More sequels, franchises on tap at theaters in 2024. Here are 13 to look forward to
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Many in the film business are hoping this is the year the movie business gets its pre-pandemic mojo back.
The domestic box office for this year will top out at close to $9 billion — a substantial number, but still significantly off the all-time record of $11.8 billion in 2018.
Theater chains could have perhaps helped themselves by waiting to see how the post-pandemic world would resolve itself before going on a spree and cutting screens here and across the country.
It certainly would’ve helped theater owners had the studios not treated streaming like a fat goose instead of the emaciated pigeon it’s turning out to be.
There wasn’t ever going to be anything sustainable about the profitability of streaming as it was constituted in various services – HBO Max, Disney+ and Peacock, for example – at their inception, but you know golden eggs.
I’m not naïve enough to think there are some people who’d rather not, or won’t, set foot in a theater. I’ve met many of them over the years.
There are plenty of us who will, however. And you know what we like? Quality films.
Like last year’s “Saltburn,” I don’t even have to like them all. But they have to be substantive in some form. They have to be more than the latest sequel or comic book movie.
As lukewarm as I was on “Poor Things,” a critical fave from this past year, I recognize its imagination and the effort that went into it. Director Yorgos Lanthimos swung for the fences with it. That’s something as an enthusiastic filmgoer I can appreciate.
More: Emma Stone fuels 'Poor Things,' an absurdist mix of sex, pastries and 'Frankenstein'
Ultimately, films such as those will put butts back in the seats. Perhaps 2024 will be the year we get back to what we had before the pandemic. There is no way to know. The year looks like a lot of the same old same old – sequels and franchises, franchises and sequels.
That being the case, here are some films to look for in the new year.
'The Book of Clarence'
When: Jan 12
What: In this dramedy, a contemporary of Jesus Christ, Clarence (LaKeith Stanfield), sees his messianic rise and decides to get his share of the adoration and financial benefits.
Why: LaKeith Stanfield (“Atlanta,” “The Haunted Mansion”) usually steals everything he’s in, and he’s headlining this comedy.
'Soul'
When: Jan 12
What: Joe (Jamie Foxx) is an aspiring jazz pianist who has his life yanked away while still in his prime and takes a journey to the netherworld to get his soul back in this Pixar masterpiece.
Why: Cynical me says it is a money grab from the honchos at Disney to release this film in theaters. In this case, I don’t care that it is. “Soul,” which was sacrificed at the altar of the Disney+ streaming service during the pandemic, deserved to be delayed for a theatrical release. It is a masterpiece and deserves to be seen on the largest screen possible.
More: Review: Pixar explores the meaning of life in jazz musician's struggles with ‘Soul’
'Bob Marley: One Love'
When: Feb. 14
What: A biopic looking at the life of reggae icon and music superstar Bob Marley.
Why: The trailer is mesmerizing primarily because the British actor portraying Marley, Kingsley Ben-Adir, appears to lose himself in the role, and he’s an actor we need to see more of. Some may remember him for his fierce portrayal of Malcolm X in “One Night in Miami…”
'Dune: Part Two'
When: March 1
What: The tale of Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet) concludes (?) in this continuation of director Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of the classic sci-fi novel.
Why: The story is compelling, and the first installment proved to be a work of cinematic beauty from Villeneuve (“Arrival”), a director known for not only visually stunning films, but also superb storytelling.
'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire'
When: March 29
What: Those teens from “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” are back with Paul Rudd for this sequel where New York is freezing in the summertime. It looks as if they’re bringing friends with them.
More: Review: ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ blends nostalgia, reverence in right amounts
Why: Its predecessor was very close to being a pandemic casualty with its 2021 release date, but it did well enough for the studio to greenlight a sequel. We’ll see whether it benefited from phantom success.
'Mickey 17'
When: March 29
What: An adaptation of Edward Ashton’s novel “Mickey 7” about a man (portrayed by Robert Pattison) sent to colonize a distant world, one so distant that his death comes on multiple occasions, leading to a replacement being made with memories intact.
Why: It’s written and directed by the creator of multiple Oscar winner “Parasite,” Bong Joon-ho, and usually there’s nothing boring about anything Pattison does.
'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire'
When: April 12
What: What’s the title say? Yup. The world’s baddest lizard takes on his simian counterpart in the latest entry in the Monsterverse.
Why: You really have to ask? If they’re able to blend the action and the narrative as has been done in its sister series “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” this will be a good time.
'Back to Black'
When: May 10
What: A biopic looking at the life of songstress Amy Winehouse and her rise to fame.
Why: Winehouse was a tortured soul who only released two albums before she died at the young age of 27, yet she’s considered one of the greatest singers of the 21st century thus far.
'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes'
When: May 24
What: Years after the events of “War for the Planet of the Apes,” ape civilizations have risen, and it’s pretty obvious they’ve learned nothing from the failings of humans – even after humankind’s downfall.
Why: The “Apes” franchise (2011 to present) may be the most fully realized effort from Hollywood in the reboot realm. All of the films have been better than the last, giving hope this one won’t be screwed up.
'Bad Boys 4'
When: June 14
What: Will Smith and Martin Lawrence return as cops, partners and friends in the action comedy.
Why: Say what you will about the franchise, but the two actors have undeniable chemistry together, and each film has subsequently done better than the last, ensuring the franchise is going nowhere until Mike Lowrey (Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Lawrence) are in wheelchairs.
'Deadpool 3'
When: July 26
What: The “Merc with the Mouth” Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) returns. Yup, that’s about all anyone knows. Feel free to search the Internet for rumors. I won’t quote anything here.
Why: The only thing we’re sure of is that Reynolds managed to coax Hugh Jackman out of his retirement from his role as the X-Men’s Wolverine to take part in this. Deadpool, courtesy of Reynolds, was hilarious already. With Jackman, the experience should be heightened.
'Joker: Folie à Deux'
When: Oct. 4
What: Harley Quinn (Lady Gaga) joins The Joker (Joaquin Phoenix returning to his Oscar-winning role) in this sequel.
Why: We’ve seen Harley Quinn as a humorous, dangerous sociopath in various incarnations of DC films. There’s a certain curiosity in seeing another take it on simply because of what Phoenix pulled off with his Joker, winning an Oscar after the late Heath Ledger won for the role before him.
'Wicked Part 1'
When: Nov. 27
What: How the Wicked Witch of the West became the most feared person in Oz in this adaptation of the Broadway musical.
Why: I am a sucker for showtunes, even if “Wicked” isn’t my favorite musical. The prospect of watching Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba) and Ariana Grande (Glinda) lend their voices to two singing roles is too much to resist.
Reach George M. Thomas at gthomas@thebeaconjournal.com
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 13 movie releases worth looking forward to in 2024
