Since 2017, I’ve been curating an annual list of the best movies of the year, and 2024 is no exception! This week on my podcast, So Many Sequels, we revealed our picks for the top 5 films of 2024. You can check out the full episode on YouTube, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform. Don’t miss it if you’re looking for a fun discussion about the top movies of 2024!

My list is a little different from what we landed on for the show. I watched 57 movies released in 2024, and my full ranked list is available to view on Letterboxd. Add me! Okay, here we go:

10. I Saw The TV Glow

“Do you like girls?”
“I don’t know.”
“Do you like boys?”
“I think I just like TV shows.”

I caught I Saw The TV Glow back in May. While it may not reflect my own life experiences, I felt a strong connection to it and often find myself thinking about the soft, purple glow of the TV screen. I recommend going into this movie without reading much analysis beforehand.

9. Anora

I am not usually a huge fan of Sean Baker’s work. For every The Florida Project, there’s a Red Rocket. His use of sex in film has sometimes irked me, so I wasn’t sure what to expect going into Anora. However, this story—a sex worker’s Cinderella tale with the adult son of a Russian oligarch—surprised me. Mikey Madison delivers an incredibly energetic performance that brings the movie to life.

8. Civil War

Civil War takes a hard look at a modern-day United States through the lens of photojournalists on the ground. It’s easily one of the most thoughout-provoking films of 2024. This movie isn’t about political parties or real-life figures—it’s a cautionary tale. Leave your partisanship at the door and see the movie for what it is: a warning. I don’t think we’re listening.

7. A Real Pain

Two cousins embark on a tour across Poland as a final farewell to their grandmother. This movie is equal parts funny, painful, and deeply authentic.

Kieran Culkin is fantastic—charming, passionate, cringey, huggable, and punchable all at once. Jesse Eisenberg, as actor, writer, and director, captures a relatable neuroticism that impressed me throughout.

6. Dune: Part 2

A proper film. I didn’t know Hollywood could still produce big-budget sci-fi like this. Dune: Part 2 is immersive, epic, wondrous, and deeply emotional. This is what modern Star Wars should be.

5. My Old Ass

“I think I’m your one less lonely girl.”

I cried—very, very hard. This movie follows a young woman on the cusp of leaving home who takes a mushroom trip that introduces her to her future self. Together, they learn about themselves in ways that are deeply human. Without giving too much away, sometimes you don’t realize how little you know about yourself until you take a long, hard look in the mirror. It’s not surprise this made it into my top 5 movies of 2024.

4. Nosferatu

I was fully engrossed in the gothic world Eggers created here. The vibes were immaculate, the atmosphere chilling. Bill Skarsgård is unrecognizable, both in appearance and voice, and Lily-Rose Depp redeems herself after the universally panned HBO show The Idol. Vampires rule and Nosferatu is among the best horror films of 2024.

3. Wicked

Wicked became a cultural phenomenon all over again this year. There’s little I can say about it that hasn’t already been said. I caught it in theaters twice and loved it each time. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are as perfectly cast as Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel were in the original Broadway run. It’s a triumph for musicals and family films at the box office.

2. Challengers

This movie had me on the edge of my seat, jaw dropped on multiple occasions, in awe of what I was seeing. Incredible performances. Incredible score. I could tell you what it’s about, but you’re better off just turning it on and seeing for yourself.

1. The Substance

Bonkers horror. The Substance is the most intense and grotesque body horror film I’ve ever seen—and I loved it. The movie explores our sick obsession with staying young and beautiful, exposing its disgusting underbelly. Demi Moore stars as a woman who signs up for a secret experimental drug that promises to make her “best self” for a week at a time. The problem? The more you take, the more you have to give.

That’s a Wrap on 2024

2024 was a honestly a phenomenal year for cinema. Be sure to check out my full rankings on Letterboxd and tune in to So Many Sequels for more movie discussions. What were your favorite movies of 2024? Let me know in the comments or on social media!