If there’s one thing 2023 taught us, it’s that people are desperate to get out of the house and get their butts back into cinema seats. Sure, Netflix’s only real competition may be sleep (their words, not ours), but there are few communal experiences as jovially cathartic as watching a film on the big screen.
Eid Al Fitr 2024 lands on April 10 of next month, and here are the biggest and baddest films, both from Hollywood and around the world, coming to theatres in the Middle East for Eid (and later on in the year).
Kung Fu Panda 4
As with any good first movie, naturally, Hollywood has to beat the dead horse until people can’t stand the sequels anymore. Totally kidding. The Kung Fu Panda franchise has been awesome ever since its first installment, and we can only hope we get some more ‘skadoosh’ for its fourth rehashing.
It comes to theatres Thursday, April 11.
Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire
Another sequel? No way. We totally didn’t know that was a thing. Again, kidding. King Kong and Godzilla are both awesome, and combined, these respective characters have been on the silver screen (and TV) for almost two hundred years. That is wild. But probably not as wild as this upcoming battle between the world’s largest monkey vs the world’s largest radioactive lizard.
It comes to theatres Thursday, April 11.
The First Omen
Ah, well at least we’re not done with the sequels. Wait. They’ve already made five Omen movies? And the first one came out 1976? If the idea of demonically possessed little boys scares you (it 100% should, because that is creepy as hell – pun intended), then this Omen (despite being the fifth remake, is titled The First Omen) will hopefully force you to sleep with the lights off.
It comes to theatres April 11, 2024.
The Land of Bad
Biceps. Guns. Explosions. Starring Gladiator (Russell Crowe) and Thor’s younger brother, aka, Liam Hemsworth. Set in The Philippines, this is another explosive action fest that will make you want to get down in the middle of the film and bust out thirty push ups.
It comes to theatres April 11, 2024.
Varshangalkku Shesham
This Malayalam film revolves around cherished memories or a reunion among a group of friends after a substantial passage of time. And what could be better than a wholesome family comedy during Eid?
It comes to theatres on April 11, 2024.
The Bricklayer
CIA assassins, corrupt journalists, political rivals, and Two-Face aka Aaron Eckhart running around sweaty and carrying a gun, sounds like just the right level of Hollywood entertainment in lieu of how awesome Roadhouse was.
It comes to theatres April 11, 2024
Jai Ganesh
A Malayalam nail biting survival thriller about a paraplegic designer struggling with his inner demons in hopes of normalcy.
It comes to theatres April 18, 2024.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
Director Guy Ritchie returns with a Heny Cavill starring WWII epic in only the way Guy Ritchie can do it – absurdly quippy Englishman who are somehow gentlemen and flat-cap clad gangsters at the same time, all while wearing three piece suits, chewing cigars, and throwing out one-liners that will make your dad laugh.
It comes to theatres April 18, 2024.
Civil War
A24 and Alex Garland (Ex Machina)’s dystopian 1984-esque view of America is about a team of military-embedded journalists races against time to reach Washington, D.C., before rebel factions descend upon the White House. Considering Garland’s previous works, this’ll be aptly bleak, and we’re pumped for it.
Releases April 24, 2024.
Boy Kills World
Starring Bill Skarsgard, it’s a dystopian fever dream action romp about Boy, a deaf dude with a turbulent imagination. Upon the murder of his family, he is trained to repress his childish imagination and become an instrument of death. Charming.
Releases April 25, 2024.
The Fall Guy
Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt star in this stunt guy action film which is, apparently, secretly a rom-com at the same time. And on the set of filming, its actual stunt guy just broke a Guinness World Record.
Releases May 2, 2024.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Ah, it’s been a while since we had another sequel on the list. But to be fair, the Planet of the Apes films have all been pretty awesome, so we’re totally fine with the continued monkey madness. Caesar, everybody’s favourite horse-riding, talking ape, returns yet again to save the world from a bunch of guys who are definitely banned from the PETA Christmas party.
Releases May 9, 2024.
Furiosa: a Mad Max Saga
Okay, yes, another sequel, but the Mad Max films are all awesome! Especially the latest edition, 2015’s multiple Oscar-winning, Fury Road. This one follows a young Furiosa, played by Anya Taylor Joy, whose reptilian beauty was made for the dystopian wasteland of gas guzzling muscle cars and guys who look like they showed up late to the Insane Clown Posse reunion. Tom Hardy returns with Chris Hemsworth, and George Miller is one of Australia’s most iconic filmmakers, so this is one is guaranteed to be a hit.
Releases May 23, 2024.
Garfield
I guess Bill Murray’s aged like a slice of lasagna left out in the sun, but that’s okay, because we love remakes, and this film about everybody’s favourite lasagna loving cat will hopefully be better than the live action version. It stars Chris Pratt and Samuel L Jackson which begs the question, will Garfield, or his allies, drop any MF bombs?
Releases May 23, 2024.