If you were to ask me where I spent the majority of my time in 2024, I’d be lying if I said anything other than at my local Harkins Theaters. I went to the theater about 40 times last year (not a lot if you really think about it, but in this economy?!). 2024 was a pretty solid year for movies, SPECIFICALLY the horror genre, which made me happy 🙂 So, let’s get into the top 10 of the year!
*- full review posted on my profile
10. A REAL PAIN* 😊
A heartfelt comedy written, directed, and starring Jesse Eisenberg alongside my all-time celeb crush, Mr. Kieran Culkin. The film follows cousins David (Eisenberg) and Benji (Culkin) reconnecting on a Holocaust tour of Poland to honor their late grandmother. The film was very sweet, it made me cry and laugh a lot. I expected it to be a bit higher on the list, but it’s pretty good company.
My Letterboxd review: “My letterboxd bio that I’ve had since 2022 says it all” (Which for context is I <3 Kieran Culkin) 3 1/2 out of 5 stars
9. HERETIC* 😊
I was in California for a quick weekend trip when this was released, and I spontaneously decided to see a late-night showing of it at Anaheim Gardenwalk. I am SO glad I did. I absolutely loved everything about it and thought it was intriguing and intellectually stimulating. The main trio gives note-worthy performances, and the whole film is tense but also kinda fun.
My Letterboxd review: “Hugh Grant compares Lana Del Rey to Mormonism in this” 4 out of 5 stars
8. SMILE 2 😊
A psychological horror written and directed by Parker Finn and starring Naomi Scott. The film follows global sensation Popstar Skye Riley (Scott) as she prepares for the start of her world tour while dealing with a past substance addiction and getting the Smile curse passed onto her. This was one of the biggest shocks of the year for me. I saw SMILE the day it came out in 2022 with my mom, which was kind of evil of me because the trailer traumatized her. I know she’s reading this, so thanks, Mom!) and I really, really liked it. I was very hyped for the sequel but went in expecting it to be generic. I mean, it’s literally called SMILE 2. How scary can it be? I was not prepared… My best friend saw it a week before me and sent me a voice note shaking because he was scared, and I thought everyone was simply overreacting. I walked out of that theater shaking and couldn’t talk because I was convinced the movie was still happening, and the smile was about to get me. Still kind of traumatized.
My Letterboxd review: “Taylor Swift wouldn’t let this ruin her performance btw” 4 out of 5 stars.
7. THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER* 🤩
A heartfelt comedy directed by Dallas Jenkins, written by Barbara Robinson, starring Judy Greer, Molly Belle Wright, and Beatrice Schneider. The film follows Mrs. Bradley (Greer) as she is tasked with directing the 75th annual Christmas pageant. However, her job is made harder when the rowdy town kids, the Herdmans, join the cast, with Imogene Herdman (Schneider) leading the ragtag gang as The Virgin Mary. I go more in-depth about this in my full review, but wow, this really touched me. I walked out of that theater sobbing. This story has been a part of my life for many years, and the movie fully did justice. I thought it was excellent and one that I wish more people saw.
My Letterboxd review: “oh my god I’m crying. You don’t even understand I could be a good mother” 4 out of 5 stars
6. THE SUBSTANCE* 🤩
A Horror written and directed by Coralie Fargeat and starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley. Seeing this film with a full theater was probably my favorite experience ever. My best friend and I went into this pretty blind, and I am so glad we did. Months later, I still can’t fully grasp what I watched, but I know I loved it so much. It’s wild and poignant and squirmy and fun. I cried watching Demi’s Golden Globes speech. Incredibly deserved!
My Letterboxd review: “How you all look posting your Temu, Shein, Tik Tok shop hauls” 4 out of 5 stars
5. SATURDAY NIGHT 🤩
A comedy biopic written and directed by Jason Reitman (My most-watched director of the year!) and starring Gabriel LaBelle, Rachel Sennott, and Cory Michael Smith. The film follows the 90 minutes leading up to the pilot of this weird little show you’ve probably never heard of, Saturday Night Live. This film was so much fun and had great performances from every person in the cast. I still giggle whenever I think of Nicholaus Braun recreating the Mighty Mouse bit. It had a great aesthetic and was such an interesting take on the whole show. There is not a single moment that falters. Writing this review made me realize how badly I need to go back and rewatch it.
My Letterboxd review: “hm, I wonder if this show ever ended up being successful?” 4 out of 5 stars.
4. WE LIVE IN TIME* 🤩
A rom-com/drama written and directed by Nick Payne and starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh. The film follows a nonlinear narrative through the lives of Tobias (Garfield) and Almut (Pugh) as they meet and fall in love. The film was touching and very beautiful. I walked out of the theater sobbing at how raw it was to the human experience. It was funny and devastating, I compared it to my modern day version of THE NOTEBOOK. I highly recommend people going to see it and wish it was talked about more, I feel like there was a lot of hype leading up to it but didn’t get that much buzz when it released.
My Letterboxd review: “wow. this was really beautiful” (I was sobbing and apparently couldn’t come up with a snarky comment) 4 out of 5 stars
3. ANORA* 🤩
A dark comedy/ drama written and directed by Sean Baker and starring Mikey Madison. I really fell in love with this film, and before I saw THE BRUTALIST, it was my front-runner for Award sweeps. Mikey Madison shines in this, and her work with Sean Baker’s brilliant direction was flawless. It was incredibly well crafted and had such a compelling story. There are places where it drags a bit, and out of all the “long” movies this year, ANORA doesn’t feel like a quick watch. Beautiful cinematography and acting with a stellar screenplay and direction.
My Letterboxd review: “Louis Partridge and Olivia Rodrigo you have the opportunity to rule Halloween 2025!!” 4 out of 5 stars
2. LONGLEGS 🤩
A horror written and directed by Oz Perkins and starring Maika Monroe and Nicholas Cage. Everyone told me to go into this film blind, and I did that and more. I didn’t watch any trailers, and can’t remember if I read the website they posted. I truly loved everything about this. It has stuck with me to this day. The walk to the car after the credits rolled was absolutely wild. It was terrifying and weird, and it had such a great aesthetic. I will forever love the clip of Nicholas Cage singing.
My Letterboxd review(s): “Nicholas Cage actually didn’t know the camera was rolling, he just does that” and “Ruby’s birthday party is the definition of when your circle small but all y’all crazy” 4 1/2 out of 5 stars
1. WICKED* 🤩
A musical written and directed by Jon M. Chu and starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. The film is a movie adaptation of the Broadway musical and is a prequel to THE WIZARD OF OZ where we follow the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba (Erivo) as she befriends Glinda the Good (Grande). I have now seen this film 7 times… I’m obsessed. It was 10 times better than I would have ever thought it could be. All of the build-up and time spent making the film was incredibly worth it. Every time I watch the movie, it gets so much better, and I still cry and shake when I see Cynthia perform the end of Defying Gravity. It truly is a work of art.
My letterbox review(s), there’s a lot…
- “Cynthia during One Short Day: That’s my line!!!”
- “uhhh it was ok might’ve been better if there was like a huge random dragon with a clock in its stomach hanging over the screen with no explanation of what it was doing there”
- “CYNTHIA DO YOU KNOW THERE IS A SCENE WHERE THEY COVER UP YOUR EYES”
- “Ethan Slater >>> Jonathan Bailey. I will not be silenced any longer.”
- “why has no one talked about Morribles INSANE outfit game”
- “omg between this and Mufasa that lion stayed booked and busy❤️❤️!! Star of 2024”
- “whyyyyy aren’t we as a society talking about my icon Dulcibear more??????”
5 out of 5 stars, obviously.
