Summary

• Adam Sandler returns with a dramatic role in Spaceman, promising a performance on par with his critically acclaimed films like Uncut Gems.
• M. Night Shyamalan's new thriller Trap offers an intriguing premise and the presence of Josh Hartnett, which makes it worth getting excited about.
• Kung Fu Panda 4 marks the return of the beloved DreamWorks franchise, featuring Jack Black and a powerful new villain, making it one of the most anticipated movies of 2024.

The 2024 movie slate is full of exciting films coming to theaters and streaming services, and these are among the most anticipated. 2023 proved to be a rather significant year for Hollywood, as a handful of movies experienced massive box office success, while other significant blockbusters failed to live up to expectations. The release calendar and the movies' performances were directly impacted by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, which brought delays and meant actors could not promote releases during that time. Still, a fair amount of the best movies of 2023 delivered on high anticipation.

Looking at the 2024 movie releases, there are no shortage of films that provide reasons for audiences to be excited. Some of them were meant to be released in 2023 but were delayed to the following year due to strikes, while the same changes even bumped a few major titles from 2024 to 2025. The good news is that audiences can prepare to see new movies from Jordan Peele, Bong Joon-ho, M. Night Shyamalan, Tim Burton, and other directors, as well as seeing franchises like DC, Marvel, the Monsterverse, Planet of the Apes, and Ghostbusters expand. They help make up Screen Rant's Most Anticipated Movies of 2024.

25 Spaceman

Adam Sandler's next dramatic turn

Adam Sandler returns with a dramatic role in 2024 thanks to Spaceman. The Netflix movie is directed by Johan Renck and based on the book Spaceman of Bohemia by Jaroslav Kalfař. Sandler stars as an astronaut whose life begins to fall apart while he is on a mission. Spaceman includes Paul Dano, Carey Mulligan, and Kunal Nayyar as part of its cast. While Adam Sandler's Netflix partnership has a poor reputation thanks to the quality of the comedies he's made with the streamer, the more dramatic turn promised here is along the lines of his better performances in Uncut Gems or Hustle.

24 Trap

M. Night Shyamalan's new original thriller

A year removed from delivering Knock at the Cabin, M. Night Shyamalan is returning with a new movie in 2024. Trap is an original psychological thriller set at a concert. It is set to star Josh Hartnett in the lead role. The track record of M. Night Shyamalan's movies is uneven, to say the least, but the vague premise of Trap and Harnett leading the charge provides the film with two promising details worth getting excited about.

23 Kung Fu Panda 4

The DreamWorks franchise returns after 8 years

The Kung Fu Panda franchise is finally returning in 2024, as Kung Fu Panda 4's release marks the first installment since 2016. The new sequel once again features Jack Black as the voice of Po, who now encounters a powerful new villain known as The Chameleon, voiced by Viola Davis. The story of Kung Fu Panda 4 follows Po as he trains a new Dragon Warrior, voiced by Awkwafina, and encounters villains from his past, like Tai Lung (Ian McShane). With a fun first trailer already released and the pent-up excitement to return to this franchise, Kung Fu Panda 4 is certainly among the most anticipated movies of 2024.

22 Ballerina

Ana de Armas headlines the John Wick spinoff

The John Wick franchise is growing in 2024 thanks to the first spinoff movie, Ballerina. Starring Ana de Armas, the movie builds on the tease from John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum that female assassins are trained as ballerinas. Ballerina will see Ana de Armas' character Rooney as she seeks revenge on the people responsible for killing her family. The John Wick spinoff movie includes Keanu Reeves, Anjelica Huston, Lance Reddick, and Ian McShane returning to their roles. Given Ana de Armas' memorable action role in No Time To Die, seeing her carry the next John Wick movie should be exciting.

21 Twisters

The franchise returns after 28 years

Universal is bringing back the Twister franchise for the first time since 1996. The movie Twisters was rumored to be directly connected to the original movie, possibly even with Daisy Edgar-Jones playing the daughter of Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton's characters from the first film. However, no direct franchise connection between the two movies has been confirmed to this point. The potential Twister reboot is still plenty exciting even if it has no ties to the original, as Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos, and Brandon Perea add to a stellar cast. Meanwhile, Minari director Lee Isaac Chung is tackling it after Top Gun: Maverick's Joseph Kosinski led development.

20 Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire

The Monsterverse gets even bigger

Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire marks the fifth movie in the Monsterverse, and it looks to be the biggest one yet. Three years after seeing Godzilla and Kong crossover for the first time in the franchise, the 2024 movie will unite them against a new villain, Skar King. Godzilla vs. Kong director Adam Wingard returns to push the Monsterverse in a new direction, which includes a greater focus on the monsters. The addition of Dan Stevens as part of the cast is certainly fun, but the core reason why there is so much anticipation for Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire comes with seeing the two Titans interact again.

19 The Fall Guy

Ryan Gosling's new action movie

One of the biggest action movies in 2024 is likely to be The Fall Guy. Directed by Deadpool 2 and Bullet Train's David Leitch, the movie is a remake of the 1980s TV series of the same name. The Fall Guy stars Ryan Gosling as a stuntman who embarks on a dangerous mission to save the star of the movie he is working on and doubles for. The film features a stacked cast that includes Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Stephanie Hsu, Winston Duke, and Hannah Waddingham. Plus, The Fall Guy trailer showcases some impressive action sequences that should once again show Leitch's talents.

18 Karate Kid 2024

Featuring a major franchise crossover

The Karate Kid franchise returns to the big screen in time for its 40th anniversary in 2024, and the new movie is poised to be a massive crossover. Following the success of Cobra Kai, Sony is revitalizing the franchise in movie theaters by bringing together Ralph Macchio's Daniel LaRusso and Jackie Chan's Mr. Han. It is confirmed that both of the franchise's previous stars will be present in the movie, which will follow a young teenager from China who now lives in America and begins karate training. The timing of the movie potentially coming right on the heels of Cobra Kai ending makes it an even bigger deal.

17 Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

The sequel to Ghostbusters: Afterlife

The Ghostbusters are set to return in 2024 thanks to Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Three years after Ghostbusters: Afterlife breathed new life into the franchise, the sequel once again focuses on the Spengler family played by Carrie Coon, McKenna Grace, and Finn Wolfhard. Original franchise stars like Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Ernie Hudson will also be back, but Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is more focused on the newer characters, including Paul Rudd's Mr. Gooberson. That is part of what makes the sequel so anticipated, along with a brand new villain and potentially darker tone.

16 Wicked

The iconic musical becomes a movie

One of the most anticipated movies releasing in 2024 is certainly Wicked. The first part of Warner Bros.'s movie adaptation of the popular Broadway musical has all the makings to be a huge hit. The Wicked cast has Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp, a.k.a. the Wicked Witch of the West, and Ariana Grande as Galinda Upland, a.k.a Glinda the Good. The two popular and supremely talented singers headline the movie, while stars like Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum also factor into the ensemble. The chance to finally see Wicked as a movie is reason enough to be excited for the start of Jon M. Chu's two-part adaptation.