TAGGED AS: blockbusters, movies
Mean Girls
(2024)
Directed by: Arturo Perez Jr., Samantha Jayne
Starring: Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp, Auliʻi Cravalho, Bebe Wood, Jaquel Spivey, Tina Fey, Tim Meadows, Jenna Fischer, Jon Hamm, Ashley Park
Opening on: January 12, 2024
Though it may look like a remake of the 2004 comedy, this new interpretation isn’t quite that. Written by Tina Fey (who also wrote the original and makes an appearance in this film), this is an adaptation of the stage musical Mean Girls, which was itself an adaptation of the original film. Angourie Rice plays new girl Cady Heron, while Reneé Rapp takes on the role of head Mean Girl Regina George.
Argylle
(2024)
Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
Starring: Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Henry Cavill, John Cena, Dua Lipa, Bryan Cranston, Sofia Boutella, Ariana DeBose, Samuel L. Jackson
Opening on: February 2, 2024
Kingsman director Matthew Vaughn returns to the world of cheeky spies with this action comedy about a novelist (Bryce Dallas Howard) who draws the attention of an underground crime syndicate when the plots of her espionage novels uncannily mirror their activities. It’s up to an undercover spy (Sam Rockwell) to save her and her cat.
Lisa Frankenstein
(2024)
Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
Starring: Kathryn Newton, Cole Sprouse, Carla Gugino
Opening on: February 9, 2024
Juno and Jennifer’s Body writer Diablo Cody is also behind the script for this ’90s twist on the classic Mary Shelley horror story. Kathryn Newton (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania) stars as a misunderstood teen named Lisa whose crush is the young man from the Victorian era who happens to be buried in the cemetery behind her family’s home. That young man is mysteriously brought back to life, and the two embark on unlikely romance.
Bob Marley: One Love
(2024)
Directed by: Reinaldo Marcus Green
Starring: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Lashana Lynch, James Norton, Tosin Cole
Opening on: February 14, 2024
Coming off an appearance in last year’s Barbie, One Night in Miami star Kingsley Ben-Adir headlines this biopic about the legendary reggae superstar directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, whose last biographical film, King Richard, earned six Oscar nominations and a Best Actor win for Will Smith. The film looks to be a fairly complete look at the singer’s life, including his rise to fame and his death.
Madame Web
(2024)
Directed by: S.J. Clarkson
Starring: Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O’Connor, Isabela Merced, Tahar Rahim, Emma Roberts, Mike Epps, Adam Scott, and Zosia Mamet
Opening on: February 14, 2024
Sony’s “Spider-Man Movie Franchise (Without Spider-Man)” has had highs (Venom) and lows (Morbius), but Madame Web, which stars Dakota Johnson as the clairvoyant Spidey side character, might be worth sticking around for, even if Peter Parker himself never shows up. Sydney Sweeney, Adam Scott, and Zosia Mamet co-star.
Drive-Away Dolls
(2024)
Directed by: Ethan Coen
Starring: Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, Beanie Feldstein, Colman Domingo, Pedro Pascal, Bill Camp, Matt Damon
Opening on: February 23, 2024
After Joel Coen went solo for the first time with 2019’s Macbeth, Ethan Coen is now following suit with his own solo directorial effort. This road comedy follows a pair of friends played by Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan whose road trip to Tallahassee is disrupted when they cross paths with a group of inept criminals.
Stopmotion
(2023)
Directed by: Robert Morgan
Starring: Aisling Franciosi, Stella Gonet, Tom York, Therica Wilson-Read
Opening on: February 23, 2024
For anyone bemoaning the lack of original horror films — which, by the way, we think you can find if you look for them — we have this gem that originally premiered at last year’s Fantastic Fest. Directed by Robert Morgan, who co-wrote the script with Robin King, the film centers on a stop-motion animator who suddenly becomes obsessed with her latest film when a neighbor suggests the addition of a monstrous new character.
Dune: Part Two
(2024)
Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård
Opening on: March 1, 2024
The first installment’s day-and-date release on HBO Max initially put this sequel into question, but WB thankfully saw fit to give Denis Villeneuve the green light. Part Two sees big names like Florence Pugh, Léa Seydoux, Austin Butler, and Christopher Walken join the cast as Villeneuve tells the second half of Frank Herbert’s epic sci-fi novel.
Imaginary
(2024)
Directed by: Jeff Wadlow
Starring: DeWanda Wise, Tom Payne, Taegen Burns, Pyper Braun, Veronica Falcon, Betty Buckley
Opening on: March 8, 2024
This original horror film from Blumhouse centers on a woman (DeWanda Wise) who moves back into her childhood home with her family, only to discover her stepdaughter (Pyper Braun) has become attached to a stuffed bear she found in the basement that compels her to engage in increasingly dangerous games.
Kung Fu Panda 4
(2024)
Directed by: Mike Mitchell
Starring: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, Dustin Hoffman, and David Cross
Opening on: March 8, 2024
DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda series is quietly incredible, taking what could have been a silly premise (Jack Black voices a fat panda who does martial arts) and turning it into something funny, heartfelt, and full of impressive fight scenes. At CinemaCon 2023, we learned that Mike Mitchell (Trolls, The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part) would be directing the film, and that the story would follow Po as he faces off against a chameleon foe and searches for a new Dragon Warrior.
Road House
(2024)
Directed by: Doug Liman
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Daniela Melchior, Billy Magnussen, Jessica Williams, Joaquim de Almeida, Conor McGregor, Lukas Gage, Arturo Castro
Opening on: March 21, 2024 on Prime Video
The 1989 Patrick Swayze action drama Road House is an undeniable cult classic, but director Doug Liman and Jake Gyllenhaal are putting their own spin on it. Gyllenhaal stars in the updated version as Elwood Dalton, a former UFC fighter who takes up a job at a roadhouse (of course) in coastal Florida and gets mixed up with all the wrong people. Will any throats be ripped? Only time will tell.
Arthur the King
(2024)
Directed by: Simon Cellan Jones
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Simu Liu, Juliet Rylance, Nathalie Emmanuel, Ali Suliman
Opening on: March 22, 2024
Mark Wahlberg stars in this remarkable based-on-true-events story about a man who befriends a stray dog during his journey to win the Adventure Racing World Championship, a treacherous 435-mile endurance race through the Dominican Republic.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
(2024)
Directed by: Gil Kenan
Starring: Carrie Coon, Paul Rudd, McKenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt
Opening on: March 22, 2024
We don’t have a lot of confirmed details about this sequel, except that director Jason Reitman has been replaced by Gil Kenan (Monster House, Poltergeist 2015), who co-wrote Afterlife. We also know that stars Carrie Coon, McKenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, and Paul Rudd are returning, joined by names like Kumail Nanjiani and Patton Oswalt. And lastly, we also know that the film’s setting will indeed be New York and the firehouse from the original films, which was teased at the end of Afterlife.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
(2024)
Directed by: Adam Wingard
Starring: Dan Stevens, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Kaylee Hottle, Fala Chen, Alex Ferns, and Rachel House
Opening on: March 29, 2024
The two greatest kaiju of all time are back for round two in the follow-up to the Monsterverse’s 2021 showdown. However, the synopsis suggests that they might be allies from the start rather than enemies this time around, as Godzilla and Kong will face “a colossal undiscovered threat hidden within our world.” Dan Stevens has been cast as the lead of the film, alongside returning GvK actors Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, and Kaylee Hottle. Adam Wingard, who directed the previous bout, will be behind the camera for this one, too.
The First Omen
(2024)
Directed by: Arkasha Stevenson
Starring: Nell Tiger Free, Sônia Braga, Ralph Ineson, Bill Nighy, Maria Caballero, Nicole Sorace, Tawfeek Barhom, Ishtar Currie-Wilson, Charles Dance
Opening on: April 5, 2024
Nell Tiger Free stars in this prequel to the iconic 1976 horror film The Omen, expanding on the mythology of the film by telling the story of cursed child Damien’s birth. Free plays a young woman sent to serve as a nun in Rome who slowly uncovers a dark conspiracy to birth the antichrist.
Monkey Man
(2024)
Directed by: Dev Patel
Starring: Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley, Pitobash, Vipin Sharma, Sikandar Kher, Sobhita Dhulipala, Ashwini Kalsekar
Opening on: April 5, 2024
If the poster for Monkey Man makes it look a bit like a horror film, you might be surprised to learn that it’s actually a John Wick-styled action thriller set in Mumbai. Not only that, but it marks Dev Patel’s feature directorial debut (he also co-wrote it), and he stars in the film as an underground bare knuckle fighter who embarks on a vengeful rampage through the city’s corrupt underbelly.
Civil War
(2024)
Directed by: Alex Garland
Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Jesse Plemons, Nick Offerman
Opening on: April 12, 2024
Alex Garland’s (Ex Machina, Annihilation) fourth film sees the United States plunged into, well, a civil war. The film’s official description calls it a “race to the White House in a near-future America balanced on the razor’s edge,” and the trailer showcases a number of provocative images, so get ready for this one to be controversial, even if we can all agree that Nick Offerman would make a great president.
Abigail
(2024)
Directed by: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Starring: Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton, Angus Cloud, Kevin Durand, Alisha Weir
Opening on: April 19, 2024
If you enjoyed 2019’s Ready or Not or the recent Scream films, then this one might be for you, because the directorial duo behind those films is also at the helm of Abigail. Melissa Barrera and Dan Stevens are among the cast who play a ragtag group of criminals who are tasked with watching over a kidnapped 12-year-old ballerina, the daughter of an underworld kingpin, for one night. The twist? That little girl is a vampire.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
(2024)
Directed by: Guy Ritchie
Starring: Henry Cavill, Eiza González, Henry Golding, Alan Ritchson, Cary Elwes, Til Schweiger, Alex Pettyfer
Opening on: April 19, 2024
The next Guy Ritchie joint sees the director reuniting with his The Man from U.N.C.L.E. star Henry Cavill (and, incidentally, The Gentlemen star Henry Golding), who leads an ensemble cast in a spy action comedy inspired by true events. The story centers on a secret military organization created by Winston Churchill in World War II to battle the Nazis — think Inglourious Basterds, but real. Ritchie has taken the serious route with a couple of his recent films, but this looks like a return to his snarkier fare.
Boy Kills World
(2023)
Directed by: Moritz Mohr
Starring: Bill Skarsgård, Jessica Rothe, Michelle Dockery, Brett Gelman, Isaiah Mustafa, Andrew Koji, Famke Janssen, Sharlto Copley, H. Jon Benjamin
Opening on: April 26, 2024
If you can’t wait for The Crow later in the year, you can still catch Bill Skarsgård kicking ass and taking names — albeit silently — in this action thriller about a deaf man named Boy who trains to become a vengeful killer when his family is murdered. It’s worth noting here that H. Jon Benjamin provides the voice for Boy’s inner monologue.
Challengers
(2024)
Directed by: Luca Guadagnino
Starring: Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, Mike Faist
Opening on: April 26, 2024
Zendaya headlines the latest film from Luca Guadagnino, which centers on the relationships between a tennis prodigy-turned-coach (Zendaya), the struggling former champion who is her husband (Mike Faist), and his former best friend (Josh O’Connor) — who also happens to be her ex-boyfriend.
The Fall Guy
(2024)
Directed by: David Leitch
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt
Opening on: May 3, 2024
Is there a better action director than David Leitch these days? Leitch, a former stuntman who previously helmed John Wick, Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, and Hobbs & Shaw, is tackling a film adaptation of an ‘80s TV show about a stuntman who moonlights as a bounty hunter. Sounds right up his alley. Ryan Gosling will play the lead alongside Emily Blunt.
Back to Black
(2024)
Directed by: Sam Taylor-Johnson
Starring: Marisa Abela, Jack O’Connell, Lesley Manville, Eddie Marsan
Opening on: May 10, 2024
This biopic of jazz singer-turned pop star Amy Winehouse traces her life and rise to fame leading up to the release of her studio album, Back to Black. Sam Taylor-Johnson (Fifty Shades of Grey) directs the film, which stars Marisa Abela of HBO’s Industry as the troubled singer.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
(2024)
Directed by: Wes Ball
Starring: Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Peter Macon, Eka Darville, and Kevin Durand
Opening on: May 10, 2024
Caesar, the chimpanzee who led the apes to world domination, died at the end of 2017’s War for the Planet of the Apes, the third film in the reboot trilogy of the classic sci-fi franchise. However, there’s more monkey business to be had. (Yes, apes and monkeys are different, but let us have this.) Wes Ball, who helmed the Maze Runner films, directs the fourth film in the series, which takes place many years after the events of War.
IF
(2024)
Directed by: John Krasinski
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski, Fiona Shaw, Cailey Fleming, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Steve Carell, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Maya Rudolph, Awkwafina
Opening on: May 17, 2024
John Krasinski and Ryan Reynolds — both of whom also star in this film, by the way — developed this fantasy comedy also written by Krasinski about a young girl who learns she has the ability to see Imaginary Friends (hence the title IF) that have been abandoned. Reynolds and Krasinski are joined by massive voice cast (presumably for those imaginary friends) that includes Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Matt Damon, Steve Carell, Emily Blunt, Awkwafina, and more.
The Strangers: Chapter 1
(2024)
Directed by: Renny Harlin
Starring: Madelaine Petsch, Froy Gutierrez, Rachel Shenton, Gabriel Basso, Ema Horvath, Richard Brake
Opening on: May 17, 2024
Though it comes after two previous films, this installment of The Strangers horror franchise begins a new trilogy. This time around, the murderous strangers stalk and terrorize a young couple (Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez) on a road trip to their new home in the Pacific Northwest who are forced to take shelter in a remote cabin rental when their car breaks down in Oregon.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
(2024)
Directed by: George Miller
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Nathan Jones, and Angus Sampson
Opening on: May 24, 2024
Anya Taylor-Joy will play a younger version of the war rig-driving badass Imperator Furiosa in this prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road, one of the best films of the century so far. George Miller will, naturally, direct once more, and Chris Hemsworth will co-star in the movie, which tells the tale of Furiosa’s kidnapping and her rise through Immortan Joe’s ranks.
The Garfield Movie
(2024)
Directed by: Mark Dindal
Starring: Chris Pratt, Samuel L. Jackson, Nicholas Hoult, Cecily Strong, Hannah Waddingham, and Ving Rhames
Opening on: May 24, 2024
After Chris Pratt voiced Mario, he wept, for there were no more animated characters to conquer. Just kidding! He’ll be voicing everybody’s favorite lasagna-loving, Monday-hating cat, Garfield, in a new movie adaptation of the long-running comic strip. Samuel L. Jackson will voice Vic, Garfield’s father. Sure! Okay!
Hit Man
(2023)
Directed by: Richard Linklater
Starring: Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio, Retta
Premiering on: June 7, 2024 on Netflix
Based on a 2001 article in Texas Monthly, this action comedy from Richard Linklater stars Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick, Anyone but You) as undercover police officer in Houston, TX posing as a hitman who breaks protocol to help a woman stuck in an abusive marriage.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)
If the third film in the Bad Boys franchise had gotten a different title, then this fourth installment could have easily been named Bad Boys 4 Life. But that’s not how reality works, so for now, we’ll just call this one Bad Boys 4, which will see detectives Mike Lowery (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) reunite for another explosive action-adventure.
Inside Out 2
(2024)
Directed by: Kelsey Mann
Starring: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black, Ayo Edibiri, Maya Hawke, Tony Hale
Opening on: June 14, 2024
The wonderful Pixar film Inside Out showed us what things are like inside of an emotional young girl’s head. How do you raise the stakes for the sequel? Go inside a teenager’s head, of course. Inside Out 2 will revisit Riley now that she’s in college, and it will fittingly introduce a host of new emotions. Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, and Lewis Black return to reprise their roles, though Bill Hader’s Fear and Mindy Kaling’s Disgust have now been replaced by Tony Hale and Liza Lapira, respectively.
The Bikeriders
(2023)
Directed by: Jeff Nichols
Starring: Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, Mike Faist, Norman Reedus, Boyd Holbrook
Opening on: June 21, 2024
After being pulled from the 2023 release schedule due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, Jeff Nichols’ period drama switched hands from 20th Century Studios to Focus Features and earned a new release date in the summer of 2024. Inspired by the 1967 photobook of the same name, the fictional story chronicles the rise of a Chicago motorcycle club over the course of a decade through the lens of its members.
A Quiet Place: Day One
(2024)
Directed by: Michael Sarnoski
Starring: Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, Djimon Hounsou
Opening on: June 28, 2024
With the thrilling exception of the second movie’s opening scene, the action in the A Quiet Place franchise has taken place after the super-hearing, super-deadly aliens have already invaded and destroyed society as we know it. As the title here implies, the third film in the series will show the first days of the alien attack, well before anybody knows what’s going on or what to expect from these monsters, and it will be directed by Michael Sarnoski, who gave us one of Nicolas Cage’s best performances ever in 2021’s Pig. While most of the cast announced so far are new, we will see the return of Djimon Hounsou’s character from Part II.
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
(2024)
Directed by: Mark Molloy
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, Bronson Pinchot, Taylour Paige, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Kevin Bacon
Opening on: July 3, 2024
Axel Foley is back! It’s been almost 30 years since 1994’s Beverly Hills Cop III, but Eddie Murphy doesn’t look like he’s missed a beat as the Detroit cop who returns to Los Angeles to investigate corruption after the death of an old friend. Franchise stalwarts like Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot also return, alongside Taylour Paige, who plays Axel’s daughter, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
Despicable Me 4
(2024)
Directed by: Chris Renaud, Patrick Delage
Starring: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Steve Coogan, Will Ferrell, Sofia Vergara, Joey King, Pierre Coffin
Opening on: July 3, 2024
Don’t forget which master the Minions serve. Coming two years after the last installment in the franchise, the spin-off Minions: The Rise of Gru, Despicable Me returns to the mainline series, with Gru and his family — including a baby Gru Jr. — squaring off against an enemy out for revenge voiced by Will Ferrell.
MaXXXine
(2024)
Directed by: Ti West
Starring: Mia Goth, Elizabeth Debicki, Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale, Lily Collins, Halsey, Moses Sumney, Giancarlo Esposito, Kevin Bacon
Opening on: July 5, 2024
The third chapter of writer-director Ti West’s “X” trilogy follows up with Mia Goth’s Maxine, the sole survivor of 2022’s X, as she attempts to make her Hollywood dreams come true in 1980s Los Angeles, right at the height of the infamous Night Stalker’s reign of terror.
Fly Me to the Moon
(2024)
Directed by: Greg Berlanti
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, Jim Rash, Woody Harrelson, Ray Romano
Opening on: July 12, 2024
Love, Simon director Greg Berlanti brings us this romantic comedy set against the backdrop of the 1960s space race, when a marketing guru (Scarlett Johansson) is hired to help jazz up the populace about NASA’s efforts to man a mission to the moon and ends up developing a relationship with one of the scientists (Channing Tatum) involved in the mission.
Longlegs
(2024)
Directed by: Osgood Perkins
Starring: Maika Monroe, Nicolas Cage, Alicia Witt, Blair Underwood
Opening on: July 12, 2024
Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage star in this horror thriller about an FBI agent (Monroe) on the trail of a serial killer who discovers links not only to the occult but also to her own family and must act quickly to prevent another tragedy. It comes courtesy of Oz Perkins, best known for The Blackcoat’s Daughter and Gretel and Hansel.
Twisters
(2024)
Directed by: Lee Isaac Chung
Starring: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos, Brandon Perea, Maura Tierney
Opening on: July 19, 2024
Originally planned as a remake of the 1996 disaster movie Twister, Twisters eventually took form as a sequel, though it’s being called a “new chapter” and it isn’t clear if it will have any connection to its predecessor. Minari director Lee Isaac Chung makes the leap from indie drama to summer blockbuster, with Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, and Anthony Ramos set to star.
Deadpool & Wolverine
(2024)
Directed by: Shawn Levy
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, and Leslie Uggams
Opening on: July 26, 2024
The Merc With a Mouth is back — and so is Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine? The first Deadpool movie since Disney bought Fox will certainly be a sight to behold, as the Ryan Reynolds-led franchise is beloved for its R-rated humor. How that will blend with the MCU’s decidedly PG-13 tone is a mystery, as is how and why Jackman has returned as Wolverine, though the trailer does reveal the involvment of the TVA (as seen in Loki), so that may be a hint.
Borderlands
(2024)
Directed by: Eli Roth
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Ariana Greenblatt, Jamie Lee Curtis, Edgar Ramirez, Haley Bennett, Florian Munteanu
Opening on: August 9, 2024
Get ready for some outer space shenanigans as Eli Roth takes the helm for this adaptation of the popular and wacky video game series. The cast includes big names like Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, and Jack Black, and the film was written by Craig Mazin, who recently helped make a hit out of another acclaimed video game franchise, The Last of Us.
Trap
(2024)
Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Hayley Mills, Marnie McPhail
Opening on: August 9, 2024
M. Night Shyamalan’s latest film is a thriller on a smaller scale than some of his previous work, focusing on a father (Josh Hartnett) who takes his daughter to a pop concert and discovers the whole affair is an elaborate trap to capture a notorious serial killer rumored to be in attendance. The twist: Hartnett’s character is the killer. But knowing Shyamalan, we’re sure that’s not the only surprise in the film.
Alien: Romulus
(2024)
Directed by: Fede Alvarez
Starring: Isabela Merced, Cailee Spaeny, Archie Renaux, David Jonsson, Spike Feam, Aileen Wu
Opening in: August 16, 2024
The new film comes from Don’t Breathe director Fede Álvarez and will follow “a group of young people on a distant world, who find themselves in a confrontation with the most terrifying life form in the universe.”
The Crow (2024)
Based on the same comic book series as the 1994 film starring Brandon Lee (who famously died during filming), this new iteration stars Bill Skarsgård as Eric Draven aka The Crow, and it’s directed by Rupert Sanders, who previously helmed Snow White and the Huntsman and Ghost in the Shell.
AfrAId
(2024)
Directed by: Chris Weitz
Starring: Keith Carradine, Katherine Waterston, Riki Lindhome, John Cho, Havana Rose Liu
Opening in: August 30, 2024
After Sony moved Kraven the Hunter out of their August 30 slot, they replaced it with this horror film from writer-director Chris Weitz (About a Boy, writer of The Creator) starring Katherine Waterston, John Cho, and Keith Carradine. Similar to last year’s smash success M3GAN, the story here revolves around a young family whose new, state-of-the-art AI home assistant takes on a life of its own.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
(2024)
Directed by: Tim Burton
Starring: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Monica Belluci, Willem Dafoe
Opening on: September 6, 2024
Tim Burton reteams with Michael Keaton to return to one of his early iconic characters in this sequel to 1988’s Beetlejuice. Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara are also both on board to reprise their characters Lydia and Delia Deetz, while Jenna Ortega joins the cast as Lydia’s daughter.
Speak No Evil
(2024)
Directed by: James Watkins
Starring: James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Scott McNairy
Opening on: September 13, 2024
James McAvoy and Mackenzie Davis star in this remake of the 2022 Danish psychological thriller about a married couple with kids who meet another family on vacation, accept an invitation to visit their home later, and begin to sense increasingly undertones lurking behind the hospitality of their hosts. The film is directed by James Watkins, who gave us the similarly disturbing Eden Lake, as well as The Woman in Black and one of the darker episodes of Black Mirror, “Shut Up and Dance.”
His Three Daughters
(2023)
Directed by: Azazel Jacobs
Starring: Carrie Coon, Elizabeth Olsen, Natasha Lyonne
Premiering on: September 20, 2024 on Netflix (after debuting in select theaters on September 6, 2024)
Indie hitmaker Azazel Jacobs, known for his work in The Lovers and French Exit, is bringing a family drama to Netflix’s fall lineup. His Three Daughters finds Natasha Lyonne, Carrie Coon, and Elizabeth Olsen as estranged siblings who meet again to care for their ill father. After a critically acclaimed Toronto International Film Festival premiere in 2023, the film was acquired by Netflix and is anticipated to be a top prize contender for the streaming giant when awards season approaches.
Transformers One
(2024)
Directed by: Josh Cooley
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Jon Hamm, Laurence Fishburne, Keegan-Michael Key
Opening on: September 20, 2024
The Transformers franchise returns to its roots with an animated prequel that explores the origins of the titular robots’ home world of Cybertron and the rivalry between Optimus Prime and Megatron. It will be separate from the ongoing narrative of the live-action films, and it will be helmed by Toy Story 4 director Josh Cooley, with Chris Hemsworth as the voice of Optimus Prime and Brian Tyree Henry as Megatron.
Saturday Night
(2024)
Directed by: Jason Reitman
Starring: Gabrielle LaBelle, Rachel Sennott, Cory Michael Smith, Ella Hunt, Dylan O’Brien, Emily Fairn, Lamorne Morris, Kim Matula, Nicholas Braun
Opening on: September 27, 2024 (limited); October 11, 2024 (wide)
Jason Reitman trains his eye on one of broadcast television’s greatest comedy institutions, as he takes audiences back to October 11, 1975 for the very first episode of Saturday Night Live. Utilizing an ensemble cast that includes Gabriel LaBelle (as Lorne Michaels), Rachel Sennott, Nicholas Braun, and Dylan O’Brien, among others, Reitman recounts the events of the 90 minutes leading up to the debut of the show.
Joker: Folie à Deux
(2024)
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, Zazie Beetz, Catherine Keener, and Jacob Lofland
Opening on: October 4, 2024
Director Todd Phillips helms this follow-up to the wildly successful R-rated take on the iconic Batman villain that earned Joaquin Phoenix the Oscar for Best Actor. In Folie à Deux, Phoenix will be joined by Lady Gaga, who is playing his love interest (it’s complicated) Harley Quinn, and the film will reportedly be a musical. Yes, you read that right.
Anora
(2024)
Directed by: Sean Baker
Starring: Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn
Opening on: October 18, 2024
Critically acclaimed director Sean Baker has helmed another festival favorite, and like his other films, this one is getting awards buzz. Mikey Madison stars as a stripper in New York who falls in love with one of her clients, the son of a Russian oligarch, and must deal with the consequences. Anora won the Palme d’Or at Cannes this year and is expected to be a major awards contender.
Smile 2
(2024)
Directed by: Parker Finn
Starring: Naomi Scott, Kyle Gallner, Rosemarie DeWitt, Lukas Gage
Opening on: October 18, 2024
Parker Finn’s supernatural horror thriller Smile was a surprise success back in 2022, and Smile 2 hopes to repeat that achievement. In this outing, Naomi Scott takes center stage as a pop superstar who begins to experience unsettling and disturbing events prior to embarking on a new world tour. Kyle Gallner reprises his role as the police detective who may or may not have inherited the curse from the first film.
We Live in Time
(2024)
Directed by: John Crowley
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Florence Pugh
Opening on: October 18, 2024
Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh headline this romantic drama about a man and woman who meet unexpectedly, fall in love, and build a life together. The story spans decades, recounting their experiences in non-linear snapshots to reveal new aspects of their relationship, and it earned strong reviews out of its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Conclave
(2024)
Directed by: Edward Berger
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Isabella Rossellini, Sergio Castellitto
Opening on: October 25, 2024
Who said church had to be boring? Based on the novel of the same name by Robert Harris, this psychological thriller follows the Vatican Cardinal (Ralph Fiennes) in charge of organizing the election of the successor to the deceased Pope, who discovers the latter held a secret with complicated implications. The film debuted at the Telluride Film Festival to outstanding reviews, particularly for Fiennes’ lead performance.
Terrifier 3
(2024)
Directed by: Damien Leone
Starring: David Howard Thornton
Opening on: October 25, 2024
We don’t know much about the third installment of the cult favorite horror franchise Terrifier, but we do know that David Howard Thornton will return to play Art the Clown and that the film will be set on Christmas Eve. The budget is also reportedly much larger than the previous two films, so fans can look forward to upgraded production value.
Venom: The Last Dance
(2024)
Directed by: Kelly Marcel
Starring: Tom Hardy, Juno Temple, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Opening on: October 25, 2024
Tom Hardy returns for this third installment of the Spider-Man-adjacent antihero franchise, centering on a San Francisco reporter possessed by an alien symbiote. Writer Kelly Marcel steps in behind the camera for this one, whose plot we really don’t know much about yet.
