A Glean movie guide
The Best Movies of 2024
The definitive 2024 watchlist.
From sweeping sci-fi epics to intimate indie darlings, these are the year's essential films.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
Anora
A chaotic and vibrant romantic odyssey that earned the prestigious Palme d'Or at Cannes.
A young sex worker from Brooklyn gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and impulsively marries the son of an oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as his parents set out to get the marriage annulled.
- 02
Dune: Part Two
A visually staggering sci-fi masterpiece that expands the scale of cinematic storytelling.
Follow the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a path of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, Paul endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.
- 03
The Brutalist
An ambitious, 70mm epic following an immigrant architect’s decades-long journey in America.
When an innovative modern architect flees post-war Europe, he is given the opportunity to rebuild his legacy. Set during the dawn of the modern United States (in Pennsylvania), his wife joins him, and their lives are forever changed by a demanding, wealthy patron.
- 04
Sing Sing
A deeply moving drama about the transformative power of art within the prison system.
Divine G, imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn't commit, finds purpose by acting in a theatre group alongside other incarcerated men in this story of resilience, humanity, and the transformative power of art.
- 05
The Wild Robot
A breathtakingly animated adventure that explores the intersection of nature and technology.
After a shipwreck, an intelligent robot called Roz is stranded on an uninhabited island. To survive the harsh environment, Roz bonds with the island's animals and cares for an orphaned baby goose.
- 06
Challengers
A high-tension sports drama fueled by electric performances and a pulsing electronic score.
Tennis player turned coach Tashi has taken her husband, Art, and transformed him into a world-famous Major champion. To jolt him out of his recent losing streak, she signs him up for a "Challenger" event — close to the lowest level of pro tournament — where he finds himself standing across the net from his former best friend and Tashi's former boyfriend.
- 07
The Substance
A bold and visceral body-horror satire that takes a sharp look at the price of fame.
A fading celebrity decides to use a black market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.
- 08
Emilia Pérez
A daring, genre-bending musical that blends cartel crime with a story of self-discovery.
Rita, an underrated lawyer working for a large law firm more interested in getting criminals out of jail than bringing them to justice, is hired by the leader of a criminal organization.
- 09
Conclave
A gripping, star-studded thriller that pulls back the curtain on the Vatican’s most secret election.
After the unexpected death of the Pope, Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with managing the covert and ancient ritual of electing a new one. Sequestered in the Vatican with the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders until the process is complete, Lawrence finds himself at the center of a conspiracy that could lead to its downfall.
- 10
Inside Out 2
A clever and relatable sequel that masterfully personifies the complexities of teenage anxiety.
Teenager Riley's mind headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions! Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust, who’ve long been running a successful operation by all accounts, aren’t sure how to feel when Anxiety shows up. And it looks like she’s not alone.
- 11
Hit Man
A sharp, witty action-comedy featuring a breakout performance from Glen Powell.
A mild-mannered professor moonlighting as a fake hit man in police stings ignites a chain reaction of trouble when he falls for a potential client.
- 12
All We Imagine as Light
A poetic and atmospheric look at connection and solitude in the heart of Mumbai.
In Mumbai, Nurse Prabha's routine is troubled when she receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband. Her younger roommate, Anu, tries in vain to find a spot in the city to be intimate with her boyfriend. A trip to a beach town allows them to find a space for their desires to manifest.