Hannah Tran’s Top 10 Films of 2024

I have never wrestled so much over what was going to end up on my end-of-year list. While there may have been fewer movies that deeply moved me, the level of talent and craft were abundant. There were surprisingly fun larger movies—like Fly Me to the Moon, Civil War, and Sonic 3—and also some less flashy, but equally memorable films, such as Thelma, The Beast, and La Chimera (the latter two fitting into 2024 according to their U.S. releases). Some of my final blind spots for the year include Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu, James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown, and Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist, which all certainly have a shot at making this list. But ultimately, the list below reflects more of what I believe makes this year stand out: brave filmmaking, fresh voices, and unforgettable characters.

Without further ado, below are my top ten films, ranked in order of preference. Where I have previously reviewed the film, the title is linked to my full thoughts. The rest are accompanied by a short description to explain why they made the cut.

1. A Real Pain (Jesse Eisenberg)

2. Will & Harper (Josh Greenbaum)

3. The Apprentice (Ali Abbasi): Dark, hilarious, humanist, and fiercely biting, this is the most challenging interrogation of a president who also happens to be the most polarizing figure alive. Gabriel Sherman’s daring screenplay and Abassi’s masterful direction convey volumes in even the smallest details. With its unsettlingly perfect performances and brilliant visual direction, it often feels less like a movie and more like a piece of history we were never meant to witness.

4. Problemista (Julio Torres): Julio Torres has arrived! This is one of the most singular debuts I have ever seen. His writing, direction, and performance opposite an unforgettable character played by Tilda Swinton are so special. Torres brings a world to life that is so funny, frustrating, and endearing, and it makes me genuinely excited for whatever he has to offer the future of cinema.

5. I Saw the TV Glow (Jane Schoenbrun): Beautiful and heartbreaking, Schoenbrun’s movie artfully captures the trans experience and the deep pain that can evolve from the fear of embracing your true self. It is a challenging watch, but an all-encompassing experience that’s told through arresting colors, restrained characters, and a nostalgic score by Alex G that emotionally transports you to its vulnerable core. 

6. Challengers (Luca Guadagnino): Guadagnino has fully proven himself to be one of the most interesting directors of our time, this year gifting us with both Challengers and Queer, two films that are totally different but are united by their sexy exteriors, stirring screenplays by Justin Kuritzkes, and Guadagnino’s sharp and stylish direction. Challengers, the higher energy of the two, is a bold story with unforgettable characters, a totally original score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, and an ending that makes you hold your breath and forget to exhale.

7. Dune: Part Two (Denis Villeneuve): Dune reminds us what blockbuster movies are capable of. Villeneuve returns to add on to the greatness of Part One, with a larger-than-life spectacle that is full of sweeping action scenes, impeccable costumes, a powerhouse performance by Timothée Chalamet, and some of the most striking images to grace our screens in recent memory.

8. Anora (Sean Baker): Sean Baker returns with his career-defining talent to portray larger-than-life characters with resounding empathy. With a funny and sweet beginning, a gorgeous depiction of Las Vegas (my hometown), and a wild second-act shift, Anora is pulled together by a sobering ending that is as genius as it is tragic.

9. Good One (India Donaldson): India Donaldson’s quietly powerful debut has the precocious confidence of an early Kelly Reichardt. I have never seen a screenplay so carefully guide you toward a single, life-altering line of dialogue. Little may happen on the surface, echoing our often uncinematic, anticlimactic transitions into adulthood. But if you look closer, the deeper realities revealed here will linger long after.

10. The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (Benjamin Ree)

Hannah Tran

Hannah Tran is a filmmaker, writer, and friendly neighborhood barista from Las Vegas. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in Film and English and is currently working on her first feature film. In her spare time, she can be found attending film festivals, running a local book club, and, of course, devouring as many movies as possible.