From From the inside out 2 ARRIVE radish juiceall but one The 10 highest-grossing movies of 2024 is the next part (sinister is the only exception). That really shouldn't surprise anyone. For decades, the top spot at the box office has been dominated by sequels, prequels, reboots and remakes. But since when does a movie's gross receipts indicate its quality?
The reality is that in 2024, like most years, some of the hottest movies to be released are titles you've probably never heard of (what a shame). You have plenty of time to make it right, starting with these 10 hidden gems.
Anora
If so Beautiful woman never received an Extreme Hollywood Makeover, and was instead filmed as Dark, drug-filled tale of sex and violence When it first appears on the desks of studio executives, it may look a bit similar Anora. Ani (Mikey Madison) is a prostitute in New York City whose life is turned upside down by Vanya Zakharov (Mark Eydelshteyn), the fun-loving but awkward son of a Russian oligarch. After paying Ani $15,000 to spend a week with him, the two flew to Las Vegas, where Vanya proposed—mainly so he could get a green card and avoid returning to Russia, but also because he promised that he loves Ani. When Vanya's parents learn of his betrothal, they dispatch a few trusted henchmen to free their son from this new romantic entanglement at any cost. Madison (Once upon a time… in Hollywood2022 Screaming) is an absolute revelation as the crazy princess at the center of this “fairy tale.” It ends in heartbreak, sure, but also self-discovery. Writer-director Sean Baker (Red rocket, Florida Project, tangerine) once again succeeds in changing the conversation around sex workers and other marginalized people to create a new kind of love story. While Anora received a small theatrical release, five Golden Globe nominations—including nominations for Madison, Baker for Best Director and Best Screenplay, and one nomination for Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy — will certainly bring the project more well-deserved attention.
Cyclist
Austin Butler brings a sense of James Dean seriousness to the role of Benny Cross, the impossibly beautiful member of the Vandals Motorcycle Club in Chicago. When the film begins in 1965, Benny seems to have it all: He's the right-hand man to Johnny Davis (Tom Hardy), the club's founder, and has just met—and quickly married—Kathy Bauer (Jodie Comer), a young girl. newcomer to the world of motorcycle clubs. This was both a help and a hindrance for Benny over the next decade, as the film traces the rise of the Vandals and how the country's overwhelming disillusionment seeped into its DNA . Written and directed by Jeff Nichols, the film, based on the 1968 picture book of the same name by Danny Lyon, traces the rise of Chicago's very real MC Outlaws. Come along for the ride.
blink twice
Zoë Kravitz proves she really can do it all as the writer, producer and director (for the first time) behind this chilling meditation on the power of extreme wealth degree. Cocktail waitress Frida (Naomi Ackie) and her best friend Jess (Alia Shawkat) are hosting a cocktail party when they meet Slater King (Channing Tatum), a notorious tech billionaire who has just resigned as head of the company. The head of the company he founded for a number of reasons. types of suspicious behavior—the details of which are not fully known. He and Frida hit it off and he invites the two ladies to join him and a group of friends on his private island to enjoy a weekend of partying and pampering. That's exactly what they got, although Frida couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. That paranoia turns terrifying when Jess suddenly goes missing and the King's other guests don't seem to even remember that she was there in the first place. blink twice It's not a perfect film, but Kravitz's willingness to boldly confront dark issues with intelligence and dark humor heralds her status as a daring filmmaker on the rise. on development.
Show forgiveness
Tarrell (André Holland in the best role of his career) is a successful painter, loving husband and father who believes he has overcome the abuse he endured as a child under the hand of his father, La'Ron (John Earl Jelks). ). But when La'Ron reappears after years away to seek to reconnect with her son, old wounds resurface for Tarrell, whose biological mother (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor) is desperate to see father and son reunited. Acclaimed artist Titus Kaphar mined his own haunted history for this heartbreaking and semi-autobiographical work, a meditation on family, generational trauma, and the power of forgiveness—if you truly can find your way.
Kneecap
Just because Kneecap has been successful in the festival does not mean it is becoming all the attention it deserves. Rich Peppiatt makes his feature directorial debut with this intriguing film about the hip-hop trio of the same name, which formed in Belfast in 2017 and is still going strong. The real-life members of the band—Liam Óg “Mo Chara” Ó Hannaidh, Naoise “Móglaí Bap” Ó Cairealláin, and JJ “DJ Próvaí” Ó Dochartaigh, who raps in a mixture of English and Irish—play themselves in this raucous comedy, set in 2019. More than just a musical biopic, it's also about the continuing impact of the Troubles and the Muslim ceasefire. kids” came after it. But it's also about how three young artists used music to share political messages and save their native (and dying) language.
Juror No. 2
Since its release in 1992 unforgivableClint Eastwood received 11 Oscar nominations and won 4 of them, including 2 Best Director statues. This makes Warner Bros. decided to bury it Juror No. 2—which some thought would be Eastwood's last film—is even more surprising. Especially considering how good it is. Clint loves a moral dilemma (see: Million dollar baby), And Juror No. 2 raises an interesting question: What if you were invited to sit on the jury of a high-profile murder case… only to realize that you may have been the one responsible for the victim's death? That's the question Justin Kemp (Nicholas Hoult) must tackle in this addictive, layered courtroom drama.
apeman
Oscar nominee Dev Patel (Slumdog millionaire) steps behind the camera to make his feature directorial debut with this action-packed revenge thriller. Years after witnessing the brutal death of his mother at the hands of Rana Singh (Sikandar Kher), a corrupt police officer, Kid (Patel), decides to adopt an eye-for-an-eye approach. While working at the underground fight club where Singh often appears, Kid devises an ambitious and cruel plan to avenge his mother.
My old ass
During the time the movie was marketed, there were some movies that were marketed poorly. While My old ass received a fair amount of exposure, thanks in part to having Aubrey Plaza, a lovable cynic as one of its stars, it may have lost a large chunk of its audience by making it appear as a ghost. drug Freaky Friday-meet-Ho Dynasty image type. Truly, this is an incredibly funny and touching coming-of-age film, in which 18-year-old Elliott (Maisy Stella) is encouraged to spend her last summer at home before moving off to college. school as a time to slow down and truly appreciate the people (read: parents) and places (read: home) that too many teens take for granted. Yes, Plaza appears as Elliott's older self—and the one who imbues her with such wisdom—but her screen time is much more limited than you might think. . So cherish every moment while you can.
Order
Jude Law plays great against type as Terry Husk, a veteran FBI agent assigned to investigate a series of baffling daylight robberies that escalate in violence. Ultimately, Husk believes the crime was committed by a white supremacist group that was using the stolen money to self-fund a violent insurrection. Husk's investigation pits him against Bob Mathews (Nicholas Hoult again, in an equally great—and anti-type—performance), the unlikely leader of a neo-Nazi group called the The Order. The movie is based on a true storyand is adapted from the 1989 book by Kevin Flynn and Gary Gerhardt Silent brotherly love.
Rebel ridge
Directed by Jeremy Saulnier (Green Room, Murder party) returns to the big screen for the first time in six years with this riveting crime thriller that will be remembered as the film that turned Aaron Pierre into a bona fide star. Terry Richmond (Pierre), a former Marine, arrives in Shelby Springs, Louisiana to bail out his cousin Mike (CJ LeBlanc), who has gotten into some trouble. Richmond quickly fell into the sights of the local police department, when authorities illegally seized the cash he was carrying, which happened to be his life savings. Finding justice in this small town won't be as simple as filling out a complaint form. The local police, led by Sheriff Sandy Burnne (Don Johnson), have no plans to let Richmond ruin the good thing they have going on.