By George & Josh Bate
From innovative horror films to epic historical dramas to big-budget blockbusters, 2024 was a year of incredible quality and diversity for film. And now, with the year at an end, we’re taking a look back at the year’s best films. Of note, this list only includes films that received a theatrical and/or digital release in 2024. This means that films screened at festivals yet to have a release to the public are not considered for inclusion. Below are The HoloFiles’ Top 10 Movies of 2024 (and 5 honorable mentions).
Honorable Mentions
I Used To Be Funny
I Used To Be Funny, a dark dramedy from writer/director Ally Pankiw that premiered at SXSW Film Festival, is as endearing and heartbreaking as it is hilarious and relatable. Rachel Sennott delivers a passionate and empathic performance in a film about a troubled stand-up comedian, who must face a past trauma to find a missing girl she used to babysit. Pankiw’s film deftly fluctuates between present and past day scenes, which contributes to a well-balanced tone that never becomes too bleak or lighthearted. From Shiva Baby to Bodies Bodies Bodies to this, Rachel Sennott proves that her ability to captivate on screen is matched by the sheer variety of performances in her repertoire. Tapping into issues of trauma recovery and sexual assault with a needed warmth and empathy, I Used To Be Funny is the rare film to truly excel equally both as a drama and a comedy.
Civil War
Civil War may lack the sort of substantive political messaging one would suspect from such a film, but it is a cinematic achievement nonetheless. After overcoming some shaky worldbuilding director/writer Alex Garland’s film finds its footing and becomes one of the year’s most visceral intense films. In this sense, Civil War may fall short as a political film, yet makes up for it as an undeniably effective, nail-biting thriller.
A Different Man
2024 was quite the year for Sebastian Stan, who delivered awards-worthy turns in both The Apprentice and A Different Man. The latter is an uncomfortably funny and unpredictable psychological dark comedy bold in its narrative ambition and the themes it taps into. There’s a tragic, almost Shakespearan element to A Different Man, a film that feels, in many ways, like this generation’s spin on David Lynch’s The Elephant Man. It’s a rollercoaster ride of inspiration, embarrassment, and tragedy all encased within an odyssey of identity that challenges one’s conceptions of ‘the Other.’ A terrific film that didn’t get the attention it deserves.
Hit Man
After working with director Richard Linklater for the first time when he was just 18-years-old, Glen Powell reteamed with the acclaimed filmmaker for this enthralling Netflix comedy. Taking liberties with an incredible true story, Hit Man is an intelligently written romantic comedy, a genre blend that makes it easy to overlook the masterful filmmaking craft on display. A razor sharp screenplay, sporting a unique premise and plenty of twists and turns, is excellently brought to life by Glen Powell and Adria Arjona, both of whom deliver career-best performances here. Few movies of 2024 were as unreservedly fun as Hit Man.
Trap
Trap marks another success in the third phase of M. Night Shyamalan’s career as the director rises firmly above a mid-career slump. Unfolding like The Silence of the Lambs taking place at a Taylor Swift concert, Shyamalan’s latest is a shocking and entertaining thrill ride, the kind of film that you can’t take your eyes off of for one moment. Filled to the brim with palpable intensity and anxiety, Trap triumphs with a stellar lead performance from Josh Hartnett, who brilliantly plays two opposing sides of a complex and darkly funny character. Awkward dialogue and some quirks often found in Shyamalan’s films take one out of the film and, in turn, hinder the immersion it is going for, but the fast-paced story and relentless intensity largely make up for these issues. Trap proves that the long-standing genre of serial killer movies still has something new to offer, while also highlighting Shyamalan’s continued singular repertoire for crafting edge-of-your-seat psychological thrillers.
10. Challengers
One of two triumphs this year in the illustrious career of Luca Guadagnino, Challengers is a high-energy, fast-paced, non-linear psychosexual thrill ride that had to make our top 10. Three incredible lead performances actualize a love triangle story like no other, so effortlessly switching from one time period to the next. Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor are all excellent in their respective roles, deftly playing versions of their characters at different times over the course of their years-long love triangle. A movie set within the world of sports, rather than a sports film per see, Challengers features a sharp script from Justin Kuritzkes and dynamic direction, resulting in a film more approachable, humorous, and light than anything Guadagnino has done before. The film’s ending features the definition of a jaw-dropping cinematic moment, while a pumping synth score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross creates a palpable urgency and intensity to a film so overtly and humorously sexually charged and, ultimately, endlessly entertaining.
9. Strange Darling
Employing a meticulously crafted non-linear narrative structure, JT Mollner’s Strange Darling is one of the year’s best and most overlooked films. The film is best enjoyed knowing nothing about it ahead of time (although, for those interested, the film’s official plot description reads as follows: “Nothing is what it seems when a twisted one-night stand spirals into a serial killer’s vicious murder spree.”) Director/writer JT Mollner crafts a film that utilizes non-linear storytelling in a manner we’ve never before to foster a wildly unpredictable thrill-ride here. Willa FItzgerald and Kyle Gallner deliver commanding lead performances, while stunning visuals from cinematographer Giovanni Ribisi (shooting in 35mm) contribute to the ethereal tone of a disturbing and impactful film.
8. The Apprentice
The Apprentice was timed to release with the 2024 U.S. presidential election and, as such, is one of the more timely and relevant biopics in recent years. Despite this, the film didn’t quite find its audience (Trump supporters viewed the film as a hit piece, whereas Trump detractors seemingly had enough of the controversial figure and didn’t want to see more of him in a biopic). Nonetheless, there is plenty to admire about The Apprentice. Sebastian Stan takes on the seemingly impossible role of Donald Trump and, much like Trump the character, grows into the character over the course of the film. What results is a career-best performance from Stan, one that does not rely on overt transformation, but, rather, comes from an authentic commitment to exhibiting the true essence of a real figure – in this case, Donald Trump. The film subverts issues that many biopics possess in glossing over too much of importance or trying to squeeze too much into a single film. Instead, Abbasi’s movie concisely portrays Trump’s origin story with simultaneous depth and brevity, and pieces together the psychology of one of history’s most controversial figures.
7. Dune: Part Two
Dune: Part Two is a sci-fi epic that achieves a sprawling level of grandness that few other films in history have accomplished. Outstanding world- and mythology-building, grounded so faithfully in the text of Frank Herbert’s source material, create an immersive viewing experience with a universe so lived-in and authentic. For the most part, Part Two retains a grasp on its potentially unwieldy source material, resulting in a film that is complicated yet never unapproachable. Austin Butler and Javier Bardem stand out in an impressive ensemble cast, while the film achieves Return of the King-esque grandness with unbelievable achievements in cinematography, production design, and sound design. Whether or not Dune: Part Two endures in conversations about iconic sequels alongside The Empire Strikes Back and Aliens remains to be seen, but it is undoubted that Denis Villeneuve has made a film as potent and striking as the spice on Arrakis.
6. Conclave
Amongst many things, what is amazing about Conclave is the edge-of-your-seat suspense it cultivates through dialogue and performances alone. Director Edward Berger constructs a pinnacle of political thrillers, depicting what happens when the pope dies and a papal conclave is organized to elect his successor. The film systematically progresses through different candidates for pope, exposing scandals and investigating secrets along the way. There’s real prestige filmmaking on display, but also a campiness and reality show-esque drama that provides delightful contrast. The entire ensemble cast is terrific, as is the film’s twist ending, which we definitely didn’t see coming.
5. Thelma
Anyone who has had the opportunity to be around an aging grandparent or another older person will likely have some insight into the struggles the elderly face. Despite the attention these difficulties warrant, there is a distinct lack of representation in film and television for the elderly – in particular elderly women. Offering a refreshing counterpoint to this trend is Thelma, a touching comedy that puts an elderly woman and her issues with aging front and center. The film stands apart from others with a genuine and heartfelt attention to the struggles of the elderly, including physical health problems, cognitive decline, loneliness, grief, and loss of autonomy. Never ridiculing this cinematically underrepresented group and, instead, retaining an authentic and well-intentioned hilariousness throughout, the film strikes a rare balance in eliciting laughs and tears in equal measure. Fred Hechinger and Richard Roundtree shine in supporting roles as Thelma’s grandson and friend respectively, but Thelma is firmly a vehicle for June Squibb’s talent to shine. The pacing is vibrant, the story is gripping, and the emotions it taps into are both strong and moving, making Thelma a resounding success and evidence that elderly actors and characters (in particular elderly women) should take the spotlight more regularly.
4. Bleeding Love
Ewan McGregor stars alongside his real-life daughter Clara in this heartfelt odyssey about the effects of substance use. Films about substance use are commonplace, but Bleeding Love stands out in how authentic and down-to-earth it feels. Much of this has to do with the chemistry between the two leads, with father and daughter Ewan and Clara brilliantly playing off one another throughout. As such a raw depiction of addiction and its effects on families, director Emma Westenberg’s film can be a difficult watch at times. Although, more than anything it is uplifting, emotionally resonant, and an easy inclusion in our Top 10 of 2024 list.
3. The Brutalist
An epic historical drama with a whopping 215 minute runtime, The Brutalist is a film of incredible ambition in its willingness to tackle a multitude of important themes (including poverty, immigration, sexual violence, religion, marriage, and substance use) so richly and genuinely. Most striking are the film’s deconstruction of the American Dream, its portrayal of the brutal realities of being an immigrant, and its exploration of the wealthy’s multifaceted exploitation of the poor, all of which demonstrate how much this film has to say beyond being yet another immigrant tale. Restrained directing from Brady Corbet, appropriately interspersed with moments of more novel and uncanny filmmaking, creates a deeply engrossing movie that unfolds like a prestige mini-series and rarely grows tiring. All of this is carried by Adrien Brody, who delivers a career-best performance as a good, yet flawed and disturbingly real, man. Brody is accompanied by Felicity Jones and Guy Pearce, who similarly produce winning turns here in a film that has the acting prowess to match its lofty themes.
3. Sing Sing
Yes, we are cheating a little bit here. Technically, this is a Top 10 Best Movies of the Year list, but we couldn’t exactly narrow the list down to ten choices (nor could we separate the two movies we have tied at #3).
Sing Sing stars Colman Domingo and takes place inside real-life maximum security prison Sing Sing. Based on a true story, the film follows a group of incarcerated men who become involved in creating theatrical stage productions for fellow prisoners. There’s simply not enough words in the dictionary to explicate why Sing Sing is such a phenomenal film. The film deftly blends scripted dialogue with natural improvisation through its incredible ensemble of trained actors and real-life former incarcerated men, who actually participated in the theatrical production program. The quality and naturalism of acting creates a marvelously immersive viewing experience, one in which the viewer quickly becomes lost in the worlds of these characters. Headlining the film is Colman Domingo, who somehow surpasses his impressive work in the likes of Euphoria, Rustin, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom by delivering an awards-worthy, career-best performance. Beyond performances, Sing Sing excels in its dual character arcs at the heart of the film, with Colman Domingo’s G and Clarence Maclin’s Divine Eye serving parallel, intersecting roles in the story. Above all though, the film triumphs as a powerful and non-judgmental examination of the lives and tribulations of incarcerated individuals, in addition to the redemptive potential of art and the insistence that people are far more than than just the acts that they have committed. Watching Sing Sing will have you shed tears, put massive smiles on your face, and make you feel more hopeful than any film of 2024.
2. Longlegs
We admit – we were sold on Longlegs from the very beginning. Nicolas Cage starring in a serial killer horror film akin to The Silence of the Lambs is the perfect logline to get audiences in seats (and it worked, as Longlegs was the highest-grossing independent film of 2024). But, to our surprise and delight, Longlegs was far more than what its premise and brilliantly minimalist promotional campaign suggested. Osgood Perkins’ film is terrifying to its core, and gets under your skin in a manner few horror films ever do. It is not a horror film reliant on jump scares or overt violence, but, rather, one that scares with masterful directing, editing, and performances. Nicolas Cage completely transforms as the titular serial killer, whose absence on screen proves to be just as unsettling as his presence (such is the dread the prospect of his return evokes). Longlegs fuses together so many horror sub-genres, including satanic horror, serial killer horror, creepy doll horror, into a story that remains approachable while ending on an unsettling and abstract note. Longlegs may not evoke the sort of heartfelt emotion other films on this list do, and yet it more than earns its place here as it is one of the best horror films in recent years (and one that still unsettles us whenever it comes to mind).
1. I Like Movies
The film at the apex of our Top 10 list is one far too few have heard of. I Like Movies premiered at Toronto Film Festival in 2022 and was eventually rolled out into select U.S. theaters in 2024 before becoming available on digital. And the fact that it hasn’t gained more attention and love perplexes us. Writer/director Chandler Levack’s I Like Movies is a love letter to cinephiles/film buffs, a total triumph of slice-of-life filmmaking, and one of the best coming-of-age movies we’ve ever seen. In the film, the lead character Lawrence (played by Isaiah Lehtinen) says that the highest compliment one can give a movie is to be emotionally moved by it. If that is indeed the gold standard of compliments, then I Like Movies deserves immense and unreserved praise. Levack’s film doesn’t overwhelm with emotion nor is it trying to be a This Is Us-esque tearjerker. Instead, it is a coming-of-age comedy, filled to the brim with witty lines destined to make audiences laugh. Underlying the film though is an extraordinary heart that gradually increases its rhythm throughout. The film explores rich themes, many of which have been tackled in other works, but seldom with such emotional intelligence. Levack’s film shows how unachieved dreams aren’t the end of the world, how some friendships don’t last forever, and how there’s always more to a person when people take the time to look. No film of 2024 emotionally affected us the way I Like Movies did, nor has any film stayed with us so enduringly.