We’ve seen a lot happen when it comes to cinema in 2024. Cynthia Erivo defied gravity. We returned to Arrakis. Deadpool and Wolverine hung out. And Argylle, uh, happened, but let’s focus on the best 2024 movies.
This year delivered a bunch of really great, really exciting, and really bold films that we can’t stop talking about over here at ComingSoon. Here’s a look at our staff’s top ten favorite movies of 2024.
10. Dídi
There’s been no shortage of really wonderful coming-of-age movies in 2024, but Dídi is one that really stands out. Marking an incredibly impressive directorial debut from Sean Wang, Dídi is a semi-autobiographical movie that feels so nostalgic (think Richard Linklater’s Boyhood) and so personal that you can’t help but get won over by its charm, which is why it’s one of the best 2024 movies.
9. Hundreds of Beavers
A movie like Hundreds of Beavers shouldn’t work, at least on paper. It’s a goofy, ridiculous, over-the-top concept that seems like it’ll grow old after 20 minutes or so. Yet, it does. It works and then some. This is a hilarious, laugh-out-loud comedy that plays like an homage to Buster Keaton, Looney Tunes, and more. You’ll find some of the best gags of 2024 waiting for you in Hundreds of Beavers.
8. Wicked
It’s one of the most popular movies of the year. It’s also one of the best movies of the year. Whether you’re a fan of the stage musical or going into this as a new fan, it’s near-impossible not to fall in love with Wicked, particularly because of the stellar performances from both Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. Of course, we’re now beyond excited for Wicked: For Good, but we also have no problem rewatching this one again and again until that comes out.
7. A Real Pain
Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg created some magic together with A Real Pain. A movie that truly walks the line between comedy and drama, A Real Pain is a remarkably well-told movie that can also be quietly devastating at times. It knows how to subtly tackle serious subject matter, when to let the characters express themselves through dialogue, and when to take a step back and just let some of the images speak for themselves.
6. The Wild Robot
While Pixar’s Inside Out 2 made all kinds of money at the box office and Flow recently took home a Golden Globe, our favorite animated movie of the year has to be The Wild Robot. The heart! The humor! The gorgeous look of the whole thing! There’s just so much to adore about this movie. More films like this in 2025, please and thank you!
5. Juror No. 2
It’s a shame that Warner Bros. didn’t give Juror No. 2 a proper, nationwide theatrical release because Clint Eastwood came to play with this one. It’s a throwback to a certain kind of movie that doesn’t get made very much these days. And it’s one that’s so gripping in how it invites conversation once it’s over, making you wonder what you would do in Nicholas Hoult’s character’s situation. You probably didn’t get to see it on the big screen, but you won’t want to pass up the opportunity to check it out on Max.
4. Dune: Part Two
Remember that moment, sitting in a theater, watching Timothée Chalamet riding a sandworm for the first time? That’s what cinema is all about. That feeling of, “I’ve truly never seen anything like this before.” And you’ve probably truly never seen anything like Dune: Part Two before. Epic, bold, and endlessly fascinating, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune sequel is as breathtaking as movies get.
3. Sing Sing
Colman Domingo gives what very well may be his best performance to date as John ‘Divine G’ Whitfield in Sing Sing. This tragically beautiful film is directed by Greg Kwedar and co-stars a number of formerly incarcerated men who were part of the program on which the movie is based. It’ll make you cry. It’ll also fill you with hope. If you missed it in theaters, don’t worry, as A24 will be re-releasing it on January 17.
2. Anora
Mikey Madison — I mean, what is there to say about her performance in this movie that hasn’t been said already? She’s breathtaking. She’s phenomenal. She perfectly, perfectly encompasses the many different sides of this character. Anora can make you burst out laughing one minute, only to then leave you a complete, sobbing mess the next minute. Spectacular filmmaking on every level, which makes it one of the best 2024 movies.
1. The Substance
Demi Moore. Margaret Qualley. Coralie Fargeat. Three incredibly talented artists come together for The Substance to make one of the most unforgettable movie-going events of not just the year but the entire decade so far. You won’t know where it’s going if you haven’t seen it already, but you will surely be amazed at where it ends up. Remember. You are one.