uzzitta wyaneete charlton
Akinlolu Bellotti
Netflix's 2024 roster of titles may have already seen the return of fan-favorite shows like The Circle Season 6, Bridgerton Season 3, and Vikings: Valhalla Season 3, but several other hit originals are poised to stay off the screen for a bit longer. Following years-long waits, fans of titles including Stranger Things, Wednesday, and more are in for more disappointment, as some of Netflix's most popular shows are not set to return until 2025.
Fans last traveled to Hawkins, Indiana when Stranger Things Season 4 wrapped in June 2022, and while the series has consistently been one of Netflix's biggest performers, it isn't set to hit screens anytime soon. The show was among dozens impacted by the Hollywood strikes over the summer, and although it was originally slated to start filming in May 2023, production did not actually start until January of this year. As a result, Stranger Things Season 5 now isn't set to premiere until sometime next year, Netflix's co-CEO Ted Sarandos confirmed in an earnings call this week, meaning that there will be a three-year gap between seasons.
Also absent from 2024's titles is Wednesday Season 2. After dethroning Stranger Things as Netflix's most popular series, the hit Tim Burton-directed, Jenna-Ortega starring Addams Family spinoff series was considered to be a "top priority" show for Netflix once the Hollywood strikes concluded, but not even that could fast-track a second season drop in 2024. In fact, production on Wednesday Season 2, which moved from Romania to Ireland, did not begin until May, with Sarandos confirmed during this week's earnings calls new episodes will not hit the streamer until 2025.
Similarly, after being a breakout show in 2023, One Piece isn't set to head back to the platform until next year. The streamer's live-action adaptation of creator Eiichiro Oda's manga series of the same name was a massive hit upon its debut in August 2023, and Netflix quickly picked the show up for a second season. However, production on One Piece Season 2 did not begin until June, with Tomorrow Studios President Becky Clements telling Deadline in July that "it's going to be a while" before the new season premieres. According to Clemens, this is "a very VFX heavy year," and with Season 2 not set to wrap filming until December 2024, "we are a long time out" from Season 2 premiering.
Unfortunately for subscribers, these are not the only shows missing out on a 2024 return. When Netflix dropped its "Next on Netflix" lineup of original series and movies arriving this year back in February, The Watcher Season 2, XO, Kitty Season 2, The Recruit Season 2, The Lincoln Lawyer Season 3, Ginny & Georgia Season 3, Sweet Magnolias Season 4, and Virgin River Season 6 were absent, suggesting that they are not set to return with new seasons until 2025 or later.
Per The Wrap, Back in Action will make its Netflix premiere on Nov. 15. The streaming service released Back in Action's first teaser in February to build anticipation for the movie, which marks Diaz's first feature-length appearance since 2014's Annie. Netflix also debuted new images of Back in Action, seeing Foxx and Diaz running for cover and tending to someone's aid in the middle of a winter setting.
Back in Action chronicles Foxx and Diaz's respective characters, Matt and Emily, former CIA agents living a comfortable home life after giving up the world of espionage to spend time with their family. However, when their cover is blown, the duo is forced to return to their former life. Baywatch director Seth Gordon helmed and co-wrote Back in Action, while Glenn Close, Kyle Chandler and Andrew Scott also headline the cast.
Diaz walked away from Hollywood in 2014 to spend time with her family before announcing she would return to the big screen in 2022 for Back in Action after being persuaded by Foxx. Filming took place from December 2022 to April of last year. However, principal photography was marred by rumors of diva behavior on the set by Foxx, which Diaz categorically denied. Things were further complicated last April when Foxx suffered a serious and undisclosed health scare, leading to Back in Action using body doubles in Foxx's place to shoot the remainder of his scenes. Foxx has since made a full recovery.
Foxx's most recent big-screen appearance was in the comedy film, Not Another Church Movie, a parody of Tyler Perry's films. Released on May 10, the film sees the Academy Award and Grammy winner portray God opposite Mickey Rourke, Kyla Pratt, Vivica A. Fox and Jasmine Guy. Foxx is also returning to work on the upcoming season of the musical game show, Beat Shazam.
Meanwhile, Diaz is known for classic movies such as There's Something About Mary, Charlie's Angels, Being John Malkovich and the Shrek franchise. She is also filming the black comedy film, Outcome, which stars Keanu Reeves and Jonah Hill, who also directs and produces the project.
Daniel Craig's legendary detective Benoit Blanc returns to solve another murder in Rian Johnson's entertaining and farcical whodunnit Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. After the unprecedented success of Knives Out in 2019, Johnson conjured up an even bolder and more brash murder mystery for the second installment that's earned a place on our best Netflix movies list and is a must-watch if you haven't already.
Glass Onion is an enjoyable mystery farce that hilariously uses A-listers to peel back the layers of ludicrous celebrity culture. Although an inevitable murder is about to unfold, the movie still manages to be a fun and energetic spectacle that's filled with twists, turns, time jumps and surprise cameos that will put your head in a spin.
"Audiences had crammed in to see it while they could, but despite the demand, Netflix stuck to its strategy of releasing the movie in theaters briefly so as to generate buzz and word of mouth. But it is disappointing because Glass Onion is the kind of joyful movie-watching experience best relished with a group. When it arrives on Netflix on December 23, my advice is to gather as many friends and family as you can, put your phones in a box, dim the lights, and enjoy the ride," the publication wrote.
So that you don't have to spend hours searching through thousands of movies, some good, some bad and everything in-between, we've compiled a list of the best science-fiction movies and television shows currently on Netflix.
Synopsis: 13-year-old Adam Reed, still grieving the sudden death of his father a year earlier, walks into his garage one night to find a wounded pilot hiding there. This mysterious pilot turns out to be the older version of himself from the future, where time travel is in its infancy. He has risked everything to come back in time on a secret mission. Together they must embark on an adventure into the past to find their father, set things right, and save the world. Adding to the challenge of the mission, the two Adams discover they really don't like each other very much, and if they're going to save the world, they're first going to have to figure out how to get along.
Why you should watch: Ryan Reynolds leads an all-star cast in this family action drama that incorporates much of Reynold's dry wit. While not paying too much attention to the so-called "rules" of time travel, it brings drama and the complexities of human relationships into a spirited science fiction movie aimed at older kids and young adults. Joining Reynolds is an impressive line up, including Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner, Zoe Saldana and Catherine Keener. Plus it's directed by Shawn Levy, who also gave us "Free Guy" and "Real Steel."
Synopsis: The story of the first moon landing in the summer of 1969 from two interwoven perspectives. It both captures the astronaut and mission control view of the triumphant moment, and the lesser-seen bottom up perspective of what it was like from an excited kid's perspective, living near NASA but mostly watching it on TV like hundreds of millions of others. It's ultimately both an exacting re-creation of this special moment in history and a kid's fantasy about being plucked from his average life in suburbia to secretly train for a covert mission to the moon.
Synopsis: An international fleet of naval warships encounters an alien armada while on a Naval war games exercise and faces the biggest threat mankind has ever faced. An intense battle is fought on sea, land and air. If they lose, the world could face a major extinction event and an alien invasion. Will humans win this alien war, what are the aliens doing here, and what do they want?
Why you should watch: The premise of this movie is mostly nonsense, but it's a well-made popcorn flick and as such, surprisingly enjoyable. The plot doesn't stretch the imagination and it's kept relatively simple, but the connection to the board game, on which this is very loosely based, is cleverly incorporated. The action is exciting, the accompanying rock ballads are well placed and thankfully it's not overloaded with cheese. A solid cast including Alexander Skarsgrd, Adam Godley and Rihanna, all deliver solid performances in fun, entertaining, military-themed sci-fi movie.
Why you should watch: This and "Maniac" are two of the best, little-known sci-fi thrillers on Netflix at the moment. An impressive cast, including Graham and also Kyle Soller you might know from "Andor," Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, Amaka Okafor and Shira Haas. The penultimate conclusion, is such an incredibly thrilling almost-finale, that when the actual finale comes, it throws you in a totally different direction. This is a masterclass in time travel thrillers and hopefully there will be a second season, but even if there isn't, this is still very much a must-see.
Why you should watch: This Dutch children's movie is not without its charm. Both Kika van de Vijver and Anniek Pheifer play Nova, as different ages and Marouane Meftah plays Nas. The story is interesting and the production values are high. Thanks to a combination of quality cinematography and a relevant underlying message, this feature from writer and director Maurice Trouwborst will more than likely appeal to many adults as well.
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