Ready for our top films of 2024? This year was long and uneven with some high highs (and some low lows we won’t go into). Here are some of the standouts of 2024.
Here is the list in alphabetical order.
Anora
Sean Baker continues to demonstrate his mastery of making the lives of the oft invisible into spectacularly entrancing tales. Mikey Madison gives a phenomenal performance but shout outs are also due to supporting actors Yuriy Borisov and Mark Eidelstein.
Find our review here.
Babes
A fresh, funny, and shockingly candid look at motherhood and female friendships. Ilana Glazer and Michelle Buteau are a dynamic duo and director Pamela Adlon shows she is a multifaceted talent.
Babygirl
A film that has been living rent free in our brains since we saw it at TIFF. Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson sizzle on screen with a tension that manages to sustain through the entire film. Director Halina Reijn seems to genre jump with ease (from Bodies, Bodies, Bodies to this) and we can’t wait to see what’s next for her.
Find our review here.
Challengers
This is partially on the list for the cultural impact, the film itself was messy, a bit overlong, and uneven. All that being said the actors are irresistible and Zendaya in particular rallies this to the list.
Conclave
An awards bait film if there ever was one, but the story and performances are undeniable. A political thriller wrapped in the red religious velvet of the vatican, it’s well worth a watch.
Find our review here.
Deadpool & Wolverine
A hopefully final and brilliant sendoff for these titular iconic Marvel characters (is this actually their last hurrah? unlikely). This film certainly made a name for itself at the box office.
Find our review here and interview with Matthew MacFadyen.
DìDi
Maybe the film we had the most personal connection to, Sean Wang crafted a film that not only perfectly encapsulates a specific time and place, but also manages to tell a culturally specific tale without beating audiences over the head with obvious tropes. Also Joan Chen is a force to be reckoned with.
Find our review and interviews with the team here.
Dune: Part Two
Is it as strong as part one? Not quite. Does Christopher Walken as The Emperor garner it an automatic spot on this list? Absolutely. Also another film buoyed by Zendaya’s talents.
Find our review here.
Flow
Deceptively simple and emotional, this animated feature will make a cat convert out of anyone.
Find our review and interview with the director here.
Inside Out 2
We’d consider the original a nearly perfect film and while we still don’t think we NEEDED a sequel, the character of Anxiety was enough to buoy this into a stellar film of it’s own right.
Find our review here.
Love Lies Bleeding
Chaotic and charismatic, Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian give us a sapphic crime thriller that will have you wanting to hit the gym.
Nightbitch
Like Babes, this film provides an unfiltered look at motherhood in such a refreshing way. Anyone who even knows a woman (so everyone) should consider this mandatory viewing.
Find our review here.
The Substance
A mind boggling and haunting film that is necessary viewing. It’s sloppy, overlong, and self-indulgent but our goodness it’ll stick with you.
Find our review here.
The Wild Robot
A heartwarming and delightful original (ok based on a book…) animated film with stunning visuals.
Find our review here.
Thelma
June Squibb may be the oldest leading actor in films on this list but she’s also amongst the best. A comedy action film set in the most unlikely of venues, like DìDi it does a phenomenal job of capturing family dynamics.
Find our review and interview with the director here.
Transformers One
This was so much better than it had any right to be. Somehow the animated Transformers film was more grounded and funny than any of the recent live action blockbusters.
Ultraman: Rising
Another film of a well established franchise that once again was better than it had any right to be. This time a story of parenthood and relationships with parents.
Find our review here.
Will & Harper
A charming look at the friendship between Will Ferrell and Harper Steele, longtime friends who are navigating Harper’s transition. Though at times it felt over sanitized, getting a look at their real friendship was a delight.
Find our review here.
What were your top films of 2024?
Leave a Reply