Indian cinema in the first half of 2024 presented a diverse array of stories and genres, albeit with varied reception. From notable Bollywood releases such as Fighter and Shaitaan to regional blockbusters such as Hanu-Man (Telugu), Manjummal Boys (Malayalam), and The Goat Life (Malayalam), the industry showcased a range of narratives that resonated with audiences across different regions.
As we move into the second half of the year, anticipation builds for upcoming releases that promise to elevate the cinematic experience. Whether you’re drawn to blockbuster spectacles, poignant dramas, or lively musicals, there’s a rich tapestry of films set to grace the screens.
Here’s a look at some of the most eagerly awaited releases that will light up the screens in the coming months.
Fancy an Indian version of ‘John Wick’? The upcoming action flick starring Lakshya, Raghav Juyal, Ashish Vidyarthi, and Tanya Maniktala promises highly stylized action and thrills.
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha is a captivating romantic drama that spans two decades, following the intertwined lives of Krishna (Ajay Devgn) and Basu (Tabu).
The highly-awaited sequel to the classic vigilante action film, directed by Shankar and starring Kamal Haasan, is finally here!
An inspiring drama fueled by the indomitable spirit of one man. Akshay Kumar embodies Vir, a man with a revolutionary vision: to make the skies accessible to all by launching India’s first low-cost airline.
Set against the backdrop of Northern Kerala across three generations, the Adventure/Comedy drama follows the intertwined lives of Maniyan, Kunjikelu, and Ajayan (Tovino Thomas), each bound by a shared destiny to protect a priceless treasure.
The spooky season kicks off with the much-awaited sequel to the horror-comedy ‘Stree.’
The movie starring Kannada superstar Shiva Rajkumar is a prequel to Mufti that explores more about Bhairathi Ranagal.
Vijay takes on double duty in this electrifying film by Venkat Prabhu. The plot, shrouded in a bit of mystery, is said to be inspired by a real-life terrorist attack.
Directed by Amal Neerad the malayalam action thriller stars Fahadh Faasil, Kunchacko Boban, Sharafudheen and Jyothirmayi.
Action thriller starring Shahid Kapoor and Pooja Hegde follows a brilliant yet rebellious police officer who uncovers a web of deceit and betrayal while investigating a high-profile case.
Superstar Rajinikanth leads an all-star cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Fahadh Faasil, and Rana Daggubati.
The Story of unbreakable bonds starring Alia Bhatt and Directed by the visionary Vasan Bala.
Ajay Devgn is back with his iconic role as the fearless Inspector Bajirao Singham. Get ready for a thrilling encounter between good and evil, all delivered with the larger-than-life style that has made Singham a pop culture phenomenon.
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 returns with Kartik Aaryan taking on the mantle and Tripti Dimri joining the fun.
Follows stories of bittersweet relationships in a contemporary setting, exploring various aspects, hues, and moods of love.
Allu Arjun returns as the audacious smuggler Pushpa Raj, locked in an epic clash with the ruthless cop Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat, played by Fahadh Faasil
Leveraging the buzz around these highly anticipated Indian blockbusters provides an excellent opportunity for brands to connect with and engage the Asian audience. Contact us today to discover how the power of the big screen can help you achieve your brand objectives.
*Movie release dates are subject to change
Source: IMDb, Google, BookMyShow
From music biopics on Bob Marley to MCU crossovers and the long-awaited ‘Joker’ sequel and more — 2024 has an overwhelming array of exciting cinematic treats in store for moviegoers.
In 2023, we saw a cinematic mixtape of superhero blockbusters, sequels, remakes, and unexpected left-field surprises, bringing in a whopping US$3.9 billion at the global box office. The first three quarters were a rollercoaster of hits, each one outdoing the last.
Now, as we gear up for 2024, we’re facing some Hollywood drama with strikes and schedule shuffles. The big question: Is 2024 gonna be a showstopper for the big screen? Well, take a peek at the release schedule for the next 11 months, and you’ll find a lineup that’s got film buffs buzzing.
Who isn’t hyped about George Miller’s next move after Fury Road? Alex Garland (the genius behind Ex Machina) diving into the chaos of an actual civil war, and the epic team-up of Deadpool and The Wolverine. Plus, imagine reliving Bob Marley’s legendary London gig, receiving the same treatment as Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. Get ready, film fans – 2024 is shaping up to be a wild ride with a treasure trove of cinematic goodies coming our way. Here are some of our favorite movie releases in the months ahead:
Fighter
Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller
Cast: Hritik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, Anil Kapoor
Release: January 2024
First up on the radar is a Bollywood flick featuring Hrithik Roshan, stepping into the boots of elite Indian Air Force pilots banding together to form the Air Dragons. FIGHTER is gearing up to deliver a dose of ‘Top Gun-ish’ adrenaline with jaw-dropping action sequences, all while drenched in the timeless charm of Bollywood. This one’s set to soar high and pack a punch!
Argylle
Genre: Action, Thriller
Cast: Sofia Boutella, Henry Cavil, Dua Lipa
Release: February 2024
We’re always up for a Mathew Vaughn spy flick, and guess what? He’s back, bringing to life the captivating story of Elly Conway, a renowned author whose life takes a turn when the exciting plots of her espionage novels, featuring the secret agent Argylle, start happening in real life. Elly, joined by Aidan Rockwell, goes on a global adventure. Together, they race against killers, blurring the lines between Elly’s fictional world and reality.
Dune: Part two
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Cast: Zendaya, Timothee Chalamet, Florence Pugh
Release: March 2024
Denis Villeneuve completes the saga he initiated with this second chapter of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi epic, where Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet take on the task of saving the universe. The storyline tracks Paul Atreides as he embarks on a journey for revenge alongside Chani and the Fremen. Faced with a daunting decision between love and the fate of the universe, Paul strives to avert a grim future that he foresees.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Cast: Carrie Coon, Mckenna Grace, Annie Potts
Release: March 2024
The new rendition of the beloved horror fantasy franchise, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire introduces a new villain and the Ghostbusters, old and new, as they unite to save the world from an ancient evil threatening a second ice age.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Cast: Dan Stevens, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry
Release: March 2024
Set for an epic showdown following the first blockbuster, Godzilla and Kong, two ancient titans, engage in an epic showdown while humans uncover their linked origins and connection to the mysteries of Skull Island.
Kung Fu Panda 4
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure
Cast: Jack Black, Awkwafina, Viola Davis
Release: March 2024
When Po gets the nod to step up as the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace, he’s thrown into the whirlwind task of tracking down and grooming a fresh Dragon Warrior. But hold onto your hats – there’s a wicked sorceress in the mix, scheming to resurrect all the master villains Po once sent packing to the spirit realm. It’s a Kung Fu saga with a mystical twist that’ll keep you hooked!
Indian 2 (Tamil)
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
Cast: Kamal Hassan, Rakul Preet Singh, Kajal Agarwal
Release: April 2024
Senapathy, once a freedom fighter, is now a vigilante fighting corruption. He returns to help a young man exposing corrupt politicians through online videos.
Civil War
Genre: Action, Drama
Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny
Release: April 2024
In the near future, a dedicated team of journalists embarks on a cross-country journey, navigating the landscape of a rapidly intensifying civil war that has swept across the entire nation of America.
Fall Guy
Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama
Cast: Emily Blunt, Ryan Gosling, Aaron – Taylor Johnson
Release: May 2024
The Fall Guy follows Colt Seavers, an out-of-work stuntman, who is asked by his ex-girlfriend(movie director) to help with stunts for a troublesome action star. When the actor disappears, Colt sets out to rescue him, facing the darker side of Hollywood. Along the way, he hopes to win back his ex, rescue the film, and prove himself as the best stuntman.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Charlee Fraser
Release: May 2024
This is where Furiosa’s story begins, before she teams up with Mad Max. In a crazy world, young Furiosa is taken from her home, the Green Place, by a tough group of bikers led by Warlord Dementus. She then goes on a journey to overcome challenges and find her way back home.
Inside Out 2
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Cast: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black
Release: June 2024
The beloved franchise returns, this time following Riley, a teenage girl, encountering new emotions in her prime age.
Ballerina
Genre: Action, Thriller
Cast: Anna De Armas, Keanu Reeves
Release date: June 2024
Ballerina is a spinoff within the John Wick universe, featuring Ana de Armas in the lead role. She reprises her character from John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, where she was introduced as a young ballerina being trained as an assassin. In Ballerina, the story revolves around de Armas’ character seeking revenge for her family’s tragic murder.
A Quiet Place: Day One
Genre: Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
Cast: Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn
Release: June 2024
According to creator and producer John Krasinski, the third movie, set in the same world as A Quiet Place 1 and 2, this film shifts away from the Abbott family. It follows Lupita Nyong’o’s character as she faces the early moments of the alien invasion in the noisy city of New York.
Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1
Genre: Drama, Western
Cast: Kevin Costner, Jena Malone, Sam Worthington
Release: June 2024
Horizon: An American Saga delves into the attraction of the Old West and the challenges faced in winning and losing it, reflecting the sacrifices of many. Covering the four years of the Civil War (1861-1865), the film invites audiences on an emotional exploration of a nation torn by war.
Deadpool 3
Genre: Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Cast: Matthew MacFayden, Ryan Reynolds, Emma Corin
Release: July 2024
This third installment comes to the silver screen with a star-studded cast and action that will keep you at the edge of your seat. Deadpool 3 will have Wolverine, who is healing from his wounds when he encounters the talkative Deadpool. They join forces to overcome a mutual adversary.
Twister
Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller
Cast: Glen Powell, Katy O’ Brian, Kiernan Shipka
Release: July 2024
A modernization of the 1996 movie ‘Twister,’ focusing on two storm chasers risking their lives to evaluate an experimental weather alert system.
Pushpa: The Rule – Part 2 (Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi)
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
Cast: Rashmika Mandanna, Sukumar, Srikanth Vissa
Release: August 2024
The showdown intensifies as Pushpa and Bhanwar Singh lock horns in their ongoing rivalry in this epic conclusion to the two-part action drama.
Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2
Genre: Drama, Western
Cast: Kevin Costner, Sam Worthington, Sienna Miller
Release: August 2024
The Kevin Costner epic continues to explore the tales of the old West, keeping audience hooked on a journey across a country at war with itself. Experienced through the lens of families and friends torn apart, Chapter 2 of this installment will follow these war ridden Americans, as they discover what it truly means to be a part of the United Sates of America.
Alien: Romulus
Genre: Horror, Sci- Fi
Cast: Isabela Merced, Cailee Spaeny, Archie Renaux
Release: August 2024
The acclaimed director of “Evil Dead” and “Dont Breathe” Fede Alvarez, brings the seventh installment of the iconic “Alien” franchise, with a fresh perspective. A step away from its prequels, this reboot unfolds in a distant world, following a group of young individuals as they encounter with the universe’s most terrifying life form. Alvarez’s great storytelling promises a scary space adventure, guaranteed to keep you hooked until the last minute!
Takht (Hindi)
Genre: Action, Drama, History
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Vicky Kaushal, Alia Bhatt, Anil Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor
Release: August 2024
Directed by Karan Johar, the most anticipated Hindi movie of the year stars Vicky Kaushal and Ranveer Singh as Aurangzeb and Dara, telling the story of the enmity between brothers caused by the succession of the throne.
Trap
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Cast: Josh Hartnett, Hayley Mills, Vanessa Smythe
Release: August 2024
The upcoming film marks M. Night Shyamalan’s third feature in four years. Renowned for his distinctive filmmaking style, Shyamalan is recognized for incorporating unexpected twists into his movies—a trait eagerly anticipated in this rumored psychological thriller.
Wolfs
Genre: Thriller
Cast: Brad Pitt, George Clooney
Release: September 2024
A Jon Watts action-thriller reunites Brad Pitt and George Clooney on screen after fifteen years. The plot follows two fixers hired for the same job.
Beetlejuice 2
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Horror
Cast: Jenna Ortega, Willem Dafoe
Release: September 2024
The iconic horror comedy returns to the screens after more than two decades. The original chapter, which follows a dead couple summoning an undead exorcist, to scare away the new owners of their home. 35 years later, the new movie will follow the story of a family, as they navigate how to exist in the ‘craziest world possible’ !
Joker: Folie à Deux
Genre: Crime, Drama, Musical
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Zazue Beetz, Brendan Gleeson
Release: October 2024
The beloved and highly-debated Joker character is making a return to the big screen. The majority of the film will unfold in Arkham, continuing from the first movie where Arthur flees from Arkham Asylum attendants after he murdered a doctor.
Gladiator 2
Genre: Action, Drama, Adventure
Cast: Connie Nielsen, Pedro Pascal, Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington
Release: November 2024
The plot of Gladiator 2 unfolds two decades after the events in the first film. It tracks the journey of Lucius, now an adult, as he embraces Maximus’ legacy. Despite being entitled to ascend as Caesar, Lucius is inspired by Maximus’ sacrifice and courage. His commitment to continuing Maximus’ legacy leads him into the arena, where his political connections from the past resurface to challenge him.
Nosferatu
Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Mystery
Cast: Emma Corrin, Aaron Taylor – Johnson, Willem Dafoe
Release: December 2024
A spooky story about a troubled young woman and a vampire obsessed with her, awakening unprecedented horror in its wake.
Juror #2
Genre: Thriller
Cast: Zoey Deutch, Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette
Release: TBC
“Juror No. 2”, as name suggests, opens as a courtroom drama, revolving around a murder trial. Juror and family man Justin Kemp grapples with a shocking realization that he might be the one responsible for the victim’s death due to his reckless driving. Faced with the dilemma of saving the defendant without revealing his own involvement, Kemp finds himself in a difficult position.
Havoc
Genre: Action, Thriller
Cast: Tom Hardy, Timothy Oliphant, Forest Whitaker
Release: December 2024
Following a drug deal gone south, an injured detective must navigate the criminal underworld in order to save a politician’s estranged son. As he delves deeper, he exposes a complex network of corruption and conspiracy that has entangled the entire city.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Cast: Idris Elba, James Marsden, Ben Schwartz
Release: December 2024
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is the follow-up to the 2022 comedy-adventure, where Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles face a new threat with the arrival of the antagonist Shadow the Hedgehog, disrupting their lives on Earth.
Karate Kid
Genre: Action, Drama, Family
Cast: Jackie Chan, Ralph Maccio
Release: December 2024
The film will depict a teenager from China undergoing training with a strict yet just mentor, likely Mr. Han played by Chan. The setting will shift from the West Coast of the United States to the East Coast. However, the connection to the original franchise will be unveiled in a short while.
Mufasa: The Lion King
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-fi
Cast: Seth Rogen, Aaron Peirre, Billy Eichner
Release: December 2024
The movie follows Simba, now the ruler of the Pride Lands, who is committed to guiding his cub to inherit his legacy, all while delving into the backstory of his deceased father, Mufasa.
Catch a glimpse of some of these compelling titles in our 2024 Sizzle Reel:
There’ll be many more to get excited about in the weeks and months ahead as festivals uncover new gems, distributors snap up and roll out fresh acquisitions, and still-unannounced films pounce on the calendar. So consider this just an appetizer for the year of cinematic feasting to come.
Sources:
Gower Street Analytics
