The 20 Best Movies of 2024: Highlights from a Cinematic Year

The 20 best films that defined the year, capturing everything from emotional journeys to pure cinematic spectacle.

2024 brought an eclectic mix of bold choices, thought-provoking narratives, and groundbreaking performances that had film lovers buzzing. From body-horror satires to sci-fi epics, heartfelt dramas to comedies that pushed boundaries, this year had something for everyone. Below, we’ve rounded up the 20 best films that defined the year, capturing everything from gut-wrenching emotional journeys to pure cinematic spectacle.

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20. Nickel Boys

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Based on Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Nickel Boys is a haunting portrayal of life in a brutal 1960s boys’ reformatory in Florida. Directed by RaMell Ross, the film stands apart for its raw and immersive perspective, forcing the audience to reckon with the painful realities of systemic injustice. This radical take on the genre offers a deeply emotional journey that challenges the conventional portrayal of tragedy in film.

19. Rebel Ridge

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Jeremy Saulnier's Rebel Ridge takes a hard-hitting approach to revenge thrillers. Following a man who turns a small-town war zone upside down, Saulnier masterfully blends grindhouse elements with sleek modern direction. Aaron Pierre leads the film with charismatic intensity, while Don Johnson provides the perfect foil as a morally ambiguous sheriff. A throwback to gritty crime dramas, Rebel Ridge delivers both suspense and social commentary.

18. Flow

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This Latvian animated feature, Flow, tells the story of a cat navigating a flooded valley. With no dialogue and a visual style reminiscent of classic video games, director Gints Zilbalodis crafts a heart-stopping narrative about survival and companionship. The film captivates with its stunning animation and minimalistic yet profound storytelling, earning praise for its unique approach to nature’s raw power.

17. Dune: Part Two

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Denis Villeneuve’s continuation of Dune pushes the franchise to new heights. Part Two dives deeper into the complex political intrigue and existential themes of Frank Herbert's universe. Timothée Chalamet returns as Paul Atreides, but this time, the character is more hardened, facing impossible choices as he embraces his messianic destiny. The film’s sweeping visuals and complex characters make it a standout in the sci-fi genre.

16. Hard Truths

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Mike Leigh’s Hard Truths brings the audience into the complex emotional life of Pansy, a woman whose sharp tongue masks deep insecurities. Marianne Jean-Baptiste delivers a career-defining performance in this intimate character study. Leigh’s direction explores the delicate balance between criticism and vulnerability, making this a poignant film about the inner lives of everyday people.

15. Perfect Days

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In Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days, Kōji Yakusho delivers a stellar performance as Hirayama, a public toilet cleaner in Tokyo. The film explores his quiet life with a deep affection for his routines, offering a meditative reflection on the small, often overlooked moments that make up life. Wenders captures the beauty in the mundane, crafting a film that is both subtle and deeply affecting.

14. Robot Dreams

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In Robot Dreams, director Pablo Berger adapts Sarah Varon’s graphic novel into a touching animated tale about the friendship between an anthropomorphic dog and a robot. This whimsical film explores themes of love, loss, and the passage of time, creating a world that feels emotionally rich and visually captivating. The film’s final moments are sure to leave you teary-eyed and introspective.

13. Janet Planet

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Annie Baker’s Janet Planet is a beautifully crafted exploration of mother-daughter relationships. The film captures the emotional tension between a New England hippie mom and her 11-year-old daughter, with Julianne Nicholson and Zoe Ziegler delivering exceptional performances. Through silences and unresolved moments, the film paints a portrait of growing up and understanding family dynamics.

12. Challengers

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Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers brings together a love triangle set against the backdrop of competitive tennis. Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor shine in this passionate drama, which is as much about personal ambition as it is about navigating complex emotional terrain. The film offers a stunning mix of sensuality and athleticism, proving that sports dramas can be equally electrifying in terms of character depth.

11. Totem

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Totem is a heartbreaking coming-of-age film from Mexican director Lila Avilés. Following a girl coping with her father’s terminal illness, the film is a gentle exploration of grief, life, and familial bonds. Avilés’ sensitive direction and the subtle performances bring a depth to the story that resonates deeply, making it one of the year’s most moving films.

10. La Chimera

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In La Chimera, Alice Rohrwacher examines the intersection of archaeology, grief, and crime through the eyes of a British scholar who moonlights as a tomb raider. Josh O’Connor stars as a man trapped in his own sorrow, unable to escape the weight of the past. The film is both a philosophical meditation and a thrilling narrative, with O’Connor delivering one of his best performances to date.

9. Do Not Expect Much From the End of the World

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Radu Jude’s dark satire Do Not Expect Much From the End of the World is a biting commentary on modern-day Romania’s socioeconomic and political realities. Following Angela, a production assistant in Bucharest, the film critiques the gig economy and the legacy of authoritarianism with sharp wit and absurd humor. Its bleak humor and unsettling climax make it one of the most audacious films of the year.

8. The Substance

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French director Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance is a thrilling body-horror film that critiques society’s obsession with youth. The movie centers on a TV star who enters a secret service to rejuvenate herself—only to find herself spiraling into horrific consequences. Fargeat pushes the boundaries of genre filmmaking while delving deep into themes of vanity, identity, and self-destruction.

7. Dahomey

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Mati Diop’s Dahomey presents an innovative take on colonialism’s legacy by exploring the return of stolen artifacts from the Kingdom of Dahomey to Benin. The film raises questions about cultural identity, the value of historical objects, and the process of reclaiming the past. Diop’s unique storytelling style and thoughtful approach make this a powerful work of cinema.

6. All We Imagine as Light

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Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light is a heartfelt exploration of female friendships and personal struggles set against the vibrant backdrop of Mumbai. With magical realism woven into the narrative, the film follows three women grappling with love, loss, and loneliness. It’s a striking blend of realism and surrealism that underscores the beauty of everyday life.

5. The Brutalist

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Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist is a sprawling, epic character study of a Hungarian architect in post-WWII America. Adrien Brody plays Lázsló Tóth, a man caught between his artistic ambitions and the suffocating pressures of the American Dream. The film’s impressive scale, ambitious storytelling, and Brody’s nuanced performance make it a modern classic.

4. Anora

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Anora, directed by Sean Baker, is a story of unexpected romance that explores themes of class, power, and desire. The film follows a Russian oligarch’s son and a Brooklyn sex worker as their lives intersect in a whirlwind of excess and danger. Mikey Madison and Mark Edelshteyn shine in their roles, bringing intensity to the film’s sharp social commentary and thrilling narrative.

3. A Real Pain

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A buddy dramedy about two cousins—one a gregarious and boundary-ignoring hippie (Kieran Culkin) and the other an uptight neurotic (Jesse Eisenberg)—who travel to Poland to pay tribute to their late grandmother.

2. Good One

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A 17-year-old named Sam navigates a weekend hiking trip with her dad and his longtime best friend, where the men rehash their regrets and failures, all filtered through Sam’s silent, observational perspective.

1. His Three Daughters

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A portrait of three sisters—Katie, Rachel, and Christina—who are forced to confront their deeply rooted family dynamics and personal histories while caring for their dying father in a cramped apartment.