Last year was unforgettable when it came to the movies that were released. July alone will always be remembered for “Barbenheimer,” but that was just one chapter in 2023’s impressive list of highlights. 2024 instantly had the tough task of living up to the previous calendar year, but the world of movies hasn’t disappointed. While there have been some surprises at the box office, 2024 has featured some great quality films in theaters and on streaming.
Among 2024’s best of the best are a few franchise sequels, some fantastic original stories, and even a prequel that didn’t dominate the box office but deserves praise nonetheless. As we’ve learned time and time again, some of the best movies aren’t blockbusters. Whether they are streaming gems or indie titles that require digging deeper to find, it’s always worth considering movies of all sizes. Therefore, the team at Screen Rant put together their list of 2024’s best movies.
20 Babygirl
A Complex And Nuanced Erotic Thriller
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Babygirl
A high-powered CEO risks everything when she embarks on a passionate and illicit affair with her much younger intern.
Release Date December 25, 2024
Runtime 114 Minutes
Character(s) Romy , Samuel , Jacob , Esme , David , Hazal , Robert
Director Halina Reijn
I found Babygirl incredibly engrossing. It’s always a pleasure to sit down to a film as confidently directed as this one is by Halina Reijn, but a portrayal of desire this nuanced is a rare find, and worth treasuring.
As much as this movie is about sexual fantasy, it doesn’t let its characters become unreal. The central affair is captured honestly, in its thorny totality. A truly great Nicole Kidman shows us how the many roles we play in life overlap, smash together, and blur into one another. Babygirl might be a playful erotic thriller, but overlook it as one of the year’s best movies at your own peril.
– Written by Alexander Harrison, Movies News Senior Editor
19 Abigail
A Deadly Ballerina Takes Center Stage In This Standout Horror
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Abigail
Abigail is a 2024 horror thriller directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. The plot follows a group of people who kidnap the daughter of a dangerous crime lord only to discover that the little girl is actually a vicious vampire out for blood. Alisha Weir stars as the titular character alongside Kathryn Newton, Melissa Barrera, and Dan Stevens.
Release Date April 19, 2024
Runtime 109 Minutes
Director Matt Bettinelli-Olpin , Tyler Gillett
2024 was another great year for horror movies. With notable hits like Late Night with the Devil, Longlegs, Terrifier 3, and Smile 2, there’s another title that stood out for me: Abigail. Rather than lean into the tired tropes that often plague vampire movies, Abigail presented a fresh story surrounding a deadly ballerina.
Abigail featured a great cast, but it was Melissa Barrera and Dan Stevens who made the concept work for me. Once the terror began, it didn’t slow down, making for an exciting game of cat-and-mouse that ended in an absolute bloodbath.
– Written by Kara Hedash, Jr. Lead Features Editor
18 Flow
A Beautifully Otherworldy Animation
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Flow
Flow (2024) follows a solitary animal named Cat who must find refuge and collaborate with other species on a boat after a great flood devastates their home. As they sail through mystical, overflowed landscapes, the group navigates challenges and dangers while adapting to a transformed world.
Release Date August 30, 2024
Runtime 84 minutes
Director Gints Zilbalodis
Flow has a simple enough premise, but Latvian director Gints Zilbalodis makes a few key choices that elevate Flow beyond its bare bones story.
First, the film is told entirely without dialogue, and is also made entirely using computer graphics software tool Blender. It’s jarring at first, but it quickly becomes just one aspect of the film’s engrossing otherworldly mood.
What it has to say about survival, resilience, and the awe-inspiring beauty of the strange and unknown is quite profound. It’s also a thrilling action-adventure film set against the backdrop of a world that poses more questions than the film provides answers. This could be frustrating, but the film seems to have as much curiosity about this world as the audience.
– Written by Graeme Guttmann, TV News Senior Editor
17 Hit Man
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Hit Man
From director Richard Linklater comes Hit Man, a 2023 action comedy film based on a Texas Monthly article of the same name. Undercover and trying to catch a group of criminals, a Houston police officer poses as a hitman until he falls for a woman on assignment. Finding himself diving deeper into the world of crime, the Houston officer finds it increasingly difficult to escape his new undercover persona.
Release Date September 5, 2023
Runtime 113 Minutes
Last working together on the underrated Everybody Wants Some!!, Linklater and Powell took a wild true story about a fake hit man named Gary Johnson and spun it into something truly unique. Hit Man serves as a thriller, crime drama, and sexy rom-com while giving Powell a hilariously fun batch of fake identities to play around with.
The chemistry between Powell and Arjona was seriously unreal, to the point that I think the casting director deserves a raise. Watching their complicated love story unfold amid Gary’s hit man ploy had me instantly invested. I knew Powell had charm, but damn, he used it like a superpower in this movie.
Honestly, it’s a shame that Hit Man didn’t get a theatrical release because it would have been a blast to watch on the big screen.
Hit Man had festival screenings in 2023, but it wasn’t widely released until June 2024.
– Written by Kara Hedash, Jr. Lead Features Editor
16 Twisters
Powell Elevates This Surprise Sequel To A Smash Hit
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Twisters
A follow-up to the 1996 original film Twister, Twisters is a sequel set years after the original, said to be fast-tracked by Steven Spielberg and Mark L. Smith, with Frank Marshal as producer. Little details exist about the film, but Helen Hunt is expected to reprise her role as Jo, with the film likely to pay homage to the late Bill Paxton.
Release Date July 19, 2024
Runtime 117 Minutes
Director Lee Isaac Chung
As a kid, I would’ve picked watching Twister over any Disney movie available at the time. When I envisioned a sequel, I always thought it would be a direct follow-up featuring Helen Hunt’s Jo. Though that wasn’t the case, Twisters still managed to tell a character-driven story, just like the original 1996 movie.
Much of that stemmed from its likable leads, Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell, whose charisma alone propelled the movie to another level. Of course, the actual tornadoes deserve their own recognition, creating several thrilling sequences that made for a great time at the theater.
– Written by Kara Hedash, Jr. Lead Features Editor
15 The Substance
A Nuanced Satire With A Stellar Cast
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The Substance
Elisabeth Sparkle, a fading celebrity, turns to a mysterious drug that promises to restore her youth by creating a younger, more beautiful version of herself. But splitting time between her original and new body leads to horrifying consequences as her alternate self, Sue, begins to unravel her life in a disturbing body-horror descent.
Release Date September 20, 2024
Runtime 140 Minutes
Cast Demi Moore , Margaret Qualley , Dennis Quaid , Gore Abrams , Hugo Diego Garcia , Olivier Raynal , Tiffany Hofstetter , Tom Morton , Jiselle Burkhalter , Axel Baille , Oscar Lesage , Matthew Géczy , Philip Schurer Character(s) Elisabeth Sparkle , Sue , Harvey , Oliver , Diego , Alan , The Stylist , The Doctor , Girl , The Photographer , Troy , Bob Haswell , Mr. Scream
Director Coralie Fargeat
The Substance is easily one of the best films of the year. Coralie Fargeat delivers a movie that is quite grotesque at times in the execution of its body horror elements. But what really makes The Substance shine is its heartbreaking story. The film’s view on beauty, age, and the entertainment industry provides an emotional throughline to connect to.
Demi Moore absolutely deserves an Oscar nomination for how she handled the getting ready for a date scene alone, and Margaret Qualley is exceptional. By the end, Elisabeth and Sue’s dynamic helped deliver one of the wildest finales of the year.
– Written by Cooper Hood, Theatrical Movies Senior Editor
14 Inside Out 2
A Perfect Pixar Follow Up (That No One Expected)
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Inside Out 2
Inside Out 2 is the sequel to the 2015 original film, which starred a young girl named Riley with a head full of emotions. – literally. With Amy Pohler as Joy, Bill Hader as fear, Mindy Kaling as Disgust, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, and Lewis Black as Anger, the all-star cast brought to life the emotions that adolescents face as they grow, change, and adapt to new situations. This sequel, currently in development, will bring Amy Pohler back as Joy, with Riley, now a teenager.
Release Date June 14, 2024
Runtime 96 Minutes Cast Amy Poehler , Maya Hawke , Kensington Tallman , Liza Lapira , Tony Hale , Lewis Black , Phyllis Smith , Ayo Edebiri , Lilimar , Grace Lu , Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green , Adèle Exarchopoulos , Diane Lane , Kyle MacLachlan , Paul Walter Hauser , Yvette Nicole Brown , Ron Funches , James Austin Johnson , Yong Yea , Steve Purcell , Dave Goelz , Kirk R. Thatcher , Frank Oz , Paula Pell , June Squibb , Pete Docter , Paula Poundstone , John Ratzenberger , Sarayu Blue , Flea , Bobby Moynihan , Kendall Coyne Schofield
Character(s) Joy , Anxiety , Riley , Disgust , Fear , Anger , Sadness , Envy , Valentina , Grace , Bree , Ennui , Mom , Dad , Embarrassment , Coach Roberts , Bloofy , Pouchy , Lance Slashblade , Deep Dark Secret , Mind Cop Frank , Foreman , Mind Cop Dave , Mom’s Anger , Nostalgia , Dad’s Anger , Forgetter Paula , Fritz , Margie , Jake , Forgetter Bobby , Hockey Announcer
Director Kelsey Mann
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Inside Out 2 feels like the writing team was waiting for the right story to percolate over that near-decade between the movies. Once again, while we’re watching a story about a child’s emotions, there is a commonality and an irresistible universality to the observations. This is Pixar’s family approach perfected.
The sequel is funny, uplifting, heartfelt, and most surprisingly, offers a meditation on legacy that will make parents crumble. There is always subtle artistry in Pixar’s best movies, and Inside Out 2 is such a refined achievement that there should be no question about why it’s smashed the box office.
– Written by Simon Gallagher, Executive Editor
13 Late Night With The Devil
Creeping Horror That Never Truly Descends Into Camp
Late Night with the Devil is a horror thriller starring David Dastmalchian as Jack Delroy. Delroy is a late-night talk show host in 1977 trying to keep his broadcast on the air. But when he tries to communicate with the devil through a young girl live on the air, things don’t go according to plan.
Release Date March 22, 2024
Runtime 86 Minutes
Cast David Dastmalchian , Laura Gordon , Ian Bliss , Fayssal Bazzi , Ingrid Torelli , Rhys Auteri , Josh Quong Tart , Georgina Haig
Director Cameron Cairnes , Colin Cairnes
The Cairnes’ brothers Late Night with the Devil is a fine example of the impressive purple patch horror is enjoying, with its boldly ambitious single-location premise conjuring an eerily authentic sense of claustrophobic voyeurism.
Oddly, Late Night with the Devil’s refusal to take itself completely seriously is the secret weapon here. Had the Cairnes brothers played it straight, they would have given viewers every reason to laugh at the melodrama, the costumes, and the Twin Peaks-esque ending. By keeping a knowing wink in the eye and tongue firmly in cheek, everyone ends up laughing nervously together, not sure whether to smile, cry, or run away in fright. And isn’t that what horror should be?
– Written by Craig Elvy, Jr. Lead Features Editor
12 The Wild Robot
A Perfect Family Film, To Charm Kids And Break Adult Hearts
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The Wild Robot
The Wild Robot is an animated drama film based on a series of books by Peter Brown. The adaptation is written and directed by Chris Sanders and stars Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, and Catherine O’Hara. The Wild Robot centers on a robot named Rozzum 7134, who becomes stranded on a deserted island and the guardian of a young orphan.
Release Date September 27, 2024
Runtime 101 Minutes
Director Chris Sanders
Chris Sanders’ touching tale of a lost robot whose prime directive becomes parenting a gosling still feels like it came out of nowhere, which is a major part of its charm. Starring Lupita Njong’o as the robot helper, it is a beautifully animated family film in the purest sense: appealing to adults with its occasionally profound philosophical moments, and to kids with its playfulness.
It’s funny, N’Yong’o and Pedro Pascal give excellent vocal performances, and for anyone who grew up adoring the likes of Wall-E or the Iron Giant, it lands perfectly. Warning: will force all parents through an existential crisis about their kids abandoning them.
– Written by Simon Gallagher, Executive Editor
11 Furiosa
A Franchise Expansion That Passes The Vibe Check
A prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa is an action-adventure film that tells the origin story of the headstrong and fearless Furiosa. Set shortly after the beginning of the “end of the world,” Furiosa is kidnapped and brought before a powerful warlord, now forced to work for him. To find her way back home, Furiosa will adapt to the new harsh and arid world as she grows into the Furiosa she becomes known to be.
Release Date May 24, 2024
Runtime 148 Minutes
Director George Miller
When Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga was first announced, I’ll admit I was a bit skeptical. Well, it’s nice to know a prequel can erase any doubt about its quality by simply being fantastic. Furiosa’s origin story feels fresh, and Anya Taylor-Joy’s version is just as fierce and powerful as Charlize Theron.
Furiosa hits all the right notes, and even goes so far as to explain how Furiosa lost her arm in a harrowing, tension-filled scene. Furiosa’s cast is more than up to the task, delivering layered and, in the case of Taylor-Joy, emotional performances that make each moment sing. Miller clearly put a lot of thought into Furiosa when it would have been easy to phone it in. But the more expansive the Mad Max world gets, the more I want to see of it.
Written by Mae Abdulbaki, Lead Critic & Features Writer
10 The Brutalist
The Next Great American Masterpiece
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The Brutalist
Architect László Toth and his wife Erzsébet flee Europe in 1947, seeking a fresh start in America. Their fate shifts after meeting a wealthy, enigmatic client.
Release Date December 20, 2024 Cast Adrien Brody , Guy Pearce , Felicity Jones , Joe Alwyn , Raffey Cassidy , Stacy Martin , Emma Laird , Isaach De Bankole , Alessandro Nivola , Michael Epp , Jonathan Hyde , Peter Polycarpou , Salvatore Sansone , Ariane Labed , Jeremy Wheeler , Jaymes Butler , Matt Devere , Natalie Shinnick , Stephen Saracco , Peter Linka , Robert Jackson
Character(s) László Tóth , Harrison Lee Van Buren , Erzsébet Tóth , Harry Lee Van Buren , Zsófia , Maggie Lee Van Buren , Audrey , Gordon , Attila , Jim Simpson , Leslie , Hoffman , Orazio , Zsófia in 1980 , Party Guest , Bar Manager , Mayor Kinney , Receptionist , Construction Supervisor , Townsperson , Townsperson #2
Director Brady Corbet
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“Monumental” is the word that many have used to describe The Brutalist and there’s really no other way to describe it. From the first frame of the film, which director Brady Corbet shot on VistaVision, it feels as if you are watching something altogether transformative.
All at once, The Brutalist is about the immigrant experience, art, sacrifice, privilege, and the ripple effects these seismic forces can create. It’d almost be too much for one film to handle if not for The Brutalist’s massive 215 minute runtime (which includes an intermission). All the elements of this film are working in tandem – the score, the cinematography, the performances – and it all comes together for a symphonic and sweeping look at the life of one man who, despite his colossal achievements, is still just a man after all.
– Written by Graeme Guttmann, TV News Senior Editor
9 Gladiator II
A Return To The Epic Story Of Ancient Rome
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Gladiator II
Gladiator 2 is the follow-up to Ridley Scott’s award-winning film Gladiator from 2000. Scott returns to direct the sequel, with Paul Mescal staring as Lucius, alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta. Gladiator 2 had been stuck in development hell for years before a script written by David Scarpa finally moved forward.
Release Date November 22, 2024
Runtime 148 minutes Cast Paul Mescal , Pedro Pascal , Denzel Washington , Connie Nielsen , Joseph Quinn , Fred Hechinger , Derek Jacobi , May Calamawy , Peter Mensah , Matt Lucas , Alexander Karim , Tim McInnerny , Lee Charles , Chidi Ajufo , Alfie Tempest , Riana Duce , Chi Lewis Parry , Paul Candelent , Hadrian Howard , Alexander Simkin , Mikhail Basmadjian , Matthew Charlery-Smith , Maxime Durand , Lior Raz
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Not every movie needs a sequel, but Gladiator II is a rarity: one that, although made decades later, still feels as though it is justified in its existence. Ridley Scott returns to make a movie that’s rich in spectacle, with some fantastic performances by stars such as Pedro Pascal, Paul Mescal, and Denzel Washington. It’s true that Gladiator II lives a little too much in the shadow of the first film, but it’s still tremendously enjoyable, with more of the kind of action Scott excels at. Don’t really expect historical accuracy – just expect a lot of fun.
– Written by Tom Bacon, Star Wars Lead Editor
8 The Last Showgirl
Pamela Anderson Proves Her Acting Chops In A Heartbreaking Exploration Of Sin City
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The Last Showgirl
The Last Showgirl follows Hannah, a seasoned performer coping with the end of her dance show career after thirty-five years. As she seeks a new purpose, she also works to strengthen the bond with her estranged daughter.
Release Date September 6, 2024
Runtime 85 Minutes
Director Gia Coppola
The re-emergence of Pamela Anderson as a major player was not on my 2024 bingo card, but The Last Showgirl is set to prove Anderson’s acting chops, as she gets a much-deserved real-life redemption arc after being pigeonholed and fetishized by the media of the 90s. Anderson is not alone in the stacked cast of The Last Showgirl, but she is the true star of this nostalgic look at Sin City, and at the struggles of a dancer in her 50s whose show is finally over.
While the film itself is somewhat uneven, Anderson elevates it to something wonderful – especially in the way that her own story (and her outspokenness about the impossible standards of womanhood in the public eye) mirrors that of Shelley’s, as she tries to find her way when her place in the world of Vegas showgirls is over.
– Written by Rose Graceling-Moore, Evergreen Lead Editor
7 Challengers
An Exhilarating Sports Movie That Is So Much More Than A Love Triangle
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Challengers
Challengers follows tennis player-turned-coach Tashi as she transforms her husband Art into a Grand Slam champion. To revitalize his career, she enters him in a lower-tier tournament where he confronts his past, facing both his former best friend and Tashi’s ex-boyfriend.
Release Date April 26, 2024
Runtime 131 Minutes Cast Zendaya , Mike Faist , Josh O’Connor , Darnell Appling , Bryan Doo , Shane T Harris , Nada Despotovich , Joan Mcshane , Chris Fowler , Mary Joe Fernández , A.J. Lister , Connor Aulson , Doria Bramante , Christine Dye , James Sylva , Kenneth A. Osherow , Kevin Collins , Burgess Byrd , Jason Tong , Hudson Rivera , Noah Eisenberg , Emma Davis , Naheem Garcia , Alex Bancila , Jake Jensen , Konrad Ryba , Hailey Gates , Andrew Rogers , Beverly Kristenson Helton , Brad Gilbert , Sam Xu , Caleb Schneider
Director Luca Guadagnino
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Luca Guadagnino is already renowned for his provocative filmmaking, and Challengers takes him into the sexual undertones and ruthlessness of the tennis world. With knockout performances from Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor, I was entranced from the moment the tennis began to the final moment of Tashi screaming at the match. If Zendaya doesn’t campaign for an Oscar for this role, I’ll be more shocked than Art seeing Patrick’s “signal” during Challengers’ ending match.
Challengers also proves itself a masterful exploration of pride, envy, lust, and lost potential, with each character using the other as a vehicle for their gratification and substitute for whatever they personally lack. The way that Guadagnino translates these themes into the characters, their goals, and motivations is entirely captivating.
– Written by Jordan Williams, Streaming Movies/TV Features Editor
6 Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Tim Burton Creates Another Spooky Instant Classic
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the sequel to the original Tim Burton classic that starred Michael Keaton and Wynona Rider in a horror-comedy that involved ghosts trying to scare off new homebuyers from taking their house. The sequel brings back Michael Keaton as the hilarious and sleazy ghost with selfish intentions, now joined by Jenna Ortega in a new role.
Release Date September 6, 2024
Runtime 104 Minutes Cast Michael Keaton , Winona Ryder , Catherine O’Hara , Jenna Ortega , Justin Theroux , Willem Dafoe , Monica Bellucci , Arthur Conti , Nick Kellington , Santiago Cabrera , Burn Gorman , Danny DeVito , Sami Slimane , Amy Nuttall , Mark Heenehan , Charlie Hopkinson , Liv Spencer , Skylar Park , Matthew Lyons , Jane Leaney , David Ayres , Sophie Holland , Walles Hamonde
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As someone who grew up loving the original Beetlejuice, it was surreal to witness a sequel finally come to fruition after years of rumors. Seeing Tim Burton reunite Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, and Michael Keaton for another chaotic chapter was truly a treat, but Beetlejuice 2’s cast of new characters added an extra level of intrigue, especially with the addition of Jenna Ortega’s Astrid.
The follow-up incorporated plenty of nostalgia, as seen by Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’s fun Easter eggs and references. That said, the expansion of the afterlife (the setting and its lore) made for a pretty thrilling ride.
– Written by Kara Hedash, Jr. Lead Features Editor
5 Civil War
A Brutal Depiction Of War And The Human Cost And Impact
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Civil War
Civil War is a 2024 action thriller from writer and director Alex Garland. Starring Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, and Stephen McKinley Henderson, Civil War takes place in the near future and shows the United States entering a new Civil War after California and Texas attempt to separate from the country.
Release Date April 12, 2024
Runtime 109 Minutes Cast Kirsten Dunst , Wagner Moura , Cailee Spaeny , Stephen McKinley Henderson , Nelson Lee , Nick Offerman , Jefferson White , Evan Lai , Vince Pisani , Justin James Boykin , Jess Matney , Greg Hill , Edmund Donovan , Sonoya Mizuno , Tim James , Simeon Freeman , James Yaegashi , Dean Grimes , Alexa Mansour , Martha B. Knighton , Melissa Saint-Amand , Karl Glusman , Jin Ha
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I’ve long been a fan of Alex Garland’s work, and even though Men left a sour taste in my mouth, my expectations were still quite high for Civil War. Examining the warring sides of a crumbled democracy in a futuristic, but not all-that-unbelievable, version of America is a rich concept for someone like Garland to explore. Doing it through the lens of a photojournalist and ignoring the more significant world-building questions about the Civil War makes the movie so unique.
One of the genius aspects of Civil War is that the movie is not nearly as political as one would think given its subject matter. The movie and its characters are not concerned about debating who is on the right or wrong side of history here. Garland strictly wants to explore the many facets of war and what it does to people.
– Written by Cooper Hood, Theatrical Features Editor
4 Anora
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Anora
Anora’s life takes a dramatic twist when she impulsively marries the son of a Russian oligarch, catapulting her from the streets of Brooklyn to a world of opulence and scrutiny. As her new in-laws arrive with plans to dismantle the hasty union, Anora must navigate the cultural and social chasms between her past and her present. The film, directed by Sean Baker, masterfully blends sharp social commentary with heartfelt drama, painting a vivid picture of love, identity, and the unexpected consequences of a fairytale gone awry.
Release Date October 18, 2024
Runtime 139 Minutes
Cast Mikey Madison , Mark Eydelshteyn , Karren Karagulian , Yuriy Borisov , Vache Tovmasyan , Ivy Wolk , Luna Sofía Miranda , Ross Brodar , Lindsey Normington , Darya Ekamasova , Emily Weider , Alena Gurevich , Masha Zhak , Paul Weissman , Charlton Lamar , Aleksey Serebryakov , Ella Rubin , Vincent Radwinsky , Michael Sergio , Brittney Rodriguez , Sophia Carnabuci , Anton Bitter , Zoë Vnak
Director Sean Baker
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Anora’s complexity is its great magic trick. Sean Baker’s film about the titular sex worker, played wonderfully by Mikey Madison, and her whirlwind romance of sorts with the son of a Russian oligarch is, in many ways, very straightforward. The story and its emotional arcs are easily followed, and when the tone shifts, the transition is seamless.
It has the clarity and brilliance of a diamond – but, like a diamond, it has to be cut just right to shine so brightly. There’s maybe no movie this year that is as enjoyable to talk about as to watch. The more closely you study it, the more transfixing it becomes.
– Written by Alexander Harrison, Movies News Senior Editor
3 Deadpool & Wolverine
A Superhero Team Up That Went Well Beyond Fan Expectations
A follow-up to the highly successful Deadpool and Deadpool 2 films starring Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with a Mouth. The third film will be the first in the franchise to be developed under the Marvel Studios banner following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
Release Date July 26, 2024
Runtime 127 Minutes Cast Ryan Reynolds , Hugh Jackman , Emma Corrin , Morena Baccarin , Rob Delaney , Leslie Uggams , Karan Soni , Matthew Macfadyen , Brianna Hildebrand , Shioli Kutsuna , Stefan Kapicic , Lewis Tan , Randal Reeder , Jennifer Garner , Aaron Stanford , Billy Clements , Ollie Palmer , Chris Hemsworth , Rob McElhenney
Director Shawn Levy
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Deadpool & Wolverine was the injection of MCU fun I needed this year, especially with underwhelming superhero fare like Madame Web and Joker: Folie A Deux. Part new adventure featuring the long-awaited team-up of Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s Marvel heroes, part love letter to the Fox era of Marvel movies, Deadpool & Wolverine managed to balance nostalgia with a genuinely delightful comedic two-hander.
Between the cameos and the truly hilarious jokes, the MCU film had something for everyone. Plus, Deadpool & Wolverine is one of my favorites of the year for the Honda Odyssey scene alone.
– Written by Molly Freeman, Superheroes Lead Editor
2 Dune: Part 2
Villeneuve’s Epic Fulfils The Promise Of The Franchise So Far
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Dune: Part Two
Dune: Part Two continues the epic saga of Paul Atreides as he allies with Chani and the Fremen. Pursuing retribution for his family’s devastation, Paul grapples with a significant decision impacting his personal desires and the universe’s future, attempting to avert a dire destiny that only he anticipates.
Release Date February 27, 2024
Runtime 167 minutes Cast Timothée Chalamet , Zendaya , Rebecca Ferguson , Javier Bardem , Josh Brolin , Austin Butler , Florence Pugh , Dave Bautista , Christopher Walken , Lea Seydoux , Stellan Skarsgård , Charlotte Rampling , Souheila Yacoub , Roger Yuan , Babs Olusanmokun , Giusi Merli , Kait Tenison , Tara Breathnach , Akiko Hitomi , Imola Gáspár , Elbooz Omar Ahmed Fathie , Abdelkarim Hussein Seli Mohamed Hassanin , Joseph Beddelem , Xavier Alba Royo , Rachid Abbad
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I loved 2021’s Dune, so my expectations heading into Dune: Part Two were higher than one of the Fremen on a spice binge realizing the Lisan al Gaib is among them. What Denis Villeneuve made somehow managed to exceed them.
With Dune 2, I am now fully convinced that, on a sheer production level and in terms of worldbuilding, this is the most impressive cinematic franchise we’ve seen since Lord of the Rings. The scale is staggering. Every element of how it’s crafted is just ridiculously good. Paul Atreides’ arc in this movie is brilliantly done – powerful, dark, twisted, complicated, and carried wonderfully by Timothée Chalamet in his best performance to date.
Look, Dune: Part Two would be a top 10 movie of 2024 based on the strength of its memes alone. But Villeneuve’s epic has me looking at the director with widened, bright blue eyes as though he’s the Chosen One about to save cinéma, and I cannot wait to see what mad s**t he does in Dune 3. The only downside is going to be the wait, but I know it’ll be worth it.
– Written by James Hunt, Deputy Lead Features Editor