As we hit the midpoint of the year, several films stand out. Many of the movies below have garnered awards and all have earned high praise and ratings from critics. Here is our guide to the top 20 films of 2024 so far.
20. La Chimera
The critics hail La Chimera, directed by Alice Rochrwacher, as a marvelous and magical tale. Everyone has their own Chimera, something they try to achieve but never manage to find. It centers around the band of tombaroli, thieves of ancient grave goods, and archaeological wonders. The film stars Josh O’Connor and Isabella Rossellini.
19. Música
Writer, director, and star Rudy Mancuso makes wondrous use of magical realism to elevate Música to a higher plane beyond the expected in a coming-of-age love story. It’s based on Mancuso’s journey as an aspiring creator with synesthesia. The film focuses on the pressures of love, family, and Brazilian culture in Newark, New Jersey.
18. Infested
Directed by Sébastien Vaniček, Infested effectively delivers the chills you’d expect in a creature feature. But this survival tale goes deeper than you’d expect in a film about deadly spiders. There’s sibling rivalry over the family inheritance and the protagonist has cut ties with his best friend. It stars Théo Christine, Sofia Lesaffre, and Jérôme Niel.
17. Love Lies Bleeding
Writer-director Rose Glass delivers a pulpish tale of lust and violence. Strong acting from Kristen Stewart, Anna Baryshnikov, and Dave Franco drives the film. Gym manager Lou falls for Jackie, a bodybuilder, who is passing through town en route to a competition in Las Vegas. Their love ignites violence, pulling them into the deep web of Lou’s criminal family.
16. Fitting In
Maddie Ziegler shines in this film, delivering a fearless and funny performance. Fitting In provocatively examines the assumptions and expectations surrounding modern femininity. This coming-of-age comedy follows 16-year-old Lindy who develops a reproductive condition. The unexpected diagnosis upends all her plans, her relationship with her mother, and her presumptions about sex, womanhood, and herself.
15. The Last Stop in Yuma County
This crime thriller centers on a traveling salesman stranded at an Arizona rest stop and thrust into a hostage situation. When two bank robbers arrive, it’s clear they have no qualms about using cruelty or murder to protect their bloodstained fortune. Written and directed by Francis Galluppi, and starring Jim Cummings, Faizon Love, and Jocelin Donahue.
14. Hundreds of Beavers
This zany comedy mixes action, adventure, and a little supernatural. It’s a slapstick winter epic loaded with inspired gags. Set in the nineteenth century, a drunken applejack salesman must deal with hundreds of diabolical beavers who stand between him and survival. Directed by Mike Chelisk, and stars co-writer Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, Olivia Graves, and Wes Tank.
13. Io Capitano
This acclaimed fairytale in the style of Homer follows the adventurous journey of two young boys who travel from Dakar to Europe. The film won top directing and acting prizes at the Venice Film Festival. In their quest across the Saharan landscape, the boys encounter both the most sublime and debased corners of humanity. Directed By: Matteo Garrone.
12. The Promised Land
An epic Nordic tale with a Western feel, The Promise Land is a trek through savage terrain with a glimmer of hope. It’s the story of Danish Captain Ludvig Kahlen who dreams of building a colony in the name of the King while gaining a noble title for himself. Directed by Nikolaj Arcel and stars Mads Mikkelsen as Capt. Kahlen.
11. Tótem
Totem delivers a poignant story of Sol, a 7-year-old girl in a bustling Mexican household. She’s swept up in preparations for her father’s surprise birthday party. But as daylight fades, Sol comes to understand that her world is about to undergo a dramatic change. Critics hail the film as a life-affirming triumph for writer-director Lila Avilés.
10. Robot Dreams
This animated family drama is a heartwarming tale for the whole family. In New York City in the 1980s, a lonely dog builds himself a robot as a companion and an inseparable friendship blooms. Then circumstances force them apart. Will these friends find one another again? Critics hail the film as the stuff good animation is made of.
9. Late Night with the Devil
On October 31, 1977, Johnny Carson’s rival Jack Delroy, host of the talk show ‘Night Owls,’ plans a Halloween special like no other. However, his plans go horribly wrong, unleashing evil into the nation’s living rooms. Critics call the film delightfully dark. Written and directed by Cameron and Colin Cairnes, the film showcases the acting of David Dastmalchian.
8. Hit Man
This action-crime comedy follows a professor who moonlights as a hitman of sorts for his city Police Department. But he drifts into dangerous territory when he finds himself attracted to a woman who enlists his services. Critics hail the film as a deceptively dark thriller loaded with laughs. It’s masterfully directed by Richard Linklater, and showcases Glen Powell’s acting skills.
7. Aisha
This 2022 Irish film had its US release on May 10, 2024, and it charts the experiences of a young Nigerian woman seeking international protection in Ireland. Aisha takes a nuanced and sensitive look at the immigrant experience. Letitia Wright and Josh O’Connor deliver exceptional performances. Directed by Frank Berry.
6. Molli and Max in the Future
Blending science fiction with romantic comedy, Molli and Max in the Future focuses on a man and a woman who repeatedly cross into one another’s orbit as their lives collide over 12 years, 4 planets, 3 dimensions, and a single space cult. Critics say whatever the film lacks in budget it supersedes in creativity to wildly entertaining effect.
5. Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell
This Vietnamese film won the prestigious Camera d’Or for best film at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The story follows a man who returns to his hometown and is haunted by memories and desires. It’s a tale of loss, faith, and nature told with invention and depth. Critics say the film rewards patient viewers with an absorbing spiritual Odyssey.
4. The Crime Is Mine
This comedy-crime story is set in Paris, France in 1935. The film follows a young, pretty, and talentless actress. Thanks to her best friend, a young unemployed attorney, she’s acquitted of the murder of a French producer. But is she really innocent or has she gotten away with murder? Critics call the film a superlative farce with alluring razzmatazz.
3. Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World
Driven by director Radu Jude’s gifts as a provocative filmmaker, this film takes a dark, comic swipe at modern life. An overworked and underpaid production assistant is tasked with shooting a workplace safety video commissioned by a multinational company in Bucharest. The story must be reinvented when an interviewee makes a statement igniting a scandal.
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2. Laroy, Texas
This comedy crime thriller follows a man who decides he’s going to kill himself after discovering his wife is cheating on him. But his plans change when a stranger mistakes him for a low-budget hitman. Sharp writing from director Shane Atkinson turns this into a satisfying neo-noir treat. It’s driven by a talented cast and stars Steve Zahn.
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1. Nowhere Special
A 34-year-old window cleaner discovers he only has a few months to live. He’s determined to shield his three-year-old son from the devastating reality of his predicament. With time running short, he seeks a new, perfect family for his son. Despite the desperate premise, this film is surprisingly uplifting for its focus on the ordinary human moments that bind us.
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