10 best movies from 2024 and how to stream them, explored 

2024 was an exciting year for movies for many reasons. It was especially fantastic for sequels with Dune 2, Gladiator 2, Inside Out 2, Moana 2, and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice smashing the box office records. Besides this wild coincidence, it also proved to be a renaissance for horror fans. It gave us many terrifying gems like Late Night with the Devil, Heretic, Nosferatu, Longless, The Substance, and the list goes on.

While Deadpool & Wolverine breathed a new life into the superhero genre, Wicked gave a fresh spin to the popular fantasy tale. Besides these big-budget blockbusters, there were many small and mid-budget films that audiences loved and cherished. So, it is nearly impossible to pin down only 10 choices as the best movies of the year. To make it simple, the list below includes movies from different budgets and genres to find the best releases of 2024.

**Disclaimer: Please note that this is the author's opinion about the best movies released in 2024. Reader's discretion is advised.**

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Here are the best movies of 2024:

1) Dune 2

After last year's Oppenheimer, Dune: Part Two brought us back to cinemas for a breathtaking IMAX experience. This epic sci-fi film showed Canadian director Denis Villeneuve returning to this stunning fictional world with a sequel to his 2021 film. The sequel took the narrative further and offered a better understanding of its characters and their philosophies. It revealed more parts of Paul Atreides's life, who grew from an innocent boy to an adult with purpose.

Written by Denis Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts, the script examines the themes of power, corruption, and greed as characters from different kingdoms try to destroy others. It offers a timely critique of the effects of blind worship of an individual. So, despite the countless memes about Lisan al Gaib, it becomes a somber experience on a big scale, which we rarely get to see these days.

Dune 2 is available to stream online on Netflix and Max. You can also rent it on Amazon Video or Apple TV.

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2) Challengers

Challengers received a lot of online buzz before and after its release. People couldn't stop talking about its rousing tennis scenes, Zendaya's performance, and its overall sensual appeal. Thankfully, the film deserves every bit of that praise! Directed by Luca Guadagnino, it is a wonderfully crafted film that shows two men fighting to be with the women of their dreams. However, it is far from being a conventional story about a throuple.

Justin Kuritzkes builds these three characters with enough depth and layers through his remarkable non-linear script. It sheds light on the gender dynamics that make or break a professional career. Sayombhu Mukdeeprom's gorgeous camerawork makes it a visual treat to witness on the big screen. Overall, it is a joy to behold for anyone's eyes.

Challengers is available to stream on Prime Video, but you can also rent it on Amazon Video or Apple TV.

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3) The Substance

Demi Moore has been working in Hollywood for many decades. Known for her work in G.I.Jane, Indecent Proposal, and A Few Good Men, she received career-high reviews in 2024's The Substance. Directed by Coralie Fargeat, this body-horror film became one of the hottest topics in 2024 with an organic push from social media users. Despite the high buzz, it is one of the most unorthodox movie success stories.

For starters, it follows a veteran female celebrity who is past her glory years. While struggling with the issues of fame and aging, she decides to use a substance that magically transforms her into a different, younger version of herself. It is a terrifying satire that critiques the deeply problematic way we look at women in general. Inspired by the likes of David Cronenberg, it also works as a visceral body horror flick. With Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley's brilliant performances, it becomes a film for the ages.

The Substance is available to stream on Mubi, but you can also rent it on Amazon Video and Apple TV.

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4) His Three Daughters

Written and directed by Azazel Jacobs, His Three Daughters is a mainly conversational film. It follows the lives of three estranged sisters - Katie, Rachel, and Christina who return to their family home to take care of their ailing father. After years of distance, they reunite and learn about each other's new lives. Although genetically related, they are quite different from each other. Katie is outspoken while Rachel is relatively mild-mannered. Christina is not shy but repressed due to a piece of their history.

Jacobs' script navigates their differences in a somber chamber drama that feels almost like an Ingmar Bergman film. Besides his impeccable work, the film shines because of incredible performances by its acting cast - Carrie Coon (The Leftovers), Natasha Lyonne (Russian Doll), and Elizabeth Olsen (WandaVision), who star in the central roles.

His Three Daughters is available to watch on Netflix.

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5) Kneecap

Kneecap is a musical biopic that follows the origins of a hip-hop trio from Ireland. Unlike the United States, Ireland does not have a tradition of rappers. So, the Kneecap members figured out a way to make their voices heard. However, they are not rebels without a cause. Their lyrics offer a deeper understanding of the experience of Irish citizens and the suppression of their native Irish language. They use their songs to make a case for their existence.

Kneecap stars Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin, and JJ Ó Dochartaigh, who belong to the real-life, eponymous trio. The film combines its social commentary with organic humor to offer one of the most exciting experiences of the year. If you managed to watch it on a big screen, you would know what I mean!

Kneecap is available to stream on Netflix. Otherwise, you can rent it on Amazon Video and Apple TV.

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6) Didi

Sean Wang's Didi premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival where it won the Audience Award. Its ensemble cast also won a special jury award for their wonderful performances. You might wonder what makes this film so special. Well, it is a coming-of-age film set in the late 2000s. So, it becomes a nostalgic trip for anyone who lived their childhood during these years. It has many iconic references to the era when social media was in its infancy stage.

More than anything, Didi is a carefully observed tale of a boy who tries to figure out the big picture of his life. It presents a moving portrait of the boy's relationship with his mother and friends. Besides, it shows the growing experience of an Asian-American boy, rarely seen in American films.

Didi is available to stream on Peacock. Besides, you can rent it on Amazon Video and Apple TV.

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7) Anora

Writer-director Sean Baker has been making films for over two decades. In 2024, he finally received a high honor through a Palme d'Or win at the Cannes Film Festival for his latest film, Anora. Now being considered for many award shows, Anora follows a strong-willed sex worker from Brooklyn, who gets a chance to lead a lavish life after a wealthy client asks her to marry him. It puts a fresh spin on Julia Roberts' Pretty Woman and offers an intoxicating experience.

Anora merges the elements of thriller, comedy, and tragedy to offer a hilarious ride through the sex worker's journey. Despite its tragic moments, it works like an edge-of-the-seat thriller. So, it might remind you of relentless thrillers like Uncut Gems or Good Times, directed by the Safdie brothers. More than anything, it stands out because of Mikey Madison's bravura central performance and Yura Borisov's incredible supporting act.

Anora is available to rent on Amazon Video and Apple TV.

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8) All We Imagine as Light

All We Imagine as Light is a gem of a film that premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. It won the prestigious Grand Prix award, making it a rare achievement from the country it was shot. Set in Mumbai, it follows three female migrant workers from a local hospital. One of them is a married woman, living on her own as her husband leaves her shortly after their wedding. The second is a young nurse who is in love with a man from a different religion while the third is the widow of a local blue-collar worker.

The film offers a poetic look into their lives and becomes rewarding to watch on a big screen. It shows their intrinsic connection to Mumbai, often referred to as the 'city of dreams'. So, it is a similarly dreamy affair that involves comic, tragic, and romantic moments for an unconventional experience.

All We Imagine as Light is currently not available to stream online. However, the US audience can go catch it in theaters.

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9) Flow

2024 offered us many impressive animated movies. Inside Out 2, Memoirs of a Snail, Transformers One, Look Back, and The Wild Robot were the stand-out movies in this category. However, Gints Zilbalodis's Flow stood out as a singular cinematic experience of its kind. It follows a fantastical adventure of a solitary cat that finds itself caught in a flood. So, to save itself, it must make peace with other species that join it on a boat.

Although made by a Latvian filmmaker, it does not feature any dialogue in a human language. So, there is no language barrier if someone wants to watch this film. Unlike the usual animated films, animals communicate in their own language. It helps the film to be a more authentic representation of these animals. Told through unique animation techniques, the film makes us feel like we've joined these animals on their exciting adventure.

At the moment, Flow is not available on streaming. However, you can watch it in theaters in the United States right now.

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10) Strange Darling (released in the U.S. in 2024)

JT Mollner's Strange Darling was one of those surprises of 2024 that got a considerable push through the online chatter. It is also the kind of film you must watch without reading anything about it. However, to explain why it is one of the best of this year, I must share a few key details without ruining the fun for you! So, here we go.

Strange Darling is a smaller-budget American film that does not let the budget limitations ruin the look and feel. At its core, it's a psychological thriller that follows a woman during a night in her life.

The IMDb synopsis for the film reads:

"Nothing is what it seems when a twisted one-night stand spirals into a serial killer's vicious murder spree."

Based on a wild premise, it is unpredictable, bold, and chilling at times. It stands out due to its unorthodox narrative structure, captivating performances, and excellent camerawork done with a 35 mm film.

Strange Darling is available to rent on Amazon Prime and Apple TV.