2023 is very nearly over, but there are still plenty of upcoming movies set to come out in December. From Wonka and Rebel Moon to Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, there's something for everyone when it comes to future film releases – and there's more where that came from as we look forward to 2024 and beyond, too.
With Dune 2 having been pushed to next year, there's still tons to get excited about – and we've listed all of the biggest titles below.
We've rounded up all the upcoming movies that are on the way, so you can start planning your next round of theater trips. Over the next 12 months, we've got a new Quiet Place movie, Deadpool 3, and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 2 lined up, and that's just for starters. In short, there's a lot on the way...
For even more, see our guides to all the upcoming movie release dates and new TV shows.
Poor Things
Release date: December 8, 2023 [US], January 12, 2024 [UK]
Poor Things is the latest movie from The Favourite director Yorgos Lanthimos. Emma Stone stars as Bella, a Frankenstein's monster of sorts, brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist played by Willem Dafoe. She runs off with a debauched lawyer (Mark Ruffalo) and finds herself on a whirlwind adventure across continents in this off-beat, Gothic tale. The cast also includes Ramy Youssef, Jerrod Carmichael, Christopher Abbott, and Margaret Qualley.
Wonka
Release date: December 15, 2023
Timothée Chalamet is an all-singing, all-dancing chocolatier in new origin story Wonka. Plot details are still being kept under wraps, but we know that the movie will focus on Willy Wonka’s early days before he opened his infamous chocolate factory. The supporting cast includes Olivia Colman, Rowan Atkinson, Keegan-Michael Key, and Sally Hawkins, and Paddington director Paul King is helming the project.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
Release date: December 22, 2023
James Wan returns to direct Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom. Never mind that The Conjuring director's proposed solo Black Manta movie (under the guise of monster spin-off The Trench) has been canceled: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II's David Kane/Manta continues to seek vengeance on Aquaman in the sequel to the 2018 hit, which had more legs with ticket-buyers than an octopus on drums. Alongside Dolph Lundgren, Patrick Wilson, and Amber Heard, Jason Momoa plunges back in, this time in a darker, bluer "stealth" suit styled after cephalopods’ camouflage skills.
Wan promises "a movie that’s more mature [than Aquaman] but yet still retains its fun," while producer Peter Safran reiterates the series' faith in excess: "We have turned the dials up to 11." Next to Safran's Spinal Tap nod, Wan references horror movies with promises of both genre elements and nods to Planet of the Vampires, Mario Bava's stylish, proto- Alien 1965 shocker.
Also perhaps involved is lost underwater kingdom Necrus, plus a monster or 10. Concept art netted for FanDome ranges from sand creatures to toothy undersea tentacles and Curry riding a seahorse. But it wasn't all smooth riding for Momoa: "I'm just getting beat up," he lamented to The Ellen Show of the physically testing shoot. Sounds like DC isn't pulling its punches here.
Rebel Moon
Release date: December 22, 2023
Rebel Moon, Zack Snyder's new sci-fi epic, centers around a peaceful colony at the edge of space whose lives are turned upside down when they're attacked by the armies of a brutal dictator. The colony sends Kora, played by Sofia Boutella, as an envoy to seek help from neighboring planets. The ensemble cast also includes Charlie Hunnam, Anthony Hopkins, Corey Stoll, Djimon Hounsou, Cary Elwes, Jena Malone, Doona Bae, and Ray Fisher. The movie is a two-parter and a sequel, Scargiver, is out on April 19.
Ferrari
Release date: December 25, 2023
Adam Driver plays Enzo Ferrari in the new biopic from Michael Mann. Set during the summer of 1957, it finds the ex-Formula 1 racer in crisis as bankruptcy beckons and his tempestuous marriage struggles after the death of his son. Amid the chaos, he bets everything on one race: the treacherous Mille Miglia, a 1,000-mile race across Italy.
Next Goal Wins
Release date: December 29 (UK), out now in the US
Taika Waititi is back in the director's chair for the first time since Jojo Rabbit for Next Goal Wins, a sports comedy based on the 2014 documentary of the same name. Michael Fassbender plays Thomas Rongen, a soccer coach tasked with turning the American Samoan national team from one of the worst in the world to a World Cup qualifying squad.
Madame Web
Release date: February 14, 2024
Starring Adam Scott, Sydney Sweeney, Tahar Rahim, and Dakota Johnson, Madame Web centers on New York-based paramedic Cassandra Web, whose clairvoyant abilities allow her to see into the "spider world". When three young women with web-slinging abilities are threatened by a seemingly ruthless killer named Ezekiel Sims, Cassandra must use her powers to keep the trio safe. S.J. Clarkson directs.
Dune: Part Two
Release date: March 1, 2024
We're going back to Arrakis. Timothée Chalamet returns as Paul, who's teamed up with Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen to prevent a terrible future, all the while trying to wreak revenge on the people responsible for the murder of his family. Chalamet will be joined by returning cast members Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, and Dave Bautista, along with newcomers Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, Christopher Walken, and Léa Seydoux.
The film was originally due out on November 3, 2023, but has been pushed back amid ongoing strikes.
Furiosa
Release date: May 24, 2024
George Miller is back in the director's chair with Mad Max prequel Furiosa, with Anya Taylor-Joy taking on the title role of Imperator Furiosa – a younger version of the character played by Charlize Theron in Fury Road who finds herself in the hands of a Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus. Chris Hemsworth and Tom Burke are also set to star, but their roles are still being kept under wraps.
A Quiet Place: Day One
Release date: June 28, 2024
The plot of A Quiet Place: Day One may still be under wraps, but we're already getting excited about the spin-off. The cast of the Michael Sarnoski-directed project includes Lupita Nyong'o, Joseph Quinn, and Alex Wolff. Filming has kicked off on the movie already despite the actors' strike, as it has an interim agreement. Its release has been pushed back a few times already, most recently from March 2024.
Deadpool 3
Release date: July 26, 2024
Ryan Reynolds returns as the Merc with the Mouth in Deadpool 3 – and he's set to be joined by some familiar faces. Namely, Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and Jennifer Garner as Elektra, as these characters join Wade Wilson in making their debut in the MCU. Shawn Levy has taken over as director for the third installment, and The Crown's Emma Corrin and Succession's Matthew Macfadyen have also been cast in undisclosed roles. This release date is expected to change after filming has been paused.
Kraven the Hunter
Release date: August 30, 2024
We were originally supposed to meet Aaron Taylor-Johnson's Sergei Kravinoff in October 2023, but the new Marvel movie is one of several delayed releases. The new movie follows the anti-hero as he sets out to prove he's the greatest hunter in the world. From what we've seen in the trailer, we're expecting one of the most violent takes in the Sony Marvel universe so far.
Beetlejuice 2
Release date: September 6, 2024
Everyone's favorite (?) bio-exorcist is set to return from the grave in Beetlejuice 2, a sequel that's been 35 years in the making.
Despite the plot remaining under wraps, we do know that Wednesday star Jenna Ortega is playing the daughter of Winona Ryder's character from the original, Lydia Deetz, and that Monica Bellucci is set to bring Betelgeuse's wife to life. Other details that have been confirmed are the return of Michael Keaton as the titular ghoulie and Catherine O'Hara as Lydia's mother Delia, Tim Burton being back in the director's chair, and Willem Dafoe and Justin Theroux's casting.
Gladiator 2
Release date: November 22, 2024
The unexpected follow-up to Ridley Scott's epic Gladiator is set to pick up 20 years after the original, and follow will Lucilla's son, Lucius (Paul Mescal). Inspired by Maximus's sacrifice at the end of the first film, Lucius never accepted the role of Caesar, despite it being his birthright, and vowed to carry on the fallen hero's legacy instead.
Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Djimon Hounsou, Joseph Quinn, May Calamawy, Derek Jacobi, and Denzel Washington also feature.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Release date: December 20, 2024
Not much is known about Sonic the Hedgehog 3 just yet, other than the fact that it'll likely see the titular speedster team up with Tails (Colleen O'Shaughnessey) and Knuckles (Idris Elba) for another speed-centered adventure. Ben Schwartz is back one again as Sonic, while James Marsden is geared up to return as the blue hedgehog's human bestie.
Mufasa
Release date: December 20, 2024
"It's a story told in two different timeframes," Mufasa director Barry Jenkins previously said of the live-action The Lion King follow-up, explaining that it'll chart the rise of Simba's father Mufasa from orphan cub to Pride Rock ruler.
Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen will reprise their roles as Timon and Pumbaa, respectively, as the meerkat-and-warthog duo and their wise pal Rafiki relay Mufasa's life. The movie, which has already drawn comparisons to The Godfather Part II, will see (or more accurately, hear) Aaron Pierre, who worked with Jenkins on the Emmy-nominated series The Underground Railroad, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. voice Mufasa and Scar, respectively.
Nosferatu
Release date: December 25, 2024
Written and directed by Robert Eggers, the filmmaker behind the likes of The Witch, The Lighthouse, and The Northman, Nosferatu is set to offer up a brand new take on the 1922 silent film of the same name. Starring Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Ralph Ineson, Willem Dafoe, and Bill Skarsgård as the titular bloodsucker, it's set to explore the complicated obsession between a troubled young woman and a terrifying vampire infatuated with her.
Captain America: Brave New World
Release date: February 14, 2025
Captain America is back – and there's a new hero wielding the red, white, and blue shield. Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) has taken over the mantle for Captain America: Brave New World after Chris Evans' Steve Rogers gave up the title in Avengers: Endgame. Sam's decision to pick up the shield in Disney Plus series Falcon and the Winter Solider was a controversial one, so he's likely to meet his fair share of adversity in his first big-screen outing in the role. Danny Ramirez, Harrison Ford, Tim Blake Nelson, and Liv Tyler also star.
Joker: Folie à Deux
Release date: October 4, 2024
Joaquin Phoenix returns as Arthur Fleck in Joker 2, officially titled Joker: Folie à Deux. This is a French term that translates to "shared madness" and is also used to refer to shared delusional disorder, a psychiatric syndrome in which symptoms of a delusional belief, and sometimes hallucinations, are transferred from one person to another. The title makes more sense when you factor in the addition of Harley Quinn, played by Lady Gaga, a psychiatrist who falls in love with Arthur. Zazie Beetz will reprise her role from the first movie, while Brendan Gleeson and Catherine Keener have joined the cast in undisclosed roles.
Blade
Release date: November 7, 2025
Mahershala Ali takes on the role of the vampire-hunting antihero in Blade, after making a voice cameo in the post-credits scene of Eternals. Mia Goth, Delroy Lindo, and The Underground Railroad's Aaron Pierre are also part of the cast and Stacy Osei-Kuffour, who previously worked on HBO's Watchmen series, is on screenwriting duties. Mogul Mowgli helmer Bassam Tariq was originally in the director's chair, but he's now been replaced by Lovecraft Country’s Yann Demange.
Mission: Impossible 8
Release date: May 23, 2025
Tom Cruise is back as Ethan Hunt for what seems like the final time. With Christopher McQuarrie back at the helm, the franchise's eighth movie follows directly on from 2023's Dead Reckoning Part One. Cruise will be joined by Ving Rhames, Henry Czerny, Simon Pegg, Vanessa Kirby, Hayley Atwell, and Pom Klementieff. The movie was originally set for June 2024, but it's now been pushed back almost an entire year. It's also lost its original title of 'Dead Reckoning Part Two'.
Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse
Release date: No release date
The final installment in the Spider-Verse trilogy will pick up where we left off with Miles Morales and co. at the end of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Miles (Shameik Moore) may be trapped in the wrong universe with the Prowler, but luckily Spider-Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld) and a whole host of familiar Spidey faces have teamed up and are ready to save him. Not much else is known about the plot at this point, though. The movie was due out on March 29, 2024, but it's now been delayed indefinitely.
For more on what's to come, check out our guide to all the new Marvel movies and shows heading your way soon.