2024 is inching towards its end, and so far, it has been a great year, especially for movie fanatics. This year has given us some enormous movies, including Deadpool and Wolverine. While there are still a few months left, and some upcoming movies may surprise us at the box office, we’ve already got more than what we expected in terms of successful movies. Keeping that in mind, we discuss some of the best and highest-grossing movies of 2024 (so far).
1. Inside Out 2
- Release Date: June 14, 2024
- Budget: $200 Million
- Box Office: $1.675 Billion
Inside Out 2 was one of the anticipated sequels that fans had waited for since the first film’s conclusion, which was released in 2015. Inside Out made viewers realize what a worthy animated film should look like. The animation and thought-provoking scenes that the 2015 film featured made it a classic. And there’s no denying that the second film has lived up to the expectations of the fans.
The film is set several years after its predecessor. We meet a 15-year-old, Riley, who struggles to identify ‘Who is she’? Well, this is something that most of us fail to figure out in our adolescence. So, basically, Inside Out 2 blesses us with relatable yet fun-to-watch characters. Check out our Inside Out 2 review.
2. Deadpool & Wolverine
- Release Date: July 26, 2024
- Budget: $200 Million
- Box Office: $1.287 Billion
Deadpool & Wolverine is the most special installment of the franchise, as the property finally finds a place in the massive world of the MCU. Besides that, it shows a team-up between two of the most iconic heroes, Ryan Reynold’s Deadpool and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. Despite some shortcomings, like Cassandra Nova’s potential getting wasted, the film accumulated a significant appreciation thanks to the surprising cameos, Easter eggs, top-notch cinematography, and, of course, the chemistry between the main protagonists.
The film follows Wade Wilson, aka Deadpool, who teams up with the Wolverine of an alternate reality to save the Sacred Timeline from the Time Variance Authority.
3. Despicable Me 4
- Release Date: July 3, 2024
- Budget: $100 Million
- Box Office: $948.6 Million
We are already familiar with the popularity of the Despicable Me franchise, but let’s not shy away from admitting that the fourth installment is, so far, the best of all. The new characters introduced in the film will keep you intrigued in every possible way, and as usual, the humorous scenes will not let you sit quietly in your seats; instead, they will make your stomach ache by making you laugh harder.
Despicable Me 4 sees Gru welcoming Jr. Gru into the family, but he is unaware of the new members’ cruel intentions. Meanwhile, a new villain, Maxime Le Mal, emerges from the shadows to torment Gru. Planning to watch it? Check out our Despicable Me 4 review before it.
4. Dune: Part Two
- Release Date: March 1, 2024
- Budget: $190 Million
- Box Office: $711.8 Million
In most cases, fans don’t expect much from a movie’s sequel, and this is where Dune: Part Two stands out in the crowd. Be it the soundtrack or the acting, everything about the movie is perfect, as we have mentioned in our Dune Part Two review. To be precise, the film is a pure piece of art that has surpassed the standards of filmmaking and allowed us to witness the true potential of the Sci-fi genre.
Following the events of the first film, Dune: Part Two sees Paul Atreides uniting with Fremen and Chani. Together, the trio seeks revenge on the ones who destroyed him and tackles the threats that can become the reason for the universe’s destruction.
5. Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire
- Release Date: March 29, 2024
- Budget: $135-150 Million
- Box Office: $568.7 Million
What makes a kaiju film a success? It’s the CGI, isn’t it? Well, Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire managed to win the hearts of global fandom with impressive CGIs. It’s visually appealing, and most importantly, the team-up between Kong and Godzilla is fun to watch. Even though there are humans in this film, it seems their absence won’t cause any harm to the premise.
After Mechagorzilla’s death, Godzilla and Kong must unite to fight Scar King, who intends to bring calamity to the surface world.
6. Kung Fu Panda 4
- Release Date: March 8, 2024
- Budget: $85 Million
- Box Office: $548.9 Million
Kung Fu Panda’s vibrant animation and storyline made it one of the popular franchises, but somehow, the third film fell short of these aspects. However, Kung Fu Panda 4 didn’t disappoint, and it came with everything that the audience looked forward to. A top-notch animation with a phenomenal setting, great voice actors, and an intriguing set of new characters, the film has it all.
Po becomes the spiritual leader who must train a new warrior. Simultaneously, he must also find some heroes and team up with them to fight a sorceress who wants to acquire his staff of wisdom.
7. Bad Boys: Ride or Die
- Release Date: June 7, 2024
- Budget: $100 Million
- Box Office: $403.9 Million
When a film has Martin Lawrence and Will Smith in it, it has to be great. Bad Boys: Ride or Die becomes a hell of a lot of hilarious, as Will and Martin leave no stone unturned to give the audience a truck full of reasons to laugh. Besides that, the story and the fight scenes contributed heavily to the project and helped it become one of the highest-grossing films of 2024.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die follows detectives Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence), who work together to prove that their late Captain, Conrad Howard, was innocent and wasn’t corrupt.
8. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
- Release Date: May 10, 2024
- Budget: $160 Million
- Box Office: $397.4 Million
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is an entertaining installment of the franchise. Following Caesar’s legacy, a young chimpanzee named Noa has been given a chance to shine. VFX and CGI have added value to the project. Despite falling short on emotional depth for some fans, the film grabbed a position among the Top 10 highest-grossing films of 2024. If you missed the chance to watch it in a theatre, thankfully, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is now available to stream.
The film is set after several centuries of Caesar’s story and features Noa at the forefront. The young chimpanzee and a human woman named Mae decide to embark on an adventure to ensure the good future of both their species.
9. Twisters
- Release Date: July 19, 2024
- Budget: $155 Million
- Box Office: $369.7 Million
Despite being the sequel to 1996’s Twister, the 2024 film feels like a standalone project. That’s because it introduces a fresh set of cast and characters. The movie, though, sticks to some elements of the original film but gives them a modern touch. Besides that, the phenomenal pacing doesn’t let you get off your seats before the ending scene.
A young woman, Kate, who worked as a storm chaser, has to study some disastrous tornadoes that head towards Oklahoma. Initially, she denied the job as she was still haunted by the incident that happened in her teenage years. However, she decides to give it a shot when she crosses paths with the fearsome blogger Tyler Owens. Wondering where it is available now? Here’s how you can watch Twisters on streaming platforms.
10. Alien: Romulus
- Release Date: August 16, 2024
- Budget: $80 Million
- Box Office: $342.1 Million
No Alien franchise movie is bad, and when this film was announced, every fan knew it would be a blockbuster hit. The film boasted the same gritty experience as the previous films, and as expected, the filmmakers did a great job with character development and world-building.
Alien: Romulus follows the story of a few scientists who investigate a space station that was destroyed almost 20 years back. During their adventure, they come across a dangerous alien lifeform, Xenomorph. It’s an action-packed horror adventure that’ll have you on the edge of your seats for the entire time.
