The best movies of 2024 so far
Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures
The best movies of 2024 so far
Mike Faist and Zendaya in ‘Challengers’.
Despite predictions that the domestic box office would take a huge hit in 2024 thanks to the Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists strikes that dominated much of the second half of 2023, the movie business seems to be chugging along just fine thus far.
In the first quarter of the year, four films—”Dune: Part Two,” “Kung Fu Panda 4,” “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” and “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire”—have made hundreds of millions each at the domestic box office. Some of the year’s most anticipated releases (and the money they’re sure to bring in), like “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” “Deadpool & Wolverine,” and “Gladiator 2,” are still to come.
While it’s certainly satisfying to see that Hollywood is still very much capable of churning out some major blockbusters in this new, post-strike world, these big films aren’t the only great things the film industry has delivered in 2024. In fact, there have been a slew of films in these first four months that have stood out for their themes, storytelling, and cinematography.
Using data from Metacritic on the best films of 2024 so far, Stacker ranked the top 20 by Metascore, as of April 21, 2024. To qualify for the list, the films must have been released in the U.S. in 2024 and have at least seven reviews from critics. Ties were broken by Metacritic’s internal weighting system. IMDb user ratings were provided for popular reception context.
From intimate concert films like “Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus” to sexy sports stories like “Challengers” and socially relevant horror movies like “In Flames,” read on to find out what’s stood out most this year. Be sure to come back throughout the next few months as the list, and this year in memorable cinema, continues to develop.
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#20. Hundreds of Beavers
Mike Cheslik at ‘Hundreds of Beavers’ premiere.
– Director: Mike Cheslik
– Metascore: 78
– IMDb user rating: 7.9
– Run time: 108 minutes
One of the most unique comedies of the last few years, “Hundreds of Beavers” is a black-and-white, slapstick gem about an enterprising woodsman who finds himself facing off against a slew of forest creatures for control of his homestead. With little to no dialogue, a wild soundtrack, and a cast of human actors in mascot-style animal costumes, it’s safe to assume you’ve never seen anything like this ever before. Critics and audiences alike love the way the film pays homage to the cartoons of yesteryear (think Looney Tunes) and how genuinely funny the physical humor actually is.
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#19. In Flames
Zarrar Kahn and cast attend ‘In Flames’ Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
– Director: Zarrar Kahn
– Metascore: 79
– IMDb user rating: 6.3
– Run time: 98 minutes
In this genre-bending film, a mother and daughter find themselves haunted by something sinister after the death of the mother’s father-in-law. Described as a “patriarchy horror story” by The New York Times, the Pakistani film is one of those social horror projects that illustrates how it feels to be truly hemmed in by men from all sides. “In Flames” marks director Zarrar Kahn’s feature film debut.
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#18. How to Have Sex
Mia McKenna-Bruce and Molly Manning Walker pose for press at Cannes.
– Director: Molly Manning Walker
– Metascore: 79
– IMDb user rating: 6.5
– Run time: 91 minutes
First premiering at the Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard competition, “How to Have Sex” follows three young women as they embark on their first real adult vacation. RogerEbert.com called the movie, which is Molly Manning Walker’s feature directorial debut, “a blisteringly real survey of female coming of age.” The visuals here are arguably among the year’s best, which is perhaps not all that surprising considering Walker’s background as a cinematographer.
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#17. Dune: Part Two
The cast of ‘Dune: Part Two’ poses for press at the New York Premiere.
– Director: Denis Villeneuve
– Metascore: 79
– IMDb user rating: 8.7
– Run time: 166 minutes
The follow-up to the 2021 smash-hit adaptation of the Frank Herbert sci-fi novel, “Dune: Part Two” continues the story of Paul Atreides and the Fremen people as they wage war against the cruel House Harkonnen. The commercially successful film has a massive, all-star cast that includes actors like Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, and Josh Brolin. Critics, like those at Slate, have sung the movie’s praises, celebrating everything from its complex, attention-grabbing plot to its jaw-dropping special effects to its cinematography and score.
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#16. Io Capitano
Seydou Sarr, Matteo Garrone, Moustapha Fall attend a photo call for “Io Capitano” at the Venice International Film Festival.
– Director: Matteo Garrone
– Metascore: 79
– IMDb user rating: 7.6
– Run time: 121 minutes
Inspired by the real stories of migrants’ journeys to Europe through Africa, “Io Capitano” tells the story of two young men who leave their native Dakar in search of a better life in Italy. Nominated for Best International Feature Film at this year’s Oscars, the movie’s cast comprises mostly unknown actors, which lends an even more raw and real tone to the story. Audiences should note that the film is a hard watch—heavy topics like abuse and slavery are tackled—but, as Observer notes, it’s important in that it keeps the reality of this international crisis at the forefront of conversations.
Mathew Tsang // Getty Images
#15. The Settlers
Giancarlo Nasi, Chiara Giavarini, Felipe Gálvez Haberle, Mishel Guaña, Alfredo Castro and Benjamin Domenech at Toronto International Film Festival.
– Director: Felipe Gálvez Haberle
– Metascore: 80
– IMDb user rating: 7
– Run time: 97 minutes
Felipe Gálvez Haberle’s feature directorial debut, “The Settlers,” is a revisionist Western that follows three horsemen who find themselves mixed up in the South American land grab and the genocide of the Selk’nam people at the beginning of the 20th century.
Premiering at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, the film didn’t get a widespread release until early this year, but critical reviews have been overwhelmingly positive since its debut. Writing for Observer, one critic called it “a brutal, chilling indictment of capitalist colonialism,” while IndieWire wrote that “it’s one of the most chilling art-Westerns to come along in some time, as provocative for its ideas, dialogue, and characterizations, as for the beauty of its empty landscapes.”
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#14. Skin Deep
Alex Schaad, Thomas Wodlanka, Maryam Zaree, Mala Emde, and Dimitrij Schaad at premiere of ‘Auf meiner Haut’.
– Director: Alex Schaad
– Metascore: 81
– IMDb user rating: 6.3
– Run time: 103 minutes
“Skin Deep” is a philosophical relationship drama that follows a young couple who find themselves in a body-swapping situation during a visit to a mysterious island. The New York Times lauded the way the film handled deep questions that might arise in romantic relationships and broader society should body-swapping become an established, serious possibility. Written by brothers Alex and Dimitrij Schaad, the film first premiered at the 2022 Venice Film Festival and only made its way to the U.S. this year. It is also Alex’s feature-length debut.
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#13. Housekeeping for Beginners
Klaudia Śmieja-Rostworowska, Marcin Luccaj, Goran Stolevski, and Alina Serban attend screening.
– Director: Goran Stolevski
– Metascore: 81
– IMDb user rating: 7.3
– Run time: 107 minutes
Set in North Macedonia, “Housekeeping for Beginners” follows one woman as she does her best to raise her deceased girlfriend’s two daughters despite never wanting to be a mother herself. Full of found family and pro-LGBTQ+ themes, the movie is deeply emotional and raw, feelings that are compounded by the fact that director Goran Stolevski allowed the actors (many of whom made their big-screen debut here) to improvise large sections of the finished product.
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#12. The Beast
Justin Taurand and Bertrand Bonello attend the Venice International Film Festival.
– Director: Bertrand Bonello
– Metascore: 81
– IMDb user rating: 6.7
– Run time: 146 minutes
Loosely based on a Henry James short story titled “The Beast in the Jungle,” “The Beast” is essentially about how humanity’s pursuit of authenticity is often thwarted by roadblocks of its own making. A bizarre sci-fi and horror mashup, the film is set across three distinct time periods (1910, 2014, and 2044) and follows one woman as she attempts to rid herself of all emotion and the ripple effect that has on all of her past lives. Unsettling and thought-provoking, the movie certainly isn’t a mindless watch, but it is an important one.
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#11. Inshallah a Boy
Mouna Hawa receives the Best Actress Award for her role in ‘Inshallah a Boy’.
– Director: Amjad Al Rasheed
– Metascore: 83
– IMDb user rating: 7.2
– Run time: 113 minutes
Wrestling with the devastating effects of Jordan’s patriarchal inheritance laws, “Inshallah a Boy” is a thriller about a woman who pretends to be pregnant with a son in order to save herself and her young daughter. The film was the first Jordanian project to ever compete at Cannes, and what a stunning debut it was. The New York Times praised the performance of Mouna Hawa (a Palestinian actor), calling it “commanding,” and Variety applauded Al Rasheed’s prowess in casting a social-realist drama as a riveting escape thriller.
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#10. Chicken for Linda!
Sébastien Laudenbach and Chiara Malta accept the ‘Best Animation Feature’ Cesar Award.
– Directors: Sébastien Laudenbach, Chiara Malta
– Metascore: 83
– IMDb user rating: 7.3
– Run time: 73 minutes
In this animated film, a mother sets out to make amends with her daughter by cooking her favorite meal, despite a strike that’s essentially shut down their city and her lack of culinary knowledge. The French project is playful and emotional, exploring themes like grief and memory in ways that will appeal to both young and old audiences.
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#9. Pictures of Ghosts
Kleber Mendonça Filho and Dennis Lim attend the New York Film Festival ‘Pictures Of Ghosts’ panel.
– Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho
– Metascore: 88
– IMDb user rating: 7.8
– Run time: 93 minutes
In this documentary, filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho revisits his life in Brazil, recalling its glory days through the prism of the various cinemas he frequented as a child. The New York Times praised the film, which combines both new and archived footage, for the way it inspires a “rumination on life, death, family, movies, and those complicated, invariably haunted places we call home.” Meanwhile, IndieWire loved the film best for its celebratory spirit, noting that Filho is able to give the film “a joyful rhythm, full of hope and wonder.”
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#8. About Dry Grasses
Deniz Celiloglu, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Merve Dizdar, and Musab Ekici at Cannes.
– Director: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
– Metascore: 88
– IMDb user rating: 7.8
– Run time: 197 minutes
This Turkish-language drama follows a teacher who finds his future threatened after a female student alleges inappropriate contact. As is the case with many of Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s projects, the movie is slow and sparse, with a strong emphasis placed on still photography. The New Yorker called it “nimble, alert, and alive,” stressing that it “brims with a bitingly melancholy Chekhovian spirit,” something that’s sure to appeal to certain viewers.
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#7. Challengers
Mike Faist, Zendaya, and Josh O’Connor in ‘Challengers’.
– Director: Luca Guadagnino
– Metascore: 88
– IMDb user rating: data not available
– Run time: 131 minutes
Starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist, “Challengers” follows the tense dynamic that unfolds between a tennis coach, her player/husband who is on a losing streak, and his former best friend and rival/her former lover. Told largely through a series of flashbacks and flash-forwards, the movie is messy, dramatic, and very, very sexy. Critics have praised the stars’ performances as well as the complex editing, which makes what could be a fairly basic story far more compelling.
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#6. La Chimera
Alice Rohrwacher, Isabella Rossellini, and Josh O’Connor pose for press at the New York Film Festival.
– Director: Alice Rohrwacher
– Metascore: 90
– IMDb user rating: 7.3
– Run time: 130 minutes
Set in the ’80s, “La Chimera” follows a lovelorn archaeologist who unwittingly finds himself the head of a ragtag gang of grave robbers, stealing artifacts and passing them on to a mysterious buyer. The Guardian called it “uproarious and celebratory” noting that its tone, and the way it teems with life, is one of the best things about it. Meanwhile, Slant loves the way it wrestles with time and the effect it has on all of our lives.
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#5. Totem
Lila Aviles and Naima Senties at the ‘Totem’ premiere during the Berlinale International Film Festival.
– Director: Lila Avilés
– Metascore: 91
– IMDb user rating: 7.1
– Run time: 95 minutes
The National Board of Review named “Totem” one of the best international films of the year, which is as winning of an endorsement as one could hope to receive. The Mexican project follows a 7-year-old girl as she celebrates her father’s birthday and struggles to come to terms with the fact that it will likely be his last. Variety called the movie “lifelike and lived-in” and commended filmmaker Lila Avilés’ “generous, open-ended” style.
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#4. Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus
Neo Sora attends the 61st NYFF screening of ‘Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus’.
– Director: Neo Sora
– Metascore: 91
– IMDb user rating: 8.1
– Run time: 103 minutes
Called “a parting gift from a master musician” by The New York Times, “Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus” is the pianist’s final performance. There are no interviews or introductions given in the film, it’s simply 103 minutes of the Japanese artist sitting at his piano playing some of his greatest hits. While it may not sound like the most exciting film the year has had to offer, the space it offers for contemplation is unlike anything else the big screen has ever given us.
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#3. Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell
Pham Thien An poses with Anais Demoustier after he won the Camera d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
– Director: Thien An Pham
– Metascore: 94
– IMDb user rating: 6.7
– Run time: 179 minutes
Straddling the line between surrealism and realism, “Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell” follows a young Vietnamese man as he navigates the unexpected loss of a family member and grapples with larger questions of faith, god, and the afterlife. Director Thien An Pham’s feature debut, the movie won the Camera d’Or (the award given to the best debut feature film) at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Outlets like IndieWire have gushed over the project’s unique cinematic style (there are long, uninterrupted shots that run for up to 20 minutes at a time), which has already earned praise from critics internationally.
Alessandro Levati // Getty Images
#2. Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World
Radu Jude poses for press portrait at the Locarno Film Festival.
– Director: Radu Jude
– Metascore: 95
– IMDb user rating: 7.5
– Run time: 163 minutes
In this black comedy, a production assistant is tasked with shooting a workplace safety video, only to find their plans upended when an interviewee makes a surprising statement. Completely unique in its form (it’s a mix of new footage, edited excerpts of another 1981 film, “Angela merge mai departe,” and the main character’s TikTok videos), Variety called the movie a “dizzying, dazzling feat of social critique, an all-fronts-at-once attack on the zeitgeist, and a mischievous, often hilarious work of art about the artifice of work.”
Sebastian Reuter // Getty Images
#1. Here
Bas Devos speaks on stage at the Berlinale International Film Festival.
– Director: Bas Devos
– Metascore: 96
– IMDb user rating: 6.8
– Run time: 82 minutes
Dubbed “a celebration of connection” by The New York Times, Bas Devos’ “Here” follows the lives of a Romanian construction worker and a Belgian-Chinese academic who studies moss. Their lives, which have almost no reason to intersect, inevitably do, in the most unusual of places in the city and out in nature. The quiet film is beautifully photographed and captures a sense of connection where “nothing much and everything happens—or could.”
Data reporting by Luke Hicks. Story editing by Carren Jao. Copy editing by Tim Bruns.
