Movie Talk: Top Ten Favorite Films of 2024

​Hello, everyone!  Welcome to another episode of moviemanMDG's "Movie Talk", where I talk about everything film-related.  Another year is drawing to a close, which means it's time for one of my favorite things of the year. That's right, folks. It's time for another end-of-the-year list courtesy of yours truly.  I know I'm supposed to come up with something exciting to start this episode, but trust me.  When you've been writing top ten lists for almost ten years, you're bound to not worry about it and wing it anyway.  2024 offered many movies that attempted to revive the cinematic experience or divert audiences with their entertainment values.  Some films succeed in being overall great movies, while others fail to deliver more than what's on the covers.  There were also some surprises we didn't expect to be good but proved us otherwise, and some that failed to meet our high expectations because we kept setting ourselves up for disappointment.  For this episode, we're going to be focusing on the positives as I list the top ten movies that impressed me the most, whether they're for entertainment purposes, cinematic quality, thematic storytelling, or all of the above.  This year, I've seen plenty of movies I loved more than I thought I would, but this list is for the ten best films that remained in my head more than others.  As usual, I didn't have time to see all the movies I wanted to see before making this list, so don't be surprised if some of your personal favorites aren't included.  Sadly, that includes "The Brutalist", which is still playing in a few theaters.  But don't worry.  I'll get to that film soon enough.  Until then, we're sticking with the ones I already watched, with only ten of them worthy of being on my list.  That said, let's count down the best of the best as I present to you my top ten favorite films of 2024.

However, before I start the countdown, I want to do something different for my structure regarding this year's lists.  Throughout the past few years, I usually list the honorable mentions before announcing my number one pick.  This year, I decided to share them before I list off the top ten films instead.  It's not a permanent change but an experiment to see which structure suits me best.  Feel free to comment on which structure you prefer; I'll gladly take those to heart.  With that in mind, here's my pretty long list of honorable mentions that didn't make the cut.

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Honorable Mentions

​A delightfully creepy and diverting found-footage experience that utilized its genre elements to create a televised event worthy of its title.

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​A stylish and energetically engrossing tennis film that's both sexy and thrilling and showcases that even the sport's intense matches lie beyond the court.

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​An engagingly unnerving and deeply haunting crime thriller that relies on slow-burn chills and Nicholas Cage's unhinged performance to capture its nightmarish appearance.

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A twisty, intense, and stylishly lustrous thriller that refreshes the "cat-and-mouse" approach in more ways than one.

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​An entertaining, action-packed, and wholesome addition to the "Spy x Family" lore that accomplishes its mission to please fans and newcomers alike.  Even though it was released in Japan first last year, I'm counting it as a 2024 film.

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​A hilariously compelling and heartfelt examination of motherhood led by strong performances by Ilana Glazer and Michelle Buteau.

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​A gripping and disturbing portrayal of the horrors of war journalism that benefitted enormously from Alex Garland's vision and an attention-grabbing cast.

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​A consistently thrilling and white-knuckled Indian action thriller that's surprisingly emotional enough to carry this train ride's brutally chaotic mayhem.

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​A wildly violent and vastly entertaining trip through the nostalgic multiverse involving the two foul-mouthed heroes giving the MCU a much-needed boost in its longevity.

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​A well-crafted and invigorating slow-burn thriller with a fantastic cast, layered religious commentary, and sublime cinematography.

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​A refreshing and visually superb take on the documentary/biopic genre that pays tribute to Pharrell Williams's musical creativity.

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​Hugh Grant's against-type performance and unnerving subdued frights help elevate Scott Beck and Bryan Woods's haunting outlook on religious ideologies and beliefs.

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​A simplistic yet highly entertaining blend of comedy, action, and heart that features one of June Squibb's best performances in years.

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#10

My Old Ass

​I was initially hesitant about adding this film to my top ten list or having it as an honorable mention.  But after thinking it over as I formed my list, I figured it was just too good to be an honorable mention.  The film I'm referring to was "My Old Ass", Megan Park's second directorial effort that sounded like the title of a Seth Rogen-produced raunchy comedy at first.  While there was some profanity and sex involved, they're balanced perfectly well with a thoughtful and witty portrayal of self-identity and coming of age.  Maisy Stella and Aubrey Plaza were both terrific regarding their charismatic performances, and Park's direction and screenplay were excellent in revitalizing its familiar genre tropes.  It further showcased Megan Park as another new voice for teenage coming-of-age filmmaking, and I'm very curious to see what she's planning next.

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#9

Sing Sing

​If you want another reason to keep holding on to hope, look no further than my number nine pick of the year.  With the world being surrounded by hate, pain, and despair, "Sing Sing" could not have come at a better time.  More importantly, it was an expertly directed and genuinely heartfelt tribute to the Rehabilitation Through the Arts program that helped incarcerated men heal their souls through theatre arts.  I watched the film during one of the mystery movie events this year, and I was pretty disappointed it didn't gather as much attention as I thought it would.  Then again, it didn't expand to many theaters during its run, so that might've been the case.  Regardless, it was an incredible reflection of humanity and redemption powered by Colman Domingo's excellent performance and Greg Kwedar's sublime direction and screenplay.  I wasn't expecting to talk about this film, but after watching it, I'm glad I did.

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#8

​Wicked

​Whenever I don't have the time or money to attend a Broadway production, I usually wait until I see its film adaptation for a lower price.  Some succeeded in capturing the production's magic, while others didn't.  But in the end, it's the experience of witnessing these stories from Broadway for the first time that's truly magical, whether they're from the stage or on the big screen.  That's how I would describe my time watching my number eight pick: "Wicked".  Jon M. Chu returned to the musical genre with a visually breathtaking and narratively grand adaptation that paints a bigger picture of the two distinct witches from "The Wizard of Oz".  As someone who had only seen it for the first time, I was worried I wouldn't understand the prequel musical's appeal.  However, these worries disappeared like magic once I saw the craft, effort, and passion Jon M. Chu and the others put into the adaptation's first half.  Regarding its talented cast, Chu's direction, faithful screenplay, and beautiful production designs, "Wicked" defies its cinematic gravity in more ways than one and continues to prove Chu's impeccable ability to turn musical adaptations into cinematic gems.  

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#7

​Inside Out 2

​Pixar struck animation gold with its original film that literally hit us with the feels almost a decade ago, a much-needed victory for the animation studio after a few years of middling content.  "Inside Out" was not only my favorite film of 2015 but also one of my favorites of all time, animated or otherwise, due to its clever storytelling and thematic depth.  Nine years later, Pixar repeated history with its follow-up after suffering from Disney's direct-to-streaming strategy due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  "Inside Out 2" is another fantastic animated sequel that honors its predecessor's emotional core while expanding its world in an imaginative and thought-provoking way.  It fell a bit short of matching the emotional grandeur of the first film due to it following a few similar footsteps from that movie.  However, it's still a worthy continuation that I can relate to, mainly because of Anxiety, brilliantly voiced by Maya Hawke.  Regarding its terrific voice cast, well-balanced story, and incredible animation, "Inside Out 2" is another showcase of Pixar putting in as much effort in their sequels as they do with their original films.  I will gladly be seated for "Inside Out 3" if that happens.

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#6

​Anora

​Love can be pretty complicated, especially when working as a stripper.  One of them found that out the hard way, resulting in my number six pick, "Anora".  Writer/director Sean Baker brought audiences back into the marginalized world of immigrants and sex workers with a consistently alluring and smartly written anti-romance comedy packed with seductive lovemaking and infectious humor.  It can be pretty spicy with its sex scenes, but underneath its soft porn shenanigans lies a humane and tragic reflection of a doomed love caused by the characters' actions.  Mikey Madison delivered a terrific performance that combines seduction with humanity, and Sean Baker's vision offered a sense of pizzazz and zestfulness in his old-fashioned direction and screenplay.  It's another example of "don't judge a book by its provocative cover", in which it provides more than just two-and-a-half hours of characters "making love".

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#5

​Dune: Part Two

​Denis Villeneuve has repeatedly proven that he's the perfect filmmaker capable of balancing the sci-fi blockbuster aspect with cinematic quality filmmaking.  After all, his films like "Arrival" and "Blade Runner 2049" have appeared in almost every top ten list I made since I created my blog.  Unsurprisingly, 2024 is no different, thanks to my number five pick.  Denis Villeneuve's "Dune" was a grand cinematic experience that combined its epic scale with invigorating storytelling and incredible visuals.  "Dune: Part Two" upped the ante with all those elements, including the world-building.  The result is a massive improvement over its predecessor that brilliantly continues Paul Atreides's journey through its faithful screenplay.  The cast was stellar, especially Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya. Villeneuve's direction was immersive and awe-inspiring, and the visual effects impeccably captured the expansive world of Frank Herbert's novel.  It was simply an incredible experience that reminded me of the joy and magic of going to the cinema.  Bring on "Dune: Messiah"!   

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#4

​Nosferatu

​If there's one thing I admire about Robert Eggers, it's that he can make historical time periods seem more frightening compared to what you read in school books.  Of course, it's not without his unique filmmaking craft that makes the unnerving sequences hauntingly beautiful.  This was proven further in my number four pick, depicting the Dracula knock-off as a petrifying force capable of delighting and scaring new generations of vampire fans.  Robert Eggers's take on "Nosferatu" is another terrific display of the filmmaker's combination of discomforting aura and authentically gothic atmosphere.  Combine them with its compelling screenplay, creepily gorgeous cinematography, haunting score, and authentic production design, and you get the best horror film of 2024 in my eyes.  It may not be for everyone due to its runtime and disturbing imagery, but it was a magnificent portrayal of unspeakable terror that establishes Robert Eggers as one of the best directors working in Hollywood today. 

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#3

​The Substance

​When I watched "The Lighthouse", I didn't think I would ever recapture the same feeling I had after the movie ended.  The sense of unease and speechlessness from riding the roller coaster of terror and shock hadn't left my body for at least a few hours afterward.  A few movies attempted to match the impact of "The Lighthouse", but they didn't quite reach that level of discomfort I was hoping for.  That all changed when I saw "The Substance", and in seconds, that particular feeling came back.  "The Substance" is a miraculously energetic and terrifyingly beautiful experience that lives up to the gross and gonzo hype it promised from the marketing.  It's also balanced well with its cautionary tale of addiction and the temptation of regaining one's youth, led by career-best performances from Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley.  Its two-hour-plus runtime and body horror elements can be a bit much for some people, especially those with sensitive stomachs.  Regardless, it is one of the trippiest and wildly satisfying movies I've seen this decade due to Coralie Fargeat's sickly compelling presentation and screenplay, amazing practical effects, and Benjamin Stefanski's kinetic score.  Unless you're concerned about its side effects, this is one cinematic drug that you should experience once. 

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#2

​A Real Pain

​Coming in at number two is a film that's surprisingly less painful than the title suggests.  "A Real Pain" further displayed Jesse Eisenberg's talents as an actor and filmmaker with a relatable voice for his Jewish community.  After making a solid debut with "When You Finish Saving the World", Eisenberg returned to the director's chair stronger than ever with an incredibly moving and layered comedy-drama depicting the pain and sadness within the human connection.  Eisenberg did incredibly well in all three aspects: acting, directing, and writing.  However, Kieran Culkin was the clear winner, as his career-best performance as Benji made me hope he'll make it to the Oscars.  Combine them with its cinematography and engaging chemistry between the leads, and you get a family vacation that's worth taking.

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#1

​The Wild Robot

​Everyone has their preference regarding their favorite animated film of the year, and 2024 is no different.  Some would pick "Inside Out 2", others would choose "Flow", and there were even those who'd pick "Transformers One" as the best of the year.  I'm among the few who picked the latest feature from DreamWorks Animation, which provided the perfect programming to deliver something special for kids and adults.  In fact, I would even go as far as to pick it as my favorite film of the year, and that movie is "The Wild Robot".  DreamWorks Animation may have had an inconsistent filmography regarding the quality, but it's hard to ignore the ones that showcased the studio's commitment to delivering something extraordinary, like "Shrek", "How to Train Your Dragon", and even "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish".  "The Wild Robot" is another excellent example of this, delivering a remarkable blend of humor, heart, and visual majesty to depict a fun and emotional tale of motherhood, nature, and acceptance.  Writer/director Chris Sanders has truly created something that reminisces the good old days of animation, particularly ones from Disney and Studio Ghibli, where simplicity and beauty can go hand in hand with thematic layers and storytelling, delighting children and adults alike.  It had all the tools to survive the sea of animated content, such as the voice cast, uniquely stellar animation, Sanders' sublime direction and screenplay, and Kris Bowers' musical score.  As a result, "The Wild Robot" is not only the best animated film of 2024 but also my pick of the best film of the year.

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​There you have it, folks.  These are my top ten favorite movies of 2024.  Again, I haven't seen all of the films that came out before I made this list, including the ones slated for a wide expansion next year, but don't you worry.  I'll get to them when that time comes…hopefully.  Until then, I want to thank you all for joining me for another year of cinematic goodness and let's hope 2025 is just as good, if not better.  Let me know what your favorite movies are in the comments, and I'll see you all in the next "Movie Talk" episode, where I discuss my picks for the biggest losers of 2024.