Welcome to TechRadar’s new movies guide. Below, we’ve rounded up some of the biggest new films set to debut in theaters this year – so, if you’ve been searching for the most anticipated flicks of 2024, we’ve got you covered.
This week sees The Color Purple finally make its way into UK and Australian cinemas, while its fellow multi-award nominated movie All of Us Strangers is also out on British shores. In the US, the Jenna Ortega-starring Miller’s Girl is arguably the most noteworthy new release.
There are plenty of other new movies to keep track of, though, including offerings from comic book titans Marvel and DC, frightening horrors, delicious dramas, and more entertainment fare. Right now, you’ll find entries for the hottest films arriving between now and the end of May, but we’ll be adding even more new films to this article in the weeks to come.
After some new streaming films, too? Our guides on all of the new Netflix movies, new Max movies, new Prime Video movies, and new Disney Plus movies are here to help you out. Bookmark those for later, however, and read about the new movies due to land in theaters in 2024.
New movies: January 2024
All Of Us Strangers
Release date: out now worldwide
Andrew Haigh’s first feature film for six years is finally due out in UK cinemas before the end of the month.
All of Us Strangers stars Adam (Sherlock and Fleabag‘s Andrew Scott), whose mysterious encounter with neigbor Harry (Aftersun and Normal People‘s Paul Mescal) disrupts the flow of his everyday life. As the duo’s relationship begins to blossom, Adam struggles to let go of his past, and strangely begins seeing visions of his deceased parents in the childhood home he left three decades ago. A romantic fantasy-thriller with two excellent leads that might cause an upset or two on the 2024 awards circuit.
The Color Purple
Release date: out now worldwide
Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel has received a big screen glow up – following its early 21st century stage musical adaptation – and it’s out in the UK and Australia very soon.
The Color Purple tells the tale of Celie Harris Johnson (played here by Fantasia Barrino) and the extraordinary, albeit at-times horrifyingly abusive journey she goes on in the early 1900s. Halle Bailey, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, and H.E.R. are among its starry cast.
Blitz Bazawule (Black Is King, The Burial of Kojo) directs from a screenplay penned by Marcus Gardley (Maid, The Chi). Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg are part of the movie’s world-famous producing team, too.
Miller’s Girl
Release date: January 26 (US), TBA (UK), March 21 (Australia)
Martin Freeman (The Hobbit trilogy) and Jenna Ortega (Wednesday, Scream) star in this forthcoming indie thriller that appears like it’ll have enough twists and turns to keep viewers engaged.
The leading duo play Jonathan and Cairo, a teacher and student who enter a dark relationship after they work together on a creative writing assignment. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s Point Grey Pictures developed the movie, with Lionsgate snapping up distribution rights to give Miller’s Girl some financial muscle. One to keep close tabs on if you’re a fan of mystery-laced dramas, although its abject 25% Rotten Tomatoes critics score might put you off.
New movies: February 2024
Argylle
Release date: February 2 (US and UK), February 1 (Australia)
Matthew Vaughn, director of The Kingsman and Kick-Ass, returns to the theatrical fray with a metatextual spy comedy that’ll have you guessing about what’s fact and what’s fiction.
Starring Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, and Henry Cavill, Argylle sees Howard’s Elly Conway, a best-selling but introverted author, unexpectedly become embroiled in the world of espionage when the stories in her best-selling novels take on a new life by way of a sinister crime syndicate. Bryan Cranston, Samuel L. Jackson, Dua Lipa, and John Cena are among the supporting cast.
Here’s hoping Apple‘s latest spy-based venture (which it’s co-developed with Universal) is far better than Ghosted, its most recent and critically panned espionage genre-inspired flick.
Lisa Frankenstein
Release date: February 9 (US and Australia), March 22 (UK)
After her previous film – Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania – failed to light up the box office for Marvel in early 2023, Kathryn Newton returns in this horror comedy that’s been directed by none other than Zelda Williams, daughter of the late and great Robin Williams, who makes her feature film directing debut here.
So, what’s Lisa Frankenstein about? In it, Newton plays Lisa Swallows, a late 80s teen goth who brings a handsome Victorian man (Cole Sprouse) back to life in a lightning storm. Once resurrected and rebuilt into the man of her dreams, Lisa and her new beau embark on a humorous murder spree to exact revenge on those who have humiliated and/or traumatized her. Here’s hoping it doesn’t decompose in cinemas upon release.
Bob Marley: One Love
Release date: February 14
Another Marvel alumnus whose first MCU appearance – in Secret Invasion – was trashed by many, Kingsley Ben-Adir will aim to get his acting career back on track in Paramount Pictures’ biographical musical drama that celebrates the life of the legendary Bob Marley.
Ben-Adir will play the famous reggae singer-songwriter, who rose to prominence for his irrefutably iconic Jamaican-inspired songs, spiritual nature and Rastafarian beliefs, and outspoken support for democratic social reforms – views that saw the global icon survive an assassination attempt in 1976 before dying from skin cancer in 1981. Lashana Lynch, James Norton, Tosin Cole, and Michael Gandolfini are among Bob Marley: One Love‘s strong supporting cast.
Madame Web
Release date: February 14 (US and Australia), February 16 (UK)
One of two Sony Spider-Man Universe (SSU) movies set to arrive this year, Madame Web will aim to give audiences a different kind of love bite on Valentine’s Day.
Billed as a superhero-mystery take on the Groundhog Day formula, the Dakota Johnson-starring flick sees the lead actor play Cassandra Webb/Madame Web, a paramedic whose dormant clairvoyant abilities surface when a deadly adversary from the future threatens to kill three young women with eventual superpowers of their own.
Madame Web‘s first time-hopping trailer made it look like Spider-Man, Terminator, and Loki season 2 rolled into one, which makes it sound really appealing. However, fans have struggled to look past its derivative plot – which is mostly spoiled in the teaser – as well as its corny dialog and creative deviations from the sourcematerial, so expect this one to be another average to poorly-received SSU entry.
Drive-Away Dolls
Release date: February 23 (US), March 15 (UK), February 22 (Australia)
This crime comedy road-trip movie from Ethan Coen – yep, one of the two beloved Coen brother directors – might not be on your radar. But, with a starry A-list supporting cast including The Last of Us‘ Pedro Pascal, Oppenheimer‘s Matt Damon, and Rustin‘s Colman Domingo, Drive-Away Dolls could be a sleeper hit when it’s eventually released.
Margaret Qualley stars as Jamie, a free spirit who embarks of an impromptu trip to Tallahassee with her more reserved best friend Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan) following a break-up. However, when the pair get embroiled in the affairs of an inept criminal gang, things don’t take long to go awry. Start your engines in 3, 2, 1…
New movies: March 2024
Dune: Part Two
Release date: March 1 (US and UK), March 14 (Australia)
The most disappointing thing about 2021’s Dune was its non-descript ending. But, as anyone who’s sat through David Lynch’s flawed 1984 movie will tell you, slicing Frank Herbert’s classic sci-fi novel in two was certainly a better plan than squeezing it into a single film.
Now, after numerous delays owing to the 2023 Hollywood actors and writers strikes, Dune: Part Two is set to emerge from beneath Arrakis’ sandy wasteland in March. And, based on its three teasers – including its epic final trailer that teases all-out war, new villains, and a possible third film – it’ll have been worth the wait.
Joining Dune‘s already impressive ensemble cast are Elvis’ Austin Butler, Black Widow’s Florence Pugh, No Time to Die’s Léa Seydoux, and the needs-no-introduction Christopher Walken. Expect this one to be one of 2024’s best early new movies.
Kung Fu Panda 4
Release date: March 8 (US and UK), March 28 (Australia)
Few DreamWorks properties have proven as popular as Kung Fu Panda since the 21st century began, so the announcement – and forthcoming arrival – of the franchise’s fourth movie has excited fans of the previous three flicks.
Jack Black returns to voice seminal protagonist Po the Panda, who’s charged with finding his successor for the role as Dragon Warrior while fighting a new foe known as The Chameleon. Awkwafina, Viola Davis, Dustin Hoffman, Bryan Cranston, Ian McShane, and Ke Huy Quan are among its A-list voice cast.
Imaginary
Release date: March 8 (US and UK), March 7 (Australia)
One of two movies about imaginary friends releasing in the first half of 2024, Imaginary is the more horrifying of that duo.
Jeff Wadlow (Kick-Ass 2, The Curse of Bridge Hollow) directs – and co-wrote – this terrifying supernatural flick that centers on a seemingly haunted stuffed animal named Chauncey. The bear was previously owned by Jessica (DeWanda Wise) but, when her stepdaughter Alice (Pyper Braun) suddenly becomes attached to it and sinister incidents start occurring, Jessica realizes Chauncey isn’t the cute toy she once remembered. You’ll never look at your stuffed animal collection in the same way again.
Love Lies Bleeding
Release date: March 8 (US), March 14 (Australia), April 19 (UK)
The first of A24’s new movies line-up for 2024, Love Lies Bleeding is a romantic thriller from Saint Maud filmmaker Rose Glass.
Katy O’Brian (The Mandalorian, Ant-Man 3) plays Jackie, a bisexual bodybuilder who Lou (Twilight‘s Kristen Stewart), an employee at the gym Jackie starts training at, falls for. Unfortunately, the pair’s potential romance hits a major snag when Jackie becomes wrapped up in the escapades of Lou’s criminal family. Jenna Malone, Dave Franco, and Ed Harris also feature. Will it keep A24’s acclaimed track record, erm, on track? We’ll have to wait and see.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Release date: March 22 (US), March 29 (UK), March 28 (Australia)
Ghostbusters: Afterlife brought a small-town, Stranger Things-like vibe to the veteran spook-hunting franchise, but this follow-up will bring the action back to the Big Apple.
Here’s Frozen Empire‘s official story synopsis: “The Spengler family returns to where it all started – the iconic New York City firehouse – to team up with the original Ghostbusters, who’ve developed a top-secret research lab to take busting ghosts to the next level. But, when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second Ice Age.”
Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Carrie Coon, Paul Rudd, and Celeste O’Connor will return from the Afterlife cast. Franchise newcomers Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt, and Logan Kim are also on hand for some bustin’, while beloved veterans Dan Ackryod, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, and Annie Potts are also back.
Godzilla vs Kong: The New Empire
Release date: March 29 (US), April 12 (UK), March 14 (Australia)
Bumped up two weeks – in the US, anyway – from its original launch date, the sequel to 2021’s Godzilla vs Kong crashes into theaters soon.
Godzilla vs Kong: The New Empire sees the titular kaiju join forces (after beating the living daylights out of each other in the last film) to tackle a new menacing threat from the Hollow Earth. Its first trailer, which was released in early December 2023, revealed said dangerous foe, what appears to be a baby Kong, and a pink Godzilla.
Thanks to hit Apple TV Plus prequel series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and highly-rated Toho-developed movie Godzilla: Minus One, Godzilla has never been more popular. Expect one of March’s new movies to do extremely well at the global box office.
New movies: April 2024
The First Omen
Release date: April 5 (US and UK), April 4 (Australia)
Serving as a prequel to beloved 1976 flick The Omen, this Arkasha Stevenson-directed movie is the latest horror film that attempts to – unnecessarily, some may argue – fill in the gaps in its franchise lore. Here’s its synopsis: “When a young American woman is sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church, she encounters a darkness that causes her to question her own faith and uncovers a terrifying conspiracy that hopes to bring about the birth of evil incarnate.”
Nell Tiger Free, Tawfeek Barhom, Sonia Braga, Ralph Ineson, and Bill Nighy are among its main cast members.
Civil War
Release date: April 12 (US), April 26 (UK), April 24 (Australia)
A war-based action-drama whose story could become a reality if humanity isn’t careful, Civil War is another A24-developed movie that seems like it’ll do well with general audiences.
Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Men) returns to helm this feature, which sees a team of journalists travel across a neo-dystopian US to document the unfolding conflict between a dictatorial government and an expansive Florida-based militia. Real-life married couple Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Nick Offerman, and Stephen McKinley Henderson star.
Abigail
Release date: April 19 (US), TBA (UK), April 18 (Australia)
It seems April 2024 is making a play to be the year’s spookiest month outside of October. Indeed, as well as The First Omen, this Dracula-inspired horror movie will make its theatrical debut this month, too.
When a group of would-be criminals kidnap a seemingly unthreatening 12-year-old ballerina, all they have to do is watch over her for 12 hours – at night, we should add – in order to collect a $50 million bounty. Unbeknownst to the gang, though, they’ve abducted the child of a menacing underworld figure. To paraphrase Rorschach from legendary graphic novel Watchmen: she’s not trapped in there with them, rather they’re stuck in their hideout with her.
Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevenson, Kathryn Newton, Giancarlo Esposito and Kevin Durand are some of the notable names set to feature. Radio Silence – aka Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, who masterminded the Scream franchise’s return – are on co-directing duties.
Challengers
Release date: April 26 (US and UK), April 24 (Australia)
Originally set for release in late 2023, Challengers was pushed into Q2 2024 due to last year’s Hollywood strikes.
Zendaya (Spider-Man: No Way Home, Dune) plays Tashi Duncan, a tennis star-turned-coach who has transformed her husband Art into a worldwide tennis phenomenon. When Art suddenly finds himself on a career-defining losing streak, she forces him to play a ‘Challenger’ event, where Art will take on a player on the lowest rung of elite tennis. Little do the pair realize, though, that Art will be facing off against Tashi’s former flame Patrick (Josh O’Connor).
Luca Guadagnino (Bones and All) directed Challengers from a script by Justin Kurtizkes, the latter’s first-ever movie screenplay. We’ll see if Challengers serves up a decent movie in late April.
New movies: May 2024
The Fall Guy
Release date: May 3
With his terrific turn as Ken in 2023 megahit Barbie earning him numerous award nominations (and some wins!), Ryan Gosling’s stock has never been higher. So, we’re expecting his next movie – The Fall Guy – to be a hit in its own right.
In it, Gosling trades Barbie beach life for a wild stunt-filled rescue mission as washed-up stuntman Colt Seavers, who embarks on a humorous, action-packed errand to track down missing A-lister Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). Based on its first trailer, Seavers will have to put his day job to good use in a bid to take on or avoid the lawbreakers, who Ryder seems to have got himself into trouble with and who stand in Seavers’ way.
Emily Blunt, Hannah Waddingham, Stephanie Hsu, and Winston Duke are among the film’s starry supporting cast. Dave Pearce (Iron Man 3, Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation) and David Leitch (John Wick, Deadpool 2) are on writing and directing duties respectively.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Release date: May 10 (US), May 24 (UK), May 23 (Australia)
The fourth entry in the revived Planet of the Apes film franchise, which might set up a new trilogy, arrives very soon. Set 300 years after predecessor War of the…, the final film to star Andy Serkis’ Caesar, Kingdom of the… sees Reptile‘s Owen Teague play Noa, a young chimpanzee tasked with completing a trying mission that’ll impact apes and humans alike.
Noa will be joined on his trek by Mae (The Witcher’s Freya Allen), a young woman who’s part of the now feral human race. If we had to guess, we think the duo will form an unlikely alliance in a bid to thwart Proximus Caesar (Lost‘s Kevin Durand), a powerful chimpanzee ruler who enslaves other ape clans and is unrelenting in his search for human technology. The three previous Planet… films have been superb, so we’re hoping Kingdom… will be similarly great.
IF
Release date: May 17 (US), May 24 (UK), May 16 (Australia)
Two months before Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool makes the superhero jump to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), he’ll appear in the more family-friendly IF, 2024’s other imaginary friend-based movie.
The fantasy comedy stars Cailey Fleming as Bea, who gains the ability to see imaginary friends – known as IFs – abandoned by kids who have since grown up. With the aid of The Man Upstairs (Reynolds), who possesses the same gift, Bea goes on a journey to reunite IFs with their former human companions so they’re not forgotten.
John Krasinski (A Quiet Place) is on dual writing-directing duties, while its eclectic but talented voice cast of IFs includes Steve Carell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Maya Rudolph, Awkwafina, and Sam Rockwell. Get ready to laugh, cry, and get heart-warmingly nostalgic when one of 2024’s adorable looking new movies arrives in theaters.
Garfield
Release date: May 24 (US and UK), May 30 (Australia)
Chris Pratt will hope to front another $1 billion-making animated flick – he voiced Mario in the aforementioned money-spinner The Super Mario Bros. Movie, if you somehow weren’t aware – with this Garfield movie reboot. And no, it isn’t a sequel to those poorly received Bill Murray-starring live-action-animated hybrid films.
The Guardians of the Galaxy star will play the titular lasagna-loving, Monday-hating tabby cat, whose world is turned upside down when his good-for-nothing feline father (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson) suddenly rocks up. One of 2024’s new movies that should keep the kids quiet for a couple of hours, but we wouldn’t bank on it being a huge success.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Release date: May 24 (US and UK), May 23 (Australia)
If seeing Pratt voice another iconic character is your idea of a bad time, this Mad Max: Fury Road prequel is the perfect alternative.
Anya Taylor-Joy plays a younger version of the eponymous character, who was portrayed with such spectacular intensity by Charlize Theron in Fury Road. Unsurprisingly, it’ll focus on her harrowing life until a few years before the barnstorming 2015 epic, revealing how she earned her Imperator title in the process.
Furiosa‘s first trailer teased Taylor-Joy’s hero, Chris Hemsworth’s wild villain, and explosions galore when it debuted in December 2023. Let’s hope it’s insanely thrilling, high-octane, and entertaining as Fury Road. With acclaimed Mad Max director George Miller helming it, Furiosa should be all that and more.
New movies: more exciting movies to look out for in 2024
We’ll be adding plenty more entries in this new movies guide soon. For the time being, here’s a selection of the hotly anticipated films due out between June and December 2024:
- Ballerina (June 7)
- Inside Out 2 (June 14)
- It Ends With Us (June 21)
- A Quiet Place: Day One (June 28)
- Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 (June 28)
- Despicable Me 4 (July 3)
- Project Artemis (July 12)
- Twisters (July 19)
- Deadpool 3 (July 26)
- Trap (August 2)
- Borderlands (August 9)
- Speak No Evil (August 9)
- Alien: Romulus (August 16)
- Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 (August 16)
- Kraven the Hunter (August 30)
- Beetlejuice 2 (September 6)
- Transformers One (September 13)
- Speak No Evil (September 13)
- Saw XI (September 27)
- Joker: Folie à Deux (October 4)
- Smile 2 (October 18)
- Terrifier 3 (October 25)
- Venom 3 (November 8)
- Red One (November 15)
- Gladiator 2 (November 22)
- Wicked: Part One (November 27)
- The Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim (December 13)
- Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (December 20)
- The Lion King: Mufasa (December 20)
- Nosferatu (December 25)
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