5 Canadian Films We Can’t Wait to Watch in 2024
2023 was a standout year for Canadian cinema. “Blackberry” emerged as one of the year’s most buzzed-about biopics. Sarah Polley won an Oscar for “Women Talking” and screenwriter/playwright Celine Song made her directorial debut with “Past Lives”—a tender, textured romance that blazed through the festival circuit and is now nominated for Best Picture at the 96th Academy Awards.
But as we bid farewell to an extraordinary 2023, the TFS team couldn’t be more eager to shift our focus to 2024, a year that promises to be equally, if not more, exciting for Canadian fil.
We’re just one month in and the influence of Canadian talent is already palpable; top-notch homegrown productions are plentiful and Canadians are set to play a major role in countless high-profile Hollywood projects.
For your convenience, we’ve narrowed down our list of 2024’s must-see Canadian films to just five, though there were many more we could recommend.
Let’s get started!
Upcoming Canadian Films 2024
Dune: Part Two
Canadian director Denis Villeneuve brings his cinematic adaptation of Frank Herbert’s science fiction saga Dune to a close with this highly anticipated second installment. The film boasts a stellar cast, now including Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, and Christopher Walken. Based on previews, it also looks like it’ll remain committed to delving into the richness of the original material.
Of course, Dune: Part Two is a must-watch for sci-fi fans. But we’d argue it has mainstream appeal too. If you found the first Dune underwhelming – it did seem to end just as the plot was intensifying – the sequel promises a more action-packed storyline with far more screen time allotted to superstars Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya.
Release Date: March 1, 2024
Directed by Denis Villeneuve
Starring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh
The Shrouds
At 80 years old, body-horror legend David Cronenberg doesn’t appear to be running out of original, albeit twisted, ideas. Billed as a psychological thriller The Shrouds stars Vincent Cassel as a widower who invents a device used to connect with the dead. According to the official plot synopsis, the “burial tool” is housed at the widower’s state-of-the-art cemetery and allows clients to observe the decomposition of their loved ones in real time.
Though the premise reads quintessentially Cronenberg, Diane Kruger, who co-stars in the film, believes it might be his most reflective work yet. Cronenberg lost his wife and creative partner Carolyn Cronenberg in 2017, and The Shrouds revolves entirely around themes of death and mourning.
With its premiere anticipated for the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, The Shrouds is set to be a standout this year, providing a deep, personal, and wholly Cronebergian exploration of loss and grief.
Release Date: TBD
Directed by David Cronenberg
Starring Vincent Cassel, Diane Kruger and Guy Pearce
Dead Pool 3
In Deadpool 3, Canadian star Ryan Reynolds reprises his role as the irreverent, foul-mouthed anti-hero, this time making his debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This R-rated action-comedy promises a dynamic pairing; Hugh Jackman will co-star Reynolds as Wolverine, pairing two distinct Marvel worlds under one new narrative. Sure enough, the movie is also rumoured to include a Taylor Swift cameo, which has predictably thrown the internet into a frenzy.
In addition, director Shawn Levy has said that the film will channel the spirit of classic frenemy adventures like Midnight Run and 48 Hrs. while maintaining the edgy, playful tone of previous Deadpool installments.
Release Date: July 26, 2024
Directed by Shawn Levy
Starring Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, and Morena Baccarin
In a Violent Nature
In a Violent Nature has already premiered at Sundance 2024 to high acclaim, though it won’t receive a wider release until later this year. Nonetheless, based on what we’ve gleaned from early reviews, this low-key Canadian horror is a must-see. What intrigues us most: it’s being hailed as refreshingly “minimalist,” for a slasher.
Directed by Chris Nash and featuring a young Canadian cast, the film sets its narrative in the untamed wilderness of northern Ontario, adding a distinctive Canadian perspective to the horror framework. With its focus on atmospheric storytelling and its slow-burn pace, In a Violent Nature is poised to be a standout film in 2024 – one that critic David Elrich argues owes more to Terrence Malick than Michael Meyers.
Release Date: January 22, 2024
Directed by Chris Nash
Starring Ry Barrett, Andrea Pavlovic, and Cameron Love
Rumours
Rumours, written and directed by Canadian auteur Guy Maddin, stars Academy Award-winners Cate Blanchett, Alicia Vikander, and Genie Award-winner Roy Dupuis.
According to an early synopsis, the film follows the story of the world’s seven wealthiest liberal democracies’ leaders who meet at the G7 summit. The catch? They quickly find themselves lost in the woods while trying to draft an urgent statement on a global crisis.
This intriguing tongue-in-cheek setup, combined with Maddin’s distinct directorial style, positions Rumours as a particularly unique take on the ensemble comedy genre.
Release Date: January 22, 2024
Directed by Chris Nash
Starring Ry Barrett, Andrea Pavlovic, and Cameron Love
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