A number of VFX films are coming out in the second half of 2024 that promise to be visually impressive, including Twisters, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Deadpool & Wolverine, and Wicked. Check out our handy list of the biggest films and put some dates in your diary.
(Image credit: Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures; Warner Bros. Pictures & Amblin Entertainment)
This year has already seen the release of several visual masterpieces, most notably Dune: Part Two and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. But 2024 isn’t done with us yet; there are still plenty of upcoming features that promise spectacular VFX. To understand what goes into this kind of work read our feature on making Ridley Scott's Napoleon or our deep dive into the VFX behind The Creator.
ILM in particular has worked on a number of great feature films coming out this year: look out for Wicked, Alien: Romulus, Twisters, A Quiet Place, Deadpool & Wolverine, and Transformers One.
Beyond that, August sees the release of Borderlands, a sci-fi offering with extraordinary visuals starring Cate Blanchett, Gina Gershon and Ariana Greenblatt. The VFX crew is huge on this one, with vendors including DNEG, Crafty Apes, Framestore, NVIZ, Pixomondo, ReDefine, Method Studios and Axis Studios.
And, if you're a fan of the original film, you've got Beetlejuice Beetlejuice to look forward to in September. It stars several of the original cast and looks like a promising follow-up to the eighties classic.
If you want to work in VFX then take a look at our tutorials for Cinema 4D, as well as our explainers for core CG platforms Houdini and Unreal Engine 5. But whatever you’re into, whether you're an aspiring VFX artist or film lover, you’ll find some exciting movies to look forward to this year that are best experienced on the big screen. Read on to get some useful dates for your diary. Come back too, as I'll be updating this regularly with new VFX movies.
July 2024
Deadpool & Wolverine, 26 July, 2024
Deadpool & Wolverine | Official Teaser | In Theaters July 26 - YouTube
Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman team up to portray Deadpool and Wolverine as they cooperate to defeat an enemy as part of a mission set by the Time Variance Authority. VFX for this feature was split between ILM, Base FX, Barnstorm VFX, Framestore and Wētā FX, with VFX supervisor Swen Gillberg and VFX producer Lisa Marra.
Also out this month
Despicable Me 4, July 3
Twisters, July 19
August 2024
Borderlands, 9 August, 2024
Borderlands (2024) Official Trailer - Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black - YouTube
Based on the video game series of the same name, Borderlands follows Lilith (Cate Blanchett), an outlaw who returns to her home planet of Pandora to find a missing girl who holds a powerful secret. A top-notch cast including Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Gina Gershon and Jamie Lee Curtis star in this sci-fi action comedy that promises to be a visual treat. VFX come from Blur Studio, Framestore, Crafty Apes, Axis Studios, DNEG, Pixomondo and ReDefine.
Also out this month
Alien: Romulus, August 16
Kraven the Hunter, August 30
September 2024
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, 5 September, 2024
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE | Official Teaser Trailer - YouTube
We can’t wait for this sequel to a beloved classic. Michael Keaton, Wynona Rider and Catherine O’Hara reprise their roles as Beetlejuice, Lydia Deetz and Delia Deetz, and they are joined by Jenna Ortega (Wednesday), Monica Bellucci and Willem Dafoe for this very promising follow-up to the original film. VFX for this feature come from Framestore, One of Us, BUF and Goldcrest VFX.
Also out this month
Transformers One, 13 September
The Wild Robot, September 20
October 2024
Joker: Folie à Deux, Oct 4, 2024
JOKER 2: Folie à Deux – First Trailer (2024) Lady Gaga, Joaquin Phoenix | Warner Bros - YouTube
Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga star as the Joker and Harley Quinn in this sequel to the 2019 film, Joker. Harley Quinn is a psychiatrist assigned to treat the Joker, a deranged ex-party clown and stand up comedian who has turned to a life of crime. Harley Quinn becomes infatuated with him and the pair begin a deadly romantic affair. VFX for this disturbing yet visually arresting psychological thriller, which is also a musical, are delivered by Scanline VFX and Barnstorm VFX.
Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum star in the first installment of a two-part adaptation of the stage musical of the same name. The story takes place in the land of Oz and begins before the arrival of Dorothy, and centers around a young woman who is wrongly characterised as a wicked witch as she tries to expose a corrupt and powerful wizard. The visual effects are made by ILM and Framestore.
Also out this month
Gladiator 2, November 22
Moana 2, November 27
December 2024
Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Dec 20, 2024
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 | Title Treatment Reveal (2024 Movie) - YouTube
Fans of the video game series will get a burst of nostalgia from this action-adventure comedy starring Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic, Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik, and Idris Elba as the voice of Knuckles the Echidna. The picture contains both live action and animated characters, and VFX come from Clear Angle Studios.
Also out this month
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, December 13
Mufasa: The Lion King, December 20
Nosferatu, December 25
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Tanya is a writer covering art, design, and visual effects. She has 16 years of experience as a magazine journalist and has written for numerous publications including 3D World, 3D Artist, ImagineFX, Computer Arts, net magazine, and Creative Bloq. For Creative Bloq, she mostly writes about web design, including the hottest new tools, as well as 3D artwork and VFX.
