IMDb's Most Popular Movies and TV Shows of 2024: Deadpool & Wolverine to True Detective

As 2024 draws to a close, IMDb has revealed its highly anticipated list of the most popular movies and TV shows of the year. With over 250 million monthly visitors flocking to the site, these rankings are a pulse check on what truly captivated audiences worldwide. From record-breaking blockbusters like Deadpool & Wolverine to standout indie gems and True Detective groundbreaking TV series, 2024 has proven to be a year where both franchises and fresh ideas thrived.

Whether it’s the high-octane action of Marvel, the intrigue of crime dramas, or the eerie allure of indie horror, these titles reflect the diversity of tastes that keep fans glued to screens. Let’s dive into the IMDb’s Most popular movies and TV shows of 2024 an unforgettable year in entertainment.

IMDb’s Most Popular Movies of 2024

Longlegs

Genres: Police procedural, Horror, Mystery & Thriller, Crime
Released on: July 12, 2024
Director: Osgood Perkins
Starring: Maika Monroe, Alicia Witt, Blair Underwood, and Nicolas Cage
Watch On: Amazon Video, Apple TV
IMDb Rating: 6.7/10

The unsolved case of a serial killer lands on the desk of new FBI agent, Lee Harker. Turning over old evidence and discovering new clues, Harker unravels the occult nature of the crimes and slowly begins to realize just how personal the murders are.
It received critical acclaim and grossed $127 million worldwide on a budget of less than $10 million, becoming Neon’s highest-grossing film domestically, the highest-grossing independent film of the year, and Perkins’ highest-grossing film.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Released on: May 10, 2024
Director: Wes Ball
Starring: Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, William H. Macy
Watch On: Hulu and Disney+
IMDb Rating: 6.9/10

The new Apes movie is set many years after the conclusion of 2017’s War for the Planet of the Apes. Many apes societies have grown from when the Moses-like Caesar brought his people to an oasis, while humans have been reduced to a feral-like existence. Some ape groups have never heard of Caesar, while others have contorted his teaching to build burgeoning empires. In this setting, one ape leader begins to enslave other groups to find human technology, while another ape, who watched his clan be taken, embarks on a journey to find freedom. A young human woman becomes key to the latter’s quest, although she has plans of her own.
It is the fourth installment in the Planet of the Apes reboot film series and the tenth film overall, serving as a standalone sequel to War for the Planet of the Apes (2017). It received generally positive reviews from critics.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Horror
Released on: September 6, 2024
Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Justin Theroux, Arthur Conti, Monica Bellucci, Jenna Ortega, Willem Dafoe
Watch On: Max
IMDb Rating: 6.7/10

It is a sequel to Beetlejuice (1988) and the second film of the Beetlejuice franchise. The film received generally positive reviews from critics and audiences.
The Deetz family return to their ancestral home at Winter River. Brought together again by a tragic happening, three generations of the family unite. Lydia’s teenage daughter Astrid is curious and defiant, refusing to heed the warnings of her mother. Eventually she opens the portal to the Afterlife and unleashes the demon Beetlejuice.

Civil War

Genres: Action & Adventure, Mystery & Thriller, War & Military, Drama, War Epics
Released on: April 12, 2024
Director: Alex Garland
Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Sonoya Mizuno, and Nick Offerman
Watch On: Max
IMDb Rating: 7.0/10

The plot follows a team of war journalists traveling from New York City to Washington, D.C. during a civil war fought across the United States between a despotic federal government and secessionist movements to interview the president before rebels take the capital city.

The Substance

Genres: Body Horror, Science-Fiction, Drama
Released on: 20 September 2024
Director: Coralie Fargeat
Starring: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid
Watch On: MUBI
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10

It follows a fading celebrity (Demi Moore) who, after being fired by her producer (Dennis Quaid) due to her age, uses a black market drug that creates a much younger version of herself (Margaret Qualley) with unexpected side effects.

Alien: Romulus

Genres: Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Released on: August 16, 2024
Director: Fede Álvarez
Starring: Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, Aileen Wu
Watch On: Hulu
IMDb Rating: 7.1/10

It is part of the Alien franchise, set between the events of Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986).
Young interstellar travellers find themselves stranded on an alien planet across the galaxy. Forsaken in an unfamiliar landscape they are met by the most terrifying predator in the universe. The troupe must work together to survive against the odds.

Joker: Folie à Deux

Genres: Musical, Psychological, Thriller, Crime, Mystery
Released on: October 4, 2024
Director: Todd Phillips
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Zazie Beetz, Steve Coogan, Harry Lawtey, Leigh Gill
Watch On: Max
IMDb Rating: 5.2/10

Arthur Fleck has spawned a movement. Whether he intended it or not, Fleck has been turned and tipped over the edge into full-blown psychopathy. Fleck, now known as Joker is at Arkham Asylum, where he meets a fellow inmate who is curious and cunning. Joined in their madness, Joker and his newfound partner, Harley Quinn find music and magic in their madness.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Released on: 24 May 2024
Director: George Miller
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Alyla Browne
Watch On: Max
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

It is the fifth installment in Miller’s Mad Max franchise, and the first not focused on series protagonist Max Rockatansky, instead acting as both a spinoff prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) and an origin story for the Fury Road character Furiosa, portrayed by Anya Taylor-Joy and Alyla Browne in the prequel.
Set years before the events of Fury Road, the film follows the title character’s life for over a decade, from her kidnapping by the forces of warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) to her ascension to the rank of Imperator.

Dune: Part Two

Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
Released on: March 1, 2024
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken, Léa Seydoux, Stellan Skarsgård, Charlotte Rampling, Javier Bardem
Watch On: Max
IMDb Rating: 8.5/10

The sequel to Dune (2021), it is the second of a two-part adaptation of the 1965 novel Dune by Frank Herbert. The film “largely received rave reviews from critics”, and was praised for its visual effects and cast performances. Some reviews considered it one of the greatest science fiction films ever made.
Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.

Deadpool & Wolverine

Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Superhero
Released on: July 26, 2024
Director: Shawn Levy
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Aaron Stanford, Matthew Macfadyen
Watch On: Disney Plus
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10

The film is based on Marvel Comics featuring the characters Deadpool and Wolverine. It is the 34th film as part of Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the sequel to Deadpool (2016) and Deadpool 2 (2018).
In this multiverse story Deadpool is approached by a man named Paradox who intends on vaporizing his entire universe because apparently it’s not supposed to go on living without the now deceased hero Wolverine. Deadpool kidnaps another version of Wolverine to replace but this only results in Paradox banishing both Deadpool and Wolverine.

IMDb’s Most Popular TV Shows of 2024

3 Body Problem

Genres: Fantasy drama, Science fiction
Released on: March 21, 2024
Season: 1
Episodes: 8
Created by: David Benioff, D. B. Weiss, Alexander Woo
Starring: Benedict Wong, Jess Hong, Jovan Adepo, Eiza González, John Bradley, Alex Sharp, Rosalind Chao, Zine Tseng, Jonathan Pryce, Ben Schnetzer, Liam Cunningham, Marlo Kelly, Sea Shimooka, Saamer Usmani, Eve Ridley
Watch On: Netflix
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

Ye Wenjie is an astrophysicist who saw her father brutally murdered during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Later, she was conscripted by the military because of her scientific background and sent to a secret radar base in a remote region. Her fateful decision at the base echoes across space and time to a group of scientists in the present day, forcing them to face humanity’s greatest threat.

The Gentlemen

Genres: Action, Comedy, Crime
Released on: March 7, 2024
Season: 1
Episodes: 8
Created by: Guy Ritchie
Starring: Theo James, Kaya Scodelario, Daniel Ings, Joely Richardson, Vinnie Jones, Giancarlo Esposito, Ray Winstone
Watch On: Netflix
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10

The series follows Eddie Horniman, who has inherited his father’s sizeable estate only to discover that it’s sitting on top of a weed empire owned by the legendary Bobby Glass. Has this straight-up soldier got what it takes to master the dark arts of the British criminal underworld and take control of the entire operation?

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power TV Series Photo

Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Released on: August 29, 2024
Seasons: 2
Episodes: 16
Created by: J. D. Payne, Patrick McKay
Starring: Morfydd Clark, Lenny Henry, Sara Zwangobani, Dylan Smith, Markella Kavenagh, Megan Richards, Robert Aramayo, Benjamin Walker, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Nazanin Boniadi, Tyroe Muhafidin, Charles Edwards, Daniel Weyman, Owain Arthur, Charlie Vickers, Sophia Nomvete, Lloyd Owen, Cynthia Addai-Robinson
Watch On: Amazon Prime Video
IMDb Rating: 6.9/10

Set thousands of years before the novels The Hobbit (1937) and The Lord of the Rings (1954–55) by J. R. R. Tolkien, the series is based on the author’s history of Middle-earth. It begins during a time of relative peace and covers the major events of Middle-earth’s Second Age: the forging of the Rings of Power, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, the fall of the island kingdom of Númenor, and the last alliance between Elves and Men. These events take place over thousands of years in Tolkien’s works but are condensed for the series.

Bridgerton

Genres: Historical, Drama, Romance
Released on: December 25, 2020
Seasons: 3
Episodes: 24
Created by: Chris Van Dusen
Starring: Adjoa Andoh, Julie Andrews, Lorraine Ashbourne, Jonathan Bailey, Ruby Barker, Sabrina Bartlett, Harriet Cains, Bessie Carter, Nicola Coughlan, Phoebe Dynevor, Ruth Gemmell, Florence Hunt, Claudia Jessie, Ben Miller, Luke Newton, Regé-Jean Page, Golda Rosheuvel, Luke Thompson, Will Tilston
Watch On: Netflix
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10

From Shondaland (the creator of grey’s anatomy) and creator Chris Van Dusen, the first season of Bridgerton follows Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor), the eldest daughter of the powerful Bridgerton family as she makes her debut onto Regency London’s competitive marriage market. Hoping to follow in her parent’s footsteps and find a match sparked by true love, Daphne’s prospects initially seem to be unrivaled. But as her older brother (Jonathan Bailey) begins to rule out her potential suitors, the high society scandal sheet written by the mysterious Lady Whistledown (Julie Andrews) casts aspersions on Daphne. Enter the highly desirable and rebellious Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page), committed bachelor and the catch of the season for the debutantes’ mamas. Despite proclaiming that they want nothing the other has to offer, their attraction is undeniable and sparks fly as they find themselves engaged in an increasing battle of wits while navigating society’s expectations for their future.

Shōgun

Genres: Historical, Adventure, Drama
Released on: February 27, 2024
Season: 1
Episodes: 10
Created by: Rachel Kondo, Justin Marks
Starring: Hiroyuki Sanada, Cosmo Jarvis, Anna Sawai, Tadanobu Asano, Takehiro Hira, Tommy Bastow, Fumi Nikaido
Watch On: Hulu
IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

Based on James Clavell’s novel, FX’s Shōgun is set in Japan in the year 1600 at the dawn of a century-defining civil war. Lord Yoshii Toranaga is fighting for his life as his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him, when a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village.

House of the Dragon

Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Released on: August 21, 2022
Seasons: 2
Episodes: 18
Created by: Ryan J. Condal, George R. R. Martin
Starring: Paddy Considine, Emma D’Arcy, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Fabien Frankel
Watch On: HBO, Max
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

It is a prequel to the television series Game of Thrones (2011–2019) and is based on Martin’s 2018 novel Fire & Blood. Set two hundred years before the events of Game of Thrones, the series chronicles the beginning of the end of House Targaryen; the events leading up to and covering the Targaryen civil war, known as the “Dance of the Dragons”.

Fallout

Genres: Action, Black comedy, Drama, Post-apocalyptic, Satire, Science fiction, Western
Released on: April 10, 2024
Season: 1
Episodes: 8
Created by: Graham Wagner, Geneva Robertson-Dworet
Starring: Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Kyle MacLachlan, Moises Arias, Xelia Mendes-Jones, Walton Goggins
Watch On: Amazon Prime Video
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

The show depicts the aftermath of an apocalyptic nuclear exchange in an alternate history of Earth where advances in nuclear technology after WWII led to the emergence of a retrofuturistic society and a subsequent resource war. Many survivors took refuge in fallout bunkers known as Vaults, built to preserve humanity in the event of nuclear annihilation, unaware each Vault was designed to perform psychological experiments on the Vault Dwellers.
More than two hundred years later, a young woman named Lucy leaves behind her home in Vault 33 to venture out into the dangerously unforgiving wasteland of a devastated Los Angeles to look for her father. Along the way, she meets a Brotherhood of Steel squire and a ghoul bounty hunter, each with their own mysterious past and agendas to settle.

The Penguin

Genres: Gangster Crime, Drama, Superhero
Released on: September 19, 2024
Season: 1
Episodes: 8
Created by: Lauren LeFranc
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Deirdre O’Connell, Clancy Brown, Carmen Ejogo, Michael Zegen, Berto Colón, Scott Cohen, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Theo Rossi, James Madio, Nadine Malouf, Joshua Bitton, David H. Holmes, Daniel J. Watts, Jared Abrahamson, Ben Cook, Jayme Lawson, Aleska Palladino, Craig Walker, Tess Soltau, Marié Botha, Michael Kelly, and Mark Strong.
Watch On: HBO, Max
IMDb Rating: 8.7/10

Based on the DC Comics character of the same name, it serves as a spin-off sequel to the film The Batman (2022), following Oz Cobb’s rise to power in Gotham City’s criminal underworld. The series received critical acclaim for its performances, writing, direction, tone, and production values.

The Boys

Genres: Action, Black comedy, Drama, Satire, Superhero
Released on: July 26, 2019
Seasons: 4
Episodes: 32
Created by: Eric Kripke
Starring: Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Dominique McElligott, Jessie T. Usher, Chace Crawford, Laz Alonso, Tomer Capone, Karen Fukuhara, Nathan Mitchell, Elisabeth Shue, Colby Minifie, Aya Cash, Claudia Doumit, Jensen Ackles, Cameron Crovetti, Susan Heyward, Valorie Curry, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
Watch On: Amazon Prime Video
IMDb Rating: 8.7/10

Based on the comic book of the same name by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, it follows the eponymous team of vigilantes as they combat superpowered individuals (referred to as “Supes”) who abuse their powers for personal gain and work for a powerful company (Vought International) that ensures the general public views them as heroes.

True Detective

Genres: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Released on: January 12, 2014
Seasons: 4
Episodes: 30
Created by: Nic Pizzolatto (s. 1–3), Issa López (s. 4–5)
Watch On: HBO, Max
IMDb Rating: 8.9/10

In 2012, Louisiana State Police Detectives Rust Cohle and Martin Hart are brought in to revisit a homicide case they worked in 1995. As the inquiry unfolds in present day through separate interrogations, the two former detectives narrate the story of their investigation, reopening unhealed wounds, and drawing into question their supposed solving of a bizarre ritualistic murder in 1995. The timelines braid and converge in 2012 as each man is pulled back into a world they believed they’d left behind. In learning about each other and their killer, it becomes clear that darkness lives on both sides of the law.