Yes, I know. You don’t have to tell me. It has become an unintentional running gag for me now. Whenever I start working on my top 10 films of the year lists, I always try to plan and release it around at least February, so that way it gives me time to check out more films that could potentially be on it. It starts off that way but suddenly, months go by and I don’t unveil it until halfway during the following year. Again, that’s due to things that have come up in both my personal and work life. Despite that, it’s a tradition for me to do it and release it when it is ready. Now that it has finally arrived, what did I think of 2024 as a whole in cinema? I have to say, I thought it was a truly great year. When I was putting this list together, based on both my top 10 and honourble mentions, I realised that it was a lot of terrific stuf that came out in 2024. There were a lot of films that I loved and I think that this final list is quite representive of ones that I felt were the very best. Now before I go into my final official top 10 films of 2024 list, here are all my honourable mentions from the year. Enjoy!
NOTE: I’ve only included films that were officially released theatrically, on home media or on streaming platforms in either Australia, the U.K. or the U.S. during 2024. However some films that I saw at film festivals in 2023 won’t be included if they haven’t had a official release in either of those three countries during that year.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS (In Alphabetical Order):
Abigail
All We Imagine As Light
Bad Boys: Ride Or Die
Better Man
The Bikeriders
Birdeater
Black Box Diaries
Challengers
Civil War
A Different Man
Didi
Dune: Part Two
Flow
The Girl With The Needle
Gladiator II
Goodbye, Julia
He Ain’t Heavy
Here
I’m Still Here
Inside Out 2
It’s What’s Inside
Love Lies Bleeding
Kneecap
Memoirs Of A Snail
No Other Land
MadS
Megalopolis
Nosferatu
A Quiet Place: Day One
Robot Dreams
The Seed Of The Sacred Fig
The Substance
Thelma
Trap
The Wild Robot
…And now onto my official top 10 films of 2024…
10. SING SING
(Dir: Greg Kwedar)
“I have to admit. I was expecting this to be your standard prison film, but what you get is something much more. This was absolutely wonderful, captivating and heartfelt fact-based drama that has a truly terrific turns from Colman Domingo and the supporting cast. Plus, it’s uses story to dive into themes of redemption, creativity and the prison system.”
9. I SAW THE TV GLOW
(Dir: Jane Schoenbrun)
“Wow. Just wow. Jane Schoenbrun‘s sophomore effort is a truly superb, hypnotic, enthralling, trippy and emotional horror/drama that approaches its transgender/non-binary themes in an allegorical way quite brilliantly. Both Justice Smith & Jack Haven are excellent in the lead roles.”
8. JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX
(Dir: Todd Phillips)
“While I can see why this has been hated but for me personally, I absolutely loved it. This is one of the most captivating, unique, daring, provocative and boldest comic books sequels that I’ve seen. Plus, it seems to be deliberately made as a critique of both the first film’s fans and detractors.”
7. WICKED
(Dir: John M. Chu)
“I’m not gonna lie. I absolutely loved this. Sure it only covers half of the stage production’s story, this was an absolutely fantastic musical that’s vibrate, heartfelt, entertaining, thematically rich and has wonderful songs. Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande were both terrific.”
6. FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA
(Dir: George Miller)
“While it isn’t on the same level as FURY ROAD was, this was still an absolutely fantastic, action-packed and riveting prequel/spin-off from George Miller that’s a different beast all together by adding even more layers to the character of “Furiosa” than the previous entry.”
5. IN A VIOLENT NATURE
(Dir: Chris Nash)
“I can definitely see why this didn’t work for people but I have to be honest, I absolutely loved it for all those reasons why it’s despised. It’s a truly absorbing, subversive, darkly humorous and uniquely made slasher film that had me transfixed throughout.”
4. NICKEL BOYS
(Dir: RaMell Ross)
“Wow. Just wow. While director RaMell Ross could have taken a traditional straight-forward approach when it came his narrative film debut, instead he crafts it in a far more unique and avant-garde way that really elevates it into something more breathtaking. It’s a brilliantly engrossing, moving, dreamlike, profound and superbly acted film.”
3. A REAL PAIN
(Dir: Jesse Eisenberg)
“I wasn’t sure what to expect from Jesse Eisenberg’s second effort as a director, but I came away absolutely loving it. This was a simple but truly excellent and personal comedy/drama that’s brilliantly crafted when it comes to its characters and themes. As great as Eisenberg is here, Kieran Culkin steals the film with his amazing award-winning turn.”
2. THE PEOPLE’S JOKER
(Dir: Vera Drew)
“Incredible. While it could’ve easily have been a simple low budget parody film on the 2019 film JOKER, co-writer/director/star Vera Drew’s exceptional debut uses the DC universe iconography as a backdrop to tell a personal trans coming-of-age story. It’s audacious, bold and heartfelt. It won’t be for everyone, but I absolutely and surprisingly loved it.”
1. CONCLAVE
(Dir: Edward Berger)
“Who would have fought that a film centred around picking a new Pope would be one of the most captivating and riviting films that were released in 2024. Edward Berger’s latest is a brilliantly crafted drama/thriller that hooks you from start to finish with its complexity, intriguing mystery, timely political/social themes, examination of different expects of faith/religion and thought-provoking themes. Plus, it taps into a universal truth that can unite anyone who matter what back you’re from: our love of rumours and gossip. Ralph Fiennes was excellent in the lead role and the supporting were equally great as well. No joke. This definitely the best film I saw from 2024.”
Well, there you have it. Those are my official top 10 films of 2024. Agree or disagree? Let your voices be heard in the comments below or on the official Super Network Facebook page!
Article written by Bede Jermyn
The Super Network 