Top 10 Anticipated Nostalgia Bait Movies
#10: “Road House” (2024)
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Nothing screams the 1980s quite like Joel Silver and Patrick Swayze. Now, “Road House” was not a huge winner back in the summer of 1989. It did good-not-great business, scoring just over $60 million, and earned pretty bad reviews with five Razzie nominations. It’s not really the type of movie that screams for a remake. Yet Amazon is releasing one in March, starring Jake Gyllenhaal as a former UFC fighter working at the titular Florida roadhouse. We’re cautiously optimistic given the talents of Gyllenhaal and director Doug Liman, who has worked on films like “Edge of Tomorrow” and “American Made.”
#9: “The Fall Guy” (2024)
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And speaking of the 1980s, let’s talk about “The Fall Guy.” This was a popular show on ABC that ran for five seasons between 1981 and 1986. It follows Lee Majors as Colt Seavers, a Hollywood stuntman slash bounty hunter who catches the bad guys using his specific set of skills. On May 3, it will be Ryan Gosling’s turn to play Colt, who is tasked with finding a missing actor played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson. It not only plays on our nostalgia for ‘80s TV, but also our thirst for goofy action comedies, which is a genre you don’t see much of nowadays. And if we have faith in anyone, it’s Ryan Gosling.
#8: Untitled “Karate Kid” Movie (2024)
Yep, it’s another “Karate Kid” film! The original movie was a smashing success in 1984, grossing $130 million. And the cultural obsession hasn’t stopped since. This untitled sixth film will not be connected to “Cobra Kai” and will instead directly follow the 2010 movie starring Jaden Smith. Jackie Chan will reprise his role as Mr. Han, and Ralph Macchio will also make an appearance as Daniel LaRusso. Macchio’s involvement is the very definition of nostalgia bait, as proven by the incredible success of “Cobra Kai.” Details about the sixth film are scarce at this time, but considering the recent success of the TV series, we can see it doing extremely well.
#7: “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” (2024)
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No, this isn’t the ghost of the “Ghostbusters” franchise - the series is alive and well, and this is the brand new entry! “Frozen Empire” is the direct sequel to “Afterlife,” which itself relied on nostalgia for most of its emotional core. Many people liked it, so now we’re getting another one. The concept is certainly fresh, concerning a new monster that freezes New York City under a layer of ice. But for fans of the original film, this movie is a certified checklist of returnees. The old New York firehouse, all of the OG Ghostbusters minus Harold Ramis, even Library Ghost, Janine, and Walter Peck - all are here, and all have captured our imaginations in a colorful nostalgia beam.
#6: “Alien: Romulus” (2024)
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Let’s be honest here, the “Alien” franchise has been kinda dormant since “Aliens” nearly, um, forty years ago. Many people don’t like the follow-ups, and while “Prometheus” has its fans, it is often criticized for its plotting - especially in relation to the “Alien” mythology. Well, enter “Alien: Romulus,” a standalone film directed by Fede Álvarez that takes place between the first and second movies. While it will likely ignore the events and characters of those films, it is nevertheless playing on our nostalgia for the franchise’s glory days, when good storytelling and gorgeous practical effects reigned supreme. Let’s just hope this one keeps things simple.
#5: “Gladiator 2” (2024)
Even at 86 years old, Ridley Scott is releasing historical epics and showing the young ‘uns how it’s done. Just one week before the director turns 87 he will release “Gladiator 2,” the direct follow-up to his Best Picture-winning masterpiece that became a cultural sensation. This movie has been worked on in some capacity since 2001, but script problems and financial difficulties at DreamWorks kept it in development hell for years. Well, ok, decades. But the world will finally experience the payoff on November 22, with “Gladiator 2” likely blending the old with the new in many exciting ways.
#4: “Deadpool & Wolverine” (2024)
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The entire MCU is basically riding on the shoulders of “Deadpool & Wolverine,” but we have faith that it will do well. Why? A combination of Deadpool and heavy doses of nostalgia. The latter comes in the form of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, who has been rocking the big screen since the original “X-Men” all the way back in 2000. While “Logan” was the perfect sendoff for the beloved character, he returns to theaters yet again, this time teaming up Ryan Reynolds’s foul-mouthed smart aleck. Jackson has promised that Deadpool and Logan will have a “quarreling dynamic,” and we can’t wait to see the sparks fly.
#3: “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” (2024)
It’s been 36 years, but we’re finally getting a follow-up to the acclaimed ‘80s classic “Beetlejuice.” All the stars are here, including Michael Keaton as the titular character and both Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara as Lydia and Delia Deetz. Now that’s an ‘80s cast if we’ve ever heard one! They will be reuniting with director Tim Burton, who has been working on a “Beetlejuice” sequel in some capacity since the early ‘90s. His involvement will guarantee excellence, and we can’t wait to see what Michael Keaton does with the character after nearly forty years. “Beetlejuice” is back from the dead, indeed.
#2: “Twisters” (2024)
Many people have fond memories of “Twister,” one of the quintessential disaster films of the 1990s. Frankly, we’re surprised that a sequel took this long, considering the massive success of the first film and the nostalgic warmth it holds for the ‘90s. And fear not - “Twisters” will play into that nostalgia. The story will reportedly focus on the daughter of Jo and Bill, and it was shot on location in Oklahoma, just as the first movie was. But there’s enough here to keep things fresh, including a brand new cast and 21st century visual effects. We are so here for the carnage.
#1: “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” (2024)
If the other movies on this list were plastic nostalgia bait, then this is a juicy wriggling worm. “Axel F” will be the fourth movie in the franchise, following the massive disappointment that was “Beverly Hills Cop III.” That movie put the franchise out of everyone’s minds, but this is the age of nostalgia! Various stars will be returning for the fourth go-round, including Paul Reiser, Judge Reinhold, and of course Eddie Murphy, whose Axel Foley will arrive in the titular city after thirty years away. Much has changed in that time - both within the city itself and the entertainment landscape. Will it welcome another “Beverly Hills Cop” movie? We don’t know, but we certainly have hope! Are you looking forward to these movies, or are you done with it all? Let us know in the comments below!
