The past year featured the releases of many wildly popular movies like Barbie and Oppenheimer, which had explosive box office sales upwards of $1.4 billion. Looking forward to 2024, there are more movies to anticipate. The thrill of going to see Barbie dressed in all pink may not be topped, but long-awaited sequels and movie musicals await us in 2024.
In forming a list of the most anticipated movies of the year, I consulted Film Club leaders Allie Porter and Avery Lizek, seniors here at LHS. As movie lovers, they helped me come up with some less well-known titles to look out for. Here is a list, in order of release date, of movies to watch in 2024.
By IMP Awards, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73709643
1) Dune: Part Two
March 1, 2024
Running just under three hours, Dune: Part Two is thought to be the most anticipated movie of 2024. The first part was released in 2021, so fans have now waited three years for this sequel and will finally witness the rest of Paul Atreides’ (Timothée Chalamet) journey. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, the movie stars much-loved actors Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya alongside Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, and many other famous names.
Image source: IMDb
2) Imaginary
March 8, 2024
“Meet Chauncey. He’s not imaginary, and he’s not your friend.” Everyone loves a good horror movie, especially one involving kids’ toys coming to life. From the producers of M3GAN and Five Nights at Freddy’s, Imaginary is the story of a once-loved stuffed bear taking revenge on the woman (played by DeWanda Wise) who abandoned him.
Image Source: IMDb
3) Shirley
March 22, 2024
Shirley Chisholm was the first black woman to be elected to Congress. Promoting racial and gender equality, Chisholm passed over 50 pieces of legislation between 1968 and 1983. John Ridley, screenwriter for the film 12 Years a Slave, is the director, and Oscar-winning Regina King stars as Chisholm in this biographical film following Chisholm’s political expeditions.
Image source: IMDb
4) Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire
March 29, 2024
This addition to the infamous “Monsterverse” explores the original battle between Titans that brought man and monster together. Throughout the film, humans begin to uncover Skull Island’s mysteries as Kong and Godzilla have to work together against an existential threat.
Image source: IMP Awards
5) Challengers
April 6, 2024
A movie with Zendaya as the star can only be good, so Challengers should be amazing. Director Luca Guadagnino has been named a visionary, so there are high expectations of this film about a demanding tennis coach (Zendaya) helping her champion husband (Mike Faist) overcome a losing streak.
Image source: IMP Awards
6) Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
May 24, 2024
A new addition to the Mad Max series, Furiosa tells the story of renegade warrior Furiosa before she joined forces with Mad Max. Starring Anya Taylor Joy as Furiosa and Chris Hemsworth as Dementus, many fans of the series are excited about this adventure movie.
Image source: IMP Awards
7) Inside Out 2
June 14, 2024
In a different direction, Inside Out 2 has recently stirred up excitement. The movie is set to follow the main character Riley in her teenage years, as new emotions arise. The animated film stars Amy Poehler and Phyllis Smith, and Maya Hawke joining the cast as a new emotion. It has been almost a decade since the first movie, so fans have high expectations.
Image source: IMDb
8) Beetlejuice 2
September 6, 2024
Almost everyone has heard of the movie Beetlejuice, so a sequel to it can only increase enthusiasm. While many actors and actresses return to reprise their roles, Jenna Ortega and Willem Defoe are new additions to the cast. Any movie directed by Tim Burton is bound to be entertaining, making this movie one of the most anticipated of the year.
Image source: IMDb
9) Joker: Folie à Deux
October 4, 2024
While the plot is still unknown, Joker: Folie à Deux will surely be thrilling. The film’s title means “Madness for Two” in French, suggesting that the Joker’s sidekick Harley Quinn will be a key character. The movie will be part thriller and part musical, and popular music artist Lady Gaga is cast as Harley Quinn. Joaquin Phoenix (playing the Joker) with Lady Gaga is a wholly unexpected pairing but will surely be amazing.
Image source: IMDb
10) Gladiator 2
November 22, 2024
Over 20 years after the first movie, Gladiator 2 is yet another sequel on this list. With Paul Mescal playing the lead, other famous actors such as Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, and Joseph Quinn join the cast. The music will be done by Harry Gregson-Williams, who was behind the soundtracks of a variety of films including The Chronicles of Narnia series and The Martian.
Image source: IMDb
11) Wicked
November 27, 2024
As the second-highest-earning Broadway musical, Wicked has an incredible legacy of winning multiple Tony awards and being one of the most well-known shows. The movie adaptation of this musical will be two parts and stars many big names. Cynthia Ervo, winner of a Tony and Grammy award for The Color Purple, plays the infamous Wicked Witch of the West alongside Michelle Yeoh, Ariana Grande, and Jeff Goldblum.
Image source: IMDb
12) Nosferatu
December 25, 2024
The original Nosferatu was released in 1922 and was a highly influential silent horror film. This recreation, almost a hundred years later, has a major legacy to follow. The cast includes Emma Corrin, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Willem Dafoe, and Bill Skarsgård, all impressive actors.
Works Cited
“Barbie.” Box Office Mojo, IMDb, www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1077904129/. Accessed 15 January 2024.
“Beetlejuice 2 (2024).” IMDb, www.imdb.com/title/tt2049403/. Accessed 15 January 2024.
“Challengers (2024).” IMDb, www.imdb.com/title/tt16426418/. Accessed 15 January 2024.
“Dune: Part Two (2024).” IMDb, www.imdb.com/title/tt15239678/. Accessed 15 January 2024.
Feaster, Felicia. “Nosferatu (1922).” Turner Classic Movies, 25 September 2003, www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/5893/nosferatu.
“Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) .” IMDb, www.imdb.com/title/tt12037194/. Accessed 15 January 2024.
“Gladiator 2 (2024).” IMDb, www.imdb.com/title/tt9218128/. Accessed 15 January, 2024.
“Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire (2024).” IMDb, www.imdb.com/title/tt14539740/. Accessed 18 Jan. 2024.
“Imaginary (2024).” IMDb, www.imdb.com/title/tt26658104/plotsummary/. Accessed 15 January 2024.
“Inside Out 2 (2024).” IMDb, www.imdb.com/title/tt22022452/. Accessed 15 January 2024.
“Joker: Folie à Deux (2024).” IMDb, www.imdb.com/title/tt11315808/. Accessed 15 January 2024.
Michals, Debra. “Shirley Chisholm.” National Women’s History Museum, 2015, www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/shirley-chisholm.
“Nosferatu (2024).” IMDb, www.imdb.com/title/tt5040012/. Accessed 15 January 2024.
“Shirley (2024).” IMDb, www.imdb.com/title/tt14077516/. Accessed 15 January 2024.
“Wicked (2024).” IMDb, www.imdb.com/title/tt1262426/. Accessed 15 January 2024.
“Wicked Broadway Grosses.” Broadway World, www.broadwayworld.com/grosses/WICKED. Accessed 15 January 2024.