Throughout 2024, filmmakers have released multiple movies with runtimes between two and four hours, but some of the longest films don’t warrant the audience’s extra time and attention. After the strikes of 2023, viewers went into last year with extra excitement. Some of the highest-grossing films of 2024 included Wicked, Marvel’s Wolverine & Deadpool, and Inside Out 2. In addition to offering many great original films, the year brought about many movies with runtimes above 2 hours.
Long movies are nothing new in Hollywood, but they’re historically difficult to market. This makes it impressive that nine of the ten longest films of the year released in theaters, rather than going directly to streaming. Despite this, some of the longest movies of 2024 received great fanfare and performed well at the box office. Still, a few filmmakers pushed their luck too far in 2024 by making movies that couldn’t justify their runtimes.
The End was left off this list because it only had a limited release in theaters in 2024, and it wasn’t released for digital or streaming.
10
Cabrini (March 8, 2024)
Runtime: 2 Hours & 22 Minutes
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Cabrini
PG-13
BiographyDrama
Where to Watch
- stream
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Not available
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Not available
*Availability in US
Release Date
March 8, 2024
Runtime
142 Minutes
Main Genre
Biography
Cast
Cristiana Dell’Anna
, David Morse
, Romana Maggiora Vergano
, Federico Ielapi
, Virginia Bocelli
, Rolando Villazón
, Giancarlo Giannini
, John Lithgow
Director
Alejandro Monteverde
Writers
Rod Barr
, Alejandro Monteverde
Studio(s)
Francesca Film Production NY
, Lupin Film
, Lodigiano Film Development Inc.
Distributor(s)
Angel Studios
Expand
On the lower side of the longest movies in 2024 is the biopic Cabrini. The film follows the first canonized American Catholic saint, Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, as she tries to establish housing and healthcare for impoverished Italian immigrants in the New York City slums. Like many biopics, this movie runs long because it covers such a large portion of Cabrini’s life, spanning three decades.
Ultimately, the 2-hour and 22-minute runtime helps Cabrini succeed rather than hindering it. Director Alejandro Gomez Monteverde uses the longer runtime to sprinkle in foundational information about her childhood, faith, and immigration to the United States. This context explains her motivation and mentality as she goes up against sexism and xenophobia. A few moments dragged, but overall, the movie was steadily paced, using the extra time strategically to paint a detailed picture of Cabrini’s plight.
9
Divorce In the Black (July 11, 2024)
Runtime: 2 Hours & 23 Minutes
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4/10
13
9.3/10
Tyler Perry’s Divorce in the Black
R
DramaThriller
Where to Watch
- stream
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Not available
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Not available
*Availability in US
Release Date
July 11, 2024
Runtime
143 Minutes
Main Genre
Drama
Cast
Meagan Good
, Cory Hardrict
, Joseph Lee Anderson
, Shannon Wallace
, Taylor Polidore
, Richard Lawson
, Debbi Morgan
Director
Tyler Perry
Writers
Tyler Perry
Expand
The only streaming movie to appear on the top 10 longest movies of 2024 is Tyler Perry’s Divorce in the Black. The Prime Video drama tells the story of Ava, a woman who’s given a second chance with her first love after her abusive husband decides to leave the marriage. Divorce in the Black runs 2 hours and 23 minutes, and the length doesn’t hurt or help the drama. There’s a good reason why Divorce in the Black has a 0% Rotten Tomatoes score.
Despite Divorce in the Black’s excellent cast, only the first 10 minutes of the Tyler Perry film are intriguing. The rest of the film is filled with poor dialogue, random tone shifts, stereotypes, and a frustratingly cliche ending. While some of the Divorce in the Black scenes were unnecessary and could’ve been cut, it wouldn’t have saved the movie from abject failure with critics.
8
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (May 10, 2024)
Runtime: 2 Hours & 25 Minutes
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8/10
8.6/10
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
PG-13
Action Sci-Fi
Set several years after the events of War for the Planet of the Apes, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is the next installment in the Apes saga. Ape clans have taken up residence in the oasis that Caesar sought to colonize, but humans have reverted to their animalistic nature in their absence. Now battling between enslavement and freedom, outliers in the Ape clans will take sides in a newly burgeoning society.
Release Date
May 10, 2024
Runtime
145 Minutes
Main Genre
Sci-Fi
Franchise(s)
Planet of the Apes
Cast
Kevin Durand
, Freya Allan
, Peter Macon
, Owen Teague
, Eka Darville
, Sara Wiseman
, Neil Sandilands
Director
Wes Ball
Writers
Patrick Aison
, Josh Friedman
, Rick Jaffa
, Amanda Silver
Prequel(s)
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
, dawn of the Planet of the apes movie
, War for the Planet of the Apes
Sequel(s)
Planet of the Apes
, Beneath the Planet of the Apes
, Escape from the Planet of the Apes
, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
, Battle for the Planet of the Apes
Studio(s)
20th Century
, Chernin Entertainment
, Oddball Entertainment
, Shinbone Productions
Distributor(s)
20th Century
Expand
The most recent installment of the Planet of the Apes movie franchise is the 2024 film Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Three hundred years after Caesar’s death, the movie follows a young chimpanzee named Noa and a human named Mae who try to find freedom against a tyrannical leader who distorts Caesar’s messages.
The 2-hour and 25-minute runtime for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes might seem daunting to most moviegoers, but it isn’t out of place for the sci-fi franchise. The previous film, War for the Planet of the Apes, was only 5 minutes shorter. As such, the length isn’t a problem in and of itself, but the movie could’ve been cut down by a couple of minutes. A few scenes in the middle linger a little too long without having a dramatic impact.
7
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (May 24, 2024)
Runtime: 2 Hours & 28 Minutes
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27
8.1/10
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
R
Adventure Sci-FiAction
Where to Watch
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Not available
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*Availability in US
Release Date
May 24, 2024
Runtime
148 Minutes
Main Genre
Adventure
Cast
Anya Taylor-Joy
, Chris Hemsworth
, Tom Burke
, Alyla Browne
, Nathan Jones
, Angus Sampson
, Daniel Webber
, Lachy Hulme
Character(s)
Furiosa
, Dementus
, Praetorian Jack
, Young Furiosa
, Rictus Erectus
, The Organic Mechanic
, The Bullet Farmer
, Immortan Joe
Director
George Miller
Writers
George Miller
, Nick Lathouris
Franchise(s)
Mad Max
Sequel(s)
Mad Max: Fury Road
Budget
168 million
Studio(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Distributor(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Expand
Nine years after Mad Max: Fury Road’s release, Warner Bros came out with a prequel focused on the origin story of Charlize Theron’s Imperator Furiosa. In the movie, the titular main character tries to survive and make her way back to her home after getting kidnapped from the Green Place of Many Mothers. Furiosa runs significantly longer than the other movies in the franchise, surpassing the original by one hour.
|
Mad Max Runtimes |
|
|---|---|
|
Mad Max |
1 hr & 25 mins |
|
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior |
1 hr & 34 mins |
|
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome |
1 hr & 47 mins |
|
Mad Max: Fury Road |
2 hrs |
|
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga |
2 hrs & 28 mins |
Unfortunately, the Mad Max prequel doesn’t justify the two-hour and 28-minute runtime. One-third of the Furiosa movie feels like exposition that could’ve been edited down significantly since much of it wasn’t integral to the plot, and the pacing could’ve been tightened up throughout the movie. Despite this, the film thrives thanks to the A+ acting, the fantastic action sequences, and the impressive visuals. It might not rise to the level of Fury Road, but Furiosa is still a great addition to the overall franchise.
6
Gladiator II
Runtime: 2 Hours & 28 Minutes
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8/10
195
7.5/10
Gladiator II
R
ActionDramaEpicHistoryAdventure
Where to Watch
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Not available
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Not available
*Availability in US
Release Date
November 22, 2024
Runtime
148 minutes
Main Genre
Adventure
Cast
Paul Mescal
, Pedro Pascal
, Denzel Washington
, Connie Nielsen
, Joseph Quinn
, Fred Hechinger
, Derek Jacobi
, Lior Raz
, Peter Mensah
, Matt Lucas
, Alexander Karim
, Tim McInnerny
, Lee Charles
, Chidi Ajufo
, Alfie Tempest
, Riana Duce
, Chi Lewis Parry
Character(s)
Lucius Verus
, Marcus Acacius
, Macrinus
, Lucilla
, Emperor Geta
, Emperor Caracalla
, Gracchus
, Viggo
, Jugurtha
, Master of Ceremonies
, Ravi
, Senator Thraex
, Slovak
, Gladiator
, Young Lucius
, Hyacinthia
, Phoebus
Director
Ridley Scott
Writers
David Scarpa
, Peter Craig
, David Franzoni
Studio(s)
Paramount Pictures
, Universal Pictures
, Scott Free Productions
, Red Wagon Entertainment
Distributor(s)
Paramount Pictures
Prequel(s)
Gladiator
Expand
The 2000 movie Gladiator is considered one of the best historical war movies of all time, but the sequel doesn’t rise quite to the same level of success. Gladiator II follows Lucius Verus “Hanno” Aurelius, a man who embarks on a journey to get revenge on the Roman emperors who took over his home. The original Gladiator movie is 2 hours and 35 minutes long, so the sequel’s 2-hour and 28-minute runtime should be acceptable at face value.
Unfortunately, the sequel isn’t nearly as compelling as the original, with multiple scenes feeling unnecessary to the overall plot. For this reason, the length is a hindrance to the overall story. Shockingly, Gladiator II was originally significantly longer. Ridley Scott’s first cut of the film ran 3 hours and 40 minutes long, and he brought on Gianluigi Toccafondo to help shorten the final version (via Collider).
5
Wicked (November 22, 2024)
Runtime: 2 Hours & 40 Minutes
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9/10
296
8.7/10
Wicked
PG
AdventureFantasyMusical
Where to Watch
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Not available
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Not available
*Availability in US
Release Date
November 22, 2024
Runtime
160 Minutes
Main Genre
Musical
Cast
Cynthia Erivo
, Ariana Grande
, Michelle Yeoh
, Jeff Goldblum
, Jonathan Bailey
, Ethan Slater
, Marissa Bode
, Bowen Yang
, Bronwyn James
, Keala Settle
, Peter Dinklage
, Aaron Teoh
, Grecia De la Paz
, Colin Michael Carmichael
, Adam James
, Andy Nyman
, Courtney Mae-Briggs
, Sharon D. Clarke
, Jenna Boyd
Character(s)
Elphaba Thropp
, Glinda Upland
, Madame Morrible
, The Wizard
, Fiyero Tigelaar
, Boq
, Nessarose Thropp
, Pfannee
, ShenShen
, Miss Coddle
, Doctor Dillamond (voice)
, Avaric Tenmeadows
, Gilligan
, Professor Nikidik
, Glinda’s Father
, Governor Frexspar Thropp
, Melena Thropp
, The Midwife
Director
Jon M. Chu
Writers
Gregory Maguire
, Winnie Holzman
, Dana Fox
, L. Frank Baum
Studio(s)
Marc Platt Productions
Distributor(s)
Universal Pictures
Expand
Eleven years after the Broadway musical debuted, the first installation in a two-part Wicked movie adaptation hit the big screens. The film tells the story of the Wicked Witch of the West, aka Elphaba, as she attends Shiz University alongside Glinda the Good. Wicked’s ending separates the movies at “Defying Gravity,” the song that divides Act 1 and Act 2. Director Jon M. Chu’s decision to split Wicked into two was controversial since the first movie runs 2 hours and 40 minutes, which is 10 minutes longer than the entire Broadway musical.
However, the extra time actually benefits the story. Wicked changes the Broadway musical by expanding the character arcs and giving more time to the relationships. Ultimately, the only part of the musical adaptation that feels too long is “Defying Gravity,” which runs one minute and 46 seconds longer than the original.
4
Kinds of Kindness
Runtime: 2 Hours & 44 Minutes
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10/10
Kinds of Kindness
R
ComedyDrama
Where to Watch
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Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
Release Date
June 21, 2024
Runtime
164 Minutes
Main Genre
Comedy
Cast
Emma Stone
, Jesse Plemons
, Willem Dafoe
, Margaret Qualley
, Hong Chau
, Joe Alwyn
, Mamoudou Athie
, Hunter Schafer
Character(s)
Rita / Liz / Emily
, Robert / Daniel / Andrew
, Raymond / George / Omi
, Vivian / Martha / Ruth / Rebecca
, Sarah / Sharon / Aka
, Will / Neil / Morgue Nurse
, Collectibles Appraiser / Passenger / Joseph
, Anna
, R.M.F.
, Paramedic
, Louise
, Cheval Barman
, Collectibles Appraiser 2
, Mr. Smith’s Secretary
, Cheval Bar Piano Player
Director
Yorgos Lanthimos
Writers
Yorgos Lanthimos
, Efthimis Filippou
Studio(s)
Film4
, Element Pictures
, TSG Entertainment
Distributor(s)
Searchlight Pictures
Expand
After the success of the 2023 dark comedy Poor Things, critics and audiences waited with bated breath for Yorgos Lanthimos’ next film. His 2024 film Kinds of Kindness is a triptych that explores the human condition with biting misanthropy. Rather than switching out the leads in each story, the same actors appear as multiple characters throughout the anthology. Nobody should be surprised by Kinds of Kindness’ 2-hour and 44-minute runtime. After all, four of Lanthimos’ past five movies run 2 hours or longer, becoming a notable characteristic of his films.
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The Oscars 2025 are rapidly approaching, and with months left until the ceremony, we’re predicting the nominees and winners of all 23 categories.
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Still, the response to Kinds of Kindness’s story and length was highly divided. The director’s narrative style and self-aggrandizing cleverness are an acquired taste that’s off-putting to many audience members. In the case of Kinds of Kindness, the length makes these qualities less bearable. This film could have been cut in half, and the story would have worked just as well. As such, the padded scenes feel like Oscar bait rather than offering anything meaningful to the general audience.
3
Dune: Part 2 (March 1, 2024)
Runtime: 2 Hours & 46 Minutes
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9/10
53
8.9/10
Dune: Part Two
PG-13
Science FictionAdventure
Where to Watch
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- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
Release Date
February 27, 2024
Runtime
167 minutes
Main Genre
Sci-Fi
Cast
Timothée Chalamet
, Zendaya
, Rebecca Ferguson
, Javier Bardem
, Josh Brolin
, Austin Butler
, Florence Pugh
, Dave Bautista
, Christopher Walken
, Lea Seydoux
, Stellan Skarsgård
, Charlotte Rampling
, Souheila Yacoub
, Roger Yuan
, Babs Olusanmokun
, Giusi Merli
, Kait Tenison
, Tara Breathnach
, Akiko Hitomi
, Imola Gáspár
, Elbooz Omar Ahmed Fathie
, Abdelkarim Hussein Seli Mohamed Hassanin
, Joseph Beddelem
, Xavier Alba Royo
, Rachid Abbad
Character(s)
Paul Atreides
, Chani
, Jessica
, Stilgar
, Gurney Halleck
, Feyd-Rautha
, Princess Irulan
, Beast Rabban
, Emperor
, Lady Margot Fenring
, Baron Harkonnen
, Reverend Mother Mohiam
, Shishakli
, Lanville
, Jamis
, Reverend Mother Ramallo
, Bene Gesserit Sister
, Watermaster
, Young Fremen Patrol
, Fedaykin Leader
, Fedaykin
Director
Denis Villeneuve
Writers
Denis Villeneuve
Franchise(s)
Dune
Sequel(s)
Dune: Part Three
Budget
$122 Million
Studio(s)
Legendary Pictures
Distributor(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Prequel(s)
Dune
YouTube Trailer
Expand
Based on the eponymous 1965 novel by Frank Herbert, the 2021 movie Dune gained a second part in 2024. Dune: Part Two follows Paul Atreides’ journey as he seeks revenge for his family’s destruction. The film is the second installment in a modern space opera, a genre that allows for longer films that tell an epic story. The movie’s 2-hour and 46-minute runtime might feel daunting at first glance, but it’s no more outlandish than 2001: A Space Odyssey, which runs for 2 hours and 29 minutes, or Avatar, which runs for 2 hours and 42 minutes.
Luckily, the length of Dune: Part 2 benefits the story, offering more character development and action. Almost every scene has an impact on the bigger story, making the runtime feel necessary. On top of this, the movie flies by despite its nearly three-hour length, because the pacing and tension are steady.
2
Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 (June 28, 2024)
Runtime: 3 Hours & 1 Minute
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7/10
49
8.5/10
Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1
R
DramaWestern
Where to Watch
- stream
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- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
Release Date
June 28, 2024
Runtime
181 Minutes
Main Genre
Western
Cast
Kevin Costner
, Sienna Miller
, Sam Worthington
, Luke Wilson
, Giovanni Ribisi
, Thomas Haden Church
, Jena Malone
, Abbey Lee
, Michael Rooker
, Danny Huston
, Isabelle Fuhrman
, Jeff Fahey
, Will Patton
, Tatanka Means
, Ella Hunt
, Jamie Campbell Bower
Director
Kevin Costner
Writers
Jon Baird
, Kevin Costner
Studio(s)
New Line Cinema
, Territory Pictures
Distributor(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Expand
Kevin Costner started the script for his passion project – Horizon: An American Saga – in 1988, and the first of four movies was released in 2024. The film tells the fictionalized story of American settlers who seek out a life in the West in 1859. A 3-hour and 1-minute runtime is a significant ask for theatrically released films. Costner’s film tries to justify the length by painting the film as an epic Western movie that covers a 15-year period of history, and perhaps the response would have been different if the single film covered the entire story.
Related
Kevin Costner’s Horizon 2 Was Supposed To Release Today – So What’s Going On Now?
Kevin Costner’s long-gestating passion project was supposed to be released in four parts, but a box office misfire for Chapter 1 may have derailed it.
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However, Horizon: An American Saga feels more like the first three episodes of a TV series. The length drags out unnecessary character arcs in a narrative that feels disjointed. It also negatively impacts revenue because not many people will pay theater prices to see four three-hour-long movies. Frankly, after Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 bombing at the box office and the terrible early reviews for Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2, there’s no promise the third and fourth movies will even get made. Ultimately, Costner would have been better off adapting his story for TV.
1
The Brutalist (December 20, 2024)
Runtime: 3 Hours & 35 Minutes
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10/10
8.5/10
The Brutalist
R
Drama
Release Date
December 20, 2024
Runtime
215 Minutes
Main Genre
Drama
Cast
Adrien Brody
, Guy Pearce
, Felicity Jones
, Joe Alwyn
, Raffey Cassidy
, Stacy Martin
, Emma Laird
, Isaach De Bankole
, Alessandro Nivola
, Michael Epp
, Jonathan Hyde
, Peter Polycarpou
, Salvatore Sansone
, Ariane Labed
, Jeremy Wheeler
, Jaymes Butler
, Matt Devere
, Natalie Shinnick
, Stephen Saracco
, Peter Linka
, Robert Jackson
Character(s)
László Tóth
, Harrison Lee Van Buren
, Erzsébet Tóth
, Harry Lee Van Buren
, Zsófia
, Maggie Lee Van Buren
, Audrey
, Gordon
, Attila
, Jim Simpson
, Leslie
, Hoffman
, Orazio
, Zsófia in 1980
, Party Guest
, Bar Manager
, Mayor Kinney
, Receptionist
, Construction Supervisor
, Townsperson
, Townsperson #2
Director
Brady Corbet
Writers
Brady Corbet
, Mona Fastvold
Expand
The longest movie of 2024 is The Brutalist – the 2025 Golden Globes winner for Best Drama Movie. The historical drama tells the story of a Jewish architect named László Toth who survives the Holocaust and moves to the United States with his wife to pursue the American Dream. Writer-director Brady Corbet knew that getting the film to audiences would be an uphill battle, considering the 3-hour and 35-minute runtime. In his Golden Globes acceptance speech, he revealed that production companies told him that The Brutalist was un-distributable and that nobody would come to see it (via The Hollywood Reporter).
Shockingly, the drama completely warrants the absurdly long runtime. At first glance, the movie is about a man trying to build a building, but, in reality, The Brutalist sends profound messages about the unattainability of the American Dream. The extended scenes allow for the emotional weight of the movie to set in as the audience is watching rather than hitting them afterward. Ultimately, Corbet was right to stand his ground about the movie’s length.