2024 has offered some exciting new cinematic releases, demonstrating the up-and-coming stars who are bringing fans to thebox office. 2024 was a shaky year for movie finances, with blockbusters likeBorderlands,The Fall Guy, andJoker 2performing well below expectations. Some of the year’sbiggest box office success stories, however, resulted from the leadership of Hollywood’s rising stars.
Movie stars fluctuate in popularity faster than the eye can see, as an acclaimed hit can see an actor receiving roles to last them the next few years, while one flop can result in immediate devastation for their career.Though some young actors' movies didn’t pan out as they’d hoped, others found success with multiple releasesand will likely be returning for some of2025’s most anticipated movies.
5Emma Corrin
Deadpool & Wolverine, Nosferatu
Emma Corrin is sort of an exception, as they didn’t play the lead in either of their 2024 film releases. That being said,they were in the highest-grossing live-action movie of the year inDeadpool & Wolverineas the main villain, and also played a crucial role inNosferatu, which is only just beginning to find success after its Christmas Day release.
Corrin is best known for their role inThe Crown, where they played Princess Diana in the fourth season, earning an Emmy Nomination for the role. Their career has begun to take off since, with more high-profile gigs, including the leading role in the FX seriesA Murder at the End of the World. Following their two 2024 releases, they’ll likely continue to find success in supporting performances in major movies.
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4Maika Monroe
Longlegs
Horror is the genre that can most often yield impressive box office results while being made for cheap, and that was the case for Neon’sLonglegs. Thebudget for the film was reportedly less than $10 million, and it managed to gross over $120millionworldwide. This was in part due to the curiosity surrounding Nicolas Cage’s portrayal of the titular villain, but it was Maika Monroe who won the day as the breakout star.
She’s since earned another starring role in a Neon horror movie calledBrides
Nicolas Cage is excellent inLonglegs, but it’s Maika Monroe’s movie. She’s unbelievable as the lead, Lee Harker, and though the movie wasn’t quite the terrifying phenomenon many had hoped for, she’ll still find notable career success in the aftermath. She’s since earned another starring role in a Neon horror movie calledBrides, meaning she could find a niche as a box office scream queen in the 2020s.
3Paul Mescal
Gladiator II
Paul Mescal first received worldwide recognition for his role in the miniseriesNormal Peoplebefore kicking off his movie stardom with an Oscar nomination forAftersun. Since then,he’s become one of the world’s most coveted movie stars, landing multiple prominent roles. The first of those roles was the lead character in thecast ofGladiator II, picking up the mantle of Ridley Scott’s Best Picture-winning franchise over two decades after the original.
Gladiator IIarrived just shy of its predecessor,earning $422 million at the worldwide box office. While it wasn’t as successful as the original, it solidifies Paul Mescal’s position as one of the most desirable leading men in Hollywood. His upcoming roles include Chloé Zhao’s next film, Richard Linklater’s adaptation ofMerrily We Roll Along, and a movie calledThe History of Sound, where he’ll co-star alongside another rising star in Josh O’Connor.
2Glen Powell
Anyone But You, Twisters
After playing a role in the ensemble ofTop Gun: Maverick, Glen Powell’s career changed overnight, with him being offered a slew of roles in blockbuster films. 2024 is the first year to show the results of his rise to stardom.ThoughAnyone But Youhit theaters in December 2023, the majority of its box office came in early 2024, seeing $220 million come in on a $25 million budget.
Glen Powell’s first 2024 movie didn’t come out in cinemas, butHit Manfound success streaming on Netflix, and it’s another example of a rising star working with a renowned filmmaker in Richard Linklater.Twisterswas Glen Powell’s biggest hit of the year, with the reboot raking in over $370 million worldwide. None of these areTop Gun:Maverick-level hits, but they’re proof that Glen Powell is here to stay, and his lineup for 2025, including theremake of Stephen King’sThe Running Man, should continue to pile on his success.
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1Cailee Spaeny
Civil War, Alien: Romulus
It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that Cailee Spaeney is the box office rising star champion of 2024. In the early 2020s, she appeared in prominent TV shows likeDevsandMare of Easttown, leading to roles in high-profile movies. Her award-nominated performance in Sofia Coppola’sPriscilla, where she played Priscilla Presley opposite Jacob Elordi, saw her earn praise, but 2024 was the year she began finding success in blockbusters.
She led the cast of A24’s $124 million-grossing filmCivil Waralongside Kirsten Dunst. Her biggest hit, however, wasAlien: Romulus, which not only grossed $350 million worldwide but rejuvenated interest in a franchisethat had been losing steam in recent iterations. Cailee Spaeny could return in anAlien: Romulussequel, but first, she’ll be appearing in the next season of the award-winning Netflix anthology seriesBeef.
