Upcoming sci-fi movies for 2024

a character with curly dark hair wears a leather body suit and a nasal canula in the desert
Still from "Dune: Part Two." (Image credit: Warner Bros.)

2024 is set to be a stellar year for interstellar adventures, mind-bending escapades, and long yearned for adaptations. Whether it’s video games, graphic novels, or best-selling books, the sci-fi genre finds a way to sculpt big screen spectacles from alternative works. This inspiration continues into 2024. 

Alas, with the movie landscape continuing to see delays following the SAG-AFTRA strikes, there are entries on our list that have been patiently (and not-so-patiently) awaited for that are finally upon us. Of course, there still remains a chance that they'll face further delays, but we’re not here to dampen spirits. For now, this list promises to deliver an epic slate of sci-fi movie greatness for your viewing pleasure. 

In the meantime, there’s always the best sci-fi movies of all time to devour while you await the scheduled release dates. Perhaps one day, the entries below will carve their very own space into the list. Be sure to mark your calendars, load up your favorite streaming services, or get yourself down to a theater to secure your tickets as we dive into the upcoming sci-fi movies to watch in 2024.

Madame Web (Feb. 14, 2024)

(Image credit: Sony)
  • Release date: February 14, 2024
  • Cast: Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, Emma Roberts, Adam Scott

Sony’s Spider-Man Universe expands once again with offspring, Madame Web, which sees female lead Dakota Johnson propelled to the fore. Cassandra ‘Cassie’ Webb (Johnson) is a paramedic in the Big Apple who discovers her psychic abilities following an accident. With her new powers, a dangerous web is woven from her complicated past, her present day, and the powerful future events that are set to unfold for three young women. Teaming up, they must fight for their survival against a mysterious adversary all set to the backdrop of Spidey-lore. 

A real order of the Spider emerges amongst Madame Web’s silken strings as the movie merges and stretches across multiverses and timelines. Two Spider-Women from the comics, Mattie Franklin (Celeste O'Connnor) and Julia Carpenter (Sydney Sweeney), alongside Spider-Girl Anya Corazón (Isabel Merced) all join the ranks of this fantastic standalone origin story.

Dune: Part Two (March 1, 2024)

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)
  • Release date: March 1, 2024
  • Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh

 When director Denis Villeneuve brought Frank Herbert’s novel Dune to life in 2021 it was met with rapturous applause. No surprise then that the tale of Paul Atreides' (Timothée Chalamet) great destiny continues with the somewhat delayed Dune: Part Two. Arriving in 2024, new characters join the Dune universe with Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, and Christopher Walken joining the cast as Princess Irulan, Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, and Emperor of the Universe respectively. Part Two promises to delve deeper into Herbert’s rich tapestry surrounding Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Villeneuve has stressed that "... it's not a sequel, it's a second part. There's a difference. I wanted the movie to really open just where we left the characters. There's no time jump." A thrilling trailer fires up fans for what lays ahead in the epic sci-fi saga.

Spaceman (March 1, 2024)

(Image credit: Netflix)
  • Release date: March 1, 2024
  • Cast: Adam Sandler, Carey Mulligan, Paul Dano

Adam Sandler fronting a sci-fi deep space thriller is quite literally world's away from a genre any Sandler fans of days of yore would have imagined him infiltrating. Nonetheless, his acting slate has expanded ten-fold thanks to Netflix providing the streaming platform exclusivity for his creative endeavors, including the award-winning Uncut Gems and Leo.

Spaceman, adapted from the 2017 novel ‘Spaceman of Bohemia’, explores Jakub Procházka’s (Sandler) solitary research mission as an astronaut adrift in the cosmos, both literally and figuratively. It is in this abyss that he finds solace and help in an unusual way from a mysterious creature found aboard his ship. 

Director Johan Renck told Netflix Tudum of Sandler's role, "I don't think people understand how [although] he may come across as funny and sweet and all that, he's very intelligent, really smart, and profound." The eerie Spaceman trailer teases all we know right now with the March release date fast approaching.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (March 22, 2024)

(Image credit: Sony)
  • Release date: March 22, 2024
  • Cast: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Dan Aykroyd, Finn Wolfhard

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire takes the franchise baton straight into 2024 with many of the Ghostbusters: Afterlife cast returning for reboot round two. We're talking Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Dan Aykroyd, Finn Wolfhard and Bill Murray reprising their roles in the fifth installment to this iconic series. Frozen Empire will pick up where Afterlife left off in 2021, this time following the Spengler family as they head to the OG New York City firehouse base.

Ghostbusters new and old must unite against an evil force that threatens to freeze over the world and summon the second Ice Age. Gil Kenan takes pride of place in the director's chair once again with Ghostbuster's OG writer Ivan Reitman and his son Jason taking writer's credits. Much like the cast, the old and new unite to make one epic Ghostbusters sequel and continue the charge for a successful reboot.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (March 29, 2024)

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)
  • Release date: March 29, 2024
  • Cast: Dan Stevens, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry

Following up from 2021's Godzilla vs Kong, it's more giant monster movie madness as the world's most famous reptilian takes on a new threat. This time though, it's not versus but a trendy collaboration with Kong to bring a ton of CGI battle MonsterVerse sci-fi goodness to the big screen.

Brian Tyree Henry and Rebecca Hall reprise their roles from 2021's Godzilla entry and Dan Stevens joins as a Kaiju (aka giant monsters) expert to shine a light on these ancient titans. The plot is firmly under wraps, but we're sure it means more epic battles between the biggest, badass monsters.

Rebel Moon: Part 2 (April 19, 2024)

(Image credit: Netflix)
  • Release date: April 19, 2024
  • Cast: Sofia Boutella, Ed Skrein, Charlie Hunnam

Director Zack Synder has an unbelievable credit list to his name. We're talking Dawn of the Dead, 300, Man of Steel. So, when he took a hold of Rebel Moon: Part 1, there was always set to be more to come in this epic tale. Netflix's Star Wars inspired Part 1 arrived in December 2023 and Part 2 comes with a miraculously short wait arriving in April this year.

Despite not rating so well on Rotten Tomatoes, Part 2 looks set to tie up Rebel Moon and further the narrative that was laid out in the first installment. The scene has been set, onward now goes the journey of Kora (Sofia Boutella) and the surviving warriors in Veldt, their new home. The once peaceful colony was pushed to fight in a war that is by no means done and dusted as the plot delves deeper into the lives of its characters in The Scargiver.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (May 24, 2024)

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)
  • Release date: May 24, 2024
  • Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Charlee Fraser

The incredibly successful reboot of the Mad Max franchise, Fury Road, wowed viewers in a multitude of weird and wild ways. Charlize Theron's Furiosa, though, secured her very own prequel spin-off that makes its way to the big screen in 2024, Furiosa. 

In a time before Charlize, Anya Taylor-Joy takes on the titular role of a younger version of the badass warrior, Imperator Furiosa. This tale is her origin story leading up to the time we come across her on the Fury Road. A young Furiosa falls captive to a great biker horde led by Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) of which she must escape and find her way home.

The franchise is forever rewarded by the dedication from its OG director, George Miller, who once again returns to tell a new part of the tale. An earlier bump in release date won't hold Furiosa down any longer. May 24 has now been coined for Furiosa's epic return. 

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (May 24, 2024)

(Image credit: 20th Century Studios)
  • Release date: May 24, 2024
  • Cast: Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand

A brand new trilogy from the Planet of the Apes franchise begins in 2024. Picking up 300 years after the events of 2017's War for the Planet of The Apes, the world now fully belongs to the Apes. But young ape, Noa (Owen Teague) goes on a journey alongside human, Mae (Freya Allan) to uncover what the future really holds for human and ape-kind.

Leading the charge of this new ape trifecta is Maze Runner's director Wes Ball to carry on Caesar’s legacy and what it all means. In Kingdom, a new villain emerges as Caesar's namesake, Proximus Caesar. Speaking to Empire, Ball says, "From the ashes of those previous movies, we're gonna grow a new tree to climb. This movie is very much the beginning of something."

A Quiet Place: Day One (June 28, 2024)

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)
  • Release date: June 28, 2024
  • Cast: Joseph Quinn, Djimon Hounsou, Lupita Nyong’o

John Krasinki's directorial, co-written, and co-starring role in A Quiet Place and A Quiet Place Part II earned these films over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. No surprise then that there's more to come from the franchise, although this time the reins have been handed over to Michael Sarnoski (Pig). 

A Quiet Place: Day One is a prequel film… and that’s about all we know. Luckily, there's news of the stellar cast behind it, which will see Lupita Nyong'o in the leading role, accompanied by Joseph Quinn, Djimon Hounsou, and Alex Wolff to carry the story that little bit further.

Deadpool 3 (July 26, 2024)

(Image credit: Disney)
  • Release date: July 26, 2024
  • Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Morena Baccarin, Emma Corrin

It's been six years since Wade Wilson graced our screens as our loudmouth antihero, Deadpool. Unlike a few on our list, Deadpool 3 has only suffered a slight delay from Disney here and looks set to prop up the MCU as its only scheduled release for 2024. A wild statement considering the usually abundant slate that we expect from Marvel. 

The "merc with a mouth" has a lot to carry on his shoulders as he returns in a currently securely under lock and key plot. We do know though that he's not alone, as he teams up with Wolverine in an official X-Men collaboration. Fans of both franchises wait with baited breath though as Hugh Jackman reprises the role that was seemingly, spoiler alert, finished after the end of 2017's Logan. 

Borderlands (Aug. 9, 2024)

(Image credit: Lionsgate)
  • Release date: Aug. 9, 2024
  • Cast: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Ariana Greenblatt, Bobby Lee

The sci-fi movie genre has become a great launchpad for video game franchises looking to hit the big screen. Take Uncharted or Warcraft, for example, both huge series with epic tales easily translated to the box office. What better addition to this slate then than the wacky, vibrant, and action-packed world of Borderlands. 

With a cosmic cast behind it including Kevin Hart, Bobby Lee, and Jamie Lee Curtis, it’s set to take Gearbox's world of wonder to a whole new level. Cate Blanchett takes up the role of Lilith, an infamous outlaw returning to her home planet of Pandora in search of a missing girl. Teaming up with a group of unlikely heroes, they must fight off a flurry of elaborate enemies in order to protect this girl's unimaginable powers.

Alien: Romulus (Aug. 14, 2024)

(Image credit: 20th Century Studios)
  • Release date: Aug. 14, 2024
  • Cast: Isabela Merced, Cailee Spaeny, Archie Renaux

Another step forward for the incredibly popular Alien franchise that spans decades of terrifying xenomorphic horror. Alien: Romulus marks the 7th in the series and sets itself firmly in a time between 1979's Alien and 1986's Aliens. With fan trailers striving to piece together the currently unreleased plot, fans wait eagerly for what's to come for the franchise in August 2024.

As such, there's not much to say aside from Fede Álvarez (Evil Dead, Don’t Breathe) sitting firmly in the director’s chair to step away from Ridley Scott and craft his very own story full of new characters. Not stepping too far away though, given that Ridley will still be very much producing. Considering the incredible streaming success of Prey, Alien: Romulus has been pushed for a full theatrical release.

Transformers One (Sept. 13, 2024)

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)
  • Release date: Sept. 13, 2024
  • Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jon Hamm

When a franchise like Transformers boasts such success, it’s no surprise that at some point they'd decide to delve into the world of the origin story. For 2024's Transformers One, it's time to look into the relationship between Optimus Prime and Megatron and how it truly began on Cybertron, the home of both the Autobots and the Decepticons.

Like the five live-action movies that came before it, Transformers One will also enjoy an impressive cast list. This time though, it's an animated prequel meaning Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jon Hamm, Keegan-Michael Key, Laurence Fishburne, and Brian Tyree Henry will all be lending their voices to bring something new to the iconic saga.

The Electric State (TBA 2024)

(Image credit: Netflix)
  • Release date: TBA 2024
  • Cast: Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Michelle Yeoh, Stanley Tucci

Netflix steps once again into the sci-fi sphere with The Electric State, a film adaptation of Simon Stålenhag's graphic novel of the same name. An adventure unfolds as an orphaned teen befriends a mysterious robot and a drifter searching for her younger brother.

Spearheaded by the Russo brothers, known for four MCU movies, is jam-packed with big names from Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Michelle Yeoh, Stanley Tucci, Brian Cox and Ke Huy Quan all confirmed. Although many of these will be voicing characters in the film rather than appearing themselves. Filming wrapped in February 2023, but the release date for The Electric State is currently unannounced. There's some strong hopes for 2024 though. 

Distant (TBA 2024)

(Image credit: Amblin Entertainment)
  • Release date: TBA 2024
  • Cast: Anthony Ramos, Zachary Quinto, Naomi Scott 

Perhaps one of our shakiest release date entries of sci-fi movies for 2024, Distant was initially coined for a 2022 release. Yes, we're here in 2024 to tell you that despite a Jan. 2024 release date, it’s once again been removed from the schedule. 

When it does finally arrive, fans can enjoy this sci-fi thriller following the journey of survival for an asteroid miner who finds himself crash landed on an alien planet. Making his way across the strange and unforgiving terrain, hoping to find and rescue the only other survivor of his crew. 

Mickey 17 (TBA 2024)

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)
  • Release date: TBA
  • Cast: Robert Pattinson, Toni Collette, Steven Yeun, Mark Ruffalo

From Parasite director Bong Joon-ho comes a loose adaptation of the popular Mickey7 novel by Edward Ashton. Robert Pattinson takes up the lead role of an employee set on an expedition to colonize the ice planet of Niflheim. With the power to regenerate no matter how many times he dies, this dangerous mission suits Mickey7 well. Although, for reasons yet to be known, the title has been changed to 17. Perhaps to reflect how many clones he ends up making. With a plot firmly under wraps, for now, we can purely speculate.

Unfortunately, despite being slated for a March release date, Variety revealed in January that the movie has been pulled from the release schedule indefinitely. So, Robert Pattinson won’t be thawed from his cryogenic sleep just yet. 

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Grace Dean
Contributing Writer

Grace is a freelancer who started writing for Space.com since 2021. She's a huge fan of movies, TV, and gaming, and if she's not clutching her Xbox controller or scanning the streaming platforms for the next must-watch shows, you'll find her spending copious amounts of time writing about them on her laptop. Specialties include RPG, FPS, and action-adventure games as well as 80s sci-fi movies and book adaptations.