from Inside out 2 to Beetlejuice BeetlejuiceAll but one The 10 highest-grossing films of 2024 was a continuation (evil He was the only one who was gay.) Which should not surprise anyone. For decades, the top of the box office has been governed by sequels, prequels, reboots, and reimaginings. But since when have a film’s gross receipts been an indicator of its quality?
The truth is that in 2024, as in most years, some of the most compelling movies to be released are titles you’ve probably never heard of (which is unfortunate). You have plenty of time to right that wrong, starting with these 10 invisible gems.
Anura
if Beautiful woman She never got the Extreme Hollywood Makeover, and instead was portrayed as A dark, drug-fueled tale of sex and violence That first landed on the desks of studio executives, it probably looked a little like that Anura. Annie (Mickey Madison) is a New York City sex worker whose life is turned upside down by Vanya Zakharov (Mark Edelstein), the fun-loving if floundering son of a Russian oligarch. After paying Ani $15,000 to spend the week with him, the two travel to Las Vegas, where Vanya proposes marriage—mostly so he can get a green card and avoid returning to Russia, but also because he promises he loves Ani. When Vanya’s parents learn of his engagement, they send two of their trusted henchmen to extricate their son from this new romantic entanglement, at any cost. Madison (Once upon a time…in Hollywood2022 Screaming) is an absolute revelation as the frantic princess at the heart of this “fairy tale.” It ends in heartbreak, sure, but also in self-discovery. Writer and director Sean Baker (Red rocket, Florida Project, Tangerine) has once again succeeded in changing the conversation about sex workers and other marginalized people to create a new kind of love story. while Anura It received a small theatrical release, and its five Golden Globe nominations — including nods for Madison and Baker for Best Director, Best Screenplay, and a nomination for Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy — should certainly bring the project more attention that it deserves.
Cyclists
Austin Butler brings a serious James Dean vibe as Benny Cross, a very handsome member of Chicago’s Vandals Motorcycle Club. When the film begins in 1965, Benny seems to have it all: he is the right-hand man of Johnny Davis (Tom Hardy), the club’s founder, and has just met – and soon married – Kathy Bauer (Jodie Comer), a businesswoman. A newcomer to the world of motorcycle club. This proves to be both an aid and a hindrance to Penny over the next decade, as the film traces the growth of the subversives and how the country’s crushing disillusionment seeps into its DNA. Written and directed by Jeff Nichols, the film is based on Danny Lyon’s 1968 picture book of the same name, which traces the development of the very real Outlaws MC in Chicago. Go along for the ride.
Blink twice
Zoe Kravitz proves she can really do it all as the co-writer, producer, and (first-time) director behind this harrowing meditation on the power of vast wealth. Cocktail waitress Frida (Naomi Ackie) and her best friend Jess (Alia Shawkat) are working at a cocktail party when they meet Slater King (Channing Tatum), a notorious tech billionaire who recently stepped down as president of the company he founded due to some problems. Some kind of questionable behavior – the details of which are not fully known. He and Frida agreed, and he invited the two women to join him and a group of friends on his private island for a weekend of partying and pampering. That’s exactly what they get, although Frieda can’t shake the feeling that something is wrong. This paranoia turns to panic when Jess suddenly disappears and King’s other guests don’t seem to remember she was there in the first place. Blink twice It’s not a perfect film, but Kravitz’s willingness to boldly confront dark issues with wit and dark humor heralds her status as a bold filmmaker on the rise.
Show forgiveness
Tarell (André Holland in a career-best performance) is a successful painter and a loving husband and father who believes he has moved on from the abuse he suffered as a child at the hands of his father, Laron (John Earl Gilkes). ). But when LaRon resurfaces after years of estrangement and looks to reconnect with his son, old wounds resurface for Tarell, whose mother (Aonjanu Ellis-Taylor) desperately wants to see father and son reunite. Acclaimed artist Titus Kabar mines his haunted history for this haunting, semi-autobiographical meditation on family, generational trauma, and the power of forgiveness—if you can actually find your way to it.
Patella
Just because Patella Just because he’s been a hit on the festival circuit doesn’t mean he’ll be a hit everyone The attention it deserves. Rich Peppiatt makes his directorial debut with this fantastic film about the hip-hop trio that bears his name, which formed in Belfast in 2017 and is still going strong. The real band members – Liam Óg “Mo Chara” Ó Hannaidh, Naoise “Móglaí Bap” Ó Cairealláin, and JJ “DJ Próvaí” Ó Dochartaigh, who rap in a mix of English and Irish – play their part in this raucous comedy. The film is set in 2019. More than just a musical biopic, it is about the continuing influence of The Troubles and the “ceasefire kids” who came after it. But it’s also about how three young artists use music to share a political message and save their (and dying) native language.
Juror No. 2
Since 1992 release the unforgivenClint Eastwood has received 11 Academy Award nominations, winning four, including two for Best Director. Which makes the decision of Warner Bros. By burial Juror No. 2– which some have suggested will be Eastwood’s final film – is even more surprising. Especially considering how good it was. Clint loves a good moral dilemma (see: Million dollar baby), and Juror No. 2 It poses a great question: What if you were called to sit on the jury in a high-profile murder case… only to realize that you may have been the person who caused the victim’s death? That’s the question Justin Kemp (Nicholas Hoult) must grapple with in this multi-layered courtroom drama.
Monkey man
Academy Award nominee Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire) steps behind the camera to make his directorial debut with the action-packed revenge thriller. Years after witnessing the brutal death of his mother at the hands of Rana Singh (Sikander Kher), corrupt cop Kidd (Patel) chooses to take an eye for an eye approach. While working at an underground fight club where Singh often appears, Kid hatches an ambitious and sinister plan to get revenge on his mother.
My old ass
As long as movies have been marketed, there are some movies that have been poorly marketed. while My old ass It received a very heavy dose of promotion, thanks in part to having the lovable cynic Aubrey Plaza as one of its stars, and it may have lost a significant portion of its audience by making it seem like a drug-addicted one. Freaky Friday-meets-The Lakehouse Kind of picture. Truly, it’s an incredibly funny and poignant coming-of-age film, in which 18-year-old Elliot (Maisie Stella) is encouraged to use her last summer at home before moving off to college as a time to slow down and truly appreciate people (read: parents) and places (read :home) Many teens take it for granted. Yes, Plaza comes across as the older Elliott — and she imparts this wisdom — but her screen time is much more limited than you might think. So appreciate every moment of it too, as much as you can.
The command
Jude Law gives a great performance playing against type as Terry Hosk, a veteran FBI agent tasked with investigating a bewildering series of daylight robberies that escalate in violence. Eventually, Hosk becomes convinced that the crimes are the work of a white supremacist group using stolen money to fund a violent uprising. Hosk’s investigation pits him against Bob Matthews (Nicholas Hoult again, in an equally brilliant – and genre-busting – performance), the beloved leader of the neo-Nazi group known as The Order. The movie is Based on a true storyand adapted from the 1989 book by Kevin Flynn and Gary Gerhardt Silent brothers.
Rebel Ridge
Director Jeremy Saulnier (Green room, Murder party) returns to the big screen for the first time in six years with this crime thriller that will be remembered as the film that turned Aaron Bier into a bona fide star. Terry Richmond (Pierre), a former Marine, travels to Shelby Springs, Louisiana, to post bail for his cousin Mike (C.J. LeBlanc), who has gotten himself into some sort of trouble. Richmond soon finds himself in the crosshairs of the local police department, when the authorities illegally confiscate the money he brought with him, which happens to be his life savings. Finding justice in this small town won’t be as easy as filling out a complaint form. The local police, led by Chief Sandy Byrne (Don Johnson), have no plans to let Richmond ruin the good thing they’ve had.
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