Despite the writer and actor strikes of 2023 resulting in delays and setbacks for films, there are still plenty of exciting blockbusters and new films to look forward to throughout 2024. This new year has a variety of new sequels, biopics, thrilling horror films and more in store for moviegoing audiences.
“Dune: Part II”
Coming to theaters on March 1, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2021 “Dune” will be released. This next chapter in the Dune story was initially set to release in early November of 2023, but due to the strikes in Hollywood, was pushed back to March of 2024. “Dune: Part II” will continue the story of Paul Atreides and his efforts to save the universe. Starring Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, this new blockbuster film is one of the most exciting movie events of the year.
“Civil War”
Filmmaker Alex Garland brings an exciting new political thriller to audiences on April 26. This new film starring Kirsten Dunst and Nick Offerman is about a hypothetical reality in which a civil war breaks out in a modern United States. This film follows a photographer stuck in a warzone in a major U.S. city. This polarizing film is coming out at a strange time with the coming presidential election.
“Challengers”
Also delayed by the recent Hollywood strikes is Luca Guadagnino’s new tennis drama, “Challengers.” This film was set to release in September of 2023 but now comes to theaters on April 26. It stars Zendaya and Josh O’Connor in this complicated story about a tennis player competing against a former love interest.
“Nosferatu”
Nosferatu, a vampire, has been a legendary horror symbol since the original silent film release in Germany in 1922. From horror director Robert Eggers, comes the long-awaited remake of the classic horror tale. Eggers adaptation of the film has been in pre-production since the late 2010s and the film is now being released on Christmas 2024. Bill Skarsgård plays the role of Nosferatu. The film also has a supporting cast of Lily-Rose Depp, Willem Dafoe and Nicholas Hoult.
“Hit Man”
This new comedy from Richard Linklater starring Glen Powell first debuted at the Venice Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival in the fall of 2023 but has since been bought by Netflix. The film does not currently have a release date, but will likely release sometime in the summer of 2024. “Hit Man” follows the story of a hitman who falls for one of his clients and then finds himself in dangerous territories.
“Back to Black”
Coming on May 10 is a new biopic that follows the story of musical sensation Amy Winehouse. This film follows the journey and struggles of Winehouse as she recorded her 2006 album “Back to Black.” Winehouse is portrayed by Marisa Abela, best known for Yasmin in the HBO series “Industry.” While documentaries have been made about Winehouse’s career, a biopic chronicling her career has never been tackled until now.
“Mickey 17”
In 2019, South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho released the acclaimed “Parasite,” which then won Best Picture at the 2020 Academy Awards, amongst the many other awards the film won. “Parasite” is the first international feature film to win Best Picture at the Oscars. “Mickey 17” is the highly-awaited follow-up from the award-winning filmmaker. Robert Pattinson and Mark Ruffalo both star in this new sci-fi film. Information about the film is limited despite its release at the end of March, but like most films from Joon-ho, viewers can expect the anti-capitalist themes to still run strong.
“A Quiet Place: Day One”
This new prequel coming on June 28 covers the early events of John Krasinski’s 2018 film, “A Quiet Place.” This film features roles from Joseph Quin, Lupita Nyong’o and Alex Wolff, meaning that audiences will follow a new group of characters outside the franchise’s two existing films.
“Joker: Folie à Deux”
This is the highly-anticipated sequel to the 2019 film “Joker,” which left audiences polarized and later won Joaquin Phoenix Best Actor at the 2020 Oscars. This new film has a stylistic change as it is a musical. Joaquin Phoenix will also be joined by Lady Gaga who is playing Joker’s girlfriend, Harley Quinn.
“Horizon: An American Saga”
Actor and director Kevin Costner has returned to make a new epic western. This is Costner’s first time directing since “Open Range” which came out in 2003. Costner has spent the past several years starring in the hit show “Yellowstone,” but he is now returning to the big screen with a story that he has had in mind since the late 1980s. Released in two parts, “Chapter 1” will come out on June 28 and “Chapter 2” will release on Aug. 16.
