The first half of 2024 was a little later than usual, probably seeing the repercussions of the labour strikes still from 2023, but things picked up the further we got into the year. With big box office releases Inside Out 2, Deadpool & Wolverine, Dune: Part Two, Wicked and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, just some of the biggest earners from last year, getting butts in seats at cinemas. But we also saw some weird ‘bombs,’ with Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga not delivering to studio standards, and neither did The Fall Guy, even with super man-of-the-moment Ryan Gosling coming off the back of Barbie. If any pundits dared declare that casual movie-goers weren’t going to the cinema anymore, there would often be an oddity like Longlegs, partly due to its intense marketing campaign, having a massive opening. And then we saw films like Monkey Man getting saved from a ‘straight to streaming’ release,’ another positive for the year.

But with all the films released last year, just what were the best films from 2024? Here are our picks for the Top 30 Movies released in 2024.

30.) Bad Boys 4

Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett are back in the action, and the stakes are personal this time. They aim to balance family responsibilities with high-stakes police work. Their trademark humour and chemistry shine brighter than ever. With car chases, explosive confrontations, and unexpected twists, this instalment pushes the iconic duo to their limits while delivering the thrills fans love.

— Jacob Hegarty

29.) Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

The Ghostbusters return to face an icy supernatural threat that freezes New York City in its tracks. With a blend of nostalgia and innovation, this chapter unites familiar faces with a new generation of Ghostbusters. As they uncover the mystery behind the Frozen Empire, there are plenty of laughs, heartwarming moments, and slime-covered ghostly chaos that builds on the franchise’s legacy.

— Jacob Hegarty

28.) Deadpool & Wolverine

Deadpool and Wolverine come together for an exciting and entertaining movie. Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman reprise their iconic roles with a mix of hilarious jokes, action-packed scenes, and some surprisingly heartfelt moments. The duo dive into a world full of unexpected twists; their amazing chemistry adds a fresh and funny spin to superhero stories, making it a blast for everyone to enjoy.

— Jacob Hegarty

27.) Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story

A beautiful tribute to the actor who made you believe a man could fly. Super/Man provides a detailed look at the man who for many is their Superman, from his childhood to his acting career to his paralysis and battle to help those with spinal cord injuries. With interviews with family, friends and colleagues it is clear that Christopher Reeve was a beloved figure and this film will surely make you misty-eyed at this man’s life story.

— Ashley Hobley

26.) Drive Away Dolls

The first narrative film Ethan Coen has directed without his brother Joel is a delightful comedy that would not be amiss among the Coen Brothers films like Raising Arizona, O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Burn After Reading. Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan odd couple pairing is fantastic and Qualley‘s accent in this film is worth the price of admission to an Australian like me (may not have the same effect in the USA). A really fun road trip film that will surprise you with its McGuffin.

— Ashley Hobley

25.) Society of the Snow

Based on a true story of when a Uruguayan flight on its way to Chile crashed on a glacier in the middle of nowhere, the film follows the 16 survivors of the crash and what they must do to survive. Director J.A Bayona chose to film in chronological order, and it helps give the actors time to really embody the helplessness that overcomes them and the choices they must eventually make to survive. It’s a film about the human spirit and what we’ll do to live when pushed to do the edge.

— Dylan Blight

24.) Loves Lie Bleeding

In her follow-up to 2019’s Saint Maud, director Rose Glass moves away from religion and instead focuses on the darker side of Americana. Love Lies Bleeding features the star-making turn of Katy O’Brian, alongside a great performance from Kristen Stewart as the manager of the gym where Katy‘s character is working out; this is a love story like none other in 2024 and a wild trip that you must strap yourself in for.

— Dylan Blight

23.) Alien: Romulus

The Alien saga returns to its roots with a spine-tingling new instalment, this time with the crew of the Romulus. The colonists uncover a dark secret, and they must battle the Xenomorphs in a desperate fight for survival. The crew fights to survive this cosmic horror and tries to escape from not only the Xenomorphs but also Weyland-Yutani and their practices. This movie harkens back to the original two Alien films and strives to honour the originals and establish itself.

— Jacob Hegarty

22.) Monkey Man

In his directorial debut, Dev Patel delivers an action film like none other in 2024. What many thought was just going to be another John Wick-like from the early trailers turned out to be something completely different. It is a revenge film that is deeply rooted in one’s love for one’s family and has an interesting political backdrop rooted in Hindi mythology.

— Dylan Blight

21.) Hundreds of Beavers

This is a standout on this list, as there is nothing close to Hundreds of Beavers. This is a black-and-white, nearly silent film that’s a throwback to all the best slapstick comedy performers like Buster Keaton and others. I was constantly surprised with just how good this film was, as the jokes where built-upon each other in unique ways, all the while telling a silly Looney Tunes-like story.

— Dylan Blight

20.) The Wild Robot

This animated film from Dreamworks Animation introduces us to Roz (Lupita Nyong’o), Frink (Pedro Pascal) and Brightbill (Kit Connor), easily the most charming duo of characters seen on the big screen in 2024. The narrative in The Wild Robot is about Roz, a robot, trying to find her place in the world while trying to help Brightbill, a young goose, learn to fly and swim; with the help of a fox of all things, reaches into the type of humanitarian story elements we can all relate to, even without the human characters.

— Dylan Blight

19.) Blink Twice

Blink Twice is a great thriller that has you guessing what is going on until the twist is revealed. Then it becomes a wonderfully tense experience. Naomi Ackie and Adria Arjona are fantastic while Channing Tatum gives a surprising against-type performance. A promising debut feature from Zoe Kravitz.

— Ashley Hobley

18.) Longlegs

Longlegs is the best serial killer thriller we’ve had in a long time. Although it reaches for a lot more than just sitting in the genre, the film attempts to break it apart — somewhat. With terrific performances from Maika Monroe and Nicholas Cage, this was one of the year’s best horror films and the type of film that got you talking around the water cooler at work.

— Dylan Blight

17.)  I Saw The TV Glow

Owen (Justice Smith) isn’t allowed to watch ‘The Pink Opaque,’ a late-night show for teenagers, but when he meets Maddy (Brigette Lundy-Paine), the two form a unique bond over the show. But it’s more than the show itself; it’s what the two see within the characters and what it represents, a possible way for them to find their own feeling of belonging in a world they feel rejected from. I Saw The TV Glow is one of 2024’s best, and also one of the year’s most unique thrillers, and a showcase for larger types of filmmaking ideas for writer/director Jane Schoenbrun.

— Dylan Blight

16.) Gladiator 2

Twenty years after the original, Ridley Scott returns with an exciting sequel set in the Roman Colosseum. Gladiator 2 explores important themes such as heroism and sacrifice. It introduces the new main character, who becomes entangled in family loyalties and the complex politics of the Roman Empire. The battle scenes are visually stunning, and the plot features surprising twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This thrilling journey of revenge and redemption aims to honour the original film while establishing a memorable place in movie history.

— Jacob Hegarty

15.) Anatomy of a Fall

Justine Triet’s stellar legal drama is worthy of every single accolade it has been given. Anchored by a stunning performance by Sandra Hüller, the French film follows a woman trying to prove her innocence in her husband’s death. The investigation and trial are all fascinating to witness as you as the viewer aren’t sure what happened, thus bringing your own gut feel and biases to whether she is guilty or not.

— Ashley Hobley

14.) The Iron Claw

More than just a film for wrestling fans, The Iron Claw is a tragedy so sad that the filmmakers altered some elements just because they thought viewers wouldn’t believe it all if they kept everything as truthful as reality. It’s inescapably a sad film, but also one that’ll make you appreciate life just a little bit more. This is also the film to watch if you have any doubt there’s a good actor within Zac Efron, as he delivers a sensationally deep performance here, and easily his best work.

— Dylan Blight

13.) Transformers One

Return to the origins of Cybertron in this uniquely animated prequel. See the rise of Optimus Prime and Megatron as allies-turned-enemies in a story that explores the foundations of the epic Autobot-Decepticon conflict. See the familiar faces and names we have come to love over the years. With a jaw-dropping animation and a rich narrative that delves into the heart of loyalty, betrayal, and heroism, Transformers One sets the stage for a legendary saga.

— Jacob Hegarty

12.) Twisters

Twisters is the pulse-pounding follow-up to the 1996 classic we didn’t know we wanted. We see a new generation of storm chasers facing the ultimate test as unprecedented tornadoes ravage the Midwest. With state-of-the-art visual effects and a gripping story of resilience and courage, Twisters manages to combine emotional depth with edge-of-seat action, all while capturing the raw power of nature.

— Jacob Hegarty

11.) The Substance

The Substance challenges Hollywood ideals of women in a gripping, at times horrific body horror film. It’s driven by director Coralie Fargeat’s intense direction and control over style. It also features some of the year’s best performances with Margaret Qualley and especially Demi Moore in, possibly, a career-best performance for the actress who is sure to be hit with some Academy Award nomination love.

— Dylan Blight

10.) The Apprentice

The Apprentice is a timely film that examines what made Donald Trump the man that we see today. Sebastian Stan is fantastic as a young Trump who goes from a naive, slightly ambitious millionaire’s son to a ruthless property mogul under the mentorship of contentious attorney Roy Cohen, brilliantly depicted by Jeremy Strong. The mentor-mentee relationship between Trump and Cohn is the centrepiece of the film and to see that evolve over the film is well worth watching.

— Ashley Hobley

9.) Hit Man

Glenn Powell continued his Hollywood ascendency in Richard Linklater‘s latest film in which he plays a college professor who moonlights as an undercover New Orleans police contractor who poses as a reliable hitman. Powell takes full advantage of this crazy story, depicting varied crazy and over-the-top hitmen in this movie about our want and ability to change who we are and who we are viewed to be. Tense and comedic with a sprinkling of romance, Hit Man is a guaranteed crowd pleaser.

— Ashley Hobley

8.) The Fall Guy

Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling are stars in this amazing movie, and it is a tribute to stuntmen and women on the silver screen. Ryan plays a Hollywood stuntman who gets caught up in a conspiracy. While trying to solve the mystery of the missing star, not derail the movie and rekindle his relationship with his ex and director of the film, Emily Blunt. The director, David Leitch, sees the film feature jaw-dropping stunts, sharp wit, and a heartfelt story about perseverance and redemption. The Fall Guy is a celebration of daredevilry, blending humour and thrills.

— Jacob Hegarty

7.) Civil War

While much of the focus around Civil War is about how realistic it is or how unlikely those factions would come together, the film is far more in the story and experiences of journalists and photographers like those in the lead cast. With a top-notch cast with Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura and Cailee Spaney, Civil War follows these characters who are just as important as those fighting this war: the people who will write the history of these events. Tense, heart-breaking and thrilling, Alex Garland has again brought a thought-provoking experience to the big screen.

6.) Rebel Ridge

Rebel Ridge explores themes of systemic injustice and personal vengeance as it follows a veteran who confronts corruption and betrayal in a small town. It is a hard-hitting story of morality, survival, and the lengths one will go to for justice. The film features intense action sequences and thought-provoking commentary, all while delivering thrills and substance.

— Jacob Hegarty

5.) Anora

Sean Baker does a stellar job with this whirlwind romance that comes spectacularly comes crashing down. Led by a fearless and bold performance by Mikey Madison, Anora follows a stripper who, after a quick courtship marries, the son of a Russian Oligarch only for his parents to disapprove and demand an annulment at any cost. A fun and unpredictable time in the cinema

— Ashley Hobley

4.) Inside Out 2

Inside Out has been a beloved Pixar film since its release that for many parents became a tool in which to talk with their children, and Inside Out 2 looks like it will do the same things. With a bunch of new emotions introduced while Riley is at a hockey camp, the older viewers have a relatable story of those awkward teenage years where you start to feel embarrassment and jealousy, while kids are sure to enjoy the antics of Joy and co. The film’s depiction of anxiety in particular is remarkable and sure to be a help to many out there struggling with it.

— Ashley Hobley

3.) Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

George Miller returned to the Wasteland once more to tell the story of the breakout character from Mad Max: Fury Road – Furiosa. Charting her life from her kidnapping from the Green Place through to the moments before Fury Road, we see what it would take for someone to survive in the Wasteland while also fleshing out the world. Anya Taylor-Joy is great as Furiosa with big shoes to fill while Chris Hemsworth makes for a fantastic deranged villain for Fuirosa to overcome. With some of the most incredible action sequences you could witness this year, Furiosa is a must-watch.

— Ashley Hobley

2.) Challengers

There’s a moment at the end of Challengers where Zendaya’s character Tashi stands up and cheers, and it’s equivalent to what I did after watching the film for the first time. This sexy sports film backs a love triangle up against tennis and uses it to explore the three leads in a love-triangle love you’ve never seen before. Alongside Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor give some of the year’s best performances here, and it’s all backed by a sensational, I can’t get it out of my head original score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

— Dylan Blight

1.) Dune: Part Two

The sci-fi epic we were all craving after the release of Dune in 2021 lived up to our very high expectations. With all the pieces is place after the first film, Denis Villeneuve is able to explore the world of Arrakkis, delve into the ways of the Fremen and chart Paul Atttrides’ journey to becoming Lisan al Gaib, whether by destiny or his own choice. An incredible big scale masterpiece that showcases amazing filmmaking on all levels.

— Ashley Hobley

Check out the rest of our Best of 2024 coverage over here now!