A.V. Opinions: My top movies of 2024
I usually record a podcast around Oscar time to share my favorite movies of the year. This time, I decided to pen an article going over my favorites of 2024. This might seem like an odd selection of movies, but it’s what resonated with me. I’m not trying to win a popularity contest. I’m just sharing what I like. Let this list of movies be a reminder to be honest with yourself and not pick what everybody else is picking unless you really believe in those movies.
Overall, I think 2024 was a bit of a mixed bag. It was one of my least favorite years in a long time. There was an overabundance of experimental films that, despite their creative risks, left me wanting more. Several of the bigger movies I genuinely wanted to love just didn’t click with me. I wasn’t impressed by Civil War, Nosferatu, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Alien: Romulus, Wicked, Gladiator II, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Joker: Folie à Deux, Inside Out 2, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Horizon, Monkey Man, and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. None of them made a lasting impression. And I know I’ll catch some heat for this, but Dune: Part Two belongs on that list as well. While I can appreciate its technical merits, I’ve just never been able to connect with Dune as a whole. These movies all had their moments, but in the end, they left me feeling dissatisfied.
MY TOP PICKS OF 2024
1. Deadpool & Wolverine
Topping my list is Deadpool & Wolverine, an event movie that re-energized the comic book genre for me. This pick feels like a sellout for the number one spot, but I can’t remember the last time a comic book movie actually deserved it, and that doesn’t bother me (even if some cinephiles might roll their eyes). It’s not just another MCU flick. It’s a full-blown Marvel celebration. Fans flocked to theaters, and it felt like the MCU had been given a much-needed injection of life. The Deadpool movies have been dangling Wolverine in front of us since the first movie, and we finally got the payoff. It was so great to see Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds together. The movie marked the return of Hugh Jackman in that iconic yellow Wolverine suit, a look we’ve all been dying to see. Its connection to the Loki series on Disney+ (my favorite MCU series) added an extra layer of excitement. And with Channing Tatum’s Gambit and Wesley Snipes reprising his role as Blade, I had an absolute blast with this movie. It isn’t perfect, but damn, is it fun.
2. Terrifier 3
Coming in at number two is Terrifier 3, which stands as the best modern grindhouse movie to date. I’m usually not a fan of torture porn or horror that revels in its brutality, but Terrifier 3 broke through that barrier. It was the first movie in the franchise that truly clicked for me. I even attended a Terrifier convention during Christmas last year. I also took my wife to a Terrifier Christmas-themed party where we met some great people including the director and cast. We had a great weekend celebrating the holiday. It was a great memory, one of my favorite memories of 2024. And even though the movie is very bloody, there is a lot of fun to be had. I think, for the first time, the Terrifier franchise knows what they have with this one, and they struck the perfect balance of gore and fun. However, just because it’s on this list, just know this isn’t for everyone. It’s not for the squeamish.
3. The Bikeriders
At number three is The Bikeriders. Watching it felt like witnessing an old-school Martin Scorsese classic unfold before my eyes. It was like the Goodfellas of biker movies. It had an old soul quality to it. The performances by Tom Hardy and Austin Butler were fantastic, and even though I’m not typically immersed in biker culture, the movie’s music, pacing, and energy all clicked perfectly. It’s a film that defied my expectations and earned its spot. I’m surprised it’s not on more year-end lists.
4. Anora
My number four favorite is Anora, a modern take on Pretty Woman directed by Sean Baker, whose work I’ve admired in Tangerine and The Florida Project. Although the movie starts off a bit slow, it explodes into one of the best second acts I’ve seen in years. The energy, precise direction, and performances had me laughing out loud. While I might tweak the ending if I could, the second act alone is a masterclass in filmmaking that deserves to be studied by film students.
5. MaXXXine
Rounding out my top five is MaXXXine, the final entry in Ti West’s trilogy. I wasn’t a huge fan of Pearl or X, but MaXXXine hit all the right notes for me. It evoked the mood of an old-school Italian giallo. It felt like an 80s horror movie unearthed from a dusty archive. The use of a classic Hollywood lot as a backdrop and the nostalgic nods to the VHS era gave it an aesthetic that felt both fresh and steeped in cinematic tradition. MaXXXine does a great job of being its own movie. I don’t think you need to see the other two. You can jump right into this movie. It does a great job of filling in the history of Maxine and what she went through. It’s my favorite horror movie of last year next to Terrifier 3. It’s drenched in a style that I love and appreciate. In my opinion, it’s the best of the trilogy. I know some might call this blasphemy, but it’s my list.
A Few More Nods
If I had room for a sixth favorite, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga would be a contender. It’s not as good as Fury Road, and there are a lot of choices George Miller made that I didn’t care for, too much CGI and green screen for my taste. But what I did love was the world-building. From the different sections of the wasteland to the epic wasteland war, it expanded the Mad Max universe in a way that I appreciated. I wish it ranked higher. It’s a fun movie and a solid addition to the apocalyptic genre, but it definitely has its flaws.
Beyond that, I want to give some love to several other flicks. Glenn Powell’s Hit Man was a solid movie. The Fall Guy with Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt was thoroughly enjoyable. Longlegs from Osgood Perkins featured a creepy performance from Nic Cage that really stood out. I also really enjoyed Hundreds of Beavers, a movie I don’t love per se, but I respect the hell out of it, as the director went all out and crafted one of the most original films of the year. Kill was easily the best martial arts movie, and Late Night With the Devil turned out to be a neat, found-footage-ish gem. Each of these movies might not have cracked my top five, but they brought their own unique flavors and bold originality to 2024’s cinematic landscape.
Even in a year that I found largely mediocre, a handful of movies managed to shine through. Here’s to hoping that 2025 brings even more surprises, hits and moments worth celebrating in the world of movies.
-Brad McBoom