In most cases, film distribution companies are only known as logos preceding movies. A24, however, has defied the odds and become a brand in itself, selling merchandise of its logo and creating a cult-like fanbase that brings audiences to theaters to see the company’s next film, regardless of genre or premise.
A24 distributes and produces films in a variety of budgets and genres, and thanks to this, there’s something for everyone. Of course, since A24 takes on dozens of projects a year, big and small, some are of higher quality than others, from Academy Award contenders to indies from those just getting their footing in the industry, to TV shows like Euphoria and Ramy.
10 Uncut Gems Was A New Path For Adam Sandler (7.4/10)
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The newest film from Josh and Benny Safdie, Uncut Gems stars Adam Sandler in one of his first dramatic roles since Paul Thomas Anderson’s Punch Drunk Love. Sandler plays Howard Ratner, a jewelry store owner and gambling addict in New York City’s Diamond District who owes his loan shark brother-in-law money.
The film also stars Lakeith Stanfield, Julia Fox, and basketball star Kevin Garnett. The film was met with critical acclaim as were the performances, especially Sandler’s, with some saying it was the best of his career. This role has since launched Sandler into more non-comedy opportunities, as well.
9 Eighth Grade Is A Heartwarming But Realistic Coming-Of-Age Film (7.4/10)
Eighth Grade is comedian Bo Burnham’s directorial debut, which he also wrote the screenplay for. It follows Kayla, played by Elsie Fisher, a middle-schooler who struggles with anxiety. She deals with this by posting vlog-style advice videos online, though these videos don’t receive many, if any views at all.
The film has been applauded for Burnham’s writing and directing, and for Fisher’s performance. Fisher was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance and Burnham won several awards for the film being his first screenplay and directorial feature.
8 The Lighthouse Is A Claustrophobic Film From Robert Eggers (7.4/10)
Robert Eggers’ sophomore film after his debut The Witch (another A24 film) is The Lighthouse, starring Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe. The film features a unique black-and-white picture and an almost perfectly square aspect ratio, leaving viewers feeling claustrophobic visually, matching the tone and themes of the film.
The Lighthouse is about two lighthouse keepers, one young (Pattinson) and one old (Dafoe), who become stranded on their island after a storm prevents them from getting new supplies or getting home. Things, especially for the young keeper, begin seeming out of the ordinary and tensions quickly rise between the pair as time passes.
7 C'mon C'mon Is An Emotional Drama About Family Relationships (7.5/10)
C’mon C’mon stars Joaquin Phoenix, Scoot McNairy, and newcomer Woody Norman. Directed by Mike Mills and released in late 2021, this film was met with praise for Mills’ direction, the cinematography from Robbie Ryan, and the cast's performances.
This movie follows Johnny (Phoenix), a radio journalist who interviews children about their thoughts on the future. When he has to return home to take care of his nephew, Jesse (Norman), when his sister can’t, the pair forge a bond. C’mon C’mon is a heartwarming story about the relationships between adults and children, and familial bonds, and has a distinct A24 voice to it.
6 The Farewell Is Based On Director Lulu Wang's Real Life (7.5/10)
Starring Awkwafina, Tzi Ma, and Zhao Shuzhen and directed by Lulu Wang is the 2019 comedy-drama The Farewell. It follows a Chinese-American family that discovers that their grandmother, Nai Nai, has a short time left to live, and rather than telling her, they have a large family gathering disguised as a wedding to celebrate her life. This is culturally accepted in China, but Awkwafina’s character, Billi, who has grown up mainly in America, is morally conflicted about the decision to leave Nai Nai in the dark about her health.
Lulu Wang adapted the film from a story she wrote about her own life and her own grandmother’s health issues. During production, she even kept the film a secret from her grandmother.
5 Waves Shows A Family Take On A Personal Tragedy (7.5/10)
Waves was released in 2019 and stars an ensemble of Kelvin Harrison Jr., Lucas Hedges, Taylor Russell, and Euphoria’s Alexia Demie. Split into three parts, Waves was written and directed by Trey Edward Schults and tells the story of an African American high school wrestler who sustains a sports injury and turns to painkillers to attempt to get through the season. When tragedy strikes following the wrestler’s decisions, the film weaves through the lives of those affected by it.
The film received generally positive reviews in part for its aesthetically-pleasing cinematography, which is a staple of A24’s film roster.
4 The Florida Project Is A Slice-Of-Life Story From Sean Baker (7.6/10)
Written and directed by Sean Baker, The Florida Project premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. It was met with critical acclaim, thanks to Baker’s direction and the cast’s performances. The film stars Willem Dafoe, Brooklynn Prince, and Caleb Landry Jones, and Dafoe’s performance, in particular, was applauded as one of his best.
The Florida Project follows six-year-old Moonee and her mother as they live in a motel near Walt Disney World. Moonee spends her time playing with other children who live in and around the motel, and they are often supervised by Dafoe’s character, the manager of the motel. It’s a generally mundane story with splashes of plot sprinkled in, and for viewers that like Sean Baker’s other work, Tangerine and Red Rocket, it is definitely worth the watch.
3 Alex Garland Doesn't Shy Away From Ethical Dilemmas In Ex Machina (7.7/10)
Ex Machina is Alex Garland’s directorial debut after spending the beginning of his career exclusively as a writer, working with directors like Danny Boyle. It follows a coder named Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson) who is selected by the CEO of the company he works for, Nathan (Oscar Isaac) to perform the Turing Test on a humanoid robot (Alicia Vikander) that Nathan has been working on within his idyllic, secluded home.
Garland is known for his work in science fiction, having written scripts like 28 Days Later and Sunshine for Danny Boyle before taking on the director’s seat, so the film was met with praise from sci-fi fans. It goes deep into the debates of AI ethics, digital surveillance, and masculinity.
2 Brie Larson Gives A Performance Of A Lifetime In Room (8.1/10)
Room is adapted from the novel of the same name, written by Emma Donoghue. Room’s main acclaim came from its actors, Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay, who are the only actors on screen for almost the entire first half of the film. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards, with Brie Larson taking home Best Actress, and also won an incredible nine Canadian Screen Awards, including Best Actor for Jacob Tremblay's performance.
The film follows a young woman who has been held captive for seven years as she lives with her five-year-old son who was born during her captivity. It’s a bleak premise and is admittedly difficult to recommend, but the performances and writing from Donoghue, who also adapted the screenplay from her novel, provide an emotional and heartfelt viewing experience.
1 Everything Everywhere All At Once Shot To The Top Of A24's List (8.5/10)
Currently, A24’s biggest hit and highest-grossing film, Everything Everywhere All at Once, directed by the duo Daniels, is the top-rated A24 film according to IMDb. Starring Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, and Ke Huy Kuan in one of his first roles since 2002, it depicts a Chinese-American woman, Evelyn (Yeoh) whose struggling laundromat is being audited by the IRS. While at a meeting with an IRS inspector, Evelyn learns that there are parallel universes, and she is being threatened by a villain from another universe.
Everything Everywhere has been lauded as one of, if not the best multiverse films of all time. It has also been praised for its performances from the main cast, especially Kuan, who previously left acting to become a stunt coordinator due to feeling that there was a lack of opportunities.