These are my ten favorite films of 2024. Before we begin the list, I have a few things to address. First, I want to offer a couple of disclaimers. This is not a list of what I consider to be the best films of 2024, but rather just my favorite films of the year. Playing by Academy Rules, I’ve included a couple of films that had a limited release in December before going wide in January. Also, I am not claiming to have seen every movie released this year, but these are my favorites that I did see.
Let’s get started with the list. Plot summaries courtesy of Google. Potential spoiler alerts.
10. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Cast: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Jenna Ortega, Catherine O’Hara
Plot: Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life gets turned upside down when her daughter discovers a portal to the afterlife. When someone says Beetlejuice’s name three times, the mischievous demon soon returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.
Thoughts: As I start my list, I’ll start with two long awaited sequels. In a year jam packed with sequels, films like Inside Out 2 and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire almost made my list. The first to make my list is the long awaited Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice contradicts my own personal preferences. I’m generally not a fan of the auteur’s work. It’s usually a bit too weird for my liking. It wasn’t until a week before the sequel’s release that I finally watched the film and was surprised at how much I liked it. I think a lot of that had to do with the charm of Michael Keaton (who has less screen time than you may remember). It was a whimsical little film with standout performances from Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, and Winona Ryder. With a film this popular, you would think a sequel would be inevitable. In fact, many sequels were proposed and entered development over the years. It only took 36 years, but we finally got a sequel to the big screen. Was it worth the wait? No, not really. That being said, I still enjoyed it. I liked seeing where Lydia is nearly four decades after her encounter with Beetlejuice and how her encounter still affects her. I have a few notes on the performances. Jenna Ortega as Astrid, Lydia’s daughter, was the standout for me. I found Justin Theroux to be utterly unbearable as Lydia’s producer, and as talented as they both are, I thought Monica Bellucci and Willem Dafoe to be wasted here. I do need to compliment Keaton, who fits back into this role like a glove almost forty years later.
9. Deadpool & Wolverine
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Matthew McFayden
Plot: Deadpool’s peaceful existence comes crashing down when the Time Variance Authority recruits him to help safeguard the multiverse. He soon unites with his would-be pal, Wolverine, to complete the mission and save his world from an existential threat.
Thoughts: The other sequel on my list, Deadpool & Wolverine was six years in the making. 2018’s Deadpool 2 is not only my favorite of the trilogy (I’m a massive Josh Brolin fan), but when it was released, Fox was its own studio. In 2019, Disney purchased Fox’s assets, including their Marvel movies. This would open the door for Fox-Marvel properties like X-Men and Fantastic Four to join the MCU. This would also lead to the burials of already completed films Dark Phoenix, The New Mutants, and the scrapping of the Channing Tatum-led Gambit. Ryan Reynolds and Kevin Fiege spent years trying to figure out how to integrate Deadpool into the MCU without losing the character’s edge. According to Reynolds, they almost gave up on the film until they figured out that Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine was the missing link. Reynolds, Fiege, and director Shawn Levy were careful not to mess with the legacy of James Mangold’s Logan, in bringing Jackman back into the fold. The result was an R-rated superhero buddy comedy. I should note, this is the first and only R-rated film in the MCU. The final result, in my opinion, was pretty good. Again, it wasn’t my favorite in the franchise. I did appreciate that the audience did not have to have a wider knowledge of the MCU. You just need to know the bare minimum to understand the plot. I appreciate that because I’ve given up on the MCU films since Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and the TV series since season one of Loki. I simply just don’t care anymore. That being said, I am excited to see what Fox does this year with the Fantastic Four and I’ll probably see the new Captain America because I love Harrison Ford. I did appreciate the many cameos within the film, which I thought were particularly clever. I want to say that this wasn’t a bad film. I just liked the other two better. The main reason for this is because many of the characters I had come to love in the first two installments, Vanessa, Blind Al, Dopinder, and Peter, just to name a few, took a backseat to the more established MCU characters. As I wrap up my thoughts, I have mixed feelings as to the existence of the film. On one hand, it was fun to see how Deadpool was incorporated into the MCU (with an R rating too), but I felt like the film was lacking compared to its predecessors. Technically, I know that the Logan character is a different variant from the one that appeared in Logan, but Mangold’s film ended so beautifully that I don’t care if they are different. I wish they had just left Wolverine alone. It seems to be the end of a trilogy, so I am happy about that.
8. Emilia Perez
Cast: Karla Sofia Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz
Plot: A Mexican lawyer is offered an unusual job to help a notorious cartel boss retire and transition into living as a woman, fulfilling a long-held desire.
Thoughts: What a weird, bizarre movie. I want to start by saying I only watched this movie because it was on Netflix and it broke the Golden Globe nomination records. I would not have gone to the theater to see it. I knew it was primarily in Spanish and relied on subtitles (subtitles are not my friend due to my short attention span), but I gave it a shot. I will say that I had no idea it was a musical until they broke into song for the first time. There were times I was a bit bored and wanted to give up, but then something would happen that would re-capture my attention. It was so bizarre. It was like a trainwreck you couldn’t take your eyes off. What ultimately convinced me was that in a world of sequels, it was a uniquely original film. I’m writing this post in mid-January. The Academy Award nominations have not yet been announced, but I feel very confident that Gascón and Saldaña will earn Oscar nominations, with Saldaña winning. Her win does remind me of Brad Pitt’s win in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Technically, Gascón plays the titular character, but Saldaña has more screen time. Whether she is supporting or leading is up for debate. Selena Gomez earned a Golden Globe nomination but not SAG. I think it is unlikely she will be nominated, but if she did, I think that would be pretty cool. I’ve seen her grow up on Wizards of Waverly Place, and shine as an adult in Only Murders in the Building, and I would be thrilled for her if she was nominated. I may not have liked the film a whole heck of a lot, but I appreciated the originality. That buys brownie points with me.
7. Anora
Cast: Mikey Madison, Paul Weissman, Yura Borisov, Lindsey Normington
Plot: Anora, a young woman from Brooklyn, gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and marries the son of an oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as the parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled.
Thoughts: Anora is another film that wasn’t quite my favorite, but ranked higher because I appreciated the original story. The story was fairly engaging, but I was taken with the performance of Mikey Madison (no relation) as the foul-mouthed sex worker swept off into a Cinderella-esque dream that quickly devolves into a nightmare. Madison is getting all the love (and rightfully so), but the praise I didn’t see coming was for Yora Borisov. Playing the sympathetic Russian hitman, Igor, he easily had the second-best performance in the movie. He and Madison play off each other very well. Even though they are at odds most of the movie, there are little moments where they complement each other’s performances. I’m not saying the praise wasn’t deserved, but it did catch me off guard. I predict an Oscar nomination will be well on the way for both of them.
6. Sing Sing
Cast: Colman Domingo, Clarence Maclin, Sean San Jose, Paul Raci
Plot: Imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit, Divine G finds purpose by acting in a theatre group alongside other incarcerated men, including a wary newcomer.
Thoughts: I was surprised how much I liked this movie. Films set in prison, no matter how acclaimed, always give me anxiety. My point of reference for most prison movies is The Shawshank Redemption. While it is ultimately uplifting, I think it’s a tough watch. Luckily with this film, I felt more at ease as the film went on. Like Shawshank, the film is hopeful, but unlike Shawshank, whose characters find hope through surviving abuse and a corrupt system, these characters find hope through acting. I use the word “characters” loosely. This film is based on the real system at the titular correctional facility and a lot of actors play a version of themselves, including Clarence Maclin (who also shares a story credit). Colman Domingo is incredible as Divine G and will undoubtedly receive his second consecutive Oscar nomination for this film. Clarence Maclin as Divine Eye, is a scene stealer. His brash, unpredictable manner is the perfect contrast to Divine G. Overall, this is a hopeful little movie ultimately about what it’s like to be human and how to heal through tragedy with creative expression.
5. A Complete Unknown
Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro
Plot: In the early 1960s, 19-year-old Bob Dylan arrives in New York with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music. Forming his most intimate relationships during his rise to fame, he grows restless with the folk movement, making a controversial choice that reverberates worldwide.
Thoughts: I find that as we get to the bottom half of the list, the less I feel I need to write. I think that speaks to the quality of the films. I believe most biopics of musicians that have come out in the last few years have been weak on the story but are worth seeing only for the lead performances and the soundtrack (see Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman, or Elvis). A Complete Unknown is no exception. Though I did find the plot more compelling than the aforementioned films, it is the performances that make this film soar. Chalamet transforms himself into Dylan so much that it’s a bit eerie. Not only does he look like Dylan, but he sounds like Dylan. It makes sense, given that he was not only cast in 2020 (filming didn’t start until 2023), but he was working with the same vocal coaches Austin Butler used for Elvis. Also exceptional as real-life musicians are Edward Norton as Pete Seeger and Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez. I wasn’t sure if I would like this film, given the trend of musical biopics I mentioned, but also because the film was directed by James Mangold. As a director, Mangold is hit or miss with me. I enjoyed Logan and 3:10 to Yuma, but disliked Ford v. Ferrari and thought his Indiana Jones film was the weakest installment. The biggest comparison to Mangold’s past work was 2005’s Walk the Line. Despite stellar performances from Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon, I found the film to be dull and the characters unlikable. Thankfully, I found this film to be more enjoyable. Interestingly enough, Johnny Cash does appear as a character in this film, this time portrayed by Boyd Holbrook.
4. A Real Pain
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin, Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey
Plot: Mismatched cousins David and Benji tour Poland to honor their grandmother. Their adventure becomes complicated as old tensions resurface while exploring their family history.
Thoughts: This is just a sweet little film with a lot of heart. The dynamic between Eisenberg and Culkin is the driving force behind this movie. It’s this comedic balance that perfectly compliments the film’s darker and sadder moments. Eisenberg, as always, is great, but Culkin steals the show. As of this writing, he’s won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor and has been nominated for the SAG Award in the same category. In a year without a clear frontrunner (think Robert Downey Jr. for last year’s Oppenheimer), Culkin seems to be a lock to win the Academy Award. Similar to Saldaña, it is debatable whether or not Culkin is leading or supporting, but I guess category fraud is just the norm now.
3. Carry-On
Cast: Taron Egerton, Jason Bateman, Sofia Carson, Danielle Deadwyler
Plot: A young airline security guard is blackmailed by a mysterious passenger who threatens to smuggle a dangerous package onto a plane on Christmas Eve.
Thoughts: Pure popcorn. That’s the jist of what I have to say. This is just a fun, popcorn movie. One that you’d see on a big screen just a decade ago. I’ll be honest, there’s nothing all that special about the film. It’s fun and thrilling, and it takes place on Christmas Eve. As someone who watches Die Hard every holiday season, I can’t ask for anything more. That’s why I ranked it so high on my list. Plus, I love Jason Bateman and a menacing Jason Bateman is even better.
2. Hit Man
Cast: Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio, Retta
Plot: Gary Johnson is a college professor who works for the police as an undercover hitman to catch people who want to hire a contract killer. He’s good at his job, but he gets into trouble when he breaks protocol to help a woman who’s being abused by her husband. He becomes romantically involved with the woman and starts to take on the persona of the hitman he’s pretending to be.
Thoughts: As a director, Richard Linklater is an enigma. He’s a man of many genres. He’s brought us many classic comedies like Dazed and Confused and School of Rock, experimental films like A Scanner Darkly and Waking Life, as well as thought-provoking dramas Boyhood and the Before Trilogy. His latest film Hit Man falls somewhere in between. It has the dark humor of Bernie with the love story of Before. Co-written with star Glen Powell, this Netflix film is the most fun I’ve had watching a movie all year. Not many films can be described as funny, smart, thrilling, and sexy, but Hit Man pulls it off. I could talk more about the film, but nothing I would say could do this film justice. I also don’t want to spoil the film’s many twists and turns. I’ll finish by saying, if you have Netflix, just give it a watch. It’s 115 minutes of fun. You won’t regret it.
Update: Prior to publication, the film was just nominated for a Writer’s Guild of America (WGA) Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, which seemed to have come out of nowhere. While I think the film will fail to receive a nomination at the Oscars, its surprise nomination here does establish the remote possibility of Academy recognition.
1. Conclave
Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Isabella Rossellini
Plot: Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events, participating in the selection of a new pope. Surrounded by powerful religious leaders in the halls of the Vatican, he soon uncovers a trail of deep secrets that could shake the very foundation of the Roman Catholic Church.
Thoughts: I was shocked at how much I enjoyed this movie. I saw it on a whim one evening at the Alamo and was blown away. The story is somehow simplistic, yet complex. I was shocked because I grew up Catholic, but I learned that I knew next to nothing about the process of selecting a new Pope. I also never realized how politically charged these conclaves can be. The performances of Isabella Rossellini, Stanley Tucci, and John Lithgow are strong, but Ralph Fiennes is an absolute powerhouse. I find it funny that his first Oscar nomination was for playing a Nazi in Schindler’s List and over thirty years later, he is likely to receive a nomination for playing a Cardinal in the Catholic Church. The film did remind me of a previous Best Picture winner, Spotlight. While both focus on the Catholic Church, and both are powerful narratives, I found this film to be inspiring. I went into this film with no expectations and left the theater in awe. That’s how powerful of a film it was.