crime story. reality. Henry Cavill shows up, perhaps to save her while putting her (and her cat) in real danger. Vaughan seems to have a handle on these things, and the cast is stacked (Howard and Cavill are joined by Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Ariana DeBose, Catherine O’Hara and Samuel L. Jackson) so there could be a lot of them. fun.
Where to watch: At the cinema.
Orion and the Darkness (February 2)
Charlie Kaufman ( Being John Malkovich , Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ) wrote this delightful-sounding animated film about a titular character… who is afraid of almost everything (interestingly). He is especially afraid of the dark, but luckily the Darkness (being a literal personification) is not afraid of him, and Orion goes on a journey that helps him overcome some of his own fears. I mean, presumably.
Where to watch: Netflix
Lisa Frankenstein (February 9)
I’m getting vibes from writer Diablo Cody ‘s Jennifer’s Body , which looks like a stylish horror-comedy starring Kathryn Newton as a teenage girl, circa 1989, who goes on a murderous adventure with her true love: a handsome Victorian man. . a corpse (Cole Sprouse), which she reanimates using an old tanning bed. Zelda Williams makes her feature directorial debut.
Where to watch: At the cinema.
Madame Web (February 14)
Dakota Johnson stars in this Spider-Man spin-off about a psychic paramedic (Dakota Johnson) who is tasked with rescuing three young women from a mysterious assailant (Tahar Rahim). Director S. J. Clarkson makes his feature film debut, but the film may prove challenging, especially as a (sort of) sequel to last year’s Morbius . On the other hand, the Venom films were surprise hits, so who knows.
Where to watch: At the cinema.
Leaving Dolls (February 23)
This latest news from director Ethan Coen, the famous Coen brother (who has Tricia Cook attached to the script), has been a long time coming (it was originally announced back in 2007), but I’m not sure it’s a cause for concern. . Free-spirited Jamie (Margaret Qualley) has just broken up with her girlfriend and invites her more modest friend Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan) on a trip to Tallahassee (yay?). Considering we’re starring in a Cohen film, you won’t be surprised to learn that these two encounter desperately inept criminals and find themselves in the middle of a caper with comedic overtones. Beanie Feldstein, Colman Domingo, Pedro Pascal, Bill Camp and Matt Damon round out the impressive cast.
Where to watch: At the cinema.
Dune: Part Two (March 1)
The first Dune did very solidly at the box office (considering the whole global pandemic thing) and also won six Oscars out of ten nominations (including one for Best Picture, which it didn’t win). Director Denis Villeneuve ( Arrival, Blade Runner 2049 ) is one of the most reliable sci-fi directors working today, so there’s no reason to think he’ll let us down. The studio has already greenlit a sequel ( Dune: Messiah ), so there seems to be plenty of confidence on their part.
Where to watch: At the cinema.
Kung Fu Panda 4 (March 8)
Always better than it seems, the Kung Fu Panda series has been absent for the last eight years, but is finally back with a new story in which Jack Black’s Po embarks on a journey to find a new Dragon Warrior to succeed him. . . Dustin Hoffman, James Hong, Bryan Cranston and Ian McShane return from the previous films, joined by Awkwafina, Viola Davis and Ke Hai Quan.
Where to watch: At the cinema.
Maiden (March 8)
Millie Bobby Brown plays the titular girl who agrees to marry Prince Charming… only to discover it’s a trap and she must be sacrificed to a dragon to pay off an ancient debt. As you might have guessed, Elodie (our damsel in distress) is much more resourceful than her potential in-laws might have guessed. Angela Bassett, Robin Wright and Shohreh Aghdashloo round out the cast of this fantasy action film that looks like it could be a lot of fun.
Where to watch: Netflix
Imaginary (March 8)
Stuffed animals are, of course, creepy, and so are babies, so this new one from Blumhouse might be just what you need. DeWanda Wise plays a woman who discovers that her stepdaughter is receiving increasingly disturbing instructions from a teddy bear she finds abandoned in the basement of their new home.
Where to watch: At the cinema.
Ghostbusters: Ice Empire (March 29)
Life after death was a mixed bag, diving too deep into nostalgic waters to feel like it had anything new to say on the subject of slaying ghosts. I hope this continues to continue. Carrie Coon, McKenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard and Paul Rudd returned from the previous film, joined by Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt and the surviving Ghostbusters.
Where to watch: At the cinema.
Mickey 17 (March 29)
Bong Joon Ho follows up the brilliant Parasite with a sci-fi thriller based on Edward Ashton’s 2022 best-selling novel. Robert Pattinson plays a completely disposable employee sent to colonize the icy world of Niflheim. When he dies, a new body is created that retains most of the original’s memories. Sounds like a recipe for existential dread. Bong hasn’t disappointed yet.
Where to watch: At the cinema.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (April 12)
American Godzilla films have mostly been pretty good, but director Adam Wingard’s 2021 film Godzilla vs. Kong was the best of them all: a creative action film that wasn’t afraid to be weird or even a little silly. Wingard returns in the sequel, which appears to see Godzilla and Kong teaming up against “a colossal undetected threat lurking within our world.” Why not?
Where to watch: At the cinema.
Rebel Moon Part 2: Scargiver (April 19)
Although Zack Snyder has hinted rather ominously at his plans to turn Rebel Moon into a massive multimedia franchise, we are entitled to, at least for a moment, enjoy his new space opera in the form of a two-film series (the first part will be released in time for Christmas 2023). Sofia Boutella plays Cora, a former member of the Imperium’s impressive government who challenges the central authority of the Mother World.
Where to watch: Netflix
Challengers (April 26)
Luca Guadagnino ( Call Me by Your Name ) is directing this rom-com (well, technically it’s billed as a “romantic sports comedy-drama,” but considering the director’s last film was a rom-com about teen cannibals, anything goes ) starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and Mike Feist as three professional tennis players caught in a dangerous love triangle.
Where to watch: At the cinema.
The Fallen Guy (May 3)
Do we need another reboot of the ’80s-era action movie? Not so much (and Airwolf is sitting right there!). However, hear me out: David Leitch co-directed John Wick and performed solo in Atomic Blonde , so good faith is legal. The cast is led by Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt.
Where to watch: At the cinema.
IF (May 17)
John Krasinski wrote, directed and co-stars in this live-action/animation mix about a child (Cailey Fleming) who can communicate with imaginary friends that other children have left behind. She soon discovers that her neighbor (Ryan Reynolds) has the same ability. Naturally, there is a stellar cast (Steve Carrell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr., etc.). It sounds cute, but try not to confuse it with Imaginary , a Blumhouse horror film whose plot isn’t entirely different.
Where to watch: At the cinema.
Furiosa: The Mad Max Saga (May 24)
George Miller is back again for his fifth Mad Max film after the then 70-year-old director showed kids how it’s done in Fury Road , one of the most impressive (and craziest) action films ever made. In this film, the Mad Max character is completely discarded in favor of a younger version of Charlize Theron’s Furiosa, now played by Anna Taylor-Joy. I’m sure there’s a plot here too.
Where to watch: At the cinema.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (May 24)
One of our boldest modern action franchises cemented itself with 2017’s War for the Planet of the Apes , bringing Andy Serkis’ Caesar saga to a close with poignancy, consistent darkness and an impressive willingness to challenge. This fourth film, set several generations later, will have a hard time justifying its existence given all that… but the series has more than earned its goodwill.
Where to watch: At the cinema.
A Quiet Place: Day One (June 28)
The first film in the series was a sensation, delivering an unusually quiet theatrical experience that immersed us in a world of blind aliens who attack at the slightest sound. The second film added a flashback sequence at the beginning that added a little extra buzz to the series, taking us back to the early moments of the invasion before everyone had time to shut up. This prequel follows new characters, mostly (Djimon Hounsou returns from Part II ) in the early days of the invasion, presumably before everyone realized it was time to shut up. Michael Sarnoski (“Pig”) will direct and Lupita Nyong’o will star.
Where to watch: At the cinema.
Twisters (July 19)
The 1996 Helen Hunt/Bill Paxton film was a great success, although I’m not sure audiences are clamoring for a sequel/reboot almost 30 years later; Among the cast, led by Daisy Edgar-Jones, there is no connection to the original. However, an old-school disaster movie (if that’s what it is) might be just what it needs, and given the $200 million budget, it should at least be a decent spectacle.
Where to watch: At the cinema.
Deadpool 3 (July 26)
As if by some miracle, there will only be one Marvel Studios movie coming out in 2024 (the Spider-Man movie is owned by Sony), and it’s the third Deadpool movie, starring Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine from the now-defunct 20th century series about the X-Men. . The two Deadpool films generated the best revenue of all those films, but now Disney/Marvel has Ryan Reynolds’ R-rated character back in the house. It will be interesting to see if the irreverent and ultra-violent character can survive the transition.
Where to watch: At the cinema.
Borderland (August 9)
Fresh off Thanksgiving, Eli Roth is busy adapting a wildly popular video game series; Stars Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Bobby Lee and Jamie Lee Curtis. The film experienced some delays, which may or may not mean anything when it comes to the finished product (not that much has happened in the last couple of years).
Where to watch: At the cinema.
Alien: Romulus (August 16)
Not much is known about the plot of this new standalone Alien film, except that it may/probably takes place between the original film and its 1986 sequel. Do we need this? Probably for now, but director Fede Alvarez ( Evil Dead , Don’t Breathe ) has a solid horror track record, and it would be nice to see the series go in a direction that’s a little less sci-fi and more straight-up horror.
Where to watch: At the cinema.
Beetlejuice 2 (September 6)
While it’s still capable of racking up box office numbers, there’s no doubt that Tim Burton’s house style has gotten a little dated over the decades. This return to his golden age and one of his best films could be nothing more than a reminder of past glories… or perhaps it could be the perfect vehicle for the director’s potential return to form. Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara are back from the first film (what, no Dick Cavett?), joined by Jenna Ortega, Monica Bellucci and Willem Dafoe.
Where to watch: At the cinema.
Joker: Folie à Deux (October 4)
People really loved Joker (that’s all I can say about the film’s success, aside from the Scorsese knockoff): it made over a billion dollars and received 11 Oscar nominations. Joaquin Phoenix, who won Best Actor that year, is back with director Todd Phillips, who’s joined by Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn… which is totally wild.
Where to watch: At the cinema.
Horror 3 (October 25)
Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton) is back! The second 2022 film made headlines when audiences allegedly vomited and passed out at screenings, so impressive were the film’s gory effects. It was made for practically nothing and made a ton of money. The third installment, although released just in time for Halloween, is set to take place during Christmas, so we may have a new favorite holiday horror movie on our hands .
Where to watch: At the cinema.
Gladiator 2 (November 22)
Ridley Scott’s Gladiator was a huge box office success and a critical hit, taking home the Academy Award for Best Picture. However, this was approximately 2,000 years ago, so the question arises as to whether there is any life left in this whole gladiator story, especially since the main character will not return (for reasons that will be very clear to anyone who has seen this film). Instead, Paul Mescal takes on the role of Spencer Treat Clark, exiled from the empire of Lucius Verus. I’d love to see the historical epic officially return, but this film definitely has an uphill battle ahead of it.
Where to watch: At the cinema.
Unholy Part 1 (November 27)
Jon M. Chu directed Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights back-to-back, so he seems well-positioned to become a Broadway sensation in his own life—and this is the film that retells The Wizard of Oz from the Wicked Witch’s point of view. . Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande star in the roles originally credited as Irina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, while Jeff Goldblum plays the Wizard. The only downside: this movie will only cover half of the show, with the rest coming out in 2025.
Where to watch: At the cinema.
The Karate Kid (December 13)
The appointment seems ambitious given that stars Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio have just begun casting for the karate newcomer. However, Cobra Kai was the biggest surprise hit on the wave of nostalgia that has peaked over the past few years, and proved that there was still some amazing juice left in the franchise. Macchio is, of course, from the main sequel The Karate Kid and Cobra Kai , and Jackie Chan starred in the 2010 reboot. Little is known about the new film, including whether it will follow Cobra Kai or be a standalone character in some kind of martial arts multiverse.
Where to watch: At the cinema.