Don’t let anyone tell you this was a bad year for movies. Because according to our review scores, there were a lot of great titles for movie fans to enjoy. Every year, we compile a list of the highest-rated movies, and by our count, 22 movies received the highest score in IGN’s official reviews in 2024. This means you received either 9 or 10 points. With so many strong movies coming out, we wouldn’t blame you if you missed some of the movies scheduled to be released this year. So here’s a complete description of every movie in 2024 that IGN rated as “great” (9) or “masterpiece.” (10).
Let’s start by looking at the three movies that received 10 points.
sasquatch and mad max saga
The first is “Sasquatch Sunset,” an outrageous story about a family of non-speaking Sasquatch. Critic Clint Gage is outspoken about how divisive the film is likely to be with audiences, but he loves it, calling it “an emotional masterpiece of experimental cinema.” If you’re open to something truly unconventional, give it a try. Another unconventional film this year is The Mystery of Fire, director Weston Lazurri’s surprising debut feature. The film is a strange combination of crime, fairy tale fantasy, and video game exploration logic as a group of children go on an adventure to find fire. Blueberry pie for a sick mother. I won’t spoil anything else about this particular film, but if you want to see one of the best and weirdest movies of the year, look for it.
Rounding out the decade is Furiosa: The Mad Max Saga, the long-awaited prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road. Starring the always amazing Anya Taylor-Joy as the young incarnation of Emperor Furiosa (played by Charlize Theron in Fury Road), this wilderness journey is on a much different sonic spectrum than its 2015 counterpart , but its more melancholic, character-driven approach makes it a strong contender for one of the year’s best. Even if you’re not normally into Mad Max, it’s worth watching for Taylor-Joy’s great performance and great action sequences. Unfortunately, this movie failed to do well at the box office, so if you didn’t check it out in theaters, be sure to watch it at home.
Glowing TV, thoughts on death, and festival favorites
As for 9, there’s quite a bit to clear up. We’ll start with I Saw the TV Glow, an arthouse horror film directed by Jane Schoenbrunn. It’s one of the most intensely personal and idiosyncratic films of the year, not only taking the Letterboxd community by storm, but also receiving praise from iconic filmmakers like Martin Scorsese and Paul Schrader. Speaking of iconic filmmakers, keep an eye out for Steven Soderbergh’s Presence, an experimental horror film shot from a paranormal perspective, coming early next year. Siddhant Adrakha reviewed the film for IGN at Sundance, calling it a “witty haunted house thriller” and a “midnight genre romp.” “Presence” is scheduled to be released in theaters on January 24, 2025.
Sometimes I Think About Dying Gallery
And if we’re talking about festival favorites, we have to mention The Brutalist, which went on to go on a festival tour that included Venice, TIFF, and NYFF, and became one of the most critically acclaimed films of the year. This three and a half hour epic is directed by Brady Corbet and stars Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones. Brody plays Laszlo Todt, an architect and Holocaust survivor who travels to the United States and works to bring his wife and niece from Europe. While some may balk at the extended running time (including a traditional intermission), critic Chase Hutchinson says the film is “a bold, beautiful, brutal depiction of America; “It’s not what we like,” he says, and recommends sticking with it. Don’t just think about this country, but think about what it’s really like for the people who are suffocating underneath it. ”
Other film festival highlights this year include “Sometimes I Think About Dying,” which was screened at Sundance. It’s a completely un-SEO-friendly dark comedy starring Star Wars alum Daisy Ridley as a suicidal office worker dealing with severe loneliness. Critic Mariya E. Gates said Ridley gave a “rich, resonant performance” and director Rachel Lambert’s “surreal touches heighten the melancholy.” There’s also Sing Sing, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023, but was properly released by A24 this year. The film stars Colman Domingo as Divine G, an incarcerated man who organizes a makeshift theater group with fellow prisoners. Critic Carlos Aguilar called the film, another award-winning entry in Domingo’s filmography, “a moving drama that explores how community and an outlet for self-discovery can positively shape one’s outlook. “It’s a moving drama that reminds us of what we can do.”
Civil War, Challenger, and Kindness
A24 distributed the other two films on the list. One is Alex Garland’s blockbuster film Civil War. Director Garland is usually best known for smaller sci-fi films like Ex Machina and Annihilation, but this film features a thoughtful action film filled with great performances and great cinematography. I jumped into the masterpiece. Led by Kirsten Dunst and Cailee Spaeny, Civil War is tense and thrilling in every sense of the word. The second film, Janet Planet, a coming-of-age film and Annie Baker’s directorial debut, was finally released this year after a multi-festival tour in 2023. Baker, who is usually associated with work in the theater as a playwright, did not miss a step in transitioning to film. IGN’s review stated that the film’s “photographic aesthetic enhances its unique sense of time, place, and memory.”
If you’re looking for new releases from the most prominent directors, 2024 was filled with them as well. Italian writer Luca Guadagnino (Suspiria remake, Heads Unite) created Challengers, a sweaty, sex-filled drama featuring love triangles and tennis. Starring Zendaya, Mike Feist, and Josh O’Connor, the movie was universally loved by movie fans and critics, including us. For a movie that wasn’t universally loved, check out Megalopolis, Francis Ford Coppola’s longtime passion project. Although the project stumbled with critics and audiences, it also found champions, including here at IGN. Starring Adam Driver as a visionary architect from another 21st century, this is a film that’s hard to describe without sounding far-fetched. Let’s just say that if you’re looking for something that can only come from a singular artistic mindset (for better or worse), Megalopolis is truly a one-of-a-kind experience.
Surreal sensation Yorgos Lanthimos also returns to theaters this year with Kinds of Kindness, an anthology film featuring three darkly comedic stories. Reuniting with his regular muse Emma Stone (you saw Poor Things last year, right?), the Greek director has made yet another gonzo film for the sick. His style isn’t for everyone, but if you can tune into his wavelength, there’s no one else doing exactly these kinds of movies at his level at the moment. And of course, there’s Sean Baker’s Anora, one of the year’s most talked-about movies heading into awards season. Mikey Madison, previously best known for her work in Scream 5, became an early favorite in the Best Actress category for her performance as the title character, a sex worker. The husband’s parents try to annul the marriage.
Dead live!
And if we talk about writers, we have to mention Nosferatu, the latest film by acclaimed director Robert Eggers. Eggers, known for such great films as The Witch and The Northman, brings a gothic energy to his remake of F.W. Murnau’s 1922 classic, generally considered one of the most historically significant horror films of all time. I poured it. Although some fans of the original novel may lament the deviation from the original, Nosferatu is based on the original story and Murnau’s film, as well as the 1932 black-and-white film The Vampire, starring Werner Herzog and Francis It takes influence from a fascinating combination, including Ford’s 1979 remake. Coppola’s 1992 adaptation, which also borrows a bit of The Exorcist’s DNA. The film will be released in theaters on Christmas Day, so if you’re in the mood for opening presents and watching a bloody period drama, don’t miss it.
There were some strong franchise entries this year as well. A Quiet Place: Day One is the third installment in the sci-fi horror series, and I was surprised to find that it was much better than the average prequel. Featuring great performances from Lupita Nyong’o and Joseph Quinn and a confident, character-driven story, the opening day proved that the series was much more vibrant than many expected. did. I also saw the ending of Warner Bros. ” A two-part animated adaptation of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ seminal graphic novel classic Watchmen. “Watchmen: Chapter II”. Critic Zaki Hasan had nothing but praise for the second installment, saying, “There are many things true to its roots that will please fans of the comic, but it’s just as easy to follow this story for those coming to experience it fresh.” It will be the gateway to.”
Sticking with animation, Looney Tunes will soon get in on the action with The Day the Earth Exploded: The Looney Tunes Movie. After the incredibly disappointing cancellation of Coyote vs. Acme, the film will premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and be released worldwide on February 28, 2025. Critic Rafael Motamayor said the film had “enough gags for a minute”. Not only will audiences gasp with laughter, but they’ll also have a generous heart that shows why these characters are still beloved nearly 90 years later. ” On that note, another animated classic is set to make a comeback soon with Wallace and Gromit: Revenge of the Most Foul, a new feature film in the British claymation series. The film features the return of The Wrong Television villain Feathers McGraw, and IGN critic Ryan Gaul says the film is “on par with some of Aardman’s best works.” . The film will be released on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on December 25th and will be available to stream on Netflix from January 3rd, 2025.
evil anime
For the anime fans in the audience, I would like to highlight two movies in particular. The first is The Concierge, based on Tsuchika Nishimura’s manga series The Concierge of the North Pole Department Store, which revolves around a shopping center filled with anthropomorphic animals (the staff are humans). Critic Kambor Campbell said The Concierge had a “lively, expressive art style and wonderfully absurd characters” and praised how the film adapted the manga. The second one is “Dumpster Battle”, the sequel to the TV anime “Haikyu!!”. This series centers on the Karuen High School volleyball club and Shoyo Hinata, and the movie details the particularly important match against Nekoma High School. Critic Mike Mamon said the film is “an enjoyable watch for longtime fans and also serves as a fun sampler for those interested in this beloved series.”
Wicked Gallery
And last on the list is the long-awaited film adaptation of Wicked, the popular Broadway musical that served as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz. Directed by Jon M. Chu, this Part 1 of Part 2 stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Galinda. Considering box office numbers and CinemaScore, IGN reviewer Alyssa Mora isn’t the only one who likes the way the film brings musicals to the big screen. “This film adaptation exemplifies what a modern musical film can and should be,” she said, adding, “‘Wicked’ undoubtedly immortalizes Grande and Erivo in the history of movie musicals.” I will.” That’s quite a high rating! Of course, you’ve already seen it, so you know what she’s talking about, right?
What is your favorite movie of 2024? Discuss in the comments!
Carlos Morales writes novels, articles, and Mass Effect essays. You can trace his obsession with Blue Sky.
