Picking out the best of the year is always going to offend someone, because not every film gets to be on the list, but every film –regardless of stars, genre, or budget– is somebody’s favorite, whether anyone agrees with them or not. But, in the interest of the New Year, here, in our opinion, are some of the best films to be released in cinemas this year*!

Check out our 8list, and let us know what your favorites were!

*For the sake of consistency, we’ve omitted titles such as Poor Things, which, while screened in the Philippines in 2024, was originally released in 2023.

Dune 2

Denis Villeneuve’s (Blade Runner 2049, Arrival) follow-up to his adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic sci-fi novel showed no signs of a sophomore slump, defying expectations to deliver an epic experience that elevated its source material. Continuing the saga of Paul Atreides’ (Timothy Chalamet, Wonka) quest to avenge his family of Harkonnen treachery, Dune 2 is a narrative and visual marvel. Featuring a powerhouse cast in a story covering greed, corruption, and the dangers of blind faith, Dune 2 stands among the very best of blockbusters, and is a solid contender for awards season.

Wicked

Adapting a beloved property is always a dicey proposition and, in the case of Wicked, the challenge was two-fold in having to translate a blockbuster play that was, itself, based on a bestselling book. Director Jon M. Chu (Step Up 2 and 3, Crazy Rich Asians) took on the challenge and delivered a film that delivers on nearly every level.

Fresh off his take on In the Heights, Chu ups the ante here, with more extravagant sets, lively choreography, and showstopping performances from Ariana Grande (Don’t Look Up, Nickelodeon’s Victorious) and Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, Pinocchio). Packed with memorable tunes, a relatable underdog story, and the promise of more in next year’s continuation, Wicked has a lot to love, and we can’t wait for more.

Civil War

Alex Garland’s transition to directing after gaining praise as an author (for The Beach) and screenwriter (28 Days Later, Sunshine) has been extraordinary, yielding films such as Annihilation and Ex Machina. This year saw Garland release Civil War, a piece of speculative fiction that may genuinely be his most terrifying work, not because of any sci-fi creatures or disasters, but for how utterly real it all feels.

Amidst the decidedly dystopian backdrop of a (civil) war-torn United States, Kirsten Dunst’s (Melia, Bring it On) role as a hardened photojournalist grounds the narrative of a team making their way to Washington to interview a president facing opposition from every corner. Timely, relevant, and probably closer to actuality than anyone would care to admit, this is a film that will shake you to your core.

The Wild Robot

If we had a nickel for every time a cartoon robot learned the value of life and proved itself to be a better human than most of the actual people watching their movie, we’d have two nickels. It’s not much, but it’s funny that it happened twice (don’t get us started on the year’s other brilliant-yet-criminally-underseen robot movie, Transformers One).

Lupita Nyong’o (Black Panther, Us) gives Vin Diesel’s legendary Iron Giant a run for his money as Roz, the titular robot that finds itself caring for a newly-hatched gosling following an unfortunate incident, a bond that will transform both in unexpected, heartwarming ways. Packed with multiple moments of genuine emotion and jaw-dropping visuals combining cutting-edge 3D animation with old-school watercolor, The Wild Robot is an animated masterpiece that deserves to be seen.

Blink Twice

A film that slipped under a lot of peoples’ radar is Blink Twice, the directorial debut from Zoe Kravitz (The Batman), who delivers a scathing critique of celebrity, societal power dynamics, and gender-based double standards.

Starring Kravitz’s then-partner Channing Tatum (Magic Mike, Deadpool & Wolverine) as a billionaire tech mogul with a dark side, the film opens when friends Frida Naomi Ackie, (Rise of Skywalker) and Sarah (Alia Shawkat, Drift, TV’s Arrested Development), and others embark on an all-expenses-paid trip to an island paradise. When the two discover that there’s more going on than meets the eye, every woman on the island will be forced to confront their greatest societal fears in a desperate fight for survival. While he’s definitely best known for his lighter fare, you’ll probably never look at Channing Tatum the same way again.

The Substance

Society’s obsession with youth and holding on to everything time and nature take away lies at the heart of The Substance. When Elisabeth (Demi Moore, St. Elmo’s Fire, G.I. Jane) finds herself on the wrong side of fifty for Hollywood, she resorts to drastic measures to reclaim her former glory.

Anchored by the brilliant double act of Moore and Margaret Qualley (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood), The Substance is body horror at its finest,  tapping into the anxieties and inherent self-loathing that frequently accompany life in the spotlight. Nightmare-inducing visuals abound as Moore and Qualley’s respective sides of the same coin come to battle for control, leading to a denouement that is as disturbing as it is inevitable.

Challengers

Smart, snappy, and sexy as all hell, the year’s most outright erotic film accomplishes its task with no shortage of wit, style, and nary a peek of flesh, courtesy of master filmmaker Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name, Queer).

Ostensibly the tale of up-and-coming tennis players, the film isn’t as interested in the actual sport as it is in the interpersonal relationships between Patrick (Josh O’ Connor, Netflix’s The Crown), Art (Mike Faist, West Side Story), and Tashi (Zendaya, No way Home). The sexual tension is supported by Sayombhu Mukdeeprom’s incredible cinematography, placing viewers firmly at the center of the action, on and off the court. Leave your expectations at the door, and let the film work its magic – Challengers is one of the year’s best rides.

Conclave

“No sane man would want the papacy,” intones Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci, Undercover Blues, The Devil Wears Prada) underscoring the entire point of Conclave, the stunning adaptation of the Thomas Harris (Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal) novel.

When the pope dies of an apparent heart attack, it falls to Ralph Fiennes (The English Patient, Schindler’s List) Cardinal Lawrence to lead the vetting for the next head of the Catholic Church. What follows is a masterclass in intrigue, suspense, and political double-dealing, performed by a powerhouse cast including the aforementioned Tucci and Fiennes, John Lithgow (Cliffhanger, TV’s Dexter), and Isabella Rossellini (Death Becomes Her). Religion is complicated enough on the best of days, and Conclave shows us just how cutthroat it can get.

Which 2024 movies were your favorites?