Stop-motion and scares: A&E’s best movies of 2024

1/14/25 10:32pm

From record-breaking blockbusters to subtle indie gems, 2024 proved that the cinematic landscape is more vibrant than ever. Directors took bold creative risks, reviving classic stories and exploring new genres with stunning ambition. Blockbuster epics returned in force and packed theaters, but smaller films also found their moments to shine, offering compelling narratives, unforgettable performances and daring visuals. With so many exceptional releases, The Thresher’s A&E writers faced a tough task in selecting the top ten — these are the films that defined the year in cinema.

Honorable Mentions:

“Look Back”

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“Bad Boys: Ride or Die”

“La Chimera”

“Megalopolis”

“The Apprentice”

“Martha”

10. “Queer”

Luca Guadagnino inverts the poignant youthfulness of “Call Me By Your Name” in the cosmic loneliness of his ninth feature “Queer.” Adapted from the 1986 novel of the same name (from the famously-eccentric William S. Burroughs), “Queer” follows an American expat in 1950s Mexico City as he strives for a meaningful connection with another man. Inspired by Burroughs’ struggles with alienation and yearning, Guadagnino’s adaptation takes a surrealistic, poetic approach while still in the style of the source text — rife with ‘90s needle drops and otherworldly imagery. “Queer” stands as a searingly intimate film which sees the process of one man trying to become human.

- Max Scholl, Thresher Staff

9. “Memoir of a Snail”

Adam Elliot’s “Memoir of a Snail” is a bittersweet and quirky triumph. Through protagonist Grace Pudel’s story, the film explores themes of loneliness and resilience, symbolized by her fascination with snails. Voiced by “Succession” star Sarah Snook, Grace’s journey is filled with heartbreak, humor and whimsical moments. The stop-motion animation brings a tactile charm to the characters, reflecting Elliot’s signature blend of comedy and tragedy. Awarded by both Annecy and BFI London, this is a deeply human and visually captivating experience, making it one of the year’s best.

- Arman Saxena, A&E Editor

8. “Nosferatu”

Gloomy, magnificent and skin-crawling are all phrases that encompass Robert Eggers’ “Nosferatu.” Eggers layers his uniquely dark style with marvelous ingenuity over an all-time classic vampire story about obsession and resistance. The film follows the couple of Thomas and Ellen Hutter as Ellen’s mysterious childhood nightmares come to fruition. Lily-Rose Depp delivers a visceral physical performance, and Willem Dafoe shines in an alchemist role he was made for. “Nosferatu’s” scale and style cement it as a new horror standard. 

- Max Hess, For the Thresher

7. “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga”

After disappointingly detouring to drama in “Three Thousand Years of Longing,” Australian action auteur George Miller triumphantly returned to cinemas with a prequel to his 2015 masterpiece, “Mad Max: Fury Road.” “Furiosa” takes a much more measured approach to storytelling; rather than going all-gas-no-breaks, Anya Taylor-Joy’s excellent performance is given more breathing room and dialogue to flesh out a romping revenge tale properly. 

Even if this slower approach is not as immediately magnetic, Chris Hemsworth’s villainous turn is absolutely thrilling, and Miller magically produces some of the best action setpieces of this decade, if not century. “Furiosa” is bona fide, gorgeous action filmmaking and a worthy sequel to one of the great films of the 21st century.

- Jay Collura, Film Columnist

6. “I Saw the TV Glow”

Jane Schoenbrun’s “I Saw the TV Glow” marries the fear and freedom of their debut, “We’re All Going to the World’s Fair,” with a broader, vivid scope. This second feature explores media’s revealing power through a ’90s lens, blending queer radicality with lush visuals. The movie tracks protagonists Owen and Maddy’s connection over a surreal TV show, capturing the nostalgia and alienation of adolescence. A transcendent narrative with hauntingly relatable themes, Schoenbrun’s vision remains intensely personal and universally resonant.

- Arman Saxena, A&E Editor

5. “A Different Man”

Aaron Schimberg’s “A Different Man” is a vibrant barrage of fresh premises and grim comedic beats. The film centers around Edward, whose escape from the isolation and self-loathing brought about by a degenerative disease slowly unravels from a dream come true to a complete catastrophe. Though the film conveys some exceptionally dark emotional moments, it does so in a way that is often hilarious and never mean-spirited. The stellar main cast conveys Schimberg’s writing exceptionally, paired with an exceptional makeup job to make this film a visceral and unforgettable gem.

- Thomas Pickell, Thresher Staff

4. “The Substance”

Coralie Fargeat’s “The Substance” dazzles through its audacity and spirit. Demi Moore plays Elisabeth Sparkle, an aging fitness instructor who clones a younger version of herself to maintain relevancy. Though thematically similar to the previous entry, “The Substance” shines through its absurd creativity and personal message. Through exceptional body horror and Cronenberg-esque imagery, the film critiques fame's superficial and exploitative nature. Margaret Qualley and Moore anchor the absurd events of the film in a real and thought-provoking set of performances.

• Thomas Pickell, Thresher Staff

3. “Anora”

Sean Baker’s Palme-d’Or-winning “Anora” is a film of pure magic. Following a young sex worker who falls in love with (and subsequently, deals with the drawbacks of) a Russian oligarch’s son, “Anora” exhibits the perfect blend of lyrical beauty and quixotic fantasy. When they elope in Las Vegas, his parents fly from Russia to get the marriage annulled, setting off a series of unfortunate events. Baker approaches “Anora” with lighthearted yet fiercely intelligent grace, uniquely capturing post-2016 America — from a visual grammar hearkening back to HBO’s “Euphoria” to rapid-fire, absurdist humor. A towering achievement of American cinema. 

• Max Scholl, Thresher Staff

2. “Challengers”

Disguised as a movie about tennis, Challengers tells one of the most compelling and complex love stories in recent memory. Best friends and promising tennis players Art Donaldson and Patrick Zweig find themselves battling over the affection of tennis phenomenon Tashi Duncan. Friend, coach and lover are all labels that overlap in a messy saga that’s young, sexy and refreshing. Luca Guadagino’s creative camera work is coupled with an epic soundtrack and fantastic editing. Guadagino captured lightning in a bottle with “Challengers,” a gem of a film overflowing with personality. 

• Max Hess, For the Thresher

1. “Dune: Part Two”

Just as the Lisan Al-Gaib was promised to the Fremen people, “Dune: Part Two” was the science fiction masterpiece that was promised to Gen-Z moviegoers. After about a decade of lackluster, IP-centric, CGI nonsense, “Dune: Part Two” electrified me. Herbert’s classic tale about messianic figures is enhanced by visionary Denis Villeneuve, who creates a Shakespearean tragedy with sharp themes, iconic action sequences and heartbreaking emotional beats. 

The film is alchemical in a way the great blockbusters like “Star Wars” and “Lord of the Rings” are, yet communicate a thematic nuance that its contemporaries often lack. I will never forget seeing Paul ride the sandworm, the black and white sequence in the Colosseum or the intense final knife fight. Villeneuve has captured “peak cinema”, taking the maximalist Hollywood approach and perfecting it. Visually and emotionally, “Dune: Part Two” is sublime (and the best movie of 2024).

• Jay Collura, Film Columnist

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