January 17, 2024
WRITTEN BY: THE BITESIZE CREW
As we enter the new year, almost all movie-related content is focused on looking back at 2023. The best of this, the worst of that, awards predictions, box office tallies, and so on. We’re no different, as we have a few features revolving around 2023 still to come, including The Bitesize Awards.
With that understanding, we decided to shift gears a bit and look ahead to 2024. What are the big titles coming this year that we are most excited for, be it purely for fun escapist entertainment or an early awards frontrunner? As you can see below, we all have our certain tastes…from known IP tentpoles to director-driven original stories, from live action to animation, from sci-fi to action to horror to family-friendly. We run the gamut.
As you may recall, we’ve done this type of list before, but we changed the rules a bit this time around. We’re only focusing on the first half of 2024, so to be eligible, the movie must have a confirmed release date between January 1st and June 30th. The reason for this is that there are several films expected to release this year, but as we’ve seen in the past, we can never really know when something will actually drop. In fact, just a week before we went to post with this list, one of Adriano’s original choices, Bong Joon-ho’s Mickey 17 (originally set for release on March 29th), was delayed indefinitely. This makes for more accurate selections while also avoiding repetitive lists in the future - such as Killers of the Flower Moon, which topped our past three Most Anticipated Lists due to continuous release date delays. Also, October is far away. You aren’t likely to remember a recommendation for a movie coming out in 10 months, so we’ll wait and do a “Most Anticipated 2024 Films (Second Half)” in July.
So, here is what we are looking forward to over the next six months, in order of release date. Are any of these on your list? What are you excited about?
MEAN GIRLS (January 12th)
The original Mean Girls is a staple of 2000s culture, still one of the most-quoted films ever, and I’d argue a rite of passage for any woman that was a teenager in the mid-noughties. I’ve seen it countless times and never get sick of it, so I am very excited for this modern spin on the generational classic, especially since I love musicals! I’m also interested in how it will connect with and engage a new Gen Z audience and their unique circumstances, with the trailer declaring “This isn't your mother's Mean Girls,” among fresh takes on clichés and references to TikTok. - Katie
ARGYLLE (February 2nd)
Believe it or not, Argylle is director Matthew Vaughn's first non-Kingsman film in more than 10 years... at least for now, as there are plans to integrate the two franchises in the future. Yes, the director (known for his signature style) is staying in the spy world, but this time, he's working with a whole new cast of characters. Argylle boasts the big screen return of Henry Cavill - in his first leading film role in a minute - alongside an eclectic cast of characters, including everyone from Sam Rockwell to Bryce Dallas Howard to John Cena to Catherine O'Hara to Dua Lipa to Samuel L. Jackson to... you get my point. Vaughn has earned tons of goodwill with the spy genre, so… if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. - Nick
DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS (February 23rd)
Given that Drive-Away Dolls has been described as a “lesbian road trip project,” not to mention that the main characters are two Gen Z women (Geraldine Viswanathan and Margaret Qualley), I can understand why you might be shocked that I’m looking forward to this movie. That said, the supporting cast boasts Colman Domingo, Pedro Pascal, Matt Damon, and the perpetually underrated Bill Camp. More importantly, though, is the person behind the camera: Ethan Coen. The Coen Bros. have long been one of the few directors whose movies I’ll see on name alone, regardless of cast and plot, and I have no reason to think differently just because Ethan is rolling solo this time. Also, when the “lesbian road trip” is described as “going awry when they cross paths with a group of inept criminals along the way?” Man...that’s a classic Coen story if I’ve ever heard one. - Quentin
DUNE: PART TWO (March 1st)
It should come as no surprise that Dune: Part Two, previously named my most anticipated movie of 2023, would naturally become my most anticipated film of 2024 after being delayed because of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes last summer. It is quite amazing what director Denis Villeneuve was able to capture with the first half adaptation of the legendary book by Frank Herbert. Part One's visual effects and cinematography not only left me speechless, but also simply astounded by the scope of its storytelling. Part Two of this sci-fi epic is quickly approaching, and I'm excited to see what awaits us on Arrakis. - Paige
KUNG FU PANDA 4 (March 8th)
I’ve always considered the Kung Fu Panda trilogy one of the most underrated trilogies in recent memory, animated or otherwise. It’s often overshadowed by its DreamWorks Animation counterparts, like Shrek and How to Train Your Dragon, but neither of those trilogies have both the heart and humor that Panda does. Jack Black was born to play Po, and the rest of the cast fit in extremely well too. While I’m slightly worried that a fourth entry might be one too many, adding Viola Davis to a franchise that has continually delivered more than expected may yet again prove that you can’t underestimate the power of the Skadoosh. - Amarú
GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE (March 22nd)
If Frozen Empire is anything like 2021’s highly underrated Afterlife, I’m once again ready to stand tall with one of my favourite franchises ever. Admittedly, the concept for the new chapter has made me raise an eyebrow, but after Afterlife, I trust Jason Reitman enough to deliver another nostalgia-filled ride full of laughter, fun, and a shocking amount of emotional depth. With the original cast (Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and Annie Potts) returning in what is likely to be a more crucial role this time around alongside the cast of the most recent installment (Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Paul Rudd, and Carrie Coon), not to mention some new additions (Kumail Nanjiani and Patton Oswalt), I sure can't wait to make the call to catch this one. - Adriano
GODZILLA x KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE (March 29th)
Okay, I’m fully aware that this movie looks dumb, but that’s exactly why I’m so hyped for it. If Godzilla vs. Kong jumped the shark, then Godzilla x Kong seems to be doing backflips over it. Godzilla’s sporting a new pink makeover, Kong’s got an infinity gauntlet, they’ve doubled down on the whole “hollow earth” thing, and now there’s a baby Kong too? Also, what’s the deal with the big mean orangutan? It all looks so unashamedly ridiculous that, at this point, I’m totally on board with that. I’m just hoping Godzilla x Kong embraces that goofiness while also delivering some epic balls-to-the-walls monster brawls. - Caleb
CHALLENGERS (April 26th)
Delayed from its 2023 release due to the SAG-AFTRA strikes, Luca Guadagnino's upcoming Challengers caught my attention immediately due to the hype surrounding the trailer. Starring Zendaya, who I believe is one of the most versatile and exciting young talents working in film today, it follows a love triangle set against the backdrop of a sports drama. What more could you ask for?! With a successful filmography including his Suspiria remake, the Oscar-winning Call Me by Your Name, and Bones and All, I am anticipating a dramatic, emotionally engaging, and enticing film. - Katie
CIVIL WAR (April 26th)
Civil War may be writer/director Alex Garland’s most terrifying dystopian work yet because you know things go awry when California and Texas join forces! Production company A24, who I am rapidly beginning to understand the hype behind, swings for the fences with its biggest budget to date and a cast that includes some low-key favorites of mine in Jesse Plemons and Nick Offerman. Given the current political landscape, the precarious economic condition, and my own proclivities towards preparing for worst-case scenarios, I’d say the timing for this film couldn’t be better (or worse?). - Preston
THE FALL GUY (May 3rd)
Among other reasons, The Fall Guy has two very big things going for it for me. 1. Nostalgia – I grew up watching reruns of The Fall Guy, a series starring Lee Majors that ran on ABC from 1981-1986, with my grandmother; and 2. Ryan Gosling – sure, I talk a lot about how much I love Nic Cage as an actor, but Baby Goose is at the top of my man crush list. Mix those two things with Emily Blunt, Winston Duke, Aaron Taylor-Johnson (possibly the next James Bond?), Stephanie Hsu, and Hannah Waddingham…all being directed by the action-proven David Leitch…what else could I ask for? Plus, did you see the trailer? Expert use of Bon Jovi. - Quentin
KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (May 10th)
Although I’m disappointed that director Matt Reeves isn’t returning to helm this long-anticipated sequel, I’m still extremely excited to return to the Planet of the Apes. It’s been almost seven years since the groundbreaking prequel trilogy ended, and since then, I’ve been hungry for more. This new installment seems to be closing the gap between those films and the 1968 original, taking place generations after the end of War for the Planet of the Apes. The humans are looking absolutely feral while the apes are advancing at an alarming rate, discovering electricity, and speaking more fluently than ever. It looks like classic Apes fun! - Caleb
FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA (May 24th)
It's almost as if Furiosa has checked off every single box for things that gets me pumped for a movie. A George Miller action-epic prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road, one of my all-time favourite movies, with Anya Taylor-Joy in the title role? Say no more. I pulled my car over when I found out the trailer had been released, and to say my excitement only tripled from there would be an understatement. Based on the trailer alone, it looks like we're returning to the post-apocalyptic world of mayhem the way we left it, with badass chases and chaotic cars mixed with (hopefully) a worthy origin story for one of our best modern heroines. Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines! – Adriano
BALLERINA (June 7th)
If there is one franchise that deserves as much expansion of its world and lore as possible, it’s John Wick. No matter what your thoughts were on Peacock’s miniseries prequel The Continental, getting an Ana de Armas-led action extravaganza spinoff after her amazing portrayal of Paloma in No Time to Die is enough to get my butt in the theater. This franchise has yet to miss, and with multiple characters reportedly returning and Len Wiseman directing (he’s done nothing but fun and entertaining action in my eyes), I can’t see Ballerina being the first to fail. - Amarú
INSIDE OUT 2 (June 14th)
Although Pixar hasn't exactly been on a cold streak, it has certainly been garnering mostly tepid responses with its recent features. This is precisely why now is the perfect time to revisit the world of Inside Out. The original film succeeded in personifying our emotions in a way that was both relatable and endearing, and I expect more of the same in the sequel. This is especially true thanks to the newest emotion the franchise will be tackling, Anxiety (voiced by Maya Hawke), as well as a few others still being kept under wraps. - Nick
THE BIKERIDERS (June 21st)
The Bikeriders is uniquely based on a photojournalistic album from the real-life midwestern motorcycle gang chronicled in Danny Lyon’s book of the same name. I have always been fascinated by the “One-percenter” motorcycle clubs, with their semi-nomadic and nonconformist lifestyle that also requires a seemingly contradictory strict adherence to the club’s codes. Writer/director Jeff Nichols often lets his actors act without reliance on flashy cinematography, bells, and whistles to distract from an otherwise bland story. I think what we can expect here is a gripping, modern-day The Godfather-esque tale, featuring bad-ass motorcycles, great dialogue, and Tom Hardy. How can it not be good?! - Preston
A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE (June 28th)
Inject A Quiet Place: Day One into my veins now, please. I love that we’re going back to ground zero of this alien invasion to establish how it all began, especially considering we only get a tiny glimpse of it in A Quiet Place Part II. Although John Krasinski isn’t directing this time around, I have complete faith and am stoked to see what he cooked up with writer/director Michael Sarnoski. On top of that, this eerie flick will have Lupita Nyong’o returning to the horror game. So, sign me up! I’m looking forward to being on the edge of my seat throughout this flick, trying not to make a peep. – Paige