20 Best Movies Of 2024 (So Far)
The best films of the year so far, from Furiosa to All of Us Strangers.
Despite the fact we're barely halfway through 2024, we've been blessed with a wide variety of brilliant big screen offerings, from epic sci-fi spectacles to introspective character studies, and silly little rom-coms that pay affecting homage to stunt performers.
This year has already proven itself an interesting one for cinema, not least because large franchises such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe have very few films to offer, allowing less mainstream productions to take centre stage, rather than be buried by the box office.
Likewise, the last five months have been particularly strong for horror, with gems such as Immaculate and Abigail delivering genuine thrills, and romantic comedies like Anyone But You hitting the box office to unexpected popularity.
On the whole, though, the first half of 2024 has been a year for sombre dramas and late-career efforts from veteran filmmakers delivering contemplative masterstrokes. There's tragic tales of a doomed wrestling dynasty, a romance with ghosts, feminist social satires, and even new Planet of the Apes and Mad Max sequels.
It's been a busy few months, but what a time it is to go to the movies!
With that in mind, here are the 20 best movies of 2024 (and one we missed from 2023!) so far.
20. The Iron Claw
In many ways, The Iron Claw isn't as heartbreaking as it could be, often leaving its tragedies off-screen and quickly sidelined. And yet, despite this, it's still a film that lingers on the mind.
A big reason for this is the cast, particularly a haunted Zac Efron (how far he's come!) and bitter Jeremy Allen White, who bring to life the various members of the doomed Von Erich wrestling dynasty with palpable discomfort and unwavering empathy.
Directed by Sean Durkin, who finds powerful imagery in the film's unsettling wrestling sequences, The Iron Claw is compassionate and horrible in equal measure, following the Von Erich brothers - sons to a cruel and distant father - as they succumb to the pressure of their careers and home lives with tragic results.
As noted, it sometimes skips over the big moments to make way for the next, but the mark it leaves is indelible, especially in a tear-jerking final scene shared by Efron and his loving on-screen kids.