Public toilets in Tokyo, actors doing research, sisterly arguments. Party games, dark web, demonic live TV. Autonomy, horrors of a genocide, figure skating. Ghosts of the past, sweaty tennis, more demonic stuff. A murder trial, Skype calls, civil asset forfeiture. 2024 almost had it all, you could say, and this best of 2024 list is a prime example of just that.
Competing for spots on this list were 103 movies from 2024; some of them ended up in the top 20 and some will show up in special mentions. I was also able to catch up with 25 different titles from 2023 in order to come up with a group of five in the special mentions. Documentaries continue to be a personal blindspot as I unfortunately only saw two new ones, therefore those are not taken into full consideration for fairness' sake. There are many major titles from 2024 that I'm excited to catch later, including 'Anora', 'Heretic' 'Dune: Part Two', 'Love Lies Bleeding' and 'The Substance'.
Anyhoo, these are my favourite films of the year—the key word again is favourite, do not forget—and a few special mentions. As usual, you can find reviews for nearly many of these films on the site, just click the ''Read our review'' or the title in special mentions. Let's go!
Special Mentions
Best 2023 Catch-ups
American Fiction
Godzilla Minus One | ゴジラ-1.0
The Iron Claw
When Evil Lurks | Cuando acecha la maldad
Check Out This Documentary
No Other Land | =
Best Bang For Your Buck
U Are The Universe| Ти - Космос
Critical Disagreement
Lisa Frankenstein (5.6/10 and 52% on Rotten Tomatoes)
Promising First Narrative Features
Anywhere Anytime | = (dir. Milad Tangshir)
In A Violent Nature (dir. Chris Nash)
Inside Out 2 (dir. Kelsey Mann)
U Are The Universe| Ти - Космос (dir. Pavlo Ostrikov)
And now... here are the 20 best movies of 2024
20. WE LIVE IN TIME
What is it about? Almut (Florence Pugh) and Tobias (Andrew Garfield) are brought together in a surprise encounter that changes their lives. Through snapshots of their life together—falling for each other, building a home, becoming a family—a difficult truth is revealed that rocks its foundation. As they embark on a path challenged by the limits of time, they learn to cherish each moment of the unconventional route their love story has taken, in filmmaker John Crowley's decade-spanning, deeply moving romance.
Why you should watch it: Read our review to learn why
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Florence Pugh
Director(s): John Crowley
Where to watch:
19. TWISTERS
What is it about? Twisters brings back the blockbuster disaster epic with a whirlwind of heart-stopping action and exhilarating thrills. Ever since a devastating tornado encounter, Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones) gave up chasing storms across the Oklahoma prairie to safely study them on screens in New York City. Lured back to the field by her friend Javi (Anthony Ramos) and a once-in-a-lifetime scientific opportunity, Kate crosses paths with Tyler (Glen Powell), a charming daredevil and self-proclaimed tornado wrangler whose thirst for tornado-tracking adventures made him a social media sensation. As storm season intensifies with terrifying phenomena unlike anything seen before, Kate and Tyler realise they may need to work together if they are to have any chance of taming, and surviving, an unprecedented outbreak of destructive tornados.
Why you should watch it: Read our review to learn why
Starring: Anthony Ramos, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell
Director(s): Lee Isaac Chung
Where to watch:
18. LISA FRANKENSTEIN
What is it about? A coming of rage love story from acclaimed writer Diablo Cody about a misunderstood teenager and her high school crush, who happens to be a handsome corpse. After a set of playfully horrific circumstances bring him back to life, the two embark on a murderous journey to find love, happiness…and a few missing body parts along the way.
Why you should watch it: Carried by an endlessly entertaining burst of lightning from Kathryn Newton in the lead role and some surprisingly impressive design work—makeup, hair, costumes—this is a film that is destined to become a sleepover hit for teens in years to come. Also, a good reminder that something can be great even if you're not in the project's main demographic.
Starring: Cole Sprouse, Kathryn Newton, Liza Soberano
Director(s): Zelda Williams
Where to watch:
17. EXHUMA | 파묘
What is it about? When a renowned shaman (Kim Go-eun) and her protégé (Lee Do-hyun) are hired by a wealthy, enigmatic family, they begin investigating the cause of a disturbing supernatural illness that affects only the first-born children of each generation. With the help of a knowledgeable mortician (Yoo Hae-jin) and the country's most revered geomancer (Choi Min-sik), they soon trace the affliction's origin to a long-hidden family grave located on sacred ground. Sensing an ominous aura surrounding the burial site, the team opts to exhume and relocate the ancestral remains immediately. But as something much darker emerges, they soon discover what befalls those who dare to mess with the wrong grave.
Why you should watch it: An interesting mix of folk horror and procedural takes a bit to get going, but the journey is well worth your time as it gets better and better as it goes on. Kim Go-eun gives one of the best lead performances of the year and writer-director Jang Jae-hyun has style for days.
Starring: Choi Min-sik, Kim Go-eun, Lee Do-hyun, Yoo Hae-jin
Director(s): Jang Jae-hyun
Where to watch:
16. HOW TO HAVE SEX
What is it about? Three British teenage girls go on a rites-of-passage holiday, drinking, clubbing and hooking up in what should be the best summer of their lives. As they dance their way across the sun-drenched streets of Malia, they find themselves navigating the complexities of sex, consent and self-discovery.
Why you should watch it: I'm sensing a theme emerging as Mia McKenna-Bruce is utterly exceptional in this stylish, often-hard-to-watch coming-of-age drama. It'll invite great, healthy conversations with people you see it with. You can also tag it as horror since it features drunk Brits.
Starring: Lara Peake, Mia McKenna-Bruce, Shaun Thomas
Director(s): Molly Manning Walker
Where to watch:
15. HIS THREE DAUGHTERS
What is it about? From writer-director Azazel Jacobs comes this bittersweet and often funny story of an elderly patriarch and the three grown daughters who come to be with him in his final days. Katie (Carrie Coon) is a controlling Brooklyn mother dealing with a wayward teenage daughter; free-spirited Christina (Elizabeth Olsen) is a different kind of mom, separated from her offspring for the first time; and Rachel (Natasha Lyonne) is a sports-betting stoner who has never left her father's apartment—much to the chagrin of her stepsisters, who share a different mother and worldview. Continuing his astute exploration of family dynamics in close-knit spaces, Jacobs follows the siblings over the course of three volatile days, as death looms, grievances erupt, and love seeps through the cracks of a fractured home.
Why you should watch it: Read our review to learn why
Starring: Carrie Coon, Elizabeth Olsen, Natasha Lyonne
Director(s): Azazel Jacobs
Where to watch:
14. LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL
What is it about? Johnny Carson rival Jack Delroy hosts a syndicated talk show 'Night Owls' that has long been a trusted companion to insomniacs around the country. However, ratings for the show have plummeted since the tragic death of Jack's beloved wife. Desperate to turn his fortunes around, on October 31st, 1977, Jack plans a Halloween special like no other—unaware he is about to unleash evil into the living rooms of America.
Why you should watch it: Read our review to learn why
Starring: David Dastmalchian, Ingrid Torelli, Laura Gordon
Director(s): Cameron Cairnes, Colin Cairnes
Where to watch:
13. MY SUNSHINE | ぼくのお日さま
What is it about? On a Japanese island, life revolves around the changing seasons. Winter is time for ice hockey at school, but Takuya isn't too thrilled about it. His real interest lies in Sakura, a figure skating rising star from Tokyo, for whom he starts to develop a genuine fascination. Coach and former champion Arakawa, spots potential in Takuya, and decides to mentor him to form a duo with Sakura for an upcoming competition. As winter persists, feelings grow, and the two children form an harmonious bond. But even the first snow eventually melts away.
Why you should watch it: Read our review to learn why
Starring: Ikematsu Sōsuke, Koshiyama Keitatsu, Nakanishi Kiara
Director(s): Okuyama Hiroshi
Where to watch:
12. THE FIRST OMEN
What is it about? When a young American woman is sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church, she encounters a darkness that causes her to question her own faith and uncovers a terrifying conspiracy that hopes to bring about the birth of evil incarnate.
Why you should watch it: Director and co-writer Arkasha Stevenson's prequel that no one asked for goes way harder than it has any right. Memorable horror imagery, a haunting score, beautiful photography and pure 1970s vibes are just some of the things that make this movie perhaps the year's biggest surprise. You should pay attention to what this filmmaker does next.
Starring: Nell Tiger Free, Nicole Sorace, Ralph Ineson
Director(s): Arkasha Stevenson
Where to watch:
11. REBEL RIDGE
What is it about? Terry Richmond (Aaron Pierre) enters the town of Shelby Springs on a simple but urgent mission—post bail for his cousin and save him from imminent danger. But when Terry's life's savings is unjustly seized by law-enforcement, he's forced to go head to head with local police chief Sandy Burnne (Don Johnson) and his combat-ready officers. Terry finds an unlikely ally in court clerk Summer McBride (AnnaSophia Robb) and the two become ensnared in a deep-rooted conspiracy within the remote township. As the stakes turn deadly, Terry must call upon his mysterious background to break the department's hold on the community, bring justice to his own family—and protect Summer in the process.
Why you should watch it: Read our review to learn why
Starring: Aaron Pierre, AnnaSophia Robb, Don Johnson
Director(s): Jeremy Saulnier
Where to watch:
10. PERFECT DAYS | =
What is it about? Hirayama is content with his life as a toilet cleaner in Tokyo. Outside of his structured routine he cherishes music on cassette tapes, books, and taking photos of trees. Through unexpected encounters, he reflects on finding beauty in the world.
Why you should watch it: Read our review to learn why
Starring: Kōji Yakusho, Nakano Arisa, Yamada Aoi
Director(s): Wim Wenders
Where to watch:
9. IT'S WHAT'S INSIDE
What is it about? A pre-wedding party descends into an existential nightmare when an estranged friend arrives with a suitcase containing a mysterious device capable of inducing body swaps. Tempted into playing a twisted game, the group uncovers hidden truths, suppressed desires, and deep-seated grudges. As their lives are swept up by deceit and startling revelations, It's What's Inside peels back layers of intrigue with its mind-bending twists and turns. Greg Jardin's debut feature, celebrated at Sundance and SXSW, merges thriller, dark comedy, and sci-fi into a provocative and stylish narrative, daring viewers to question: How well do we really know ourselves?
Why you should watch it: Read our review to learn why
Starring: Brittany O'Grady, David Thompson, James Morosini
Director(s): Greg Jardin
Where to watch:
8. POOR THINGS
What is it about? From filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos and producer Emma Stone comes the incredible tale and fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter (Stone), a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe). Under Baxter's protection, Bella is eager to learn. Hungry for the worldliness she is lacking, Bella runs off with Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo), a slick and debauched lawyer, on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, Bella grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation.
Why you should watch it: Emma Stone's remarkably unpredictable performance as well as incredible production design, costumes, hairstyling and makeup all come together to build a world that is awe-inspiring, overseen by the creative mind of Yorgos Lanthimos. It's a tale of autonomy, self-discovery and growth that feels fresh even if its rhythm section plays the familiar beats of Frankenstein. That's an achievement, for sure.
Starring: Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe
Director(s): Yorgos Lanthimos
Where to watch:
7. ALL OF US STRANGERS
What is it about? One night in his near-empty tower block in contemporary London, Adam (Andrew Scott) has a chance encounter with a mysterious neighbor Harry (Paul Mescal), which punctures the rhythm of his everyday life. As a relationship develops between them, Adam is preoccupied with memories of the past and finds himself drawn back to the suburban town where he grew up, and the childhood home where his parents (Claire Foy and Jamie Bell), appear to be living, just as they were on the day they died, 30 years before.
Why you should watch it: It might be a slow burn but the subtle flourishes and twists that Andrew Haigh's adaptation takes form a heartbreaking, lowkey crescendo that punches you right in your gut. Despite playing with fantasy and memory, Andrew Scott evokes such humanity along with his cast members that you can't help but to lean in and feel all the feelings.
Starring: Andrew Scott, Claire Foy, Paul Mescal
Director(s): Andrew Haigh
Where to watch:
6. ANATOMY OF A FALL | Anatomie d'une chute
What is it about? For the past year, Sandra, her husband Samuel, and their eleven-year-old son Daniel have lived a secluded life in a remote town in the French Alps. When Samuel is found dead in the snow below their chalet, the police question whether he was murdered or committed suicide. Samuel's suspicious death is presumed murder, and Sandra becomes the main suspect. What follows is not just an investigation into the circumstances of Samuel's death but an unsettling psychological journey into the depths of Sandra and Samuel's conflicted relationship.
Why you should watch it: Director and co-writer Justine Triet's psychologically intense legal and crime drama challenges not only your preconceived notions and intuition, but also your sense of morality. Sandra Hüller portrays all of that challenging material gracefully while Milo Machado-Graner matches her fury, plus you get a great dog performance on top of it all. It's another conversation starter, too. You'll be the judge.
Starring: Milo Machado-Graner, Sandra Hüller, Swann Arlaud
Director(s): Justine Triet
Where to watch:
5. MAY DECEMBER
What is it about? In May December, popular television actor Elizabeth (Natalie Portman) heads to Savannah, Georgia, to research a part in a new film that follows a scandalous tabloid romance. That love affair—between Gracie (Julianne Moore) and Joe (Charles Melton)—was once a fixture of the gossip pages. After all, Joe is significantly younger than Gracie, who served time in prison when they were caught together. When she was released, the pair were married, and they now have three children together who are about to graduate from high school. At first glance, their untraditional marriage looks more predictable than Elizabeth expected. But soon, her observation brings long-dormant feelings to the surface, and the decades-old scandal reveals deeper and deeper layers.
Why you should watch it: Since it's a film about acting and methods among other things, it's no surprise that the main attraction might be the central trio of actors, led by Natalie Portman with support from Julianne Moore and Charles Melton who very much holds his own against two heavyweights. Just like number six, you're left to interpret their characters' awareness and motivations throughout, and the pulpy, soap opera-esque tone that director Todd Haynes creates keeps you on your toes constantly.
Starring: Charles Melton, Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman
Director(s): Todd Haynes
Where to watch:
4. RED ROOMS | Les chambres rouges
What is it about? The high-profile case of serial killer Ludovic Chevalier has just gone to trial, and Kelly-Anne is obsessed. When reality blurs with her morbid fantasies, she goes down a dark path to seek the final piece of the puzzle: the missing video of a murdered 13-year-old girl, to whom Kelly-Anne bears a disturbing resemblance.
Why you should watch it: My last watch of the year ended up being the underseen dark horse that just kept climbing up the list each day that passed until finalising the order. The film is a sneaky thriller with some upsetting topics that is in fluent conversation with the general population's obsession with true crime and sensationalism, and it's another project with a complex main character who keeps you guessing. Who knew that an online auction could possibly contend for the most edge-of-your-seat, captivating sequence of the year in cinema? Hats off to director Pascal Plante and company.
Starring: Juliette Gariépy, Laurie Babin
Director(s): Pascal Plante
Where to watch:
3. THE ZONE OF INTEREST | Strefa interesów
What is it about? The commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig, strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp.
Why you should watch it: Read our review to learn why
Starring: Christian Friedel, Sandra Hüller
Director(s): Jonathan Glazer
Where to watch:
2. CHALLENGERS
What is it about? From visionary filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, Challengers stars Zendaya as Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy turned coach and a force of nature who makes no apologies for her game on and off the court. Married to a champion on a losing streak (Mike Faist), Tashi's strategy for her husband’s redemption takes a surprising turn when he must face off against the washed-up Patrick (Josh O'Connor)—his former best friend and Tashi's former boyfriend. As their pasts and presents collide, and tensions run high, Tashi must ask herself, what will it cost to win.
Why you should watch it: Read our review to learn why
Starring: Josh O'Connor, Mike Faist, Zendaya
Director(s): Luca Guadagnino
Where to watch:
1. PAST LIVES
What is it about? Nora and Hae Sung, two deeply connected childhood friends, are wrest apart after Nora's family emigrates from South Korea. Two decades later, they are reunited in New York for one fateful week as they confront notions of destiny, love, and the choices that make a life, in this heartrending modern romance.
Why you should watch it: Read our review to learn why
Starring: Greta Lee, John Magaro, Teo Yoo
Director(s): Celine Song
Where to watch:
You can find these films and everything else on this Letterboxd list.
See you in 2025.
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