2023 is done, and 2024 begins, starting a new year of movies. Despite the Writers’ and Actors’ Strikes of 2023 delaying many movies, 2024 still has plenty of movies to be excited about. Many franchises are making comebacks this year with sequels and prequels. This was a hard list to make, with so many exciting movies to look forward to that didn’t make the cut. Here are my most anticipated movies of 2024.
10. Joker: Folie a Deux
Honestly, Joker is a movie that is fine on its own and doesn’t need a sequel. At the same time, it's rare for Joaquin Phoenix to do sequels, and with Lady Gaga starring as Harley Quinn, it makes things interesting. Joker: Folie a Deux will be a musical, moving away from the Scorsese-like tone of the first movie, and could work with Lady Gaga in the movie. Todd Phillips returns to direct as well. Joker: Folie a Deux comes out on October 4, 2024.
9. Wicked: Part One
Directed by John M. Chu, Wicked: Part One is an upcoming movie based on the musical Wicked, which takes place before the events of The Wizard of Oz. Like the plot of Wicked, the movie will explore the origins of the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba Thropp, who will be played by Cynthia Erivo. It’s currently unknown how much of the plot of the musical that Wicked: Part One will cover, although it’s likely Act One of Wicked will be covered. Ariana Grande will portray Galinda Upland and Jeff Goldblum will portray the Wizard of Oz. Wicked: Part One comes out on November 27, 2024.
8. The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
One of the greatest trilogies of all time is The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and hearing about a new movie always gets me excited. It feels like so many stories can be told from this series. The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim will be an animated movie directed by Kenji Kamiyama and take place 261 years before the events of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. The animation style will be anime-influenced. The plot focuses on the King of Rohan, Helm Hammerhead, and how he defends Rohan from an army of Dunlendings. Brian Cox will voice Hammerhead, and returning from Peter Jackson’s trilogy is Miranda Otto as Ewoyn, who will narrate the movie. The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim comes out on December 13, 2024.
7. Inside Out 2
Inside Out 2 is the upcoming sequel to Inside Out, one of the best Pixar films to come out in the last ten years. Inside Out 2 will show Riley as a teenager with new emotions that will be joining Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust. Inside Out is one of the few Pixar movies that has a lot of potential with a sequel, so I am curious to see what they could do. Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, and Lewis Black are returning to voice Joy, Sadness, and Anger. Tony Hale and Liza Lapira will be voicing Fear and Disgust instead of Bill Hader and Mindy Kaling. Maya Hawke joins the cast as a new emotion called Anxiety. Inside Out 2 comes out on June 14, 2024.
6. Gladiator 2
Gladiator is one of my all-time favorite movies. The characters, story, action, and themes land perfectly. Like Joker, it’s a movie that’s fine on its own. At the same time, I’m curious to see what they could do. Director Ridley Scott has teased the idea for a sequel for years, and it’s finally happening. Gladiator 2 will center around Lucius Verus, the nephew of the previous movie’s antagonist and Emperor of Rome Commodus. Paul Mescal will be portraying Lucius, with Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and Fred Hechinger joining the cast. Connie Nielson as Lucilla, the mom of Lucius, and Derek Jacobi as Senator Gracchus are the returning cast members from Gladiator. Gladiator 2 comes out on November 22, 2024.
5. Beetlejuice 2
One of my favorite movies to watch around Halloween is Beetlejuice. It’s an entertaining Tim Burton movie with a great performance from Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice. For many years, we heard about Beetlejuice 2, but nothing happened until now. Tim Burton finally directed the sequel to one of his most popular movies. Keaton returns to play Beetlejuice, as well as Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara as Lydia and Delia Deetz. Joining the cast is Jenna Ortega, who will play Lydia’s daughter, and Willem Dafoe as a ghost detective. Burton said he was going back to doing more practical effects for this movie. Beetlejuice 2 comes out on September 6, 2024.
4. Deadpool 3
Directed by Shawn Levy, Deadpool 3 is the only Marvel Cinematic Universe movie to come out in 2024, and a lot is riding on this movie. The MCU is going through struggles and needs a win. It’s the first R-rated MCU movie. Ryan Reynolds is returning as Deadpool and was able to get Hugh Jackman to return as Wolverine. The movie is another multiverse film that will likely have large consequences for the Multiverse Saga. Also joining the cast are Morena Baccarin, Brianna Hildebrand, Karan Soni, Leslie Uggams, Stefan Kapicic, and Emma Corrin. Other former X-Men cast members are rumored to appear. Deadpool 3 comes out on July 26, 2024.
3. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
The Mad Max series returns with a prequel based around the character Furiosa from Mad Max: Fury Road. George Miller returns to direct this new installment, and Anya Taylor-Joy will star as a younger Furiosa before the events of Mad Max: Fury Road. Mad Max: Fury Road is not only one of the best movies to come out in the last ten years, it’s also one of the best action movies ever made. The trailer shows that the movie will have similar cinematography and amazing visuals. Also starring in the movie are Chris Hemsworth and Tom Burker. Furiosa: A Mad Max Story comes out on May 24, 2024.
2. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is the next installment in the rebooted Planet of the Apes series that began in 2011 with Rise of the Planet of the Apes. These movies have become the biggest surprises in the last 15 years of movies, telling great stories about the character Caesar and how he rules his group of apes. These were some of my favorite movies of the 2010s. Directed by Wes Ball, this next installment takes place 300 years after War for the Planet of the Apes, focusing on a new ape called Noa who will go on a journey and new ape leader Proximus Caesar leads his clan of apes to find any remaining human technology. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes comes out on May 24, 2024.
1. Dune: Part II
My most anticipated movie of 2024 is Dune: Part II, which was supposed to come out in 2023 but got delayed due to the Actors’ Strike. Once again, the director of the movie is Denis Villeneuve. Dune: Part II will continue where Dune left off and cover the rest of Frank Herbert’s original novel. Paul Atreides, played by Timothee Chalamet seeks revenge against those who destroyed his family and tries to predict a terrible future. Also in the cast are Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista, and Christopher Walken. Dune was one of the best movies from 2021, and Villeneuve is one of the best directors currently working. Dune: Part II comes out on March 1, 2024
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hat are your most anticipated movies? Let us know in the comments below.