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The 10 best movies of 2024 and where to watch them

From Anora and Babygirl to Nickel Boys and Emilia Perez, here's our roundup of the best movies of 2024

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It was quite the year for movies — several films left an indelible mark on critics and moviegoing audiences as we were transported from the halls of the Vatican to behind the walls of a prison. From indie films to studio blockbusters, there were dozens of movies that moved us, shocked us, thrilled us and surprised us, whether it was sex work or sex at work.

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Nicole Kidman got spicy in Babygirl, Angelina Jolie got loud in Maria and Demi Moore got bloody in The Substance. These actresses gave their career best as they inhabited their on-screen characters, with their work already garnering Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award nominations, and soon Oscars to follow.

Critics cheered for Anora‘s Mikey Madison who gave a breakout performance as a sex worker in the screwball comedy. At the same time, Colman Domingo returned as an incarcerated man with another heartfelt performance in Sing Sing.

Below, we’ve rounded out the top 10 best movies you should watch before award season rolls in. Honourable mentions: Challengers, The Brutalist and A Complete Unknown.

Anora

Anora
‘Anora.’ Photo by Neon

Cast: Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yura Borisov.

Synopsis: Anora, a sex worker from Brooklyn, gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and marries the son of a Russian oligarch. However, once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale life is threatened as his parents try to get the marriage annulled.

Why watch:
This is easily one of the best films of the year and perhaps one of director Sean Baker’s best to date. The film is edgy, fierce and compelling — an emotional rollercoaster filled with twists and turns, seamlessly moving from comedy and romance to tragedy. Baker has always had an eye for talent and fills his cast with actors who seamlessly carry the film through — Mikey Madison gives one of this year’s breakout performances. The film has already received five Golden Globe nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Madison for Best Actress.?

Where to watch:
In theatres or available to purchase on Prime Video

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Nickel Boys

Nickel Boys
‘Nickel Boys.’ Photo by Amazon MGM Studios

Cast: Ethan Herisse, Brandon Wilson, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor.

Synopsis:
Elwood Curtis’ (Ethan Herisse) college dreams are shattered when he’s sentenced to Nickel Academy, a brutal reformatory in the Jim Crow South. Clinging to his optimistic worldview, Elwood strikes up a friendship with Turner (Brandon Wilson), a fellow Black teen who dispenses fundamental tips for survival.

Why watch: Based on the 2019 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel ‘The Nickel Boys’ by Colson Whitehead, the intense but moving film takes on the perspective of two young teens as they experience the racial injustices of the 1960s. It’s director RaMell Ross’ documentary-style approach that makes this an evocative, transcending film. No doubt, it’s earned nominations for Best Picture at the Golden Globes as well as Best Picture and Best Director at the Critics Choice Awards.

Where to watch: Releases in theatres in January 2025 followed by Prime Video release

The Substance

The Substance
‘The Substance.’ Photo by MUBI

Cast: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid.

Synopsis:
Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), renowned for an aerobics show, faces a devastating blow on her 50th birthday when her boss fires her and announces her replacement with a younger model. When a laboratory offers her a substance which promises to transform her into a younger, better version of herself (Margaret Qualley), she accepts the opportunity, which comes with bizarre consequences.

Why watch:
The body horror film about the curse of aging, especially when set in glitzy Los Angeles, is wickedly funny and well-crafted. It’s loaded with metaphors and is a critique of how society is trained to view bodies and the tainted views of growing older, being seen, being famous etc. Moore and Qualley give some of their best work as they play to the genre tropes. It’s nominated for Best Picture and Best Actress for Moore at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards.

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Where to watch: MUBI

Sing Sing

Sing Sing
‘Sing Sing.’ Photo by A24

Cast: Colman Domingo, Clarence Maclin, Sean San Jose, Paul Raci.

Synopsis:
The film is based on the real-life Rehabilitation Through Arts program founded at Sing Sing Correctional Facility. It follows a group of incarcerated actors who work on a play as part of a theatre workshop at the prison.

Why watch:
Colman Domingo plays Divine G, alongside a cast who were mostly alumni of the RTA program. Sing Sing, based on the book ‘The Sing Sing Follies‘ by John H. Richardson, serves as an authentic portrait of incarcerated men who use the transformative power of art to process their own trauma. The film helps unpack everyone’s unconscious bias against those human beings and these institutions. Both Domingo and the film have earned Best Actor and Best Picture nominations respectively at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards.

Where to watch:

Maria

Maria
‘Maria.’ Photo by MUBI

Cast: Angelina Jolie, Valeria Golino, Alba Rohrwacher, Kodi Smit-McPhee.

Synopsis:
The world’s greatest?opera singer Maria Callas (Angelina Jolie) retreats to Paris in the 1970s after a glamorous yet tumultuous life in the public eye.

Why watch:
This film is a solid reminder that Jolie is a compelling actor who paints the canvas of her characters with aching vulnerability. There’s a piercing sadness that inhabits her portrayal of Callas — the trappings and loneliness of fame that both the character and actor know all too well. Both Jolie and the film have earned well-deserved Best Actress and Best Picture nominations respectively at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards.

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Where to watch: MUBI

Conclave

Conclave
‘Conclave.’ Photo by Elevation Pictures

Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Isabella Rossellini.

Synopsis:
Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events — participating in the selection of a new pope. Surrounded by powerful religious leaders in the halls of the Vatican, he soon uncovers a trail of deep secrets that could shake the very foundation of the Roman Catholic Church.

Why watch:
This film unravels like a thriller, imagining one of the most important events in the world that’s shrouded with secrecy, keeping everyone on edge as Ralph Fiennes works to unravel papal secrets. Even Stanley Tucci gives a fine performance as Cardinal Bellini that’s worth noting. It is among the leading film contenders at the Critics Choice Awards and Golden Globe Awards.?

Where to watch: Available to purchase or rent on Prime Video?

Babygirl

Babygirl
‘Babygirl.’ Photo by A24

Cast: Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Antonio Banderas.

Synopsis:
A high-powered CEO (Nicole Kidman) puts her career and family on the line when she begins a steamy affair with a much younger intern (Harris Dickinson).

Why watch:
Gender and power dynamics are on full speed as the film gives a gender-flipped twist to the otherwise male-dominated genre. If the ’90s erotic thrillers were on your viewing list, this one ups the game through the female gaze in a fun and kinky way. Nicole Kidman gives a performance like you’ve never seen before. It’s no wonder she racked nominations for Best Actress at the Golden Globe awards — the film also earning Best Picture nods.?

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Where to watch: In theatres on Christmas

Deadpool & Wolverine

Deadpool & Wolverine
‘Deadpool & Wolverine.’ Photo by Marvel Studios

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin.

Synopsis:
Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) has left his past as the morally flexible Deadpool behind him until he suddenly finds himself in a fight for the survival of his homeworld and must suit up again—and convince a reluctant Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) to help him.

Why watch:
There was nothing more ridiculously fun and entertaining than this third installment of Deadpool. Watching Reynolds and Jackman throw hilarious one-liners was a highlight, but the storyline was filled with gags and twists and turns that no one saw coming. It’s one of the best Marvel movies in recent times and certainly one of the best of the year.?

Where to watch: Disney+

All We Imagine As Light

All We Imagine As Light
‘All We Imagine As Light.’ Photo by Sideshow and Janus Films

Cast: Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam.

Synopsis:
Nurse Prabha’s (Kani Kusruti) daily life in Mumbai takes an unexpected turn when a surprise present arrives from her estranged husband. Her younger roommate, Anu (Divya Prabha), faces frustration in her quest to secure a private spot in the city to be intimate with her partner.

Why watch:
The subtle yet powerful way director Payal Kapadia weaves together contemporary, working-class Mumbai is quite remarkable. Friendship, sisterhood and life’s complexities are earnestly moulded against the tranquil seaside city. The film has already earned numerous awards, including the Cannes Grand Prix, Best International Film at the National Board of Review and New York Film Critics Circle. Kapadia has also earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Director while the film has a nod for Best Foreign Language Film. It has a good chance of making it to the Oscars too.?

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Where to watch: Now playing in theatres

Emilia Pérez

Emilia Perez
‘Emilia Perez.’ Photo by Netflix

Cast: Zoe Saldana, Selena Gomez, Karla Sofia Gascón.

Synopsis:
In this French musical crime comedy, a Mexican lawyer (Zoe Saldana) is offered an unusual job to help a notorious cartel boss (Karla Sofia Gascón) retire and transition into living as a woman, fulfilling a long-held desire.

Why watch:
All three lead women pack a punch with their musical performances, each working on their own strengths as actors and performers. While Saldana and Gomez are the heart of the film, Gascon is the soul who carries the film through with her captivating performance. The three women anchor the musical and deserve all their nominations. The film, which premiered at TIFF, earned 10 Golden Globe and Critics Choice nominations, including Best Picture.

Where to watch: Netflix

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