Despite what many of my fellow critics have said, I think this was a fantastic year for film. With 2025 proposing many new challenges, it’s never been more important to remember that art is a place of confrontation and resistance. My favorite films of the year not only acknowledge this, unabashedly wearing their politics on their sleeve, but they also give us reasons to hope for a better tomorrow. I don’t think it’s enough to say ‘things are bad’ because, frankly, we all know that. To me, the best movies of 2024 managed to not avoid these hard truths, but were able to balance them with humor, joy, and hope, all while imbuing their characters with a deep sense of humanity and shining light on those often forgotten. But no year exists in a vacuum; all of these films developed from cinema’s rich history, one that I was lucky enough to experience more this year. In that spirit, before I get into my favorite films from this year, here are some of my favorite first-time watches of 2024 that weren’t released in 2024:
Favorite First Time Watches:
1. Starlet (2012)
- Sean Baker’s film about 21-year old Jane befriending 81-year old Sadie is one of the sweetest, wonderfully written movies I saw this year. There’s a real raw quality to this independent drama, and I couldn’t recommend it enough!
2. Comrades: Almost a Love Story (1996)
- Peter Ho-Sun Chan’s story about two Chinese friends slowly falling in love spans continents, decades, and the barriers of language. Maggie Cheung is flawless as always, and there’s almost a WKW-quality to this romance (with less tragedy at the end!)
3. Soy Cuba (1964)
- This anthology film about the Cuban Revolution’s importance is a standout in Mikhail Kalatozov’s filmography, which is really saying something. The Soviet director seemed to be working at the height of his powers, giving us tons of jaw-dropping shots alongside written narration that borders on poetry.
4. The Go-Between (1971)
- Starting the year with this was such a smart decision. Joseph Losey did a fantastic job slowly building tension in this love-triangle melodrama. The score is amazing, the acting’s fantastic. Watch this movie!
5. But I’m a Cheerleader (1999)
- There’s a moment at the end of Jamie Babbit’s black comedy about two teens falling in love at a gay conversion camp that, to me, is what movies are all about: the music is so touching, the acting is as vulnerable as one can hope to be, the writing and cinematography are absolutely outstanding. This is what movies were made for.
6. The Godfather (1972)
- I’m going to count Francis Ford Coppola’s epic gangster film as a first watch because I only remember certain snippets of it from my grandpa’s VHS. Now having seen the whole thing, I can honestly say it’s one of the best movies ever made, and I’m excited to watch part 2 in 2025.
7. Shadows (1959)
- Discovering the fiercely independent work of John Cassavetes with this incredible drama about race relations in New York was a watershed moment for my film journey. There’s so much trust placed in the actors and their ability to improvise, and the camera feels just as unfettered.
8. Damnation (1988)
- Before watching any film by Hungarian auteur Béla Tarr, it’s best to take a deep breath. You know you’re in for a heavy watch, and he delivers every time. This rain-soaked noir dystopia perfectly captures the anger and sadness of a people left behind, and makes for a deeply unsettling watch in the best way.
9. Auto Focus (2002)
- I’m the last person in the world to say I enjoyed a bio-pic, but it almost feels unfair to relegate Paul Schrader’s exploration of Bob Crane’s downfall to such a debased genre. Sex, addiction and the fetish of viewership are all on the table, and are combined to create a viewing experience that’s as visceral as it is thought-provoking.
10. 10 things I Hate About You (1999)
- What can I say? Shakespeare modernizations dressed as 90s teen rom-coms will always get a thumbs up from me. Gil Junger does a great job of balancing so many characters while still keeping the narrative centered. This is damn good fun!
2024 HONORABLE MENTIONS
1. Small Things Like These
2. Ghostlight
3. By the Stream
4. Sleep
5. Lazaró at Night
6. Flow
7. Megalopolis
8. My Old Ass
9. Solo
10. Memoir of a Snail
11. Monkey Man
12. The People’s Joker
13. Sasquatch Sunset
14. Problemista
15. The Idea of You
THE BEST FILMS OF 2024:
Some of these movies technically premiered at festivals last year but weren’t available to the public until this year, so I’m counting them anyway!
24. Smile 2
- I haven’t heard anyone talk about Parker Finn’s follow-up to the now-iconic Smile (2022), but I actually think it far surpassed the original film, which is a rarity in any genre but especially horror. Centering this sequel around a fallen pop star on the comeback provided a great opportunity for lush visuals and themes of fame and persona. I think the gore is a lot stronger, the sound design adds so much tension and Naomi Scott deserves a Best Actress nomination for the reckless abandon with which she committed to this role. Now on Paramount+, Prime Video and YouTube!
23. Red Rooms
- Perhaps no film disturbed me more this year than Pascal Plante’s character study of a true-crime fan blurring the lines between reality and her morbid fantasies. It’s a movie with so much to say about the digital age and how we relate to one another. Rent it now on Prime Video or Apple TV!
22. Dìdi
- So many aspects of Sean Wang’s first film took me back to 2008: the flip phones, the skateboarding, the serious need to stop taking myself so seriously. It’s a coming-of-age film that will make you cringe with remembrance in the best way, and it’s now streaming on Peacock, Apple TV or Prime Video!
- This off-kilter comedy by Joanna Arnow sees the director-writer-star enter a bracingly vulnerable space through long, unbroken shots. It feels as if we’re drifting beside Ann, just as directionless while watching her try to make sense of her life. Stream it on Hulu, Disney+, Prime Video or Apple TV!
- When I was in high school working at a movie theater, one of my coworkers gave me a film by Mike Leigh which led me to dive into the medium; So, I was pretty excited to see he’d released a new movie, and it didn’t disappoint! One of the best feel-bad movies of the year, this character study of a grouchy, anxious woman pushing away those around her sees Marianne Jean-Baptiste give one of the best leading actress performances this year. Now on Apple TV!
19. Santosh
- Sandhya Suri’s film about a woman becoming a police officer and slowly falling down a pit of corruption and murder is one of the most jaw-dropping dives into complicity I’ve ever seen. With smart visuals and strong writing, catch this in theaters while you can! Full review
- For the last few years Yorgos Lanthimos hasn’t really done it for me, but I’m happy to say this film broke that streak. Reuniting with his writing collaborator Efthimis Filippou, the anthology structure allows for this dynamic duo to get as wacky as they want while exploring some of their most misanthropic themes yet. Couple that with a cast as good as this and you're sure to have a good time. Stream it on Hulu! Full review
- I’ll be honest, George Miller’s Mad Max world hasn’t always blown me away, but he seems to have reached new heights with this latest addition. As we follow Furiosa’s journey to find her way home, the story takes on an almost biblical scale with some of the best action sequences I’ve ever seen. Now on Max!
16. Pepe
- One of the more enigmatic films on this list, Nelson Carlo de los Santos Arias’ award-winning film is a kind of biopic for Pablo Escobar’s hippo. We follow the animal from the plains of Africa to the jungles of Colombia. Narrated by the ghost of the hippo, it’s a visually stunning dive into themes of displacement, ecology and memory. Coming to Mubi on 01/10!
- Made in secret, this political thriller by Mahommad Rasoulof resulted in the director and most of the cast having to flee the country, and I think a big part of that is because of how much agency it gives female characters as they resist an authoritarian patriarch. While the judge tries to decide if his daughters or wife took his gun, we see a breakdown of the family unit, poking holes in the social fabric. Exclusively on Apple TV! Full review
- One of my favorite watches from this year’s New York Film Festival, Payal Kapadia’s tale of two roommates struggling with long-lost husbands and star-crossed romances is a beautifully-rendered exploration of womanhood and friendship. Now in theaters! Full review
- I didn’t notice how many films on this list consist of passing the summer with a group of characters, but Alessandra Lacorazza Samudio’s feature directorial debut belongs on this list. It’s a heartbreaking look at a family torn apart, trying and failing to come back together each summer as two sisters visit their dad. You must watch this on VOD! Full review
12. Anora
- There’s not much I can say about Sean Baker’s newest offering that hasn’t been said already. Obviously, Mikey Madison deserves Best Actress, but I also love how Baker and cinematographer Drew Daniels wear their grimy 70s influences on their sleeves. The visual language here is on another level. Watch it now on VOD! Full review
- Using her skills as a patient, insightful playwright, Annie Baker crafts a feature directorial debut that’s as bold as it is tender. The longer we sit with Lacy and Janet as they pass the summer with friends and lovers, the more we care for them, which adds gravity to the stunning ending. Now streaming on Max!
- One of the most gorgeously animated movies this year, this sci-fi adventure by Chris Sanders is about a robot washing ashore on an island, only to find family and community amongst its woodland creatures. I don’t know who loved this more: me or my nieces! Watch it on VOD if you want to laugh, cry and think deeply about themes spanning from the environment to family. Full review
- Legendary socialist filmmaker Ken Loach has publicly said this is ‘probably’ his last film, so it’s kind of funny it’s the first one I’ve seen, but it won’t be the last! Tracing the budding friendship between a Syrian refugee and a local pub owner, it’s a beautiful ode to working class solidarity that couldn’t be more relevant. You can find this film on Prime Video or the Kino Lorber streaming app!
8. Femme
- Sam H. Freeman and Ng Choon Ping’s feature directorial debut is one for the books. As we follow a drag queen who quits performing after being assaulted, only to find and seduce the homophobe who beat her, the film switches between revenge thriller and romantic drama, ultimately leaving us breathless. Now on Hulu!
- It’s impressive how Pat Boonnitipat was able to balance what could have been a heavy film with so much comedy. Following M as he volunteers to care for his terminally ill grandma in hopes of pocketing an inheritance, only for the two to actually grow close, it’s one of those films where the tears sneak up on you. I absolutely loved this movie. Available now on VOD!
6. Mountains
- This love letter to the Haitian diaspora is one of those films where every single frame is a painting. It’s kind of mind blowing this is Monica Sorelle’s directorial debut, because she shows such a strong grasp of visual language. Carefully crafting a portrait of Florida’s little Haiti community undergoing gentrification, it’s centered on a construction working father struggling to connect with his son, an aspiring standup comic. While this doesn’t seem to be available yet, it’s one to keep an eye out for!
- Maybe it’s because I myself adopted a rather rambunctious dog earlier this year, but Guan Hu’s film about an outcast befriending a notorious stray dog really resonated with me. Thematically centered around redemption and connection, it’s a marvelously shot film full of wide shots displaying China’s postindustrial towns. This doesn’t seem to have US distribution yet, but you can watch it here!
- Just when you think Lily Gladstone couldn’t outdo her earthshattering performance in last year’s Killers of the Flower Moon, she gives us this masterful turn in Erica Tremblay’s feature directorial debut. Centered on a woman and her niece looking for their missing relative, it’s a crisis many Indigenous communities, especially Indigenous women, continue to face. With a great debut from Isabel Deroy-Olson, this is an all-around special film grounded by some amazing acting. Now on Apple TV! Full Review
3. Happyend
- I still think about Neo Sora’s drama depicting a group of friends in Japan struggling with coming-of-age in times of surveillance, authoritarianism and ecological instability. What makes this film so important is how it insists that, despite how dark times may seem, resistance and human connection will always exist, and will always provide grounds for hope. It’s a hilarious, heartwarming film. Easily my favorite script this year. I don’t think it’s gotten distribution in the US yet, but it’s definitely one to keep an eye out for! Full Review
- Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laudenbach’s movie about a mom struggling to gather ingredients for a special dinner thanks to a workers’ strike is, to me, what movies are all about. Along with its storybook-like animation using color in striking ways, it isn’t content with being beautiful or hilarious, but understands humor can loosen the heartstrings and make way for more profound emotions. Now on the Criterion Channel! Full Review
- Earlier this year, Caden Mark Gardner and Willow Catelyn Maclay published Corpses, Fools and Monsters: The History and Future of Transness in Cinema. It felt like a watershed moment not just for the queer canon, but the filmic medium as a whole. Since then, we’ve seen some amazing films by Trans filmmakers, and I consider Jane Schoenbrun to be leading the pack. Their newest film about two friends struggling to deal with their favorite TV show being cancelled feels like one of those movies people will be talking about for a long time. Funny, smart, heartbreaking, terrifying, and gorgeous to look at. The score and soundtrack are Oscar-worthy, and the actors are absolutely electric. No movie this year was as urgent, heartfelt and haunting as this one. I still think about that ending scene. Just incredible. Stream it on HBO Max! Full Review
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