From the “Mean Girls” musical to the “Nosferatu” remake, Casino Bonus CA highlighted 24 films audiences are most looking forward to in 2024.
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Sofia Voss
It’s safe to say that 2023 was a revolutionary year for film, reflected by the historic Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists strikes. With the two strikes overlapping, Hollywood effectively shut down for roughly half the year, delaying or otherwise impacting dozens of film and television projects. As of November, both strikes have ended, and many of the affected productions are on track to hit theaters in 2024.
Marvel, which originally planned for a record-breaking six new films to come out in 2024, is now expecting only four. Among those 2024 releases are “Madame Web,” the first-ever female-led “Spider-Man” spinoff film, and the third installment of the “Venom” franchise. Renowned production company A24 has a full 2024 slate, including Mia Goth’s return to horror in “MaXXXine,” Ti West’s follow-up to “X” and “Pearl.” New offerings from renowned directors like Luca Guadagnino, Bong Joon Ho, and George Miller are also forthcoming.
The pressure is on for the 2024 box office to restore Hollywood to financial stability after the combined challenges of the pandemic and the fight to give its workers fair wages. The first four months of 2024 are fairly sparse on new releases, in large part because prolonged labor negotiations set timelines back for films scheduled in the early part of the year. There are, however, a few prospective big hits in those months, including high-profile films like “Argylle” and “Dune: Part Two.” The “Mean Girls” musical, which premiered in January 2024, lived up to its anticipation—garnering a $28M box office debut and the number one spot after just three days.
Suffice it to say, 2024 is not only an incredibly important year for the future of the film industry but also quite an exciting one in terms of its cinematic offerings. To give audiences more insight into what to expect, Casino Bonus CA looked ahead at movies coming out in 2024 and highlighted 24 of the most buzzed-about titles.
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Ballerina
– Director: Len Wiseman
Set to hit theaters on June 7, “Ballerina” marks the first cinematic spinoff of the “John Wick” universe, joining the recently released spinoff miniseries titled “The Continental.” While plot details are sparse, the film will be led by Ana de Armas as a female assassin who’s—you guessed it—seeking revenge. Other cast members include Norman Reedus from “The Walking Dead,” Anjelica Huston as The Director, franchise-favorite Keanu Reeves, and the late Lance Reddick in one of his last on-screen roles.
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Beetlejuice 2
– Director: Tim Burton
Tim Burton returns to the world of ghosts and goths with the long-awaited “Beetlejuice 2,” written by the showrunners of Burton’s smash TV hit “Wednesday,” Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. Several of the cast members from the 1988 original film are returning, including Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara, with Willem Dafoe joining the cast as an afterlife detective and Jenna Ortega playing Ryder’s daughter. With an anticipated release date of Sept. 6, “Beetlejuice 2” will hit cinemas just in time for the Halloween season.
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Blitz
– Director: Steve McQueen
“Blitz” takes its name from the World War II German aerial bombing campaign known as the “blitzkrieg,” and follows a group of civilians in London during the years 1940 and 1941. The film is written and directed by Steve McQueen, the British filmmaker best known for his Academy Award-winning drama “12 Years a Slave.” “Blitz” marks McQueen’s first narrative feature film since 2018’s “Widows,” and stars acting talents like Saoirse Ronan, Stephen Graham, and Harris Dickinson.
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Borderlands
– Director: Eli Roth
“Borderlands” is based on the popular video game of the same name, which follows a team of hunters as they travel to the dystopian planet Pandora in search of mysterious alien vaults. The feature film adaptation has horror filmmaker Eli Roth at its helm, and follows up his 2023 slasher “Thanksgiving.” While many plot details are still hidden, Roth has said that the film will loosely adhere to the Borderlands game, but isn’t precious about the specifics.
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Challengers
– Director: Luca Guadagnino
Originally slated to premiere on the opening night of the prestigious Venice Film Festival in 2023, Luca Guadagnino’s “Challengers” is now set for theatrical release on April 26, 2024. “Challengers” is a romantic drama that follows three young tennis stars as they contend with the price of winning and continued relevance. The film stars Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor in a convoluted love triangle that caused an internet meltdown after the release of the trailer.
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Civil War
– Director: Alex Garland
“Civil War” marks Alex Garland’s third directorial collaboration with A24, following 2022’s “Men” and 2014’s “Ex Machina.” The film depicts a desolate and divided near-future United States, caught in the midst of a civil war after 19 states secede from the Union. Kirsten Dunst stars as a journalist trying to survive alongside her family. “Civil War” also features rising star Cailee Spaeny, whose performance in Sofia Coppola’s 2023 film “Priscilla” won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival.
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Deadpool 3
– Director: Shawn Levy
One of the Marvel films impacted by the Hollywood strikes, “Deadpool 3” will hit theaters on July 26 after getting pushed back from its original May 2024 release. With filming happening as recently as November 2023, Ryan Reynolds will reprise his role as Deadpool. This installment will also include Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, Emma Corrin as the new lead villain, and “Succession” star Matthew Macfadyen in a still-unknown role.
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Dune: Part Two
– Director: Denis Villeneuve
The first installment of Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” project in 2021 was a massive success, earning over $400 million in the global box office—and if Villeneuve has anything to say about it, “Dune: Part Two” will be even bigger. At a press conference, the director was quoted as saying that the sequel is a “much better” movie than Part One, reaching “an intensity and a quality of emotions” that he hadn’t quite attained in the first film. Like several films on this list, its release date has been shuffled due to the strike but is currently slated for March 1.
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Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
– Director: George Miller
Charlize Theron originated the character Furiosa in 2015’s critically acclaimed “Mad Max: Fury Road,” a spinoff film of the classic “Mad Max” series starring Mel Gibson. In “Furiosa,” Anya Taylor-Joy will play the titular role in the “Fury Road” prequel, following a younger version of the character on an odyssey to get back home after being kidnapped by Warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth). With George Miller once again at the helm, “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” has an expected release of May 24.
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Gladiator 2
– Director: Ridley Scott
Director Ridley Scott is following up his 2023 historical epic “Napoleon” with another highly anticipated film: “Gladiator 2,” the sequel to 2000’s “Gladiator,” which starred Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix. Because of the critical and commercial success of the first “Gladiator,” creating a satisfying follow-up could be challenging—especially when both the protagonist and antagonist were killed at the end of the original film. Replacing the fan-favorite characters will be Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, and Paul Mescal, who is expected to be the film’s lead.
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Here
– Director: Robert Zemeckis
Robert Zemeckis is the director behind blockbuster hits including 1985’s “Back to the Future,” 1994’s “Forrest Gump,” 2000’s “Cast Away,” and 2012’s “Flight,” so it is safe to say there’s buzz surrounding his upcoming film “Here.” Starring frequent collaborator Tom Hanks, reuniting with his “Forrest Gump” co-star Robin Wright, “Here” follows the lives of people who occupied the same room at various points over the course of centuries. The film harnesses Metaphysics Live, an AI tool, to de-age actors on set in real time without the need for postproduction digital effects. The film is based on a graphic novel of the same name written by Richard McGuire.
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Horizon: An American Saga
– Director: Kevin Costner
Kevin Costner is no stranger to Westerns—he’s the star of the hit television show “Yellowstone,” as well as 1990’s “Dances with Wolves,” 1994’s “Wyatt Earp,” and the 2003 film “Open Range,” among other films. Now, the actor is writing and directing his own series of Western films titled “Horizon: An American Saga.” This two-part film project is said to explore the topic of Westward expansion, centered around the years before and after the Civil War.
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Inside Out 2
– Director: Kelsey Mann
In 2015, Disney and Pixar’s animated film “Inside Out” was released to great critical and commercial acclaim, snagging the Best Animated Feature Oscar in 2016. Where the first film explores the mind of 11-year-old Riley, the sequel promises to explore her teenage emotions, which includes the addition of Anxiety, voiced by Maya Hawke. While Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, and Lewis Black will return as Joy, Sadness, and Anger, respectively, Bill Hader’s Fear and Mindy Kaling’s Disgust have been replaced.
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Joker: Folie à Deux
– Director: Todd Phillips
While Batman adaptations abound, “Joker: Folie à Deux” promises an entirely new look into the world of Gotham. Following the box office success of 2019’s “Joker,” which starred Joaquin Phoenix as the titular character, joined by Zazie Beetz and Robert De Niro, the sequel introduces Lady Gaga as notorious Batman villain Harley Quinn. Gaga’s portrayal will no doubt differ significantly from previous depictions of the character, such as Margot Robbie’s, particularly because “Joker: Folie à Deux” will be a musical.
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Kinds of Kindness
– Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
“Kinds of Kindness” (previously titled “AND”) marks director Yorgos Lanthimos and Searchlight Pictures’ fifth collaboration, hot off the heels of Lanthimos’ 2023 critically acclaimed film “Poor Things.” Little information is known about the film’s plot, but the script was co-written by Lanthimos and Efthimis Filippou, who collaborated on screenplays for the 2015 black comedy “The Lobster” and the 2017 psychological thriller “The Killing of a Sacred Deer.” “Kinds of Kindness” will star “Poor Things” leads Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe, as well as Jesse Plemons, Hong Chau, Margaret Qualley, Joe Alwyn, and Hunter Schafer.
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Maria
– Director: Pablo Larraín
Pablo Larraín has established himself as director of some of the most high-profile biopics of the last decade, including 2016’s “Neruda” and “Jackie,” as well as 2021’s “Spencer,” which featured Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana. His next film, “Maria,” will follow legendary Greek American opera singer Maria Callas, played by Angelina Jolie, in the last few days of her life. Even though the production signed an interim SAG agreement in order to begin filming during the strike, there is no set release date. “Maria” is reportedly still in postproduction.
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Mean Girls
– Directors: Samantha Jayne, Arturo Perez Jr.
While 2024’s “Mean Girls” is based on the classic 2004 dramedy, it’s more literally an adaptation of Tina Fey’s stage musical version of “Mean Girls,” which opened on Broadway in 2018. Following roughly the same story—albeit with updated jokes—formerly home-schooled Cady Heron struggles to settle into her new Illinois high school and its cutthroat hierarchy of popularity. Angourie Rice, recently seen in the newest “Spider-Man” franchise, stars as Cady, joined by Reneé Rapp, Auli’i Cravalho, and Christopher Briney, among others.
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Megalopolis
– Director: Francis Ford Coppola
As the title indicates, “Megalopolis” features an impressive roster of megastars including Adam Driver, Forest Whitaker, Laurence Fishburne, Shia LaBeouf, and Aubrey Plaza, just to name a few. Not much information about the film’s plot and characters is publicly available, but it is rumored to explore a destroyed New York City and an architect determined to rebuild it. “Megalopolis” is apparently a passion project for Coppola—so much so that he self-financed most of the nearly $100 million production—and he’s taking his time to get it right, pushing the film back from its initially expected 2023 release date.
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Mickey 17
– Director: Bong Joon Ho
South Korean director Bong Joon Ho is following up his 2019 Best Picture Oscar-winning film “Parasite” with “Mickey 17,” a science fiction film starring Robert Pattinson. The movie is an adaptation of Edward Ashton’s 2022 novel “Mickey7,” which follows titular character Mickey, a disposable clone on a crew sent to colonize a new planet. “Mickey 17” is slated for a March 29 release, but it’s possible the date could be pushed back so as not to be in competition with another Warner Bros. March release, “Dune: Part Two.”
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Mother Mary
– Director: David Lowery
Following his folkloric 2021 film “The Green Knight,” David Lowery’s upcoming project “Mother Mary” seems to be its own distinctive kind of epic. Starring Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel, this drama tracks the relationship between a famous singer and a fashion designer. Lowery’s third collaboration with A24 will be his first with music producer Jack Antonoff and real-life pop star Charli XCX, who are writing original songs for the soundtrack.
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Mufasa: The Lion King
– Director: Barry Jenkins
Barry Jenkins is best known for his Best Picture Oscar-winning drama “Moonlight” and “If Beale Street Could Talk.” Now he’s lending his talents to Disney for the upcoming film “Mufasa: The Lion King,” which will serve as a prequel to Jon Favreau’s 2019 remake of “The Lion King.” The 2019 movie broke ground with its photorealistic animation style, an aesthetic “Mufasa” will also adopt. In the aftermath of the Hollywood strikes, the release date was pushed from July to Dec. 20.
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Nosferatu
– Director: Robert Eggers
The first-ever “Nosferatu” came out all the way back in 1922 as a silent film directed by F.W. Murnau. The film centers around the evil vampire Count Orlok as he terrorizes an unsuspecting young couple. The new “Nosferatu” is written and directed by Robert Eggers, whose past films—including 2015’s “The Witch” and 2019’s “The Lighthouse”—showcase the director’s aptitude for eerie horror. Starring Bill Skarsgård and Lily-Rose Depp, Eggers’ “Nosferatu” is slated for a Christmastime release.
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Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse
– Directors: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson
The 2023 animated film “Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse” ended on a massive cliffhanger, making fans desperate for the franchise’s next, and potentially last, installment. During the peak of the strikes, the upcoming third film, “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse,” was briefly taken off the calendar entirely. Thankfully, producer Chris Miller confirmed in December 2023 that the film is back on track, although no release date has yet been confirmed.
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They Follow
– Director: David Robert Mitchell
David Robert Mitchell’s 2014 film “It Follows” was the low-budget indie horror hit that no one saw coming, garnering over $20 million at the global box office. Nearly a decade later, the sequel, “They Follow,” was announced, with lead actress Maika Monroe committed to return. While there are no plot details available, it’s likely that the sexually transmitted monster capable of shifting its appearance at any time will return as an antagonist.
Additional research by Luke Hicks. Story editing by Eliza Siegel. Copy editing by Tim Bruns.
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