Movies That Will Blow Everyone Away In 2024

The year 2023 was a solid one for cinema. While superhero movies took a major hit (aside from the Spider-Verse), titles like "Oppenheimer" and "Barbie" earned rave reviews and big box office hauls. But with instant classics like "Killers of the Flower Moon" and "Godzilla Minus One" now in the rearview mirror, what does 2024 have in store? 

While there's a shocking lack of MCU or DC properties, 2024 promises to feature plenty of big-budget sequels and throwbacks to beloved properties from the 1980s. However, there are also plenty of original features set for release that hail from some of the most iconic filmmakers in history. All of these projects inhabit a variety of genres, including family films, action titles, and horror features, and they all have unique qualities that make them the likeliest must-sees of 2024. 

Updated on August 30, 2024: From scary stories and superhero movies to animated adventures and long-anticipated musicals, 2024 is full of awesome offerings. We update this list regularly, so check back often to see what exciting movies the year has to offer.

There are few films more iconic to the goth crowd than "Beetlejuice," the 1988 absurdist black comedy from director Tim Burton. The film starred Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz, a morose teen who moves into a new home and meets the ghosts of married couple Barbara and Adam (Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin), as well as a sass-talking trickster from the underworld named Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton). While there have been multiple attempts to make a sequel to this strange, surreal movie, it looks like we're finally getting one in 2024.

Announced in May 2023, "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" will see Winona Ryder come back as Lydia, with Jenna Ortega of "Wednesday" fame playing her daughter, Astrid. They'll be joined by a returning Catherine O'Hara as Delia Deetz and Monica Bellucci of "The Matrix" series as Beetlejuice's wife. Justin Theroux of "The Leftovers" fame is playing a character named Rory, and the Green Goblin himself, Willem Dafoe, will be playing a B-movie star turned afterlife law enforcement officer. And, of course, you can't have a "Beetlejuice" movie without Michael Keaton, and the Oscar-nominated star is indeed returning as the ghost with the most.

The script hails from "Wednesday" scribes Miles Millar and Alfred Gough, and Burton himself is returning to direct the project, with long-time collaborator Danny Elfman scoring the pic. Perhaps the most exciting bit of news about the upcoming movie involves the visual effects. Reports coming out of 2024's CinemaCon praised the movie's heavy reliance on practical effects, including stop-motion animation. Prepare for some spooky laughs and hopefully a lot of Harry Belafonte songs on September 6, 2024.

Jeremy Saulnier, we've missed you, man. The director grabbed our attention with the double whammy of "Blue Ruin" and "Green Room," uniquely American tales that explored concepts like vengeance, violence, and simmering rage in the U.S. After working on "True Detective" Season 3 in 2019, Saulnier vanished from the spotlight while working on his upcoming film, "Rebel Ridge." And after patiently waiting for several years, we're pretty psyched to see what Saulnier has in store.

"Rebel Ridge" is set to hit Netflix on September 6, 2024, with Aaron Pierre ("The Underground Railroad") starring as Terry Richmond, an ex-Marine who's come to a small town to bail his cousin out of jail. However, things go wrong from the moment Terry arrives, with the plot synopsis telling us, "When Terry's life's savings is unjustly seized by law-enforcement, he's forced to go head to head with local police chief Sandy Burnne and his combat-ready officers. Terry finds an unlikely ally in court clerk Summer McBride, and the two become ensnared in a deep-rooted conspiracy within the remote township. As the stakes turn deadly, Terry must call upon his mysterious background to break the department's hold on the community, bring justice to his own family — and protect Summer in the process."

Don Johnson of "Miami Vice" and "Knives Out" fame will play the villainous police officer, with AnnaSophia Robb ("Bridge to Terabithia") as Terry's ally. The film will also star David Denman ("The Office") and James Cromwell ("Succession"), among others. Speaking with Tudum, Saulnier explained that "Rebel Ridge" will be very inspired by his love of "grounded '80s and '90s action films that not only deliver on spectacle but succeed in tying on-screen mayhem to a real and true emotional component. Smaller scale, bigger impact."

Robert Eggers is a force in the world of horror, leaving our skin crawling with creepy masterpieces such as "The Witch" and "The Lighthouse." Soon, he'll have us looking over our shoulders for vampires with his upcoming adaptation of "Nosferatu." However, he's not the only member of the Eggers family who knows how to make a scary movie. His two brothers, Max and Sam Eggers, have joined forces for a horror project of their own with "The Front Room," which stars the one and only Brandy Norwood ("Cinderella," "Moesha," "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer") as a woman coming face to face with her worst nightmare: her mother-in-law.

The trailer for "The Front Room" finds Brandy's character, Belinda, inviting her recently widowed mother-in-law, Solange (Kathryn Hunter of "Poor Things"), to move into her home, especially after the elder woman offers quite a bit of cash in exchange for the deal. Belinda's husband seems a bit more hesitant — his relationship with the mom is definitely frayed, and we quickly see why. Not only does Solange take over the house the moment she steps in the door, she seems to be blatantly racist, practicing some sort of unholy religion, and threatening Belinda's newborn daughter. It seems something evil is creeping into Belinda's home, and there's perhaps no hell worse than dealing with in-laws, especially when they're snippy and satanic.

If you're looking for a studio with a consistent track record of first-rate horror movies and thrillers, look no further than Blumhouse. Since 2010, they've made some of the most popular and critically acclaimed films around. They've also served as a showcase for up-and-coming directors' visions, including James Wan's "Insidious," Jordan Peele's "Get Out," and Leigh Whannell's "The Invisible Man." Should you need a safe bet on a nail-biting suspense story in 2024, don't miss Blumhouse's "Speak No Evil."

A remake of a Danish film, "Speak No Evil" is helmed by James Watkins (director of "The Woman in Black"), and it will star James McAvoy, whose performance in Blumhouse's "Split" and "Glass" earned him favorable reviews. The remake's plot follows an American couple who befriend a British couple on vacation. The Brits then invite their American counterparts to visit their charming country home ... and that's when things start getting weird. Soon, the hosts starts acting very strangely, making our protagonists wonder if perhaps they should pack their bags and go before things get any darker.

McAvoy will portray the one-half of the creepy couple, alongside Aisling Franciosi of "The Nightingale." Scott McNairy of "Argo" and Mackenzie Davis of "Terminator: Dark Fate" will portray the American couple who don't want to offend anyone but don't necessarily want to stick around as McAvoy's character turns up the intensity. Alix West Lefler ("Riverdale") and newcomer Dan Hough round out the cast, and this new take on the disturbing Danish original is scheduled for release on September 13, 2024.

Dave Bautista's acting career is one of the most exciting stories in Hollywood today. The WWE star impressed critics and audiences everywhere as Drax the Destroyer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and since then, he's blown us away in movies like "Blade Runner 2049," "Glass Onion," and "Knock at the Cabin." Now, he'll be the lead of the upcoming action-comedy pic "The Killer's Game," based on the novel by Jay R. Bonansinga.

Here, Bautista plays Joe Flood, an assassin who learns he's dying of cancer. Wanting to avoid a painful death, he puts a contract on his own head ... and then he learns he was misdiagnosed. Now, he'll have to fight off all the killers coming to collect the bounty, as well as protect his girlfriend from the army of assassins heading his way.

Sofia Boutella of "Rebel Moon" will portray Bautista's significant other, and the cast will be rounded out with a murderers' row of talent — Ben Kingsley ("Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings"), Terry Crews ("Brooklyn Nine-Nine"), Scott Adkins ("John Wick: Chapter 4"), and Bautista's "Guardians of the Galaxy" costar Pom Klementieff. The film comes courtesy of director J.J. Perry, who delivered plenty of bloody action with the Netflix vampire flick "Day Shift."

Directed by Megan Park — perhaps best known for acting in "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," as well as helming the Jenna Ortega movie "The Fallout" — "My Old Ass" centers on an 18-year-old woman named Elliot. Played by singer/actor Maisy Stella, Elliot is getting ready to head off to college, but first, she decides to go on a camping trip with her friends and do some shrooms. It's then she meets her future self, played by Aubrey Plaza ("Parks and Recreation"). Older Elliot has many words of wisdom for her teenage self, such as be nicer to your mom, hang out with your brothers, and stay away from a guy named Chad. Of course, taking that advice is a whole lot harder — especially when Chad shows up — and perhaps old Elliot can learn a lesson or two from her younger counterpart.

"My Old Ass" was a huge hit at 2024's Sundance, where Amazon MGM purchased it for a whopping $15 million. Speaking about the film at the festival, Park had to say, "I kept thinking about this idea: there was a time when you did something like play pretend with your friends, and then you just never did it again. That made me really emotional. I also wanted to immerse myself in a joyful film and something that made people feel nostalgic for an easier, simpler time in life. Because life can be hard and s****y sometimes."

"Transformers" is returning to its cartoon roots with "Transformers One." A fully animated feature film — the first for the franchise since "Transformers: The Movie" in 1986 — this new adventure will be a prequel that explores the origins of the Autobots and Decepticons on Cybertron long before the events of the 2007 blockbuster series starter directed by Michael Bay.

Revolving around the surprising friendship between Optimus Prime and Megatron, this movie will chronicle their journey to becoming bitter rivals and deadly enemies. The voice cast is impressive, with a group of A-list superstars lending their talents to the cartoon prequel. Chris Hemsworth of Thor fame will voice the young Optimus Prime, known here as Orion Pax. Brian Tyree Henry of "Atlanta" will play Megatron, whose younger version is called D-16. "Black Widow" star Scarlett Johansson will voice Elita-1, Keegan-Michael Key ("Wonka") will portray an early version of Bumblebee, Jon Hamm ("Mad Men") will play Sentinel Prime, and Laurence Fishburne ("The Matrix") will voice Alpha Trion. Also, keep an ear out for Steve Buscemi ("Boardwalk Empire").

According to footage shown at 2024's CinemaCon, the movie will take place on the planet Cybertron, where Orion Pax, D-16, and Bumblebee join up with Elita-1 to reach the surface world, find the Matrix of Leadership, and gain the power to transform. The film's trailer also indicates that Cybertron will be invaded by alien foes, which means our robo-heroes will have to save the day. Per Slashfilm, the movie is both epic and comedic, similar to 2023's "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem." Josh Cooley of "Toy Story 4" will direct while Steven Spielberg once serves as producer. "Transformers" fans can expect to see the movie roll out in cinemas on September 20, 2024.

When we think of the great actor pairings in Hollywood history, we think Paul Newman and Robert Redford, Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci — but perhaps the coolest pairing is George Clooney and Brad Pitt. These two teamed up for several big-time heists in the "Ocean's Eleven" trilogy, and they've also appeared together in projects like "Burn After Reading."

Now, the handsome A-listers are joining forces for a comedy action flick titled "Wolfs," which will find them playing fixers. If something bad goes down, these are the guys who will clean up your mess. However, these two operate as lone wolves. They don't want anybody's help; they prefer to go it alone. But when they're forced to work together on a job that gets wildly out of control, these two loners will have to work as a team.

The film is being directed by Jon Watts, who famously helmed all three Tom Holland "Spider-Man" movies. Joining Clooney and Pitt in the film, we'll see Austin Abrams ("Do Revenge") Amy Ryan ("Only Murders in the Building"), and Poorna Jagannathan ("Never Have I Ever"). The unwilling buddy crook comedy will hit select theaters on September 20 before moving to Apple TV+ on September 27.

As the 2024 season gets closer to awards season, pay attention to "His Three Daughters," as it will most likely garner quite a bit of attention for its lead trio. Directed by Azazel Jacobs ("French Exit," "The Lovers"), the Netflix dramedy stars Elizabeth Olsen (the Marvel Cinematic Universe), Carrie Coon ("The Leftovers"), and Natasha Lyonne ("Poker Face") as three sisters who reunite as their father enters into his last days on Earth.

The plot description from Netflix describes Coon's character as "a controlling Brooklyn mother dealing with a wayward daughter," while Olsen's sister is "free-spirited" and "a different kind of mom, separated from her offspring for the first time." And it will come as no surprise that Lyonne is playing a "sports-betting stoner who has never left her father's apartment." Needless to say, the three will butt heads over the course of the film as they grapple with their father's impending death and try to come together as family despite their many differences. The movie will have a limited theatrical release on September 6 before making its way to Netflix on September 20, per Variety.

Coralie Fargeat roared onto the screen in 2017 with the blood-soaked, candy-colored, rage-filled "Revenge." Now, she's back for another bizarro, violent, upsetting film about women trying to survive under the male gaze. The film is titled "The Substance," and when it premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, it won the award for best screenplay. It also stars some pretty heavy hitters — Demi Moore ("Ghost"), Margaret Qualley ("Once Upon a Time in Hollywood"), and Dennis Quaid ("Far From Heaven").

"The Substance" promises to be a messed-up treat for body horror fans, as the official synopsis reveals, "Moore's Elisabeth Sparkle is a former A-lister past her prime who is suddenly fired from her fitness TV show by repellent studio head Harvey (Quaid). She is then drawn to the opportunity presented by a mysterious new drug, the Substance. All it takes is one injection and she is reborn – temporarily – as the gorgeous, twentysomething Sue (Qualley). The only rule? Time needs to be split: exactly one week in one body, then one week in the other. No exceptions. A perfect balance. What could go wrong?"

See the glitz, glamor, and gore play out on September 20, 2024.

When he's not busy in the MCU as Bucky Barnes, Sebastian Stan is playing in all sorts of wild and interesting movies. He portrayed a charming cannibal in "Fresh," the abusive Jeff Gillooly in "I, Tonya," and Donald Trump himself in "The Apprentice." Now, he's taking on a wild dark comedy with "A Different Man."

Directed by Aaron Schimberg ("Chained for Life"), the film finds Stan playing an actor named Edward, who has a condition called neurofibromatosis that causes facial deformities due to tumors. However, when a miraculous new procedure comes along, Edward is able to radically transform his face. While that initially brings him joy, things take a twist when he meets Oswald, another actor with the same genetic condition. Oswald is playing Edward in a play based on his life, and soon, Edward becomes obsessed with Oswald and his seeming confidence and self-acceptance, causing him to majorly spiral.

Oswald is played by Adam Pearson, who really does have neurofibromatosis. Until now, Pearson is most famous for playing alongside Scarlett Johansson in "Under the Skin." The film also stars Renate Reinsve of "The Worst Person in the World." The unique black comedy will find its way to theaters on September 20, 2024.

Alexandre Aja knows a thing or two about building tension — like, the man actually directed a movie called "High Tension." With titles like "Crawl" and 2006's "The Hills Have Eyes" under his belt, he's an expert horror, so we're pretty excited to see his upcoming film: "Never Let Go."

Seet in a post-apocalyptic world, the film follows a mother and her two twins who — per the official plot synopsis — "have been tormented by an evil spirit for years and are convinced to never let go of their family's protective bond." In this case, the bond is literal — whenever they step outside, they have be tethered to their house by a sturdy rope. However, as the plot synopsis elaborates, "When one of the boys questions if the evil is real, their connection is severed, triggering a terrifying fight for survival."

The mother will be played by the one and only Halle Berry, who's no stranger to high-stakes drama thanks to recent movies like "Bruised," "Moonfall," and "John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum." Playing her fraternal twin sons, we'll meet Percy Daggs IV ("The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey") and Anthony B. Jenkins ("The Deliverance"). The creepy thriller will hit theaters on September 27, 2024.

Based on the middle-grade novel by Peter Brown, "The Wild Robot" hails from DreamWorks, and it looks to be the kind of beautifully animated, tenderly told story that will have everyone in the audience misty-eyed.

The story follows a robot swept away in a typhoon, who washes ashore on a remote island. There are no people here — only dense forests and woodland animals, many of whom aren't thrilled to see this intruder on their turf. However, she soon begins forming bonds with the local wildlife, particularly a young gosling who she must teach how to fly in order to migrate. Unfortunately, the robot's life on the island is threatened when the company that built her comes calling.

Chris Sanders ("Lilo & Stitch," "How to Train Your Dragon," "The Croods") is directing, and speaking at 2024's CinemaCon, he explained how "The Wild Robot" was inspired by classic Disney movies, and he described the film's visual style as "a Monet painting in a Miyazaki forest." The movie also boasts an all-star cast with Lupita Nyong'o of "A Quiet Place: Day One" as the titular character. She's joined by Pedro Pascal "The Mandalorian"), Catherine O'Hara ("Beetlejuice Beetlejuice"), Bill Nighy (the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise), Mark Hamill (the "Star Wars" franchise), Ving Rhames (the "Mission: Impossible" movies), Matt Berry ("What We Do in the Shadows"), Kit Connor ("Heartstopper"), and Stephanie Hsu ("Everything Everywhere All at Once").

Francis Ford Coppola is a cinematic giant, who's directed several of the all-time great movies ("Apocalypse Now," "The Conversation," and the first two "Godfather" movies). Now, he's returning to theaters with one of the biggest, boldest films of his career — "Megalopolis."

Coppola has been working on "Megalopolis" for about 40 years. He eventually had to self-finance the movie for $120 million, and when filming began, the production was hit with multiple controversies, including the visual effects and art teams either walking from the project or getting fired and — per The Guardian — accusations of inappropriate on-set behavior by Coppola, among other things. Then the movie premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival where critics either praised it as a monumental work or critiqued it as absolute insanity.

As for the plot, "Megalopolis" draws from Roman history, with Adam Driver (the "Star Wars" franchise) playing an architect named Cesar who hopes to rebuild the city of New Rome. The mayor of the city (Giancarlo Esposito of "Breaking Bad" fame) wants to keep things the way they are, and in between, there's the mayor's daughter (Nathalie Emmanuel of the "Fast and Furious" series), who's in love with Cesar. The cast also features Aubrey Plaza ("The White Lotus"), Shia LaBeouf ("Transformers"), Laurence Fishburne ("The Matrix"), Jason Schwartzman ("Rushmore"), Dustin Hoffman ("Rain Man"), Jon Voight ("Midnight Cowboy"), and Talia Shire ("Rocky") among others.

It took "Megalopolis" a long time to find a distributor — the movie is reportedly wild, with one scene involving Adam Driver talking to someone actually in the theater — but Lionsgate eventually stepped up to the plate. "Megalopolis" will finally hit theater screens (including IMAX) on September 27, 2024.

Horror prequels can be pretty hit or miss. On one side, you've got awesome films like "Pearl," "The First Omen," and "Prey." On the other side, you've got 2011's "The Thing," "Hannibal Rising," and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning." So if someone were to make a prequel to "Rosemary's Baby," which side of the spectrum would it fall? Well, we're going to find out in September 2024, when "Apartment 7A" comes to Paramount+.

The upcoming film is set in 1960s New York and takes place in the same creepy apartment as the first film, just before Rosemary Woodhouse shows up. Julia Garner ("Ozark," "Fantastic Four") will play an aspiring dancer who suffers a terrible injury. Then — per the official plot synopsis — she "finds herself drawn in by dark forces when a peculiar, well-connected, older couple promises her a shot at fame."

We're assuming that aforementioned shot at fame won't have any negative drawbacks or have anything to do with Satan in any way shape or form. The film comes from director Natalie Erika James ("Relic") and features actors like Dianne Wiest ("The Mayor of Kingstown"), Jim Strugess ("Across the Universe"), and Kevin McNally (the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series).

A modern-day scream queen, Samara Weaving has played both final girls, slasher victims, and scary villains in horror films like "Ready or Not," "Scream VI," and "The Babysitter." Now, she returns to the genre, albeit with a post-apocalyptic bent. Scheduled for September 27, 2024, "Azrael" takes place after the biblical rapture, where those left behind can't speak. In this desolated world, a creepy cult has decided to sacrifice a woman named Azrael (Weaving) to a demonic entity living in the woods. Needless to say, Azrael has other intentions, leading to a quiet yet intense fight for survival.

"Azrael" is directed by E.L. Katz, who directed six episodes of "Channel Zero" and one installment of "The House of Bly Manor." On the movie side of things, he helmed the Netflix crime thriller "Small Crimes" and "Cheap Thrills," one of the heaviest dark comedies ever made. The screenplay comes courtesy of Simon Barrett, one of the most exciting scribes in the game. In addition to penning the massively successful "Godzilla x Kong," Barrett has written the scripts for wonderful horror films such as "The Guest" and "You're Next."

The original "Joker" may not have been everybody's cup of tea, but it certainly delivered something that people couldn't stop talking about. Now, a follow-up film is officially scheduled for release in October 2024, with Joaquin Phoenix reprising his Oscar-winning role of Arthur Fleck. Another key figure from the character's comic book lore will be added to the proceedings in the form of Harley Quinn, played by Lady Gaga. On top of that, this new film, entitled "Joker: Folie à Deux," will be a jukebox musical, with songs such as "When You're Smiling," "Get Happy," and "For Once in My Life."

While the concept of making a "Joker" sequel may sound predictable, making it a musical certainly wasn't something anyone expected. Just the prospect of seeing this universe filtered through the lens of a musical sounds incredibly interesting. The idea of Lady Gaga playing a version of Harley Quinn with even a fraction of the energy and passion she brought to her "House of Gucci" performance sounds super exciting. Additionally, she'll be joined by the likes of Catherine Keener ("Get Out"), Steve Coogan ("The Trip" series) Brendan Gleeson ("The Banshees of Inisherin"), Harry Lawtey ("Industry"), and Jacob Lofland (the "Maze Runner" movies). Zazie Beetz will reprise her role of stalking victim Sophie from the first film, Todd Phillips is directing and co-writing the screenplay with Scott Silver, and Hildur Guðnadóttir — who won an Oscar for the first film — will return to write the score.

In other words, "Joker: Folie à Deux" — which will take place in Arkham Asylum, where both Joker and Harley are patients — is bound to be as divisive as its predecessor, but it also sounds like the kind of sequel that impressively swings for the fences rather than sits on its laurels.

Science fiction and superheroes aren't the only movies to get sequels in 2024; There's also "Terrifier 3," the next in a series of bloody slashers from writer-director Damien Leone. The first film in the series, released in 2016, introduces bloodthirsty killer clown Art, who chases a trio of young women on Halloween. Produced on a shoestring budget, it managed to become an instant cult favorite, leading to a 2022 sequel with a more fantastical scope and bloodier kills. 

Now, "Terrifier 3" is ready to unleash all sorts of gore on cheerfully queasy audiences. The movie will slash its ways into theaters on October 11, 2024, boasting an impressive cast. It will include David Howard Thornton (Art the Clown), Lauren LaVera (Sienna Shaw), Samantha Scaffidi (Victoria Heyes), and Elliott Fullam (Jonathan Shaw), as well as wrestler Chris Jericho, special effects legend Tom Savini, and Jason Patric, star of the '80s vampire classic "The Lost Boys," among others.

The third film will pick up right where "Terrifier 2" left off in the psychiatric ward. The story will also find Sienna Shaw staying with her uncle and aunt on Christmas Eve, which means Art will be close behind, ready to deliver some holiday carnage as an evil, ax-wielding Kris Kringle. We'll also get more info on Sienna's father and his mysterious notebook, which could begin to connect the dots surrounding the larger mystery of Art the Clown.

On October 11, 1975, television and comedy changed forever when "Saturday Night Live" aired its very first episode on NBC. With George Carlin as the host, the revolutionary series introduced audiences to the talents of Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, and Gilda Radner, among others. And now that we're approaching the show's 50th's anniversary, director Jason Reitman will pay tribute to those game-changing skits and incredible comedians with "Saturday Night," a movie that will focus on the behind-the-scenes drama surrounding the first episode.

Reitman (who directed "Juno," "Up in the Air," and "Ghostbusters: Afterlife") also wrote the script and based the story on interviews that he and co-writer Gil Kenan conducted with multiple people involved with "SNL." Gabriel LaBelle of "The Fabelmans" will portray "SNL" creator Lorne Michaels, while Dylan O'Brien ("The Maze Runner") will play Aykroyd, Cory Michael Smith ("Gotham") will portray Chase, Ella Hunt ("Horizon: An American Saga") will play Radner, and feature-film newcomer Matt Wood will portray Belushi. Rachel Sennott ("Bottoms") will star as "SNL" writer Rosie Shuster, and Cooper Hoffman ("Licorice Pizza") will play NBC executive Dick Ebersol.

Rounding out the cast, Nicholas Braun ("Succession") will play both Andy Kaufman and Jim Henson — who, if you don't know, actually had Muppet sketches on the first season of "SNL" — and singer Jon Batiste will play musical guest Billy Preston. You can also expect to see names like Finn Wolfhard ("Stranger Things"), Willem Dafoe ("Spider-Man: No Way Home"), J.K. Simmons ("Whiplash"), and Andrew Barth Feldman ("No Hard Feelings"), among others.

Who doesn't love Florence Pugh? Who doesn't love Andrew Garfield? They're two of the most respected and adored actors working today, and the "Oppenheimer" actress and the "Spider-Man: No Way Home" star will find themselves playing lovers in the upcoming "We Live in Time." The movie responsible for Pugh rocking an incredibly close haircut at the 2023 Met Gala, this A24 film is directed by John Crowley ("Brooklyn") and — per the official plot synopsis — "watches as Almut (Pugh) and Tobias (Garfield) are brought together in a surprise encounter that changes their lives."

That surprise encounter involves Almut accidentally hitting Tobias with her car. But far from getting angry, Tobias falls head over heels for Almut. Unfortunately, their romance seems like it will be short-lived, with Almut receiving what appears to be a cancer diagnosis. As the plot synopsis explains, "Through snapshots of their life together ... a difficult truth is revealed that rocks its foundation. As they embark on a path challenged by the limits of time, they learn to cherish each moment of the unconventional route their love story has taken."

It goes without saying that Mel Gibson is a pretty controversial Hollywood persona, but despite the man's notoriety, the dude knows how to direct. He shattered box office records with "The Passion of the Christ," and historically accurate or not, both "Braveheart" and "Apocalypto" are incredibly tense thrill rides.

Now, eight years after helming "Hacksaw Ridge," Gibson is back with a new film titled "Flight Risk." Here, Mark Wahlberg ("Arthur the King") plays a pilot who's taking a U.S. marshal (Michelle Dockery of "Downton Abbey") and a fugitive (Topher Grace of "That '70s Show") across Alaskan airspace. But as they get deeper into the flight, the tension starts to build, as Wahlberg's character seems a tad suspicious. Turns out, he's not a real pilot at all — he's a mob hitman sent to kill Grace's fugitive and keep him from testifying against a mafia boss. The high-flying drama plays out on October 13, 2024.

One of the biggest surprises of 2022 was Parker Finn's "Smile," a psychological horror movie that manages to make a pleasant grin into a terrifying ordeal. Adapted from Finn's 2020 short film "Laura Hasn't Slept," the film was initially going to be a direct-to-steaming original amid the pandemic before it pivoted to a theatrical release in the fall. There, it shocked the world and became a surprising box office smash at a time when movies were struggling in theaters, amassing more than $200 million on a minuscule budget. It was also met with rave reviews from both critics and audiences who praised its fresh take on the genre.

Given its success both critically and commercially, it should come as no surprise that a sequel was quickly greenlit and will arrive in 2024. Finn is back to direct and pen the script once more, which will revolve around a pop star — played by Naomi Scott of Disney's live-action "Aladdin" — who's become the target of the evil, smiling spirt. We'll also see Lukas Gage of "Road House," Rosemarie DeWitt of "The Staircase," Dylan Gelula of "Dream Scenario," Raúl Castillo of "Cassandro," Miles Gutierrez-Riley of "The Wilds," and a returning Kyle Gallner as Joel. Considering the overwhelmingly positive response to the first film, there's very little doubt that the "Smile" sequel will deliver more bone-rattling chills and have audiences bailing for the blankets. It's readying for an appropriate Halloween release, dropping in cinemas on October 18, 2024.

"Anora" walked away with the Palme d'Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, and there's a good chance it'll be a serious Oscar contender, especially for lead actress Mikey Madison ("Once Upon a Time in Hollywood"). Here, Madison plays the titular Anora, a sex worker who finds herself in a wild romance with Vanya (Mark Eydelshteyn), the son of a powerful Russian oligarch. Taking a page from the "Pretty Woman" playbook, Vanya pays Anora to be his girlfriend for a week, which soon ends up in marriage.

As you might assume, this doesn't sit well with Vanya's family, who are desperate to annul the marriage. Based on the trailer, this doesn't look like your standard rom-com — it looks raunchier, grittier, darker, while also passionate and hilarious. The film comes courtesy of Sean Baker, one of the most unique directors working today, with films such as "Tangerine" and "The Florida Project" under his belt. With tons of acclaim and that Palme d'Or at its back, "Anora" looks to be one of the best films of 2024 when it releases on October 18, 2024.

There's a common belief, particularly regarding superhero films, that the third movie in a series is the worst. This may be true of the first "X-Men" trilogy, Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man" movies, and "Blade: Trinity," but recent threequels like "Logan," "Captain America: Civil War," and "Spider-Man: No Way Home" have broken with that history. In 2024, Sony is hoping to continue that positive trend with a third "Venom" film, currently scheduled for October 25, 2024.

Tom Hardy will be back in the title role, and Kelly Marcel will take the helm for the new installment. Marcel, who wrote the first two movies, is also penning the script, based on a story she developed with Hardy. Per the official plot synopsis, ""Eddie and Venom are on the run. Hunted by both of their worlds and with the net closing in, the duo are forced into a devastating decision that will bring the curtains down on Venom and Eddie's last dance."

"Doctor Strange" actor Chiwetel Ejiofor is starring in an undisclosed role. (Rumor has it he's playing Orwell Taylor, the leader of a vigilante organization that wants to kill Venom.) Emmy-nominated "Ted Lasso" star Juno Temple will also appear alongside Peggy Lu as Ms. Chen, Stephen Grama as Detective Mulligan, Cristo Fernández as the bartender from "Spider-Man: No Way Home," and, weirdly enough, Rhys Ifans as totally separate character than Curt Connors, who he portrayed in both the aforementioned "No Way Home" and "The Amazing Spider-Man."

Considering the billion-dollar gross of the first two films and overwhelmingly positive reviews from fans, there's high expectations for the next movie to deliver even more spine-tingling thrills, over-the-top spills, and plenty of gut-bursting kills.

After bursting onto the scene with his debut novel "Carrie," Stephen King followed up the psychic thrills with his take on "Dracula." The result was "'Salem's Lot," one of the best vampire stories ever told, which was adapted into two separate TV miniseries. Now, the undead tale is getting the feature-length treatment, courtesy of writer-director Gary Dauberman, who previously penned both recent "It" movies and directed "Annabelle Comes Home."

Of course, it hasn't been an easy road for this version of "Salem's Lot." The horror film was originally slated for September 2022, but then Warner Bros. decided to be Warner Bros., and the film was pulled. We've been wondering for years if we'd ever see this film or if it would suffer the same fate as "Batgirl," but fortunately, "Salem's Lot" will debut on Max this October. As for the plot, it follows author Ben Mears who returns to his hometown of Salem's Lot and discovers a sinister force is turning the citizenry into night-loving, bloodsucking beasts.

Lewis Pullman of "Lessons in Chemistry" and "Top Gun: Maverick" will portray Ben Mears, and he'll be joined here by Makenzie Leigh ("Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk"), Jordan Preston Carter ("Shaft"), Alfre Woodard ("Luke Cage"), Bill Camp ("The Queen's Gambit"), William Sadler ("The Shawshank Redemption"), and Pilou Asbaek ("Game of Thrones"), among others. We also know that while we're getting familiar yet creepy scenes like that moment at the window, Dauberman is bringing his own ideas to the material, and we'll be getting one new and terrifying scene at a drive-in theater.

Hot off the Oscar-winning "All Quiet on the Western Front," director Edward Berger is shifting his focus from the trenches of World War I to the shadowy and secretive hallways of the Vatican. The filmmaker is adapting Robert Harris' best-seller "Conclave," with Ralph Fiennes ("The Menu") in the lead. Fiennes plays Cardinal Lawrence, whose world is rocked after the mysterious death of the pope. With the papal throne vacant, Lawrence is put in charge of finding the next man to lead the Catholic Church.

As you might assume, this isn't as easy as it sounds. Some of the possible successors are corrupt while the deceased pope himself harbored a few secrets of his own. Speaking about Fiennes' character to Vanity Fair, Edward Berger said, "He finds himself in a crisis of faith — it's really about a quiet man surrounded by men who vie for power as he tries to rediscover his faith." The "Harry Potter" star will find himself joined by Stanley Tucci ("The Devil Wears Prada"), John Lithgow ("Dexter"), and Isabella Rossellini ("Blue Velvet"). The film will no doubt be a major awards contender, and we're wondering if perhaps this one will finally snag Fiennes an Oscar.

Following his directorial debut, "When You Finish Saving the World," Jesse Eisenberg returns to the director's chair with "A Real Pain." Here, Eisenberg — who also penned the script — plays the anxious David who reunites with his wilder cousin, Benji (played by the hot-off-"Succession" Kieran Culkin). Together, the two head to Poland, partly to tour the landmarks of the Holocaust, partly to visit their grandmother's old home, and partly to bond with each other after drifting apart.

Needless to say, after so many years, the cousins have become very different people, and old family history will get dragged up as they tour the pain of their people. "A Real Pain" will have a limited release on November 1, 2024, and we're incredibly intrigued to see Eisenberg and Culkin trading witty barbs and dealing with emotional baggage.

Back at the 67th Academy Awards, Robert Zemeckis and Tom Hanks struck gold with "Forrest Gump." Both men won Oscars for their work in the landmark film, as did screenwriter Eric Roth. Now, the three award winners are teaming up with Jenny actress Robin Wright for a new prestige pic titled "Here." Based on a 2014 graphic novel by Richard McGuire, the film takes place over multiple decades and focuses on a single room and all the events that happen there — moments of both joy and tragedy. In fact, not only does the movie take place in a single location, the camera never moves. The entire movie will be filmed from one locked-down perspective.

In addition to the Hanks/Wright reunion, we'll also see Paul Bettany ("WandaVision"), Kelly Reilly ("Yellowstone"), and Michelle Dockery ("Downton Abbey"). And because this is a Zemeckis movie, there will definitely be effects trickery at play — this time around, the director will be using digitally de-aging techniques for some of the actors. The movie will hit theaters on November 1, 2024, meaning "Here" could likely be a player in the 2025 awards season.

Ho, ho, ho — Christmas 2024 is right around the corner, and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is bringing a bag full of action and holiday cheer. The wrestler turned A-list actor is teaming up with Captain America himself, Chris Evans, for a new Christmas-themed adventure flick called "Red One." Johnson plays Callum Drift, the head of North Pole security, who must team up with Evans' infamous bounty hunter, Jack O'Malley, when Santa Claus is kidnapped. Their quest will lead them to a slap battle with Krampus and a tropical showdown with some musclebound snowmen, with plenty of bickering along the way. Johnson has compared the movie to beloved titles such as "Miracle on 34th Street," "Hobbs & Shaw," "Harry Potter," "Jumanji," and "It's a Wonderful Life."

In addition to Johnson and Evans, the movie will also feature Lucy Liu ("Kill Bill"), Kiernan Shipka ("Chilling Adventures of Sabrina"), Bonnie Hunt ("Beethoven"), Kristofer Hivju ("Game of Thrones"), Nick Kroll ("Big Mouth"), Mary Elizabeth Ellis ("It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia"), and J.K. Simmons ("Whiplash") as a jacked Santa Claus. The movie was penned by Chris Morgan — who previously wrote "Fast & Furious" titles like "Furious 7" — and will be directed by Jake Kasdan, who worked with Johnson in both recent "Jumanji" movies. Coming from Amazon MGM Studios, the action flick is expected to kick off a major franchise, and it'll hit theaters on November 15, 2024, before making its way to Prime Video.

We haven't seen Cameron Diaz on the screen in quite some time. The "Charlie's Angels" star last appeared in 2014's "Annie," and since then, she's been in retirement. Fortunately for Diaz fans, the actress is back in action for a film titled, appropriately enough, "Back in Action." She's reteaming with her "Annie co-star," Jamie Foxx, and together, the two will be playing secret agents forced out of retirement.

Per the official logline, "Years after giving up life as CIA spies to start a family, Emily and Matt find themselves dragged back into the world of espionage when their cover is blown." Diaz and Foxx will be joined by the likes of Kyle Chandler ("Friday Night Lights"), Glenn Close ("Fatal Attraction"), Andrew Scott ("Ripley"), and Jamie Demetriou ("Barbie"), among others, and it's directed by Seth Gordon of "Horrible Bosses" and "Identity Thief." From the brief footage we've seen, it looks like "Back in Action" will be a rollicking fun time when it hits Netflix sometime in 2024.

Scott Beck and Bryan Woods first terrified us with their screenplay for John Krasinski's "A Quiet Place," and since then, they've taken Hollywood by storm. They adapted Stephen KIng's "The Boogeyman," are currently working on Sam Raimi's new horror movie, and both wrote and directed "Haunt" and "65." Now, they plan on luring us back to theaters with some twisted mind games, theological horror, and the promise of blueberry pie — but don't get your hopes up about the pie.

The trailer for "Heretic" introduces us to two young missionary women — played by Sophie Thatcher of "Yellowjackets" and Chloe East of "The Fabelmans" — who make their way to a secluded home. Inside, there's a kindly gentleman (Hugh Grant of "Paddington 2" fame) who welcomes them inside. However, the missionaries quickly discover this stranger isn't interested in hearing about their beliefs. Instead, he's more interested in putting their beliefs to the test. The man has devised a series of scary rooms and sadistic trials where the women's faith will either save them or lead them to their doom. We'll find out if they can escape from Hugh Grant's games on November 15, 2024.

It's rare to see a best picture Oscar-winner get a sequel, let alone a legacy sequel decades later, but that's exactly what we're getting in 2024 when Ridley Scott returns to direct "Gladiator 2." The original, released in 2000, won five Academy Awards, making it into a bona fide classic. "Gladiator 2" will see a mostly-new cast of characters populate a story that takes place in an entirely different world.

Paul Mescal, who earned an Oscar nomination for his work in "Aftersun," will be starring as the lead character. He'll be playing a grown-up Lucius, the little boy portrayed by Spencer Treat Clark in the original film, who's now looking for revenge. Connie Nielsen will be returning as Lucius' mom, Lucilla, daughter of Emperor Marcus Aurelius and sister to Joaquin Phoenix's Commodus in the first movie. 

These two will be joined by an all-star cast that includes Denzel Washington ("The Equalizer 3") as wealthy power player looking to take over Rome. Pedro Pascal ("The Mandalorian") will play Roman general who does battle with Lucius, and Derek Jacobi is also returning to his original role as Gracchus. May Calamawy of "Moon Knight" is set to star, with "Stranger Things" standout Joseph Quinn playing Emperor Caracalla and Fred Hechinger of "The White Lotus" replacing Barry Keoghan as Emperor Geta. You can also expect to see Lior Raz ("Fauda"), Peter Mensah ("Spartacus: Blood and Sand"), and Matt Lucas ("The Great British Bake Off").

Written by David Scarpa, this film is scheduled for November 22, 2024. Filming shut down due to the actors' strike, but now that it's concluded, Ridley Scott is getting back to business very soon, hoping "Gladiator 2" will still entertain audiences that day.

After years of stops, starts, and missed release dates, a feature film adaptation of "Wicked" is finally on the way. This vision of L. Frank Baum's Oz reimagines Elphaba, aka the Wicked Witch of the West, as a sympathetic protagonist. Such a story is told through vibrant musical numbers like "Popular" and "Defying Gravity," which have become enormously popular with theater kids and the general public alike. Given that ubiquity — not to mention the popularity of Oz as a fictional realm — it's no surprise that a movie version of "Wicked" is highly anticipated by the general public. 

This adaptation is being directed by Jon M. Chu, who proved his musical chops while helming the "In the Heights" movie, while Cynthia Erivo of "Harriet" and pop star Ariana Grande headline a star-studded ensemble cast as Elphaba and Glinda, respectively. They'll be joined here by the Oscar-winning Michelle Yeoh ("Everything Everywhere All at Once") as Madame Morrible, Jeff Goldblum ("Jurassic Park") as the Wizard of Oz, and Peter Dinklage ("Game of Thrones") as the talking goat Dr. Dillamond. You can also expect to see the likes of Jonathan Bailey ("Bridgerton"), Bowen Yang ("Saturday Night Live"), Bronwyn James ("Harlots"), Keala Settle ("The Greatest Showman"), Ethan Slater of Broadway fame, and newcomer Marissa Bode, among others.

With actors like this around, there's no question that the beloved musical numbers in "Wicked" will be delivered with plenty of gusto and energy. The potential for memorable imagery in Chu's vibrant visual sensibilities being applied to the land of Oz is also incredibly exciting. It's taken countless years of anticipation, but the first installment in a two-part "Wicked" movie adaptation is scheduled to defy gravity on November 22, 2024.

At the 86th Academy Awards, "12 Years a Slave" walked away with three Oscars, including one for best picture. Sir Steve McQueen also earned a nomination for his work as director, and we're wondering if he can make Oscar waves again with his new movie, "Blitz."

"Blitz" will follow a 9-year-old boy named George, who finds himself on an dangerous journey during World War II. As the Nazis unleash their bombs upon London, George's mother, Rita, sends him off to the countryside for his protection. But as the official plot synopsis reveals, "George, defiant and determined to return home to his mom and his grandfather Gerald in East London, embarks on an adventure, only to find himself in immense peril, while a distraught Rita searches for her missing son."

Young George will be played by newcomer Elliot Heffernan while Rita will be portrayed by Saoirse Ronan ("Little Women"). Ronan has been nominated for four acting Oscars and has yet to win, so perhaps this will finally be her time to shine. Heffernan and Ronan will be joined by musician Paul Weller as George's granddad, along with names like Harris Dickinson ("Triangle of Sadness"), Stephen Graham ("This Is England"), and Erin Kellyman ("The Falcon and the Winter Soldier"). Hailing from Apple, "Blitz" will soar into limited theaters on November 1 before hitting Apple TV+ on November 22.

In February 2024, Disney CEO Bob Iger shocked animation fans when he revealed the studio was working on a sequel to 'Moana" — and that it would be released in just a few months. The sequel has been earmarked for November 27, and if you're wondering how they've thrown a "Moana" movie together so quickly, it's because they're repurposing a "Moana" TV show they'd already been working on. With the studio desperately needing a hit after the failure of films like "Wish," Disney is clearly hoping "Moana 2" will lure audiences back into theaters.

As for the plot, Disney has revealed the film will take us on an "expansive new voyage with Moana, Maui and a brand-new crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she's ever faced." TheWrap elaborated on this a bit more, saying Moana and a group of fellow explorers are searching for a magical island guarded by the God of Storms. Both Dwayne Johnson and Auli'i Cravalho will reprise their respective roles of Maui and Moana, and the film will be co-directed by Jason Hand and Dave Derrick Jr. While both are making their directorial debuts here, both were involved with beloved films such as "Encanto" and the original "Moana."

Unfortunately, there's one key player who won't be returning this time around. Lin-Manuel Miranda — who wrote the beloved songs for the first movie — will be sitting this one out. Instead, musical duties will go to Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear ("The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical"), as well as Opetaia Foa'i and Mark Mancina, who worked with Miranda on the original movie.

Mike Mignola brought "Hellboy" to life on the page back in 1993, and since then, Hollywood has tried several times to bring the big red demon to the screen. Guillermo del Toro made two beloved films starring Ron Perlman in the 2000s, but because neither really lit up the box office, "Hellboy 3" never happened. Then Neil Marshall joined forces with David Harbour for the 2019 reboot, which was absolutely savaged by critics and audiences alike.

Now, Hellboy is coming back for another go-round, courtesy of director Brian Taylor (the "Crank" movies) and actor Jack Kesy ("Deadpool 2"). Titled "Hellboy: The Crooked Man," the movie will be drawing inspiration from the comic of the same name, where our horned hero and Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense Agent Bobbie Jo Song wind up in 1950s Appalachia. It's here in this backwoods world of witchcraft that our heroes come across a sinister devil called the Crooked Man. According to the movie's trailer, things get pretty freaky when the Crooked Man is around, as we witness a massive supernatural snake constrict a young woman and see a demonic raccoon that slides its way down some poor girl's throat.

The script comes from Mignola himself, who teamed up with author Chris Golden to pen the screenplay. In addition to Kesy, the movie will star Jefferson White ("Yellowstone"), Adeline Rudolph ("Chilling Adventures of Sabrina"), and Joseph Marcell ("The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air"), among others. The R-rated horror flick will be released by Ketchup Entertainment sometime in the fall of 2024.

Amy Adams is one of the very best actresses in Tinseltown. Her performance in "Arrival" and her six Academy Award nominations prove that. However, she's had a bit of a rough run lately, showing up in movies that have been severely roasted by critics, a la "Hillbilly Elegy," "Dear Evan Hansen," and "The Woman at the Window." We're majorly hoping that Adams will be able to claw herself out of this downward spiral with her upcoming comedy horror film — "Nightbitch."

Based on the novel by Rachel Yoder (who's also writing the script), "Nightbitch" will find Adams playing a mother undergoing a rather intense transformation. Per the official plot description, her character is a woman "thrown into the stay-at-home routine of raising a toddler in the suburbs, who slowly embraces the feral power deeply rooted in motherhood, as she becomes increasingly aware of the bizarre and undeniable signs that she may be turning into a canine."

Yep, that's a pretty wild premise, and the whole project is being overseen by director Marielle Heller. While she might not be a household name, Heller has knocked it out of the park on numerous occasions, with movies such as "The Diary of a Teenage Girl," "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood," and "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" Co-starring Scott McNairy of "Argo" and "True Detective" Season 3, "Nightbitch" will prowl its way into theaters on December 6, 2024.

Most people probably know Kyle Mooney for his work on "Saturday Night Live" — though if you haven't seen the massively underrated "Brigsby Bear," you should check it out — but that might change with his upcoming film, "Y2K." Hailing from A24, this bizarro comedy takes place as 1999 rolls over to 2000 and focuses on two high school kids hoping to make it a night worth remembering. They're played by Jaeden Martell ("It") and Julian Dennison ("Godzilla x Kong"), and Martell's character is hoping to kiss his crush (Rachel Zegler of "West Side Story") when the clock strikes midnight.

Of course, the evening's "Superbad" antics get a little more intense when the Y2K Bug strikes, power goes out, and the computers come to life. Now, technological gadgets are on the prowl, hunting down their human users and hoping to overthrow the world. With planes crashing in the sky and Tamagotchis looking for blood, our heroes will have to go on the run ... and maybe get that kiss somewhere along the way. The three leads will be joined here by names like Alicia Silverstone ("Clueless"), Tim Heidecker ("Tim and Eric"), Mooney himself, and Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit. With Jonah Hill serving as a producer, the sci-fi/horror/comedy will unleash all sorts of weirdness on December 6, 2024.

For more than a decade, Sony Pictures has dreamed of building their own cinematic universe around Spider-Man. To this point, they've had a mixed track record. Tom Hardy's "Venom" movies have found success at the box office, while Jared Leto's "Morbius" and Dakota Johnson's "Madame Web" are considered two of the worst superhero films ever made. Well, Sony is going to give their questionable franchise another go with a new member from Spidey's rogues gallery. Yep, "Kraven the Hunter" is heading to theaters in 2024, hoping to redeem Sony's Spider-Man Universe.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who had his breakout role in the 2010 superhero comedy "Kick-Ass," returns to the genre to play Sergei Kravinoff. Traditionally, Kravinoff is depicted as a big game hunter, but in the upcoming film, he does his best to defeat poachers with the extraordinary animalistic abilities he got after a deadly encounter with a lion. In addition to Taylor-Johnson, Russell Crowe stars as Kravinoff's father, Nikolai, and Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose ("West Side Story") plays Kraven's love interest, Calypso. Fred Hechinger ("The White Lotus") and Alessandro Nivola ("The Art of Self-Defense") portray Spider-Man villains the Chameleon and the Rhino, respectively, while J.C. Chandor of "Triple Frontier" and "All Is Lost" directs.

Long in development, "Kraven the Hunter" finally went before cameras in 2022, with a planned release date of January 13, 2023, before being bumped to October 6, and then getting kicked back nearly a full year later to August 30, 2024. However, Kraven is a restless hunter, and now, the superhero flick has set its sights on a brand new date. Prepare to celebrate the holidays with an R-rated Marvel flick, as "Kraven the Hunter" will release on December 13, 2024.

The "Lord of the Rings" trilogy remains one of the most influential and astonishing epics in modern cinema, adapting J.R.R. Tolkien's acclaimed fantasy novels into a groundbreaking series of films. While a follow-up trilogy that brought "The Hobbit" to the big screen was met with a divisive fan reaction, it still brought down the box office, proving that the franchise has plenty of life left. Following a successful prequel series on Amazon Prime in 2022, "The Lord of the Rings" returns to the movies in 2024 with "The War of the Rohirrim."

This time, however, the franchise is going animated, and it will be directed by Kenji Kamiyama. A skilled filmmaker from Japan who's been involved in some of the best anime of all time, Kamiyama worked on classics like "Ghost in the Shell" and "Akira," and more recently, he directed the anime spin-offs "Blade Runner: Black Lotus" and an episode of "Star Wars: Visions." 

Set nearly 200 years before the events of "The Lord of the Rings," the film explores the people of Rohan, led by Helm Hammerhand (Brian Cox of "Succession"), who come under attack from their rivals, the Dunlendings. Miranda Otto will reprise her role as Eowyn, narrating the film, while Gaia Wise ("Silent Witness"), Luke Pasqualino ("Snowpiercer"), Laurence Ubong Williams ("Gateway"), and Shaun Dooley ("The Witcher") fill out the rest of the principal cast of voice actors. It is currently readying for an December 13, 2024 theatrical release.

Video game adaptations used to be a genre known for duds. But thanks in no small part to "Sonic the Hedgehog," they're now hotter than ever. One of the last blockbusters to release before the COVID-19 pandemic descended in 2020, the first "Sonic" film took in "just" $319 million. Its sequel did even better two years later. That installment introduces the villain Knuckles, voiced by Idris Elba, who is due for his own spin-off TV series on Paramount+. But that's hardly where the franchise will stop. A proper threequel, "Sonic the Hedgehog 3," will drop in 2024.

Scheduled for release just before Christmas, this flick shifts its release date from that of the previous two movies, which both debuted much earlier in the year. It's still early in the making, so not much is known about this next entry in the series, but we do know its impressive cast. Ben Schwartz is coming back as Sonic, and Jim Carrey will return as Dr. Robotnik. Krysten Ritter of "Jessica Jones" will also star, and in addition to new faces like Jorma Taccone of The Lonely Island and Cristo Fernández of "Ted Lasso," we'll also see the return of old friends James Marsden (Tom Wachowski), Tika Sumpter (Maddie Wachowski), Idris Elba (Knuckles), Colleen O'Shaughnessey (Tails), Lee Majdoub (Agent Stone), and Tom Butler (Commander Walter). Best of all, John Wick himself has been cast as Shadow. Yep, that's right — Keanu Reeves will play Sonic's dark-furred rival.

With direction by Jeff Fowler (who helmed both previous films), "Sonic" is speeding towards release on December 20, 2024.

Disney's live-action remake of "The Lion King" proved divisive among fans and critics, with many feeling it was a wholly unnecessary endeavor. But the box office doesn't lie: "The Lion King" made over $1 billion dollars in theaters, which makes it clear there's a huge appetite for it. Thus, in 2024, it will see a prequel in "Mufasa: The Lion King." Replacing Jon Favreau behind the camera is Barry Jenkins, director of "Moonlight," "If Beale Street Could Talk," and the miniseries "The Underground Railroad." The latter production starred Aaron Pierre, who will step in as the voice of a younger Mufasa.

The story will involve Rafiki the baboon telling the story of Mufasa to the king's granddaughter, and we'll watch as an orphaned Mufasa meets another young lion named Taka, a royal lion who befriends our young hero. Together, the two set out on a journey that involves facing a dangerous foe to the Pride Lands. Kelvin Harrison Jr. of "Chevalier" will voice Taka, and Donald Glover, Beyoncé, Billy Eichner, and Seth Rogen all return from the first movie. Mads Mikkelsen ("Hannibal"), Thandiwe Newton ("Westworld"), and Beyoncé's daughter, Blue Ivy, will also star. Behind the scenes, Lin-Manuel Miranda has joined the project, with the "Hamilton" mastermind writing brand new songs for the prequel/sequel. Expect the Disney magic on December 20, 2024.

Erotic thrillers were all the rage in the '80s and '90s, and they look to be making a comeback with titles like "Sanctuary," "Deep Water," and "Saltburn." Now, you can add "Babygirl" to that very sexy list. The movie is directed by Halina Reijn, who previously directed the wild "Bodies Bodies Bodies," and Variety describes the film as an examination of "power dynamics and sexuality in the workplace."

Here, Nicole Kidman ("Eyes Wide Shut") begins an affair with a young intern, Harris Dickinson ("Triangle of Sadness"), and we're sure everything will go smoothly for Kidman's character, and there won't be any horrible repercussions for anyone. Antonio Banderas ("The Mask of Zorro") will play Kidman's husband, Jean Reno ("Leon: The Professional") will play a rival CEO, and Sophie Wilde ("Talk to Me") will play Kidman's assistant who watches as the affair goes down. The movie is coming to us from A24, and all that erotic drama will play out on December 20, 2024.

The tale of Count Dracula might be the most retold story on the silver screen. One of the first was an unofficial adaptation: 1922's "Nosferatu." This version introduces Count Orlok, a vampire living in Transylvania who is visited by a real estate agent named Thomas Hutter. It has only been remade once, in 1979, by director Werner Herzog.

In 2024, writer-director Robert Eggers will try his hand at a second remake of the 1922 classic. "It" star Bill Skarsgård will play Count Orlok and Nicholas Hoult (who ironically played the title role in 2023's "Dracula"-inspired "Renfield") will play Thomas Hutter. Lily-Rose Depp joins the film as Ellen, Thomas' wife and the woman Nosferatu becomes enamored with, while Aaron Taylor-Johnson will reportedly play ship owner Friedrich Harding. Willem Dafoe is playing a twisted vampire hunter named Professor Albin Eberhart Von Franz, and it was reported by Entertainment Weekly that the actor shot with 2,000 live rats for a pivotal scene.

Stuck in development hell since 2015, Eggers' "Nosferatu" is a passion project for the director that he's refused to let go of. He'll finally see it come to fruition when it lands in theaters on December 25, 2024, making it the perfect Christmas treat for horror fans. 

The year 2024 is shaping up to be a big one for Timothée Chalamet. The young star already rode a massive sand worm into box office and critically acclaimed glory with "Dune: Part Two." Now, he's picking up a guitar and stepping back in time with "A Complete Unknown," a biopic based on the life of perhaps the greatest singer-songwriter in American history — Bob Dylan.

The film will follow Dylan's early days as a folk musician, leading up to his controversial performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival when he went electric to the massive chagrin of his audience. The film will also star Elle Fanning ("The Great") as girlfriend Sylvie Russo while Monica Barbaro ("Top Gun: Maverick") will star as renowned folk singer Joan Baez. Among other names, we'll see Edward Norton ("Glass Onion")as Pete Seeger, Boyd Holbrook ("Logan") as Johnny Cash, and Scoot McNairy ("Speak No Evil") as Woody Guthrie.

The movie comes to us courtesy of James Mangold, who's given us some incredibly solid films such as "Ford v Ferrari," "Cop Land," and "Logan," one of the greatest superhero movies ever made. Of course, he's also coming off the disappointment of "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny," so here's hoping Mangold can bounce back with his Dylan biopic. We're most interested to see if he and Chalamet can really properly convey Dylan's story in conventional biopic form, as the musician's tale has only really been told in documentaries like Martin Scorsese's "No Direction Home" and experimental projects like Todd Haynes' "I'm Not There."

In 2022, John David Washington ("Tenet"), Ray Fisher ("Zack Snyder's Justice League"), and Samuel L. Jackson ("Pulp Fiction") stepped away from Hollywood and gave their regards to Broadway, starring in an adaptation of August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson." The Tony-winning play follows a Black family in 1930s Philadelphia, with the action centering around the fate of the titular piano. The instrument is covered in carvings made by the family's slave ancestors, and while one member of the family wants to keep the heirloom, another wants to sell it in order to buy a plot of land.

Now, "The Piano Lesson" is moving from the stage to streaming, with a feature film adaptation debuting on Netflix. Original stars Jackson, Fisher, and Washington are reprising their parts, with the "BlacKkKlansman" actor playing the part of Boy Willie, who wants to sell the piano. He'll be opposed by Danielle Deadwyler ("Till") as Berniece, who wants to keep the instrument in the family. Speaking of keeping things in the family, the movie was co-written and directed by John David's brother, Malcolm, making his directorial debut. It's also produced by their father, the legendary Denzel Washington. The movie will release sometime in late 2024, where it will no doubt become a major awards contender.

While Jason Bateman specializes in playing characters both hilarious and sarcastic (e.g. "Arrested Development," "Zootopia," "Game Night"), the man isn't afraid to unleash his dark side. Bateman has portrayed some complicated characters in projects like "Ozark" and "The Gift," and in Netflix's upcoming thriller "Carry-On," he looks to be playing quite the menacing figure.

Per the official plot synopsis, Bateman will star as a "mysterious traveler" who blackmails a young TSA agent "into letting a dangerous package slip onto a Christmas Eve flight." Said TSA agent will be portrayed by Taron Egerton, who's played in projects such as "Kingsman: The Secret Service," "Rocketman," and Apple TV+'s "Blackbird."

While we don't know much else about the film, we know that it's coming from accomplished action/thriller director Jaume Collet-Serra ("Jungle Cruise," "The Commuter," "The Shallows") and will feature impressive names such as Sofia Carson ("Descendants"), Danielle Deadwyler ("Till"), Logan Marshall-Green ("The Invitation"), Dean Norris ("Breaking Bad"), and Theo Rossi ("Sons of Anarchy"), among others.