2024 had plenty of great movies, and with them, incredible actors making them even better.
Let’s take a look at our 40 favorite performances in movies this year.
Brody plays Toth as perpetually pained.
Image via Jefferson Chacon
Chen shows both the big and small moments that make mothers so integral to so many of us.
Often, thats merited.
The film explores themes of longing, isolation, and obsession.
Image via Utopia
Initially, Benji comes across as grating and overly abrasive.
But youd also inevitably remember him.
Thats what makes Culkins performance as special as it is.
Danielle Deadwylergave probably the best performance of 2022 with her emotional, deeply powerful performance inTill.
If you were unsure of the actors capabilities, theyll be dashed in the first five minutes ofNosferatu.
It’s always great when really great things happen to a really great actor.
A veteran Las Vegas showgirl reassesses her life and relationships after her long-running show abruptly ends. This drama explores themes of resilience, family dynamics, and the pursuit of new beginnings amidst personal and professional upheavals.
Just last year,Colman Domingoreceived his first Oscar nomination for playing activist Bayard Rustin in Netflix’sRustin.
Unfortunately, the film was pretty by the numbers, but Domingo single-handedly made it soar.
Ellis-Taylor plays Hattie, Elwoods grief-stricken grandmother, who carries two of the movie’s most heart-wrenching moments.
Not because its bad, far from it, but it feels raw and lived-in.
Their friendship offers a glimmer of hope amidst a backdrop of systemic racism and violence.
Its balanced against her complicated, growing friendship withAriana Grandes Galinda, and the pair have clear chemistry together.
The first of a two-part feature film adaptation of the Broadway musical.
There isa lotgoing on inJacques Audiard’s latest film,Emilia Perez, some would say too much.
Let us be glad and let us be grateful thatWickedbecame the success musical theater fans dreamed it would be!
Image via NEON
Thepopularpop star had the music chops, but could she embody the blonde witch of Oz?
The answer is a resounding yes!
Grande becomes the Good Witch of the South like she was really born Galinda Upland.
Grande has always been a great performer, but watching her turn as Glinda hasmeltedaway any skepticism.
We cant wait to see more of her inWicked Part Twonext year!
Many actors wouldve made Pansy a caricature of the Can I speak to the manager?
Anora follows a young sex worker from Brooklyn who impulsively marries the son of a Russian oligarch, igniting a potential fairy tale. Upon learning of the union, his influential parents travel to New York to annul the marriage, jeopardizing her unexpected chance at a new beginning.
Emma Kiely
A woman navigates complex family dynamics while grappling with her own emotional struggles.
First was 2016’sJackie, starringNatalie Portman, while 2021’sSpencerpresentedKristen Stewartas Princess Diana.
Its a study of the toll shame can take just as much as it is of sex.
Kidman seamlessly juggles the complicated parallels and dichotomies of power dynamics that coexist in the boardroom and bedroom.
It doesnt hurt that she and Dickinson have chemistry for days.
The movie explores themes of power dynamics and desire, drawing inspiration from films likeIndecent ProposalandBasic Instinct.
Ross Bonaime
His Three Daughters is a 2023 drama film directed by Azazel Jacobs.
The film explores themes of sisterhood, forgiveness, and the intricate dynamics of familial relationships.
Clarence Maclin
Art is freedom.
Image via Venice Film Festival
And good luck not crying at Maclin’s performance in the third actit’s nearly impossible.
Mikey Madison’s Ani is far more than she appears.
Vanya takes an instant liking to her, and the two begin a transactional but fun relationship.
However, after they get married on an impulse, things quickly fall apart.
Vanya’s influential family gets involved and wants to force them into a divorce.
Madison’s slow evolution throughoutAnorais what makes the movie so special.
The Brutalist follows visionary architect László Toth and his wife Erzsébet as they flee Europe, aiming to rebuild their legacy in modern America. Their journey takes an unexpected turn when a mysterious and wealthy client alters the course of their lives, intertwining ambition with the challenges of a new world.
We experience the full highs and lows of her journey with her.
Balancing all these acts at the center is an astoundingMia McKenna-Bruce.
The Substancecould be seen as Moores latest effort to normalize the female body.
The Wild Robotis arguably the best animated film of the year.
This is not an inherently original concept.
Often, we refer to it as the Do Androids Dream?
Stories fromPinocchiotoAvengers: Age of Ultronhave dabbled in this theme.
This all works thanks to Nyongos incredible performance.
Emily Bernard
A romance fueled by ego, desire and the American Dream.
Image Via Searchlight Pictures
Much like his work inL.A.
Edward treated his condition like a curse, leaving deep insecurities and doubts.
Aaron Pierre
‘Rebel Ridge’
Jeremy Saulniers latest rolls into town to kick some ass.
A Complete Unknown: Set in the vibrant New York music scene of the early 1960s, the film follows the journey of 19-year-old Minnesota musician Bob Dylan. It captures his rapid ascent from a budding folk singer to a prominent figure in concert halls and on the charts, highlighting his impact on the music world.
The films ofJeremy Saulnier, likeBlue RuinandGreen Room, often put characters in over their heads with daunting obstacles.
But that’s absolutely not the case withAaron Pierre’s Terry Richmond inRebel Ridge.
Plaza’s Elliott is far from cynical or jaded, but you could see her melancholy.
She misses her youth and that’s clear in every conversation she has with Stella’s younger version.
That is, until she meets the boy her older self warned her about.
Jesse Plemons
‘Kinds of Kindness’
Will the real Yorgos Lanthimos hey stand up?
It wouldn’t be an overstatement to callGlen Powellthe star of 2024.
FromAtonementtoLittle Women, weve seen the Irish actress do it all with graceful command.
Adapted from Amy Liptrot’s bestselling memoir.
Image via Focus Features
The flashback scenes are where Scott really shines, dragging us into the throes of Skyes addiction and turmoil.
The sequel will see the return of Finn as director, with Paramount continuing distribution.
Whats scarier than wasted time?
Than never becoming the person you were meant to be?
My chest aches just thinking about it.
In the pale glow of the television, Owens view of reality begins to crack.
A 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy discovers skating, flirting, and the true essence of maternal love beyond his family’s teachings.
A performance that will likely not get the attention and acclaim it deserves isFernanda TorresinIm Still Here.
Torres stars as Eunice Paiva, a mother of five and wife of Rubens Paiva.
WhilePaul Mescalis brilliant as Lucius, its Washingtonsunforgettable performanceas the cunning Macrinus that steals the show.
Theres an air of flamboyant charm to Washingtons portrayal of Macrinus which really helps to solidify his villainous turn.
Captured by Roman forces led by General Marcus Acacius, he is thrust into the gladiatorial arena.
Image via A24
Set in 1940s Mexico City, it follows an American expat named Lee (played by Daniel Craig) who becomes infatuated with a younger man, Eugene Allerton (played by Drew Starkey). The film explores themes of longing, isolation, and obsession.
Image via Searchlight
Two cousins travel to Poland after their grandmother’s death to see where they came from and end up joining a Holocaust tour.
Image via Netflix
In The Piano Lesson, a brother and sister clash over selling a family heirloom piano—he sees it as a path to wealth, while she views it as a vital link to their heritage. Their uncle tries to mediate, but the conflict reveals deep truths about identity, legacy, and the past.
Image via Focus Features
In Nosferatu, a reclusive vampire’s presence disrupts a small European village, drawing an unsuspecting young couple into a battle against an ancient evil. As fear spreads, the villagers must confront the terrifying legend and their own beliefs, leading to suspenseful confrontations and chilling revelations.
Image via A24
Sing Sing follows Divine G, who, while imprisoned for a crime he did not commit, discovers purpose and resilience by participating in a theater group. Through this engagement, Divine and his fellow incarcerated men experience the profound transformative power of art and its impact on their humanity.
Image via Altered Innocence
An aspiring clown grappling with her gender identity combats a fascistic caped crusader.
Set in Jim Crow-era Florida, two Black teens, Elwood Curtis and Turner, endure the brutal conditions of Nickel Academy, a reformatory for boys. While Turner teaches survival through cynicism, Elwood clings to his belief in justice, despite the horrors around them. Their friendship offers a glimmer of hope amidst a backdrop of systemic racism and violence.
Image via Universal Pictures
The story of how a green-skinned woman framed by the Wizard of Oz becomes the Wicked Witch of the West. The first of a two-part feature film adaptation of the Broadway musical.
Image via Focus Features
Following the unexpected death of the pope, Cardinal Lawrence (played by Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with overseeing the secretive conclave to elect the next pope. As the process unfolds, he uncovers a conspiracy that could shake the very foundations of the Catholic Church.
Image via Netflix
Emilia Pérez follows Rita, an underestimated lawyer working at a prominent law firm focused on freeing criminals rather than pursuing justice. She is recruited by the leader of a criminal organization, prompting a complex journey that challenges her principles as she navigates the morally ambiguous world of her new employer.
Image via Universal Pictures
Image via A24
Two young missionaries are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed, becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse.
Image via StudioCanal
A woman navigates complex family dynamics while grappling with her own emotional struggles. The film explores themes of kinship, resilience, and the enduring strength of family bonds in the face of hardship and change.
Image via StudioCanal
Maria follows the renowned opera diva Maria Callas as she lives in seclusion in Paris during her later years. Despite her deteriorating health, Callas receives an intriguing invitation to tour, prompting reflection on the legacy and influence of her storied career in the world of opera.
Image via A24
Babygirl follows a high-powered CEO, played by Kidman, who jeopardizes her career and family by engaging in a risky affair with her much younger intern, portrayed by Dickinson. The movie explores themes of power dynamics and desire, drawing inspiration from films likeIndecent ProposalandBasic Instinct.
Image via Netflix
His Three Daughters is a 2023 drama film directed by Azazel Jacobs. The story centers on three sisters, portrayed by Carrie Coon, Elizabeth Olsen, and Natasha Lyonne, who reunite in their childhood home to care for their terminally ill father. As they navigate the emotional complexities of their father’s final days, the sisters confront unresolved issues and deep-seated family tensions. The film explores themes of sisterhood, forgiveness, and the intricate dynamics of familial relationships.
Image via A24
Image via NEON
Image Via Mubi
Three British teenage girls go on a rites-of-passage holiday - drinking, clubbing and hooking up, in what should be the best summer of their lives.
Image via Mubi
A fading celebrity, Elisabeth Sparkle, turns to a mysterious drug that promises to restore her youth. The drug temporarily creates a younger version of herself, named Sue, who quickly ascends to the fame Elisabeth once craved.
Image via Dreamworks
The Wild Robot is an animated drama film based on a series of books by Peter Brown. The adaptation is written and directed by Chris Sanders and stars Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, and Catherine O’Hara. The Wild Robot centers on a robot named Rozzum 7134, who becomes stranded on a deserted island and the guardian of a young orphan.
Image via A24
A romance fueled by ego, desire and the American Dream.
Image via A24
Image via A24
A man undergoes reconstructive surgery to escape his troubled past and takes on a new identity. As he becomes involved in a stage production inspired by his own life, he confronts his former self and grapples with the blurred lines between reality and performance.
Image via Netflix
In Rebel Ridge, a man with a mysterious past embarks on a mission to seek justice against those who wronged him. Set in a small town, the film explores themes of vengeance and redemption, as the protagonist navigates a dangerous path that tests his resolve and challenges the status quo.
Image via MGM Studios
Elliott Labrant, who has been advised by her future self not to fall in love, is sure she can do so after being given the advice. That is, until she meets the boy her older self warned her about.
Image via Searchlight Pictures
A man seeks to break free from his predetermined path, a cop questions his wife’s demeanor after her return from a supposed drowning and a woman’s quest to locate an extraordinary individual prophesied to become a renowned spiritual guide.
Image via Netflix
Inspired by an unbelievable true story, a strait-laced professor discovers his hidden talent as a fake hit man. He meets his match in a client who steals his heart and ignites a powder keg of deception, delight, and mixed-up identities.
Image via StudioCanal
After living life on the edge in London, Rona attempts to come to terms with her troubled past. She returns to the wild beauty of Scotland’s Orkney Islands (where she grew up) hoping to heal. Adapted from Amy Liptrot’s bestselling memoir.
Image Via Paramount
Smile 2 is the sequel to the 2022 psychological horror film by director Parker Finn that centers on a therapist who witnesses a patient’s suicide, leading to a series of terrifying supernatural events. The sequel will see the return of Finn as director, with Paramount continuing distribution.
Image via A24
Teenager Owen is just trying to make it through life in the suburbs when his classmate introduces him to a mysterious late-night TV show — a vision of a supernatural world beneath their own. In the pale glow of the television, Owen’s view of reality begins to crack.
Image via Magnolia Pictures
When 93-year-old Thelma Post gets duped by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson, she sets out on a treacherous quest across the city to reclaim what was taken from her.
Image Via Sony
I’m Still Here delves into the tumultuous era of 1970s Brazil, focusing on Eunice Paiva’s enduring quest to uncover the fate of her husband, Rubens Paiva, who disappeared during the dictatorship. As she nears the truth after decades, Eunice is confronted with the onset of Alzheimer’s, adding urgency to her search.
Image via Paramount Pictures
Lucius Verus, the son of Maximus’s beloved Lucilla, returns to Rome after years in the wilderness. Captured by Roman forces led by General Marcus Acacius, he is thrust into the gladiatorial arena. As he battles for survival, he encounters Macrinus, a former slave-turned-merchant, and faces the corrupt twin emperors Caracalla and Geta.
Image Via Amazon MGM Studios
Follows three players who knew each other when they were teenagers as they compete in a tennis tournament to be the world-famous grand slam winner, and reignite old rivalries on and off the court.
