'Freaknik,' 'Shirley,' 'Magical Negroes,' and More of the Most Anticipated Black Movies of 2024

Now that awards season is over, we can truly get invested in the 2024 movie calendar. From surprise sequels, to highly-anticipated musicals, to new superhero team ups, to powerful biopics, there’s something everyone can get excited about this year. Get your calendar app open, bookmark this page and check out our 2024 movie preview.

March 21: ‘Road House’ - Prime Video

Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Williams star in this remake of the classic Patrick Swayze action movie. This looks like a slightly different movie that feels just familiar enough it will capture nostalgia with viewers. Here’s hoping it leans into the campiness like the first one did.

March 21: ‘Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told’ - Hulu

Modern twentysomethings will not understand the appeal or draw of Freaknik. It was a moment in time where young Black people really let loose and partied their way through Atlanta. For those who were there, they do not want this documentary out in the world, shining a spotlight on their business. We thought everyone agreed that what happened at Freaknik, stayed at Freaknik.

March 22: ‘Shirley’ - Netflix

Regina King embodies a true groundbreaker in this film chronicling Shirley Chisholm’s 1972 presidential run. Let’s start the awards campaign here.

March 29: ‘Heart of the Hunter’ - Netflix

A spy/assassin gets out of the business and is enjoying a quiet life with his family when he’s pulled back into his shady world. This time around it’s the possible election of a corrupt leader in South Africa that leads to all the action. This one may fly under the radar, but it looks intense and really fun.

March 22: ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’

The comedy isn’t even out yet and it’s already on the receiving end of controversy. The satire pokes fun at the “magical Black person” trope, though we’re not sure if it nails the landing yet.

March 29: ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’

The latest entry in the Godzilla/Kong franchise finds the two Titans teaming up to fight an even bigger threat.

April 5: ‘Monkey Man’

Jordan Peele produces and Dev Patel stars in and directs this action/revenge thriller following a man who takes on the corrupt, powerful figures responsible for the death of his mother and sister. If you love relentless action in your revenge stories, this is probably right up your alley.

April 26: Challengers

Zendaya is a tennis star turned coach in this sexually charged story about the complicated relationship between three friends.

May 24: ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’

The fourth film in the franchise is set 300 years after “War for the Planet of the Apes.” Apes are now the reigning species while humanity scrambles to survive. A young woman and a chimpanzee try to figure out the future for both their species.

May 24: ‘The Garfield Movie’

Chris Pratt voices the classic lasagna loving cat alongside Samuel L. Jackson as his father.

June 7: ‘The Crow’

Bill Skarsgard and FKA Twigs star in the latest version of the graphic novel. The trailer hits all the right notes of unapologetic vengeance and overwhelming heartbreak, but did we really need another “Crow?” For ‘90s kids nothing will ever top the first movie.

June 14: ‘Bad Boys 4'

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are back for more shenanigans and over-the-top action scenes.

June 14: ‘Inside Out 2'

Riley is older, which means new emotions are invading her mind. The sequel introduces Joy, Sadness, Anger and Fear to Anxiety. We’re still not over the emotional roller coaster of the first one. God knows what childhood memory Pixar is going to use to break our hearts this time.

June 28: ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’

Lupita Nyong’o and Djimon Hounsou star in this spinoff of the horror/thriller about a world in which the tiniest noise attracts deadly monsters.

July 26: ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’

Enjoy this one kids, as it’s the only major superhero movie coming out in 2024. That’s right, the fate of the genre rests on Deadpool’s shoulders. No pressure, Ryan Reynolds.

Aug. 9: ‘Flint Strong’

Ryan Destiny stars as Claressa Shields in this biopic following the professional fighter’s journey to compete at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Nov. 22: ‘Gladiator 2'

In this sequel to the Oscar-winning epic, Paul Mescal (“All of Us Strangers”) is an adult Lucius who has lived away from his mother and the trappings of Rome for most of his life. The real headline here is that Denzel Washington co-stars.

Nov. 27: ‘Wicked: Part One’

The “Popular” musical has finally been made into a movie and superfans cannot wait. Seriously, Cynthia Erivo is going to destroy “Defying Gravity.”

Nov. 27: ‘Moana 2'

Don’t act like you’re not excited to see Moana return. You know you totally belt out “How Far I’ll Go” every time you watch the movie.

Dec. 20: ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’

A prequel to the classic story stars Aaron Pierre as the voice of young Mufasa and Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Scar.

For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.