Even with all the craziness in the world today, good cinema is still plentiful. I’m damn thankful for that! I saw a lot of great films in 2024, and after much consideration, have narrowed it down to my Top Ten. And believe me, there were plenty of entries I didn’t want to leave off, but unfortunately had to due to space constraints on this list. Without further ado, let’s get started!
10) WICKED
-I’m not a fan of musicals and wasn’t exactly looking forward to sitting through one for nearly three hours… but this production made a believer out of me, with some great performances, world building, and songs. Bring on PART TWO!
9) TRANSFORMERS ONE
-The TRANSFORMERS franchise has been done to death on the big screen… with mixed results. But Paramount pulled a complete and total surprise in 2024, giving us the best TRANSFORMERS movie ever made. Featuring heart, action, comedy, and most importantly, no annoying human characters!
8) NOSFERATU
-Robert Eggers remakes the silent vampire classic with his own signature touch. It’s more or less the movie you’d expect it to be, and that’s certainly not a bad thing. Visually stimulating and suspenseful throughout; you can’t take your eyes off this one!
7) DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE:
-A dismal 2023 of mediocre movies nearly killed the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But the Merc with a Mouth says “Superhero fatigue be damned!” This one proves that the Disney acquisition of 20th Century Fox didn’t kill Mr. Pool. He’s as violent, crude, and crass as ever. Featuring tons of easter eggs and Hugh Jackman returning to the role that made him, we desperately needed this movie.
6) MAXXXINE:
-A suspense thriller set in the 1980s, recapturing that era right down to all the music I know and love. This one’s thrilling but even just exciting to look at. It’s got style and substance in equal qualities and doesn’t disappoint in the least.
5) A COMPLETE UNKNOWN:
-James Mangold, the guy who brought us the legendary Johnny Cash biopic WALK THE LINE, tries his hand at Bob Dylan’s life. He mostly succeeds. Timothee Chalamet gives one of the best performances of his career as the artist once known as Zimmerman. The period detail and music are fantastic, and a supporting cast including Elle Fanning, Edward Norton, and Boyd Holbrook seals the deal.
4) HERETIC:
-Hugh Grant isn’t going away any time soon. And if he can keep giving performances like this one, that’s not a bad thing. One of his best film roles, making him into a truly unique antagonist. There’s also great female representation and Mormon representation in the movie as well, with the two young leads giving it their all.
3) CIVIL WAR:
-This one’s a work of fiction, but with the turmoil in the world these days, even within our own national boundaries, it hits close to home. I certainly hope this will remain fiction, but it’s shocking and hits hard. One of Kirsten Dunst’s best performance, and a great look at the titular conflict from a journalistic perspective.
2) SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY
-Everyone knows Christopher Reeve as “the guy who played Superman.” This fantastic doc gives the world the untold story, from his inner turmoil and family drama, to the aftermath of the accident that paralyzed him and nearly ended his life. Super in every sense, it’s a tearjerker and a must-see.
1) DUNE II
The first DUNE movie in this relaunched take on the classic sci-fi novel was a bit of a slow-moving slog that pretty much just served as exposition and setup for something grander. With the arrival of the second installment, that grander picture has arrived. Quite possibly the greatest sci-fi epic to hit the big screen that isn’t called STAR WARS, the all-star cast, gorgeous and exotic locales, and gripping and intense story and plot beats will entertain any audience.
And there you have it. 2024 is at a close, but the year left us with many solid cinematic exploits. What awaits in 2025? I don’t know, but I have no doubt there will be some more great times at the movies. Bring on the new year!