Mapping out your movie calendar for 2024? Allow us to step in and do the job for you. As we build towards the new year, here's your essential round-up of next year's family movie releases.
1. Migration (released February 2nd, 2024)
Illumination, the animation specialists behind the Despicable Me and Minions blockbusters, present this uplifting tale of the Mallard family who embark on a life-changing migration from chilly New England to tropical Jamaica. Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks and Awkwafina head up the all-star voice cast while animation expert John Powell (How to Train Your Dragon) is at the helm of the soundtrack.
2. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (released March 29th, 2024)
There's something strange in the neighbourhood (again) in this spooky continuation of the Ghostbusters mythology. Mckenna Grace and Finn Wolfhard's teen Ghostbusters are now back in New York where they're confronted with a paranormal deep freeze that kills everyone in its path. Who ya gonna call? The OG Ghostbusters crew of course, which facilitates fan-pleasing appearances from Bill Murray and Ernie Hudson. It's time to return to the firehouse and charge up Ecto-1 to put those pesky spirits back where they belong.
3. Kung Fu Panda 4 (released March 29th, 2024)
Jack Black's loveably goofy Po returns to the big screen for the first time in eight years. As we know by now, Black's pudgy yet perceptive hero is not to be underestimated and this time he must leave the Valley of Peace for the city, where he has to face The Chameleon, a villain who can summon enemies from Po's past. It's expected that the Furious Five, comprising Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Crane (David Cross), Viper (Lucy Liu), Monkey (Jackie Chan), and Mantis (Seth Rogen), will all return. And Awkwafina joins the voice cast.
4. The Garfield Movie (released May 24th, 2024)
Pop culture's most famous feline is back on our screens and voiced by the ubiquitous Chris Pratt. Don't be lazy like Garfield – get down to Cineworld to enjoy the Monday-hating moggy's new adventure. After an unexpected reunion with his long-lost father - scruffy street cat Vic (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson) - Garfield and his canine friend Odie are forced from their perfectly pampered life into joining Vic in a hilarious, high-stakes heist.
5. IF (released May 24th, 2024)
Director John Krasinski swaps the chills of A Quiet Place for a decidedly more family-friendly adventure in this original fantasy property that he himself has scripted. A constellation of stars is set to feature both physically and vocally including Krasinski himself, Ryan Reynolds, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Matt Damon, Steve Carell, Emily Blunt and Sam Rockwell. Reynolds plays a hapless dad who helps his daughter connect with the world of the IFs – the imaginary friends who have been cast out by their one-time childhood pals.
6. Inside Out 2 (released June 14th, 2024)
Disney-Pixar's Inside Out sent our emotions into overdrive and secured itself as an Oscar-winning animated masterpiece. The movie personified a young girl's emotions in the form of Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust, making a profound comment about growing pains without ever sacrificing the need for a grand adventure in the classic Pixar mold. Our favourite characters now return, led as before by Amy Poehler's effervescent Joy – only this time, emotional HQ is set to be disrupted by the arrival of Maya Hawke's character Anxiety...
7. Despicable Me 4 (released July 5th, 2024)
Cinema's most loveable super-villain Gru and his ever-present Minions are back to create more hilarious chaos. The Despicable Me films, and their associated Minions spin-offs, have cemented their place as some of the biggest family movies of all time. And now the fourth Despicable Me is tasked with picking up the mantle. Voice actor Steve Carell is promising Gru's wildest adventure yet and several other franchise favourites are set to return including Kristen Wiig and Steve Coogan.
8. Paddington in Peru (released November 8th, 2024)
The Paddington movies carry the delicious tang of a marmalade sandwich, sweet and somehow spicy in equal measure. The previous two movies, helmed by director Paul King, adapted Michael Bond's original stories with a startlingly assured touch, beautifully melding whimsy, humour and an array of memorably scene-stealing performances, notably Hugh Grant's villainous Phoenix Buchanan. King has stepped aside for the third Paddington movie, which takes Ben Whishaw's well-meaning ursine back to his home country for another adventure that's sure to be laden with laughs and pathos.
9. Wicked (released November 29th, 2024)
We've been waiting a long time for stage phenomenon Wicked to make it to the big screen. Now it's finally happened, and it's going to be a two-part extravaganza (part two is due to arrive in 2025). Discover how the Wicked Witch of the West came to be as her origin story plays out to the memorable show tunes devised by noted composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz. Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba Thropp, the woman destined to become the Wicked Witch of the West. Ariana Grande plays Galinda Upland, Jonathan Bailey plays Fiyero Tigelaar, Michelle Yeoh plays Madame Morrible and Jeff Goldblum as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Can you imagine a more perfect piece of casting?
10. Mufasa: The Lion King (released December 20th, 2024)
Discover the origins of Simba's father Mufasa in this live-action/CG prequel to the studio's 2019 reboot of The Lion King. Acclaimed filmmaker Barry Jenkins (Moonlight; If Beale Street Could Talk) dramatises the initial conflict between noble Mufasa (voiced by Aaron Pierre) and his scheming brother Scar (Kelvin Harrison Jr) and how it set the stage for the ultimate Pride Rock battle many years later between Simba and his nefarious uncle.
11. Sonic 3 (released December 20th, 2024)
The two Sonic movies have been a blur of fan-pleasing references and quick-fire humour from actor Jim Carrey. The Sega icon is now back for third helpings, once again voiced by Ben Schwartz and once again battling Carrey's maniacal Doctor Robotnik.
Have you joined Cineworld Unlimited yet? Membership pays for itself in less than two visits per month and that's just the start of your Unlimited journey. Additional exciting perks include access to advance screenings, discounts off your favourite in-cinema snacks and more.
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