By: Andrea Carlson
Many films coming to theaters in 2024 have been highly anticipated for years. There is something for everyone, from biopics to new Marvel films to musicals with famous pop stars in the starring role.
February
On Valentine’s Day, “Bob Marley: One Love” and “Madame Web” will be released in theaters. Bob Marley’s son, Ziggy Marley, helped produce the long-awaited biopic “Bob Marley: One Love.”The film stars Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley and Lashana Lynch as Rita Marley.
Dakota Johnson will star in “Madame Web,” which is about a paramedic discovering she has clairvoyant powers. Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O’Connor, and Isabela Merced star in this next addition to Sony’s Spiderverse.
March
The highly anticipated “Dune: Part Two” will premiere on March 1. The second installment in the “Dune” franchise, directed by Denis Villeneuve, had its release date pushed back two times due to the writers’ and actors’ strikes. Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Josh Brolin, and others will reprise their roles. Many fans are excited for Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, and Christopher Walken to join the “Dune” universe.
“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” will be in theaters on March 29. This sequel to the 2021 reboot “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” will see the team fight supernatural forces that unleash a “Death Chill,” which scares people to death. The original Ghostbusters, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, and Annie Potts were seen in the trailer reprising their roles.
April
On April 26, Zendaya will star along with Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor in the film “Challengers.” The film follows Tashi, a tennis prodigy turned coach, as she helps make her husband a champion. A love triangle begins when he must play his former best friend and Tashi’s former boyfriend.
May
Ryan Gosling stars in the action-comedy “The Fall Guy” as a stuntman who investigates the disappearance of a famous movie star. The film is set to include great action sequences, including car chases, bar fights, and shootouts. See it in theaters on May 3.
On May 10, a biopic about Amy Winehouse will be released in theaters. The film is titled “Back to Black,” after the singer’s well-known 2006 album.
Also, May 10 is the fourth installment of the “Planet of the Apes” series. “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is set three centuries after Andy Serkis’s Ceasar. Kevin Durand, Freya Allan, and William H. Macy will star in this Action film.
June
“Inside Out 2” will be released on June 14. The film follows Riley, now a young woman, and Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust as they deal with new emotions, including Anxiety, voiced by Maya Hawke.
“A Quiet Place: Day One,” starring Lupita Nyong’o and Alex Wolff, is a prequel to John Krasinski’s film A Quiet Place. Not much is known yet about the plot. See it in theaters on June 28.
July
“Despicable Me 4” will be in theaters on July 3 as the newest addition to the “Despicable Me” Franchise. The film will follow Gru (Steve Carell) as he deals with his new son Gru Jr. as a criminal mastermind escapes prison to get revenge on Gru.
The third Deadpool movie will see Deadpool officially brought into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Hugh Jackman will return as Wolverine, and rumor is that Jennifer Garner will also return as Elektra. See Ryan Reynold in Deadpool 3 on July 26.
August
Another addition to the Sony Spiderverse will be released Aug. 30. “Kraven the Hunter” stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the Russian immigrant Sergei Kravinoff as he tries to prove he is the greatest hunter in the world. Ariana DeBose and Russel Crowe are set to star alongside Taylor-Johnson.
September
Michael Keaton, Catherine O’Hara, Winona Ryder, and Jenna Ortega are starring in “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” a sequel to the 1988 Tim Burton classic. Burton returned to direct the film in theaters on Sept. 6.
October
Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix return for “Joker: Folie á Deux’.” The film brings Lady Gaga to theaters again as she plays Joker’s girlfriend, Harley Quinn. This musical film will be in theaters Oct. 4.
November
“Gladiator 2,” starring Paul Mescal, is the long-in-the-works sequel to the 2000 Oscar winner. Paul Mescal will play the grown Lucius Verus. Denzel Washinton and Pedro Pascal will star alongside Mescal in this long-awaited film out Nov. 22.
“Wicked” will be in theaters on Nov. 27. This film based on the Broadway musical is only the first installment, with part 2 releasing late 2025. Cynthia Erivo will play Elpheba alongside Ariana Grande as Glinda the Good. Jeff Goldblum, Bowen Yang, Michelle Yeoh, and Jonathan Bailey will also star.
December
On Christmas, Robert Eggers brings viewers “Nosferatu,” a remake of the historic 1922 film. Bill Skarsgard will play Count Orlok, with Lily-Rose Depp playing Ellen Hutter. Willem Dafoe, Emma Corrin, Nicolas Hoult, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson will also star in this horror movie.
For more information on 2024 releases, visit https://www.firstshowing.net/schedule2024/