From body horror fables and an intimate tennis threesome to a gothic tale of obsession and a series of hard truths, 2024 was a stellar year in film. Some of the greatest directors of our time delivered on ambitious passion projects and made career-best work. Newer directors on the scene followed up promising first features with even more impressive stories. This year also had an abundance of narrative feature debuts from exciting talent who are shaking up the industry for good. As is the case every year, the deeper I explore this wonderful art form, the more surprises I discover along the way. I’ve discovered many gems this year that explore resonant themes through a wholly unique lens. The following list combines genre-hopping films from new and familiar voices whose sensibilities are redefining the possibilities of what good cinema can do. A good story goes far, and with that, here are my top ten films of 2024.
10. The Wild Robot
In the words of Guillermo Del Toro, animation is cinema. For me, no animated 2024 film better exemplifies this sentiment than Chris Sanders’s “The Wild Robot.” Adapted from Peter Brown’s book of the same name, the film answers “How would a robot adapt to wilderness?” with an earnest answer. Sometimes, to find your true home and discover your potential, you must become more than you were programmed to be. “The Wild Robot” expands on this powerful core with an intelligent depiction of motherhood, particularly how the experience can unearth capabilities you didn’t know you had. The emotional story is brought to life with an astounding voice performance by Lupita Nyong’o. As Roz, Nyong’o seamlessly changes her tone from robotic to spontaneous and emotionally flexible. Her vocal range, alongside a colorful group of wildlife characters and a triumphant Kris Bowers score, carries “The Wild Robot” home.
9. Nosferatu
Robert Eggers’s “Nosferatu” was several years in the making, and upon seeing the artistry of its final form, his passion project was totally worth the wait. Eggers succumbs to the darkness with a spellbinding retelling of gothic vampiric folklore. His vision reverberates in each and every frame as he spins his historical research around a haunting story of suppression. The devil is in the details, whether a snowy nocturnal journey to Count Orlok’s castle or Linda Muir’s intricately layered designs for each character’s costumes. The seductive artistry stretches far beyond the film’s visual language and radiates through the ensemble cast. As Ellen Hutter, Lily-Rose Depp anchors the story with remarkable physicality and emotional depth. She also shares compelling chemistry with Bill Skarsgård, whose transformative physical and vocal work as Count Orlok adds to the film’s mystique. “Nosferatu” excels at transporting you to ancient times with breathtaking beauty, and finds modern resonance in its powerful narrative on women’s sexual repression.
8. The Seed of the Sacred Fig
7. I Saw the TV Glow
Few films come close to getting under your skin the way Jane Schoenbrun’s “I Saw the TV Glow” does. Their outstanding singular vision emerged as one of the brightest standouts not just of this year, but this decade so far. In Schoenbrun’s film, horror is rooted in the pain of denying yourself a truthful way of life. The protagonist, Owen (a tremendous Justice Smith), carries a palpable discomfort inside, an uneasiness in how they carry themselves and relate to the world. The hypnotic glow of a television show gives Owen a light at the end of a very upsetting and scary tunnel. Schoenbrun presents this world with incredible confidence and trusts the audience entirely to piece together the thoughtful layers of this story, whether in terms of the plot itself or what the film means to them. Schoenbrun’s masterpiece leaves an unforgettable imprint that will be revisited for years to come, and revered as a story that will help generations of people find their true selves.
6. Hard Truths
The much-anticipated reunion of writer/director Mike Leigh and actress Marianne Jean-Baptiste was long overdue. The two previously worked together over twenty years ago on the Oscar-nominated “Secrets & Lies,” which featured the acting masterclasses one expects from Leigh’s films. He is a genius at directing actors; his collaborative process involves them every step of the way to find the story and build the characters. “Hard Truths,” starring Jean-Baptiste as one of the year’s most memorable characters, shines as another profound example of lived-in storytelling. With an organic balance of comedy and tragedy, Leigh and Jean-Baptiste explore the emotional depths of a complicated protagonist. Pansy (Jean-Baptiste)’s negative outlook on life can be traced to years of buried grief that manifested into anger. Her interactions are shaped by levels of exhaustion and frustration that her family cannot fully understand, pushing her further into loneliness. The one person who can see past Pansy’s tough exterior is her sister Chantelle (a brilliant Michele Austin), whose positivity gives you a dynamic portrait of two sisters on different paths of shared history. Leading a wonderful cast, Jean-Baptiste gives my favorite performance of the year. Whether through humor or sorrow, she prioritizes Pansy’s humanity and embraces her wholeheartedly. For every comedic line of dialogue, there is a moment of stunning self-awareness that speaks to her frustration at not knowing why she feels so angry. The film smartly unfolds without spelling out clear explanations for the audience. Hard truths don’t come with easy answers, and this film is a poignant reminder.
5. La Chimera
Not everything is meant to be seen with human eyes. Thousands of meaningful treasures are buried deep in the Italian soil, a magical realm of lost items from the past. When unearthed, these gems fall into the hands of greed, losing their truest value. In Alice Rohrwacher’s “La Chimera,” British archaeologist Arthur (Josh O’Connor) has a talent for finding hidden treasures. As his gift travels by word of mouth, he becomes a grave robber, losing sight of the beauty in front of him. “La Chimera” exists in an ethereal place, somewhere between the past and present, a transcendent journey. It took me a second watch to fully appreciate Rohrwacher’s unique storytelling and how she makes this film feel like a relic. Through her sublime vision, and O’Connor’s magnetic presence (and very impressive Italian), “La Chimera” plays out as a living dream about searching for what may no longer exist.
4. Nickel Boys
3. A Different Man
Every year, a knockout of a film comes along and unexpectedly gets under my skin. I immediately want to revisit it and soak in the experience, as though discovering it for the first time all over again. “A Different Man” was that film for me this year. Having known very little about the story going in, I was blown away by writer/director Aaron Schimberg’s powerful masterclass in character development. The cautionary tale of aspiring actor Edward (Sebastian Stan) would make a compelling double feature with Coralie Fargeat’s “The Substance,” as it explores the depths of self-loathing and the mounting pressures to maintain an “ideal” physical appearance. Deeply unhappy in his skin, Edward undergoes a miracle procedure to transform his appearance, believing this will change his world for the better. But his “dream” face begins to haunt him when he meets the incredibly charming Adam Pearson and discovers the richly fulfilling life of someone comfortable in their own skin. Sebastian Stan, who had an excellent year with “The Apprentice” as well, gives the finest performance of his career in “A Different Man.” His character suddenly finds himself staring into a mirror of what could have been. His trajectory as an artist, and as a person, slips through his fingers. Stan conveys the emotional turmoil of this role with astounding control and a palpable hurt that pierces through you. His work alongside the terrific Adam Pearson makes for a doubly fascinating character study. Their evolving performances shine in Schimberg’s fully realized world-building, unique tone, and thematically resonant story.
2. The Substance
When I walked into the TIFF Midnight Madness screening of “The Substance,” I knew I was in for a bonkers ride. Enthusiastic reactions out of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival promised an experience like no other from the brilliant mind of writer/director Coralie Fargeat. Preliminary reactions aside, absolutely nothing could have prepared me for the waves of anger and sadness in Fargeat’s body horror extravaganza. Her bold, unsubtle filmmaking takes “The Substance” as far as needed to convey the reverberating messages at its core. The film has an unflinching look at the harmful beauty standards women face every day, whether auditioning for a role or simply walking down the street. Fargeat dissects the relentless male gaze through a brilliant concept, original in execution and all-too-familiar in its modern themes. The question of “Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself?” pulsates in the veins of the film’s protagonist, Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore). When Elisabeth gets fired after turning fifty, she spirals down a rabbit hole of self-hate, having measured so much of her value with the ruler of unattainable ”perfection.” The film gives Demi Moore the role of a lifetime, and she absolutely soars with the talent she always had. Moore’s tremendous performance conveys both the physical and emotional toll of her younger self, Sue (a wonderful Margaret Qualley), eating away at her. “The Substance” rages against the machine with vivid imagery, fully committed performances, and a blood-soaked finale that shocks and awes.
1. Challengers
Leave it to the great Luca Guadagnino to turn tennis matches into some of the most sensual and evocative pieces of storytelling this year. “Challengers” won my heart in the summertime, and my love for the film continued to grow in the thick of highly anticipated fall/winter releases. Within the first few minutes, Guadagnino makes his signature style known. He places you directly into the action, not only within the sport of tennis but also the intriguing dynamics bubbling under the surface of three intertwined characters. With Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’s score pulsating in the background, the introduction sets a hypnotic, energetic tone and never loses steam. Guadagnino’s intimate and loving direction is a smashing match for Justin Kuritzkes’s layered time-jumping screenplay. The pitch-perfect chemistry between Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist makes for an engaging relationship drama on and off the tennis court. Between the compelling performances and sleek visual language, the film hooks you onto its thrilling wavelength and leaves you hungry for more.
What do you think of my list? Please let us know in the comments section below or on our X account. Check out Matt Neglia’s top 10 list here, Josh Parham’s list here, Dan Bayer’s list here, and Cody Derricks’s list here. Be on the lookout for more of our Top 10’s for 2024 as we say goodbye to the year. Our annual NBP Film Awards and the NBP Film Community Awards will come in a few days to allow you all some time to see those final 2024 awards season contenders and vote on what you thought was the best 2024 had to offer.