It’s the start of the final third of 2024. Awards season hopefuls are about to heat-up, both in theaters and on streaming services. The 2025 Academy Awards is slightly earlier than it was this year (Mar. 2 vs. Mar. 10) but still half a year away, so the phrase “Oscar Contender” will be thrown around left and right for the next several months. So let’s not delve into all of that quite yet. Here’s a look at some major studio releases (some of which could be on the Oscar ballot) looking to take the box office by storm:
WARNER BROS.
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”, with Michael Keaton up to mischief once again, opens September 6th. Christopher Reeve documentary “Super / Man” is a Fathom Events presentation on 9/21 and 9/25. “Joker: Folie a Deux”, with Joaquin Phoenix reprising his Academy Award-winning role, joined this time by Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, comes out October 4th. And on Dec. 13, it’s the animated “The Lord of the Rings: The War for Rohirrim”, which could have a “Spider-Verse”-like franchise impact.
UNIVERSAL
September sees horror thriller “Speak No Evil” (9/13) and DreamWorks Animation feature “The Wild Robot” (9/27). And just before Thanksgiving on Nov. 22, it’s part one of the duo of “Wicked” films. Broadway musical adaptations have been very hit and miss over the past 20 years. On the Focus Features side is Pharrell Williams in LEGO form with “Piece by Piece” (10/11) and pope selection thriller “Conclave” (11/1). Plus ring in the holidays with… “Nosferatu” (12/25).
PARAMOUNT
Star-studded animated action/adventure “Transformers One” rolls into theaters Sept. 20. Sequels “Smile 2” (10/18), “Gladiator II” (11/22) and “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” (12/20) are all expected to perform well. Robbie Williams musical biopic “Better Man” opens Christmas Day.
SONY
Jason Reitman’s “SNL” picture “Saturday Night” opens October 11th, 49 years to the day after the debut of the groundbreaking NBC sketch comedy series. There are also Marvel movies “Venom: The Last Dance” (10/25) and “Kraven the Hunter” (12/13). And from the TriStar division, a “Forrest Gump” reunion for Robert Zemeckis, Tom Hanks and Robin Wright with “Here” (11/1).
LIONSGATE
Rough one-two punch of “Borderlands” and “The Crow” in August. On the way: “The Killer’s Game” (9/13), “Never Let Go” (9/20), “Megalopolis” (9/27), “Wonder” spinoff “White Bird” (10/3), Mark Wahlberg in Mel Gibson’s “Flight Risk” (10/18) and “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” (11/8).
DISNEY
“Moana 2” (11/27) and “Mufasa: The Lion King” (12/20) are going to dominate Thanksgiving and the Christmas to New Year’s stretch, respectively. Searchlight division has Jesse Eisenberg’s “A Real Pain” (11/1), Amy Adams in “Nightbitch” (12/6) and Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown” (12/25).
NEON’s got a Best Picture frontrunner in “Anora” (10/18). Amazon-MGM distributes Dwayne Johnson holiday action comedy “Red One” (11/15). And A24 has a lineup filled with drama and horror. And there are many other films on the way, including some that will probably sneak-in at the last minute (like Clint Eastwood’s “Juror No. 2”???) Here’s to a terrific final third of 2024 at the movies!