Top 10 Movies of 2024 So Far

The new franchise wrapped perfectly with 2017’s “War for the Planet of the Apes,” but when the quality is this consistent, we’ll always welcome a little more. Enter “Kingdom,” a standalone sequel that takes place three centuries after Caesar’s death. Here, the roles are reversed, with apes having the ability to speak and enjoying the advent of civilization while humans have become mute and animalistic. This allows for a ton of fresh storytelling opportunities, which director Wes Ball takes full advantage of. Like all the best entries in the series, “Kingdom” is thoughtful and contemplative while proving to be an immeasurably good time at the movies.

Austin Butler’s stock just keeps going up. Here he plays Benny, a young member of a motorcycle club called the Vandals. The story is loosely based on real events, with the Vandals standing in for the Outlaws, the third-largest bike club in the world, and according to the Department of Justice, an organized crime syndicate. “The Bikeriders” provides a personal and intimate access into a world full of outsiders, humanizing its characters and its sometimes controversial way of life. With fantastic performances, a fun atmosphere, bloody violence, and razor-sharp filmmaking, “The Bikeriders” is the motorcycle movie that Martin Scorsese never made.

A24 just keeps on winning, offering yet another mesmerizing original film in a lineup full of them. “Love Lies Bleeding” is a noir thriller starring Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian as a lesbian couple who find themselves tangled in a bloody web of violence. It’s a totally bonkers movie, and intentionally so. Taking cues from provocative filmmakers like David Lynch and the Coen brothers, “Love Lies Bleeding” is fast, pulpy, and even a little dreamy. Stewart and O’Brian are captivating, and director Rose Glass crafts her film with great period detail, a relentless pace, and some garish violence. In an age of relative safety, it’s nice to see a movie with such fearless ambition.

After decades of acting, 94-year-old June Squibb made her first leading role in Josh Margolin’s “Thelma,” playing the titular grandma. Thelma Post is scammed out of $10,000. So, she and an old friend embark on a quest to get it back. This is the rare type of movie that has it all. It’s laugh-out-loud funny, tender, observational, and often genuinely exciting. It makes you chuckle before hitting you with a well-crafted action sequence or a compassionate remark about the elderly. It is a jack of all trades, a movie that sets out to entertain everyone and largely succeeds in doing so. Now go call your grandma.

Glen Powell is quickly proving himself a charismatic leading man and, apparently, a talented screenwriter. He co-wrote “Hit Man” with director Richard Linklater, and we hope they collaborate on many future projects because this was fantastically enjoyable. Loosely based on real events, Powell plays Gary Johnson, an undercover mole who poses as a professional hitman and begins falling for a client. The movie is a ton of fun and Powell is exceptional in the lead role, being both funny and unbelievably cool. We are watching the birth of a movie star before our very eyes, and “Hit Man” is his greatest work to date.

Back in 2020, Emma Stone launched the production company Fruit Tree with her husband Dave McCary. It has produced numerous films for A24, including what is arguably their greatest work yet, “I Saw the TV Glow.” This is the second film in director Jane Schoenbrun’s “Screen Trilogy,” following the indie darling “We’re All Going to the World’s Fair.” Equal parts horror and drama, the film welcomes analysis, offering profound themes on identity, belonging, and nostalgia while largely remaining dream-like and elusive. It’s also a filmmaking wonder, with glorious sound design, creative visuals, and an eye-popping color palette. Schoenbrun’s film is daring, challenging, and above all, completely engrossing.

Some people may have balked at the idea of “Inside Out 2.” But Pixar knocked it out of the park and was rewarded with their highest-grossing movie to date. Coming nearly ten years after the original, Riley is now entering high school and facing a slew of new emotions, including Envy, Fear, and Anxiety. Like all Pixar films, “Inside Out 2” is a visual splendor, containing some of the best animation we’ve ever seen. What makes the film pop are its smart observations about the human condition, peppering in some smart psychology to go with its heart and humor. And yes, it also saved the 2024 box office, becoming the fastest animated movie to pass $1 billion.

“Fury Road” was the surprise of 2015, earning widespread acclaim and introducing one of the best heroines of the 21st century. That was Imperator Furiosa, played by a tough and chilly Charlize Theron. This is her origin story, taking place roughly twenty years before the events of “Fury Road.” Like its predecessor, the movie is filled with wondrous action set pieces, reminding us of the transportive qualities of cinema and the seemingly limitless imagination of George Miller. It’s also the most humane “Mad Max” yet, with great thematic depth, rich storytelling, and a typically excellent performance from Anya Taylor-Joy, who allows us to glimpse the compassion under the steely reserve.

Sports movies are a dime a dozen, but none are quite like “Challengers.” This is a sports movie infused with the personality of Luca Guadagnino, the provocative filmmaker behind films like “Suspiria” and “Call Me by Your Name.” Zendaya stars as Tashi Duncan, a tennis coach caught in a love triangle between her husband and ex-boyfriend, both of whom are facing each other at the ATP Challenger Tour. “Challengers” is far sexier than your average sports drama, filmed with an unrelenting sense of energy and passion by Guadagnino. With the help of some arresting performances and an oddly fun pop score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, it is never less than entertaining.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Monkey Man” (2024)
Dev Patel Shines In His Directorial Debut, Proving an Effective Action Filmmaker

“Late Night with the Devil” (2023)
And Just When We Thought the Possession Genre Was Dead & Played Out…

“A Quiet Place: Day One” (2024)
A Great Premise & a Terrific Cast Results in What Could Be the Best “Quiet Place” Yet

“Problemista” (2023)
Fruit Tree Continues Their Hot Streak with a Wonderfully Surreal Film from Julio Torres

“Longlegs” (2024)
Thanks to Producer & Star Nicolas Cage, We Have a New Serial Killer Classic On Our Hands

Well, we can safely say that this is Zendaya’s year. She also plays Chani in “Dune: Part Two,” the warrior love interest of exiled Duke Paul Atreides. The first “Dune” was a solidly-crafted piece of science fiction, if a bit underdeveloped being, you know, half of a story. But the whole picture comes together with “Part Two,” which many have called one of the best sci-fi movies ever made. This is a magnificent adaptation of Frank Herbert’s masterpiece, filled with outstanding performances, challenging themes, epic storytelling, and some of the best visual effects ever put to screen. This is sure to sweep the technical awards at this year’s Oscars, and it reminds us of what cinema can be at its most ambitious.

Are there any movies we left off this list? Let us know in the comments below!