With 2023 on the way out, our team is looking ahead to the films we’re most excited about in the New Year!
It’s hard to believe, but we’re already staring down the barrel of a New Year. 2023 was an interesting year for movies. It was stacked with blockbuster after blockbuster, featured the Summer of Barbenheimer, and the Writer/Actor strikes that shut everything down. There were plenty of good and bad movies, along with a few surprises (which we’ll go over later on), but today is all about the future!
2024 has plenty to offer, even as studios are just beginning to get productions back on track, and we’ve tasked our team with breaking down the five films they’re most excited to see in 2024. We struggled with this one:
Jordan
2024 is going to be a curious one. Despite a lot of shuffling around, that leaves the year surprisingly slim on comic book franchise films (only one from each of the big hitters, DC and Marvel, with a slew from Sony’s Spidey-adjacent films), but there’s tons of exciting things to look forward to.
Dune: Part Two – While it’s a tad frustrating to have to list it once again for this year’s article, nothing can extinguish my hype for this film. Dune: Part One gets played regularly at my house, and a(nother) recent re-read of the novel has me eager to see how Denis Villenueve brings it all together.
Madame Web – We all have our hills to die on. Those goofy ass movies that you know aren’t technically “good” but will defend to the death anyway…Yeah, that’s Madame Web for me. Given Sony’s track record with the Spider-Man adjacent films, and the trailer, I’m not expecting much out of this film. Regardless, I LOVE the character and getting to see these different Spider-Women on the big screen is something I’ve been waiting a long time for.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes – My love of the Apes franchise has been well documented over the years, even prior to the incredible trilogy that revived it. As such, I’ve been looking forward to this movie since it was first announced. Managing to serve as a follow-up to the new continuity, while still being set far enough down the road to do its own thing means the possibilities are endless. There’s a lot to live up to, but that first trailer has me convinced it’s possible.
Furiosa – Mad Max: Fury Road remains one of the greatest action films of all time. Furiosa was an incredible addition to the lore, and seeing more of her backstory sounds very intriguing. Not to mention I’ll take just about any story that sees George Miller dives back into the post-apocalyptic world of Mad Max. I can’t wait to see what level of batshit visuals Miller brings to the table this time.
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim – Rings of Power definitely scratched an itch I didn’t realize I had, making me more eager than ever to dive back into the world of Middle-earth. I love that they’re experimenting on this one and using animation to tell this epic story, while bringing back familiar characters/voices (eg Miranda Otto as Eowyn). It’s something I’ve been wanting other big franchises to venture into, and if successful, maybe War of the Rohirrim will start a new trend.
Honorable Mentions: Inside Out 2, Joker 2, Mean Girls, The Beekeeper, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Twisters
Kathryn Newton stars as Lisa Swallows in LISA FRANKENSTEIN, a Focus Features release.
Credit: Michele K. Short / © 2023 FOCUS FEATURES LLC
Becky
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire – I was thoroughly prepared to bid this world adieu after the events of Godzilla vs Kong, but now that I know the story isn’t over, I have no problem whatsoever jumping right back in. I’m not sure what this story will entail since Godzilla vs Kong seemed to end quite decisively, but no doubt they’ll come up with something and I’ll take any excuse to see Godzilla and Kong fight together again.
Lisa Frankenstein – I feel like a lot of people are sleeping on Lisa Frankenstein already and that is a mistake because this film feels like it will be absolutely delightful. A horror rom-com based on Frankenstein but set in the 1980s? AND it’s the directorial debut of Zelda Williams? Honestly, what more do you need to know? Also, Cole Sprouse as the Creature is an added bonus.
Dune: Part Two – I’m still upset that this film was delayed to next year, but that hasn’t dampened my enthusiasm in the slightest. Those who know the books know that Part One ended just as the plot gets really good. So anyone who complained about Part One being “slow”, buckle up, there’s a lot of action to come in Part Two and I can’t wait to see it.
Ballerina – John Wick’s story may be over (for now), but thankfully that doesn’t mean our foray into that world is over. Ballerina is the upcoming spinoff that follows a female assassin coming up in the same, kill-or-be-killed world. Remember the ballerina we got a glimpse of in John Wick 4? That was a teaser of what’s to come and I’m excited to see how the story can continue from another’s perspective.
Alien: Romulus – I tried to swear off any more Alien films after Alien: Covenant proved to be woefully underwhelming, but unfortunately it seems I can’t stay away as I’m excited to see what Alien: Romulus might bring to the table. I don’t think it can get any worse than Covenant, so hopefully it can only go up from here.
Honorable Mentions: The Beekeeper, Despicable Me 4, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
S0LEB
Kingdom of the Planet of The Apes – Though Caesar died in the third installment of this series, KOTPA is set years after the events of the last film and we can expect to see the return of Caesar’s children, Blue Eyes and Cornelius. Cornelius was just a newborn at the time of the last film, but I am sure that Blue Eyes will step into the leading role that his father so nobly filled. I am very excited to see what this movie has to offer and to see if this will be the last film in the series or if it will continue until all humans are enslaved.
Inside Out 2 – Though we did see a preteen Riley in the last film, this film will focus on a teenager Riley that is now having a new emotional state she has never felt before. Just when Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust think things are calm, the unexpected demolition of their headquarters occurs. That is when we are introduced to the very talented Maya Hawke aka Anxiety. I can’t wait to watch this film with my daughter and son when it releases next year!
Deadpool 3 – How could you not be excited for this film? The return of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, the rumored crossovers of the original X-Men, and of course the wild and crazy Deadpool antics we have all come to love. If it is good as it’s rumored to be, this might be the perfect movie to push Marvel into the new era
Honorable Mentions – Alien: Romulus, Beetlejuice 2, Joker 2, Spiderman: Beyond the Spider-Verse, Ghostbuster: Frozen Empire
Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features / © 2023 FOCUS FEATURES LLC
Garrett
Alien: Romulus – As an Alien franchise super fan, am I nervous about a new film, possibly a reboot? Yes. Very much. But the franchise’s missteps are kind of exactly what makes it so fascinating. Each film is different, unique, and most of them from different filmmakers so they are like different interpretations. I’m all here for a fresh voice, new faces, and new ideas. Scott’s last two prequel/sequels felt too confined by what had already been done. The new film doesn’t need to reach the lofty heights of the series, it just needs to continue the franchise’s more experimental and non-traditional nature, and I think this film can deliver that.
Dune: Part Two – One of my biggest disappointments of 2023 was not being able to see this film. But, I take solace in knowing it’s already finished. We don’t have to worry about it being stuck in production limbo for the two decades preceding Part One. Anyway, this film should pick up where the excellent previous installment left off, but as the second half of the book is more action-oriented and, frankly, crazy, that’s where I’m hoping this one goes too. I have faith in Villeneuve. He hasn’t let me down yet, and he’s going to knock this one out of the park.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes – Speaking of pseudo-remakes, here’s another one I’m very much looking forward to. The reboot Planet of the Apes trilogy was fantastic. Frankly it didn’t get and still doesn’t get the love it deserves. This fourth film kind of feels like it brings it full-circle. If the original films were like prequels to the legendary original film, this is the culmination of that story arc – bringing it back to where it all started. Even if it treads familiar ground, the fact that it will bring the excellent approach of the prequel trilogy into this space, I will gladly pay to see it.
Mickey 17 – Science fiction film written and produced by the incredibly talented director of perhaps the greatest film of the past decade? YES PLEASE. It feels like it will inhabit a similar space as the impeccable Moon, but with Bong Joon-Ho’s horror leanings I expect things to turn dark and depressing. Starring Robert Pattinson who has been great lately, what’s not to like?
Nosferatu – Robert Eggers is the perfect filmmaker to bring the legendary Nosferatu into the 21st Century. His ability to play homage to the past while giving audiences something new and unique to watch is second to none. His films ooze style without giving up any narrative weight, and he creates imagery that lodges itself in your mind long after the end credits roll. I hope the success of this film can usher in a new era of rediscovering silver screen classics and giving them the props they deserve.
As we head into the New Year fresh, the hype is already in the air. Let’s just cross our fingers these films are as amazing as we hope!
