2024 felt like a year of surprises in film for me. With some fims that I expected a lot from being less than, and then films that I expected nothing at all from being ones that ended up being some of my favourites. I do think it has been a pretty good year for films. With the near 150 2024 releases I watched this year, I think I can only say I truly hated two of them. However I’m not talking about those ones today, I’m talking about my 20 favourite films of the year, which I think ended up being a pretty mixed bag of genre and budget. I also feel like the reasons for liking these films are hard to compare to one another, but alas, here we are.
20. The Beast 'La Bête'
Streaming: Mubi
Taking the first slot on the list is the film I think is probably the least accessible of the bunch. Bertrand Bonello’s La Bête is weird in all senses, but is so consistent and emotionally effective that I couldn’t help but to love it. It’s set in a world where AI has seen emotions as a weakness for progress and through therapy-like sessions, it forces the people living in this future to confront these emotions of their past lives and eliminate them. However, for Gabrielle (Léa Seydoux) and Louis (George MacKay), their strong connections manifests in different forms through time and proves to be a difficult emotional obstacle to overcome. This sort of romance, sort of thriller worked for me but has definitely proved to be divisive in it’s presentation.
19. Civil War
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Another divisive entry is the political action drama, Civil War. It’s alternate take on the modern day America is just slightly off, making it a fantastical look at the country with some eerily realistic characters and themes reflective of the state of the US. The film itself never takes a side on what is right or wrong, but of course it has been adopted by both sides of the argument and picked apart to almost further prove the point of the film. It’s sound design and unique perspective through the war journalist makes for a really immersive film that has stuck with me through the year
18. Smile 2
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Speaking of sticking with me, Smile 2 was a shock to me, after appreciating the first entry into this horror series, I expected one in the same for this film. Thankfully, Parker Finn takes the film to a darker place with Naomi Scott’s Skye Riley being forced to deal with her past, in a continuously isolating film. The scares are scary, they are sometimes cheap jumps but set up in a way that I did not like being a part of, and the atmosphere holds up for the duration of the film. I don’t know how long this franchise can keep up this quality but hey, at least we’ll always have Smile 2.
17. The Outrun
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Similar themes but very different approach is The Outrun, where Rona (Saoirse Ronan) quietly fights her addiction to alcohol which had led her back to her home in the Orkney islands. We get glimpses of her old life in London, mixed in with her new healing journey in Scotland. She is making amends with family and herself for how she has lived, finding new ways to enjoy life and the simple joys that can exist without the bright and loud city life. Saoirse Ronan is so incredible in this film, giving so much weight to Rona and showing the care that she has for telling this story. It is unfortunate that this film hasn’t taken off but hopefully finds a home on streaming where people can discover the power behind it.
16. Emilia Pérez
Streaming: netflix
Emilia Pérez has most certainly found its audience on Netflix, where it has been widely discussed and debated with its unique approach to the story it's trying to tell. Coming out of Cannes with a best actress win for its leading performances (Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez and Adriana Paz) it brought a lot of hype into its continued festival circuit and Netflix release. The film is a musical about a drug lord transitioning to a woman and her journey through with her family and the life she used to lead. The songs in the film are not exactly catchy but for me, really worked in being able to tell the story and express feelings that otherwise would have come across as cheesy or inarticulate. Go in knowing what to expect and I think it’s hard not to be affected by Emilia Pérez.
15. Dìdi (弟弟)
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If you grew up in the 2000s, with the introduction of social media, I think Dìdi is a film that is impossible not to feel. It captures the summers with early YouTube and Facebook, where your whole life depended on who liked your post or who was messaging you. Sean Wang tells the story of Chris Wang (Izaac Wang) in a semi-autobiographical retelling of his childhood. The film doesn’t lean on nostalgia for the time to bring in empathy though, it is all in the writing and performances, particularly Izaac Wang and Joan Chen. They both share such intimate and honest conversations that give the film such depth to cling on to while you watch the story unfold. Nothing in the film feels forced or set up, but still keeps up an energy that doesn’t make you walk out of the theatre feeling deflated over the embarrassment of being a pre-teen.
14. My Old Ass
Streaming: Amazon Prime
Another surprise for me, I expected to enjoy the film and move on, but the comedy and heart in this film just kept me hooked for the whole runtime and then two weeks later as I kept talking about it to everyone I ran into. Elliott (Maisy Stella) decides to try mushrooms on her 18th birthday, to see what kind of trip she might have. As she watches her friends go off and experience the drug, she sits on a log by a campfire and feels nothing. That is until herself from the future (Aubrey Plaza) shows up and chats to her about what her life will become. The only piece of advice she leaves her with, is not to date a “Chad” (Percy Hynes White), who she of course meets the next day and spends the summer avoiding him as much as she can. The film is funny, emotional and just one of those films I can see myself going back to over and over again.
13. Conclave
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Back to back surprises, as Conclave felt like something I watched only for Edward Berger’s reputation, having directed the amazing All Quiet on the Western Front remake a few years ago. Conclave takes us inside the voting process for the next pope. That also sounded incredibly dull to me, but the snappy writing and downright bitchyness of these men kept me glued to the screen for the whole runtime. I could not look away in fear that I would miss a detail in this gorgeously shot drama that mostly consists of men gossiping about other men, all in the name of religion and power. Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci and Isabella Rossellini all standout in this great cast anchoring the film’s story on who will become the next pope, and what relatively low stakes reveal might make me audible gasp next.
12. A Quiet Place: Day One
Streaming: Paramount + / Now
Nothing shocked me more than my enjoyment of this film, releasing in the early summer, I thought I might walk out feeling how I did about the other two entries in his franchise, fine. However, the deviation from the main story, and the performances in the film made this one of my favourites of the year. The tension, action and horror all worked for me but none more than the romance in the centre of the film. I think this unconventional love story made no sense to work as well as it did, but Lupita Nyong'o and Joseph Quinn’s chemistry made me want them to survive and make it through. I really enjoy films that can take a world like this and really shrink it down to make you care about its central characters. Their circumstances was not their only goal, but the relationship they share is more important.
11. Inside Out 2
Streaming: Disney +
No more important, is the relationship you have with yourself, helped by the emotions guiding you through life, realised as characters in Inside Out 2. Riley’s journey continues on from the first film as she adapts to her life going through puberty, and the new feelings it brings along with it. Notably, Anxiety (Maya Hawke) who takes centre stage, as Riley navigates a hockey camp where Anxiety is trying to get Riley to make a good impression, setting her up for the new year in the school. The emotions around her (mostly the core emotions from the first film) disagree with Anixety’s approach, which leads them to being “suppressed emotions” and takes them on their own journey to get back to HQ and help Riley get back on track. It is an incredibly emotional film with some important themes and stunning animation, a home run really.
10. Wicked
In Theatres
Kicking off the top 10 is one of three films that made it from my most anticipated of 2024 list to my favourites (the other two being Inside Out 2 and to be revealed later). Jon M. Chu’s sprawling epic adaptation of the stage is really what I feel like big cinema should be. Not one pixel of this film has been left untouched and fully realised. It is grand and epic in every sense of the world, adapting the songs to add more story and emotions. The locations, sets, camera and lights plonk you right in Oz where you get to spend a zippy two hours and 40 minutes taking in the magic of this world. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were perfect casting for me, not only in singing ability but the comedy that Ariana Grande brings and the effortless emotional weight that Cynthia Erivo brings. I wake up everyday singing a song from the soundtrack and am beyond ready to watch Part 2 when it comes out next year.
9. We Live in Time
In Theatres
Continuing with the emotional side of things, where a film sticks with you, We Live in Time is a very British romantic film, with some absolutely outstanding performances from Florence Pugh and Andre Garfield, who fit together so perfectly in these roles. The film has a timeline that jumps around, which for some people may take them out of the story, but for me it kept the film light enough to deal with, while also introducing the emotions you were going to feel by the end. I very much did feel them, glad the lights stayed off during those credits because I needed to take a minute for myself as they rolled. It isn’t all depressing though, with the focus on the time you have with someone, making for some funny aspects and just really endearing scenes that left me smiling as they moved on.
8. Anora
In Theatres
Sean Baker has made some great films, in the style that I feel he owns very well. None quite like Anora for me though, which is hilarious from start to finish, while also hooking you with the emotions and the almost impossible magnetism of Mikey Madison. We follow Ani (Mikey Madison) as she is introduced to the son of a Russian oligarch, Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn). She is taken away on an almost Cinderella like story from then on, until Ivan’s parents hear that he is planning to marry Ani. the second half of the film takes on a completely different tone as we watch Ani be interrogated, search for a missing Ivan and eventually try and resolve the situation, before knowing what she really wants. I think this film is so special, if only for the energy that it upholds for the entire time.
7. The Substance
Streaming: Mubi
Bringing a whole different energy is Coraline Fargeat’s The Substance. It is a body horror about Elizabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) finding out that she is being cut from her workout show because she is too old. She soon finds out about The Substance, a revolutionary drug that splits your DNA to make a better, hotter and more perfect version of you, Sue (Margaret Qualley). Sue and Elizabeth must live as one, taking a strict 7 day cycle between switching bodies in order to maintain the perfect balance. The look of the film is so amazing, with a plastic sheen on Hollywood that also evokes the horror’s of old, paying homage to The Shining, Psycho and others. It’s strong themes and performances make it such an essential watch, even if the last act of the film does get pretty grotesque.
6. Perfect Days
Streaming: Mubi
With no body horror, Perfect Days asks you to follow Hirayama (Koji Yakusho) as he works to clean the public toilets across Tokyo’s public gardens. As boring as that sounds, the serenity of this film and the simplicity of Hirayama’s routine sucks you in and keeps you invested in his day to day. The film teases drama, which quickly resolves in ways that I think our brain almost has to process before it resolutes with. I kept expecting that when he woke up, we would get something that would kick start the story, but day to day, it keeps as it was, with glimpses into a past from Hirayama and a reason for who he is. This film requires patience but is so worth every single second you invest in it.
5. I Saw the TV Glow
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A film that has only gotten better for me as time goes on is I Saw the TV Glow. A fantasy horror set in the 90s, following Own (Justice Smith) as he watches an episode of a show called The Pink Opaque for the first time, sparking his interest in it, leading to a friendship with Maddy (Brigette Lundy-Paine) who also loves the show. This complicated friendship dynamic persists through teenage years until Maddy disappears and Owen moves on, as The Pink Opaque is cancelled. The story is not told conventionally, and has a unique way of portraying its themes but the emotions are so present in the film that I feel like you could get them, even without knowing why. The film’s allegory for transgenderism is easily seen once you know but I do think it is hidden enough for anyone to get something out of this weird little horror film. I love it very much.
4. Challengers
Streaming: Amazon Prime
Oh my God. Challengers feels like an impossible film sometimes when I think about it. It spans decades of story, weaving it in through to the present day without making me ever feel lost. The editing is perfectionism coupled with an insane soundtrack and pitch perfect performances from the three leads of the film. The story is focused on a low stakes tennis match that as you watch, gains more and more weight as you understand the backstories behind each player and you gain insight into the love triangle they are in with former tennis star Tashi (Zendaya). Both Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor are so good in their roles being aided through by Zendaya who absolutely owns the film. Every shot is a painting and the two hours and ten minutes feels like it goes by in the blink of an eye with how much story is packed in. The depth of the story is not at all too much though, giving you just enough to raise your heart rate by double by the final culmination of the film. Also a crazy year for Luca Guadagnino, who managed to drop this masterpiece and also release Queer, another spectacular film in one year. This was also the third of the films on my most anticipated list that made it to my favourites.
3. The Iron Claw
Streaming: Amazon Prime
All wrestling content is sad, I am fully convinced of that. Not disproved by Sean Durkin’s retelling of the tragic backstory of the infamous Von Erich wrestling dynasty. Started by Fritz (Holt McCallany) in the 1960s. His legacy is continued by his sons, who pretty much all get into the same business, with Kevin (Zac Efron), Kerry (Jeremy Allen White) and David (Harris Dickinson) carrying the torch. The story of these brothers is plagued by tragedy and presented so impressively by Durkin. The performances are all spot on for me, with the look of the 1980s being captured perfectly too, setting you completely in their world. The chronicle of the tale is done in a way that keeps you invested in the story and consistently presents an interesting conversation or scene that deepens the connection you build to these characters. With such a masculine perception on the sport, the emotions are so importantly preserved in this stunning film.
2. The Zone of Interest
Streaming: Amazon Prime
Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest is like no other film to me. It presents a story told hundreds of times and flips the perspective, with an un-intrusive approach to filmmaking. The story follows Rudolph Höss (Christian Friedel) and his family as they live outside of a concentration camp during World War II. Höss runs the camp, and his family live outside of it, with all the luxuries that one would expect of a middle class life. The film never lets us leave the property or the family, only giving us the context of the world through an incredibly devastating soundscape and rogue shots of the imposing compound beyond the crisp white walls of the house. This film has stuck with me from the moment I saw it. The dialogue in context feels like a twist of a knife on every word and every offhand action is like a bomb going off. It is subtle yet completely in your face about the insanity of the situation. The technical aspects are also undeniable with a unique approach to the camera, the music haunting my dreams and the aforementioned soundscape that is so incredible and devastating.
1. Monster '怪物'
Streaming: BFI Player
I spoke about expectations at the beginning of this list, and the fact that mine had been let down a few times by films this year. None could have been exceeded more than Monster, a film that I had heard about from its initial 2023 festival release to its long awaited UK premiere. I nervously sat to watch Hirokazu Kore-eda’s masterpiece, not knowing what I was getting myself into. The story follows Minato (Soya Kurokawa) as his story is told in three ways. We watch his side, then two other sides of the same story, giving more context each time and challenging us on our perception of the people we just judged or assumed the worst of. It is shot to perfectly, with such care and thought for the story, knowing what is to come and how much to show us each time around. The relationships in the film are felt so deeply and every emotion that is intended, I fully felt. This was the easiest pick for me to go as number 1 on my list , it landed there early in the year and I never had a doubt it would be dethroned.
So that was it, 20 films that I loved this year, with so many more that I didn’t even get to mention. I am always so surprised that with these lists, only three of the films that I expected to love arrived on this top 20. Many of them didn’t actually comes out, so that made it more difficult to achieve. Either way, it makes me excited for the next year of films, to know that there are films waiting to come out that I don’t know about, that will likely hit my top 20 for 2025.
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