2023 was a wild year. Not only when it came to the number of great films to look out for but because of the (much-needed) Writer’s Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strikes taking place. It resulted in numerous films being delayed (some of which will see a release this year), but that meant little when the strikes called for better working conditions and pay for the writers and actors. Without either of those, we wouldn’t have these films. With these strikes resolved, it sends a message of hope to the film industry.
While we’re in the phase of reflecting on (and playing catch-up with) great films last year and finalising award predictions, we’ve settled enough into 2024 to be excited for the films coming soon. This year’s release schedule looks so packed (hence the length of the article) that we couldn’t fit in every film we’re excited for. Nevertheless, here are 66 films to look forward to this year!
Anatomy of a Fall
Did she do it? The winner of the Palme d’Or at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and nominated for 5 Oscars, Justine Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall follows novelist Sandra (Sandra Hüller) being suspected of her husband’s death, and their blind son, Daniel (Milo Machado-Graner), is the sole witness capable of clearing her name. One exhausting courtroom drama that grips your attention and leaves you amazed by Hüller’s powerhouse performance, there are many good reasons why Anatomy of a Fall deserves its Best Picture nomination. Don't miss it in theatres now.
The Color Purple (2023)
Adapted from the Broadway production of the same name (which, in turn, was adapted from Alice Walker’s beloved source material), this musical take on The Color Purple finally makes its way to the big screen, directed by Blitz Bazawule (Black is King) and headlined by Taraji P. Henson, Fantasia Barrino and an Oscar-nominated Danielle Brooks (the latter two reprising their roles from the Broadway musical). A decades-spanning story of human resilience, hardship and independence that follows African-American woman Celie (Barrino) and her sisterly bonds with blues singer Shug Avery (Henson) and Sofia (Brooks), The Color Purple is one bold crowd-pleaser that is now in cinemas.
May December
Todd Haynes returns with another sensational addition to his filmography, May December. Loosely based on true events and co-written by Samy Burch and Alex Mechanik (with their work being nominated for Best Original Screenplay), actress Elizabeth (Natalie Portman) researches her role for an upcoming film by meeting Gracie (Julianne Moore), whose long-lasting relationship with her husband, Joe Yoo (Charles Melton), began when he was 13. On the surface, May December seems like a melodramatic approach to its controversial subject matter, only to reveal itself as an unnerving, intelligent adult drama about the horrors of sensationalising trauma to the point that the victim’s story is no longer theirs. While Portman and Moore’s onscreen rivalry entertains, Melton steals the show with a heartbreakingly subtle – and criminally snubbed – performance. Look out for this one on 1 February.
Riceboy Sleeps
Winner of the Platform Prize program at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, Anthony Shim’s Riceboy Sleeps follows the lives of a Korean immigrant single mother, So-Young (Choi Seung-yoon), and her son, Dong-Hyun (Ethan Hwang), as they move to Canada. An emotional, universal crowd-pleaser, Riceboy Sleeps finally releases in Australian cinemas on 1 February.
Orion and the Dark
Was anyone expecting Charlie Kaufman’s (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Being John Malkovich, Adaptation) next screenplay to be for a children’s film from Dreamworks? That alone makes its simple premise (an elementary school kid, Orion, finally pairing with his anxiety to learn how to live) far more compelling than it usually would be. If you’re looking to introduce your kid (or younger sibling) to existentialism, check out Orion and the Dark on Netflix on 2 February.
Force of Nature: The Dry 2
A sequel to Robert Connolly’s The Dry and based on Jane Harper’s novel of the same name, Force of Nature sees Eric Bana returning as federal agent Aaron Falk, who becomes involved in a case relating to a corporate retreat gone wrong, where a missing whistle-blower is lost in the Victorian mountains. Delayed due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, Force of Nature: The Dry 2 reaches Australian cinemas on 8 February.
Madame Web
So this is a weird one. The fourth film in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSU), S.J. Clarkson’s Madame Web follows paramedic Cassandra Webb (Dakota Johnson) discovering that she has clairvoyant abilities. After saving three women (Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O’Connor, Isabela Merced) from a deadly adversary, they find their powers link them. Another twist? Cassandra discovers that their biggest threat (Tahar Rahim) was in the Amazon with her mum, who was researching spiders, right before she died. How and why? Find out on Valentine’s Day.
Drive-Away Dolls
While the Coen brothers separating still hurts for us cinephiles, at least we can take comfort in knowing that they continue to make interesting films in their individual careers. In Ethan Coen’s case, his next film, Drive-Away Dolls, is a lesbian comedy road film where two female friends (Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan) embark on an impulsive road trip to Tallahassee, only to cross paths with a group of inept criminals. Sounds very much like a Coen film, which we can’t wait to see on 22 February.
The Zone of Interest
Winner of the Grand Jury prize at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and nominated for 5 Oscars, including Best Picture, auteur Jonathan Glazer finally returns from a ten-year disappearance to deliver his next masterpiece, The Zone of Interest. Loosely based on Martin Amis’s novel of the same name, it follows a German family happily settling into their dream life as they move next to a concentration camp during World War II. A refreshingly harrowing take on the Holocaust, this is a film where you don’t see the violence, but you hear and feel it. The screams, the cries, the gunshots. Nothing is happening in the foreground, but everything is happening behind the walls. Glazer’s masterwork releases on 22 February.
American Fiction
Winner of the People’s Choice Award at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival and nominated for 5 Oscars, we have a confirmed date for Cord Jefferson’s American Fiction! Based on Percival Everett’s novel Erasure, it follows a struggling novelist-professor (Jeffrey Wright) who writes a stereotypical Black novel as satire, which becomes a surprise bestseller, where its message becomes easily misinterpreted by the masses. American Fiction doesn’t seem afraid to push buttons while finally securing Wright his first Oscar nomination. It streams on Amazon Prime Video on 27 February.
Dune: Part Two
Let the spice flow again! A sequel to Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, Part Two finally finishes the adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune. Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) now unites with the Chani and the Fremen as he seeks revenge against the Harkonnens responsible for destroying his family and foresees a terrible future that only he can prevent. Shot entirely with IMAX cameras and built with new filming locations and sets, Dune: Part Two looks bigger than its predecessor, with Florence Pugh, Austin Butler and Christopher Walken also joining. Fear not over its prospects, as Dune: Part Two seems to be just as breathtaking an experience as it should be when it hits theatres on 29 February.
Spaceman
While Adam Sandler’s career remains fascinating to watch, his talents always show up when he has the right material. After great dramatic performances in Punch-Drunk Love and Uncut Gems, Spaceman looks like another example of that. Based on Jaroslav Kalfar’s Spaceman of Bohemia and directed by Johan Renck (a few episodes of Breaking Bad and Bates Motel), Sandler plays as an astronaut sent on a mission to the solar system who encounters an extra-terrestrial creature that may help him with his problems on Earth, including his strained relationship with his pregnant wife (Carey Mulligan). It streams on Netflix on 1 March.
How to Have Sex
Don’t look at this one as a teaching guide. A feature-length debut for writer-director Molly Manning Walker, How to Have Sex follows Tara (Mia McKenna-Bruce) on spring break, who finds sexual freedom in the adventures she partakes in until a devastating incident occurs. Winner of the Un Certain Regard prize at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, How to Have Sex looks as empathetic to the female experience as it sounds harrowing and a much-needed conversation-starter. Look out for this one on 7 March.
Love Lies Bleeding
Queers, unite! Rose Glass follows her phenomenal directorial debut, Saint Maud, with her sophomore feature, Love Lies Bleeding, which stars Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian as a couple. Reclusive gym manager Lou (Stewart) falls for Jackie (O’Brian), an ambitious bodybuilder in pursuit of her dream. However, as they get closer, they get pulled deep into Lou’s crime family, headed by patriarch Lou Sr. (Ed Harris). Revenge gets ripped on 14 March.
Wicked Little Letters
Sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction. That happens to be the case for Wicked Little Letters, starring our beloved queens Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley. Set in a 1920s English seaside town, several anonymously written, vulgar letters are sent to various residents, prompting an uproar. Irish migrant Rose (Buckley) is accused, arrested and charged with the crime, but a closer investigation indicates someone else may be behind the letters. In cinemas 21 March.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
If there’s something strange in your neighbourhood, who you gonna call? Ghostbusters! It’s the fifth time they’ll be called to the big screen, with Frozen Empire acting as a direct sequel to Afterlife and our new young Ghostbusters (Mckenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Logan Kim, Celeste O’Connor) returning, alongside Paul Rudd and Carrie Coon. With Gil Kenan (Monster House) directing, Frozen Empire will revolve around the new and old Ghostbusters teams uniting to save the world from an evil force that threatens to create a second Ice Age. Answer this call on 21 March.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
If you were disappointed by the lack of a winner or loser in Godzilla vs. Kong, the iconic titular monsters will work together as Adam Wingard returns to the director’s chair with The New Empire. The seventh instalment in the MonsterVerse and the fifth Godzilla film produced entirely by Hollywood, don’t expect it to be as emotionally resonant and complex as Godzilla Minus One, but do expect lots of thrilling popcorn entertainment on 28 March.
Kung Fu Panda 4
Who wants more kung fu fighting? DreamWorks looks more than happy to give us a fourth film in the Kung Fu Panda series, eight years after the previous instalment and with Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen and Lucy Liu reprising their roles. It’ll be an entertaining day out for the movies for younger kids, but a nostalgia trip for those who have been with the franchise since day one. In cinemas 28 March.
Perfect Days
Wim Wenders is finally back! Premiering at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival to critical acclaim, Perfect Days follows a toilet cleaner (Koji Yakusho) in Tokyo who seems content with his life while enjoying his passions until a series of encounters reveal his past. Aside from being a wonderful slice-of-life film, Wenders appears to be back in top form. Look out for its limited release on 28 March.
The First Omen
After the failures of The Omen (2006) and the short-lived A&E show Damien (2016), it’s surprising that 20th Century Studios would continue to pursue The Omen franchise. Thankfully, Arkasha Stevenson of Brand New Cherry Flavour is taking over the director’s chair, and first-look images and footage of The First Omen appear far more stylish and hauntingly atmospheric than expected. See how it all began on 4 April.
Civil War
Alex Garland’s mind sure is a fascinating one, huh? His previous film, Men, may not have worked for everyone, but it was a massive swing that had to be respected, even when it seemed to indulge in arthouse horror clichés, and that appears to be the same for Civil War. Plot details seem unclear from the trailer, only that there’s a rapidly escalating civil war in the United States, the government has become a dystopian dictatorship, partisan extremist militias commit political violence, a group of journalists are trying to survive, and Texas and California are working together? As A24’s most expensive film with a budget of $50 million, Civil War looks bombastic, intense, and may be more divisive than Men. Find out how the war turns out on 24 April.
Late Night with the Devil
An incredibly surprising, unsettling slow-burn piece of Australian horror filmmaking that pays off rewardingly, Late Night with the Devil is a must-watch for genre fans. A throwback to 70s-set television horror, Late Night with the Devil revolves around a late-night talk show host whose final episode goes horrifically wrong. While it’s been on the shelves for a while, reports say it may finally reach Australian theatres on 11 April.
Abigail
Children can be monsters, right? The Radio Silence duo (Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett) seem to believe that in their first post-Scream film, Abigail, which sees them reuniting with scream queen Melissa Barrera. Starring Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newtown, Giancarlo Esposito and the late Angus Cloud, Abigail follows a group of criminals kidnapping the 12-year-old ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, where their task is to watch the girl overnight in an isolated mansion for $50 million. However, they realise this is no ordinary girl, and the group dwindles, one by one. Looks like lots of bloody fun when it hits theatres on 18 April.
Rebel Moon: Part Two – The Scargiver (+ Director’s Cut of Part One)
Regardless of your thoughts on Zack Snyder (and his chaotically toxic fanbase), he is a visually compelling filmmaker. His third project under Netflix, Snyder’s Rebel Moon: Part Two – The Scargiver continues after A Child of Fire, intended to begin a Star Wars and Dune-inspired franchise, and with Sofia Boutella, Michiel Huisman, Djimon Hounsou, Bae Doona and Cary Elwes reprising their roles. While The Scargiver releases on 19 April on Netflix, don’t forget that Snyder intends to release a three-hour, R-rated director’s cut of A Child of Fire at an unspecified date.
Challengers
When Luca Guadagnino is directing an arthouse rom-com with Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor involved, you know it’s going to rule. Challengers follows the wife and coach (Zendaya) of a Grand Slam champion (Faist), who signs him up for a Challenger event where he will face off against her former lover (O’Connor). Not only does this look visually striking, but also as deliciously horny, thrilling and tense as it should be. Delayed due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, Challenges finally reaches cinemas on 24 April.
The Book of Clarence
It’s time for religious satires to make a comeback. Considering the existence of films like Life of Brian, it’s fascinating to see lots of divisive reactions towards The Book of Clarence’s trailers – before even seeing the film. Jeymes Samuel (The Harder They Fall) directs, and LaKeith Stanfield leads, playing beggar Clarence, who struggles to improve his family’s life until he resorts to capitalising on the rise of Jesus Christ by claiming to be God’s new Messiah. Hear his words on 25 April.
Birdeater
A psychologically unsettling breakdown into toxic masculinity and a true throwback to Australian New Wave classics like Wake in Fright, Jack Clark and Jim Weir’s Birdeater is a knockout directorial debut. Recently engaged couple, Louie (Mackenzie Fearnley) and Irene (Shabana Azeez), attend Louie’s bachelor party, only for the uncomfortable truths behind their relationship – and their general friendships – to emerge. It is as every bit uncomfortable and confronting as you’d expect from the premise, with a show-stopping Ben Hunter delivering a gleefully unhinged performance that’s bound to be his career breakthrough. Winner of the GIO Audience Award for Best Australian Feature at the 2023 Sydney Film Festival and set to premiere internationally at this year’s SXSW Film Festival, Birdeater is an audacious piece of Australian filmmaking. While its release date remains unspecified, word has it that it’s targeting an April release.
The Fall Guy
Hollywood has put Australia on the map, and we Sydney-siders couldn’t be happier (or more amused) to see our home being represented. They’ll continue this trend after Anyone But You with David Leitch’s new action film, The Fall Guy, an adaptation of the 1980s television show of the same name. When struggling stuntman Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling) works on a film directed by his ex (Emily Blunt) and their lead disappears, Colt volunteers to find the missing actor to save the film. Even more exciting, Gosling gets to fight on the Sydney Harbour Bridge! See how that unfolds on 2 May.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
The Planet of the Apes reboot trilogy is almost so perfect that it feels inconceivable to follow that up with another film, especially given where War for the Planet of the Apes ends. However, with Wes Ball (The Maze Runner trilogy and now the upcoming The Legend of Zelda film adaptation) directing, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes looks like a fresh new start for the franchise. Intending to continue the legacy of the Planet of the Apes, watch the kingdom rise on 9 May.
Monster
Prepare the tissues because Hirokazu Kore-eda is back with another heart-wrenching yet heart-warming film. Winner of the Queer Palm at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, Monster follows a Rashomon narrative structure where Minato (Soya Kurokawa) behaves strangely, and his mother Saori (Sakura Ando) demands to know what is happening, where, through varying perspectives, the truth emerges. Featuring believable child performances, relevant queer subtext, and an outstanding score from the late Ryuichi Sakamoto, Monster finally gets a limited Australian release on 9 May.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
What a lovely fucking day it is to see George Miller still in creative charge of the Mad Max franchise while continuing to pump out great films. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga seems to continue that, a prequel to Fury Road and an origin story of the titular warrior Furiosa, portrayed by Anya Taylor-Joy. Screw all your complaints about the unfinished CGI when this looks so thrilling, exciting and breathtaking. Make sure it’s on your watchlist before 23 May.
Ballerina (2024)
John Wick may have ended on a great note (unless Lionsgate makes Chapter 5 happen), but its compelling universe would inevitably be expanded, and the franchise finally gets its first spin-off, Ballerina. Directed by Len Wiseman, Ballerina takes place between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Chapter 4, where ballerina-assassin Rooney (Ana de Armas) sets out to exact revenge on the murderers of her family. While there’ll be a Keanu Reeves cameo to look out for, we’re watching mainly for Armas on 6 June.
The Watchers (2024)
Based on the novel by A.M. Shine, directed by Ishana Night Shyamalan, the daughter of M. Night, and starring Dakota Fanning, Georgina Campbell, and Olwen Fouéré, The Watchers focuses on a young artist getting stranded in an Irish forest, where she becomes trapped with three other strangers as they are stalked by mysterious creatures each night. To what extent Ishana inherits her father’s unique style, we’ll find out by watching this one on 6 June.
Hit Man
Richard Linklater returns with what looks like another thrilling addition to his filmography and reunites with Everybody Wants Some!! star Glen Powell, whose talents continue to reach mainstream recognition. Working undercover as a cop and becoming an in-demand hitman (Powell) in Houston, Gary Johnson breaks protocol when he helps a woman attempt to escape from her abusive boyfriend. While we’re bitter that we won’t see a theatrical release for Hit Man, rest assured that we’re certainly streaming it on Netflix on 7 June.
Inside Out 2
Nine years later, Inside Out finally returns with a sequel. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar, Inside Out 2 returns to Riley’s mind as she reaches teenagerhood, and by reaching puberty, her headquarters subsequently has new emotions: Anxiety (Maya Hawke)! Love! Ennui! We’ll feel everything when we see Inside Out 2 on 13 June.
Despicable Me 4
Even with the recent successes of The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Migration, Illumination wouldn’t be where they are without Despicable Me, so it makes sense they would return to its IP with a fourth film. Plot details remain unknown, but we do know that Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig and Pierre Coffin are reprising their roles, Mike White (The White Lotus) will be behind the screenplay, and it will release on 20 June.
A Quiet Place: Day One
We may have seen a glimpse of how the apocalyptic chaos went down through the Abbott family in A Quiet Place Part II, but Day One will focus entirely on its origins. Directed by Michael Sarnoski (Pig) and starring Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff and Djimon Hounsou (reprising his role as the Man on the Island from Part II), plot details remain unknown, but we’ll see how day one unfolded on 27 June.
The Bikeriders
An incredibly hot cast like Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, Tom Hardy and Mike Faist starring? Check. Jeff Nichols (of Mud and Take Shelter fame) directing? Check. Lots of motorbikes and handsome bikers on display? Check. The Bikeriders seems like it has it all. Too bad Disney didn’t seem to think that when, after delaying its release due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, it dropped distribution. Thankfully, Focus Features and Universal Pictures have acquired worldwide rights, and we’ll finally get to see The Bikeriders on 4 July.
Twisters
It is tempting to dismiss Twisters by potentially going down a nostalgia-heavy, cash-hungry sequel (Twister$) to a thrilling disaster classic. However, when it has Lee Isaac Chung (Minari) directing and an A-list cast (Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Anthomy Ramos) involved, it’s clear they’re onto something. Plot details remain unknown, but we’re ready to be blown away by Twisters on 18 July.
Deadpool 3
Even with the familiar superhero blockbuster red flags showing up, where Deadpool 3 goes will certainly be fascinating. The first Deadpool film made under Disney (and directed by Shawn Levy), Deadpool 3 intends to integrate its titular antihero with the MCU while faithfully retaining his humorous, sardonic characteristics. Not only is Hugh Jackman set to reprise his role as Wolverine, but he’s also wearing his costume from the comic books! Plot details remain unknown, but with rumours of the cast from X-Men reprising their roles as secret appearances, we’re in for another nostalgia-fuelled Spider-Man: No Way Home situation on 25 July.
Trap (2024)
Love or hate M. Night Shyamalan, you can’t deny his unique formalist style. He makes bold swings, finances his films, and puts in dedicated amounts of passion, and Trap seems to be no different. While plot details remain unknown, we know it stars Josh Hartnett and Saleka Shyamalan and that it’ll be similar to Shyamalan’s previous films. Up to you whether you’ll take that as a good sign, but we’re excited to see his next twists on 1 August.
Kraven the Hunter
The fifth film in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, Kraven The Hunter finally brings Spider-Man’s titular adversary to the big screen. Directed by J.C. Chandor (Margin Call, All is Lost, A Most Violent Year) and written by Richard Wenk (The Expendables 2, The Equalizer trilogy), Aaron Taylor-Johnson portrays Sergei Kravinoff, AKA Kraven, a Russian immigrant planning to prove he is the greatest hunter in the world. Long delayed due to reshoots and the SAG-AFTRA strike, we’ll finally see Aaron hunt on 29 August.
Alien: Romulus
After a rough and unsteady franchise course, Alien returns to the big screen with Romulus, with Fede Álvarez directing and co-writing (alongside Rodo Sayagues). Plot details remain unknown, but we know Romulus will be set between Alien and Aliens. While a cast led by Cailee Spaeny, following her powerful performance in Priscilla, sounds interesting enough, it should be brought to your attention that Romulus apparently test-screened so well that Disney upgraded it from a Hulu original to a theatrical release. We can’t wait to scream for this one in August.
Borderlands
While we can’t doubt video game movies anymore, who knows what’s happening with Borderlands? Based on the video game franchise from Gearbox Software, Borderlands follows infamous outlaw Lilith (Cate Blanchett) returning to her home planet of Pandora and uniting an unexpected team to find the missing daughter of the universe’s most powerful S.O.B. Despite a promising cast (Blanchett, Jack Black, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ariana Greenblatt, Gina Gershon) and director Eli Roth’s involvement, its production troubles are hard to avoid, with Miller directing reshoots, Roth having to step down to commit to Thanksgiving, and Craig Mazin (The Last of Us, Chernobyl) removing his name from the screenplay (with numerous additional credits involved, including Sam Levinson). While the red flags are there, we’re still hoping Borderlands will be another fun video game movie in August.
Beetlejuice 2
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice… excuse us, we’re already trying to manifest Beetlejuice 2! 36 years after the original Beetlejuice, Tim Burton returns to the director’s chair to helm the long-anticipated sequel, with Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara set to reprise their roles while Jenna Ortega, Monica Bellucci and Willem Dafoe become new additions to the cast. Plot details remain unknown, but we’ll find out what new hijinks Beetlejuice is up to on 5 September.
Saw XI
Oh, yes… there will be more blood than ever. Saw may gotten endlessly lost with its increasingly convoluted timeline, but the fun factor is hard to deny. However, Saw veteran Kevin Gruetert returned to the series with Saw X, an effective return to basics and a thoughtful entry centred around John Kramer, the true star of the series. Following its success, Lionsgate has greenlit Saw XI, intended to be a direct sequel with Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith and Synnøve Macody Lund reprising their roles. Plot details remain unknown but do expect there to be more blood than before. Watch or not? Make your choice on 26 September.
Joker: Folie à Deux
Everyone laughed at the idea of a Joker sequel. When Todd Phillips returned to the director’s chair and revealed it would be a psychological musical starring Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, the hype has never been stronger. By doing this, Joker: Folie à Deux seems to be taking risks, and we’ll see the odd pairing of Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga in fascinating ways. Looks to be another interesting cinematic event on 3 October.
Smile 2
Who knew that a horror film titled Smile would be so harrowing, nihilistic and terrifying? It’s not perfect and clearly borrows from one too many influences (It Follows, The Ring), but writer-director Parker Finn delivers big-time on the scares and makes his narrative somehow refreshing. Paramount’s decision to upgrade Smile from a Paramount+ exclusive to a theatrical film paid off, which means they’re confident enough to greenlight a sequel. Plot details of Smile 2 remain unknown, but Naomi Scott and Lukas Gage are starring, where their characters will seemingly get up in the doom-filled, trauma-targeting curse, and Parker Finn will serve as writer and director again. Smile for this one on 17 October.
Terrifier 3
Art the Clown is back, and if his particular murder in Terrifier 2 wasn’t his Mona Lisa, then God help us for what’s next in his blood-soaked carnage. While plot details are unknown, Terrifier 3 will be set in Christmas, with Lauren LaVera, Samantha Scaffidi and the astounding David Howard Thornton reprising their roles, and Damien Leone returning as writer and director again. With a bigger budget and a promising holiday setting, we can expect Terrifier 3 to be a far bloodier time on 24 October.
Venom 3
We are Venom. While these Venoms have been deeply silly (and knowingly so), Tom Hardy’s dual performance as Eddie Brock and Venom is an undeniable highlight, whose commitment to the bit makes the relationship between these characters (and even the queer subtext) all the more entertaining to watch. Plot details remain unknown, but Venom 3 makes it clear we’re in for more bromantic stuff between Brock and Venom on 7 November.
Gladiator 2
Yet another long-awaited sequel to a classic we’ll be getting this year. However, what makes Gladiator 2 something to look out for is Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger and Pedro Pascal starring, alongside Ridley Scott directing. It follows Commodus’s nephew, Lucius (Mescal), who was saved by Maximus and has now grown up. Plot details are still unknown, but behind-the-scenes stills and a compelling cast are enough to have us seated for Gladiator 2 on 21 November.
Wicked: Part One
The beloved Broadway musical finally makes its way to the big screen this year! Well, only Part One, that is. With Jon M. Chu (In the Heights, Crazy Rich Asians) in the director’s chair, his experience with musicals will add an interesting touch to Wicked: Part One, but it’s Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande to look out for. Acting as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, Wicked: Part One follows the friendship between Elphaba (Erivo), a woman born with green skin, and Glinda (Grande) before they are torn apart by the destinies set out for them. The musical renaissance remains strong this year, with Wicked: Part One set to release on 26 November.
Paddington in Peru
Who can resist this cute, adorable bear? StudioCanal can’t, for they’re returning with a third Paddington film, but this time with a different change in location. Directed by Dougal Wilson, Paddington (Ben Whishaw) and his adopted family travel to Peru to visit his aunt, Lucy (Imelda Staunton), only to encounter a series of mishaps and misadventures. Alongside new additions of Olivia Colman and Antonio Banderas to the cast, we can’t wait to see this loveable, well-mannered bear in action in November!
The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim
One ring to rule them all… one franchise to rule our world. The Lord of the Rings finally returns to the big screen, but as an animated prequel, and with animation director Kenji Kamiyama involved and Miranda Otto reprising her role as Éowyn to narrate the film. Set 261 years before the trilogy, The War of the Rohirrim follows Helm Hammerhand (Brian Cox), a legendary King of Rohan who must defend against an army of Dunlendings. While first-look materials are yet to be revealed, The War of the Rohirrim sounds epic, bleak and promising, with a release date set for 12 December.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
He’s gotta go fast, and he has no signs of stopping! Following the success of Sonic the Hedgehog, he’s back with yet another third film, with not only Tails and Knuckles returning, but with Shadow the Hedgehog set to appear. Directed again by Jeff Fowler, plot details remain unknown, but we’ll see him back in action on Boxing Day.
Nosferatu
It’s impossible to deny Dracula’s impact on pop culture. Without him, the horror genre wouldn’t be the same. There were even two Dracula films (Renfield, The Last Voyage of the Demeter) last year! What makes this upcoming Nosferatu stand out is that it’s Robert Egger’s fourth film. As the second remake of F.W. Murnau’s 1922 German Expressionist film of the same name, which was an unofficial and unauthorised adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Nosferatu intends to stay faithful to the source material, with Bill Skarsgård starring as the titular vampire, alongside Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp and Willem Dafoe. Set to release on Christmas Day (in the United States), a Nosferatu remake from Robert Eggers sounds like the perfect Christmas gift.
Cuckoo
Hunter Schafer was bound to be a star. Following her breakthrough performances in Euphoria and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, she’s landed her next role in Tilman Singer’s Cuckoo, where she plays as a 17-year-old girl being forced to move with her family to a resort, but things are not what they seem. Announced by Neon before falling silent for a year, Cuckoo is finally set to premiere at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival and then release at an unspecified date.
Handling the Undead
he premise of your loved ones returning from the dead isn’t new, but with fresh angles and harrowingly emotional opportunities involved, there’s numerous ways to bring this concept back to life. Directed by Thea Hvistendahl and based on John Ajvide Lindqvist’s novel of the same name, Handling the Undead focuses on three families descending into chaos when their deceased loved ones return, with The Worst Person in the World co-stars Renate Reinsve and Anders Danielsen Lie reuniting. With a theatrical release in Norway shortly following afterwards, we shouldn’t have to wait too long for Handling the Undead.
I Saw the TV Glow
Since We’re All Going to the World’s Fair, Jane Schoenbrun has established themselves as a distinctly unique voice in independent horror filmmaking to look out for, and they’re following their directorial debut with I Saw the TV Glow. Two teenagers (Justice Smith, Brigette Lundy-Paine) bond over their love of a television show, only for reality to blur when it is cancelled. Premiering at Sundance to rave reviews, I Saw the TV Glow is one genre film to be on the lookout for.
Lisa Frankenstein
Love is something, isn’t it? That’s what Lisa Frankenstein sets out to explore, which sees Zelda Williams directing for the first time and Diablo Cody back to screenwriting since Tully. Set in 1989, Lisa Swallows (Kathryn Newton), a teenage goth girl, reanimates a corpse from the Victorian era and builds him into the man of her dreams, where they set out on a journey to find true love, happiness and a few body parts. While Lisa Frankenstein releases before Valentine’s Day in the United States, we’ll have to wait for news of an Australian theatrical release.
MaXXXine
She’s a star, and she will not live out a life that she does not deserve. Ti West returns to the director’s chair to complete the X trilogy with MaXXXine, with Mia Goth set to reprise her role as Maxine (and serve as producer), who sets out to become a famous actress in 1980s Los Angeles after surviving a farmhouse massacre. With MaXXXine looking to end its trilogy on a high note, stay tuned for a theatrical release date soon.
Megalopolis
Francis Ford Coppola has solidified his status as one of the greats of the American film industry. Even with his flawed filmography, it doesn’t beat his cinematic achievements, and 13 years after his previous film, Twixt, Coppola finally returns with Megalopolis. Self-financed and starring a nearly-endless ensemble cast (the list goes on and ON), Megalopolis follows Julie Cicero (Nathalie Emmanuel), who is torn between following her father, Frank (Forest Whitaker), or her architect lover, Caesar (Adam Driver), who wants to rebuild New York as a utopia, following a devastating disaster. Despite reports of a chaotic production reminiscent of Apocalypse Now, Megalopolis might be Coppola’s most ambitious achievement to date. While a release date remains unspecified, Coppola has confirmed Megalopolis is set to release this year, following a possible premiere at this year’s Cannes Film Festival!
Mickey 17
Bong Joon-ho’s been having a great time since Parasite, having won a Palme d’Or, three Oscars and other awards, and he’s back with his next film, Mickey 17. Adapted from Edward Ashton’s novel, Mickey7, Robert Pattinson stars as Mickey 17, an expendable sent to colonise an ice world. However, if he dies, his body will regenerate, with most of his memories intact. Initially to release in March before being indefinitely delayed by Warner Bros. Discovery, we’re still hoping to see Mickey 17 this year!
The People’s Joker
The People’s Joker has finally been freed! As an unofficial parody of characters from the Batman comics, you’ve likely heard of Warner Bros. Discovery’s attempts to shut the film down over rights issues and its film festival screenings either being cancelled or secretly shown. However, a closer viewing of The People’s Joker offers a postmodern, unapologetically transgender take on the Joker and a radical, heartfelt passion project from star, co-writer and director Vera Drew. While its Australian release date remains unknown, look out for screenings of The People’s Joker at the Mardi Gras Film Festival this year.
Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’s impact on the animation industry has been undeniable. That’s why we’re excited for Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, which continues directly after the cliff-hanger of Across the Spider-Verse. Indefinitely delayed due to an alleged lack of production progress and the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, let’s hope Beyond the Spider-Verse sees a release date this year. But most importantly, let’s hope the animators are treated with the utmost time, care and pay they deserve.
The Strangers: Chapter 1
“Because you were home.” It’s hard to believe it would take ten years for a sequel to The Strangers to be made (Prey at Night), and now a sequel trilogy, directed by Renny Harlin, is set to release this year. Taking place in the continuity of its previous instalments, The Strangers: Chapter 1 follows a young couple, Maya (Madelaine Petsch) and Ryan (Froy Guiterrez), being terrorised by three murderous masked strangers. The idea of a standalone sequel trilogy is bizarre, but it is interesting to see where it’ll unfold. Set to release at an unspecified date in Australian cinemas.
BONUS: Uzumaki
I know it’s a cheat to put Uzumaki on here, but I digress. Adapted from Junji Ito’s manga of the same name, Uzumaki sees a small, quiet Japanese town becoming afflicted with a curse relating to spirals, which affects many of its citizens in horrific ways. For those who have read the manga, it contains imagery that you cannot unsee, and Ito has confirmed Uzumaki intends to be a faithful adaptation, so be prepared. While Uzumaki has been delayed multiple times to accommodate the requests of the production team, we’re remaining hopeful that Uzumaki finally premieres this year.
Which films are you excited for most? Be on the lookout for more of our reviews on some of these films, and here’s to another great year.