If 2023 was a standout year for animation fans, 2024 was an even better one for horror acolytes. From slashers to aliens to… Well, whatever the Hell happened in the last act of my number four pick, horror hounds have eaten really, really well. Other genres weren’t far behind though, as you’ll see a few scattered throughout this list, but horror was really killing it (not sorry) these past twelve months.
Without further ado, here are my favorite films of 2024:
Honorable Mention: The Fall Guy
I am devastated; even after his absurdly great turn as Ken in last year’s Barbie, the living meme that is Ryan Gosling has somehow returned to being one of the most underappreciated comedic actors currently working. Sure, The Fall Guy has a story you’ve seen before, but it’s just so entertaining thanks to its energetic sense of fun and charming cast (which also includes Emily Blunt and Aaron Taylor-Johnson) that a familiar narrative really doesn’t matter. The film also serves as celebration of all the unsung heroes of filmmaking and has some of the best set pieces of the year. It’s a damn shame that a movie like this wasn’t a box-office success because big-budget comedy is clearly dying out and I’m pretty worried that we won’t start missing movies like The Fall Guy until it’s far too late.
Number 10: Maxxine
The concluding chapter to Ti West’s X trilogy is a gory, unpredictable send up of 80’s slashers and allows Mia Goth to give yet another performance that reminds us why she’s a force to be reckoned with (SHE’S A STAR). West’s knowledge of the genre and talent ensures that you’re never quite at ease when watching and for a third time Goth is so good that I was glued to the screen the entire movie, even during it’s over the top, unflinchingly gruesome parts. A24 took a huge risk by doubling down with this franchise (the second entry, Pearl was filmed before the first film, X even hit theaters and Maxxine was announced after Pearl’s credits) but it paid off. As someone who has seen countless horror films, believe me when I say this: Maxxine cements the X trilogy as the best in all of horror cinema.
Number 9: Wicked (Part One)
I am not a musical guy. I’m not sure why, but I end up struggling to get invested in or care about the vast majority of the ones I see. Wicked (Part One) was not one of those. As someone who hadn’t seen any version of it on stage or heard any of the numbers, I was blown away by Jon M. Chu’s cinematic take. It took a bit of time for it to really grow on me, but once it did I was hooked. I’m far the first person to sing (heh) the praises of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, but there were very few on-screen duos throughout 2024 that I enjoyed as much as them. And as someone who loves The Wizard of Oz book and movie, seeing the world on-screen yet again was just delightful. It’s colorful, full of character, but never takes away from the emotional tale set within it.
Number 8: Inside Out 2
Okay, let me just get this out of the way: the first Inside Out is one of my favorite movies ever, and the sequel doesn’t quite hit the same highs. However, it’s still a genuinely great film that expands upon the first in more than a few ways; there’s even more “world” building within the mind of Riley and the new, adolescent-focused emotions bring even more charm to the colorful cast. Amy Poehler’s wonderful Joy is still one of the film’s emotional leads, struggling to work with her new coworkers, particularly the overwhelming force that is Maya Hawke’s Anxiety. I remember the skepticism I felt upon the original announcement of Inside Out 2, but once I knew Anxiety would be in play I went “oh, this’ll be great.” I’m happy to report, I was right.
And for those of you who have only seen it once: no, the Pouchy stuff doesn’t feel any less weird on rewatches.
Number 7: Heretic
Hi, I’m Brother Benjamin. Do you have a moment to talk about our horror and terror, Hugh Grant?
Seriously though, I love how the rom-com icon has gradually become one of the most entertaining bad guy actors over the past few years with films like The Gentleman and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Heretic features the latest and greatest villainous performance from Grant so far and he seems to be having an absolute blast with it. That Bridget Jones/Music & Lyrics charm is twisted into a devilish glee and makes for some of the most compelling dialogue delivery of the year. Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East are all kinds of great too as their patience and poker faces are tested before their faith and lives in their host’s attempt to divine “the one true religion.” Here’s hoping this is only the beginning of Hugh Grant-led horror flicks, because I’d gladly watch a bunch more of them.
Number 6: Deadpool & Wolverine
Deadpool & Wolverine is many things; the title characters’ introduction into the MCU; another creative (and messy) trip through multiverse; a bro-oad trip comedy with two hysterical; a new entry on my list of all-timer soundtracks: most importantly, it’s a love letter to the early 2000’s superheroes flicks – good and bad – that helped get the genre to where it is now. As you’d expect from a Deadpool story, it dunks on some of Fox’s biggest whiffs, but still appreciates them. The film as a whole is a consistently funny, slightly emotional affair, something both Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman are able to sell with their raw talent and adamantium-strong chemistry. Be it a guffawing-inducing gag or emotional backstory beat, the duo rarely ever misses the mark throughout the Deadpool & Wolverine. I’m not sure what’s next for Truthful Timmy the Merc with the Mouth, but he’s got an extremely tough act to follow whenever he reemerges in the MCU.
Number 5: Civil War
Few films in the past few years have been as uncomfortably topical and powerful as Alex Garland’s dystopian thriller, Civil War. It’s a film that doesn’t take a political stance, but shows the horror of a divided country tearing itself apart in ways that feel all too believable. Civil War also highlights the importance of the people who document events like these through the lens of Kirsten Dunst’s jaded photojournalist. She is disturbingly good in the lead role and her crew (including Wagner Moura, Stephen McKinley and Cailee Spaeny) are excellent across the board. It’s an intense watch; sometimes quietly letting you stew in the suffering of those on screen, sometimes throwing you into the chaos of a sudden firefight with storms of bullets and bombs going off. Then there’s the scene where Jesse Plemons rolls in, which is easily the scariest thing I’ve seen all year and nearly rivals the unforgettable bear encounter in Garland’s underappreciated gem, Annihilation. I’m glad that after the misfire that was Men, the mind behind Ex Machina and Devs has returned to top form, reminding audiences that he’s one of the most talented filmmakers working today.
Number 4: The Substance
The Cronebergs better stay on their toes because there’s a new contender to the throne of body horror royalty and she isn’t fucking around. Coralie Fargeat’s satire of beauty standards is both genuinely haunting and downright comical thanks to some of the most unhinged ideas and disgusting visuals I’ve seen since The Fly. Sex appeal is weaponized against audiences and Hollywood in this tale of an “aging” starlet who resorts to desperate measures in an effort to stay “beautiful” and relevant. It’s as tragic as it is nasty, never losing sight of its humanity or powerful message despite how insane it gets. Demi Moore deserves all the awards in a role that I imagine most actors of her generation would do everything in their power to avoid and the completely on board Margaret Qualley matches Moore’s intensity as the other half of her coin beat for beat. While The Substance isn’t for the squeamish, I cannot recommend it enough to those who think they can handle it. I would also suggest watching this one with as big a group as possible because watching the last half hour in a packed theater was an all-time moviegoing highlight for me.
Number 3: Longlegs
While I don’t agree with Oz Perkins’ thoughts on the X trilogy or modern horror cinema as a whole, there’s no denying his latest film is one of the best the genre has seen in years. Reminiscent of classic horror-adjacent thrillers like Silence of the Lambs and Se7en but forging its own, fucked up identity, Longlegs is a moody crime caper that’s laced with a plentiful amount of outright terrifying moments that often caught me off guard. The excellent pair of leads (Maika Monroe and Blair Underwood) fit perfectly into the bleak, unsettling world crafted by Perkins as they try to catch a twisted serial killer. Oh, and that serial killer is brought to life by a profoundly creepy performance from Nicolas Cage. Alicia Witt also briefly appears in the film, and knocks it out of the park with the limited time she’s given. Thanks to the outstanding work from the cast, a constant atmosphere of unease, dread and Andrés Arochi’s inspired cinematography Longlegs is a beast of a movie; one that’ll worm its way inside your head, under your skin and stay for there for quite a long while after watching it.
Number 2: Alien: Romulus
My initial take on Alien: Romulus was that it was just a (terrific) remix of past Alien films, but after a rewatch I realized it’s more than that. Sure, Romulus has some ideas and story beats that feel inspired by previous franchise entries or other sci-fi horror classics, but the ways it reintroduces, tweaks or evolves them into something fresh and frightening is nothing short of spectacular. Fede Alvarez’s creativity and emphasis on practical effects give the film plenty of unique, memorable scenarios that constantly kept me on the edge of my seat. My favorite of them all puts gravity controls into play and is among the very best scenes in the decades-spanning series. Oh, and the final fifteen minutes are truly, wonderfully weird, harkening back to one of the previous movies’ lowest moments while turning it into a shocking franchise highlight. And enduring it all are a solid-to-great supporting cast led by Cailee Spaeny’s Rain – the best Alien protagonist since Ripley – and David Jonsson’s Andy – an android who lives up to the legacy of Ash, Bishop and David. With all said and done, Alien: Romulus is the best Alien since Aliens.
Number 1: Nosferatu
Robert Eggers’ take on the 1922 not-quite-legally-distinct Dracula adaptation is an intoxicating nightmare and one the filmmaker’s best works to date. Bill Skarsgard’s performance, naturally altered voice and prosthetics make his Count Orlok one of the creepiest movie monsters in decades but that’s just the start. The dialogue and work from the rest of the cast build Orlok up as not just an undead creature, but an unfathomably powerful force of nature. Lily-Rose Depp is brilliant as a more nuanced version of Ellen Hutter than her 1922 counterpart, and the young actor fully embraces the role no matter how bizarre it gets. Nicholas Hoult is phenomenal too, portraying a man unknowingly sent to make a deal with the devil and then struggling to save his beloved. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson and Willem Dafoe round out the cast, each selling the terror of their plight as well. Jarin Blaschke’s cinematography also deserves a shout-out for making the film feel like a waking dream, so surreal and really, truly scary when it wants to be. I could go on and on with my praise but I don’t know if my words can fully explain the experience that is Nosferatu, so I’ll sign off with this: it’s my favorite film of the year and one of the best horror flicks of the 2020’s.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have tickets for a second showing.
And those were my favorite of 2024! If you liked what you read you can follow me on Twitter, Letterboxd or bookmark my author page to see what I write next. Until next time, remember: the best seats are in the Middle of the Row!
Middle of the Row 