The post The 10 Best Movies of 2024 (So Far) appeared first on Consequence.
The best films of 2024 so far come at a complicated time for the film industry, which is still struggling to get back on its feet after the double strike of 2023 (not to mention all the other chaos of the past five years ). And honestly, that’s what makes them all such a welcome gift: There’s no better remedy for an existential crisis than watching a movie that not only entertains you – it transforms You.
Maybe that transformation will come in the form of a rush so intense you’ll have Reznor and Ross blaring as your training mix for weeks (we certainly will). Or it comes in the dazzling wonder of a sci-fi universe that gets richer with each new installment. Or maybe it comes from the simple celebration of human connection, whether it’s a decades-old friendship being put to the test, or finding yourself in a situation where being alone literally means death.
The mood surrounding major movie releases this spring isn’t exactly optimistic, given the weak box office performance of so many anticipated releases. But that only makes the ten films below feel even more important and necessary: we need the awe, the joy, the horror, and the power they brought into our lives. We always need movies.
— Liz Shannon Miller
Senior entertainment editor
Editor’s note: Check back for all our Semi-annual report 2024 coverage, including our list of the 30 best albums to date.
10. Babes
Babes (NEON)
Directed by: Pamela Adlon
Written by: Ilana Glazer, Josh Rabinowitz
Form: Ilana Glazer, Michelle Buteau, John Carroll Lynch, Oliver Platt, Sandra Bernhard, Stephan James, Hasan Minhaj
On the occasion of Pamela Adlon’s directorial debut, Babes has a deeply irreverent stance on “the miracle of childbirth,” but so much reverence for the importance of female friendship. Stars Ilana Glazer and Michelle Buteau play longtime BFFs whose deeply relatable struggles with parenthood nearly tear them apart; the catharsis that follows is both hilarious and heartwarming, with no shortage of poop jokes along the way. — LS Molenaar
09. Self-sustainability
Self-Reliance (Hulu)
Directed by: Jake Johnson
Written by: Jake Johnson
Form: Jake Johnson, Anna Kendrick, Natalie Morales, Andy Samberg, Mary Holland, Emily Hampshire, Christopher Lloyd
When speaking with Consequence about his directorial debut, Self-sustainabilityJake Johnson said his goal was to simply make “a fun 90-minute movie.” That may seem like a low bar, but if you had to set aside five hours to watch the two films at the top of this list, you’ll understand what Johnson means. So kudos to him for his success, also for writing and starring in a film that is a charming, thoughtful and light-hearted watch. Playfully tripping between crazy comedy and surprising thriller, with a fantastic supporting cast (Biff Wiff and Anna Kendrick really shine), Johnson proves that you can still pack a lot into a tight hour and a half. — Ben Kaye
08. Civil war
Civil War (A24)
Directed by: Alex Garland
Written by: Alex Garland
Form: Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Sonoya Mizuno, Nick Offerman
Alex Garland’s deliberately apolitical tale of an America torn from within is far from the easiest viewing experience this year, but it remains haunting and not just now because of that scene with Jesse Plemons. It’s a chilling reminder of how no society is safe from the horrors of war, and how a conflict like this could happen far more easily than we would ever like to believe. And it’s all anchored by a career-best performance from Kirsten Dunst. — LS Molenaar
07. Problemista
Problematic (A24)
Directed by: Julio Torres
Written by: Julio Torres
Form: Tilda Swinton, Julio Torres, RZA, Greta Lee, Catalina Saavedra, James Scully
This beautiful film from actor, writer and comedian Julio Torres (produced by Emma Stone, no less) is incredibly special. There is an accessibility to Problemista in the fact that it revolves around the pursuit of dreams, but feels unique in the way the story is told – especially the emphasis on the lack of safety net that often accompanies the immigrant experience. As soon as the viewer surrenders his view of Torres’ rules of reality, with all the humor, hope and sadness that entails, Problemista comes fully to life. — Maria Siroky
06. The autumn man
The Autumn Man (universal)
Directed by: David Leitch
Written by: Drew Pearce
Form: Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham, Teresa Palmer, Stephanie Hsu, Winston Duke
It’s a damn shame that The autumn man didn’t find a huge audience upon release, as there isn’t a film this year that captures the pure, unhinged joy we get from watching a great action scene, as well as the craft behind that movie magic. Ryan Gosling as the titular stuntman and Emily Blunt as the director he loves make for a great on-screen combination, and director David Leitch delivers set piece after set piece that shows, rather than tells, why exactly we love it so much on these sequences. And there is a very good dog! Try to see this in theaters if you still have the chance. — LS Molenaar
05. Love lies bleeding
Love lies bleeding (A24)
Directed by: Pink glass
Written by: Rose glass, Weronika Tofilska
Form: Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian, Jena Malone, Anna Baryshnikov, Dave Franco, Ed Harris
Every choice Kristen Stewart makes these days, when it comes to the roles she takes on, feels powerful and purposeful. Her Sundance hit Love lies bleeding is no exception, a wild one tour de force by Saint Maud director Rose Glass – the surreal dark fantasy also features an incredible performance from Katy O’Brian as an aspiring bodybuilder whose relationship with gym manager Lou (Stewart) becomes complicated thanks to Lou’s criminal father (Ed Harris, with a mullet for the ages). You won’t believe where this one goes, and you’ll never forget its defining moments. — LS Molenaar
04. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (Warner Bros.)
Directed by: George Miller
Written by: George Miller, Nico Lathouris
Form: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Alyla Browne, Lachy Hulme, Charlee Fraser
To compare Furiosa to a movie that many people might agree is one of the best action movies ever made, period, it just feels really unfair on some level. It’s also not the right way to think about this at all Furieweg prequel, because it feels essential and necessary thanks to the way its development happened simultaneously Furieweg. To tell a story that takes place over decades instead of years in this new chapter of his defining franchise, director George Miller brings so many magic tricks to the screen… and yes, Dementus, he has what it takes to pull it off to make it epic. — LS Molenaar
03. I saw the TV glow
I saw the TV glow (A24)
Directed by: Jane Schoenbrun
Written by: Jane Schoenbrun
Form: Justice Smith, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Ian Foreman, Helena Howard, Fred Durst, Danielle Deadwyler, Amber Benson
by Jane Schoenbrun I saw the TV glow is beautifully unnerving; the cinematography is beautiful and highly stylized, the acting is intense and cryptic, and the themes are steeped in both nostalgic pleasure and deeply disturbing dysphoria. Together, the Buffy the Vampire SlayerThe combination of an aesthetic and subtextual allegory of suppressed identity makes for a film that burrows under your skin and leaves its mark on viewers long after they have left the world of the world. Pink opaque, regardless of their relationship to gender or sexuality. — Jonah Krueger
02. Dune: part two
Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros.)
Directed by: Dennis Villeneuve
Written by: Denis Villeneuve, Jon Spaihts
Form: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken, Léa Seydoux, Stellan Skarsgård, Charlotte Rampling, Javier Bardem
Vocation Dune: part two the The empire strikes back of our time may be an exaggeration, but perhaps not. The second part of Denis Villeneuve’s stunning, epic version of Frank Herbert’s science fiction classic is star-studded, emotionally gripping and an overwhelming success, both artistically and commercially. Complete with captivating performances and an already iconic score, everything points to it Dune: part two becoming a universally beloved classic on par with the greatest space operas around. — J. Krueger
01. Challengers
Challengers (MGM)
Directed by: Luca Guadagnino
Written by: Justin Kuritzkes
Form: Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, Mike Faist
The truth is, Challengers simply has it all: an incredible score, wildly bold and captivating cinematography, impeccable direction from Luca Guadagnino, Mike Faist in an upside-down hat, and an absolutely delightful mess between our three main characters. Challengers is a sports film in the sense that it is not about tennis at all; it’s about power and control. It’s fun, sexy, and incredibly rewarding upon rewatch, and Zendaya is clearly a star of the era; Josh O’Connor completely disappears into the role of Patrick. While the film is really great overall, it’s especially hard to come up with a recent movie ending that feels so satisfying and so earned. This one will go down in the history books. — M. Siroky
The 10 Best Movies of 2024 (So Far)
Consequence staff
popular posts
Subscribe to Consequence’s email digests to get the latest music, film, and television news, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more delivered straight to your inbox.
