Top 10 Films | 2024

Once again, we have assembled some friends and colleagues to contribute lists of their favorite feature films of the year. Films from prior to this year were eligible for inclusion if they were released formally in the United States in 2024. 2024’s festival and international films were likewise eligible, even if US distribution is still pending.

See our favorite Dark Side of the Screen picks here.

Wesley Caldwell — Filmmaker

Honorable Mentions: None

#10. HERETIC

#9. CIVIL WAR

#8. JUROR #2

#7. ANORA

#6. CONCLAVE

#5. THE SUBSTANCE

#4. NOSFERATU

#3. I SAW THE TV GLOW

#2. IN A VIOLENT NATURE

#1. CHALLENGERS

Favorite On-Screen Moments:
ANORA: Ani meets the Russians
CHALLENGERS: Patrick gives Art a sign
HERETIC: Mr. Reed talks Monopoly
I SAW THE TV GLOW: anytime we’re shown THE PINK OPAQUE
IN A VIOLENT NATURE: yoga
LONGLEGS: the opening scene
MADAME WEB: Cassie teaches the girls CPR
NOSFERATU: Thomas meets The Count
REBEL RIDGE: the police discover Terry’s background as he engages the sheriff
THE SUBSTANCE: the title card announces Elizabeth + Sue’s final form

*****

Dave Cowden — Marvel Studios

Honorable Mention: the WICKED soundtrack

#10. LOVE LIES BLEEDING

#9. THE APPRENTICE

#8. ANORA

#7. HIS THREE DAUGHTERS

#6. CHALLENGERS

#5. A DIFFERENT MAN

#4. CIVIL WAR

#3. PERFECT DAYS

#2. A REAL PAIN

#1. SING SING

Favorite On-Screen Moments:
ANORA: Toros leaves work after receiving text message updates
THE APPRENTICE: the visual language shifts to reflect Trump’s most contemporary timeline of the 1980s, giving the photography an effect of slight distortion, flat colors, and noticeable scan lines
THE BRUTALIST: László and Atilla debut the library
CIVIL WAR: the group gets separated in rural Pennsylvania and discover a troubling gravesite
EMILIA PÉREZ: Rita performs “El Mal” at the benefit dinner
HIS THREE DAUGHTERS: Vincent reflects in the living room
NOSFERATU: Orlok is framed in the hallway with his dogs at his side
PERFECT DAYS: Hirayama picks up cassettes at the record shop
A REAL PAIN: David opens up at dinner while Benji takes a restroom break
SING SING: Clarence submits for Hamlet

*****

Carly Curry — MTV/Showtime

Honorable Mentions: CHALLENGERS + its soundtrack / FLOW / THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG / BEATLES ’64 / KINDS OF KINDNESS

#10. OMAR AND CEDRIC: IF THIS EVER GETS WEIRD [tie]

#10. A COMPLETE UNKNOWN [tie]

#9. THE SUBSTANCE

#8. KNEECAP

#7. THE WILD ROBOT

#6. THE BRUTALIST

#5. ANORA

#4. NICKEL BOYS

#3. CONCLAVE

#2. DUNE: PART TWO

#1. DIG XX

Favorite On-Screen Moments:
BABYGIRL: the rave scene
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN: the live performance of “It Ain’t Me Babe”
CONCLAVE: “Is this what we’re reduced to? To vote for the least-worst option?”
DUNE: PART TWO: Paul rides his first worm
THE FALL GUY: the helicopter jump/stunt
KILL: 45 minutes into the film, Amrit passes out to reveal the title card
A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE: the cat survives
WICKED: Ariana Grande’s rendition of “Popular”
THE WILD ROBOT: “I do not have the programming to be a mother.” / “No one does. We just make it up.”

*****

Mike Dillon — Cal State Fullerton

Honorable Mentions: ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT / THE BEAST / CLOSE YOUR EYES / THE FEELING THAT THE TIME FOR DOING SOMETHING HAS PASSED / HORIZON: AN AMERICAN SAGA — CHAPTER 1 / the QUEER soundtrack

#10. SHE IS CONANN

#9. ONE PERCENTER

#8. ALL YOUR FACES

#7. MOLLI AND MAX IN THE FUTURE

#6. GREEN BORDER

#5. HIT MAN

#4. RED ROOMS

#3. DO NOT EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM THE END OF THE WORLD

#2. HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS

# 1. HARD TRUTHS

Favorite On-Screen Moments:
ARCADIAN: the long arm stretch
FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA: the War Rig battle
LA COCINA: the rush hour oner/the flooded kitchen
LITTLE DEATH: Greg feels the love
PARALLEL: the “What am I like in your world?” conversation
THE ROOM NEXT DOOR: “Music de-centers me.”
SAYARA: Sayara challenges 5 guys to a fight
THE SUBSTANCE: Elizabeth fixes (and re-fixes) her makeup
TERRESTRIAL VERSES: the screenwriter’s meeting
WALLACE & GROMIT: VENGEANCE MOST FOWL: Norbot summons an army

*****

Julie Garcés — Film Editor

Honorable Mentions: BIRD / CHALLENGERS / LONGLEGS / MAXXXINE / NOSFERATU

#10. CONCLAVE

#9. THE BRUTALIST

#8. THE APPRENTICE

#7. KNEECAP

#6. A DIFFERENT MAN

#5. IO CAPITANO

#4. STRANGE DARLING

#3. THE SUBSTANCE

#2. ANORA

#1. LA CHIMERA

Favorite On-Screen Moments:
ANORA: Anora hangs on to Vanya as if he were a life preserver while he plays video games
THE APPRENTICE: the 8mm opening credit sequence of ’77 NYC images set to “Anti Anti Anti”
LA CHIMERA: the ray of light at the end
A DIFFERENT MAN: Edward explores NYC after the change
IO CAPITANO: Seydou takes the helm despite being afraid
I SAW THE TV GLOW: Owen and Maddy ponder their sexuality
IT ENDS WITH US: Allysa meets Lily Bloom for the first time
JOKER: FOLIE À DUEX: the epic oner through Gotham City
MAXXXINE: Maxine confronts her stalker with a set of keys
THE SUBSTANCE: a breast “popping out” onstage

*****

Teddi Gaydos — Research Results

Honorable Mentions: ARZÉ / JUROR #2 / MEMOIR OF A SNAIL / SEPTEMBER 5 / STOPPING THE STEAL / YOU’LL NEVER FIND ME

#10. STRANGE DARLING

#9. FREE TIME

#8. KNEECAP

#7. HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS

#6. A DIFFERENT MAN

#5. THE HYPNOSIS

#4. YANNICK

#3. REBEL RIDGE

#2. NIGHT CALL

#1. HIS THREE DAUGHTERS

Favorite On-Screen Moments:
CIVIL WAR: the Jesse Plemons scene
DOUBLE BLIND: Marcus begins sleepwalking
FRANKIE FREAKO: “Shabba-doo!”
HERETIC: Sister Barnes’ escape through the model house leads to the study
HIS THREE DAUGHTERS: Rachel’s boyfriend confronts her sisters
LAKE GEORGE: “Don’t blame your limp dick on my dog!”
MY OLD ASS: Elliott has a heart-to-heart with her mom
NATIONAL ANTHEM: “Oh no, this wind is so transphobic!”
THE SHADOW STRAYS: the final fight

*****

Daniel Love — Sony Home Entertainment

Honorable Mentions: ALIEN: ROMULUS / THE BRUTALIST / CIVIL WAR / THE FALL GUY / FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA / I SAW THE TV GLOW / SATURDAY NIGHT

#10. INSIDE OUT 2

#9. CHALLENGERS

#8. THE OUTRUN

#7. CONCLAVE

#6. NOSFERATU

#5. LOVE LIES BLEEDING

#4. ANORA

#3. DUNE: PART TWO

#2. SING SING

#1. THE SUBSTANCE [tie]

#1. PROBLEMISTA [tie]

Favorite On-Screen Moments:
ANORA: “You don’t have cash? Let’s go to the ATM.”
THE BRUTALIST: “I find our conversations… intellectually stimulating.”
DUNE: PART TWO: a Shai-Hulud worm-posse transports the Fremen to the south
THE FALL GUY: the 8.5-point car roll
INSIDE OUT 2: Riley’s anxiety attack
MONKEY MAN: The Kid finishes stabbing a man’s neck… with a knife in the mouth
NOSFERATU: Orlok doesn’t wear pajamas
PROBLEMISTA: Alejandro lies about knowing FilmMaker Pro
SATURDAY NIGHT: David Tebet’s elevator assessment
THE SUBSTANCE: Elizabeth’s cooking scene

*****

Henry McComas — Filmmaker

Honorable Mentions: BAD RIVER / SLEEP / DADDY’S HEAD

#10. THE FIRST OMEN

#9. ANORA

#8. STRANGE DARLING

#7. IN A VIOLENT NATURE

#6. BLINK TWICE

#5. HERETIC

#4. SING SING

#3. SMILE 2

#2. ODDITY

#1. I SAW THE TV GLOW

Favorite On-Screen Moments:
CHALLENGERS: the final tennis match
THE FIRST OMEN: Margaret’s possession
FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA: the War Rig battle
HERETIC: the Monopoly monologue
I SAW THE TV GLOW: the PETE & PETE cameo
IMMACULATE: the *smashing* finale
IN A VIOLENT NATURE: the yoga kill
ODDITY: the tent scare
SMILE 2: the cold open/oner
THE SUBSTANCE: the grossest part of the film… Dennis Quaid eating shrimp 🦐

*****

Cary Murnion — Filmmaker

Honorable Mentions: THE BEEKEEPER / THE FIRST OMEN / FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA / SKYWALKERS: A LOVE STORY / UNDER PARIS

#10. TERRIFER 3 [tie]

#10. FLOW [tie]

#9. BLACK DOG

#8. MEGALOPOLIS

#7. BABYGIRL

#6. ALIEN: ROMULUS

#5. THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG

#4. CHALLENGERS

#3. DO NOT EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM THE END OF THE WORLD

#2. THE SUBSTANCE

#1. LOVES LIES BLEEDING

Favorite On-Screen Moments:
ALIEN: ROMULUS: the floating acid blood
BABYGIRL: the dingy hotel room/eating a piece of candy
CHALLENGERS: eating churros
DO NOT EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM THE END OF THE WORLD: the final shot
FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA: the quarry battle
HIT MAN: the “argument” using the Notes app
SMILE 2: crawling inside the mouth
TERRIFIER 3: the chainsaw in the shower
THE SUBSTANCE: the first body transfer
VENOM: THE LAST DANCE: Venom and Eddie say goodbye

*****

Aaron Neuwirth — Out Now with Aaron and Abe

Honorable Mentions: CHALLENGERS / DAUGHTERS / A DIFFERENT MAN / I SAW THE TV GLOW / THE LAST STOP IN YUMA COUNTY / LONGLEGS / LOVE LIES BLEEDING / PROBLEMISTA / RIDDLE OF FIRE / THE SUBSTANCE

#10. REBEL RIDGE

#9. RED ROOMS

#8. ANORA

#7. GHOSTLIGHT

#6. DUNE: PART TWO

#5. SING SING

#4. FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA

#3. THE BRUTALIST

#2. HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS

#1. NICKEL BOYS

Favorite On-Screen Moments:
BLITZ: Café de Paris
CHALLENGERS: Game. Set. Match. Ending.
DUNE: PART TWO: “Grandfather… You die like an animal.”
FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA: the assault on the War Rig
HIT MAN: a firey, wirey, fake interrogation
HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS: the trial of Jean Kayak
I SAW THE TV GLOW: “Starburned and Unkissed”/hallway walk
THE PIANO LESSON: “Berta, Berta”
REBEL RIDGE: “I think he’s on the Wikipedia page.”
WICKED: defying gravity