Happy New Year!
Hi everyone! Sorry I was unable to do my end of the year lists this year. I was finishing up college applications and then I went to Costa Rica, so there was just no time for me to do them. I will, however, be on top of 2024. And that starts with my most anticipated. There's a wide variety of movies coming this year, and I am excited for a lot of them, so this was a tough ranking. That said, here are my fifteen most anticipated films of 2024.
15. Bob Marley: One Love
I would never have been excited for this movie had I not seen the trailer a couple of weeks ago. I like Bob Marley's music, but these musician biopics all tend to be the same. This one, however, looks different. Bob Marley is known for being this symbol of hope and love, and that seems to be what this movie is truly about, and I think that will be a powerful message that I am legitimately excited for.
Bob Marley: One Love is in theaters on Valentine's Day.
14. Gladiator 2
I have no clue what to think about this. A sequel to Best Picture winner Gladiator nearly 25 years later? A sequel to a movie where the main character dies? A sequel directed by a director who has had a rough streak of films recently and has come off as a pretentious jerk in the media? Everything about this movie feels like a red flag...but I love Gladiator. And if this has any shot of being as good as Gladiator, we are in for a special film.
Gladiator 2 hits theaters on November 22.
13. Mickey 17
For those of you who don't know, Mickey 17 is a sci-fi film starring Robert Pattinson and directed by Bong Joon-ho, director of Parasite. This is Bong's first movie since Parasite, and that is enough to have it on my most anticipated. Robert Pattinson has been on a hot streak ever since he stopped doing Twilight, so a sci-fi thriller starring him and directed by Bong? Sign me up.
Mickey 17 drops in theaters on March 29.
12. Civil War
This is another one that was not on my radar until I saw the trailer a few weeks back. Alex Garland, the director of this movie, directed Ex Machina, which I thought was awesome, so an epic action film directed by him about a futuristic civil war in America sounds fantastic. There will obviously be tons of social commentary in this film, and I think that combined with this sweeping war across America will be one of the coolest movies of the year.
Civil War flies into theaters on April 26.
11. Terrifier 3
Never in my life did I think I would have the third Terrifier on my most anticipated, but here we are. Art the Clown made a name for himself in 2022 with Terrifier 2, which I thought was crazy and nauseating, but wildly fun. There's nothing else in film like the Terrifier movies, so a third one set on Christmas Eve is bound to be another uniquely gory experience. We will see if my stomach holds up this time. I don't know if it will, but I'm excited to find out.
Terrifier 3 slashes into theaters on October 25.
10. A Quiet Place: Day One
A Quiet Place feels like one of the few modern franchises that has not been oversaturated with content. Now, I don't know if that will change here, but I am still excited for this film. I definitely have a few worries (one being that Krasinski is not directing), but I think a prequel to A Quiet Place is not a bad idea. I love Lupita Nyong'o, and I've wanted to see more of Joseph Quinn after Stranger Things made him a star. I have hesitant excitement for this film, but excitement nonetheless.
A Quiet Place: Day One hits theaters on June 28 (my birthday!).
9. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
You have no idea how much my most anticipated list has changed since I first drafted it. I just recently watched Mad Max: Fury Road, otherwise this film would never have been on my list. Fury Road was an awesome movie, however, and I know people have been waiting for Furiosa for forever. The trailer looked cool. Anya Taylor-Joy was a great choice to play the titular Imperator. This movie has all the ingredients it needs to be another Fury Road. I can't wait.
Furiosa speeds into theaters on May 24.
8. Untitled Jordan Peele Movie
This is a bit of a cheat, because this movie may not be released in 2024, but I'm keeping it on here. I didn't love Nope, but that doesn't mean I'm not excited for any new Jordan Peele movie. This man has been one of the most interesting and exciting directors of the past seven years. Get Out is one of my favorite movies, so anytime I see that a new Peele is coming out, it will be on my most anticipated. Hopefully this leans more towards Get Out than Us or Nope. I wish I knew more about it so it could be higher, but we don't even have a title, so it stays here.
Jordan Peele's fourth feature is currently unscheduled for a release date.
7. Mean Girls
Okay, okay. Out of all the movies that I'm skeptical about, this is the one where I'm most skeptical. I absolutely LOVE the original Mean Girls. I think it is the best teen/high school movie of all time. I haven't seen the musical, but I like the music and from what I have heard, it's good. I don't know how a movie adaptation of the musical is going to go, though. I think it's a little weird. But I am still very excited for it. I am worried, yes. It could suck. The trailer did not look good. But if this movie is anywhere close to the original...that would be so fetch.
Mean Girls is in theaters on January 12.
6. Deadpool 3
There was a time where Deadpool 3 was my definitive most anticipated movie of 2024. However, the MCU has been downright bad since No Way Home. With the exception of Guardians 3, I have not really liked any of the projects that have come out. That has me incredibly worried. I think I might be more excited for this film if it didn't take place in the MCU, because I think a third solo Deadpool starring the Merc with a Mouth and Wolverine would be fantastic. Either way, I can't wait to see Wade and Logan team up. It'll hopefully be amazing.
Deadpool 3 claws into theaters on July 26.
5. Inside Out 2
Much like the MCU, Pixar has been off recently. Since Toy Story 4, there haven't been any movies that have wowed me. I hope that can change with this film. Pixar's track record with sequels is inconsistent, but I think a sequel to Inside Out can be natural. As you grow up, there are more emotions that come in, so that is what this film will explore. I have reserved excitement for this movie. I think it could be great, but I am not entirely convinced.
Inside Out 2 is in theaters on June 14.
4. IF
I am so excited for this movie. First off, it's an original family fantasy film. That automatically grabs my attention. It may or may not be a musical. Second off, it stars Ryan Reynolds. That's awesome. Third, it is directed by John Krasinski. Great. And fourth and most importantly, this is the first time John Krasinski and Steve Carell have collaborated since The Office. Oh my God. We are getting the reunion of two of the biggest actors from arguably the greatest sitcom of all time. Are you kidding? This movie will be amazing!
IF drops in theaters on May 17.
3. Dune: Part Two
As time has gone on, I have only gotten more excited for this movie. The first Dune was okay. I appreciated it more than I actually liked it. The second part, however, looks to deliver on the action and payoff side of things, and I cannot wait for that. The addition of Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken, and Austin Butler to an already stacked cast will be incredible. This movie should be the blockbuster of 2024. I hope it can live up to that.
Dune: Part Two hits theaters on March 1.
2. Joker: Folié a Deux
At first, I was not supportive of the idea of a Joker sequel. But when they announced that this film would star Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, I realized that this could absolutely work. I have no clue what it's going to be. There are rumors that it's a musical. But whatever this crazy thing is, I think it could surpass the first one. Seeing Joaquin Phoenix portray the Clown Prince of Crime one more time is worth the price of admission itself, but getting Lady Gaga in there too will just be special. I cannot wait for this movie. It's going to be insane.
Joker: Folié a Deux hits theaters on October 4.
1. Wicked: Part One
I don't think you guys realize how long I have been waiting for this movie. I love Broadway, and Wicked is one of my favorite musicals. I've always thought a movie adaptation would be awesome, and when they finally confirmed it was going forward, I was over the moon. That confirmation was made in 2012. I have been waiting over half my life to see Wicked on the big screen, and we are finally getting it in 2024. I am so, so, so excited. I don't love that they are splitting it in two parts, but maybe it'll work. Either way, I cannot wait.
Wicked: Part One defies gravity and flies into theaters on November 27.