Summary
- 2023 was a memorable year for the film industry, with surprises and setbacks that will impact the future.
- Original cinema had a successful year, challenging the dominance of blockbuster films.
- 2024 will feature a mix of original movies and highly anticipated sequels, with star-studded casts to look forward to.
2024 is here, and with it comes a bunch of exciting films featuring star-studded ensemble casts. 2023 wrapped as an unforgettable year for the film industry, with many surprises and setbacks that will surely affect the years to come. For one thing, the WGA and SAG strikes recovered a good part of the artists' rights, but in return, caused many highly-anticipated productions to get delayed.
Additionally, 2023 was a great year for original cinema, proving that fresh and creative productions still have a chance to beat the dull blockbusters that come out every year. The Barbenheimer phenomenon, in particular, guaranteed a place in history, dethroning the market giant Disney and its Marvel movies, which, for the first time in years, faced underwhelming numbers at the box office.
2024 might have a little bit of everything: it has the potential to be a promising year for original movies as well as for sequels that everybody is dying to check out. Here are 16 upcoming star-studded movies to get excited about.
16 Mean Girls — January 12, 2024
Mean Girls (2024)
- Release Date
- January 12, 2024
- Director
- Samantha Jayne , Arturo Perez Jr.
One of the first star-studded movies to hit theaters in 2024 is a musical adaptation of the modern classic Mean Girls, released 20 years before its successor. Back then, the movie offered an unconventional take on high school comedies and launched the careers of legendary actresses such as Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, and Amanda Seyfried.
The upcoming 2024 film is the cinematic equivalent of the Broadway musical written by Tina Fey and composed by Jeff Richmond and Nell Benjamin, all of whom will be returning for the film. Several cast members will be reprising their roles from the staged musical, including Renée Rapp as the iconic Regina George. While there are plenty of new faces in the young cast, Mean Girls will count on renowned stars such as Jon Hamm, Angourie Rice, Jenna Fischer, Busy Phillips, Tim Meadows, and Ashley Park. Releasing only in theaters January 12
15 Argylle — February 2, 2024
Argylle
- Release Date
- February 2, 2024
- Runtime
- 2hr 15min
Fans will be happy to know that Matthew Vaughn has finally moved on from the Kingsman franchise, and will be investing in a new ambitious spy action comedy, introducing an original conspiracy that toes the boundaries between real life and fiction. In the movie, a reclusive spy novelist is drawn to the real world when the plots of her books begin to mirror the actions of a real-life spy organization, turning her into a valuable asset in the eyes of dangerous people.
Argylle has probably the most unforeseen ensemble cast of all the movies releasing in 2024, similar to David O. Russel's Amsterdam in 2022. The cast includes Oscar- and Emmy-winners such as Catherine O'Hara, Bryan Cranston, Ariane DeBose, and Sam Rockwell, but also Razzie-nominated actors such as Sofia Boutella, the lead actress. After starring as alternative versions of Ken and Barbie in Barbie, John Cena and Dua Lipa reunite in Argylle as well. Releasing in theaters February 2 (and streaming on AppleTV+ at a later date)
14 Dune: Part Two — March 1, 2024
Dune: Part Two, the conclusion to Denis Villeneuve's ambitious adaptation of the classic Frank Herbert novel, was one of the most anticipated blockbusters of 2023, but with the strikes going on for so long, Warner Bros. had no option but to delay its major box office and awards player. Dune: Part Two was moved from November 2023 to March 2024, but expectations continue as high as they can get. Indeed, Villeneuve promises it will be more of an action film than Dune.
Lead actors such as Timothée Chalamet, Stellan Skarsgård, and Rebecca Ferguson will all be returning, but there are also plenty of new cast members to be thrilled about: Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Léa Seydoux, and Christopher Walken are all heavy names joining Dune: Part Two. In addition, after many viewers complained about Chani's reduced screen time in the first movie, Zenday's character will reportedly have a much bigger role in the second part. Releasing in theaters March 1
13 Kung Fu Panda 4 — March 8, 2024
Eight years after the third installment of the Kung Fu Panda franchise, Po is returning to the big screen to take his place as Dragon Warrior and defeat a new ruthless villain known as the Chameleon. Kung Fu Panda 4 will be directed by Mike Mitchell, and has the potential to be the filmmaker's redemption after the fiasco of Shrek Forever After, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, and The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.
Fans have a lot of reasons to be excited about the film, though, with the original voice cast returning: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, and Jackie Chan are all confirmed in Kung Fu Panda 4. Bryan Cranston's character, Li Shan, introduced in Kung Fu Panda 3, will also show up in the fourth movie, and Viola Davis will play the new villain, the Chameleon. Releasing in theaters March 8
12 Civil War — April 26, 2024
Civil War
- Release Date
- April 26, 2024
- Rating
- R
In 2023, A24 announced its plan to expand from indie productions to action and big IP projects. A quick look at the trailer of Alex Garland's Civil War is enough to convince viewers they are already putting this plan into practice. Garland rose to prominence with innovative sci-fi and cosmic horror projects, but he's now shifting to something more grounded in reality. The film will follow a team of journalists and their odyssey across a futuristic version of the United States shaken by a civil war of massive proportions.
With a runtime of over three hours, Civil War's vast and highly diverse ensemble cast comes as no surprise. Real-life husband and wife Jesse Plemons and Kirsten Dunst will star opposite each other, as well as Cailee Spaeny, who recently played Priscilla Presley in Priscilla, Parks and Recreation and The Last of Us star Nick Offerman, and the Brazilian actor Wagner Moura, known for playing Pablo Escobar in Narcos. Releasing in theaters April 26
11 IF — May 17, 2024
IF has everything to be a memorable family film, mixing 3D animation with live-action to tell the fantastical story of a girl who discovers an unusual superpower: she can see everyone else's imaginary friends, including those left behind when their real-life friends grew up. It feels like a contemporary version of the successful cartoon Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, but the real-world setting opens the door for plenty of creative ideas.
The ensemble cast of both the human characters and IF's imaginary creatures is top-tier, with names such as Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski (who's also writing and directing), Emily Blunt, and Matt Damon in the lead roles. The Walking Dead's young star Cailey Fleming will play the main character, the sweet Bea, and the imaginary friends will be voiced by stars such as Steve Carell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Sam Rockwell. Releasing in theaters May 17
10 The Bikeriders — June 21, 2024
The Bikeriders
- Release Date
- December 1, 2023
- Rating
- R
- Runtime
- 1hr 56min
The Bikeriders made a successful festival run in 2023, but Focus Features held a card up their sleeve and decided to release the movie in this year's summer, hoping for a chance in 2024's awards season. Directed by Jeff Nichols, the film follows the rise and fall of a Midwestern motorcycle club from the perspective of its members.
With bigger-than-life characters and a faithful reimagination of Danny Lyon's sturdy source material, a 1967 photo book of a Chicago-based motorcycle club, it's easy to mistake the film as a true story. However, the characters, played by the Oscar-nominated Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, Tom Hardy, and Mike Faist, are all fictional. The movie also brings Norman Reedus to do what he does best (ride a motorbike), as well as Michael Shannon, Nichols' long-term collaborator. Releasing in theaters June 21
9 A Quiet Place: Day One — June 28, 2024
A Quiet Place: Day One will take place prior to the events of the original storyline seen in A Quiet Play, which followed Emily Blunt's character and her children across John Krasinski's post-apocalyptic world. It's a spin-off prequel, meaning that a new cast with new characters will be introduced.
Although the title suggests the movie will take place on the first day of the alien attack, A Quiet Place: Day One will reportedly detail the origins of the bloodthirsty creatures that took over the Earth, potentially exploring both the circumstances that caused their attack and the consequences of their invasion. In the cast, there's Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong'o, Stranger Things star Joseph Quinn, Hereditary's Alex Wolff, and Oscar-nominee Djimon Hounsou. Releasing in theaters June 28
8 Deadpool 3 — July 26, 2024
The Multiverse trope is rapidly growing trite, and there's no better franchise movie than Deadpool to poke fun at it by doing the exact same thing. Deadpool 3's production was heavily affected by the WGA and SAG strikes, but is now back on track, bringing Ryan Reynolds back for a new meta, ultraviolent adventure. Joining him in his latest quest is none other than Hugh Jackman, who said goodbye to Wolverine in Logan, but is determined to return one last time in the hero's traditional suit, as the set pictures indicate.
Jennifer Garner is also reprising her Elektra role from 2003's Daredevil. This one is still remembered as one of the worst superhero movies ever made, so fans can expect a handful of jokes about that. Other movie stars in the cast of Deadpool 3 include Succession's Matthew Macfadyen, The Crown's Emma Corin, and Gotham's Morena Baccarin, returning as Wade Wilson's love interest Vanessa. Releasing in theaters July 26
7 Borderlands — August 9, 2024
Following Thanksgiving, one of the best horror movies of 2023, Eli Roth is now releasing an ambitious film adaptation of the popular video game series Borderlands. Set on the unpredictable planet of Pandora, the movie will follow Lillit, a renowned outlaw, and a band of criminals on a quest to find a precious relic and protect the daughter of a powerful man.
The ensemble cast promises a fun ride: Jack Black, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Kevin Hart are among the actors with a natural talent for comedy, adding a welcoming sense of humor to Borderlands's sci-fi setting. Other cast members include Cate Blanchett, Ariana Greenblatt, Florian Munteanu, and Haley Bennett. Releasing in theaters August 9
6 Beetlejuice 2 —September 6, 2024
Beetlejuice stands as a timeless 1980s classic, aging like fine wine and delivering every unique trademark that turned director Tim Burton into the genius of morbid comedies. The original movie introduced iconic characters such as Delia Deetz, Lydia, and, of course, the expert frightmeister Beetlejuice, all of whom are returning in the 2024 sequel, Beetlejuice 2, directed by Burton himself.
All the returning characters will be played by the original cast — that is, Catherine O'Hare, Winona Ryder, and Michael Keaton. To make up for the absence of Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis, Scream star Jenna Ortega, The Leftovers' Justin Theroux, and the legendary Willem Dafoe are thrilling additions. Releasing in theaters September 6
5 Transformers One —September 13, 2024
It's difficult to keep up with the Transformer franchise at this point, with so many legacy sequels and spin-off movies, but at least fans can always count on a top-tier ensemble cast for each film. An animated prequel set on Cybertron, Transformer One will be another of these side projects, but it might be the franchise's most ambitious movie ever since the first two films. Humans were always key players in the Transformers movies, even though the giant robots were what made the action so exciting.
In Transformers One, the story is focused entirely on the robots, more specifically, on how Optimus Prime and Megatron first became enemies. The voice cast includes movie stars such as Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, Jon Hamm, and Keegan-Michael Key. Releasing in theaters September 13
4 Joker: Folie a Deux — October 4, 2024
The news that Joaquin Phoenix's Joker would be returning for a sequel shook the internet in 2022, but what really shocked fans was the announcement that the sequel would be a musical, starring Lady Gaga as the iconic Harley Quinn, recently played by Margot Robbie in the Suicide Squad movies.
Little is known about the actual plot of Joker: Folie à Deux, but the names confirmed in the cast are already enough to raise high expectations. Banshees of Inisherin star Brendan Gleeson, Get Out's Catherine Keener, and Maze Runner's Jacob Lofland are all names confirmed in Joker's sequel, with more stars expected to be announced. Releasing in theaters October 6
3 Gladiator 2 — November 22, 2024
Gladiator 2 is on its way to become 2024's Oppenheimer, with new major names being continuously added to the cast every month so far. Although the first film's main character, Maximus Meridius, dies in the end, Gladiator 2 will be a direct sequel to the 2001 movie, following the nephew of the villainous Commodus, Lucius. He will be played by Paul Mescal, who was recently nominated for Best Actor at the Oscars for his moving role in Aftersun.
As of now, the extensive cast of Gladiator 2 counts on movie stars such as Denzel Washington, Joseph Quinn, Connie Nielsen, Pedro Pascal, Derek Jacobi, and Fred Hechinger, who took over Barry Keoghan's role of Emperor Geta after the actor dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. Releasing in theaters November 22
2 Wicked: Part One — November 27, 2024
One can tell from its title that Wicked: Part One is a risky, yet ambitious shot from Universal Studios: before it even came out, a sequel was already confirmed. That's a strategy that recently backfired with Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon - Part One, but Wicked has a strong source material to rely on.
Based on a successful Broadway musical, the movie is sold as an untold story from The Wizard of Oz universe, following the brittle relationship between Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. The announcement of Ariana Grande in one of the lead roles was enough to get people invested in the project, but other cast members include Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, and the Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh. Releasing in theaters November 27
1 Nosferatu — December 25, 2024
Universal Pictures
In a time when people are sick of the avalanche of remakes and reboots taking over the film industry, news about a new Nosferatu movie wouldn't impress anyone. However, after The Witch and The Lighthouse, Robert Eggers established himself as one of the most exciting horror directors to keep an eye out for.
Described as a terrifying tale about the romance between an unreliable vampire and a troubled young woman, Bill Skarsgård is taking over the role of Count Orlock, the infamous "Nosferatu", while Lily-Rose Depp plays his muse, Ellen Hutter. Nicholas Hoult, Willem Dafoe, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson are only a few of the movie stars joining Eggers in his new take on the classic vampire story. Releasing in theaters December 25
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