From off-kilter comedies like Elizabeth Banks’ COCAINE BEAR and Nida Manzoor’s POLITE SOCIETY to strong, sweeping awards hopefuls like A.V. Rockwell’s A THOUSAND AND ONE and Celine Song’s PAST LIVES, women in Hollywood continue to make a strong impression on audiences and across multiple genres as of late.
The momentum shows no signs of stopping as we reach the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, with several high-profile titles slated for release with women at the helm. Here’s a look at some of the most exciting films directed by women coming soon to AMC Theatres nationwide.
The Other Zoey
Josephine Langford – star of the AFTER franchise – returns to lead yet another coming-of-age drama in which a soccer player with amnesia (Drew Starkey) believes that a straight-A college student (Langford) is his girlfriend. She decides to go along with the façade in an attempt to get closer to his cousin (Archie Renaux), believing he is a more compatible match for her, until she begins to question what she wants.
THE OTHER ZOEY is the sophomore feature-length effort from director Sara Zandieh. The filmmaker previously helmed the 2018 rom-com, A SIMPLE WEDDING, as well as a couple of episodes of the NBC sitcom, “Good Girls.”
THE OTHER ZOEY opens October 20th
Priscilla
In 2022, Baz Luhrmann gave audiences a stylish inside look at the life of the musician they called “The King” with ELVIS. In 2023, Academy AwardⓇ-winning writer and director Sofia Coppola will show audiences another side of the story with PRISCILLA.
Based on the memoir by Priscilla Presley, who also serves as a producer, the biopic was already a hit at the Venice Film Festival. A24 is releasing PRISCILLA, which stars Cailee Spaeny in the title role and “Euphoria” star Jacob Elordi as Elvis.
PRISCILLA opens October 27th
What Happens Later
In 2015, beloved actor Meg Ryan made her directorial debut with a World War II-era, coming-of-age period drama called ITHACA, which was also her last major acting credit. She has now returned to helm and star in an entirely new kind of film heading to theatres later this year, called WHAT HAPPENS LATER.
Ryan stars alongside four-time Emmy nominee David Duchovny as former lovers who bump into each for the first time in years at an airport, where they are forced to spend the night together after their flights are delayed. Left alone in the terminal, they confront their past and, perhaps, a new destination in this rom-com.
WHAT HAPPENS LATER opens November 3rd
The Marvels
Carol Danvers – better known as Captain Marvel, played by Academy Award winner Brie Larson – is, herself, one of the most dynamic women of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Fittingly, one of the most dynamic and talented female directors in Hollywood – Nia DaCosta of LITTLE WOODS and CANDYMAN fame – is helming the sequel to her self-titled, blockbuster debut.
However, the Kree warrior will not be alone in THE MARVELS, which partners her with a couple of other powerful women – her “niece,” Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), and Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan, who also goes by Ms. Marvel. DaCosta is also credited as a screenwriter, alongside Megan McDonnell and Elissa Karasik, for the 33rd installment of the trailblazing shared universe of comic book movies that flies into theatres.
THE MARVELS opens November 10th
Wish
Fawn Veerasunthorn has worked on some of the Disney’s most beloved animated films in recent memory – such as the original FROZEN as a storyboard artist, and as a story artist on the likes of MOANA, ZOOTOPIA, and RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET. In 2023, she’s finally making her feature-length debut as a director with WISH.
Also co-directed by OscarⓇ-winning Disney animation veteran Chris Buck, this animated musical adventure will explain the origins behind the very same shooting star that iconic characters like Cinderella and Gepetto made a life-changing wish upon. WISH stars Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose and Alan Tudyk and features original music by Grammy nominee Julia Michaels.
WISH opens November 22nd
Madame Web
English filmmaker S.J. Clarkson cut her teeth in the world of comic book adaptations by directing episodes of Marvel TV shows “Jessica Jones” and “The Defenders.” A fitting next step would be to helm a superhero movie, which is exactly how she is making her feature-length debut.
The film in question is MADAME WEB, which stars Dakota Johnson as the titular clairvoyant – whose real name is Cassandra Webb – known for aiding Spider-Man on many occasions in the comics. Also starring Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, and Celeste O’Connor as a group of young, aspiring heroes, this adventure will be a great way for comic book-loving couples to spend Valentine’s Day when it swings into theatres next year.
MADAME WEB opens February 14th
Don’t forget to set your reminders and get tickets for this eclectic mix of new movies from women directors! And be sure to keep up with AMC Scene for updates about these movies and other exciting additions and announcements.
