Last year was full of great films, ruled by Barbie, J. Robert Oppenheimer and the Super Mario Bros. rather than the Avengers and the superhero crew. And 2024 might be just as appealing with a nostalgic burst of familiar names: Axel Foley, Godzilla and the Plastics.
With only one Marvel Cinematic Universe installment on the docket ("Deadpool 3," in theaters July 26) and DC's big reboot planned for 2025, there's a chance this year for other genres and franchises to make a statement. High-profile entries like action-packed "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" (May 24), Joaquin Phoenix's "Joker: Folie à Deux" sequel (Oct. 4) and much-anticipated musical "Wicked" (Nov. 27) are in the mix, plus it's time to get psyched for fresh installments in the "Alien," "Despicable Me" and "Beetlejuice" franchises.
So, what should definitely be marked on everyone's film calendar? Here are exclusive peeks at 15 movies you absolutely, positively must see:
Tina Fey's adaptation of the Broadway musical features Angourie Rice in the Lindsay Lohan role as Cady Heron, a new student navigating the social pitfalls of high school who falls for the ex-boyfriend of Regina George (Reneé Rapp), imperious leader of the A-list Plastics clique.
Where to watch: In theaters.
Henry Cavill goes from Superman to superspy in director Matthew Vaughn's action comedy. Bryce Dallas Howard stars as a homebody novelist known for her popular literary secret agent (Cavill) but her world gets flipped upside down when she finds herself plunged into the crazy real world of international espionage.
Where to watch: In theaters.
'Mean Girls':Trailer drops for 2024 musical remake in theaters
Written by Diablo Cody ("Jennifer's Body") and directed by Zelda Williams, the horror comedy stars Kathryn Newton as a unpopular goth girl who accidentally resurrects a Victorian corpse (Cole Sprouse) via lightning storm. Armed with a tanning machine, she charts a murderous path to create the perfect high school crush.
Where to watch: In theaters.
In the biggest swing of "Spider-Man" spinoffs this year (alongside "Venom" and "Kraven the Hunter"), Dakota Johnson plays a paramedic who sees the future and uses her newfound clairvoyance to protect three women (Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced and Celeste O'Connor) from a mysterious villain.
Where to watch: In theaters.
Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan star in director Ethan Coen's crime comedy as friends needing a fresh start who jump in a rental car and head to Florida. Shenanigans ensue when they discover a briefcase in the trunk sought by several extremely inept crooks (including Matt Damon, Pedro Pascal and Colman Domingo).
Where to watch: In theaters.
In his latest animated adventure, Po (voiced by Jack Black) is tapped to train a new Dragon Warrior. Before that, however, he teams with foxy sidekick Zhen (Awkwafina) to face evil sorceress Chameleon (Viola Davis), a shapeshifting lizard out to steal the kung fu power from every master villain Po has faced.
Where to watch: In theaters.
In director Rose Glass' buzzy romantic thriller premiering at Sundance Film Festival this month, Lou (Kristen Stewart) is an introverted Las Vegas gym manager who falls for Jackie (Katy O'Brian), an ambitious bisexual bodybuilder. Their new love gets complicated thanks to Lou's criminal dad (Ed Harris).
Where to watch: In theaters.
Old-school stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson return in the latest installment, where the Spengler family (Carrie Coon, Mckenna Grace and Finn Wolfhard) – alongside teacher Gary (Paul Rudd) – move into the Ghostbusters firehouse just in time for a chilly new supernatural menace terrorizing New York.
Where to watch: In theaters.
The tag team monster-movie fans have been waiting for has finally arrived. After facing off in 2021's "Godzilla vs. Kong," the gigantic thunder lizard and King Kong team up to take down a foe that threatens the wondrous underground locale of Hollow Earth as well as the surface world.
Where to watch: In theaters.
The sequel to Zack Snyder's holiday-season streaming sci-fi hit finds ex-soldier Kora (Sofia Boutella) and her rebel crew dealing with complicated pasts and defending their home from vengeful military man Atticus Noble (Ed Skrein) and the villainous Imperium.
Where to watch: Netflix.
Fresh off his "Barbie" breakout, Ryan Gosling takes on Lee Majors' role from the classic 1980s show. In David Leitch's action comedy, Colt Seavers (Gosling) is a retired stuntman thrown back into the fray to help his filmmaker ex-girlfriend (Emily Blunt) finish her big-budget movie when the main star goes missing.
Where to watch: In theaters.
Director John Krasinski's family comedy features youngster Cailey Fleming as a girl with the ability to see imaginary friends (voiced by Steve Carell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and others) in need of new human companions, and she gets a partner on her quest to help them when she discovers her upstairs neighbor (Ryan Reynolds) has the same talent.
Where to watch: In theaters.
Set several generations after 2017's "War for the Planet of the Apes," Wes Ball's sci-fi action movie begins a new story featuring young chimpanzee Noa (played via motion capture by Owen Teague). He befriends a feral human girl (Freya Allan) and wants to chart a peaceful path between species as a tyrannical ape leader (Kevin Durand) constructs his empire.
Where to watch: In theaters.
The animated Pixar sequel catches up with Riley's lively inner emotions as the girl reaches her teenage years, meaning Joy (voiced by Amy Poehler), Anger (Lewis Black) and others have to face a stressful changing situation internally with the introduction of a new emotion, Anxiety (Maya Hawke).
Where to watch: In theaters.
The first "Cop" movie in 30 years brings detective Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) back to SoCal. When his daughter (Taylour Paige) has her life threatened, Axel reunites with longtime pals (Judge Reinhold and John Ashton) and gets a new partner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) to investigate a police conspiracy.
Where to watch: Netflix.
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