Picture this: A24, the indie movie powerhouse, is like the cool kid at the cinema party. You know, the one who always brings the most intriguing flicks, and you can’t help but feel a little thrill when you see their signature rainbow chromatic card flash across the screen. They’re not tied to one filmmaker or genre; they’ve got this elusive style that’s like catnip for adventurous movie buffs and critics alike.
Their journey started back in 2013 with “A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III,” directed by Roman Coppola. Okay, so it wasn’t a box office smash, but that’s part of their charm. A24 loves taking risks on films from unconventional filmmakers, like Harmony Korine’s “Spring Breakers,” Sean Baker’s “The Florida Project,” and Sofia Coppola’s “The Bling Ring.” Remember when Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight” snagged that Best Picture Oscar in 2017? That was A24 flexing their cultural clout.
But here’s where they really shine: nurturing fresh talent. Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird,” Alex Garland’s “Ex Machina,” Robert Eggers’ “The Witch,” and Ari Aster’s “Hereditary” are just a few directorial debuts they’ve championed. And let’s not forget the pandemic-era sensation “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” their highest-grossing domestic hit to date. Oh, and did I mention “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On” and “Bodies, Bodies, Bodies”? A24’s just getting started, and we’re all along for the ride.
24. The Zone of Interest (2023)
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
- Synopsis: The film delves into the unsettling dynamics of Auschwitz’s commandant, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig, as they strive to create a semblance of normalcy amidst the horror of their surroundings. Their pursuit of a dream life juxtaposes with the atrocities they oversee, challenging viewers to confront the banality of evil.
- Starring: Christian Friedel, Sandra Hüller, Medusa Knopf, Daniel Holzberg
- Directed By: Jonathan Glazer
23. Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
- Synopsis: Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, collectively known as Daniels, the film is a hilarious and big-hearted sci-fi action adventure. Michelle Yeoh shines in a multifaceted role as a woman who must navigate a multiverse of possibilities to save her family and reconcile with her past.
- Starring: Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, James Hong
- Directed By: Dan Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
22. Love Lies Bleeding (2024)
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
- Synopsis: Reclusive gym manager Lou finds herself drawn into a passionate and dangerous affair with Jackie, a charismatic but troubled woman. As their relationship intensifies, Lou is forced to confront her own desires and the dark secrets that threaten to consume them both.
- Starring: Kristen Stewart, Katy M. O’Brian, Ed Harris, Jena Malone
- Directed By: Rose Glass
21. C’mon C’mon (2021)
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
- Synopsis: Johnny, a radio journalist, finds his life unexpectedly transformed when he becomes the guardian of his young nephew, Jesse. As they embark on a journey across the country, Johnny discovers the joys and challenges of parenthood while Jesse finds solace in their shared adventures.
- Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Gaby Hoffmann, Woody Norman, Scoot McNairy
- Directed By: Mike Mills
20. You Hurt My Feelings (2023)
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
- Synopsis: Smart, funny, and above all entertaining, You Hurt My Feelings finds writer-director Nicole Holofcener as sharply perceptive as ever.
- Starring: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tobias Menzies, Michaela Watkins, Arian Moayed
- Directed By: Nicole Holofcener
19. X (2022)
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
- Synopsis: A fresh spin on the classic slasher formula, X marks the spot where Ti West gets resoundingly back to his horror roots.
- Starring: Mia Goth, Jenna Ortega, Martin Henderson, Brittany Snow
- Directed By: Ti West
18. First Reformed (2017)
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
- Synopsis: Brought to life by delicate work from writer-director Paul Schrader and elevated by a standout performance by Ethan Hawke, First Reformed takes a sensitive and suspenseful look at weighty themes.
- Starring: Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried, Philip Ettinger, Cedric the Entertainer
- Directed By: Paul Schrader
17. Krisha (2015)
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%
- Synopsis: Raw, bracingly honest, and refreshingly unconventional, Krisha wrings fresh — and occasionally uncomfortable — truths from a seemingly familiar premise.
- Starring: Krisha Fairchild, Robyn Fairchild, Bill Wise, Chris Doubek
- Directed By: Trey Edward Shults
16. De Palma (2015)
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%
- Synopsis: Filmmaker Brian De Palma discusses his body of work, including “Sisters,” “Obsession,” “Carrie,” “Dressed to Kill,” “Blow Out,” “Scarface,” “The…
- Starring: Brian De Palma
- Directed By: Noah Baumbach, Jake Paltrow
15. Menashe (2017)
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%
- Synopsis: Menashe offers an intriguing look at a culture whose unfamiliarity to many viewers will be rendered irrelevant by the story’s universally affecting themes and thoughtful approach.
- Starring: Menashe Lustig, Ruben Niborski, Yoel Weisshaus, Meir Ber Schwartz
- Directed By: Joshua Z Weinstein
14. The Eternal Daughter (2022)
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%
- Synopsis: Tilda Swinton² is haunting in the gothic ghost story The Eternal Daughter, an ode to familial female ties that leaves much to unravel after the fog lifts.
- Starring: Tilda Swinton, Joseph Mydell, Carly-Sophia Davies
- Directed By: Joanna Hogg
13. Talk to Me (2023)
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%
- Synopsis: With a gripping story and impressive practical effects, Talk to Me spins a terrifically creepy 21st-century horror yarn built on classic foundations.
- Starring: Sophie Wilde, Miranda Otto, Otis Dhanji, Alexandra Jensen
- Directed By: Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou
12. Past Lives (2023)
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%
- Synopsis: A remarkable debut for writer-director Celine Song, Past Lives uses the bonds between its sensitively sketched central characters to support trenchant observations on the human condition.
- Starring: Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, John Magaro, Seung-ah Moon
- Directed By: Celine Song
11. First Cow (2019)
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%
- Synopsis: First Cow finds director Kelly Reichardt revisiting territory and themes that will be familiar to fans of her previous work — with typically rewarding results.
- Starring: John Magaro, Orion Lee, Alia Shawkat, Toby Jones
- Directed By: Kelly Reichardt
10. Amy (2015)
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%
- Synopsis: As riveting as it is sad, Amy is a powerfully honest look at the twisted relationship between art and celebrity — and the lethal spiral of addiction.
- Starring: Tony Bennett, Pete Doherty, Salaam Remi, Nick Shymansky
- Directed By: Asif Kapadia
9. Aftersun (2022)
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%
- Synopsis: Led by Frankie Corio’s tremendous performance, Aftersun deftly ushers audiences to the intersection between our memories of loved ones and who they really are.
- Starring: Paul Mescal, Frankie Corio, Celia Rowlson-Hall, Kayleigh Coleman
- Directed By: Charlotte Wells
8. The Florida Project (2017)
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%
- Synopsis: The Florida Project offers a colorfully empathetic look at an underrepresented part of the population that proves absorbing even as it raises sobering questions about modern America.
- Starring: Willem Dafoe, Brooklynn Prince, Bria Vinaite, Valeria Cotto
- Directed By: Sean Baker
7. Earth Mama (2023)
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
- Synopsis: Heavy yet hopeful, Earth Mama is a moving look at single motherhood on the margins that features outstanding work from writer-director Savanah Leaf and star Tia Nomore.
- Starring: Tia Nomore, Erika Alexander, Doechii, Sharon Duncan-Brewster
- Directed By: Savanah Leaf
6. The Farewell (2019)
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
- Synopsis: The Farewell deftly captures complicated family dynamics with a poignant, well-acted drama that marries cultural specificity with universally relatable themes.
- Starring: Awkwafina, Tzi Ma, Diana Lin, Gil Perez-Abraham
- Directed By: Lulu Wang
5. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2021)
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
- Synopsis: Poignant, profound, and utterly heartwarming, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is animated entertainment with real heart.
- Starring: Jenny Slate, Rosa Salazar, Thomas Mann, Isabella Rossellini
- Directed By: Dean Fleischer-Camp
4. Minari (2020)
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
- Synopsis: A tender and sweeping story about what roots us, Minari follows a Korean-American family that moves to a tiny Arkansas town in search of their American Dream. As they struggle to adjust to their new environment, tensions rise within the family, but so do moments of love, resilience, and hope.
- Starring: Steven Yeun, Han Ye-ri, Youn Yuh-jung, Will Patton
- Directed By: Lee Isaac Chung
3. Moonlight (2016)
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
- Synopsis: Moonlight follows the journey of Chiron, a young black man growing up in Miami, through three defining chapters of his life. As he navigates his identity, sexuality, and the challenges of his environment, the film offers a poignant exploration of masculinity, love, and self-discovery.
- Starring: Mahershala Ali, Alex R. Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, Trevante Rhodes
- Directed By: Barry Jenkins
2. Eighth Grade (2018)
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99
- Synopsis: Thirteen-year-old Kayla endures the challenges of contemporary suburban adolescence as she navigates the complexities of social media, friendships, and self-image during the last week of eighth grade. Through Kayla’s journey, the film offers a raw and authentic portrayal of the teenage experience.
- Starring: Elsie Fisher, Daniel Zolghadri, Fred Hechinger, Imani Lewis
- Directed By: Bo Burnham
1. Lady Bird (2017)
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%
- Synopsis: Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson, a spirited teenager, navigates the challenges of high school and her turbulent relationship with her strong-willed mother over the course of her senior year. As she dreams of leaving her hometown of Sacramento for college on the East Coast, Lady Bird grapples with love, friendship, and the complexities of family.
- Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Timothée Chalamet, Lucas Hedges
- Directed By: Greta Gerwig
What do you make of this list? Do the critics’ opinions line up with your own on what are the top 24 A24 films? Where does ‘Lady Bird’ or ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ rank for you? Let us know in the comments below!
