Our Favorite Movies of 2024 | A Year in Review
Featuring Tennis, Papal Politics, Body Horror, and an Animated Robot
From time to time, Cinemantic’s contributors — Tyler MacQueen, Graham Piro, Caleb Boyer, and Daniel Mitchell — will jump on a call to chat about anything and everything movie-related. Here, we break down our five favorite films from 2024 — including a few honorable mentions.
GRAHAM’S PICKS
Honorable mentions: Dune Part II, Challengers, Hit Man, Conclave, A Quiet Place: Day One
5. Longlegs
A standout in what was a great year for horror, Longlegs made full use of the limited screen time it gave its star (Nicolas Cage, who is somehow both unrecognizable under layers of makeup but also instantly iconic as the eponymous villain). Writer and director Oz Perkins crafts a brilliantly framed and unbearably tense film that fully uses every tool in Perkins’s toolkit. By the time the film reaches its outlandish third act, you’ve completely bought into the nihilistic world Perkins creates, which takes for granted that evil exists and is the natural state of being. Longlegs is destined to be a Halloween rewatch.
4. Furiosa
An unfortunate box office bomb, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga marked director George Miller’s long-awaited return to the Mad Max universe. Furiosa is not without its signature set-pieces, as its spectacular extended truck convoy set-pieces rival anything Miller has done in his career. But what makes Furiosa so great is that it sets itself apart from Fury Road by being a more patient film that spends an extraordinary amount of time establishing its titular character as a living legend. It’s the rare prequel that amplifies the film that comes after instead of undermining it. If it does end up being the final film in the Mad Max universe, Furiosa is a high note to end on.
3. The Substance
Queasy stomachs beware. The Substance is not for the faint of heart. But it’s still a pleasure to watch a film that’s as hyper-focused on a singular idea as this one is. The dueling central performances from Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley are a joy to behold. Both channel their current career statuses (Moore the fading star, Qualley the rising one) to carry a film about popular culture’s objectification of women. It’s a film that will make you squirm and cringe at some moments, but will also make you laugh out loud at others (if you have a fear of needles, skip this one). Randy Quaid is a delight in his deliciously loathsome supportive role. As someone who is not particularly enchanted by body horror, I was surprised at how much I liked The Substance.
2. The Iron Claw
Yes, it technically came out in 2023, but I’m counting it this year just to sing its praises once again. The Iron Claw was one of the first films I saw this year and it has stayed with me. It features a couple of the best performances I’ve seen all year, and captures a slice of America all too often overlooked by mainstream Hollywood films. The film tells the gut-wrenching story of the Von Erich family and the tragedies that befell them, seemingly resulting from a family curse. The film isn’t afraid to be sincere, with one scene approaching the point of being maudlin. But it’s exactly that heart and sincerity that gets career-best performances out of everyone involved and makes The Iron Claw an emotional roller-coaster for the ages.
1. Anora
I turned to Cinemantics head honcho Tyler MacQueen after walking out of this movie and said that it would likely be my favorite film of the year. Sean Baker is one of the most intriguing directors working in Hollywood today, and Anora fits right in with his examinations of sex work and class. Anchored by a star-making turn from Mikey Madison, Anora is both a comedic romp and a devastating story about human connection, immigration, and wealth. The middle hour is my favorite portion of any film this year. Anora is rich with little character moments that stay with you, and while Madison dominates the screen, Baker is able to draw compelling performances out of all of his actors (Yura Borisov is a particular standout). I can’t wait to revisit the film and it will be fascinating to see how it plays around Oscar season.
TYLER’S PICKS
Honorable mentions: Twisters, Conclave, Sing Sing, RenFaire, Dune: Part Two
5. Godzilla Minus One
At its heart, Godzilla Minus One is Godzilla meets Jaws meets Dunkirk set in post-WWII-Japan. It just absolutely rocks. Spileberg’s influences are seen and felt throughout the entire picture. The monster moves in a terrifyingly inhuman way; its head is often just above the water’s surface in menacing pursuit like Bruce the Shark. But what impressed me even more than the Oscar-winning effects was its human characters. Archetypical, yes, but wonderfully lived in. We see and feel their trauma and their desire for a better life, and we believe in their fear of this monster from the sea.
4. Super/ Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
Christopher Reeve forever holds a place in movie history for making us believe that man can fly. But as Super/ Man: The Christopher Reeve Story reminds us, his legacy will last longer than the celluloid that made him famous. In a non-linear story, directors Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui beautifully jump forwards and backward in time, showing the stark dichotomy between life before and after Reeve’s tragic 1997 accident that left him paralyzed. The movies made him Superman, but it took an unspeakable tragedy to make him a super man. Even if you know Reeve’s story, the film still breaks your heart, lifts the spirit, and reminds us that, while man cannot fly, the mark of a true hero is how they get back up when they fall.
3. Challengers
Challengers is many things, but boring is not one of them. It’s sexy, darkly comic, and entertaining as hell. Featuring a trio of dynamite performances from Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor, Writer Justin Kuritzkes and director Luca Guadagnino give each performer a chance to shine, knowing that the movie falters if they don’t get enough time to connect with the audience. Thankfully, none of the three dropped the ball. Behind the camera, the crackling and diabolical screenplay is elevated by Guadagnino’s noted (and erotic) exploration of the human body through dizzying camerawork and editing, coupled with a dynamite score from the duo of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.
2. The Iron Claw
Let me be blunt: The Iron Claw is as devastating as a movie can be. Based on actual events, the movie tells the story of Fritz Von Erich's sons and their efforts in the 80s to achieve the success that their father groomed them for. Writer-director Sean Durkin brings out career-best work from Zac Efron, who, in a more just world, would have seen his name appear in lights on Oscar Sunday. Yes, the script does streamline some events and characters, but it does so with grace and compassion. In keeping the movie focused on the relationship between the four brothers and their manipulative and abusive father, Durkin sheds profound insights on brotherhood amid generational trauma and the price of fame.
1. Anora
I won’t apologize for this one, folks. Sean Baker’s Anora is my favorite movie of the year. An all-American tragi-comedy that is as funny as provocative. After dominating the independent world for the past decade, this writer-director has capitulated into the zeitgeist with the help of an unforgettable Mikey Madison performance. This is her “star is born” moment. There’s not a single moment she’s on screen in which she’s not fascinating—and she’s in almost every scene! One-third romantic comedy, one-third slapstick farce, and one-third class commentary, its minor flaws are outweighed by the totality of this electric, wickedly entertaining movie experience.
DANIEL’S PICKS
Honorable mentions: The number 2 — Inside Out 2, Juror #2, Dune part II, Gladiator II, Twisters (not a #2 but a sequel)
5. The Fall Guy
This movie should have been a smashing success. It has all the ingredients of a blockbuster, but it just didn’t land in theatres the way it deserved. One of the most fun times I had at the movies this year was this film about the movies and the stunt teams that deserve more recognition. STUNT. OSCAR. NOW.
Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt are a perfect duo – I’d love to see them share the screen again. Hopefully the decision makers decide to make more movies like The Fall Guy, because there’s surely an appetite for the crowd pleasing, summer blockbuster that relies on charm and movie stars.
4. The Wild Robot
I loved The Wild Robot so much – one of the most delightful films I’ve seen in a long time. I am an easy mark for a movie that pulls your heartstrings – the themes of parenthood and sacrifice really got me good. My wife’s in the late stages of the third trimester, so the emotions are right on the surface (more so than usual).
I’m also pro training montages (the only montage I like more is a newspaper/magazine production montage like in journalism movies). Add in some tremendous vocal performances from Lupita Nyongo, Pedro Pascal, Bill Nighy, Catherine O’Hara, and Ving Rhames – you’ve got a movie that’s great for all ages.
3. Conclave
I’m all for rewarding a long-time actor with an Oscar, and it’s even better when that performance deserves the award. Ralph Fiennes has been doing elite work in movies for decades, and I would love to see him recognized for Conclave.
While I wish the twist had been a little sooner in the movie (I’ll let you all watch it to see for yourself), I found the political and papal intrigue to be utterly fascinating. Combined with elite cinematography and blocking of scenes, it was a fully formed movie for adults. More of these please!
2. Anora
Your classic Cinderella story set to the backdrop of Brooklyn — the problem is the clock struck midnight. Honestly, I thought it was going to be more of the whirlwind romance than it turned out to be. I was surprised at the pacing and the overall plot a little, but it was certainly one of the best movies of the year.
Anora lived up to the hype – I found it charming, desperate, and endlessly watchable. Mikey Madison gave one of the performances of the year, and it’d be awesome to see her get recognized with a Best Actress statue. May not be the frontrunner (I think Demi Moore is in front as of now) but it was a gutsy, heartwrenching, explosive performance. Can’t wait to watch Anora again.
1. Challengers
It’s a shame that Challengers is not getting the awards love that it deserves. While the score is rightfully being recognized, the craftsmanship and performances surely should have also been considered. It doesn’t appear it will be receive a good number of Oscar nominations, though I suspect that is more an issue with the spring release date.
Zendaya is a star, and Mike Faist/Josh O’Connor were game for every twist and turn in the love triangle/toxic relationship. Tennis is high on the list of cinematic sports, and the ending scene was a standout for 2024.
Reader, what’s your favorite movie from the past year? Let us know in the comments below!