This may be true every year, but this time, we really mean it: 2024 is THE year of the sequel. It appears nearly every film-favorite character—from Michael Keaton’s nostalgic bio-exorcist to Jack Black’s kung fu-fighting panda, to Disney’s Kings of the Pride Lands—is furthering their storyline on the big screen. No bother to us, though—we are here for it!
Ahead, we break down the new family movies in 2024 that you and your littles can enjoy together. They start early next year and continue through the ball drop, so no matter when the kids utter those dreaded two words, “We’re bored,” there’s a family-friendly title just waiting to whisk them away to another time and place. Plus, we all know there’s nothing a bucket of buttered popcorn and a great story can’t resolve.
"Kung Fu Panda 4"
Everyone's favorite kung fu master panda, Po, returns to the screen after nearly a decade for another adventure—this time with a clever corsac fox as his sidekick. On the cusp of becoming the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace, Po must train someone to take his place as the Dragon Warrior, priming the two floofs for a knockout action comedy the whole family will love.
Starring: Jack Black, Awkwafina, Viola Davis, Dustin Hoffman, James Hong, Bryan Cranston, Ian McShane and Ke Huy Quan
Rated: PG
Theatrical release: March 8, 2024
"Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire"
Fans of The Real Ghostbusters animated series are in for a treat with the latest installment of the Ghostbusters franchise. According to one of its stars, Kumail Nanjiani, the action comedy will play out like a feature-length episode of the cartoon. The gist? It's summertime, but a massive cold spell is threatening another Ice Age. So, who they gonna call? You got it.
Starring: Carrie Coon, Mckenna Grace, Annie Potts, Paul Rudd, Bill Murray, Celeste O'Conner, Dan Aykroyd, Finn Wolfhard, Kumail Nanjiani
Rated: TBC
Theatrical release: March 29, 2024
"The Ark and the Aardvark"
A silly animated affair with a religious bent, The Ark and the Aardvark follows the dictionary's leading animal on a quest to get a ragtag group of mammals onto an ark. His name is Gilbert, and he's an outcast among the animal kingdom, but his reluctant mission to save his buddies from impending doom leads the ant-eating cutie to believe in himself and the power of one.
Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Miles Teller, Jenny Slate, Rob Riggle, Craig Robinson, Stephen Merchant, and Charlie Tom
Rated: PG
Theatrical release: April 30, 2024
"IF"
Hey, moms, remember Drop Dead Fred? Think of this new family movie as its cuter, more ingenious modern offering for your kids. The title of the movie is an acronym that stands for Imaginary Friends, and it's the latest from writer/director/The Office alum John Krasinski. About a dad and daughter who discover a world of pretend playmates left behind by their grown-up companions, this family movie coming in 2024 is a wealth of talent wrapped into a brilliant family-friendly fantasy.
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Cailey Fleming, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Awkwafina, Steve Carell, Maya Rudolph
Rated: TBD
Theatrical release: May 17, 2024
"The Garfield Movie"
The Garfield canon is bursting at the seams with specials, remakes, and reboots, but the latest in the fat-cat anthology takes a new approach, providing origin stories for both how toon town's OG orange feline met his hooman, John Arbuckle, and who his father is, a gray cool cat named Vic. Of course, you don't have to be a cat person to enjoy this animated addition—just a fan of whimsical charm and hilarious hijinks.
Starring: Chris Pratt, Samuel L. Jackson, Hannah Waddingham, Nicholas Hoult, Cecily Strong, Brett Goldstein, and Bowen Yang
Rated: PG
Theatrical release: May 24, 2024
"Inside Out 2"
Pixar rarely misses, and the studio's original Inside Out managed to leave all the uppity Cannes Film Festival buffs in fits of tears. Now that's an accomplishment! With the second iteration, protag Riley has entered teen-dom, and Joy, the bright-eyed leader of her inner spectrum of feels, faces a new era, as a demolition team makes room in their headquarters for new, more complex emotions—like the dreaded anxiety. Oh, and Riley is barreling toward puberty.
Starring: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Tony Hale, Liza Lapira, Maya Hawke, and Lewis Black
Rated: PG
Theatrical release: June 14, 2024
"Despicable Me 4"
Gru and his adorable family are back for another vibrant animated escapade on the big screen. Though the fourth film's premise remains locked behind tight lips at the moment, you can almost definitely expect the introduction of a new super-villain, plenty of Minions mockery, and a world-saving toon-venture that only Gru and his kiddos can take care of.
Starring: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Steve Coogan, and Pierre Coffin
Rated: PG
Theatrical release: July 3, 2024
Related: All the New, Original Kids’ Movies Streaming in 2024
"Harold and the Purple Crayon"
The children's picture book on which this film is based was published in 1955. Written and illustrated by Crockett Johnson, it's a wonderfully magical story about a little boy who goes on a nightlong odyssey through the woods, over the sea, and past dragons—all imagined with his singular purple coloring stick. Here's hoping the newest adaptation is just as imaginative.
Starring: Zachary Levi, Zooey Deschanel, Lil Rel Howery, Camille Guaty, Tanya Reynolds, Ravi Patel, and Caleb Black
Rated: PG
Theatrical release: August 2, 2024
"Beetlejuice 2"
It's finally showtime! After years of rewrites and delays caused by the pandemic and writers' strikes, the sequel to Tim Burton's 1989 hit afterlife comedy is just months away from possessing the big screen. And a lot has changed: Beetlejuice is now married, Lydia has a daughter, and there's a new detective in the Netherworld—one who might be able to tell us more about how the freelance bio-exorcist bit the big one.
Starring: Catherine O'Hara, Jenna Ortega, Monica Bellucci, Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Willem Dafoe, Justin Theroux, and Juliana Yazbeck
Rated: TBD
Theatrical release: September 6, 2024
"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever"
An adaptation of the 1972 best-selling family book by Barbara Robinson, this humorous holiday film is sure to bring the necessary cheer and laughter this next season. It's about the Herdman siblings, a group of misbehaving misfits who take over their church's annual pageant and, to everyone's surprise, deliver a show about the true meaning of Christmas.
Starring: Judy Greer, Pete Holmes, Molly Belle Wright, Elizabeth Tabish, and Vanessa Benavente with more to come.
Rated: TBD
Theatrical release: November 15, 2024
"Paddington in Peru"
The lovable, marmalade-crazed bear whose iconic blue duffle coat, impeccable manners, and twee English accent win over hearts every time he makes an appearance, is getting another chapter in his self-titled film franchise. Always rife with adventure, the Paddington movies are as charming as they are fun to look at, and this Brown family addition is no different, as the P-bear and his humans head to his native Peru to visit his Aunt Lucy, unaware of the mystery that awaits them.
Starring: Olivia Colman, Antonio Banderas, Imelda Staunton, Jim Broadbent, Emily Mortimer, Ben Whishaw, Julie Walters, and Hugh Bonneville
Rated: PG
Theatrical release: November 8, 2024
"Wicked Part 1"
When news that Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were starring as Elphaba and Glinda in the movie version of the award-winning Broadway play Wicked, mics dropped the world over. Thankfully, we don't have long to wait to see what these tonsil powerhouses can do with the musical that spills the details about how two friends became adversaries in the Land of Oz. The tale will be stretched over two parts, with the first hitting theaters late next year.
Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Marissa Bode, Ethan Slater, Jeff Goldblum, and Bowen Yang.
Rated: TBD
Theatrical release: November 27, 2024
"The Karate Kid 2"
In 2010, producers resurrected the beloved, butt-kicking '80s franchise with a modern retelling of a fish out of water who embraces the teachings of a kung fu master. Fourteen years later, the dōjō is again open for big-screen business. Fans of the martial arts franchise are probably familiar with Netflix's Cobra Kai, which has continued the Karate Kid-verse with aplomb, so it will be interesting to see how the new movie ties into those events—if at all.
Starring: Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan, with more cast members to be named later
Rated: TBD
Theatrical release: December 13, 2024
"Sonic the Hedgehog 3"
He's blue, he's fast, he's full of one-liners as quick-witted as his feet, and he's back for another blazing romp. In this new family movie for 2024, Sega's iconic hero, along with his pals, Tails and Knuckles, embark on an adventure that picks up where the second film left off. Word is conflict will come in the form of Shadow the Hedgehog, who appeared in the last movie's mid-credits stinger.
Starring: Ben Schwartz, Idris Elba, and Colleen O'Shaughnessey
Rated: TBD
Theatrical release: December 20, 2024
Mufasa: The Lion King
The story of Mufasa picks up after the events of the original, with Simba parenting a cub of his own. It also serves as a prequel, as it looks back on the legend of Mufasa, the original king of the Pride Lands. Another of Disney's live-action films, this one will also be styled with photorealistic, computer-generated animals, like the 2019 version starring the voice of Beyoncé. Fingers crossed Queen Bey is on the marquee for this soon-to-be hit, too.
Starring: Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and John Kani, with more to come.
Rated: TBD
Theatrical release: December 20, 2024