Intriguing Ensembles Coming To The Big Screen

Ensemble films are a huge draw for Hollywood, and there have been many that have only grown in popularity over time, such as INCEPTION, AMERICAN HUSTLE, OCEAN’S ELEVEN and more. Luckily, 2023 as well as 2024 will see several new additions to the already long list of great films with intriguing ensemble casts . From new musical movies that are sure to be a hit, to big-budget films like MADAME WEB, there are plenty of big ensemble casts in exciting new movies coming out in late 2023 and early 2024 – all of which fans can see at their local AMC Theatres location.
WONKA is based on the character, Willy Wonka, of the novel, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl. The film serves as an origin story of Willy Wonka, and how he became the chocolatier that everyone knows today.
WONKA stars Timothée Chalamet, and has an ensemble cast that includes Hugh Grant, Sally Hawkins, Simon Farnaby, Rowan Atkinson, Tom David, Jim Carter, Matt Lucas, Olivia Colman, Keegan-Michael Key and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith. Talk about a stacked-to-the-brim cast.
WONKA opens December 15
Directed by Cord Jefferson, AMERICAN FICTION is based on the 2001 novel, “Erasure,” by Percival Everett. The film follows a Black novelist named Monk who is frustrated with how Black people are portrayed through tropes and stereotypes, and how the media profits off of it. In retaliation, he writes a “Black” book that is outlandish and stereotypical, but it ends up becoming a huge success and receiving praise.
The film stars Jeffrey Wright as Monk, and has an ensemble cast that includes Tracee Ellis Ross, Adam Brody, Erika Alexander, John Ortiz, Leslie Uggams, Myra Lucretia Taylor, Sterling K. Brown, and Issa Rae.
AMERICAN FICTION opens December 15
A24 has produced some of the best films of 2023, from PAST LIVES to TALK TO ME, and perhaps THE IRON CLAW will join the list. The film, directed by Sean Durkin, tells the true story of the Von Erich family, and how they produced a dynasty of professional wrestlers but had to deal with their own tragedies within their family.
The film stars Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Holt McCallany, Maura Tierney, and Lily James.
THE IRON CLAW opens December 22
The latest DC film to arrive is going to be AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM. Starring Jason Momoa as Aquaman, the film is directed by James Wan and tells the story of how Black Manta returns in order to take Aquaman down – this time, through the use of an ancient trident that can summon an evil force.
Aside from Momoa, AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM stars Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Nicole Kidman, Randall Park, Temuera Morrison, and Dolph Lundgren.
AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM opens December 22
FERRARI is a biopic that follows the story of Enzo Ferrari, the man behind the famous luxury car and how back in the 1950s, his company faced bankruptcy. He struggles to find a solution while he faces marital problems and an upcoming race that could change his life forever.
The film stars Adam Driver as Ferrari, and features a stellar ensemble cast that includesGabriel Leone, Jack O’Connell, Patrick Dempsey, Penelope Cruz, Sarah Gadon and Shailene Woodley.
FERRARI opens December 25
Years after becoming a Broadway production, THE COLOR PURPLE is coming to the big screen with this new musical adaptation. The film is based on the stage musical of the same name, which was based on the novel by Alice Walker. The story mainly follows Celie, an African American woman and what she went through in the early 1900s in the deep South of America.
The musical adaptation stars Taraji P. Henson, Fantasia Barrino, Halle Bailey, H.E.R., Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, Colman Domingo, David Alan Grier, Louis Gossett Jr, Tamela J. Man, and Ciara.
THE COLOR PURPLE opens December 25
On Wednesdays, movie lovers are definitely going to wear pink, because MEAN GIRLS is coming back to the big screen in musical form. Based on the stage musical of the same name, which in turn is based on the 2004 film, this movie details the adventures of Cady, the new girl in school, who tries to infiltrate the mean girls clique, the Plastics, in order to take them down from the inside out.
MEAN GIRLS stars Angourie Rice, Auli’i Cravalho, Renee Rapp, Jaquel Spivey, Arturo Perez Jr., and Samantha Jayne. Tina Fey directs.
MEAN GIRLS opens January 12
Henry Cavill has become Superman and a sword-wielding magic-user – now it’s his time to become an international spy in ARGYLLE. From the ARGYLLE trailer, the new ensemble film from Apple TV and Universal follows the story of a spy author named Elly, who writes stories about Cavill’s character, Argylle. However, she finds that whatever she writes in her novels begins to mirror the real world – and soon, it pulls her into a world of drama.
In addition to Cavill, the film also stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Bryan Cranston, Samuel L. Jackson, John Cena, Dua Lipa, and more.
ARGYLLE opens February 2
Superhero lovers will want to see this one. MADAME WEB is the latest flick in the spider-person multiverse. It tells the origin story of Cassandra Webb, a paramedic in Manhattan who discovers that she has clairvoyant abilities, while facing enemies that wish to take her down.
MADAME WEB stars Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O’Conner, Isabela Merced, Adam Scott, Mike Epps, Tahar Rahim, and Emma Roberts.
MADAME WEB opens February 14
DUNE: PART 2 will be releasing on March 1, and is a continuation of DUNE: PART 1 and follows the journey of Paul Atreides and how he unites with the Fremen in order to take down the people who destroyed his family, having to make some personal choices along the way.
The film stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Stellan Skarsgård, Souheila Yacoub, Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, Rebecca Ferguson, Christopher Walken, Javier Bardem and Charlotte Rampling.
DUNE: PART 2 opens March 1
There are truly so many ensemble movies coming out soon, and now, movie lovers know exactly when. Time to mark up your calendars and get ready to head to an AMC Theatre near you for a fun movie night.
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