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With 2024 sitting firmly in the rear view mirror, I decided to take a look back on some of my favourites movies of 2024. I had a bit harder of a time this year than usual remember the ones that stood out as it seemed to be more of a year of understated films. Although despite that taking a look back I was easily able to pick out 10 films that I can look back on fondly and remember the little something special they made me feel about cinema.

Anora

First up on the list due to it releasing at the tail end of 2024 and being fresh in my mind is Anora, directed by Sean Baker. It was a movie that wasn’t really on my radar at all (like many movies this year to be completely honest) but after hearing some good reviews and some keep googling it seemed to be very well received. Reading the summary and looking at the movie poster I didn’t really know what to expect or if it would even really even be for me. Portrayed as a modern day cinderella story, although the film did catch me off guard, it definitely matched up with its summary but ended up having a lot more depth and was more of a rollercoaster than I could have expected.

The movies opening act did start to feel a bit redundant and felt to lean into the “sex sells” mentality. But once the movie starts to open up and the real plots kicks in it was a very enjoyable and at times downright hilarious ride at times. I do feel the movie probably could have been a bit more condensed with certain parts feeling that went a bit long in the tooth. Overall though I think a lot of the scenes were very well directed and written with the movie hitting an emotional note when it counted.

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Perfect Days

The only movie on this list that I watched this year (2025), which I am so grateful I did. The Japanese film Perfect Days directed by Wim Wenders, may be my favourite movie on this top ten list. It was a serenely calm and at many times a contemplative experience. I think in many ways I enjoy this film more because it took me back to my early twenties when I spent time in Japan. It’s a film that isn’t trying to overtly to be cinematic, with more so taking the approach of creating what feels like a lived experience. You follow a man and his life as a toilet cleaner and all the small and minor details that come with that, you feel apart of it.

It’s a film with no plot that still has so much to say, or in some cases not say, but simply let the viewer feel. The main character only has a handful of lines throughout the film, with most of them coming towards to second half. Although it never takes away from the experience, if anything only adds to it. This film truly is a testament to what movies can be, how they can make us peel behind our own skin or the skin of another. How they can leave us with thoughts about our own lives even days or weeks later. This movie definitely changed me in some way, even if just a little.

Oh and remember… Next time is next time, now is now.

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Challengers

Director Luca Guadagnino burst onto the scene with his 2017 film ‘Call Me By Your Name’. Although here in this film he shows his versatility and his unique flair. A film that pounds and pulses you through its two hour runtime, aptly accompanied by its dance techno anthem produced by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. We follow the story of two young tennis players and the proceeding years of their lives, caught it was is essentially the classic love triangle.

The movies non-linear story telling was a perfect choice, as it adds tension and weight to the characters motivations and the overall plot. With sharp editing and visuals in the tennis match scenes, longer more thoughtful drawn out moments for the scenes handle personal relationships, this film really did feel like a unique and highly entertaining experience.

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Transformers One

The original Michael Bay Transformers film is still one of my favourite movies to this day and was a big part of my childhood. Although Im not always the biggest fan of animated movies and I put off watching Transformers One for a while. That being said when I did get around to watching it (mainly due to having nothing else better to watch), I ended up enjoying it WAY more than I thought I would.

The film was a throughly entertaining experience for me, with its beautiful animation and set pieces, decent humour and overall really solid plot and characters. It’s a film you can watch with your kids but also really enjoy yourself as an adult. Exploring the origins of the transformers I had grown to love in the original Michael Bay films was satisfying and the creators really brought it home in the final act of the film to give an incredibly satisfying climax. If you are a fan of the Michael Bay films and if they were a part of your childhood like they were mine, do yourself a favour and watch this movie.

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Flow

The beauty of film is that it doesn't have to be one thing. It doesn't need to have an engaging plot or dialogue that carries a strong message, it doesn't need big action sequences or perfect cinematography. Sometimes all you need is to just feel something. The Latvian made animated film Flow does just that, with its story of a solitary cat faces a sudden crisis.

Instead of taking the full anthropomorphization route most animated movies take with animals, Flow holds back. The animals don't speak and there is no dialogue at all, creating what feels like a form of meditation through film. The animals still have a intelligence level above reality, but it is struck with a perfect balance. Each animal feels created to mirror a human archetype, so despite the animals not being able to speak we can still find something to relate to.

The animation is stunning in some scenes, but the unconventional art style may take some getting to use to as it is not nearly as clean as other animated films, but that in it self adds to its beauty and uniqueness. Flow carries a simple message, that despite our differences we need to come together, especially in times of adversity. Through this we can build bonds that last a lifetime.

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Alien Romulus

This film seemed to be pretty divisive among viewers, you either loved it or didn’t really care for it too much. Well, being a huge fan of the Alien franchise with the original 1979 film being one of my favourite films of all time, I can safely say I was in the “loved it” camp. To me this felt like a true successor to the original, developed in a modern context. There the assemble cast, a single spaceship, the race against time and all the xenomorph and face hugger goodness just turned up to 11.

I did really love this film, the visuals were gorgeous, the sense of terror was apt and the feeling generally just felt right. That being said it is a far from perfect film. My main criticism coming from it trying to stand on the shoulders of the original Alien too much. Of course fans love callbacks and returning characters, but it seemed like director and writer Fede Alvarez tried to take this a bit too far. I think I just wish this film tried to stand on its own two feet more, since so much of what it did, it did fantastically.

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Civil War

I’ve been a pretty big fan of Alex Garland since his directorial debut with Ex Machina. Although I feel he has failed to reach the heights of that movie with his following films (his TV show ‘Devs’ is fantastic though), the dystopian thriller Civil War felt like a return to form. I have found that Garland likes to use exaggerated fiction, by that I mean fiction that is trying to exaggerate reality to serve a point or message. With Civil War he takes the reality and ethics and impact of war photography and stands it in front of what could be considered an exaggerated reality of an American civil war as its background.

The move doesn’t shy away from being confronting, showing the nature of humans when laws fail, while also creating interesting juxtapositions with out of place music over certain scenes and a thinly veiled level of satire. It is an overall well written, directed and acted film. With a poignant ending it is a film that is clearly trying to serve a message on multiple fronts, which just gives you that much more to think about.

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Red Rooms

I know I said this list is in no particular order, although if it was this movie would be sitting right around the top. The French film directed by the up and coming Pascal Plante, is one that made me feel strange for liking so much due to its overall very dark subject matter. It employs the show don’t tell method of filmmaking, where most things will not be perfectly spelt out for you. its gonna take some staring at the details and even then you will still be left with a sense of “well what the hell just happened”, but not in a bad way.

I can’t remember a film that I have watched recently that delved into the psyche and mental state of the main character with such subtlety and nuance like this film. But not just delving into, allowing the viewer to make their own impression based on what has been shown. Which in turn, the conclusion you come to may very well say something about yourself. This movie also creep me out in a way I don’t think I’ve ever been creeped out in while watching a movie before. In a film about obsession, mental health and true crime there’s a lot to love here and a lot it leaves you to think about.

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Late Night With The Devil

I have always been a sucker for films that take place in a single location and the sense of immersion it brings. Couple this with that location being a 1977 late night show (something I always used to stay up late and watch as a kid) and at least for me, you have a great recipe. The film doubles down on this immersion with one of its two story telling techniques, being shot as if you are a viewing an actual late night show from home. It breaks from this view during what would be commercial breaks and follows the characters around the set.

The entire runtime of the film mirrors the runtime of the late night show and tackles what some may say a very overused trope in horror, the possessed child. Although with this film we get to see that trope through a new and interesting light. What would happen if you interview a girl possessed by the devil himself on live tv? That’s what we get to find out. David Dastmalchian gives a great performance as the shows host, perfectly capturing the camp of the time. Despite not being perfect, overall this felt like a fresh and interesting movie that’s keeps you immersed the whole way through.

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The Bikeriders

The underrated writer/director Jeff Nichols has always been one of my favourite filmmakers. His style often revolves around the more mundane moments of life and the people that fill them. The Bikeriders follows on along this trend, although with careful detail to the people, places and interactions. Based on the book of the same name, the film follows a midwestern motorcycle club filled by outsiders in the 1960's. There are no high thrills, action or plot twists in this story, just interesting people living in a time and place.

Now i cant say i know what the American Midwest was like in the 60's, but Nichols crafts such a beautiful and what feels like authentic setting, that you feel like you do. The story and characters spend most of their time at the clubhouse, which in many ways feels like a character of its own. The club and the clubhouse changes and shifts throughout the film, just like a protagonist on some deep character arc. It's beliefs, nature and personality mould around the people that inhabit it and shows us how the simple ideals of freedom can be taken too far.

10 Favourite Films of 2024

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