2024 in Film Review: The Rise of the Underground or the Bane of the Unappreciated?
Dune
Doing a roundup of my favorite 2024 films felt difficult —where do I start? How do I go about it when there are so many great films in 2024? Unlike 2023, when the best films were largely dominated by blockbusters, allowing everyone to soliloquize about how great Oppenheimer and Cillian Murphy were and call it a day, 2024 felt different. Maybe I should start there, what happened to our blockbusters?
A quick run-through of 2024’s blockbusters surprised me; there were actually over 50 of them, though some inclusions were a bit of a stretch (Argylle, really?). Yet, despite their numbers, many blockbusters were either overlooked, middling, or criminally neglected during awards season. There was no Barbenheimer-level phenomenon, no singular film that resonated equally with critics and audiences. Perhaps one or the other, but not both. And that was surprising, considering I believe the blockbuster of the year was Dune: Part Two.
Dune: Part Two. A Masterpiece Denied
Dune
The sequel to a well-received first installment, Dune: Part Two seemed poised to sweep technical awards and mount a serious challenge for Best Director (will the industry please forgive Denis Villeneuve for whatever he did to them?) and Best Picture. However, it quickly became apparent that this epic tale of Paul Atreides’ rise—the chosen one uniting the Fremen to battle House Harkonnen would be nowhere near awards success.
Determined not to repeat my regret of missing Oppenheimer in theaters, I made sure to experience Dune: Part Two on the big screen. It was visually breathtaking, bolstered by gripping performances from Timothée Chalamet (his best work of the year, in my opinion) and Austin Butler. Denis Villeneuve once again brought the pages of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel to life with masterful precision. I believe Dune: Part Two will age far better than its more decorated contemporaries.
The Best of the Rest: Challengers and Furiosa
Narrowly missing out on the top spot were two incredible films:
Challengers
Challengers
A romantic sports drama centered around a love triangle between three tennis players, Challengers was a visual and emotional spectacle. As a big tennis fan (or maybe a former big fan, now that the Big Three era has ended), I was blown away by how the sport was filmed. The match sequences were stunning.
Luca Guadagnino, in peak form, builds tension between the leads with a slow-burn intensity that erupts in the final moments. For me, Challengers was, at worst, a top 10 film of the year. I initially avoided it due to online discourse suggesting that eroticism overshadowed the narrative, but I was wrong. Guadagnino navigates themes of sexuality with the finesse of a filmmaker at the top of his game. Criminally underrated. A special shout-out to Zendaya and Josh O’Connor, who were both outstanding.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Furiosa
Anya Taylor-Joy’s Furiosa transforms from a naive child into a revenge-driven badass in a film that further proves George Miller can make Mad Max movies for eternity, and I’ll be there for every single one. Unlike Mad Max: Fury Road, where Furiosa stole the show, this was “The Chris Hemsworth Show”.
As Dementus, Hemsworth strikes the perfect balance between hilarious recklessness and unhinged brutality. He never veers into caricature or full-on villainy, instead toeing a fine line that keeps the audience on edge. Scene by scene, he shifts from darkly funny to outright terrifying—he was brilliant, and so was Furiosa.
Honorable Mentions
• Inside Out 2
• Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
• Alien: Romulus
Animation’s Banner Year
2024 was one of the strongest years for animation in recent memory, with banger after banger. I’m almost spoiled for choice when picking the best of the bunch (Flow, maybe?), so instead, I’ll highlight the one that truly flew under the radar.
Transformers One
Another Transformers movie? That was my initial reaction. But to my surprise, Transformers One turned out to be an incredibly fun ride. Yes, it follows a familiar formula, but it executes it so well that it’s hard to complain.
Special shout-out to Flow, Memoir of a Snail, The Wild Robot, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, and Inside Out 2—all part of an exceptional year for animation.
Drama: 2024’s Prizefighters
From explorations of aging and self-acceptance to character studies that delved into identity, drama in 2024 was stacked.
The Substance and The Last Showgirl
The substance
Both films tackled themes of aging and personal reinvention with fantastic lead performances—Demi Moore and Pamela Anderson were stellar. You can make an argument that the existence of ‘The Substance’ overshadowed ‘The Last Showgirl’ as it explored its themes more bombastically, especially with the final act feeling like a fever trip. The Last Showgirl was more understated and grounded in understanding how life can fly by when you place importance on a career at the expense of family.
Sebastian Stan’s 2024 Run
Sebastian Stan shined in A Different Man, which sensitively explored neurofibromatosis and the concept of self-acceptance. He also played the divisive Donald Trump in The Apprentice, which, despite controversy, featured an exceptional performance from Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn.
Nickel Boys: A Masterpiece Overlooked
'Nickel Boys' New York Film Festival opening night screening.
One of the year’s best films, Nickel Boys, dissected racial prejudice through a lens of youthful naivety. The storytelling was crushing and innovative. How this didn’t dominate awards season is beyond me. A lot of its divisiveness lies in the film’s point-of-view approach, which may have alienated some viewers, as well as the weight of its themes (even though much was toned down from the book).
Ramell Ross carefully restrains the film just enough for it to be deeply impactful without falling into the trope of Black suffering. Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor shines as Hattie, delivering a scene-stealing soliloquy at the very beginning of the film. With each sentence she utters, her palpable pain grips you—an outstanding, emotionally charged performance.
The Brutalist, Nickel Boys, Exhibiting Forgiveness, and The Hard Truths are Masterclasses in Performance
Some of the year’s best performances came from films that explored trauma through different perspectives. The Brutalist, Nickel Boys, Exhibiting Forgiveness, and The Hard Truths all delivered powerful, thought-provoking narratives. Most notably, Marie Jean-Baptista and André Holland gave performances that would have been my picks for Best Actress and Best Actor, respectively.
Biopics and Real-World Stories
• I’m Still Here – Featuring a career-best performance from Brazilian cinema royalty Fernanda Torres.
• A Complete Unknown – Timothée Chalamet’s sturdy portrayal of Bob Dylan.
• Maria – Angelina Jolie’s super underrated turn as Maria Callas.
• Anora – The rightful Best Picture winner, featuring Mikey Madison’s electric performance.
• A Real Pain – Kieran Culkin’s career renaissance is in full swing.
• Conclave – A gripping look at the politics of electing a new Pope, anchored by the always-brilliant Ralph Fiennes.
Conclusion: The Year of the Underground
2024 was a year of underground gems and stellar performances that, unfortunately, did not bask in the spotlight of glitzy awards campaigns. There were so many films I wish I could explore in greater detail, just to capture the magic of experiencing them in the moment.
I hope 2025 brings one major change—more recognition for independent and under-the-radar films. Greatness in cinema shouldn’t be dictated by distributors or marketing budgets; it should be about championing the art form itself.
Film has always been an essential part of my life, and 2024 gave me so much to feast on. For that, I’m forever grateful.
On to 2025!