2024 is shaping up as a promising year for movies. It’s full of the usual suspects, with notable biopics and plenty of big-budget blockbusters on the calendar. Studios are busy trying to replicate the booming success of last summer’s titans, Barbie and Oppenheimer. Fresh off a year that featured historic Hollywood strikes, delays to countless projects and several standout films, here are upcoming releases to keep on your radar.
Bob Marley: One Love (directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green)
February 14
This is easily one of my most anticipated releases for 2024. Bob Marley’s story has long been worthy of a feature film, but it required the right team in place. Luckily for audiences, Bob Marley: One Love has that covered. Reinaldo Marcus Green handles directorial duties, his first film since 2021’s King Richard. The trailers hint at One Love’s pristine cinematography, helmed by Oscar-winner Robert Elswit (There Will Be Blood, King Richard), with gorgeous shots of Jamaica and London providing authenticity to the places Marley inhabited. The screenplay is penned by a strong trio: Zach Baylin (King Richard, Gran Turismo), Frank E. Flowers (Shooting Stars) and Terence Winter (Wolf of Wall Street, Boardwalk Empire).
Stepping into Marley’s gigantic shoes will be the versatile Kingsley Ben-Adir, who is no stranger to playing real-life figures (Malcolm X, Barack Obama). He looks and sounds great as Marley in trailers and promotional images. At his side will be the wonderful Lashana Lynch as his wife, Rita. We can expect the film to explore Marley’s rise to international superstardom, the assassination attempt on his life, how Exodus was made and milestone events like 1976’s Smile Jamaica and 1978’s One Love Peace concert. Beyond his music, I hope audiences learn more about his lasting impact as a revolutionary, humanitarian and father. Read more in my preview for One Love.
Drive-Away Dolls (directed by Ethan Coen)
February 23
This is a road trip caper that has a lot of promise. It will have some shocks, too. Drive-Away Dolls marks Ethan Coen’s solo directorial debut, his first project since the 2022 documentary Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind. It will follow Jaime (Margaret Qualley) and Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan) as they embark on an impulsive road trip to Tallahassee after a breakup, where they run into clumsy criminals along the way. Beanie Feldstein, Colman Domingo (in the middle of an incredible run with Rustin, The Color Purple and Sing Sing), Pedro Pascal and Matt Damon round out an exciting cast. Also, the film has a 1 hour and 24 minute runtime. That is incredible. Anything under 1 hour and 45 minutes these days feels like a gift. I don’t at all mind sitting for a 2-3+ hour film, but it has to earn that length. With Coen at the helm, prepare for a chaotic, unpredictable ride through a queer road trip adventure that will pack plenty of punches.
Dune: PART TWO (directed by Denis Villeneuve)
March 1
Dune was a spectacle. An epic in every sense of the word, it delivers a sense of awe that the source material deserves. We're finally getting its much-anticipated sequel after facing numerous obstacles. Originally set to release in October 2023, Dune: Part Two was pushed to November before strikes ultimately delayed it further to March 2024. Denis Villeneuve and Timothee Chalamet return for the next chapter, while Austin Butler, Florence Pugh and Christopher Walken join an already-stacked cast. The story will follow Chalamet's Paul Atreides as he forges forward with Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen, with retribution against those who wronged his family atop his mind. Butler's Feyd-Rautha will be a compelling antagonist. With sweeping, intimidating landscapes and Han Zimmer's score, Villeneuve fully understands how to present the sheer scale of Dune's universe. We'll explore more of it in March.
Spaceman (directed by Johan Renck)
March 1
I’ve been a big fan of Adam Sandler’s recent dramatic roles (The Meyerowitz Stories, Uncut Gems, Hustle), and in Spaceman, he co-stars with Carey Mulligan and Paul Dano. I was interested in the film thanks to the trio alone, but the recently released trailer changed everything. Consider me fully sold. It looks like it has everything you want from a sci-fi thriller experience, but it’s what we don’t know that intrigues me the most. Here’s what we know: Sandler’s character, Jakub, is in complete isolation in space, alone with his thoughts and away from his wife, Lenka. Their marriage is crumbling, but he’s not sure why. Paul Dano’s unmistakable (and in this case menacing) voice is lent to a human-sized, spider-like alien, who supposedly wants to help Jakub get home. The film's unsettling tone could provide Sandler with the freedom to explore truly new territory, given Spaceman seems destined to explore loss, family and sacrifice.
Director Johan Renck’s involvement is the cherry on top and a reason to be hopeful. He directed HBO’s Chernobyl, which remains one of the best miniseries of all time. Some of his quotes here about Sandler’s range and capabilities should excite anyone who appreciates the veteran’s dramatic efforts.
Shirley (directed by John Ridley)
March 22
Shirley Chisholm gets the biopic treatment she deserves, told through the eyes of director John Ridley, writer of the Oscar-winning script for Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave. It will chronicle Chisholm’s historic 1972 presidential run, when she was already the first Black woman to be elected to the United States Congress. There may not be a better fit for the role than Regina King, who looks nearly identical to the real-life Chisholm in photos released by Netflix. She’ll be supported by Lance Reddick (in one of his final on-screen roles), Terrence Howard and Lucas Hedges, among others. I expect Shirley to deliver a timely reflection on a pivotal moment in history.
The Bikeriders (directed by Jeff Nichols)
June 21
Like several projects, The Bikeriders finally arrives after a series of delays. Originally set to release on Dec. 1, 2023, it will now get the regular promotion treatment as an early-summer feature. Austin Butler and Tom Hardy lead a strong cast that includes Jodie Comer, Michael Shannon (a regular collaborator with director Jeff Nichols), Mike Faist, Norman Reedus and Boyd Holbrook. Audiences will see the rise of a fictional motorcycle club (The Vandals) in Chicago through the 1960s. The film’s trailer sells you on its location and establishes tense friction, with plenty of violence, booze and disputes to boot. The Bikeriders is director Jeff Nichols’ first feature film since 2016 when he released both Midnight Special and Loving. He’ll be adapting The Bikeriders from Danny Lyon’s 1967 work of the same name, a photo book that examines first-hand stories and profiles of members from Chicago’s Outlaws Motorcycle Club. This feels like a perfect jumpstart for the summer movie season.
Joker: Folie à Deux (directed by Todd Phillips)
October 4
Todd Phillips' Joker gets its highly anticipated follow-up with Joker: Folie à Deux. The 2019 reimagining of the iconic comic villain was a smash success, taking home north of $1 billion at the box office (the first R-rated movie to ever do so) and earning Joaquin Phoenix the Oscar for Best Actor. Expectations are high for round two, with eyes squarely on what Lady Gaga will bring to the role of Harley Quinn after Margot Robbie's DCEU run. She looks pretty great as the character in set photos. I'm eager to see how Folie à Deux integrates a second character into the spotlight alongside our favorite maniacal clown, Arthur Fleck. We shouldn't overlook Brendan Gleeson's addition to the cast, either. He's brilliant. Its eventual trailer will go a long way in revealing the film's tone and relationship to what made Joker so chillingly memorable. Releasing in early October ahead of Halloween, Folie à Deux will hit theaters at just the right time.
Megalopolis (directed by Francis Ford Coppola)
No release date announced
Alongside Dune: Part Two, Megalopolis has a chance to be one of the year's true epics. The legendary Francis Ford Coppola tackles directing, producing and writing duties on this massive project, one he originally began writing in the 1980s. To call Megalopolis a passion project would be an understatement, considering he essentially financed the film himself and went through many actors before finalizing its cast. It feels like it will all be worth the wait. Its brief IMDB description is enough to pique interest in the plot: 'An architect wants to rebuild New York City as a utopia following a devastating disaster.' Telling the story is an impressive ensemble cast. Just look at the names in this group: Adam Driver, Aubrey Plaza, Forest Whitaker, Giancarlo Esposito, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, Dustin Hoffman and Talia Shire. A handful of these stars and household names will likely play small roles, something similar to Oppenheimer. Actors want to work with the best.
There's been consistent speculation about what to expect from Megalopolis. There's still so much we don't know yet. It will mark Coppola's return to the director's chair for the first time since 2011 when he released his poorly-received Twixt. His unwavering belief in Megalopolis' potential has pushed him to produce an experience that places artistic value above all, financial repercussions be damned. It's a risky bet - one I hope pays off in a big way.
Mickey 17 (directed by Bong Joon-ho)
Delayed (pushed back from the original March 29 release date)
Everyone's waited for Bong Joon-Ho's next effort after the historic success of 2019's Parasite. It comes in the form of Mickey 17, based on Edward Ashton's novel titled Mickey7. It's a return to sci-fi thriller territory for the Oscar-winning director, with a story focused on Robert Pattinson as an 'expendable' - a disposable crew member utilized for dangerous expeditions, in this case, to colonize the ice world named Niflheim. Even if his body 'dies,' it can renew itself with memories mostly together. Something, though, goes wrong in one particular renewal. Bong Jong-Ho's assembled what's shaping up to be my favorite cast of the year, with Steven Yeun (Beef, Nope), Toni Collette (Hereditary), Mark Ruffalo (Poor Things) and Naomi Ackie (I Wanna Dance With Somebody) leading the charge.
I'm confident Mickey 17 will be one of the year's best pictures, whenever it releases. Originally on Warner Bros. schedule for March 29, the film has since been removed from calendars entirely (for good reason). Per Variety, here's why: "Sources tell Variety that the decision to move the highly anticipated sci-fi movie from the Korean filmmaker was made to allow more time to finish the project, which had been affected due to last year’s strikes and other various production shifts. Thus, the latest installment in Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment’s “Godzilla and Kong” franchise, which was previously scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, will now debut two weeks earlier." Deadline says a new release date should be released soon.
Blitz (directed by Steve McQueen)
No release date announced, could be pushed to 2025
Steve McQueen is set to make his long-awaited return after 2018’s Widows with Blitz, a story highlighting Londoners during Germany’s bombing campaign known as ‘The Blitz.’ The brilliant filmmaker will handle writing, directing and producing duties, with a strong cast to bring the story to life. It will be great to see Saoirse Ronan (Little Women, Lady Bird) again, where she'll work with Harris Dickinson (The Iron Claw). They're two of the most promising young talents working today. It will be an Apple TV+ exclusive, but we should expect a theater release, too. By showing the bombings through the eyes of innocent civilians, this has the chance to be among the most impactful war dramas in recent memory. 2024 could be a solid year for World War II dramas with Masters of the Air and Blitz.
Six MoRE...
Problemista (directed by Julio Torres - March 22)
Julio Torres directs, writes, co-produces and co-stars in A24's Problemista. He's written previously for Saturday Night Live and served as the creator of HBO's Los Espookys. Tilda Swinton (The Killer, Asteroid City) is sure to be a delight here. Per Deadline, the story follows Torres' Alejandro, a designer from El Salvador struggling to get his ideas going in New York City, where he must assist an outcast from the art scene to try and stay in the country on an expiring work visa. Here's the sentence that interests me most: "Problemista is described as a surreal adventure through the equally treacherous worlds of New York City and the U.S. Immigration system."
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (directed by Adam Wingard - March 29)
Purely dumb fun. Godzilla: Minus One set a new standard for what modern Godzilla films can achieve. I understand why many are excited about Godzilla x Kong, though. Legendary Pictures' Monsterverse sets aside good characters and delivers plenty of fun, intense Kaiju action. These are a blast to see in theaters.
Gladiator 2 (directed by Ridley Scott - November 22)
The rising star Paul Mescal ... Pedro Pascal ... Denzel Washington ... Connie Nielsen ... Ridley Scott ... a return to Gladiator's world. I'm in. Don't hurt me after the letdown of Napoleon, Mr. Scott.
Love Me (directed by Sam and Andy Zuchero - No release date announced)
Easily one of my favorite actors working today, Steven Yeun is charming, versatile and generally a standout in any project he's in. His turn in Netflix's Beef is unforgettable. In Love Me, he'll star with Kristen Stewart in Sam and Andy Zuchero's feature-length film debut. Yeun and Stewart will play a couple who meet online in a post-apocalyptic world. Love Me premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 19 and will receive a theatrical run sometime this year. Sign me up.
Kinds of Kindness (directed by Yorgos Lanthimos - No release date announced)
I'm going to see anything Yorgos Lanthimos puts out after Poor Things. Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe return in Kinds of Kindness. The consistently great Jesse Plemmons, Margaret Qualley (who is blossoming with roles in Poor Things and Drive-Away Dolls) and Joe Alwyn round out a cast worth seeing together. Stone and Lanthimos' collaboration is a must-see attraction.
Maria (directed by Pablo Larraín - No release date announced)
Angelina Jolie stars as iconic opera singer Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín's (Jackie, Spencer) latest effort. Larraín's no stranger to highlighting iconic women in history, from Natalie Portman as Jackie Kennedy to Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana. Maria will reportedly focus on the last years of her life in the 1970s when she lived in Paris.