Summer movie season feels so far away but thankfully we won’t have to wait for May to get to some of the most highly-anticipated movies of 2024. The box office is unusually loaded this spring and this week’s South by Southwest festival in Austin is showcasing a number of those spring releases that are generating some serious buzz among critics and movie-lovers. From horror to action to comedy, the event features a wide range of offerings, particularly 7 films slated for wide release in theaters over the next couple of months. Take a look at what festival attendees at SXSW are saying about the big premieres this week.
Civil War
Director Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Annihilation) steps into the world of modern warfare with this harrowing depiction of a modern civil war in a deeply divided America. The cast features Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemmons and Nick Offerman and while many are praising the performances and the shocking action sequences, viewers seem divided on the movie overall.
Civil War is something special. Alex Garland firing on all cylinders with a beautifully character driven story that refuses to pull back from the harrowing & senseless realities of war. This film left me shaking. Incredible performances. Thrilling & devastating. I loved it #sxsw
— stoobs (@thejstoobs) March 15, 2024
Um… Alex Garland’s Civil War is incredible. A true knockout. The movies I want to compare it to will force an overhype situation, so I’ll just leave it at that. One of the most engrossing movies I’ve seen in years. Goddamn.
— Eric Vespe (@EricVespe) March 15, 2024
Alex Garland’s #CIVILWAR is a masterpiece. Feels like a cross between a civil war movie and an A24 movie. Kirsten Dunst equally channels Tara Reid and Faye Dunaway and is unbelievable. Will never look at people the same way again. Offerman’s Oscar campaign starts now 🤯 #SXSW pic.twitter.com/KngJHGbhqp
— Sharon Haircut, esq. (@HoleAndOates) March 15, 2024
Civil War: Never seen a movie so loud with so little to say. Just so sad that Alex Garland never directed anything else after Ex Machina, Annihilation, and Devs. #SXSW2024
— Jeff Zhang 张佶润 (@strangeharbors) March 15, 2024
The Fall Guy
It’s been a heck of a week for Ryan Gosling. He started it off by stealing the show at the Oscars with his performance of “I’m Just Ken”, then flew straight to Austin for the premiere of his action-rom-com about a stuntman, co-starring Emily Blunt as his ex-girlfriend who is now directing a film he’s working on. Audiences seemed completely charmed by the The Fall Guy.
THE FALL GUY is so fun that I’m willing to forgive David Leitch for his crimes (HOBBS & SHAW). Ryan Gosling has finely tuned his action-comedy instincts to perfection. The only thing that would make this better was if it also starred Russell Crowe and was set in the ‘70s
— Hoai-Tran Bui (@htranbui) March 14, 2024
The Fall Guy has big “the movies are back” vibes. huge. runs way out of gas in the second half but honestly who gives a shit. this is what it’s all about: not a superhero in sight, just chemistry & car crashes & Ryan Gosling wearing a jacket. let’s make it a hit & never look back
— david ehrlich (@davidehrlich) March 14, 2024
I’m really surprised by how much I like THE FALL GUY, a popcorn action flick with high-wattage star power that knows exactly what it wants to be. My #SXSW2024 review via @Screendaily https://t.co/kCfiMgfaYG
— Robert Daniels (@812filmreviews) March 13, 2024
THE FALL GUY is one of the best action comedies in years. If TROPIC THUNDER, LETHAL WEAPON, & FLETCH had a baby this is it. Pure entertainment. Somehow Ryan Gosling is even better in this than BARBIE. Sorry, not sorry. 😬
— Josh Horowitz (@joshuahorowitz) March 13, 2024
THE FALL GUY is fantastic! The action is great, Blunt & Gosling have amazing chemistry, and it’s hysterically funny! The Fall Guy is a must-see that I would recommend this to absolutely anyone!
I found a new favorite comedy I can’t wait to rewatch over and over #SXSW2024 pic.twitter.com/XBlC7Qu5Lr
— Shadan Larki @ #SXSW2024 (@ShadanLarki) March 13, 2024
Babes
Pamela Adlon’s film Babes is another comedy making noise at SXSW thanks to heartfelt performances from Broad City star Ilana Glazer and Michelle Buteau. Glazer stars as a woman who becomes pregnant from a one-night stand and must rely on the knowledge of Buteau to navigate pregnancy and motherhood.
BABES is my favorite movie at SXSW so far, by a mile. My face hurts from laughing so much. The funniest movie, in fact, that I’ve seen in a long time. Ilana Glazer for president. pic.twitter.com/bqnfKCbyVG
— Kit Lazer (@moviesRtherapy) March 10, 2024
BABES: Pamela Adlon’s perfect pairing with Ilana Glazer offers that kind of consistent infectious comic energy that audiences will eat up while also slyly setting them up for truths both harsh and heartfelt. Really enjoyed it. #SXSW
— Erik Childress (@EriktheMovieman) March 10, 2024
I love the hell out of “BABES,” the kind of wild & outrageously raunchy R-rated crowd-pleaser that #SXSW was made for! It’s hilarious & so well-written, but what really sells it is the endearing & big-hearted chemistry between ILANA GLAZER & @MichelleButeau! It’s a WINNER! #SXSW pic.twitter.com/FnDWUPN4HN
— Scott Mantz 🖖 (@MovieMantz) March 10, 2024
Immaculate
Immaculate is Sydney Sweeney’s third major studio release this year, and it’s only March! And while Anyone But You was a big box office hit, this religious-themed horror movie is potentially Sweeney’s best-reviewed film of her career.
IMMACULATE… oh my God. As a former Catholic school student that had to spend a day at a convent, I think I just get it. I laughed, I gagged, I screamed, and I almost cried. An intense and overwhelming horror piece about bodily autonomy. pic.twitter.com/9gcIODeKYs
— film posers™️ Josie Marie 🍉 (@TheJosieMarie) March 15, 2024
I think I’m finally allowed to say that I saw IMMACULATE a few weeks ago and it is a CORKER. Sydney Sweeney writes her place in horror history with this one. So excited to see it again, and to discuss the ending with people. Fuuuucking hell. pic.twitter.com/Mig1qnhknY
— eric (@MrEAnders) March 13, 2024
IMMACULATE isn’t just a clever title; it’s also that damn good. Sweeney proves herself to be a natural born final girl *and* savvy producer, Mohan brings the goopy goods, and the film pulls exactly zero punches with its subject matter. One of the best horror films of the year. pic.twitter.com/70Z8ste3og
— Bill Bria (@billbria) March 13, 2024
Monkey Man
After years of frustration regarding the roles he was being offered in Hollywood, Dev Patel decided to write and direct his own action franchise. Patel’s bet on himself appears to have paid off in a big way, at least judging by the tremendous reception his film Monkey Man received at SXSW. The film received a standing ovation at its premiere followed by gushing reviews online.
Seeing this live was…a lot. https://t.co/OylURnmKNw pic.twitter.com/rF719BKzop
— Joanna Robinson (@jowrotethis) March 14, 2024
MONKEY MAN is more than just a bloody good time. Dev Patel takes his time with the storytelling, weaving personal tragedy with inner strength, mythology with modern political revolutions. It’s an action tour de force, full of talent and fucking passion in every frame. #SXSW pic.twitter.com/hhKyJRM8oW
— kevin l. lee @ SXSW (@Klee_FilmReview) March 12, 2024
Monkey Man: Dev Patel’s got rocket fuel in his veins as an action director and an action star. One of the most assured, kinetic debuts I’ve seen: gorgeous, crunchy, and relentless. What a blast. #SXSW2024 pic.twitter.com/m6gBpnRL1i
— Jeff Zhang 张佶润 (@strangeharbors) March 12, 2024
MONKEY MAN: Every bit of this movie is earned. A powerful revenge story that goes through the gamut of action with powerful force. Dev Patel with a directing debut that rips.
🎥#AMovieGuySXSW #MonkeyMan pic.twitter.com/zBXfOz18w1— AMovieGuy.com @SXSW (@LeosAMovieGuy) March 12, 2024
MONKEY MAN: Dev Patel has casually debuted with one of the most exciting action films of the century. A lifetime of influence from around the world forged into something new. Meticulously crafted but completely alive with culture & dynamic visual language. Total barn burner. Wow. pic.twitter.com/2zaITBTMQg
— Sydney🚀 (@CountVolpe) March 12, 2024
Road House
Jake Gyllenhaal stars in a remake of the 1989 Patrick Swayze tough-guy classic and while this one won’t be going to theaters (it’s streaming on Amazon Prime as of March 21st), it did have a premiere at SXSW and audiences seemed to like the film’s action scenes while being less impressed with other aspects.
It’s too bad ROAD HOUSE is only streaming because watching it w/ the crowd at #SXSW was the best part. The story is severely lacking but that’s not why we’re here – McGregor gnashing scenery & energetic action (Face/Off inspo?) keep it afloat. Self aware as a remake, which helps. pic.twitter.com/nEUB0RyJeG
— Sydney🚀 (@CountVolpe) March 9, 2024
ROAD HOUSE is a brutal, rowdy remake of the 1989 PATRICK SWAYZE classic that works on its own merits, thanks to JAKE GYLLENHAAL’s commitment, DOUG LIMAN’s visceral direction & CONOR MCGREGOR’s wild, crazy, scene-stealing performance! When these punches land, they LAND! #SXSW pic.twitter.com/sJINZVLl3C
— Scott Mantz 🖖 (@MovieMantz) March 9, 2024
Road House was a great headliner to kick off this year’s #SXSW! Some of the most brutal action scenes I’ve seen from a film in quite a while, and Jake Gyllenhaal delivered an incredible performance! pic.twitter.com/qk8OD09oOB
— Dorian Parks (@DorianParksnRec) March 9, 2024
ROAD HOUSE: A disappointing and unfortunate "woof." Problems galore. Digital effects are ugly, the action tracking feels off, and performances are a mixed-bag … really underwhelming all around. #SXSW pic.twitter.com/eZgi3dwUUd
— Matt Donato (@DoNatoBomb) March 9, 2024
Road House was a mixed. Its fun & funny (modern quip humor) but the road house & bouncer culture feel side lined. The action is shot w/ immersive techniques: awesome when it worked, didnt all work. Entertaining but lacking a distinct personality. Played GREAT in the theater pic.twitter.com/u8F8sl5ZbO
— Sean Chandler @ SXSW (@kirkneverdied) March 9, 2024
Y2K
Former Saturday Night Live cast member Kyle Mooney wrote and directed this horror comedy about an AI uprising on New Year’s Day 2000. Audiences seem to really love the Millennial nostalgia as well as Mooney’s writing and the young cast.
Y2K: Finally a horror movie that appreciates Limp Bizkit as much as the band deserves! Kyle Mooney turns late 90s nostalgia into huge laughs and rarely lets up in this goofy-violent crowd pleaser. It’s a blast, start to finish. #SXSW pic.twitter.com/7PpmBAQdZf
— Matt Donato (@DoNatoBomb) March 10, 2024
Y2K- Finally, elder millennials have a MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE to call there own. A very funny, very dark movie about an AI uprising on NYE 2000. A great cast, a great collection of “remember this” moments for this Class of 2003 graduate. #SXSW pic.twitter.com/oPTuFtukwm
— Rob Saucedo (@robsaucedo2500) March 10, 2024
What if the Y2K bug was actually real? The turn of the millennium may have looked quite like Kyle Mooney’s Y2K, a painfully hilarious time capsule with a wicked sci-fi twist. Avoid spoilers if you can; this is one hell of a chaotic ride. Rachel Zegler SUPREMACY. #SXSW pic.twitter.com/PD3PWvUM7I
— Dancin' Dan in Oscar Land (@dancindanonfilm) March 10, 2024
Y2K is just as off the wall bonkers as I wanted it to be! This absolutely stacked cast perfectly delivers on the comedic gem of a script from Kyle Mooney & Evan Winter. So many nostalgic Easter Eggs & fun surprises! An instant cult classic. See it in a packed theater! #Y2K #sxsw pic.twitter.com/WogsiK6xWy
— Tessa Smith – Mama's Geeky (@MamasGeeky) March 10, 2024
