The Best Movies of 2024 So Far
From sexy tennis players to diners in the middle of nowhere
With box office flops piling up and highly anticipated movies falling short of expectations, 2024 has gotten off to a slow start. However, like a lantana blooming in an arid wasteland, a few movies have emerged here and there to signal that better times lie ahead.
Of those promising movies, I've chosen five that tell immersive stories and deeply resonated with me because of their cleverness and entertainment value. Without further ado, in alphabetical order...
Challengers
Available to Rent
IMDB Rating: 7.3/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
A sample from my original reaction:
Sweat, melodrama, campiness, and slow-motion forehands coalesce to produce one of the horniest movies ever made. It’s a playful exploration of friendship, envy, and shattered egos... I was never a diehard fan of Zendaya's, but this is the film where she graduated for me. She's fierce, sensual, heartless, and best of all, self-aware of the absurdity of it all…
Read my full review here.
Dune: Part Two
Available on Max
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
A sample from my original reaction:
…“Dune: Part Two” blew me away! It surpasses its predecessor in every aspect, delivering a more dynamic, accessible, and ambitious experience. I hope it heralds a new era of grownup sci-fi/fantasy epics. As someone who wasn’t a big fan of the series, I now eagerly await the franchise’s next chapter.
Read my full review here.
Hit Man
Available on Netflix
IMDB Rating: 6.9/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
A sample from my original reaction:
…On the surface, (“Hit Man”) is a goofy caper, in the vein of “Catch Me If You Can” (2002). But if we take in the generously spread out winks and nods, we’ll discover a bittersweet, fable-esque meditation on the performative nature of our being. Kudos to the filmmaking team for not succumbing to extreme didacticism or sacrificing fun on the altar of self-importance.
Read my full review here.
The Last Stop in Yuma County
Available to Rent
Current IMDB Rating: 6.9/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
A sample from my original reaction:
Darkly funny, impeccably cast, and highly entertaining, “Last Stop in Yuma County” exudes the confidence and precision of a World Chess Championship match. Every decision, every move, no matter how minor, happens for a reason. Director and scriptwriter Galluppi shines a ray of originality in an industry cluttered with sequels and IPs…
Read my full review here.
Snack Shack
Available to Rent
Current IMDB Rating: 6.9/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 77%
My Rating:
A sample from my original reaction:
Raunchy and nostalgic, yet also heartwarming and self-reflective, this little gem of a movie brims with a contagious "boys-will-be-boys" energy that's rare in the era of bulldozer parenting. I laughed, I was moved, I felt transported.
Read my full review here.
Honorable Mentions:
If you crave a live-action cartoon that channels Buster Keaton and Wile E. Coyote, watch Hundreds of Beavers.
If you want to laugh and recoil, though not necessarily in that order, watch Immaculate.
If you need to restore your faith in humanity, watch Thelma.
I finally got around to writing up my review for Last Stop in Yuma County. Wasn't as much a fan of it as you, but glad for the recommendation as I wasn't aware of it otherwise.