According to Letterboxd, I’ve given 4-star or higher ratings to more than 90 of the 200+ films I’ve logged in 2024, which has made it very difficult to narrow down my list of the best movies of 2024. Do I select the films I loved for sentimental and personal reasons, the films I know will be award contenders, or do I go with the films that have conjured up the greatest emotional response and lingered with me after the credits rolled?
It turns out that my top 10 list has a little bit of all of those things.
10. ¡Casa Bonita Mi Amor!
There was zero chance I wouldn’t love this documentary all about Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s nightmare renovation of the iconic Denver restaurant. Having experienced Casa Bonita when it was more infamous than celebrated, it was incredibly satisfying to get a glimpse behind the scenes and see just how much love (and money) the South Park creators put into restoring the landmark.
9. Meiyazhagan
This Tamil film slid into my top 10 at the last minute as a late-December Netflix watch based on the recommendations of several of my favorite Indian film critics. It’s a beautiful story that begins with a relatable premise—not being able to remember the name of a relative at a family function—and winds up being one of the most heartwarming stories of the year. This is an incredible film about kindness, connection, and those little moments that can mean so much in a person’s life.
8. Flow
This animated film about a cat trying to escape a flood is filled with so much tension and emotion in its dialogue-free 85 minutes that it became one of my most resonant film experiences of 2024. Created by a small team using Blender, the beautiful imagery and score add to the world-building, and the simple yet expressive designs of the animal characters make them instantly connect with the audience.
7. Hundreds of Beavers
One of the biggest surprises this year was this little black-and-white comedy about a 19th-century applejack salesman who squares off against a horde of beavers. With a silent film style reminiscent of Buster Keaton, a Looney Tunes sense of humor, sequences inspired by old-school video games, and even a Cannibal: The Musical vibe, Hundreds of Beavers was one of the most creative and hilarious movies I watched in 2024.
6. Challengers
The churro scene alone is enough to land this Luca Guadagnino film on my list! Filled with tension, both sexual and otherwise, Challengers was a fun, sexy cinematic experience that practically put “rodent boy summer” on the map and set the internet ablaze with memes. Zendaya proved she’s a powerhouse and took such good care of her little white boys and audiences alike.
5. Dune: Part Two
No other movie in 2024 did such an impeccable job of combining story and spectacle. With breathtaking visuals, an incredible score, and fantastic performances from Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Austin Butler, Rebecca Ferguson, and Javier Bardem, Dune: Part Two delivered everything I dream of in a cinematic epic. This was truly the Lisan al Gaib of blockbuster movies this year.
4. Sing Sing
Sometimes, you know a movie is going to make you cry right from the beginning. Colman Domingo leads this ensemble cast of professional actors and alumni of the real Rehabilitation Through the Arts program in a story about inmates bonding and healing through theatrical stage shows at Sing Sing prison. The entire cast is incredible, and the performance from Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin immediately landed him a spot on my best supporting actors of 2024 list.
3. Monkey Man
Dev Patel gives us the most impressive directorial debut in a year filled with very impressive first features. It’s rare to have a film that can deliver visceral action and intense emotion, but Monkey Man gives us a bloody revenge story with bone-crunching fight scenes and a deep emotional core. To bring all that as a director is already remarkable, but to also turn out one of the year’s strongest performances makes Monkey Man the stuff of legend.
2. The Substance
Who needs subtlety when you can hammer your message home by having your mutated protagonist cough up a titty on stage? Disgusting, disturbing, and darkly hilarious, The Substance is easily the most memorable cinematic experience of the year. Margaret Qualley comes through with a career-best performance, but Demi Moore is truly the superstar here, giving us a character who is heartbreakingly sympathetic while also nailing the more extreme elements.
1. Anora
No movie stuck with me more this year than Sean Baker’s Anora. I connected with it so hard that I ended up seeing it twice in a single week. It’s a masterful blend of comedy and drama with a breakout performance from Mikey Madison that will surely get her truckloads of awards. I enjoyed every damn frame of this movie, including the controversial ending, and I plan to watch it several more times.
Honorable Mentions
While this list reflects my top 10, several other incredible films deserve recognition. These movies hit for me for reasons ranging from cinematography to performance to overall movie theater experience.
All We Imagine As Light
The epitome of a “vibes movie,” Payal Kapadia’s story of two Mumbai nurses is dreamy and beautiful and deserves to be seen.
Kneecap
Vibrant and fast-paced, this story of the Irish hip-hop group Kneecap is a delightful watch.
Nosferatu
I simply cannot resist a horny Dracula movie when it includes this level of stunning imagery and such great performances.
Conclave
If you told me I’d be enthralled by a movie where a bunch of men sit around and plot who should be the next Pope, I would have never believed it.
The Last Showgirl
I only left this film off the list because it doesn’t open in most places until 2025. Pamela Anderson silences anyone who would dismiss her with this powerful performance, and both Dave Bautista and Jamie Lee Curtis add to the emotional impact of the story. Keep your eyes peeled for this one when it hits theaters near you.
Check out my full favorites list on Letterboxd and keep up with what I’m watching.