What Were the Best Films of 2024?

by James Wallace Harris, 12/28/24

Before the pandemic, I went to the movies at least once a week, sometimes twice. Since then, I haven’t been back to a movie theater, which has made me out of touch with the world of movies. For the last couple of years when the Oscar nominations were announced I would start streaming all the movies from the top categories. I have a 65-inch TV and haven’t missed going to the theater.

The 2025 Oscar nominations for 2024 films won’t be announced until January 17th, but I’ve got a head start on finding the best 2024 films by reading or watching Best of the Year lists, word of mouth, or streaming services promotions. So far I’ve seen:

  • Drive Away Dolls (B+)
  • Civil War (B-)
  • Thelma (A+)
  • Challengers (B)
  • Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (B)
  • Conclave (A-)
  • Juror #2 (B+)
  • Nightbitch (B-)
  • My Old Ass (A+)

However, these films have not gone over well with my wife Susan. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve developed a problem where I have difficulty watching a movie alone. I need Susan or a friend to watch with me, otherwise, I just get restless and switch to watching YouTube videos. That means I have to pick movies that others want to watch.

Susan has been very nice trying several 2024 movies, but I can tell she hasn’t liked any of them except Thelma and My Old Ass. Last night I had an epiphany about what Susan likes to watch. She loves upbeat movies with likable characters, the kind she can watch over and over. Susan rewatches TV shows and movies that are old favorites as she sews.

That has conditioned her to prefer certain kinds of shows and made it hard for her to try new shows. We each have our mental problems with watching TV.

After reading a bunch of Best of the Year lists, I want to see the following movies, but for the most part, I don’t think Susan will like any of them, except maybe The Wild Robot or maybe, Saturday Night. If you know of any 2024 feel-good films, leave a comment. I prefer edgier, unique films. But then, I only will watch them once. I usually don’t like sequels or movie franchises.

  • The Substance
  • Anora
  • Dune Part 2
  • Blitz
  • Close Your Eyes
  • The Brutalist
  • The Order
  • Small Things Like These
  • His Three Daughters
  • Hit Man
  • The Room Next Door
  • About Dry Grasses
  • Emilia Perez
  • Sing Sing
  • A Complete Unknown
  • A Real Pain
  • Babygirl
  • The Wild Robot
  • Saturday Night
  • I’m Still Here
  • The Piano Lesson
  • The Seed of the Sacred Fig
  • All We Imagined As Light
  • September 5
  • Nickel Boys
  • Wicked

And if you’ve seen 2024 films you loved that aren’t on these two lists that I would admire, please recommend them in the comments.

What’s funny is the films I’d rate the highest are the ones I would rewatch. And except for Thelma, I wouldn’t watch any of the 2024 films we’ve seen again.

Because of my attention affliction, I’m becoming out of touch with current pop culture. It’s weird needing company to watch television shows and movies. It makes me love books and music more.

I like talking with people about the books I read, and I have several friends who read the same kind of books I do, so I’m lucky there. But I don’t know anyone who listens to music anymore.

People talk about how social media bonds young people today. Well, when I was growing up, pop culture bonded our generation. However, that has come apart. Like I said, I used to go to the movies once or twice a week. That was because I went with friends who wanted to see the films. Maybe that’s why I can’t watch movies on TV by myself, that I’ve always considered them a social thing. Ditto for TV shows. Growing up, I watched TV with family or friends, and the fun thing about TV was talking about shows with kids at school.

JWH

2024 Best Movies of the Year Lists:

5 thoughts on “What Were the Best Films of 2024?”

  2. it occurs to me that i didn’t catch anything released in the past calendar year. all i saw in 35mm were a couple of vintage pieces by david cronenberg: CRASH last winter, and EXISTENZ (eXistenZ to be exact); being an auterist at heart, it’s discouraging how many of the directors and screenwriters i’ve followed over the years have died or retired. just another reminder of how quickly time fades away and how fast i’m aging.

    Reply

  3. Nice post. Re your need of a video entertainment viewing partner: it’s widely accepted that engagement enhances memory encoding.

    You’ve obviously recognised the psycholohical benefit to having a movie companion. Most people attend plays or the cinema with others.

    enjoy it – and keep enjoying it

    and keep posting

    Reply

Leave a reply to T.E.Mark - Writer Cancel reply