Much has been written in recent years about our changing viewing habits. YouTube users watch 15-minute summaries, often skillfully cut together, of 120-minute movies. Salient clips from major motion pictures appear regularly on TikTok, often offering plot spoilers or singling out particularly violent or erotic scenes — the social media equivalent of books whose readers used to underline “the good parts” of racy novels.
In addition, the popularity of limited-run TV series streamed on Netflix or one of its competitors has given viewers the opportunity to follow a complex story arc, often with blue-chip actors in juicy roles, in smaller increments. People who probably wouldn’t dream of sitting through two three-hour movies on two nights in a row will happily binge on three 45-minute episodes of a six-episode series on consecutive evenings.
And of course even those who watch full movies from start to finish often choose these days to screen them at home, on their TV sets, computers, or other devices. PBS reported last year that, while movie-theater-going had rebounded substantially from the (literally) dark days of the raging pandemic, they still had not reached pre-COVID levels. “And more people say they prefer seeing a movie for the first time at home on a streaming service,” they reported, “than say they’d rather see it in a theater.”
None of that, however, has dimmed the enthusiasm of audiences for new films — even if they are mostly sequels, franchises, or remakes these days — whether they intend to watch them in a luxury movie house with plush seating and cocktails served or from the familiar comfort of their living room couch. And when announcements or rumors herald the impending release of a new high-profile motion picture, anticipation grows enthusiastically.
To determine the 10 most anticipated movies of 2024, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data compiled by the online casino gambling site No Deposit Friend, based on how often the films appear in the Watchlist feature on the social platform Letterboxd. The list of 2024 movie releases was taken from the Vox Media entertainment site Polygon, and was cross-referenced with Watchlist values on Letterboxd.
Not surprisingly, the list is heavy with brand extensions, including follow-ups to “Dune,” “Deadpool,” “The Joker,” and “Mad Max,” along with a spinoff from the Spider-Man franchise and, reaching far into the past, a modern take on the 1922 silent vampire film “Nosferatu.” Audiences obviously know what they like, and can’t wait for more of the same. (In some cases, there won’t be any more — click here for 15 popular TV shows coming to an end in 2024.)
10. Kraven the Hunter
- Watchlist adds: 6,293
- Release date: August 30
- Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Russell Crowe, and Ariana DeBose
9. Hit Man
N/A
- Watchlist adds: 8,118
- Release date: Not yet announced
- Starring: Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, and Retta
8. MaXXXine
N/A
- Watchlist adds: 8,608
- Release date: Not yet announced
- Starring: Mia Goth, Michelle Monaghan, and Elizabeth Debicki
7. Challengers
- Watchlist adds: 8,674
- Release date: April 26
- Starring: Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor
6. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
N/A
- Watchlist adds: 8,802
- Release date: May 24
- Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, and Nathan Jones
5. Mickey 17
- Watchlist adds: 9,382
- Release date: March 29
- Starring: Robert Pattinson, Mark Ruffalo, and Toni Collette
4. Joker: Folie à Deux
N/A
N/A
- Watchlist adds: 10,004
- Release date: October 4
- Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Zazie Beetz, and Lady Gaga
3. Nosferatu
- Watchlist adds: 11,340
- Release date: December 25
- Starring: Bill Skarsgärd, Nicholas Hoult, and Lily-Rose Depp
2. Deadpool 3
- Watchlist adds: 12,122
- Release date: July 26
- Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, and Jennifer Garner
1. Dune: Part Two
N/A
N/A
- Watchlist adds: 21,153
- Release date: March 1
- Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Florence Pugh