Top 24 Films of 2024
Top Films of 2024 | Adam Manery
Another year, another “best of” list. Whether you agree or disagree with the rankings, I hope this collection adds a few films to your watchlist. Each entry represents [some of] the best storytelling, acting, and filmmaking that 2024 has to offer.
24. A Complete Unknown
Director: James Mangold
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Monica Barbaro, Elle Fanning, and Edward Norton
Admittedly, I am a big Dylan fan and, perhaps more importantly, a fan of the ’60s music scene. Still, I don’t think you need to head into this one as a fan. The music slowly takes over, and regardless of your prior contextual understanding, it paints a fairly universal portrayal of this journey to find oneself. Mangold captures the spirit of Dylan’s world without over-romanticizing it, keeping it [mostly] grounded and relatable.
23. Flow
Director: Gints Zilbalodis
At the start of 2024, I wouldn’t have predicted that an animated film with no dialogue would end up on my top list, but here we are. It has some beautiful animation that will almost certainly pull at your heartstrings. There are also so many subtle interpretations of the symbolism here, and I think, lover of cats or not, it is a wonderful story. It’s a reminder of how much can be conveyed through visuals alone.
22. Anora
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Mikey Madison, Yuriy Borisov, and Mark Eidelstein
I would love to chat with director Sean Baker about this one. While it’s not in my top five as it is for many critics, I still love most of what was done here. Mikey Madison and Yuriy Borisov steal the show. They make you think differently about sex work and also explore themes of loneliness and belonging. Baker’s ability to humanize often marginalized characters shines through once again.
21. Eden
Director: Ron Howard
Starring: Jude Law, Ana de Armas, Sydney Sweeney, and Vanessa Kirby
This is a solid Ron Howard picture through and through. The film is led and cemented by its performances, from Ana de Armas to Jude Law to Sydney Sweeney and the rest of the cast. At the bare minimum, it’s likely to elicit some Google searches about what “went down” on Floriana Island. It’s wild to think that Howard might have even toned some things down. It’s a film that reminds you how truth can often be stranger than fiction.
20. Conclave
Director: Edward Berger
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, Isabella Rossellini, John Lithgow, and Carlos Diehz
This is an absolute masterclass in tension building. While the final payoff didn’t hit quite as hard as I hoped, Edward Berger showcases his ability to hit every single dramatic beat. Few films this year managed to maintain such a gripping atmosphere from start to finish.
19. Janet Planet
Director: Annie Baker
Starring: Julianne Nicholson, Zoe Ziegler
No one seems to be talking about this film, which is a shame. A24 has given it a very quiet release, but it’s worth checking out. Julianne Nicholson is wonderful, but the standout performance here comes from the very young Zoe Ziegler, who is beyond brilliant. She’s perfectly cast as this quirky 11-year-old trying to figure out the world while watching her mother attempt to do the same. It’s a heartfelt and understated gem that deserves a larger audience.
18. Ghostlight
Director: Kelly O’Sullivan, Alex Thompson
Starring: Keith Kupferer, Katherine Mallen Kupferer, and Dolly de Leon
Another smaller film with very human performances, this one offers a unique experience as we watch a real-life father and daughter portray father and daughter on screen. It sneaks up on you and hits you with an emotional wallop when you least expect it.
17. Porcelain War
Director: Slava Leontyev, Brendan Bellomo
This is a brilliant documentary that follows three artists—Slava, Ana, and Andrey—during the war in Ukraine. We see their art, particularly the porcelain art from Slava and Ana, juxtaposed against the backdrop of destruction and chaos. Ultimately, it delivers a message about the power of art and its role as a tool of resistance. It’s both devastating and inspiring, showing how art can survive even in the darkest times.
16. In Our Blood
Director: Pedro Kos
Starring: Brittany O’Grady and E. J. Bonilla
My favorite film from Montreal’s Fantasia Fest this year, In Our Blood is sadly still in distribution purgatory. While it might not do anything revolutionary, it works so well in many different ways. Directed by Pedro Kos, an Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker making his narrative feature debut, the film blends genre elements with authentic nods to the filmmaking process.
15. Small Things Like These
Director: Tim Mielants
Starring: Cillian Murphy, Emily Watson, Eileen Walsh, and Clare Dunne
Honestly, I could watch Cillian Murphy sitting in a chair and washing his hands all day—and that’s what a significant chunk of this film is. Seriously, though, it’s a poignant picture that uses historical trauma and abuse as a backdrop to explore personal suffering and grief. The cinematography and performances are beautiful from start to finish. It’s a slow burn, but one that rewards patience with immense emotional depth.
14. Daughters
Director: Natalie Rae, Angela Patton
Time to get the tissues out. Turn on Netflix, avoid clicking on Love is Blind, and watch this instead. It’s my favorite documentary of the year and approaches father-daughter relationships with tremendous compassion. The film shows the impact of incarceration on the lives of those on the outside and how these men break down self-imposed masculine barriers while serving time. It’s a deeply human story that resonates well beyond its subject matter.
13. The Outrun
Director: Nora Fingscheidt
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Saskia Reeves, Paapa Essiedu, and Stephen Dillane
Saoirse Ronan is absolutely incredible here, which probably isn’t surprising. She appears in nearly every single frame of the film, and what’s amazing about this performance is how she navigates tremendous highs and lows without them ever feeling forced. We believe in her story and her struggle, leaving us with no choice but to hold our breath and watch a brilliant actor at work. It’s a raw, emotional journey that lingers long after the credits roll.
12. Heretic
Director: Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
Starring: Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, and Chloe East
I might have a slight bias here as I was lucky to interview Hugh Grant and the rest of the cast on the red carpet before the film’s premiere at TIFF, but it did exceed my expectations. It’s a film that makes the most of its single location and explores religion and horror in a nuanced way. For me, it becomes even more rewarding on a second watch. You’ve never seen Hugh Grant quite like this before.
11. Exhibiting Forgiveness
Director: Titus Kaphar
Starring: Andre Holland, John Earl Jelks, Andra Day, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor
One of my favorites from Sundance this year, Titus Kaphar’s semi-autobiographical debut really hit me hard. The performances are some of the best of the year. I love how the film doesn’t preach about forgiveness or tell us how to feel. Instead, it shows an individual journey of trauma, grief, and personal growth, avoiding easy cliches along the way. It’s a deeply personal film that feels universal in its message.
10. Nosferatu
Director: Robert Eggers
Starring: Lily-Rose Depp, Bill Skarsgård, Willem Dafoe, and Nicholas Hoult
This is a Robert Eggers film, and you can see his fingerprints on every single frame. The research and love he has for folklore are evident in the costuming, makeup, set design, and overall vibe. That’s the best way to describe Eggers’ work—it’s the vibe. It’s dark, beautiful, and perfectly suited to him. Eggers once again proves his mastery of atmosphere and storytelling.
9. Didi
Director: Sean Wang
Starring: Izaac Wang, Mahaela Park, Stephanie Hsu, and Joan Chen
This coming-of-age story from director Sean Wang hit me like few coming-of-age stories do. We get so many of them, and they don’t always have this sort of impact. Here, we have a pitch-perfect portrayal of high school in the early age of the internet, with skateboarding, girls, and teenage awkwardness. It also offers a very authentic depiction of cognitive dissonance when it comes to a convergence of cultures. The combination of nostalgia and emotional depth makes this one unforgettable.
8. Thelma
Director: Josh Margolin
Starring: June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, and Parker Posey
Thelma is an absolute joy but also an absolute heartbreaker. It’s impossible not to root for Thelma, played by June Squibb in her first-ever lead role at 94 years old. Fred Hechinger’s character is wonderful, rooted in a relationship inspired by the director’s own grandmother. The scenes shot in June’s apartment were actually filmed in the director Josh Margolin’s grandmother’s home. This film beautifully captures the complexities of aging, family, and resilience, delivering an emotional yet uplifting watch.
7. Civil War
Director: Alex Garland
Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley, and Jesse Plemons
The love for Alex Garland seems to be on a steady decline since he hit his high with Ex Machina in 2014. Still, I have tremendous respect for his work, and Civil War deserves more praise than it has received. The choice to use a Rumer camera with the Ronin 4D gives us the feeling of being in the war, while the incorporation of photographs from Kirsten Dunst’s character adds another layer to the narrative. Garland’s ability to craft unsettling yet immersive worlds remains unparalleled.
6. Sing Sing
Director: Greg Kwedar
Starring: Colman Domingo, Clarence Maclin, Paul Raci, and Sean San Jose
I’m not sure what A24 is doing with the marketing and distribution of this one, but what should be one of the most talked-about movies of the year has somehow faded into the background. We have a really cool project here with real former inmates from the Sing Sing Correctional Facility performing as versions of themselves. It’s a clear demonstration of the power of art, and yes, Colman Domingo is amazing, as everyone has been talking about. The film is both moving and empowering, leaving a lasting impression.
5. Dune: Part Two
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, and Austin Butler
From a technical perspective, nothing touches Dune: Part Two. Denis Villeneuve is a master of world-building, and his cinematographer Greg Fraser deserves recognition as well. From the score to the camera work to the special effects, it really is a spectacle of a film—and it’s probably the closest thing we have to the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I’m just sitting here patiently waiting for Dune Messiah. This sequel solidifies Villeneuve as one of the masters of filmmaking working today.
4. A Real Pain
Director: Jesse Eisenberg
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin
My favorite film from Sundance this year shows that Jesse Eisenberg is more than capable of delivering as a writer and director. His first feature felt unclear, but A Real Pain demonstrates tremendous growth. Kieran Culkin delivers one of the best performances of the year as a haunting portrayal of a man many of us know—the loudest in the room, the first to make others laugh, yet somehow the most broken inside. It’s a deeply resonant exploration of grief and identity.
3. Queer
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Starring: Daniel Craig, Drew Starkey, Omar Apollo, and Jason Schwartzman
The third act of Luca Guadagnino’s Queer will undoubtedly divide audiences, but it’s where I fell in love with the film. This ethereal, surrealist presentation of longing will stick with me for a long time. The performances from Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey are also unforgettable. Guadagnino captures raw vulnerability and beauty in a way few directors can.
2. The Zone of Interest
Director: Jonathan Glazer
Starring: Sandra Hüller and Christian Friedel
Jonathan Glazer achieved something brilliant here. He sets up the cameras in a way that makes us, the audience, mere observers. We watch what unfolds in a family that is either directly or indirectly serving the Nazi regime. Glazer isn’t ever forceful with his messaging; instead, he allows us to sit in a state of constant unease. The final moments of this film are some of the most impactful of the year. It’s a masterclass in restraint and storytelling.
1. All of Us Strangers
Director: Andrew Haigh
Starring: Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, and Claire Foy
I don’t know what to say about this film—it broke me in a way that few films have. In my own writing, I always find myself drawn to this delicate balance of telling a grounded human story through a surrealist lens, and Andrew Haigh struck this balance perfectly. I watched this film not long after losing my father, and witnessing the conversations that Andrew Scott’s character has with his parents was more heart-wrenching, beautiful, and profound than anything else I saw on screen this year. It is truly a beautiful project, and I urge you to watch it if you haven’t already. Haigh has crafted something deeply personal and universally moving.
