With it officially 2024, anticipation builds over the possibilities the upcoming year holds, especially in the realm of entertainment. The prospect of Hollywood’s portrayal of historical events in its latest releases never fails to captivate us, and here is a compilation of the war movies we are eagerly looking forward to this year.
One Life (January 2024)
Kicking off our list of the most anticipated war movies of 2024 is One Life. Starring Anthony Hopkins as Nicholas Winton, the “British Oskar Schindler,” the feature premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September 2023.
Directed by James Hawes, One Life centers around Winton’s World War II-era efforts to save hundreds of Jewish children from German-occupied Czechoslovakia. A stockbroker prior to the outbreak of the conflict, he managed to rescue 669 individuals via what’s now known as the “Czech Kindertransport.” His efforts went largely unrecognized for decades, and it wasn’t until a taping of the BBC series That’s Life! (1973-94) that the wider world was informed of his bravery.
One Life is slated to premiere in British theaters on January 5, 2024.
War Blade (January 2024)
Also set during the Second World War, War Blade is among the lesser-known releases on our list of the most anticipated war movies of 2024.
Produced by Picture Perfect, the feature follows Special Operations Executive (SOE) agent Robert Banks, tasked with rescuing members of the French Resistance from a secret German bunker. To complete his mission, the agent teams up with a German nurse and other individuals who are not only out-manned, but out-gunned as well.
It’s currently speculated that War Blade will debut in theaters sometime in January 2024.
Masters of the Air (January-March 2024)
While not a movie, Masters of the Air is easily our most anticipated war release of 2024. From the creators of Band of Brothers (2001) and The Pacific (2010), Apple TV+ initially teased that the miniseries would be released in 2023 – obviously, that never happened. Well, we finally have a concrete date, with the streaming serving saying the first episode will debut on January 26, with a new one premiering every Friday after until March 15.
Masters of the Air is based on the book by Donald L. Miller and follows the Eighth Air Force as it conducts missions over Europe during WWII. Known as the “Mighty Eighth,” the aviators who made up the group conducted 440,000 sorties during the conflict, which saw 697,000 tons of bombs dropped from the sky.
Masters of the Air features a star-studded cast, including Austin Butler, best known for portraying Elvis Presley in 2022’s Elvis, and Barry Keoghan, who played George Mills in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk (2017).
The Zone of Interest (February 2024)
It appears that, next year, we’ll see a lot of WWII-era films released, as The Zone of Interest is also set during the conflict. Starring Christien Friedel and Sandra Hüller, this most anticipated movie release of 2024 centers around Rudolf Höss, the SS officer who served as the commandant of Auschwitz during the war.
Being released by A24, The Zone of Interest has been described as one of the most haunting films of the year, largely due to the role Höss played in the implementation of the Final Solution. He was the one to introduce Zyklon B to the gas chambers and was the one tasked with erecting a new camp next to Auschwitz, the one that became known as Birkenau. His actions during the war are believed to have contributed to the deaths of over one million individuals.
Following a limited screening in American theaters in December 2023, The Zone of Interest will premiere in Poland in February.
Escape From Germany (April 2024)
The next release on our list of the most anticipated war movies of 2024 is Escape From Germany.
Directed by T.C. Christensen and based on the book Mine Angels Round About: Mormon Missionary Evacuation From Western Germany, 1939, it follows a group of American missionaries – 85, to be exact – who were serving at a German church just before the outbreak of WWII and documents their escape from the ever-growing oppressive regime.
Escape From Germany will debut in theaters on April 11, 2024.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (April 2024)
Next on our list of the most anticipated war movies of 2024 is The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. If you’ve been a reader of War History Online for a while, you’ll know we’re huge fans of Guy Ritchie, so you can bet we’re excited for this WWII-era movie to hit theaters!
Featuring Henry Cavill, Alan Ritchson and Alex Pettyfer, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare tells the story behind the establishment of the Special Operations Executive. Founded by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, this clandestine organization undertook one of the most perilous missions of the Second World War: executing reconnaissance, sabotage and espionage across Europe, often risking their lives.
The announcement was made on January 10, 2024, that The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is slated for release on April 19, with Lionsgate confirming the news to Deadline.
Gladiator II (November 2024)
If we weren’t writing this list of our most anticipated war movies of 2024 in chronological order, Gladiator II would have been inserted directly below Masters of the Air. To say we’re looking forward to the follow-up to Ridley Scott’s 2000 ancient Roman epic would be a severe understatement, as we’re chomping at the bit to watch it!
Taking place 25 years after the first movie, Gladiator II will center around Lucius Verius II, the son of Lucilla and Lucius Verus. Paul Mescal will portray the character, with Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal also signing on to appear in the release. While Barry Keoghan was originally signed on to the project, he unfortunately had to drop out over scheduling conflicts.
More from us: Ex-Submarine Commander David Marquet Rates Naval Scenes from Popular Movies
Gladiator II is currently scheduled for release on November 22, 2024. However, we wouldn’t be surprised to see that date pushed back, given the delays caused by the strikes that took place in Hollywood over the summer.
Leave a Comment