Upcoming movies: The most exciting new movies coming in 2024 and beyond

Knuckles, Sonic, and Tails in Sonic 3 (2024)
(Image credit: Paramount)

Two of 2024's biggest movies, Gladiator 2 and Wicked, are now out in theaters, but the year is not over yet. From Sonic 3 to Nosferatu, there are still a lot of exciting movies to look forward to in the next few weeks, so make sure you don't miss any of them while preparing for the Christmas festivities.

2024 has been a strong year for movies, with massive box-office hits like Dune: Part Two, Deadpool & Wolverine, Inside Out 2, and Venom 3 (aka Venom: The Last Dance), a list that will soon welcome Wicked following its record-breaking opening weekend.

This has been a year for highly anticipated legacy sequels (Twisters , Alien: Romulus, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) and overall franchise dominance (Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Despicable Me 4), while beautifully original films like The Wild Robot have also found an audience.

So, what else is in store? Expect many sequels, including Moana 2 and Sonic 3, as well as The Lion King's prequel Mufasa and Robert Eggers' visually stunning vampire gothic tale Nosferatu.

In this list you can check out all movies coming out in November and December, and why you should be excited for them. We've even started to include early 2025 films like Wolf Man, so you can start getting ready for a brand new year of movies.

Whatever you're cinematically into, there's something for everyone on our list of movie release dates to keep an eye on. We also have a list of the best new TV shows, if the small screen is more your thing.

For now, grab some popcorn and check out 2024's most exciting movies heading to theaters soon.

Moana 2

Moana holding a paddle during the upcoming movie, Moana 2.

(Image credit: Disney)

Release date: November 27, 2024

One of the best Disney movies ever made is getting a sequel. Moana 2 will see Auliʻi Cravalho as Moana and Dwayne Johnson as Maui return for a new adventure. Similar to the first animated movie, it’s up to the pair to travel to a hidden island and break a curse.

This time Moana’s mission will take her to the distant seas of Oceania, where she’ll meet new communities and face fresh villains. The first Moana was stunning, so we have high hopes for this film. Fingers crossed that this sequel blows us away just like Frozen 2 did in 2020.

Kraven the Hunter

Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Sergei Kravinoff in the upcoming movie, Kraven the Hunter.

(Image credit: Sony)

Release date: December 13, 2024

We were originally supposed to meet Aaron Taylor-Johnson's Sergei Kravinoff in October 2023, but the new superhero movie is one of several delayed releases. The film follows the anti-hero as he sets out to prove he's the greatest hunter in the world. From what we've seen in the trailer, we're expecting one of the most violent takes in the Sony Marvel universe so far.

The film has been delayed until December. "Kraven moved to Christmas because we're excited about it, and Christmas is the best release period there is - when you get people with time to go back to the movies over and over again," producer Matt Tolmach explained.

We know you might be tired of Sony Marvel movies by now, but director J.C. Chandor is asking you to give this one a chance: "People have got to give us a chance and come out and support this film, and literally try to wash away some of the other stuff that’s happened."

Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim 

Helm Hammerhand and his family in the throne room during the upcoming movie, Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim.

(Image credit: Warner Bros)

Release date: December 13, 2024

With The Rings of Power season 2 released earlier this year, the announcement of a new Lord of the Rings movie, and some new games on their way, 2024 has been the year of Tolkien. And, as an end-of-the-year treat, we now have Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim to look forward to.

This is easily one of the most exciting new anime movies heading our way, as it’ll showcase the ninth king of Rohan Helm Hammerhand. The story revolves around The War of Rohirrim and is set 183 years before Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies. Expect some epic battle scenes with this one as we watch the legend of Helm Hammerhand be born long before the stronghold of Helm’s Deep takes place.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Keanu Reeves as Shadow in Sonic 3

(Image credit: Paramount)

Release date: December 20, 2024

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is introducing Keanu Reeves as Shadow, with Colleen O'Shaughnessey back as Tails and Idris Elba back as Knuckles. Of course, Ben Schwartz is returning as Sonic, and James Marsden is back as his human bestie.

"It's going to be this giant, fun, incredible movie that obviously takes a lot from Sonic Adventure 2 and some of the games that I know the core Sonic Team grew up loving," producer Toby Ascher previously told 12DOVE.

Mufasa: The Lion King

Mufasa: The Lion King

(Image credit: Disney)

Release date: December 20, 2024

When it comes to new Disney movies, love them or hate them, live-actions are in the conversation. Mufasa: The Lion King is a prequel to the 2019 live-action Disney movie. In it, we'll see the rise of Simba's father, Mufasa, from orphan cub to Pride Rock ruler.

Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen will reprise their roles as Timon and Pumbaa, respectively, which is fun. But what's funnier is that the movie has already drawn comparisons to The Godfather Part II. We'll also see (or more accurately, hear) Aaron Pierre, who worked on the Emmy-nominated series The Underground Railroad, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. voice Mufasa and Scar, respectively.

The first trailer for the film is already out if you want to see a first look at the flick for yourself.

Nosferatu

Lily-Rose Depp as Ellen Hutter in the upcoming movie, Nosferatu.

(Image credit: Focus Features)

Release date: December 25, 2024 in the US, January 3, 2025 in the UK

Written and directed by Robert Eggers, the filmmaker behind The Witch, The Lighthouse, and The Northman, Nosferatu is set to offer a brand new take on the 1922 silent film of the same name.

Starring Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Ralph Ineson, Willem Dafoe, and Bill Skarsgård as the eponymous bloodsucker, the upcoming movie is set to explore the complicated obsession between a troubled young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her. With high hopes for this one; in fact, it's one of our most anticipated upcoming horror movies of 2024!

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

Feathers McGraw holding up a police sign during a mugshot in the trailer for the new movie, Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.

(Image credit: Netflix)

Release date: December 25, 2024 in the UK, January 3, 2025 in the US

Wallace & Gromit is iconic and has already given us some of the best-animated movies ever made. So, of course, we’re excited to see the duo’s second full-length feature film (since The Curse of the Were-Rabbit) hit our screens in a few weeks. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl will see the return of the villain Feathers McGraw, who first appeared in the 1993 short film The Wrong Trousers.

The story revolves around Wallace’s latest invention becoming part of McGraw’s new evil scheme. From the trailers that we’ve already seen, the upcoming film looks stunning as well as hilarious. It will be available for UK viewers via the BBC in December and on Netflix for US readers in January shortly after.

Paddington in Peru

Paddington Bear in the upcoming movie, Paddington in Peru.

(Image credit: Studiocanal)

Release date: Out now in UK cinemas, January 17, 2025 in the US

Paddington in Peru (commonly known as Paddington 3) will see the marmalade-loving bear and Brown family pack up and head to his home country to pay a visit to Aunt Lucy at the Home for Retired Bears. There's a problem, though...

Lucy, according to a nun played by Olivia Colman, went on an expedition in the Amazon a while back and never returned. So now it's up to Paddington and Co to venture deep into the jungle, find her, and bring her back safely. Ben Whishaw is back to lend his voice to Paddington, while Hugh Bonneville, Julie Walters, and Antonio Banderas also star. Emily Mortimer is on board, too, replacing Sally Hawkins as Mrs. Brown.

Wolf Man

A screenshot of Christopher Abbott as Blake in the trailer for the upcoming movie, Wolf Man.

(Image credit: Universal Pictures)

Release date: January 17, 2025

The reboot of the famous 1941 movie The Wolfman (aka one of the best horror movies ever made) is finally heading to the big screen in 2025. Starring Kraven the Hunter star Christopher Abbott as the leading man, the film will follow Blake, who, after being bitten by a werewolf, finds himself trapped in a remote cabin with his family during his first transformation.

Universal monsters are iconic, and after the massive success of 2020's The Invisible Man, we have high hopes for this flick. Blumhouse Productions are also involved, and while both Universal and Blumhouse have had hits and flops regarding horror reboots, we're keeping our fingers crossed that the team-up with give us something scarily special to enjoy come January.


For more on what's to come, check out our guide to all the new Marvel movies and shows and all the upcoming video game movies heading your way soon.

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Jack Shepherd
Freelance Journalist

Jack Shepherd is the former Senior Entertainment Editor of GamesRadar. Jack used to work at The Independent as a general culture writer before specializing in TV and film for the likes of GR+, Total Film, SFX, and others. You can now find Jack working as a freelance journalist and editor.

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