A24’s Best 35 Movies Ranked, From ‘Moonlight’ to ‘Uncut Gems’ (2024)

Apr 14, 2024 2:15pm PT

• 'Midsommar' (2019)

  

  Starring: Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, William Jackson Harper
  Director: Ari Aster
  Writer(s): Ari Aster
  Producer(s): Patrik Andersson, Lara Knudsen

  “Midsommar” by Ari Aster captivates its audiences with its immersive atmosphere and stunning visuals, set against the backdrop of a remote Swedish village during a midsummer festival, creating a palpable sense of isolation and impending dread. Pawel Pogorzelski’s outstanding camera work is nothing short of breathtaking, enhancing the film’s eerie and surreal tone. Moreover, the performances by Florence Pugh and the rest of the cast are exceptionally conveyed, adding layers of complexity and dread to the characters to the intense journey. A tour de force in the horror genre.

• 'Locke' (2014)

  

  Starring: Tom Hardy, Olivia Colman, Ruth Wilson, Andrew Scott, Ben Daniels, Tom Holland, Bill Milner
  Director: Steven Knight
  Writer(s): Steven Knight
  Producer(s): Paul Webster, Guy Heeley

  Tom Hardy’s expressions are arresting in Steven Knight’s contained thriller. Hardy is likely one of our most unafraid thespians, shown in films like “Bronson,” but in “Locke,” he creates a psychological tour without resting solely on the film’s “gimmick” set piece.

• 'Aftersun' (2022)

  

  Starring: Paul Mescal, Frankie Corio, Celia Rowlson-Hall
  Director: Charlotte Wells
  Writer(s): Charlotte Wells
  Producer(s): Adele Romanski, Amy Jackson, Barry Jenkins, Mark Ceryak

  “Aftersun” emerges as a robust debut film for multiple reasons. Charlotte Wells’ distinctive directorial voice resonates throughout the narrative, infusing it with a fresh perspective and stylistic flair. It’s anchored by remarkable performances from stars Paul Mescal (earning a Best Actor nomination) and Frankie Corio. An most importantly, presenting an authentic family portrayal of a narrative seldom explored, adding depth to its storytelling.

• 'On the Rocks' (2020)

  

  Starring: Rashida Jones, Bill Murray, Marlon Wayans
  Director: Sofia Coppola
  Writer(s): Sofia Coppola
  Producer(s): Sofia Coppola, Youree Henley

  Cinema is about joy. You don’t have to push the boundaries of cinema to make a fantastic movie and Coppola’s focus on story and the performances of her delightful threesome of actors is one of the best recent examples. Distributed in collaboration with Apple Original Films, it’s a finely tuned comedy engine that moves effortlessly toward a satisfying resolution.

• 'The Witch' (2015)

  

  Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie, Harvey Scrimshaw, Ellis Grainger, Lucas Dawson
  Director: Robert Eggers
  Writer(s): Robert Eggers
  Producer(s): Rodrigo Teixeira, Daniel Bekerman, Lars Knudsen, Jodi Redmond, Jay Van Hoy

  Easily an entry in the golden age of horror, Robert Eggers’ frightening period piece utilizes the artistry and striking bone structure of Anya Taylor-Joy, who is quickly becoming one of our most arresting actors. He doesn’t make your conventional films, and that’s the best thing he can offer the future landscape of movies.

• 'The Bling Ring' (2013)

  

  Starring: Israel Broussard, Katie Chang, Taissa Farmiga, Claire Julien, Georgia Rock, Emma Watson, Leslie Mann
  Director: Sofia Coppola
  Writer(s): Sofia Coppola (based on “The Suspects Wore Louboutins” by Nancy Jo Sales)
  Producer(s): Roman Coppola, Sofia Coppola, Youree Henry

  It’s Emma Watson’s finest acting moment, as she commands the screen under the writing and direction of Sofia Coppola. It’s Coppola’s most “cinematic” endeavor, displaying her auteurist sensibility with Harris Savides (in his final feature film) and Christopher Blauvelt’s cinematography. The rich and famous get the Coppola treatment, and it works.

• 'A Ghost Story' (2017)

  

  Starring: Casey Affleck, Rooney Mara
  Director: David Lowery
  Writer(s): David Lowery
  Producer(s): Toby Halbrooks, James M. Johnston, Adam Donaghey

  Eating a pie has never looked more painful as what Rooney Mara demonstrates in David Lowery’s afterlife drama. Under a bed sheet, Casey Affleck delivers a performance of movement and sorrow, while the film features the entrancing original song “I Get Overwhelmed” by Dark Rooms that will sit with you for decades.

• 'The Iron Claw' (2023)

  

  Starring: Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Maura Tierney, Stanley Simons, Holt McCallany, Lily James
  Director: Sean Durkin
  Writer(s): Sean Durkin
  Producer(s): Tessa Ross, Juliette Howell, Sean Durkin, Angus Lamont, Derrin Schlesinger

  In the opening of “The Iron Claw,” the narrator introduces the notion that the Von Erich family is cursed. As the film progresses, particularly in its latter half, this supposed curse manifests in ways that exceed mere understatement. Directed by the auteur behind “Martha Marcy May Marlene,” Sean Durkin’s adept handling of his actors stands out as one of the year’s most compelling achievements. The entire ensemble delivers riveting performances, with a particularly poignant moment being Kerry’s meeting with Jack Jr., evoking a enough tears to fill a riverbed.

• 'The Disaster Artist' (2017)

  

  Starring: James Franco, Dave Franco, Seth Rogen, Alison Brie, Ari Graynor, Josh Hutcherson, Jacki Weaver, Zac Efron
  Director: James Franco
  Writer(s): Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber (based on “The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside the Room, the Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made” by Greg Estero and Tom Bissell)
  Producer(s): James Franco, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Vince Jolivette, James Weaver

  “500 Days of Summer” writers Neustadter and Weber capture the mystery of the making of “The Room” with biting tenacity and a too-often-overlooked incredible turn by Dave Franco. The adapted screenplay mention proved that the Oscars can recognize comedies – just not often enough.

• 'Amy' (2015)

  

  Starring: Amy Winehouse
  Director: Asif Kapadia
  Writer(s): Asif Kapadia
  Producer(s): James Gay-Rees

  The Oscar-winning documentary examines the life and death of Amy Winehouse with a broad scope, using archival footage and clips to offer a glimpse into an artist we lost far too soon.

• 'The Last Black Man in San Francisco' (2019)

  

  Starring: Jimmie Falls, Jonathan Majors, Tichina Arnold, Rob Morgan, Mike Epps, Finn Wittrock, Danny Glover
  Director: Joe Talbot
  Writer(s): Joe Talbot, Rob Richert, Jimmy Falls
  Producer(s): Khaliah Neal, Joe Talbot, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Christina Oh

  Joe Talbot, thank you for making movies and entering our world. His delectable debut film shines with wondrous performances from Jimmie Falls and Jonathan Majors. It’s hard to take your eyes off the screen, so the film’s omission from most awards is something that remains questionable, but many can discover its magic in the cinematic afterlife.

• 'Hereditary' (2018)

  

  Starring: Toni Collette, Alex Wolff, Milly Shapiro, Ann Dowd, Gabriel Byrne
  Director: Ari Aster
  Writer(s): Ari Aster
  Producer(s): Kevin Frakes, Lars Knudsen, Buddy Patrick

  Toni Collette, plain and simple. This woman’s depiction of anguish and suffering through a horror lens is terrifyingly thrilling. Ari Aster’s difficult assembly holds nothing back and even allows the space for the audience to take the talents of Alex Wolff and Milly Shapiro home with us.

• 'Under the Skin' (2014)

  

  Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy McWilliams, Lynsey Taylor Mackay
  Director: Jonathan Glazer
  Writer(s): Walter Campbell, Jonathan Glazer (based on “Under the Skin” by Michel Faber)
  Producer(s): James Wilson, Nick Wechsler

  Everything about Jonathan Glazer’s single character orchestra rests upon the assurance of Scarlett Johansson’s audacious turn. Also featuring some of the best sound work by the amazing Johnnie Burn and an entrancing score by Mica Levi, the film is a genre-bending force.

• 'Obvious Child' (2014)

  

  Starring: Jenny Slate, Jake Lacy, Gaby Hoffman, Gabe Liedman, Richard Kind, Polly Draper, David Cross
  Director: Gillian Robespierre
  Writer(s): Gillian Robespierre, Karen Maine, Elisabeth Holm
  Producer(s): Elisabeth Holm

  We love Jenny Slate and the movie world loves her. She’s a box of talent, selling her whimsical charm and joyous delight in Gillian Robespierre’s underrated comedy. A terrific standout for women filmmakers sharing fresh material regarding life and the obstacles that hit along the way.

• 'Red Rocket' (2021)

  

  Starring: Simon Rex, Bree Elrod, Suzanna Son, Judy Hill, Brittney Rodriguez
  Director: Sean Baker
  Writer(s): Chris Bergoch, Sean Baker
  Producer(s): Sean Baker, Alex Coco, Samantha Quan, Alex Saks, Shih-Ching Tsou

  With his uncomfortable and biting depiction of a former p*rn star who is grooming a young girl, Sean Baker pushes the boundaries as a screenwriter and filmmaker. Simon Rex’s Mikey Saber is a grotesque human, but it’s an invigorating performance that won him an Independent Spirit Award for best male actor. If only Oscar would have followed suit, along with the technical mastery of Bree Elrod and newcomer Suzanna Son.

• 'Marcel the Shell with Shoes On' (2022)

  

  Starring: Jenny Slate, Isabella Rossellini, Rosa Salazar, Thomas Mann, Dean Fleischer Camp, Lesley Stahl
  Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
  Writer(s): Dean Fleischer Camp, Jenny Slate, Nick Paley, Elisabeth Holm (based on characters created by Dean Fleischer Camp and Jenny Slate)
  Producer(s): Dean Flesicher Camp, Jenny Slate, Terry Leonard, Elisabeth Holm, Andrew Goldman, Caroline Kaplan, Paul Mezey

  Animation is about pushing boundaries. It’s not a genre, it’s a medium. This is shown once again by the pleasures of the live-action/animated “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On.” Voice performances are also on par with anything seen in Pixar films, with Jenny Slate leading the way and Isabella Rossellini breaking your heart. Please don’t forget this one, Academy.

• 'The End of the Tour' (2015)

  

  Starring: Jason Segel, Jesse Eisenberg
  Director: James Ponsoldt
  Writer(s): Donald Margulies (based on “Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself” by David Lipsky)
  Producer(s): James Dahl, Matt DeRoss, David Kanter, Mark Manuel, Ted O’Neal

  There are few things that can make me smile more than thinking about Jason Segal’s savvy performance in James Ponsoldt’s drama. It’s everything that acting is about, and his invitation into the life of David Foster Wallace is a gift we didn’t know we needed. We’ll be eternally grateful.

• It Comes at Night (2017)

  

  Starring: Joel Edgerton, Christopher Abbott, Carmen Ejogo, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Riley Keough
  Director: Trey Edward Shults
  Writer(s): Trey Edward Shults
  Producer(s): David Kaplan, Andrea Roa

  It’s not just about the monster you see, but also the one that lives inside of you. Shults shows the viewer that very theme in the deeply dark drama that introduced the world to the talents of Kelvin Harrison Jr. Led with juggernaut performances by Joel Edgerton and Carmen Ejogo, the tension is almost impossible to survive but you’re the better for having experienced it.

• The Lobster (2016)

  

  Starring: Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, Jessica Barden, Olivia Colman, Ashley Jensen, Ariane Labed, Angeliki Papoulia, John C. Reilly, Léa Seydoux, Michael Smiley, Ben Whishaw
  Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
  Writer(s): Efthimis Filippou, Yorgos Lanthimos
  Producer(s): Ceci Dempsey, Ed Guiney, Yorgos Lanthimos, Lee Magiday

  It’s the kind of comedy that makes you cringe in a prickly way. But there might be no better kind. Colin Farrell is massively entertaining and precise in Yorgos Lanthimos’ darkly constructed romp about relationships and reincarnation. Like many, I still can’t watch the “fork” scene.

• 'Uncut Gems' (2019)

  

  Starring: Adam Sandler, Lakeith Stanfield, Julia Fox, Kevin Garnett, Idina Menzel, Eric Bogosian
  Director: Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie
  Writer(s): Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie
  Producer(s): Eli Bush, Sebastian Bear-McClard, Scott Rudin

  The social media and cinema-loving community united to get behind the mission to educate the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences that Adam Sandler, once again, delivered an awards-worthy performance in the Safdie brothers’ tension-filled flick. With Sandler’s best outing since “Punch Drunk Love” and memorable moments from Lakeith Stanfield and NBA basketball star Kevin Garnett, the film’s existence would be warranted even if it was only for the single moment of Julia Fox saying “uncut jamzzzz” that went viral on Tiktok.

• Room (2015)

  

  Starring: Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Joan Allen, Sean Bridgers, William H. Macy
  Director: Lenny Abrahamson
  Writer(s): Emma Donoghue (based on “Room” by Emma Donoghue)
  Producer(s): Ed Guiney, David Gross

  Brie Larson gets to cement herself as one of the gifted actresses of her generation while co-leading her drama with the young Jacob Tremblay. Nominated for best picture, the adaptation is a fresh and honest look at PTSD and the general wonderment of the world from a child’s perspective. It also asks Hollywood, why isn’t Joan Allen in more movies and can we please get her an Oscar one day soon?

• '20th Century Women' (2016)

  

  Starring: Annette Bening, Elle Fanning, Greta Gerwig, Billy Crudup, Lucas Jade Zumann
  Director: Mike Mills
  Writer(s): Mike Mills
  Producer(s): Megan Ellison, Anne Carey, Youree Henley

  Displaying Annette Bening’s best performance since “American Beauty” (1999) and Greta Gerwig’s career best outing, Mike Mills’ period drama offers meditation and. The surprise original screenplay nom for Mills at the Academy Awards was a welcome surprise, but it was worthy of so much more.

• 'Eighth Grade' (2018)

  

  Starring: Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton, Emily Robinson, Jake Ryan, Fred Hechinger
  Director: Bo Burnham
  Writer(s): Bo Burnham
  Producer(s): Eli Bush, Scott Rudin, Christopher Storer, Lila Yacoub

  The innocence and struggle of a 13-year-old girl is captured lavishly by debut director Bo Burnham in his hit dramedy “Eighth Grade.” Bestowing the gift of newcomer Elsie Fisher, he beat some incredible odds to beat out the likes of Bradley Cooper (“A Star is Born”) for the DGA prize for first-time directing. We sure wish the original screenplay nom would have come along for Oscar.

• 'Waves' (2019)

  

  Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr, Lucas Hedges, Taylor Russell, Alexa Demie, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Sterling K. Brown
  Director: Trey Edward Shults
  Writer(s): Trey Edward Shults
  Producer(s): Kevin Turen, James Wilson, Trey Edward Shults

  It may be a heavy sit for many cinephiles but not all vivid expressions should be easy. Schults’ respectful portrait of addiction and regret made stars out of Kelvin Harrison Jr and Taylor Russell, with some of the best uses of panoramic camera work ever shown in modern cinema.

• 'Minari' (2020)

  

  Starring: Steven Yeun, Yeri Han, Yuh-jung Youn, Alan Kim, Noel Kate Cho, Will Patton
  Director: Lee Isaac Chung
  Writer(s): Lee Isaac Chung
  Producer(s): Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Christina Oh

  Lee Isaac Chung gets up close and personal with the predominately Asian cast, offering the world a much-needed redefining of what makes an American movie. With tender turns throughout, notably by the overlooked Yeri Han, and the comical and scene-stealing balance of Yuh Jung-Youn, the playful and narrative focus doesn’t rely on big set pieces in order to get the tearducts flowing. The characters take up that job.

• 'Past Lives' (2023)

  

  Starring: Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, John Magaro
  Director: Celine Song
  Writer(s): Celine Song
  Producer(s): David Hinojosa, Christine Vachon, Pamela Koffler

  “Past Lives” writer and director Celine Song handles the delicate themes of love and destiny surrounding the Korean Buddhist concept of In-Yun — the connection, fate and destiny of two people. It’s a tear-jerker that has the power to change your cinematic DNA, given its powerhouse ensemble of actors (Greta Lee, Tee Yoo and John Magaro) and reinventing a genre we thought we knew all too well.

• 'Ex Machina' (2015)

  

  Starring: Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, Alicia Vikander, Sonoya Mizuno, Gana Bayarsaikhan, Corey Johnson
  Director: Alex Garland
  Writer(s): Alex Garland
  Producer(s): Andrew Macdonald, Allon Reich

  Alex Garland is brave, and he holds nothing back when he makes a film. I will always be reminded of conversing with the late producer Steve Golin at a tastemaker event for “Spotlight,” who shared that “Ex Machina” was by far his favorite film of the year, along with many of his friends. Maybe it was the dance moves of Oscar Isaac, the sultry elegance of Alicia Vikander or daring depiction by Domhnall Gleeson. The safer answer is all of the above. Although it wasn’t nominated for best picture, who could forget its jaw dropping win for visual effects against four other bigger movies?

• 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' (2022)

  

  Starring: Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, Jenny Slate, Harry Shun Jr., James Hong, Jamie Lee Curtis
  Director: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
  Writer(s): Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
  Producer(s): Dan Kwan, Mike Larocca, Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Daniel Scheinert, Jonathan Wang

  In The Daniels’ comically charged look at the multiverse, they exquisitely allow the visual cues on screen to assist in the spot-on performances of the dynamic cast. Michelle Yeoh is grounded in a role that’s just as emotionally challenging as it is physically demanding. One of the heroes by the end credits is the riveting turn of Stephanie Hsu as Joy, the daughter and “threat” to the multiverse. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the return of “Goonies” actor Ke Huy Quan, utterly brilliant, and Jamie Lee Curtis, as committed as ever.

• 'The Farewell' (2019)

  

  Starring: Awkwafina, Tzi Ma, Diana Lin, Zhao Shuzhen
  Director: Lulu Wang
  Writer(s): Lulu Wang
  Producer(s): Daniele Melia, Marc Turtletaub, Peter Saraf, Andrew Miano, Chris Weitz, Jane Zheng, Lulu Wang, Anita Gou

  It’s not just about the laughs in Lulu Wang’s carefully designed picture, which showed that Awkwafina could go on to explore more challenging characters in the future. She clearly knocks it out of the park in every frame. Even more spirited is Zhao Shuzhen, who always provided a pathway for Yuh Jung-Youn (“Minari”) the following year. With Anna Franquesa Solano’s stunning camera movements, it begs the question — why aren’t we getting a collaboration with these two once a year?

• 'The Zone of Interest' (2023)

  

  Starring: Christian Friedel, Sandra Hüller
  Director: Jonathan Glazer
  Writer(s): Jonathan Glazer (based on “The Zone of Interest” by Martin Amis)
  Producer(s): James Wilson, Ewa Puszczyńska

  Jonathan Glazer’s 105-minute exploration of a bleak Nazi drama, told from the perpetrator’s viewpoint is a harrowing journey. Rather than relying on imagery to depict the atrocities leading to the murder of six million Jews, Glazer, alongside his frequent sound collaborator Johnnie Burn, crafts a haunting soundscape that leaves a lasting impact. The film won two Oscars for interenational feature and sound.

• 'A Most Violent Year' (2014)

  

  Starring: Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain, David Oyelowo, Alessandra Nivola, Albert Brooks, Elyes Gabel
  Director: J.C. Chandor
  Writer(s): J.C. Chandor
  Producer(s): J.C. Chandor, Neal Dodson, Anna Gerb

  A period drama that sits comfortably in the arsenal of writer and director J.C. Chandor as his best film, the Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain vehicle is powerfully ambitious as it pushes to challenge the viewer with its imagery and underlying themes. It’s also a craftsman masterclass from the always brilliant Bradford Young behind the camera and subtle beauty from Alex Ebert’s music.

• 'Close' (2022)

  

  Starring: Eden Dambrine, Gustav de Waele,
  Director: Lukas Dhont
  Writer(s): Lukas Dhont, Angelo Tijssens
  Producer(s): Dirk Impens, Michiel Dhont

  Lukas Dhont crafts one of the most poignant coming-of-age dramas in recent memory, delving into the lives of Léo (Eden Dambrine) and Rémi (Gustav de Waele), two thirteen-year-old boys whose summer bond is tested upon returning to school. The tender beauty adeptly captures moments of existential uncertainty and emotional disconnection, themes universally resonant yet challenging to portray. Drawing parallels to acclaimed films like “Boyhood” (2014) and “Moonlight” (2016), this narrative has the power to profoundly impact viewers, evoking heartbreak. Nominated for international feature, representing Belgium, it stands as a testament to the depth and quality found in non-English cinema, which deserves greater recognition.

• 'C’mon C’mon' (2021)

  

  Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Gaby Hoffmann, Scoot McNairy, Molly Webster, Woody Norman
  Director: Mike Mills
  Writer(s): Mike Mills
  Producer(s): Chelsea Barnard, Lila Yacoub, Andrea Longacre-White

  What’s incredible about Mike Mills’ modest but beautiful “C’mon C’mon” is that it’s clearly not for everyone who loves movies, and that’s why it sits so high on this list. It speaks directly to the soul with its art-house flavor, which Mills does not shy away from, and its lingering in an individual moment. In addition, it features what is Joaquin Phoenix’s single greatest performance as he steers his Johnny with an articulate countenance, yet unsure of himself. Robbie Ryan’s black-and-white cinematography is the chef’s kiss on this delicious endeavor that includes the sweetness of newcomer Woody Norman and the underrated Gaby Hoffman.

• 'Lady Bird' (2017)

  

  Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts, Lucas Hedges, Timothée Chalamet, Beanie Feldstein, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Lois Smith
  Director: Greta Gerwig
  Writer(s): Greta Gerwig
  Producer(s): Scott Rudin, Eli Bush, Evelyn O’Neill

  Making her debut as a solo director, Greta Gerwig captured an accurate snapshot of a high school senior in 2002, simply trying to figure herself out. Capturing the mundane and comical daily life of a teenager, Saoirse Ronan became a beloved pop culture symbol, while Laurie Metcalf brought new depths to the familiar role of a coming-of-age film mother. The film’s four Oscar noms are all well-deserved and gave mainstream audiences a chance to see the awesomeness that is Beanie Feldstein.

• 'Moonlight' (2016)

  

  Starring: Trevante Rhodes, André Holland, Janelle Monáe, Ashton Sanders, Jharrel Jerome, Naomie Harris, Mahershala Ali
  Director: Barry Jenkins
  Writer(s): Barry Jenkins, Tarell Alvin McCraney
  Producer(s): Adele Romanski, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner

  A stunning insight into the life of a young Black man coming to terms with his sexuality, Barry Jenkins’ empathetic and resounding film captured the hearts of audiences and the Hollywood industry. One of the decade’s finest ensembles is at work here, with standouts by Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali, Oscar-nominee Naomie Harris, and the unsung heroes of Trevante Rhodes and Janelle Monáe. Not to mention the introduction of young sensations Jharrel Jerome and Ashton Sanders. All of their beauty is captured against the blue hues of cinematographer James Laxton. “Moonlight” also featured the first Black woman to be nominated for editing with Joi McMillon, plus a notable score by Nicholas Britell.