15 movie release dates to circle on your 2024 calendar right now

Last year was a big one for movies.

Fan favorites like "Barbie," "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" and "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" garnered record-breaking box office sales. And the "Barbenheimer" cross-movie phenomenon attracted unprecedented numbers of fans back to theaters.

With a new year comes new movie releases to get excited about. Here are 15 to look out for this year, listed from earliest to latest release date.

15 movie releases to look out for in 2024

1. 'Argylle'

This cheeky action comedy follows author Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard), who is known for her best-selling espionage novels following a secret agent named Argylle. However, her work soon draws the attention of a real underground crime syndicate operating in an uncannily similar fashion to Conway's fiction novels. Aiden, (Sam Rockwell), an undercover spy, must save Conway from being harmed by the same world she writes about.

The film, directed by Matthew Vaughn, features an ensemble cast stacked with big-hitter names like Henry Cavill, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O'Hara, Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose, John Cena and Samuel L. Jackson.

Release date: Feb. 2.

2. 'Madame Web'

A leading lady joins the web of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe franchise. Dakota Johnson stars in the title role alongside co-stars Sydney Sweeney, Adam Scott and Zosia Mamet. In it, Cassandra Webb (Johnson), a paramedic with special powers to see future events in the "spider world," fights to survive alongside three young women who are being hunted by a deadly adversary.

Release date: Feb. 14.

3. 'Dune: Part Two'

Box-office hit "Dune" returns as the latter half of a two-part adaptation of the 1965 novel of the same name written by Frank Hebert. In it, Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) must avenge his family's destruction in the war for control over the deadly desert planet Arrakis. In this new movie, Atreides faces a choice between the love of his life, Chani, (Zendaya), and the fate of the universe.

The film's star-studded cast returns, joined by some new faces like Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken and Léa Seydoux.

Release date: March 1.

4. 'Kung Fu Panda 4'

Everyone's favorite giant panda returns for the fourth installment of the "Kung Fu Panda" animated franchise. In this new movie, kung fu master Po Ping (voiced by Jack Black) is selected to be the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace and must train a new Dragon Warrior to be his predecessor. Meanwhile, an evil sorceress (Viola Davis) plans to re-summon all the master villains Po has conquered in his past.

Release date: March 8.

5. 'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire'

Two legendary beasts return for round two in this continuation of MonsterVerse’s 2021 showdown. This movie marks the 38th film of the "Godzilla" franchise and the 13th in the "King Kong" franchise.

In it, Godzilla and Kong must work together against a mysterious entity that threatens the Hollow Earth. Dan Stevens appears as the lead of the film alongside returning actors Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry and Kaylee Hottle.

Release date: March 29.

6. 'Challengers'

Zendaya leads another major film, directed by Luca Guadagnino. "Challengers" centers on a love triangle between tennis prodigy-turned-coach Tashi Duncan (Zendaya), struggling former champion Art Donaldson (Mike Faist) and his former best friend Patrick Zweig (Josh O’Connor). Ultimately, Duncan ‒ Donaldson's wife and coach ‒ signs him up for a Challenger tennis tournament where he'll face off against Zweig, Duncan's former lover.

Release date: April 26.

7. 'Back to Black'

This film following pop star Amy Winehouse joins a string of musical artist biopics cranked out in recent years, like "Bohemian Rhapsody" in 2018, "Rocketman" in 2019 and "Elvis" in 2022.

"Back to Black" chronicles the life of troubled vocalist Winehouse (Marisa Abela) as she navigates adolescence, young adulthood and the creation of the highly acclaimed album of the same name, inspired by her tumultuous relationship with Blake Fielder-Civil (Jack O'Connell).

Release date: May 10.

8. 'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga'

Anya Taylor-Joy appears as Imperator Furiosa in this prequel to "Mad Max: Fury Road." This post-apocalyptic action film follows Furiosa as she attempts to return home through the Wasteland after being abducted from the Green Place of Many Mothers. Taylor-Joy stars alongside Chris Hemsworth as Warlord Dementus, who leads the biker gang that kidnapped the young Furiosa.

Release date: May 24.

9. 'The Garfield Movie'

Everyone's favorite cunning comic book cat returns in this newest animated adaption, "The Garfield Movie," based on Jim Davis's iconic comic strip. In this new movie, Garfield (voiced by Chris Pratt), unexpectedly reunites with his long-lost father – shoddy street cat Vic (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson). Ultimately, Garfield and his canine friend Odie are forced to leave behind their pampered lifestyles to join Vic in a high-stakes heist.

Release date: May 24.

10. 'Inside Out 2'

This beloved Pixar animation continues with a sequel, revisiting the mind of Riley – the young girl whose emotions hosted the first film. Now, the stakes are higher: Riley is in college, experiencing lots of feelings with a host of new emotions introduced. Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust return, joined by a not-so-welcome newcomer: Anxiety.

Release date: June 14.

11. 'Deadpool 3'

Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) cross paths in this superhero film – the 34th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

"Deadpool 3" has been filming on and off in various locations due to the writers' and actors' strikes that lasted through much of 2023. Marvel has yet to confirm a release date for the movie's trailer, but there are rumors the trailer will be premiered during Super Bowl LVIII on Feb. 11.

Release date: July 26.

12. 'Beetlejuice 2'

Tim Burton directs this sequel to the 1988 classic "Beetlejuice," which follows the spirits of a deceased couple who team up with some malicious spirits to drive out an unbearable family that has moved into their home.

In this modern adaptation, Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara reprise their characters Lydia and Delia Deetz, and Jenna Ortega joins the cast playing Lydia’s daughter.

Release date: Sept. 6.

13. 'Joker: Folie à Deux'

"Joker: Folie à Deux" is a sequel to the wildly successful 2019 film "Joker" that earned Joaquin Phoenix the Oscar for Best Actor. Lady Gaga joins the cast as Phoenix's love interest, Harley Quinn.

The musical thriller follows Arthur Fleck, the Joker, as he's imprisoned in Arkham State Hospital after murdering Murray Franklin live on television. There, he meets Dr. Harleen Quinzel, and the two fall madly in love. When District Attorney Harvey Dent curates a case against Fleck for his troubled past, Quinzel must take action in order to save her new partner in crime.

Release date: Oct. 4.

14. 'Wicked'

The legendary Grammy and Tony award-winning Broadway musical that has been running since 2003 is adapted to the screen in this two-part film. The show tells the story of two unlikely friends, Elphaba (later known as the Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda (later known as Glinda the Good) in the years before and after Dorothy Gale arrives in Oz in the classic tale "The Wizard of Oz."

Powerhouse vocalists Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo will portray Glinda and Elphaba, respectively.

Release date: Nov. 27.

15. 'Nosferatu'

This gothic horror film is a modern adaptation of F.W. Murnau’s iconic 1922 silent film of the same name. In it, a bloodthirsty, bubonic plague-spreading vampire (Bill Skarsgard) develops a beastly obsession with a young woman (Lily-Rose Depp), causing a series of horrific events.

Release date: Dec. 25.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 15 movie release dates to circle on your 2024 calendar right now