Top 20 A24 Films

What is “A24”?

A24 is an independent film/TV production and distribution company. It was founded in 2012 and released many of the most memorable indie films in the subsequent decade. While they have not “hit” on every single one of their films, they have a batting average well above .500, which is extremely impressive. This list comprises films produced and/or distributed by A24.

Disclaimer
As of the writing of this post, there have been 118 A24 films released. While I have watched over 50% of them, it is extremely likely that I missed a gem or two on this list. My apologies! If only I didn’t need to have a real job…

One More Note

This was originally a Top 10, but there are just too many amazing A24 films worth witnessing, so this will be a long one… Buckle up.

Honourable Mentions:

While these films didn’t quite crack the Top 20, they are certainly worthy of your viewing.

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On the surface, this appears to be a knock-off Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but it really does stand on its own. Ti West does an excellent job maintaining the classic “slasher” vibe but is also able to incorporate humour in a way that many of its slasher predecessors were unable to. Available to stream on Amazon Prime.

The Disaster Artist

Zola

Under the Skin

The Killing of a Sacred Deer

Top 20:

20. Good Time

• The world needs to embrace post-Twilight Robert Pattinson. This man is a force on screen, and his performance in Good Time is no exception. Both Pattinson and Safdie put on great showings as brothers attempting to escape after a bank robbery. This one is beautifully shot with gorgeous colour grading and keeps you hooked from beginning to end. Available to rent online.

19. Saint Maud

• Discussed in my top 10 of 2021 list, this film takes some classic religious horror tropes and turns them into something that feels unique. It ends on one of the best closing shots to a film in recent memory and has stuck with me since viewing. Available to stream on Netflix.

18. Lady Bird

• Saoirse Ronan is an icon. I’m so happy that films like this can be made, even if for every one Lady Bird, we get 100 testosterone-infused Fast and the Furious’ or unnecessary Jurassic Park remakes, not to mention anything with The Rock. Poignant, heartfelt, while still being funny to the bone – the world needs more of this. Available to stream on Crave.

17. The VVITCH (The Witch)

• This is Robert Eggers’ directorial debut, which set him up for an even better second film, found later on this list. Like Egger’s subsequent work, The Witch has its fair share of oddness. Set in the 1600s, Eggers chooses to include hallucinogenic ointments and an evil billy goat, but it works, against all odds. Available to stream on CBC Gem (strange, but it’s free!)

16. First Reformed

• This is your classic Paul Schraeder film (best known for writing Taxi Driver and Raging Bull). Starring Ethan Hawke as a Protestant minister who has lost his faith, the film progresses mostly as you would expect from Schraeder until you reach the other-worldly closing act, which is worth sticking around for. Available to rent online.

15. Hereditary

• The first of Ari Aster’s films on the list, I would not recommend this one for the faint of heart. Wholly creepy, Aster has the incredible ability to tell a thorough and complex story, while dousing each frame with its fair share of horror, both explicitly and implicitly. Available to stream on Netflix.

14. Uncut Gems

• I love Happy Gilmore, Billy Madison, and The Waterboy as much as the next guy, but what we really need is more Adam Sandler in these dramatic roles. In what is likely his greatest performance, despite the Oscar snub, Sandler keeps us hooked throughout. This one is thrilling, suspenseful, and has an ending that defies traditional expectations. Available to stream on Netflix.

13. Eighth Grade

• With Bo Burnham’s directorial debut, this film provides a deep and honest portrayal of growing up in the era of social media. Pimples and all, Burnham does not shy away from the reality of coming of age and, *gasp*, casts actors of an appropriate age to play their roles. Available to stream on Crave.

12. Minari

• Minari wonderfully captures the so-called “American dream” and the reality of these dreams for families immigrating to the U.S. Steven Yeun leads a brilliant cast (please check out Yuh-Jung Youn’s hilarious Oscar acceptance speech if you haven’t already). Incredibly moving, this film leaves you no choice but to empathize with each and every character. Available to stream on Amazon Prime.

11. Enemy

• Full disclosure, this is one of my personal favourites. While it may not be as objectively strong as some of the other films on this list, it holds a special place in my heart. It served as my first exposure to the mastery of Denis Villeneuve, and it was one of those flicks that kept me thinking for days. While it might not be for everyone, I still stand by it. Available to stream on Netflix.

10. Midsommar

• Ari Aster’s second film on this list can be best described as a “folk horror”. On the surface, Midsommar is much lighter and less “scary” than Aster’s Hereditary, but once you dive into its depth, it’s easy to find it just as terrifying. Set at a commune in Sweden, Midsommar gets more and more insane as it progresses. Available to stream on Netflix.

9. Room

• The first time that I watched Room, I was on a plane, and I started crying between two strangers. Maybe they thought I was going through some unknown crisis, but hopefully, they saw the name of the movie I was watching and decided to check it out. Brie Larson is great, Jacob Tremblay is even better, and everyone should watch this powerful piece if they haven’t already. Available to stream on Netflix.

8. The Green Knight

• Number four on my best films of 2021 list, The Green Knight remains an underappreciated epic. Simultaneously both understated and vast, this movie somehow strikes a perfect balance between the subtle and the grandiose. Also, Dev Petel is one of the best working actors out there. Available to stream on Amazon Prime.

7. C’mon C’mon

• All the way at number one on my best films of 2021 list, C’mon C’mon is a heartfelt story of an uncle building a relationship with his nephew. Part of the film consists of real-life interviews conducted by Joaquin Phoenix with kids and young adults all across the United States. Taken together, this film is about as real as it gets. Available to stream on Amazon Prime.

6. After Yang

• I’m still reeling from the beauty of this film, and unlike most movies, it has made a small but tangible difference in how I view the world. Certainly not your typical A.I flick, but well worth your time if you allow yourself to slow down a little. Available to rent online.

5. Ex Machina

• Regarded by most as Alex Garland’s best film, this single-location thriller begs for multiple viewings to grasp its more subtle themes. On the surface, it appears to be a straightforward film exploring the dangers of technology, but upon further viewing, it’s clear that Garland has plenty to say about hubris, isolation, and the male gaze. Available to stream on Amazon Prime.

4. The Lobster

• Simply put, this is one of the most absurd films you will ever watch. Filled with incredibly dry humour, we follow Collin Farrell as he has an ultimatum: either find the love of his life or be turned into a lobster. No, seriously. While it certainly is an odd concept, it turns into much more than a simple comedy and forces the viewer to ask questions about the pressures of society around us. Available to stream on Amazon Prime.

3. The Lighthouse

• Black and white. A 1.19.1 aspect ratio. To some, these might be cheap arthouse tricks, but in the hands of Robert Eggers, they are used masterfully to set a claustrophobic scene in which the viewer, much like the characters, cannot escape. This likely goes without saying at this point, but both Pattinson and Dafoe are brilliant here. I often find myself awake at night cursing the Academy for not awarding Dafoe an Oscar. Full of metaphor and allegory, The Lighthouse gets even better upon further viewings. Available to rent online.

2. Moonlight

Barry Jenkins, Barry Jenkins, Barry Jenkins. After releasing his debut feature film at age 29 (that only makes me feel a little bad about myself), he stood by for six years before “coming out” with Moonlight, and it was certainly worth the wait. A haunting tale of a boy turned teen turned man, all the while struggling to find his identity, Jenkins perfectly adapts the unpublished play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue. Divided into three parts, as you might see in a stage production, each part of the protagonist’s journey is equally poignant. Mahershala Ali provides the performance that stands out to most, but try not to sleep on the rest of the cast, as each and every member comes together in a way that a director can only dream of. Available to rent online.

1. Everything, Everywhere, All at Once

• Every other film in my top 5 I have viewed multiple times, so I feel a bit strange about allowing this one to leapfrog the rest. That being said, I’m not sure if any words can accurately capture this film. I understand that recency bias is a very real thing, but this is one of the greatest movie-going experiences that I have had in the last decade. No, scratch that. Ever. While it’s possible that it loses some of its luster as time goes on, I am doubtful. I might never fully grasp how this movie made me cry in a scene directly following characters being introduced with hotdogs for hands, but that’s okay. What I do know, though, is that this is one of the most unique films I have seen. I plan on doing a full review on this one at some point, but it’s going to take a full commitment. Stay tuned. Available to rent online.

If you made it this far… thank you – you’re a real one.

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