With 2023 having turned the calendar corner, its time to be looking ahead. Looking at the current slate of official film releases in 2024, which, if the last few years have been any measure should be taken more as a starting point than written in stone, the first thing that jumps out is the #2: Gladiator 2, Beetlejuice 2, Inside Out 2, Dune Part 2, Joker Folie a Deux. And if it doesn’t have #2 in its title, it bears the mark of a sequel- Kung Fu Panda 4, Spiderman: Beyond the Spider-verse, Maxxxine, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.
Now don’t get me wrong, Dune Part 2, after being bumped to its present spring release slot, is legitimately one of the biggest and most anticipated releases of the year, while Joker, Inside Out, Beetlejuice and Gladiator find their intrigue from being the vision of their original Directors and cast. Maxxine, Spiderverse and Kung Fu Panda are all part of a larger vision and are eagerly awaited conclusions to a beloved series. And who knows, given the genuine surprise of the recent Ghostbusters reboot, maybe the follow up can deliver.
Beyond the sequels, it is worth noting the visible absence of the usual big ticket items. Barely a hint of the usual Marvel titles, although I’d be lying if I didn’t say Madame Web looks interesting.
No Star Wars. No Avatars. 2024 is even lucky to have Dune 2 on its side after being pushed from its original 2023 spot, which will arguably be this years biggest money maker. Does this bode well for theaters? On one level, no. But if I could be optimistic, I might say that maybe the film industry could use this space to find a bit more balance. After all, I’m not sure relying on Barbenhiemer and Super Mario Bros to carry your year necessarily shouts healthy or sustainable. Behind the slate of sequels in 2024 are a collection of original titles that hopefully will have a chance to find success. Here are the ones I’m most looking forward to:
Nosferatu
Yes, I know. Technically not an original, being a remake of the 1922 horror classic. However, in the hands of Rogert Eggers, its likely this will be the most original horror film we see all year. Can’t wait to see what he does with the gothic tale of love an vampires.
Civil War
Speaking of famed Directors, new Alex Garland is always enough to make me sit up and take notice. This feels like part of A24’s push towards bringing in more populist material and big budget fare, and I’m torn on this idea to be sure. This film also feels oddly timed given the current state of American politics and the events happening in 2024. But I am, if nothing else, intrigued.
IF
At first glance this feels like a forgettable kids film, even a bit of a bizarre one. But I have complete faith in Krasinksi, and the fact that this seems like a passion project for him, an intentional project fueled by his own experiences as a father, makes me feel like this is going to be an unexpected success.
Argylle
They’ve been advertising this film like crazy, so that might be part of why this film feels already entrenched in my imagination. But the long, dry days of January/February at the box office do tend to unearth the odd gem here or there, and this looks to fit the bill. A fun action-comedy spy thriller with the right amount of cinematic appeal.
The Bike Riders
Austin Butler and Jodie Comer lead the way in this holdover from 2023’s festival season. This story about a local bike gang turned nations gang won’t be getting a wide release until later this year, but it will come on the heels of good buzz and great reviews.
M Night’s Trap
New M. Night. On my birthday. It is tentatively titled Trap. I have no idea what its about. But for me, M. Night always all but guarantees opening day.
LOTR: The War of the Rohirrim
New Lord of the Rings, this time delving into animation. Its digging deep into the lore surrounding Helm’s Deep, and it promises to be epic. If this isn’t contending for awards come next season, I will be surprised.
Mother Mary
We know very little about the next project from David Lowery aside from the film being set in Germany with a star studded cast (Hunter Schafer, Anne Hathaway, Michaela Coel). I have no idea if his decision to make Peter Pan and Wendy in 2023 will have dropped his name down in terms of the level of anticipation, but if it does that would be a shame. Because not only was Peter Pan and Wendy an excellent adaptation and a very good film, Lowery remains one of the best artistic minds of our present day.
Love Lies Bleeding
It still boggles the mind that people still remain resistant to seeing Kristin Stewart as a legitimate actor and genuine talent. However, she keeps doing her thing, choosing interesting projects and delivering against expectations. Some days the masses will wake up and see the truth. For now, I’m just happy to see her doing her thing.
Miller’s Girl
It’s a January release. It seems entertaining. It’s not breaking down any doors in terms of anticipation, but it seems like the perfect unassuming pick for the winter days.
Polaris
Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara. Need I say more? Probably not.
We Live In Time
Brooklyn is one of my all time favorite films, so I’m a big fan of John Crowley. The little we know about We Live In Time seems to have him firmly back in his wheelhouse, bringing in Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield to, undoubtedly, weave a complex tale of love, identity and connection.
Death of a Unicorn
Here is the synopsis- Father-Daughter duo, Riley and Elliot, hit a unicorn with their car and bring it to the wilderness retreat of a mega-wealthy pharmaceutical CEO.The Front Row.
Now tell me you’re not intrigued.
2023 Holdovers: Kore-eda Hirokazu’s Monster will be seeing its wide release in the first week of January, and I can’t wait. Few filmmakers can do and accomplish what he does. Zone of Interest won’t be far behind, representing one of the most talked about films in 2023. All of Us Strangers will also be getting a January release. So no shortage of top tier titles to explore.
The Stories of my Life 