With 2023 being one of the biggest years in film, a worldwide cinema-craze was fuelled, largely due to movies such as Barbie, Oppenheimer, Killers of the Flower Moon and Saltburn. This reignited a love for cinema that will undoubtedly carry on into 2024, as we have already seen incredible new releases on top of the much-anticipated titles to land later this year.
The new year started with a bang, as Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla released globally on January 1, the heart-breaking and emotional biopic acting as an example of the astounding projects that were in store for the year. Tina Fey’s Mean Girls drew in fans of the iconic 2004 original – the dazzling Broadway adaptation alongside a brand-new generation to experience this hilarious and catchy musical.
Two of Ireland’s biggest stars, Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott, broke hearts and drew tears on international cinema screens in Andrew Haigh’s All of Us Strangers, acting as possibly one of the saddest films of 2024. This stunning tale of grief and identity will haunt audiences, all thanks to the masterful acting of Mescal and Scott.
Irish cinemas finally saw the release of several films that had been teased as they released in US cinemas months prior. Most notably, Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things, which released in December in the US, sees Emma Stone demonstrate the rapid growth and development of a woman with a yearning for exploration and knowledge. The vintage Christmas classic The Holdovers charmed viewers who tuned in to watch Paul Giamatti’s portrayal of a cranky history professor supervising the only student left in a boarding school over the Christmas holidays. This heart-warming journey of two misunderstood cynics shows us the beauty of unorthodox friendships. Wrapping up January on a musical note, we had the release of The Color Purple, a melodic but tragic tale of family, sisterhood, and inner strength.
February began on a controversial note with Andrew Vaughn’s spy-comedy Argylle. This meta-fiction tale featured an acclaimed cast, including Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Samuel L. Jackson, Catherine O’Hara, Bryan Cranston and even popstar Dua Lipa. The absurd comedy caused a stir within cinema screens, with audiences either thinking the film to be totally absurd, or alternatively considering it to be a masterclass in camp. Love it or hate it, this film is sure to entertain cinema lovers.
Ireland also saw the delayed release of wrestling biopic The Iron Claw, which follows Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White and Harris Dickinson as the Von Erich’s – a 1970s group of brothers who compete in wrestling championships under the cruel and unforgiving coaching of their father. This utterly soul-shattering tale will have you sobbing into your popcorn and hugging those closest to you. Valentine’s Day left us spoiled for choice with both Madame Web and Bob Marley: One Love premiering in Irish cinemas. Sony’s Madame Web follows Dakota Johnson’s multidimensional quest to ensure the safety of all spider related superheroes, further joining the Marvel and Sony Spider-verse. Kingsley Ben-Adir takes on the role of activist and reggae singer Bob Marley in this soulful biopic. Wicked Little Letters, set to release on February 23, follows Jessie Buckley, Olivia Colman, and Anjana Vasan, who must investigate their town after suspicious letters begin to appear in Colman’s letterbox.
March opens with blockbuster sequel Dune: Part Two releasing on March 1, continuing the adaptation of Frank Herbert’s revered sci-fi novel of the same name. With the first instalment receiving a Best Picture Nomination at the 2021 Oscars, this all-star packed sequel has been anticipated for over three years now. Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, Javier Bardem and Dave Bautista reprise their roles in one of the biggest blockbuster events of the decade. Zelda Williams makes her big screen directorial debut with the release of Lisa Frankenstein also on March 1, which follows Kathryn Newton as she finds a boyfriend in the corpse she resurrected, played by Cole Sprouse. Horror fans will undoubtedly swarm to their nearest cinemas on March 8, as A Quiet Place: Day One premieres. The critically acclaimed world of John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place receives another instalment, starring Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn and Alex Wolff, as we see the beginning of the alien invasion in a crowded New York City. Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan star in Drive Away Dolls as two best friends embarking on an impromptu road trip, interrupted by a chance meeting with a group of criminals including Pedro Pascal and Colman Domingo, releasing March 15.
April promises to entertain with the release of several highly anticipated films spanning the whole month. April 12 sees the release of Back to Black, in which Marisa Abela portrays the late powerhouse musician Amy Winehouse. Celebrated studio A24 delivers Love Lies Bleeding on April 19, starring Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian as a gym manager and body-builder respectively, who engage in an intense and passionate romance only to get pulled into the criminal activities of O’Brian’s family. April 26 closes out the month with the duel release of Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers and Alex Garland’s Civil War. Zendaya stars in Challengers as a tennis player turned coach, who tries to help end her husband’s losing streak, played by Josh O’Connor. However, when her husband must play against her ex-boyfriend, played by Mike Faist, old memories flood back fast. This intense and competitive story is sure to capture the hearts of audiences, as is expected with Guadagnino’s projects including Call Me By Your Name and Bones and All. A24’s political drama Civil War follows Kirsten Dunst, Cailee Spaeny and Stephen McKinley Henderson as journalists in the midst of an American civil war, doing all they can to broadcast the truth while also fighting for survival.
While May has not received the most announcements thus far, the two biggest films of the month are massively action-packed blockbusters. May 3’s The Fall Guy sees Ryan Gosling as an overlooked stunt man, who must rise to the occasion following the suspicious activity and later disappearance of lead actor, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson. While trying to get to the bottom of the disappearance, Gosling also attempts to seduce his film’s director Emily Blunt in any way possibly, the methods of which leave him in hilarious situations. The Mad Max series receives another instalment on May 24, with the release of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Anya Taylor-Joy portrays the titular Furiosa, who has been taken by her family by warlord Dementus, played by Chris Hemsworth. Furiosa must face a multitude of physical and vehicular trials as she tried to find her way back home.
June 14 brings the long awaited Inside Out 2, which follows Riley into her teenage years as a new emotion, Anxiety, voiced by Maya Hawke, begins to take control. While June has very little upcoming films right now, this highly anticipated animation is sure to make up for the lack of current releases and announcements.
As the year goes on, definitive announcements become scarce, however July delivers two new instalments to beloved franchises. July 29 welcomes the release of Twisters, as a sequel to the 1996 drama Twister. Daisy-Edgar Jones stars as a storm-chaser who finds herself in perilous situations closer to hurricanes than she has ever been, after she decides to trust a reckless social media star, played by Glen Powell. July 26 sees a brand new Marvel instalment, with the global release of Deadpool and Wolverine. This shockingly raunchy and hilariously self-aware action comedy sees Ryan Reynolds reprise the wise-cracking anti-hero Deadpool as he comes into contact with Wolverine, which sees Hugh Jackman reprise his iconic X-Men character.
Finally, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice the sequel to the 1988 classic horror-comedy. Scream Queen Jenna Ortega joins as Michael Keaton, Catherine O’Hara and Winona Ryder reprise their beloved rules from the hilarious original, releasing September 6. Joker: Folie A Deux hits cinemas October 4, almost five years after the original release. Joaquin Phoenix reprises his Oscar-winning role of comic book villain Joker, as Lady Gaga takes on the role of Harley Quinn, bringing her vocal talents to this newly announced musical sequel. This musical tone continues into November with the release of Wicked: Part One on November 27. This adaptation of the classic Broadway musical sees Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the so-called wicked witch of the west, as she forms an unlikely friendship with Ariana Grande’s Glinda the good witch, as Elphaba attempts to unveil the corruption the great and powerful Wizard of Oz.
With several movies still to be announced, it is clear that cinemas will be fully booked out for the foreseeable future, as 2024 has already proven itself as an incredibly year for movies.
