Every year, I tend to make a top twenty list that truly showcases all my favorite new-release films, but since we only (realistically) have time for ten each on our annual year-end special over on the podcast, I’m ultimately left with a “bottom ten” that miss the cut.
So in the brief lull that is typically the month of January following our special, I thought it might be fun to take the time to reflect on these films. So here are ten great films from 2024—not the “best” (for my money), but very much still worth your time:
#20: FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA
George Miller is truly one of a kind. While the film doesn’t hold a candle to its magnificent predecessor, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is still a damn good time that goes all-out from its very first frame. From its shot compositions to Chris Hemsworth’s bombastic performance, Furiosa is a delightfully mad companion piece to Miller’s own Mad Max: Fury Road. Flaws and all, it’s definitely worth watching on the biggest screen possible.
#19: TRANSFORMERS ONE
Despite being perhaps the worst-marketed blockbuster of 2024, nothing could’ve prepared me for what is easily the best Transformers film we’ve ever gotten. The story is fun, the animation slick, the action wonderfully kinetic. The cast has some truly wild risks that end up working out in the film’s favor. I’ll just say it: Brian Tyree Henry’s D-16/Megatron is one of the best vocal performances of the year. The film is worth a watch for his performance alone.
#18: ALIEN: ROMULUS
It has taken Fox nearly forty years to figure out how to make another great Alien movie. Who would’ve thought mixing elements of both Alien and Aliens would be a good call? After a decade of Ridley Scott playing with what the Alien franchise looks like in the modern era, director Fede Álvarez took the simpler route and made a bombastic return to the grungy, industrial world that the first two films in the franchise perfected in their own ways.
While the film doesn’t reinvent the wheel (and makes one hell of a swing with a legacy character), Alien: Romulus is a much-needed addition to a series that has had an identity crisis since the nineties.
#17: A DIFFERENT MAN
A dark psychological comedy with a downright incredible acting trifecta. If Sebastian Stan’s phenomenal lead performance isn’t enough for you, nor his perfect pairing with the fascinating Renate Reinsve… then you still have Adam Pearson stealing every scene with his copious charisma. The trio consistently elevates writer-director Aaron Schimberg’s story about identity, perception, and the dark path of comparison. While I’m not the biggest fan of the film’s third act, there’s a reason why Sebastian Stan won a Golden Globe for this performance.
#16: LOVE LIES BLEEDING
Dark, sexy, and one hell of a wild ride. Love Lies Bleeding is a body-building fever dream that feels born out of a lifelong obsession with Blood Simple. Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian have immensely palpable chemistry, and writer-director Rose Glass shows off her skill yet again in this sharp-looking sophomore effort. In an era where the eighties aesthetic has been done to death, Love Lies Bleeding finds its own corner of it to make it feel fresh, enthralling, and entertaining.
#15: TERRIFIER 3
I never expected this to come anywhere near my favorites of the year, especially after watching the painfully slow original film and its much-improved-but-nevertheless-flawed sequel. However, I’m happy to report that I have to agree with Andy: Terrifier 3 is not only the best of the three but also one hilariously fun Christmas slasher in its own right. It’s crazy, gory, filled with great practical effects, and forges a great rivalry between Lauren LaVera’s Sienna and David Howard Thornton’s Art the Clown. Plus, it’s far and away the best-looking one yet. It’s taken over a decade, but creator-writer-director-editor Damien Leone has finally given Art the Clown the banger we deserve.
#14: REBEL RIDGE
Late into 2024, Andy and I did an episode on the first three films of director Jeremy Saulnier, which didn’t include but was timed up with the release of his new film Rebel Ridge. What Andy and I found out shortly after recording that episode is that Saulnier’s latest is yet another great addition to his subversive filmography. The story is captivating, the action well-shot, and the ensemble is strong across the board. Aaron Pierre does a fantastic job playing a nomadic veteran who ends up taking on the corrupt police force that wronged him. It just goes to show once again why Jeremy Saulnier is an auteur worth watching out for in the future.
#13: SATURDAY NIGHT
Man, it’s good to see Jason Reitman make a fun, engaging film that isn’t a new Ghostbusters movie. Saturday Night is stressful, funny, and filled to the brim with a talented cast committed to capturing the essence of the important players responsible for the creation of the first episode of Saturday Night Live. From the grainy throwback cinematography to the painstaking recreation of early SNL’s scrappiness, Reitman and his team do a wonderful job transporting the audience to the early years when the studio’s trust in the show was scarce but passion oozed out of every player. What can I say? I’m a sucker for a passionate Reitman joint.
#12: ANORA
Sean Baker is one of the most fun directors to watch today, so it’s no surprise that his latest film is one of the best of the year. It’s hilarious, tragic, beautifully photographed, and has one of the best performances of the year in Mikey Madison. Is it my favorite Baker film? No, but that’s not to say that I’m surprised at all the praise the film has gotten. When you’re as consistently great as Baker is, even a slightly lesser effort is bound to be entertaining. This rom-com with an edge is one I’ll be excited to rewatch in the future (especially the Criterion release).
#11: A REAL PAIN
Sometimes a simple and familiar premise just needs fantastic execution to stand out amidst a year of great films. While Jesse Eisenberg does a wonderful job as writer, director, and co-lead, Kieran Culkin is the real highlight as an anxious, charismatic shot to the arm that gives the film most of not only its emotional resonance but also its laughts. This film’s premise about two mismatched cousins going to Poland to honor their dead grandmother leads scenes that will no doubt make you laugh, but even more powerfully, might just freak you out when you see yourself in either one of the film’s lovingly-rendered, realistically broken central pair.
A Real Pain is a truly bittersweet film that, thankfully, has gotten the love and appreciation it deserves. It’s not easy to find a good modern comedy that’ll give you a good cry almost as many times as it’ll make you laugh.
Freelance writer out of Indianapolis. Co-host of Odd Trilogies podcast. Whether it's films or television, I'm always down to watch!