It’s that time of year again! A time to reflect on the last 12 months and (my personal favorite) make lots of lists that people will skim through. See? You’re already skimming!

Last year (2023) was one of the most enjoyable movie-years I’ve ever had. Last December, I reviewed a bunch of 2023 films and ranked them here, including Barbie, Oppenheimer, The Holdovers, and more! One goal for this year was to watch more new movies. And I did just that! Not only did I watch a bunch of new movies, but I went to the theater over a dozen times, and each visit was absolutely worth the money. I love movie theaters. Let’s not let them die off, okay?

By my money, 2024 was actually better than 2023 for new movies, and I’m hoping the trend can continue in 2025. But I doubt it. It’s gonna be pretty, pretty hard to beat out this year for me personally…

Side note: I didn’t watch as many this year as I would’ve liked, and I missed a bunch of big ones, such as Gladiator 2, Monkey Man, and more. So let me know what I missed out on in the comment section! (I did get around to a bunch of other movies on a bonus post, so check it out, too.)

Top Tier: Elite Movies

Dune: Part Two– 10/10

I mean, what else? Am I right? I didn’t expect to love this movie so much, but it absolutely dominated the first half of 2024 for me. I had to write a big old review, even. The score is perfect. The acting is phenomenal. And it’s one of those rare movies where every scene gets better and better; every scene makes your jaw drop. It might not hit the same at home, but I saw it 3x in theater, and I’m going again whenever they re-release. 10/10.

The Bikeriders–9.5/1o

I saw this one in theaters on a whim because the trailer looked really cool and I was trying to find something I actually liked with Austin Butler after Dune: Part Two. (No, Elvis, no.)

He really excels in this movie, but he’s not even the best part! Jodie Comer is also incredible, and she’s not the best, either. Tom Hardy, without a doubt, steals the show. I’d describe this movie as a tale about King Arthur, except with biker gangs in Chicago in the 60’s. You absolutely need to see it if you haven’t already.

Second Tier: Great Movies

Longlegs–8.5/10

Until Nosferatu came out, this was my favorite horror movie of the year. It’s super creepy, very atmospheric, and it has some of the best acting performances of 2024. A little Nic Cage, anybody? (Actually, he’s good in this. I’m being serious. Just trust me.) Plus, I love the blend of surreal humor, traditional horror, and Silence of the Lambs influence. I dove into more about Longlegs in my full review.

This movie really reminded me that horror is one of the few genres where new material is not at a premium and directors are constantly telling new, exciting stories. If you’re tired of the Marvel/Disney slop (like I am), then check out more thrillers in 2025 and find yourself amazed.

Hit Man–9/10

Speaking of Marvel/Disney slop, have you been looking for a rom-com that feels like the golden age of romance-comedies? Maybe starring Glen Powell and Adria Arjona, who is an absolute revelation? –Side note: I really need to rewatch this, but I can’t get into Netflix anymore 😦

If you haven’t seen Hit Man, you really need to. It’s my favorite rom-com in years. I know a lot of people liked Anyone But You, also starring Glen Powell, but this movie is 10x better and way more fun. It’s really a must watch. Just do it. Don’t question me. Try it. Merry Christmas.

Drive Away Dolls–8/10

Let’s stick with comedies! This one is a bit more raunchy than Hit Man, but just as well-made. I chose to watch this because of Geraldine Viswanathan (from Miracle Workers, among others), but Margaret Qualley is probably the more famous actor now and she even appears again on this list!

This movie is so outlandish and goofy, but it has enough heart to feel very rewarding. There’s also a wild little Pedro Pascal cameo and a lot of self-discovery along the way for the two lead actresses. I really enjoyed this! Might be time for a rewatch.

The Substance–8.5/10

Alright, alright. The Substance. I didn’t ever review this movie, but it really sticks with you, and I’ve got some thoughts to share. Plus, Margaret Qualley is back!

#1: It’s good! It’s very good. The writing, acting, and cinematography are exactly what I was hoping for. I didn’t know anything going into the movie, and the plot has enough twists to keep you surprised and on your toes. It’s a beautiful movie, and it’s also very gross.

#2: This is one of my favorite “gorey” movies I’ve ever seen because of how unique it goes about that goal. It doesn’t rely on typical, violent gore, at least at first. There’s a scene with shrimp that will make you squirm. Multiple shots that drop your jaw. I really thought the filmmaking was stellar.

This movie probably deserves a full review, but I’m busy! Let’s just say it’s shocking for the full runtime, and there’s not a boring moment in the whole film.

Third Tier: Good! Enjoyable!

BeatleJuice, Beatlejuice–8/10

Let’s movie a little quicker through these last two sections, shall we? Beatlejuice, Beatlejuice was a lot better than I expected in basically every way. It was funny, it felt like classic Tim Burton, and I wasn’t let down. I mean, the scene where the woman staples herself together?? Classic Tim Burton! Loved it.

Plus, Jenna Ortega never misses, in any role, and I’ll still never watch Wednesday, but she’s so, so good in everything.

Miller’s Girl–7/10

This one got real weird, real fast. But hey, Jenna Ortega again! She never misses. The cast overall has great chemistry and while the movie is very strange, I think it’s on purpose.

Basically, the premise of this movie is an illicit affair between a college teacher (Martin Freeman) and their student. There’s lots of extremely-specific English references, due to him being an English teacher, and lots of overly-horny writing passages and seductive readings. I enjoyed it! But it was strange. Definitely not for everyone, and definitely not a perfect movie.

Challengers–7.5/10

Challengers not in the top two tiers? Yeah, sorry…

So, I liked this movie! Genuinely, I did. And because of this movie, I’ve been playing tennis more often, losing badly to my wife, and having great fun with it. I thought the cinematography was great, as I expected, and there was some good storytelling throughout. However, it was a little over-hyped. The more intimate scenes were basically PG-13, like they’d probably fit on Disney Channel, and the characters/dialogue sometimes felt flat. It didn’t ruin the movie, at all, but I didn’t thoroughly love it.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes– 6/10

Maxxxine–6/10

Alright, last two before we get to the ugly ones. I enjoyed both of these movies, but they each had flaws, for sure.

Kingdom is just nowhere near as good as the trilogy it follows. I enjoyed it, but it didn’t leave any resonating notes with me.

Maxxxine is similarly flawed. It’s a good movie, but it’s not a great sequel, and it doesn’t even come close to the highs of X and Pearl. (I reviewed those here.)

Bottom Tier: Bad, even Ugly…

Night Swim–4.4/10

I mean, this one kinda sucks. I wrote a review of it here, but basically, it starts to win you over, and then shoots itself in the foot. Repeatedly. And splashes around crying after it does.

So many, “The water chose him!” lines. So many shots of people swimming. Well, I choose to forget about this movie! (Actually, though, it’s not that bad if you want to watch with friends and mock the attempted scares and frights. It’s good for that purpose, specifically.)

Ricky Stanicky–2/10

Why not end 2024 by talking about the worst mistake I made all year? (Okay, maybe not the worst, but it’s up there.)

Why? Why did I even try this godawful movie? (Because I typically like Zac Efron, that’s why. And I was desperate to find a new comedy I didn’t hate.)

I hadn’t yet seen Hit Man. I was searching for something else funny. This is not funny. This is not good. This is one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen. *Sigh* So go watch those instead and save yourself!!

But seriously: Thanks for sticking around, for reading my blog, and I hope you’ve had a great 2024! Tell me what your favorite movies were and I’ll try to watch those, too 🙂 Plus: Read more 2024 movies I watched right here.