![The Top 10 Movies Of 2024 [THS Best Of 2024]](https://thathashtagshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Top-10-Movies-Of-2024-1280x640.png)
If you ask anyone at the end of the year, they might tell you “oh well this year wasn’t very good for movies”, but as they think more about it, the picture starts to crystalize. That year-end total of great movies ticks up and by the end of the experiment, you’ve got yourself a great year for movies. 2024 is no different. It hasn’t just been a top end of movies that are excellent, there are plenty of great movies across the board, on streaming, in theaters, and even some straight-to-video. The top spot will always be the hardest part. I went to film school, there are film school best of the year movies and then there are best of the year movies. It might sound pretentious, but it’s not. Remember back to 2022, you might get ten different answers as to what the top movie was, but everyone remembers Top Gun: Maverick.
This year started off strong with plenty of great films in the early months and then as we got closer to the dawn of 2025, the pace really picked up. So, if you disagree with this list, make your own, or just leave a comment, either one works. Let’s get to some of the Honorable Mentions first though.
Honorable Mentions Of 2024
The honorable mentions highlight some of the films from genres that don’t normally get awards accolades or attention from critics. Reviews to each movie are linked in the title above the pictures.
Terrifier 3
If you end up revitalizing interest in a horror movie genre that has morphed and changed since the very first slasher, you’re doing something right. Terrifier 3 might not make the LA Times best of list, but it sure does get a mention here. Brutal kills, lots of blood, and a villain in Art the Clown that will actually give you nightmares, Terrifier 3 deserves plenty of mention as one of the best films of 2024.
Late Night With The Devil
Late Night With The Devil is a shining example of how getting together a magnificent performer like David Dastmalchian and a subject material that hits a nostalgic nerve. The movie tells the real-time story of a ’70s late night talkshow gone wrong with supernatural forces and demonic rituals.
We don’t get many films that stick to their guns when it comes to building tension and allowing a film just to breathe. Let the tension build, take some off, let it build again, and then hammer the audience with shocking imagery. That shocking imagery isn’t for cheap scares, though. The best thing that Late Night With The Devil does is make you think a cheap jump scare is coming, and it never does. The terror is all in that sense of dread.
Armed with a future all-time performance from David Dastmalchian, Late Night With The Devil is exquisite.
Deadpool & Wolverine
Marvel needed to knock this one out of the park as its only movie coming out in 2024. They delivered a nostalgia-filled thrill ride of a movie. One that was surprisingly sentimental with plenty of action to boot. Even the most hateful of moviegoers had to admit that this one took up a place in the pop culture lexicon and was one of the best comic-book movies of the year.
Frankie Freako
2024 was a hell of a year for a lot of people. Sometimes, you just need something joyous and nostalgic in your life. Frankie Freako might not look like your normal horror movie, but for fans of Full Moon Studios and Psycho Goreman, you’ll be in for a treat.
Frankie Freako is an absolutely wild time at the movies. A burst of joy, partying, and one of the most fun movies of the year. The nostalgic feeling that permeates throughout, evoking those ’90s adventure/horror movies, is joyous. This feels like a Disney Channel movie of the week on steroids with somewhat satanic puppets that like to party. The ending follows a similarly hilariously wholesome routine, but could throw off some people with its “twist”. It doesn’t change anything, but it builds up the tension of Kristina coming home to a destroyed house really well. You’ll be humming along to the party song from the movie for a long time after the credits roll.
Others Just Missing The Cut: Anora, The Substance, Emilia Perez, Longlegs, Nickel Boys, Sing Sing, Conclave, I Saw The TV Glow, Love Lies Bleeding, Civil War, Alien: Romulus, Destroy All Neighbors, Street Trash, Transformers One, The Wild Robot
10. The Fall Guy
Action movies and stuntmen finally got their due in 2024. After a long push for awards consideration and acknowledgment of the art of stunts, we got the absolutely excellent The Fall Guy from David Leitch. It’s not just an actioner, even though the action on display is some of the best of the year, it’s also an excellent romantic comedy. It does what movies do best, and get you in for one genre, and hits you with tropes of another.
For anyone who’s been down on their luck, who’s been kicked around by people in power, who’s had a horrific accident, who’s worked for a gigantic douchebag, The Fall Guy is for you. It’s the perfect blend of action and rom-com with more than a dash of high-octane stunts that should satisfy almost any audience member. Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt have immaculate chemistry in their roles that helps catapult The Fall Guy into the upper pantheon of action films.
9. Hit Man
Sometimes life gives you a better story than any writer could think of (a guy working as a fake hitman that gets roped up in a real hit plot). Hit Man is one of those cases where you think that you’re getting one story, and it totally evolves into another one, only to end up back where you began. Richard Linklater and Glen Powell teamed up for this one that is quite simply, electric. Powell proves that he’s not just a handsome face with some of the best on-screen chemistry you’ll see all year with Adria Arjona.
Normally, a movie that is this different between the first and second halves would be a bit messy; but in Hit Man, it just works. Glen Powell is pure magic once again in his role. He and Adria Arjona overcome any sort of questionable morality questions with just straight-up movie charisma. Hit Man is an exceptional “real-life” story that brings a giddy level of fun to our movie screens.
8. Rebel Ridge
The best kind of movies are the ones you don’t expect anything out of. Rebel Ridge came out on Netflix earlier in the year and quite frankly, I didn’t know much about it. After I watched it though, I needed to scream from the rooftops about it. Green Room director/writer Jeremy Saulnier smashes here with a tight script and magnificent directing.
I finished watching Rebel Ridge and immediately wanted to watch the entire thing again, searching for the best shots and replaying the action sequences. It is one of those movies that you’ll want to run outside, jump on a rooftop, and scream for anyone to hear that they should watch it. Between the skeevy and almost skin-crawling villains of the film and Aaron Pierre morphing into the next gargantuan action movie star, Rebel Ridge is magnificent. Combining elements across genres but always holding audiences to the simmering fire, you need to watch this movie.
7. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
George Miller doesn’t miss. Prequels are dangerous territory because the audience knows what’s going to happen, but Furiosa from Mad Max: Fury Road is such an electric character, that she needed more backstory. Anya Taylor-Joy steps right into the character and exudes badass energy. Chris Hemsworth is as dastardly as they come as Dementus. This one has some of the best action sequences of the year.
The push-pull dynamic between Dementus and Furiosa is at the center. It’s Dementus’ wild chase to get what he wants and can’t have. It’s Furiosa’s quest to return to the Green Place and keep the seed of life alive, metaphorically and literally. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is a spectacle. It’s a vengeance-filled tale with explosive set pieces frenetically taking us through the evolution of Furiosa as a character. This is truly an exquisite time at the movies.
6. Wicked
Yes, the expectations for Wicked were sky high after the love and affection for the stage musical. Jon M. Chu and Co. took on the impossible task of telling the story before the Wizard of Oz. Here’s what our own Sarah Carey had to say about the film in her review.
Wicked is a giant undertaking and every person in every department delivers. The costumes are exquisite. Every detail, including a handful of what seemed to be easter eggs, was not overlooked. The set design is truly exceptional, and every editorial choice is intentional and impactful. Even the lighting tells its own story.
5. September 5
September 5 is the story of how ABC Sports had to cover the hostage situation at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Tim Fehlbaum’s direction here gives the events a frenetic feeling. If you’ve ever followed along with a live event like this, you know just what the pace feels like. Every atom in your body is vibrating and any update brings more tension. It keeps you on the edge of your seat during the whole film. I found myself leaning forward in my chair at several points in the film. Part of the appeal is that the performances feel genuine and raw. Peter Sarsgaard’s performance is cold and calculated, like you would imagine. John Magaro and Ben Chaplin are the backbone of the film though. Magaro is on a different level here, providing one of the best performances of the year as Geoffrey Mason. Leonie Benesch is the secret weapon of the entire film though, without her performance, the emotional weight of the German side of things would not hit as hard.
September 5 shows off the tension between ratings and integrity alongside a thrilling historical event that unfolds as you watch. The performances in the film are what makes it so special. It weaves a chilling, topical story that throws back to an era when integrity and truth were the most important things. Peter Sarsgaard and John Magaro are masterful in a movie that succeeds in every facet.
4. Nosferatu
Robert Eggers took on the task of remaking and reshaping the classic film Nosferatu. Good thing he did, because it’s a hauntingly beautiful film that captures a sense of dread, while still giving some of the best visuals of the year.
The ending shot of Nosferatu is one of the most striking and powerful images on film in recent memory. The entire ending of the film is tragic but still keeps up a beautiful vision of one of the most iconic and famous movie monsters ever. There’s so much under the surface of this film that’ll be debated and bandied about by film fans, but through the entire runtime, Nosferatu keeps up an unparalleled excellence. There’s plenty of scares, monsters (man and vampires), and commentary here on all things in our world, but Eggers steers the ship while still remaining true to the original source material. It’s one of the best examples of how a remake in the right hands can be more than just a soulless cash grab.
3. The Brutalist
Yes, The Brutalist is 3 hours and 35 minutes long. That runtime should not dissuade you from watching it though. It’s an American epic in every sense of the word, going through the journey of immigrants to this country, and showing their actual experiences. Nothing about The Brutalist is sugar-coated. “The American Dream” is a complicated myth that The Brutalist exploits and opens for all to see. It tells the story of László Tóth and his experiences in America after WWII. He meets a mysterious benefactor, Harrison Van Buren, that changes his life for the better and for the worst
Between the smashing performances, the soaring epic score, and every other bit of The Brutalist, there’s an epic movie fitting of that marathon runtime. There’s so much commentary to unpack throughout the film. It’s about art, life, family, wealth, power, control, the American Dream, making art, and so much more. Even the portions of the film where László has to deal with Van Buren’s cronies, including his absolutely squirm-inducing son, there’s commentary there about what it means to make your art, your own. Don’t let the runtime dissuade you from experiencing this masterwork by Brady Corbet. It’s heartbreaking, but you’ll be left thinking about The Brutalist for long after the film stops rolling.
2. Gladiator II
The final two movies on the list are both spectacles in their own way. One is a spectacle of science-fiction and one is a spectacle that shows us a bit of what our own lives are about. Is it a stretch to say that Gladiator II is showing us what the excess and debauchery of modern life can lead to? I would say no. It also has one of the most magnificent and massive performances of the year from Denzel Washington. He levitates above the rest of the cast, which includes some heavyweight performances from Joseph Quinn, Pedro Pascal, and Paul Mescal.
In a year with plenty of excellent films, Gladiator II stands with little rivals. Between the otherwordly performances and thrilling plot, there’s a lesson for everyone to learn about the excess of an empire led by shortsighted, maniacal people. The quest for power never stops for certain men and Gladiator II shows the horrors and triumph of it all.
1. Dune: Part Two
Movies are supposed to be spectacles. They’re supposed to show you worlds that you’ve never seen before and transport audiences to places they’ve never been. Denis Villeneuve showed us the deserts of Arrakis and all its violent glory. He also gave us the best movie of the year.
Dune: Part Two is a spectacle among all spectacles. It is a blockbuster film that also has enthralling drama. It’s one of the finest adaptations in movie history. This is a film that will satisfy almost any moviegoer that might make you think a bit about what power does to people. There are parallels to our own lives and political machinations here. It improves upon the first film in every way and gives us one of the finest science fiction adaptations ever.
It’s a masterclass in how to maximize every performance, every inch of space, and every grain of spice/sand.
So, those are the Top 10 Best Movies Of 2024, including some honorable mentions. What’s the top of your list? Let us know in the comments.
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