The 10 Best FILMS of 2024. Readers’ Ranking

Here are the best films of 2024 according to readers (based on European release dates). Be sure to let us know in the comments if any of your favorites made the list!

10. “The Wild Robot“

The Wild Robot is one of the most captivating and sincere animations I’ve seen in recent years. The film doesn’t just look absolutely stunning—it also explores themes that are significant to everyone, regardless of age. It does so in a bold, thoughtful, and moving way. There’s also plenty of surprising humor in The Wild Robot, which not only elevates the production to an even higher level but often intensifies the emotions felt by viewers. This animation will make you cry more than once, and those tears will be as beautiful as the love born from parenthood and friendship.

9. “The Zone of Interest”

Without a doubt, The Zone of Interest is one of the most terrifying films of 2024. Glazer and his team have created a masterpiece that speaks more profoundly about the Holocaust and the people behind it than most films that depict the atrocity more explicitly. This production examines the banality of evil on one hand, and on the other, it highlights that the worst evil lies in a soulless person who feels no guilt whatsoever.

8. “Deadpool & Wolverine“

If comic book films are amusement parks, Shawn Levy’s film is one I’d happily revisit as often as possible. It’s packed with fun, nostalgic cameo appearances, flawless chemistry between Reynolds and Jackman, and, at its heart, a truly touching story of two guys trying to prove something to the world. A fantastic entry for Deadpool into the MCU.

7. “Anatomy of a Fall“

Anatomy of a Fall is a kingdom of dialogue and words. Here, a bit of truth, there, slight distortions and incomplete honesty, and elsewhere, the prosecutor’s eristic bravado. It’s essentially an unsolvable case that nevertheless must end with some kind of verdict. Anatomy of a Fall is far more than a top-notch exercise in crime fiction (with an A+ grade). It’s a humanistic reflection on what brings people closer and what tears relationships apart from within. In the finale, Sandra asks a piercing question, challenging the legal system and the individual’s place within it. Between guilt and innocence lies a gray zone. Justine Triet couldn’t have left us in a better place.

6. “Alien: Romulus“

Alien: Romulus reminded me why I love the Alien universe—something I’d somewhat forgotten in recent years. Yes, I’m aware that Alien: Romulus will divide audiences because it’s far from perfect, entirely derivative, and borders on being a remake/reboot of the series. Additionally, the characters’ motivations in the finale can be somewhat… odd. However, I firmly believe that Álvarez achieved what was squandered in Prometheus and Alien: Covenant—he crafted a narratively simple but perfectly executed monster-body-horror survival tale set in space. Moreover, it’s made with incredible visual craftsmanship. I could watch dozens of such reimaginings because, despite their simplicity and considerable fan service, they still stand firmly on their own two feet.

5. “The Holdovers“

The Holdovers draws inspiration from the American New Wave not only stylistically but also in its entire narrative, deep character portrayals, themes (rebellion, moral dilemmas, systemic corruption, Vietnam, youth vs. age, ideals vs. career), and its blend of protest (embodied by Angus) with intellectualism (embodied by Hunham). The film’s slower, snow-dusted tempo feels like it was hibernated decades ago and delivered to us today, untouched, like a message in a bottle from a bygone era when auteur cinema still powered Hollywood.

4. “Civil War“

Alex Garland’s Civil War takes no prisoners—both figuratively and literally. It’s a universal yet profoundly American anti-war poetic statement, mercilessly exposing the grotesque and terror of armed conflict. This is the kind of film where the message and spectacle are so overwhelming that you hardly notice the simplicity of the plot or narrative tools. The relentless emotional blows keep coming, leaving you reeling, until the final punch knocks you into a corner. Defeated.

3. “The Substance“

The Substance soars in its first two acts, as the symbiosis between Elisabeth and Sue evolves into jealousy. When cracks (but not yet fractures) appear in their shared plan of action, when mutual interests turn into irreconcilable conflicts, and when jealousy and revenge dominate the emotional spectrum, the story heads inevitably toward a bloody finale and a sharp genre shift. This transition teeters between unapologetic audacity, pastiche, and gore-filled spectacle. Coralie Fargeat either went too far or ascended to artistic greatness. Either way, she undoubtedly won.

2. “Poor Things“

Poor Things is an unrestrained tale of rebellion against so-called societal norms. It’s a mesmerizing film about the need for freedom—freedom from the roles imposed on people, especially women. It’s also an explosion of Yorgos Lanthimos’s wild imagination. Poor Things is a confident, witty, and self-aware work marked by impeccable visual effects, execution, and a showstopping performance by Emma Stone.

1. “Dune: Part Two“

I wouldn’t call this my favorite film of the year, but it’s here that I experienced the sequence that left me the most awestruck—Paul’s first ride on a sandworm. This moment perfectly encapsulates the audiovisual brilliance of Villeneuve’s production, which dazzles with its visuals and sound and is clearly a product of the director’s passion and love for the source material. These are the kinds of blockbusters we want to see!