Strap on your Apple watch, it’s time to raise your heart rate. If your goal was to make 2024 the year of rest and relaxation, think again. Hollywood is releasing a slew of new adrenaline-packed action movies throughout the entire calendar year, complete with the usual cast of characters, from spies to bikers to superheroes to mobsters.
Here are all of the action movies to look out for this year.
Argylle
The new spy film that sparked the Swiftie rumor mill, Argylle was not written by Taylor Swift—though that track title is certainly up for grabs. The action flick comes from the director of Kingsman and features a stellar ensemble cast including Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Dua Lipa, and more. The film follows a shy writer of spy novels who finds herself entangled in an IRL espionage scheme led by an undercover spy.
Madame Web
Marvel Cinematic Universe, girlboss edition, Madame Web hits theaters on Valentine’s Day. The film stars Dakota Johnson as the titular Madame Web, a clairvoyant mutant from the Spiderman world of lore. In her first solo feature film, Madame Web will be pushed to save the lives of three young women, played by Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O’Connor, and Isabela Merced.
In theaters February 14, 2024.
Dune: Part Two
One of the most anticipated releases of the year, Dune: Part Two lands in theaters in March, after being pushed from its original October 2023 release date amid the SAG-AFTRA strike of that year. The film sees the return of Dune’s famous ensemble, including Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Stellan Skarsgård, and more—plus, some new faces including Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken, and Léa Seydoux.
Drive Away Dolls
The directorial debut of Ethan Coen, who has previously made a name for himself as one half of the Coen Brothers duo, Drive Away Dolls is an upcoming action, comedy, and road film. Starring Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, Beanie Feldstein, Colman Domingo, Pedro Pascal, and Matt Damon, the film follows a duo on a road trip to the glorious land of Tallahassee. One half of our duo is mourning a breakup, the other half needs to take a deep breath, and together they cross paths with some criminal riff raff, and chaos ensues.
In theaters February 23, 2024.
Love Lies Bleeding
The latest thriller from director Rose Glass, Love Lies Bleeding recently celebrated its Sundance Film Festival premiere, immediately sparking conversation about one of the hottest new action flicks of the year. The film stars Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian as an unlikely duo who fall in love (or lust) and become entangled in a criminal underworld while one pursues bodybuilding fame in Las Vegas. There’s a lot going on here.
In theaters March 8, 2024.
Road House
A reboot of the 1989 film of the same name, 2024’s Road House stars Jake Gyllenhaal as a retired UFC fighter who finds himself working at a roadside bar in Florida—glamorous work. The original film stars the late Patrick Swayze and takes place in Missouri. In its time, Road House was not celebrated. In fact, it was nominated for five Golden Raspberry Awards for Worst Picture, Worst Actor, Worst Supporting Actor, Worst Director, and Worst Screenplay. Here’s hoping the remake improves this legacy.
Streams on Prime Video March 8, 2024.
Civil War
A24’s epic action film for the year comes from one of the production company’s favorite writer-directors, Alex Garland. Garland previously gifted the A24 Hall of Fame with such movies as Ex Machina and Men, and his new film Civil War is set to be the most terrifying one yet. Led by Kirsten Dunst, the film follows a team of journalists traveling across a war-stricken United States, embroiled in an escalating second civil war in the not-so-far-off future.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
Another spy film for your records, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare comes from writer-director Guy Ritchie and is based on the 2014 novel, Churchill’s Secret Warriors: The Explosive True Story of the Special Forces Desperadoes of WWII. The film stars Henry Cavill (spy of the year), Eiza González, Henry Golding, and more. The film follows a special operations organization during WWII who created the modern world of black ops.
The Fall Guy
This upcoming action comedy stars Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt and is based on the 1980s series of the same name. Gosling stars as an aging stuntman who becomes involved in the disappearance of a movie star in order to save the film, and his ailing career.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
The latest post-apocalyptic gem in the Mad Max universe, Furiosa stars Anya Taylor-Joy as a young Imperator Furiosa, who was played by Charlize Theron in the fan-favorite Mad Max: Fury Road. The film also stars Chris Hemsworth as the leader of a biker gang who kidnaps a young Furiosa as the world falls apart.
The Bikeriders
Starring Jodie Comer and Austin Butler, The Bikeriders leans more drama than action, but with the biker gang aesthetic at play, we feel it belongs in this horde. The film follows a Chicago-based biker gang in the 1960s through the lives of its members, evolving over a decade of life and gang rivalry.
Twisters
A new disaster film to suit your fancy, Twisters comes from Minari director Lee Isaac Chung and stars Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, and Anthony Ramos. Not much is yet known about the new film, but we can confirm it will stand as a sequel to the 1996 hit film Twister.
Borderlands
Fresh out of writer-director Eli Roth’s cave, Borderlands is an upcoming sci-fi action film based on the video game series of the same name. The film is set to star Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Bobby Lee and Jamie Lee Curtis, and will follow a mysterious outlaw who returns to her home planet to find a missing child.
Joker: Folie à Deux
Joker is returning to the zeitgeist in 2024, and with it, likely more mind-numbing film discourse. That said, Joker: Folie à Deux will be world’s better than the first film for one reason alone—it features Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. The film’s title translates to “Madness for Two,” which is telling.
Gladiator 2
Feral girls, rise up. Gladiator 2 hits theaters this fall and stars Paul Mescal as the wilderness-weathered nephew of Commodus following the events of Gladiator (2000). The film comes from director Ridley Scott and also stars Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Pedro Pascal, and more.
In theaters November 22, 2024.
Alto Knights
Did you know 2024 will bring yet another Robert De Niro led gangster flick? This time it’s from the screenwriter of Goodfellas. Alto Knights will follow the rival mafia activities between mob bosses Vito Genovese and Frank Costello.
In theaters November 15, 2024.
