80. “Project Artemis”
Like Netflix and Amazon, Apple TV+ likes to throw money at big casts, and they certainly achieve that with a big 1960s space race film starring Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, Jim Rash, and Ray Romano. Helmed by Greg Berlanti (director of “Love, Simon” but also a mega-producer for CW’s Arrowverse), the film co-stars Colin Woodell and Woody Harrelson and finished production fall 2022.
Release Date: July 12, 2024. via Apple.
79. “Echo Valley”
Produced by Ridley Scott‘s Scott Free and written by “Mare Of Easttown” creator/writer Brad Ingelsby, “Echo Valley” is directed by Michael Pearce, known for 2021’s “Encounter” with Riz Ahmed. Starring Julianne Moore, Sydney Sweeney, and Domhnall Gleeson, it’s a mother/daughter story and thriller that examines how far a mother will go to save her child.
Release Date: TBD, via Apple TV+, but it finished right before the strikes, so it could be a late 2024 entry.
78. “Monkey Man”
An upcoming American action thriller film written by Paul Angunawela, John Collee, and actor Dev Patel; the latter also makes his directorial debut with the film. Described as “‘John Wick’ in Mumbai,” Patel, Sharlto Copley, and Sobhita Dhulipala star.
Release Date: Netflix bought the film in 2021, so it definitely should arrive in 2023.
77. “The Legend Of Ochi”
The directorial debut of Isaiah Saxon, known for creating ambitious music videos and short films with an organic, handmade quality (Grizzly Bear, and Björk) and founding an animation studio, “The Legend of Ochi” is an A24 fantasy adventure film that’s finished shooting in late 2021 and should be ready by now. The film centers on a young girl (Helena Zengel) who runs away from home and learns how to communicate with an animal species known as Ochi. Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson, Finn Wolfhard co-star.
Release Date: TBD, via A24.
76. “Back To Black”
After breaking out on HBO’s “Industry” drama, Marisa Abela scores her first major leading role in a biographical film based on the life of British singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse. “Fifty Shades of Grey” filmmaker Sam Taylor-Johnson directs, and the supporting cast includes Jack O’Connell, Eddie Marsan. Juliet Cowan, and Lesley Manville.
Release Date: May 10, via Focus Features.
75. “Love Me”
Directed by short film directors making their feature-length debut, Sam & Andy (married duo, Andrew & Sam Zuchero) direct a post-apocalyptic sci-fi romance between a satellite and a buoy. Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun star, but not much else is known other than a first-look that appeared earlier this year.
Release Date: TBD.
74. “Paddington In Peru”
The ‘Paddington’ franchise returns for a third installment about misadventures in the Amazon rainforest and mountains of Peru. This time, filmmaker Dougal Wilson takes over for Paul King, and Emily Mortimer replaces Sally Hawkins, who also exited the franchise. But much else remains the same, including Ben Whishaw returning as the voice of Paddington, the inclusion of Hugh Bonneville, Julie Walters, and Jim Broadbent, plus newcomers Olivia Colman and Antonio Banderas.
Release Date: November 8, 2024, in the U.K. via Studio Canal, and no U.S. release until Jan 2025, but we gotta wonder if that changes.
73. “On Swift Horses”
A TV veteran known for “Deadwood” “Game of Thrones” and “True Blood,” filmmaker Daniel Minahan finally makes his feature-length directorial debut with this drama about a lonely newlywed and her wayward brother-in-law who follow dangerous paths through the postwar American West. Daisy Edgar-Jones and Jacob Elordi star with Will Poulter, Diego Calva, and Sasha Calle in supporting roles.
Release Date: TBD, but it has fall film festival season written all over it.
72. “The Amateur”
An espionage thriller directed by James Hawes (“Dr. Who,” “One Life”) follows a CIA cryptographer who manages to blackmail his agency into training him to let him go after a group of terrorists who killed his wife in London. But the draw is the A-list cast: Rami Malek, Rachel Brosnahan, Caitríona Balfe, Adrian Martinez, Laurence Fishburne, Holt McCallany, and Julianne Nicholson.
Release Date: November 8, 2024, by 20th Century Studios.
71. “Ballerina”
A deadly ballerina assassin (Ana de Armas) hunts the murderers of her family in an action thriller spin-off set within the “John Wick” -verse (specifically between the events of ‘Parabellum’ and ‘Chapter 4’). Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Norman Reedus, Ian McShane co-star, along with a small role for Keanu Reeves. Len Wiseman, known for the “Underworld” franchise, directs, and Emerald Fennell did a script punch-up.
Release Date: June 7, 2024, via Lionsgate.
