10 Original 2024 Movies To Be Excited About If You’re Sick Of Sequels

The movie industry today is overwhelmed with sequels, prequels, remakes, reboots, and spin-offs, but thankfully, there are still some original movies being produced for those with sequel fatigue. While audiences have been subjected to countless cinematic universes, endlessly ongoing franchises, and movie series that just never seem to end, there are still plenty of actors, directors, and writers pursuing original and unique content in the upcoming year. It is easy to forget that, in the beginning, every franchise started as an original film, and for the movie industry to truly prosper, viewers must take a chance on movies that are not part of an established series.

Throughout 2024 there are plenty of upcoming original movies to get excited about, including the return of acclaimed directors, like Boon Joon-ho and his highly anticipated science fiction movie Mickey 17 or Alex Garland with his epic war film Civil War. There is also the release of the long-festering Amy Winehouse biopic which stars Marisa Abela as the late singer. The upcoming year includes original action movies, biopics, comedies, horrors, period pieces, and even the two-part theatrical event of Kevin Costner’s epic Western titled Horizon: An American Saga.

10 Argylle

February 2, 2024

A new spy action comedy from Kingsman director Matthew Vaughn, Argylle features a star-studded ensemble cast including Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Bryan Cranston, John Cena, and Samuel L. Jackson. Telling the story of introverted spy novelists drawn into the real world of espionage, the rights to Argylle were bought by Apple TV+ for $200 million. Argylle is scheduled for a theatrical release on February 2, 2024, and will appear on Applie’s streaming serivce at an undetermined date. Argylle is intended to be the first in at least three films (via Deadline) and to act as the starting point for a new spy franchise.

9 Mickey 17

March 29, 2024

As director Boon Joon-ho’s first film since winning Best Picture at the Academy Awards for Parasite in 2019, Mickey 17 is a highly anticipated science fiction adaptation of a novel by Edward Ashton. Starring Robert Pattinson as Mickey Barnes, a disposable human sent to colonize an ice world, whenever he dies his body is regenerated with most of his memories remaining intact. Mickey 17 is scheduled for release by Warner Brothers on March 29, 2024, and features Steven Yeun, Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo.

8 Challengers

April 26, 2024

Challengers is an upcoming romantic sports film made by Call Me By Your Name director Luca Guadagnino. Challengers features Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist as three tennis players, who have known each other since they were teenagers, competing in a tournament. The steamy trailer for Challengers implies a love triangle between the three stars and this new Zendaya movie could break a 19-year-old box office record. Challengers was initially slated to be released in 2023 but was pushed to April 26, 2024, due to the WAG Writer’s Strike (via Deadline.)

7 Civil War

April 26, 2024

An epic war movie set in the near future, Civil War features the United States of America on the brink of civil war and stars Kirsten Dunst as a reporter. Directed by Alex Garland, who previously made Ex-Machina, Annihilation, and Men, the director says the film is a sci-fi allegory for the politically polarizing predicament of modern times (via The Telegraph.) Civil War is set for release on April 26, 2024, and also stars Nick Offerman as the President of the United States, Wagner Moura, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Cailee Spaeny, and Jesse Plemons.

6 Back to Black

May 10, 2024

The upcoming biopic about the life of British singer Amy Winehouse, Back to Black follows the tragic life story of the jazz singer-songwriter, who struggled with substance abuse before sadly dying at the age of 27 in 2011. Back to Black stars Marisa Abela as Amy Winehouse and is directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, who previously made Nowhere Boy, a film based on the childhood of John Lennon. Back to Black has been in development for many years and co-stars Jack O’Connell, Eddie Marsan, Juliet Cowan, and Lesley Manville. Back to Black is scheduled for release on May 10, 2024, in the United States.

5 IF

May 17, 2024

The latest film by actor-turned-director John Krasinski, IF features both live action and animation and tells the story of a young girl named Bea who can see people’s imaginary friends, who are referred to as IFs, that had been left behind by the kids they helped. Bea soon discovers that her neighbor, The Man Upstairs, also has the same ability. IF stars Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, and John Krasinski, and also features the voices of Steve Carell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Emily Blunt, and Matt Damon. IF is scheduled for release on May 17, 2024.

4 The Bikeriders

June 21, 2024

The Bikeriders explores the rise of a fictional motorcycle club in Chicago during the 1960s. Directed by Jeff Nichols and starring Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, and Tom Hardy, The Bikeriders features an original screenplay by Nichols that shows how, over time, the club evolves from a welcoming place for outsiders into a sinister and dangerous gang. The Bikeriders was dropped by Disney and pulled from their 2023 release schedule, however, it was saved by Focus Features and is now due for release on June 21, 2024.

3 Horizon: An American Civil War

June 28, 2024

Billed as a two-part theatrical event, the Chapter 1 of Horizon: An American Civil War is set for release on June 28, 2024, with Chapter 2 coming on August 16, 2024. Horizon: An American Civil War is directed, co-written, and starring Kevin Costner and depicts the expansion of the American West before and after the Civil War. A passion project for Costner, the origins of this two-part epic date back to 1988 (via Deadline) and is Costner’s most ambitious effort since Dances with Wolves won him Best Picture in 1990 at the Academy Awards. Costner has stated he wants to make four Horizon films in total, shot back-to-back (via Variety.)

2 Trap

August 2, 2024

Details on the latest M. Night Shyamalan film Trap are few and far between. While plot details about Trap are under wraps, the film stars Josh Hartnett, Hayley Mills, and Vanessa Smythe, and is set for release on August 2, 2024. Shyamalan has made a name for himself for supernatural movies with twist endings and Trap will be Shyamalan’s first movie following Knock at the Cabin in 2023. Trap will mark the beginning of his multi-year, first-look deal with Warner Bros. Pictures (via Deadline.)

1 Borderlands

August 9, 2024

Based on the video game series of the same name, Borderlands is a sci-fi action comedy with an ensemble cast featuring Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Bobby Lee, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Written and directed by Eli Roth, Borderlands will feature the same space Western setting as the games, where characters search for a mysterious relic. A statement from Lionsgate Films says Borderlands brings together unlikely heroes battling against aliens, monsters, and bandits to protect a little girl who may hold the key to unimaginable power.

Sources: Deadline, Deadline, The Telegraph, Deadline, Variety, Deadline, Lionsgate Films