Cinemas this year have been lacking new movies compared to previous years due to the writers’ and actors’ strikes which occurred in the midst of 2023. This does not mean 2024 has been a desert for cinemas, with there still being so much to look forward to as the year comes to an end. From live action Disney stories to stage show adaptations, here is a short list of movies that you must not miss seeing on the big screen.
Red One
Jake Kasdan adds Red One to his filmography, alongside his two Jumanji movies. This Christmas themed action-comedy follows an E.L.F operative (Dwayne Johnson) and “the best tracker in the world” (Chris Evans) as they embark on a mission to save Christmas by finding the “Red One” – also known as Saint Nicholas, but better known as Santa Claus – after he was kidnapped.
Paddington in Peru
The Nations favourite bear returns in the third instalment of Paddington movies. This time we tag along on Paddington’s (Ben Whishaw) adventure to Peru with his adopted family to visit his Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton). In true Paddington style the trip does not go to plan as he and the Browns end up in the midst of the Amazon rainforest and mountains of Peru.
Gladiator II
One could say 2024 has been the year of the sequels because of the amount that have been released. Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II joins this list where we see Lucius (Paul Mescal) enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by Roman emperors, and years after seeing Maximus die. He looks to the past for the strength needed to restore Rome’s glory whilst filled with anger.
Wicked
This one has been long awaited by the musical theatre fans – Wicked is finally making its on-screen debut! Starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda, this tale explores the unlikely friendship between the two girls which eventually reaches a crossroad. Director Jon M. Chu has made the decision to split the story into two parts in order to fully tell the story. Part two is on track to release next November.
Moana 2
Moana 2 builds from the story in the original as we see Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) embark on a new journey – this time in Oceania after her wayfinding ancestors call out of the blue. Moana is joined on her quest, once again, by Maui (Dwayne Johnson) as well as a new group of explorers.
Mufasa: The Lion King
Adding to Disney’s ever-growing list of live action adaptations and remakes, Mufasa: The Lion King tells the backstory of the fan favourite lion, Mufasa (Aaron Pierre). The orphaned cub meets a royal heir, Taka (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) which marks the beginning of an extraordinary journey for a group of misfits seeking their destiny.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
One to see with the family, Sonic (Ben Schwartz) and his friends band together again to take on evil villain Shadow (Keanu Reeves) – a hedgehog with an immense amount of power which the group cannot match. An unlikely alliance is formed in hopes to protect the planet from Shadow.
If none of these seem appealing, some Christmas classics are being brought back to select cinemas throughout the next couple of weeks – and if you cannot get to the cinema, some streaming platforms are set to release platform exclusives.
