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Top Ten Films of 2024

2024 was a pretty good year for cinema that wasn’t quite as strong as the last one, but was otherwise stellar. This was the rare time when the Best Picture winner ended up being a film that I genuinely love and will be ranked high on this list. It was a terrific year for the Oscars, but it was also a great time to be an animation fan, and sure enough two films here are in that medium. Six of the ten movies are foreign, proving once again the power of international cinema these days. And a couple of indies are well represented here as well. Without further ado, here are the ten films that made 2024 special.

10. Girls Will Be Girls

Girls Will Be Girls is a superbly acted and wonderfully made drama that is less plot-driven and more character-driven in its approach, which worked to its benefit. Even though the basic idea of the suffocating Asian mother is familiar by now, the film differentiates itself from others of its kin by the sheer depth and nuance that writer-director Shuchi Talati brought to the table – the dialogue is very grounded and sparse, a lot is said through just facial expressions and body language, making for a very cinematic language that the film operates in. It’s a very underseen film that is difficult not to love if you give it a chance.

9. The Imaginary

The Imaginary is Studio Ponoc’s third feature and their best one so far. A story about the power and importance of imagination, the movie also deals with grief and loss in a very potent way. The art style mixes 2D and 3D technologies in such a unique way, making for a truly dazzling viewing experience. The score is also beautiful and the voice acting is top-notch. The story may become too ambitious and complicated for its own sake, but it’s consistently engaging and, well, imaginative. Above all else, this is a very touching tale, one that made me cry more than a couple of times. It’s such a wonderful anime that sadly never got the attention that it deserved.

8. Meiyazhagan

Indian films had a blast this year as exemplified by the record two movies from this country ending up on my list. Meiyazhagan is so damn moving that I had to include it here as it made me tear up toward the end. This is because its characterization and dialogue were both so strong. The central performance from Arvind Swamy is incredible and one of the best of the entire year. The central dynamic between the two main characters was the heart and soul of this story that truly gets cousin relationships and childhood nostalgia. It’s a wistful, deeply moving film that wholeheartedly earned its emotion.

7. Nosferatu

Robert Eggers is one of the best filmmakers that we have right now and Nosferatu is another winner for him. This classical adaptation is a technical feat for the eyes and ears – the score is beautiful, the cinematography is absolutely gorgeous while the costumes, sets and make-up effects are all splendid, giving the movie a historically accurate and timeless feel. But Eggers is also a brilliant writer as he did something new with this old tale by modernizing it and including a very interesting exploration of repressed sexuality in the Victorian era. That unforgettable ending was truly fresh and unique. Eggers is such a an undeniably talented director and hopefully the Academy will recognize him sooner rather than later.

6. The Girl with the Needle

The Girl with the Needle is a Danish psychological thriller that might as well have been a horror film how genuinely disturbing it is. This underrated movie is further proof that no fictional monster can ever be as scary as the worst human beings among us. This is a genre period piece done right – the atmosphere is incredibly menacing and bleak, the black-and-white cinematography is gorgeous, and its score is aptly suspenseful. Beautifully acted and wonderfully directed, this truly horrifying movie is not for the faint of heart, but for those who appreciate artistic, refined and grounded horror, it will be an absolute treat.

5. Wicked

In spite of all odds stacked against it, Wicked turned out to be one of the best stage adaptations ever. This is such a phenomenal production from a technical standpoint – the costumes are colorful and lively, the production design is mesmerizing and the cinematography is strong – but the movie also features a wonderfully adapted screenplay full of powerful themes and lovely references to the original source material. Cynthia Erivo delivered such a soulful performance and Ariana Grande stole the entire movie with her surprisingly strong comedic timing. The ending is also genuinely emotionally powerful and grandiose. Wicked was an utter delight and one of my absolute favorite movies of the year and I am so glad that this type of film managed to get nominated for Best Picture.

4. Hundreds of Beavers

Hundreds of Beavers is a film that is perfect for classic cinema lovers as it wasn’t just shot in black-and-white, but is also almost devoid of any dialogue, which made it a wonderful homage to silent slapstick comedies. The flick is a potent mix of Charlie Chaplin and Looney Tunes – the former in the protagonist’s over-the-top body movements and facial expressions and the latter in the total lack of logic and basic rules of physics in its ambitiously constructed action set pieces. Couple that with Wes Anderson-inspired sets and a very fun video game structure to its plot and you’ve got an eclectic mix of ideas and filmmaking styles that really worked. It’s a proof that innovative filmmaking that is also a nod to the cinema of yesteryear is very much possible after all this time.

3. Anora

Sean Baker is undoubtedly one of the greatest directors working today and Anora is one of his best films. This is his funniest movie so far. It’s surprisingly such a strong comedy that made me laugh out loud multiple times, especially in its chaotic and unhinged second act. But then it pulls the rug beneath you, making you feel quite emotional during its absolutely perfect, bittersweet ending. Baker’s firm grasp of superb characterization, grounded dialogue and a terrific treatment of its diverse themes that range from society’s treatment of sex work to the recklessness and impulsiveness of youth made this such a rich cinematic text. Mikey Madison was exceptional in such a layered role while Yura Borisov was also fantastic as the heart and soul of the film. Anora is undoubtedly one of the best films of the year and easily the greatest Best Picture winner of the 21^st century so far.

2. I’m Still Here

Films that focus on story, characters and emotions instead of technical aspects and preachiness are rare these days, which is why the Brazilian drama I’m Still Here feels like an instant classic that is universal and timeless in its appeal. Fernanda Torres delivered a phenomenally rich and nuanced turn in the main role of Eunice Paiva and what a role this is. The film’s first half is filled with such warm and positive vibes that are perfectly contrasted with the eventual grief and turmoil that would define the second half. Beautifully directed and wonderfully written, the movie also features a genuinely touching ending that made me tear up. This is undeniably one of the best movies of 2024, a film that is very difficult not to love.

1. Flow

The small movie that could, Flow ended up winning the Academy Award against all odds stacked against it. This Latvian masterpiece is entirely animal-centric and it has no spoken dialogue, but is deeper and more engaging than any mainstream animated fare out there. This diverse group of animal friends was easy to root for and the ending was so beautiful. This is the type of story that is simple on the surface, but so richly imagined and ambiguous that it is ripe for meaningful discussion and analysis. It tackles climate change and the importance of co-operation while also containing obvious spiritual overtones that at times made for a truly transcendent viewing experience. Gints Zilbalodis wrote, directed and scored this film on his own, signaling a major talent arriving on the scene. Flow is a film like no other and one of the best animated movies of the decade so far. It’s a true work of art and my personal favorite film of the entire year.

Honorable Mentions:

Alien: Romulus – Alien: Romulus is by far the most underrated movie of 2024. This film fired on all cylinders and delivered truly impressive action set pieces, memorable scenarios and superbly utilized Xenomorphs. It’s one of the greatest entries in the ‘Alien’ franchise and an underappreciated gem of competent blockbuster filmmaking.

The Wild Robot – The Wild Robot is a wonderful animated film that has lovely characters and so much relevancy in its messaging that preaches the importance of community and friendship. The animation is a gorgeous mix of modern and traditional techniques and the voice acting is fantastic. This is easily one of the best DreamWorks Animation movies to date.

Memoir of a Snail – Memoir of a Snail is only the second feature film from writer-director Adam Elliot after his last film that ranks among my favorite animated movies ever made. It has a beautiful message about the importance of hope and perseverance. It’s an existential, but still positive movie that is all about moving forward instead of dwelling on the past.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes – I am a big ‘Planet of the Apes’ fan, so naturally I was always going to appreciate Kingdom, but I loved this one even more than I thought I would. It has an intriguing storyline and superb world building. I don’t quite know what led to the muted reception to this film, but I personally love it, so it gets an honorable mention.

The Substance – The Substance is a truly disgusting and wildly entertaining body horror flick. It functioned as this very grotesque, modern take on a cautionary tale about the dangers of pursuing youth before turning into a wonderfully campy and crazy third act that was the best movie ending of the year.

Challengers – Challengers is one of the most purely entertaining movies of the year, a film that also features kinetic editing and excellent cinematography. It has a very interesting central relationship that could have been better explored, but was still intriguing. The acting performances are strong across the board and it’s such a stylish, fun flick.