The year 2024 delivered a rich and varied film landscape, from intimate art-house dramas to blockbuster spectacles. This guide brings together the strongest critical consensus, audience favourites, box-office champions, and streaming highlights to help you navigate the best movies of 2024.
No single film dominated every list. Instead, a handful of titles emerged repeatedly across major year-end polls. The most frequently cited include All We Imagine as Light, Nickel Boys, The Brutalist, Anora, and Conclave. On the audience side, Inside Out 2, Dune: Part Two, and Deadpool & Wolverine drew the biggest crowds.
Below, we break down the top picks by critics, platform, genre, and region, using verified data from respected sources. Whether you are looking for a thoughtful drama or a laugh-out-loud comedy, this overview covers the standout films of the year.
What Are the Best Movies of 2024?
Critics’ Pick
All We Imagine as Light
Topped the BFI Sight and Sound 2024 poll
Multi-List Favourite
Anora
Appeared on both the IMDb and BFI best-of lists
Box-Office Champion
Deadpool & Wolverine
Grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide
Certified Fresh Entertainer
Dune: Part Two
A critical and commercial blockbuster on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes
- No single film dominates every 2024 best-of list, but Dune: Part Two, Anora and The Substance appear repeatedly.
- Critics’ lists (BFI) favour international art-house films, while IMDb’s user-led list skews toward mainstream studio releases.
- Box-office toppers in 2024 were dominated by sequels and franchises – Deadpool & Wolverine, Moana 2, Despicable Me 4 and Wicked.
- Family animation retained critical respect: The Wild Robot and Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl were both recognised.
- The term ‘best movies of 2024’ is split across several intents – platform, genre, regional and community opinions each return different results.
| Category | Title | Details |
|---|---|---|
| BFI Critics’ #1 | All We Imagine as Light | Top film in the Sight and Sound poll |
| IMDb User Favourite | Dune: Part Two | Ranked #1 on IMDb’s 2024 list |
| Highest Grossing (Worldwide) | Inside Out 2 | $1.7 billion (Newsday) |
| Second Highest Grossing | Deadpool & Wolverine | $1,338,073,645 (Box Office Mojo) |
| Third Highest Grossing | Moana 2 | $1,059,242,164 |
| Fourth Highest Grossing | Despicable Me 4 | $972,021,410 |
| Fifth Highest Grossing | Wicked | $763,963,597 |
| Breakout Title | The Substance | Critically acclaimed horror/drama |
| Breakout Title | Anora | Awards-season talking point |
| Breakout Title | The Wild Robot | Critically praised animation |
| Breakout Title (Indian) | Maharaja | Action thriller |
| Breakout Title (Indian) | Kill | Action film |
What Are the Top 10 Best Movies of 2024?
Different critics’ lists varied, but there was a clear overlap around the following titles. Sources include TIME, AP, RogerEbert.com, Screen, Metacritic, The New York Times, The Ringer, and others.
- All We Imagine as Light – Directed by Payal Kapadia; won the BFI critics’ poll.
- Nickel Boys – Based on Colson Whitehead’s novel; widely praised.
- The Brutalist – Topped RogerEbert.com’s site-wide ranking.
- Anora – Appeared on IMDb, BFI, and multiple critics’ lists.
- Conclave – Highlighted as a crowd-pleasing intelligent thriller by Rotten Tomatoes.
- Dune: Part Two – Critical and commercial blockbuster.
- The Wild Robot – Beloved family animation.
- Wicked – Crossover hit with critics and audiences.
- A Complete Unknown – Bob Dylan biopic with strong reviews.
- Flow – Latvian animated feature that charmed critics.
This top 10 aggregates the most frequently mentioned films across major year-end lists. It is not a single authoritative ranking but a consensus view. Individual lists, such as the BFI Sight and Sound poll, may differ in order and inclusion.
What are the best movies of 2024 according to IMDb?
IMDb’s 2024 list, built on user ratings, placed Dune: Part Two at number one. The list generally skews toward mainstream studio films. IMDb’s editor does not publish a single official top 10 for the year; the data is aggregated from user votes.
What are the best films of 2024 per the Sight and Sound poll?
The BFI Sight and Sound poll named All We Imagine as Light the best film of 2024. The list is compiled from votes by hundreds of critics and curators worldwide, favouring international and art-house cinema. Other high-ranking titles include La chimera and Hard Truths.
What Are the Best Movies of 2024 on Netflix?
Netflix does not publish an official year-end ranking for 2024 films, but several titles that appeared on critics’ best-of lists are available on the platform. According to Rotten Tomatoes’ Certified Fresh guide, the following 2024 standouts are on Netflix in many regions:
- All We Imagine as Light
- Conclave
- Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
- The Wild Robot
- The Substance
Availability may vary by country. For real-time streaming information, a dedicated aggregator is recommended.
While Netflix carries All We Imagine as Light and Conclave, other top 2024 films like Dune: Part Two are on HBO/Max in many territories. A single platform does not hold all the best titles.
Streaming rights shift frequently. The list above reflects availability as of late 2024. Some films may leave Netflix or arrive later on other services.
What are the best streaming movies of 2024?
Beyond Netflix, streaming platforms hosted many acclaimed 2024 films. The Substance is on MUBI, Anora is expected on streaming in early 2025, and The Wild Robot streams on Peacock. The Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh guide is a useful starting point for finding streaming options.
What Are the Best Bollywood Movies of 2024?
Indian cinema had one major critical standout in 2024: All We Imagine as Light, directed by Payal Kapadia. The film, described by the Associated Press as a story of three women navigating modern Mumbai, earned a 100% critics’ consensus on Rotten Tomatoes and topped the BFI Sight and Sound poll.
Other notable Indian films mentioned in the provided sources include Maharaja and Kill, both action thrillers that gained attention. However, no dedicated Bollywood comedy ranking was found in the research materials, so a complete top 10 for that subgenre cannot be reliably compiled from these sources alone.
What Are the Best Comedy Movies of 2024?
The research materials do not provide a dedicated comedy ranking for 2024. However, several films with strong comedic elements appear on broader lists:
- Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl – Animated comedy with universal appeal.
- Anora – A dramedy with sharp dialogue and awards buzz.
- The Substance – A dark comedy-horror that polarized audiences.
- Deadpool & Wolverine – Superhero comedy hybrid with massive box office.
For a fuller picture, critics’ picks from Rotten Tomatoes and RogerEbert.com include these titles among the year’s best.
What Are the Best Movies of 2024 According to Reddit and IMDb?
Community-driven platforms like Reddit and IMDb reflect audience taste differently from critics. IMDb’s user-voted list for 2024 places Dune: Part Two at the top, followed by Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine. An official IMDb top-10 list was not directly published in the provided sources, but the company’s trending data supports these titles.
Reddit discussions (r/movies, r/TrueFilm) often favour international and independent cinema. Based on cross-referencing with critics’ lists, titles like Anora, The Substance, and The Wild Robot were frequently recommended by Reddit users in year-end threads. No single Reddit consensus ranking was found in the research.
What Were the Highest-Grossing Movies of 2024?
The box-office story of 2024 was dominated by sequels and franchises. According to Box Office Mojo, the top earners were:
- Inside Out 2 – $1.7 billion worldwide (reported by Newsday)
- Deadpool & Wolverine – $1.338 billion
- Moana 2 – $1.059 billion
- Despicable Me 4 – $972 million
- Wicked – $764 million
These figures are verified via Box Office Mojo. Critically acclaimed films like Anora and The Substance earned far less but punched above their weight in cultural impact.
How Certain Are These Rankings?
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Box office figures are verified via Box Office Mojo. | Critical rankings shift depending on the polling body and date. |
| BFI named All We Imagine as Light the top film of 2024. | Aggregate lists may omit films not screened for critics. |
| IMDb’s 2024 list includes Dune: Part Two at #1. | Streaming availability changes frequently and by region. |
| Deadpool & Wolverine grossed $1.338B worldwide. | Personal taste means no single list is universally ‘correct’. |
How Do Critics’ Lists Compare to Audience Ratings?
The divergence between critical acclaim and popular taste was stark in 2024. Critics’ polls, such as the BFI Sight and Sound list, favoured international art-house and formally ambitious films. Audience-driven platforms like IMDb and box-office numbers leaned toward sequels, franchises, and family animation.
For example, All We Imagine as Light was the critics’ darling but did not crack the top 10 at the box office. Meanwhile, Inside Out 2 earned $1.7 billion but rarely appeared on critics’ best-of lists. Rotten Tomatoes’ Certified Fresh system offers a middle ground, combining aggregated critic scores with audience approval ratings.
Understanding these differences helps viewers choose what aligns with their own preferences – whether that is critically acclaimed depth or crowd-pleasing spectacle.
What Are the Key Sources for These Rankings?
The analysis in this guide draws on several authoritative sources:
- BFI Sight and Sound – The 50 Best Films of 2024, published 6 December 2024.
- IMDb – Best Movies of 2024 list (user-rated).
- Box Office Mojo – 2024 Worldwide Box Office data.
- Rotten Tomatoes – Every Certified Fresh Movie of 2024.
- TIME – 10 Best Movies of 2024 list.
- RogerEbert.com – Site-wide critics’ consensus list.
“All We Imagine as Light is a story of three women navigating modern Mumbai.”
Associated Press, December 2024
Best Movies of 2024: Final Verdict
The best movie of 2024 depends on who you ask. Critics overwhelmingly favour All We Imagine as Light, while audiences rallied around Inside Out 2 and Dune: Part Two. This guide aggregates and contrasts published lists rather than inventing a new ranking. For further exploration, see the A24 Movies – Full Guide to Every Film and 2026 Releases.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the highest-grossing movies of 2024?
According to Box Office Mojo, the top-grossing films of 2024 included Deadpool & Wolverine, Moana 2, Despicable Me 4 and Wicked. Figures are listed in the snapshot section above.
What were the best movies of 2023?
This guide focuses on 2024. For 2023 comparisons, see our dedicated best-of-2023 roundup.
Where can I watch the best movies of 2024?
Availability varies by platform and region. Netflix is one common source, but films like Dune: Part Two are on HBO/Max in many territories. Check a streaming aggregator for real-time availability.
What makes a movie ‘the best’ of 2024?
It depends on the source: critics favour originality and technique, while audiences reward spectacle and emotion. Our guide compares both perspectives.
Are these movies already streaming?
Some are. Streaming releases were staggered across 2024, with theatre-to-streaming windows of roughly 45–90 days for major titles.
How were the critics’ lists compiled?
Each publication has its own methodology. BFI polls hundreds of critics; Rotten Tomatoes aggregates reviews; IMDb uses user ratings. No single method is universal.
Which 2024 films are most awarded?
As of late 2024, All We Imagine as Light, Anora, and The Brutalist have collected multiple critics’ prizes. Awards season continues into early 2025.
What are the best action movies of 2024?
Dune: Part Two, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, and Deadpool & Wolverine are top action picks. Maharaja and Kill also received praise in the action genre.
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Toby Marsh is Senior Reporter at Castradar.uk, covering film and TV stories across the UK.