12 Upcoming R-Rated Movies to Look Forward To (2024)

R-rated movies are hard to come by. Many filmmakers and studios resist that label because of potential complications with marketing and how widely it’s shown in theaters. Yet that same rating is what draws a significant subset of cinephiles to particular films. While it’s true that some R-rated films earn that label through gratuitous violence, sex, nudity, etc., others use said elements to heighten the story. Then there are raunchy PG-13 films that somehow avoided an R-rating.

For many seasoned movie watchers, it’s clear when a film wants to be edgy for edgy’s sake, and when it’s the right choice for that story. 2024 has an extensive list of films people are already waiting to buy tickets for. Only a handful of them are in this rated-R category. Luckily, it’s across various genres—comedies, horrors, thrillers, dramas. One particular release is going to be the first R-rated movie in a studio’s history. Let’s take a look at 13 of 2024’s upcoming rated R movies to keep on your radar.

12 Humane - April 26, 2024

Humane

R

Release Date

April 26, 2024

Director

Caitlin Cronenberg

Cast

Jay Baruchel , Emily Hampshire , Peter Gallagher , Enrico Colantoni , Sebastian Chacon

Main Genre

Horror

Runtime

93 Minutes

In Humane, an ecological collapse has devastated the entire planet and in order to preserve what’s left of the world, the government has created a euthanasia program. To avoid human extinction, twenty percent of the population must volunteer to die. The parents of the central family agree to sacrifice their lives, but the mom bails. However, the family won’t get out of this easily. When the program’s workers arrive at their door, they make it clear: two people still need to die.

A Campy Horror

The premise of this film could easily lend itself to a dark, chilling film, but the trailer promises a different tone. It has the feel of a satirical version of The Purge series, especially the first movie where a family was trapped in the house. However, the fact that they are all turning on each other is getting many movie lovers excited about the messiness that will ensue. Let the games begin.

11 Challengers - April 26, 2024

Challengers

R

4/5

Release Date

April 26, 2024

Director

Luca Guadagnino

Cast

Zendaya Coleman , Josh O'Connor , Mike Faist

Main Genre

Drama

Challengers is a romantic sports drama directed by Luca Guadagnino. Tashi Duncan is a renowned tennis star known for her prowess on the court and her magnetism off the court. Patrick and Art are two friends who admire Tashi and want to be in her orbit while climbing to the top of the sport. But Tashi suffers a career-ending injury and switches over to coaching. She works with both Patrick and Art, but the line between coach and lover blurs. Even when Tashi eventually marries one, the two can’t help but fight for her attention.

A New Direction

This film was originally slated for fall 2023 but was pushed back due to the SAG-AFTRA strike. The explicit and more adult content is a shift for the movie’s leading lady and co-producer, Zendaya. Though her hit show Euphoria gets quite dark and bleak, Challengers carries a more adult tone. The actress stated her excitement to Vogue about not playing solely teenagers anymore. That excitement is contagious, as fans have not stopped discussing the steamy trailer since it was released.

10 The Image of You - May 10, 2024

The Image of You (2024)

R

The Image of You is a drama film that follows the story of a successful businesswoman, played by Meredith Edwards, who begins to question her identity and relationships after being confronted with a mysterious stranger who claims to be her exact duplicate.

Release Date

May 10, 2024

Director

Jeff Fisher

Cast

Nestor Carbonell , Mira Sorvino , Sasha Pieterse , Parker Young , Rebekah Graf

Runtime

1hr 30min

Main Genre

Thriller

If people still have the belief that identical twins have similar personalities, Anna and Zoe in The Image of You will quickly dispel that notion. Zoe is sly and cunning, unafraid to hurt others, to entertain herself with her cruel mind games. Meanwhile, Anna is sweet and romantic, looking for Mr. Right. And she may have found him with Nick. But Zoe doesn’t like it when Anna has something she doesn’t and begins to set her sights on her sister’s new man.

Two of a Kind

Actress Sasha Pieterse’s Pretty Little Liars days may be long behind her, but she’s tapping into that mean girl energy with her portrayal of Zoe. It’s always fun when actors portray two characters, especially when they’re so different, like the sisters here. This thriller is based on a novel of the same name, and the trailer promises the exploration of both toxic romantic relationships and toxic sibling relationships.

9 Back to Black - May 17, 2024

Back to Black

Biography

Drama

Music

Back to Black is a biographical drama centering on the life of Amy Winehouse. The movie shows her rise to fame from a young age to adulthood and also covers her struggles with addiction. Marisa Abela stars as Amy Winehouse, with Sam Taylor-Johnson directing the biopic.

Release Date

May 10, 2024

Director

Sam Taylor-Johnson

Cast

Marisa Abela , Jack O'Connell , Eddie Marsan , Lesley Manville , Juliet Cowan

Amy Winehouse was an iconic singer known for her smooth, jazzy voice and sentimental lyrics. Back to Black uses the name of the singer’s album that became one of the best-selling albums in the UK ever. As is expected with most biographical dramas, it starts with the early days of Amy’s life and how she first realized her love for music. It covers her rise to fame, with smash hits like Rehab, but also turns down the stage lights and depicts what we know of the heartache and addictions the late singer faced in her personal life.

Do We Need This Film?

Despite being one of the best-selling artists during her time, there haven’t been any other biopics about Winehouse. With so many fans of her music, there’s immense pressure to get it right. The film had an earlier release in the UK and some reactions are lukewarm. Does Back to Black humanize the starlet or does it sensationalize her tragic life? As it continues to roll out around the world, audiences will have split opinions on that very question.

Related: 11 Best Movies About Musicians

8 Babes - May 17, 2024

Babes (2024)

R

Follows inseparable childhood best friends Eden and Dawn, having grown up together in NYC, now firmly in different phases of adulthood. When carefree and single Eden decides to have a baby on her own after a one-night stand, their friendship faces its greatest challenge. Babes delves into the complexities of female friendship with a blend of laughter, tears, and labor pains.

Release Date

May 17, 2024

Director

Pamela Adlon

Cast

Oliver Platt , John Carroll Lynch , Sandra Bernhard , Ilana Glazer , Michelle Buteau , Stephan James , Hasan Minhaj , Shola Adewusi

Main Genre

Comedy

Runtime

1hr 49min

Babes is a comedy about two lifelong friends named Eden and Dawn. They went to the same school together and experienced much of adult life together. However, things begin to shift once Dawn gives birth to her first child and starts transitioning into motherhood. Eden has a one-night stand, which results in a pregnancy, and decides to follow through with the pregnancy. However, will this new baby be what Eden and Dawn need to get back their close bond? Or is that chapter of their lives forever over?

A Funny Look at Female Friendships

Ilana Glazer stars in the movie as Eden and also co-wrote and co-produced it, and those familiar with her work are drawing tonal comparisons to Broad City. It’s not the first movie about an unexpected pregnancy upending a woman’s life. It’s not even the first movie about it happening on a one-night stand. Knocked Up comes to mind, though what differs this 2024 release from that is the focus on friendship rather than a relationship.

While it seems the trailer gave away a lot of what takes place, it may be worth seeing in theaters to see the jokes play out.

7 The Bikeriders - June 21, 2024

The Bikeriders

R

See Also

The 25 Best R-Rated Horror Movies of All Time, Ranked

Release Date

December 1, 2023

Director

Jeff Nichols

Cast

Austin Butler , Jodie Comer , Tom Hardy , Michael Shannon , Mike Faist , Boyd Holbrook

Main Genre

Crime

Runtime

1hr 56min

The Vandals in The Bikeriders are an outlaw motorcycle gang operating in Chicago during the 1960s. They’re led by Johnny, who never shies away from violence to protect the group’s reputation. The newest addition to the Vandals is Benny, who yearns to prove his loyalty to the group. One night, he meets a woman named Kathy at the bar, and it’s clear their connection is strong. But as the Vandals grow more violent and sink further into the world of organized crime, it’s apparent that Benny won’t be able to have both his new love and his new-found family.

A Cast Viewers Trust

After the massive success of Elvis, the film world waited with bated breath to see what Austin Butler would do next. While he’s staying in the historical space, the two films couldn’t be more different. Audiences don’t get too much about Benny’s backstory and personality from the trailer, but pairing Butler alongside actors like Jodie Comer and Tom Hardy gives us a lot of faith that it’ll be well acted.

Knowing that crime and violence are baked into the premise, along with the R rating, has moviegoers anticipating many intense fight scenes involving these hardened bikers that may be hard to watch.

6 MaXXXine - July 5, 2024

MaXXXine

In 1980s Hollywood, adult film star and aspiring actress Maxine Minx lands her big break, but her rise to stardom is jeopardized by a mysterious killer targeting starlets. As the body count rises, secrets from Maxine's past threaten to surface, intertwining her quest for fame with a deadly game of survival.

Release Date

July 5, 2024

Director

Ti West

Cast

Mia Goth , Elizabeth Debicki , Michelle Monaghan , Lily Collins , Giancarlo Esposito , Kevin Bacon , Bobby Cannavale , Halsey

Main Genre

Horror

One of A24’s highly anticipated releases for this year is MaXXXine, a slasher film that combines the grizzly nature of true crime with the sparkly facade of Hollywood. Set in the 1980s, Maxine Minx is an adult film star who goes to Los Angeles with the same dream as many young adults: to become famous. But she has more than auditions to worry about, as a serial killer known as the Night Stalker prowls the streets at the same time as she’s trying to make her mark on the city.

A Finale That Shouldn't Disappoint

MaXXXine is the final installment in the X trilogy. The first film followed Maxine’s early days making p*rnographic films in Texas, only to find herself in the path of an elderly homicidal couple. The second film shows how Pearl, one half of the couple, became who she was. Mia Goth is the face of all the films and even nabbed writing credits on the second. Fans are eager to see how the cast and crew will round out Maxine’s journey.

Related: Every Horror Movie Releasing in April 2024

5 Deadpool & Wolverine - July 26, 2024

Release Date

July 26, 2024

Director

Shawn Levy

Cast

Ryan Reynolds , Hugh Jackman , Morena Baccarin , Jennifer Garner , Matthew Macfadyen , Brianna Hildebrand , Rob Delaney

Main Genre

Action

Deadpool & Wolverine is a highly anticipated film centering two of Marvel’s most-loved characters. In a screenplay co-written by Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool) himself, it’ll follow Deadpool who is settling into life as a normal person. However, that tranquility is shattered when the Time Variance Authority rips him from a birthday celebration and informs him that his abilities are needed to protect the multiverse.

Don't Ruin It, Disney!

The official synopsis and trailers don’t feature much of Hugh Jackman’s character Wolverine, yet from the title fans expect him to be a major force in the movie. What fans are more sure of is the humor that the Deadpool movies are known for. The R rating came as a surprise, as the original studio was acquired by Disney while Deadpool & Wolverine was still in development.

Luckily, for those who appreciate the more mature tone, being under the mouse house doesn’t seem like it’s going to soften this film’s edges.

4 Cuckoo - August 9, 2024

Cuckoo

Release Date

August 9, 2024

Director

Tilman Singer

Cast

Hunter Schafer , Jessica Henwick , Dan Stevens , Marton Csokas , Astrid Bergès-Frisbey

Runtime

1hr 42min

Main Genre

Horror

Scary movies are having a big year in 2024, and that continues with the psychological horror Cuckoo. Gretchen is a teenage girl who moves to the German Alps to live with her father, who has an entirely new family. It may be scenic, but from the jump, something feels a little off about the place. One particular oddity comes in the form of Mr. König, who runs Alpenplatz, the resort where her father lives. Mr. König invites Gretchen to work for him, and she begins to witness the strange occurrences happening within and around the resort.

Living Up to the Hype

The trailers of Cuckoo do an excellent job of creating a spooky atmosphere while still leaving viewers with plenty of questions they’ll have to get answered by filing into theaters. This is a departure for lead actress Hunter Schafer, who is most known for her work in television and film dramas like Euphoria and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. It remains to be seen whether the film will deliver the expectations it set up in the entertaining previews.

3 Kraven the Hunter - August 30, 2024

Kraven the Hunter

Release Date

December 13, 2024

Director

J.C. Chandor

Cast

Aaron Taylor-Johnson , Fred Hechinger , Russell Crowe , Alessandro Nivola , Christopher Abbott , Ariana DeBose

Main Genre

Action

Sergei Kravenoff, later known as Kraven, never had the warmest relationship with his mother. One would think the death of his mother would bring them closer, but it did not. His father remained cold, distant, and adamant that his son never show weakness. This includes when a hunting trip leads to a lion maiming Kraven. However, physical scars weren’t the most damaging mark left behind from the attack. Kraven now has a strong connection with animals to track prey, which he uses to get back at his father.

A Violent & Bloody Marvel Film

The trailer alone makes it clear why Kraven the Hunter landed its R rating. Kraven kills a lot, and the shots don’t pan away or soften the blows. Kill shots with blood come in full force, giving viewers a glimpse of surely what’s to come. It’s easy to lose track of the number of deaths in the preview alone. However, with the complex relationship between Kraven and his father woven throughout the trailer, as well as brief glimpses into his love interest, many hope there will also be added emotional depth to this action-packed film.

Related: Explained: Who Is Kraven the Hunter?

2 Joker: Folie à Deux - October 4, 2024

Joker: Folie a Deux

Release Date

October 4, 2024

Director

Todd Phillips

Cast

Zazie Beetz , Brendan Gleeson , Joaquin Phoenix , Lady Gaga , Catherine Keener , Harry Lawtey

Main Genre

Crime

Joker: Folie à Deux is the sequel to Joker, which centers on one of DC’s most iconic villains. Joaquin Phoenix reprises his role as the clown-faced criminal, and this time shows how he met his future love interest. Joker is not doing too hot as he’s incarcerated at Arkham State Hospital, a mental health facility. Soon, he catches the eye of fellow patient Harley Quinn, played by Lady Gaga. Though the setup of this movie is quite straightforward, due to what fans know about Joker and Harley’s eccentric personalities, many are hopeful for a twisted romance.

Filling Big Shoes

Margot Robbie portrayed Harley Quinn and made the character truly iconic for modern-day audiences. Once it became clear she wouldn’t take on the role again here, many fans were disappointed. That is, until Gaga was announced. The singer-turned-actress has truly proved over the last several years that she is a gifted performer in various mediums, and fans are excited to see what she’ll bring to this role.

Related: Why Joker 2 Being a Musical Makes It Even More Unhinged

1 Nightbitch - December 6, 2024

Nightbitch

R

Release Date

December 6, 2024

Director

Marielle Heller

Cast

Amy Adams , Scoot McNairy , Zoe Chao , Mary Holland , Kerry O'Malley

Main Genre

Comedy

Nightbitch has the furthest release date out on this list, and therefore, the one audiences know the least about. As of April 2024, there is no official trailer or photos, but that hasn’t curbed fans’ enthusiasm for this comedy horror. However, given that it’s based on a popular novel, many can glean what it’ll be about. Our unnamed protagonist is an artist and stay-at-home mom of a young son caught in a loop of a mundane life. She craves a new, exciting change in her life and gets that when she starts to turn into a dog at night.

A Wild Concept

This movie is up there for one of the more unique premises for 2024 releases. With such a bizarre setup, it’s no wonder that comedic elements will be present. Amy Adams stars in the film and contributed to the production as well, which is sure to draw in a sizable audience. Many are awaiting the trailer to see exactly where the R rating stems from. In the meantime, until we know, perhaps cinephiles can transition to bibliophiles and read the original work.