2024 has certainly been an odd year for films (but also in general). Several releases were a result of production delays caused by the WGA and SAG strikes, and although initially some blockbusters unexpectedly fell short in their box office earnings, people actually went to the movies later on. Hollywood also seems to be shifting away from superheroes, so I’m delighted by the diversity of genres in this list from different filmmakers.

Making this list has not been easy (probably the hardest one of these yet in fact), and I will probably look back at this with a different opinion in a few months. That said, these are my ten favorite movies of 2024, with other notable highlights.

10. The Order

Director: Justin Kurzel

With the kind of year that we’ve had (and looking at what’s yet to come), Justin Kurzel’s slow burn crime thriller about an obsessive FBI agent hunting down white supremacists feels more relevant than ever. Jude Law is at his most ragged-looking role, rocking a ’70s mustache as veteran agent Terry Husk who, after relocating to small town Idaho for easier work, stumbles upon a local neo-Nazi terrorist group. Opposite Law is Nicholas Hoult with a diabolically captivating performance as Bob Matthews, the self-anointed leader of a splinter faction of the Aryan Nation. This game of cat and mouse is riveting from start to finish thanks to the sharp direction of Kurzel. The cinematography is simply immaculate, from the wide shots of secluded landscapes all the way down to the close-ups in seedy neon-lit dive bars. The Order is the sleeper hit of the year.

9. Love Lies Bleeding

Director: Rose Glass

Kristen Stewart steps into a role that’s seemingly made for her in Rose Glass’ pulpy lesbian erotic thriller Love Lies Bleeding. Set in ’80s Albuquerque, she plays reclusive gym manager Lou who falls in love with bodybuilder Jackie (Katy O’Brien) as she prepares for a local competition. As they become romantically connected, they pair gets entangled with Lou’s crime family as well. Stewart and O’Brien surprisingly have a great dynamic here, and both leads deliver stellar performances. Although the film’s surrealist imagery and absurdly unhinged final act may not be for everyone, Glass injects enough twists and turns, in addition to tons of sex and violence, to keep you engaged throughout the film.

8. His Three Daughters

Director: Azazel Jacobs

Every year there’s one serious drama kind of hits home to me, and this year it’s His Three Daughters. Azazel Jacobs’ powerful drama follows three disparate sisters who find themselves experiencing a shared journey of grief, as they reunite in a New York apartment to take care of their terminally ill father in his last moments. It’s one of the best films I’ve seen this year, a simple but fine piece of drama boosted by career-best performances from Carrie Coon, Elizabeth Olsen and Natasha Lyonne. His Three Daughters is poignant in tackling something that most of us will have to do at some point in our lives – saying goodbye to a parent – and in a lot of ways it feels truer than what we usually see by Hollywood standards. Read the full review here.

7. Conclave

Director: Edward Berger

Based on Robert Harris’ novel of the same name, Edward Berger’s Conclave follows the secretive tradition of electing a new Pope that’s just as gripping as a detective thriller. The film stars Ralph Fiennes in a perfect role as Cardinal Lawrence who, as the dean of the College of Cardinals, is tasked with supervising the whole thing. In the process, he finds himself investigating each candidate after unraveling a trail of secrets and scandals left in the Pope’s wake. Berger cleverly finds ways to gradually increase the stakes and create intrigue amid all the political backstabbing and clashing of personal ambitions. And while he understands that this ritualistic practice of the Catholic Church make for some very good drama, in many ways Conclave also asks what it really takes to be worthy of the papacy.

6. Juror #2

Director: Clint Eastwood

In what could possibly be Clint Eastwood’s final film, Juror #2 is a terrific legal thriller that takes a measured aim at the personal biases of the American justice system and an individual’s moral responsibility. It’s a taut and thoughtful drama for grown-ups that doesn’t waste a single moment, a throwback to the mid-budget movies Hollywood used to make in the ’80s. Justin Kemp (Nicholas Hoult) is a magazine writer stuck on jury duty at a murder trial. But as he learns more about the case, he realizes that he may be more involved than he’d like to admit. Rounded out by a strong cast, Hoult gives a compelling performance as a man heavily weighed down by a moral and ethical dilemma, quietly wrestling between doing the right thing and pursuing his own self-interests. It’s easily Eastwood’s best film in years, and if it is indeed the 94-year-old director’s swan song, then he ends his career on high note.

5. Hit Man

Director: Richard Linklater

After some impressive showings in blockbusters like Top Gun: Maverick and Twisters, Glen Powell’s stellar performance in Hit Man proves that he is more than ready to step up as Hollywood’s new leading man. He plays Gary Johnson, a mild-mannered professor who moonlights for the New Orleans Police Department as a fake hitman for hire. But things get messy when he falls in love with a potential client played by Adria Arjona. The pair’s undeniable chemistry helps elevate the second half of the film. But what surprised me the most is the film’s deceptively brilliant and unpredictable screenplay (co-written by Richard Linklater and Glen Powell), blending rom-com, noir, and erotic thriller elements while exploring the intricacies of human identity. Read the full review here.

4. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Director: George Miller

Following up Mad Max: Fury Road is never going to be easy, but George Miller has successfully made a prequel that’s just as epic. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga differs from its cinematic sibling by having its narrative structure fragmented into five chapters, blending coming-of-age and revenge stories with a dash of romantic tragedy in between. Anya Taylor-Joy does the character of Furiosa (originally played by Charlize Theron) justice, and Chris Hemsworth delivers the best performance of his career as the deranged Dementus (which marks the first time I’ve seen him show any personality). There are several bombastic action sequences here that rival the best ones in Fury Road, and there’s a particular long chase scene that just blew my mind. Although I don’t think it surpasses Fury Road, this is still a spectacular companion piece that retroactively enriches the lore of one of the greatest action movies of all time.

3. Anora

Director: Sean Baker

With Tangerine and The Florida Project, Sean Baker has built his filmmaking career about the American Dream, telling genuine stories about the working class and “outcasts” of society. He continues that trend in Anora, a twisted Cinderella story about a 23-year-old stripper who impulsively marries the son of a Russian oligarch. Led by a star-making performance from Mikey Madison, what starts as a Pretty Woman parallel unexpectedly becomes a familiar screwball comedy when she reluctantly joins three henchmen in finding her husband Vanya (Mark Edelstein), who’s gone on the lam after learning of his parents’ disapproval. This all-night hilarious absurdity is where the film goes from good to a classic. And after all the chaos has gone down, its heartbreak of an ending sneaks up on you like a gut punch, reminding us of the bitter reality of class division.

2. Challengers

Director: Luca Guadagnino

Never have I expected that this year’s sexiest film would come from a… sports movie. Featuring a career-best performance from Zendaya, Italian director Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers is not only a fun and thrilling sports drama, but also an unhinged horny tale about three tennis players whose lives are constantly intertwined. Tennis power couple Art Donaldson (Mike Faist) and Tashi Duncan (Zendaya) unexpectedly cross paths with someone from their past, Patrick Zweig (Josh O’Connor), who happens to be Tashi’s ex-boyfriend and Art’s former best friend. While the exploration of this messy love triangle across 13 years is curiously entertaining, this is still a sports movie after all, and Challengers is the most riveting during the tennis scenes, with the main trio serving forehands and backhands with palpable intensity and building jealousy. Oh, and did I mention this film’s absolute banger of a soundtrack by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross? The film’s insanely catchy techno beats turns even seemingly mundane scenes into high-stakes clashes. Read the full review here.

1. Dune: Part Two

Director: Denis Villenueve

Visually stunning and undeniably epic, Denis Villenueve’s superior sequel to his 2021 Oscar-winning film is a grand success in storytelling, set and sound design, cinematography, and action choreography. Following the destruction of House Atreides in the previous film, Dune: Part Two continues the story of Paul Atreides as he becomes the promised prophet of the Fremen, and wages a planetary jihad against House Harkonnen. Zendaya gives a breathtaking performance as Chani (one of her best in her career), serving as the emotional core of the film, and seeing Timothee Chalamet complete his transformation from a royal prince into Arrakis’ revolutionary savior is nothing short of terrifying. Dune: Part Two is a sci-fi masterpiece, and a triumphant proof that even studio blockbusters can be made with artistic craftsmanship. This is hands down my favorite cinematic experience this year. Read the full review here.

Other Notable Highlights: