The Top 11 Films of 2024

As Bob Dylan would say, the times, they are a-changin’, and we’re reaching the end of a crazy year, both on screen and off. A usually low number of superheroes brought their might to the multiplexes, while power-hungry supervillains rose to new heights in real life. Some of the most powerful men in the entertainment industry, from Francis Ford Coppola to the Joker, got knocked down flat, while a couple of irresistible witches swept the box office off its feet with their broomsticks. 

As 2024 draws its final breaths, here is my annual — and entirely subjective —list of the year’s top 11 films, submitted for your approval (or disapproval), in alphabetical order, with your personal favorite deliberately omitted just to ruin your day.

A Complete Unknown
Director: James Mangold
Veritas Entertainment Group 

Speaking of Bob Dylan, Timothée Chalamet is marvelous as the legendary singer-songwriter ins this lyrical chronicle of an artist’s turbulent journey through the ‘60s, and the many roads that had to walk down to make music history. Pitch-perfect performances, sensational cinematography and the deft direction of James Mangold assure that this a rare musician biopic that never skips a beat.

Anora
Director: Sean Baker
FilmNation Entertainment, Cre Film

On paper, this fairytale romcom from hell simply shouldn’t work, but thanks to a flawless lead performance by Mikey Madison and the uncompromising vision of writer-director Sean Baker, this story of a young sex worker from Brooklyn who marries the son of a Russian billionaire, only to have her happily ever after end before it even begins, is a knockout. A hilarious farce mixed with a searing commentary on exploitation, greed and the ways we mistreat each other,  Anora is a fiercely original and daring work of art.

Conclave
Director: Edward Berger
FilmNation Entertainment, Indian Paintbrush 

The incomparable Ralph Fiennes delivers one of his finest performances as the Dean of the College of Cardinals in this politically-charged tale of the process of choosing a new Pope. Thoughtful, clever and surprisingly suspenseful, Conclave effectively demonstrates that All Quiet on the Western Front was no fluke, and director Edward Berger had been blessed with formidable talented and a divine calling to make great films.

Dune: Part Two
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Legendary Pictures

The second part of the mammoth realization of Frank Herbert’s magnum opus is more than just a great popcorn movie (or popcorn bucket movie), it’s a timeless yet timely social allegory, plunging into themes of corruption, capitalism, politics and religion with thought provoking insight. It’s a grand, transportive experience with a bit of everything you could ask for in a science fiction epic.

Ghostlight
Directors: Alex Thompson, Kelly O’Sullivan
Little Engine, Runaway Train

A profoundly moving family drama starring a real family, Ghostlight follows the stages of grief, processed on a literal stage, as a father who has suffered the loss of a child finally allows himself and his family to heal as they participate in a community theater production of Romeo and Juliet. The heartfelt, heartbreaking and heartwarming performances of Keith Kupferer and Tara Mallen are surpassed only by that of their daughter, Katherine Mallen Kupferer, who appeared in last years’ classic, Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret, and who personally assured me that she’d find herself a role in a best of year worthy film for 2025 to keep her streak going. I’m holding her to that.

His Three Daughters
Director: Azazel Jacobs
High Frequency Entertainment 

As devastatingly honest and real as movies get, Azazel Jacobs’ no-holds-barred tragedy follows three women coming together to be there for their father’s final days. If you’re looking for a masterclass on acting for film, Carrie Coon, Natasha Lyonne and Elizabeth Olsen run the full gamut of emotions and connect so strongly with the material and with each other that His Three Daughters ranks among the most visceral and impressive character studies and human dramas that I’ve ever seen.

No Other Land
Directors: Basel Adra, Hamden Ballal, Yuval Abraham
Yabayay Media, Antipode Films

In this gripping documentary, Palestinian activist Basel Adra captures the forced displacement of his people in the settlement of Masafer Yatta. When Basel meets Yuval Abraham, an Israeli journalist who believes in his message and wants to join him in his cause, a close friendship is formed. Still, the stark contrast of Yuval ‘s freedom to come and go and Basel’s oppressive restrictions hangs over them. It’s a hard look at a region in crisis, and a hopeful story of human connections breaking through a world of division.

September 5
Director: Tim Fehlbaum
BerghausWöbke Filmproduktion, Projected Picture Works

At the 1972 Munich Olympics, the sports broadcasting team at ABC News find themselves the only source capable of covering a terrifying hostage crisis, as Israeli athletes are kidnapped by a Palestinian terrorist group. A magnificent cast that includes Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro and Leonnie Benesch, and taut, suspenseful direction vividly bring the story behind the story to life.

The Substance
Director: Coralie Fargeat
Working Title Films, Blacksmith 

If you’re looking for a low key approach to storytelling, this in-your-face body horror satire isn’t going to be for you. A brash and brilliant commentary on societal pressures, self image, and systemic misogyny that pits women against each other, director Coralie Fargeat’s sophomore effort dazzles with her unique visual flair. Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley light up the screen as one of the most creative variations on Jekyll and Hyde ever brought to the screen in this gonzo masterpiece.

Tuesday
Director: Daina O. Pusić
Wild Swim Films, Gingerbread Pictures

Ingmar Bergman meets Charlie Kaufman with just a dollop of Roald Dahl in this bizarre fairytale about a mother (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and her teenage daughter, Tuesday (Lola Petticrew) who face the personification of Death — manifested as a talking macaw. A haunting and strangely cathartic fable of love, loss and resilience, Tuesday will stay with you each and every day. 

The Wild Robot
Director: Chris Sanders
DreamWorks Animation 

This sweeping animated adventure tells the story of ROZZUM Unit 7134, known simply as “Roz,” a robot stranded on a remote, uninhabited island. To survive, Roz must adapt to the unforgiving wilderness and raise an orphaned gosling. Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o is luminous in the title role, and the gorgeous animation, clever script and magnificently uplifting story combine for easily my favorite film of the year.

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