Director: Coralie Fargeat

The Substance, AKA It Came From Mubi, was the film that introduced body horror, Demi Moore, and the joys of ageism to Gen-Z. Director Coralie Fargeat took moviegoers by surprise, creating a visual landscape that blended gore with the entertainment industry and a few home remodeling tips.

Starring Moore as forgotten Hollywood starlet Elizabeth Sparkle and Margaret Qualley as her alter ego Sue, Fargeat's brutal takeover of Tinseltown was nothing short of a macabre masterpiece that even made the act of feasting on shrimp look horrendous. The Substance was the talk of the town and one of the very best films of 2024.

What does Letterboxd say: “Very mindful, very Demi Moore.” - vasili

Read the Screenopolis review: The Substance's Insanely Powerful Body Horror

Director: JT Mollner

Written and directed by JT Mollner, and starring Willa Fitzgerald, Kyle Gallner, Barbara Hershey, and Ed Begley Jr., the small indie horror pic seemed to come out of nowhere, and charm the pants off of Fangoria fans and cinephiles alike with its unique storytelling structure and shocking twists.

Thanks to the performances of Fitzgerald and Gallner, the cat-and-mouse thriller earned box office legs through strong word of mouth -- as it quickly earned a fanbase among those looking for something other than sequels, reboots, and established franchises.

Special shout-out goes to first-time cinematographer Giovanni Ribisi (!), who branches out from his acting career to give the pic a sleek, sexy look.

What does Letterboxd say: “Pretty privilege at its finest.” - Haley

Director: Shawn Levy

After a few floundering releases and a couple Multiverse missteps in regards to storyline, the MCU needed a helping hand, and that assist came in the form of the Merc with a Mouth.

Disney's acquisition with Fox, in combination with its mishandling of its Marvel cash cow, gave Deadpool all the resources he needed to resurrect a misguided MCU and get it back on track, or at least point the way. All it took was an R-rated script with a few well-crafted jabs in the direction of the Mouse itself, and a little help from forgotten heroes from the Fox catalog.

Ryan Reynolds’s Deadpool and his long-awaited team up with Hugh Jackman's Wolverine was an event fans were anticipating for a long, long time, and for many a comic book aficionado, it didn't disappoint. Funny, savage, and with its fair share of surprises, Deadpool & Wolverine saved their timeline, the MCU, and brought back a few familiar faces from the Void. All hail Marvel Jesus.

What does Letterboxd say: “My dad lit up like a Christmas tree when he finally got to see a comic accurate Wolverine in live action. And I had the same reaction when Hugh Jackman finally took his shirt off.” - Zoe Rose Bryant

Read the Screenopolis review: Deadpool & Wolverine Gave Me a Meta-Headache

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic is a cinematic accomplishment that few thought was possible. But Dune and Dune: Part Two proved that with the right visionary at the helm, anything could be achieved. The sequel saw Paul Atreides evolve from heir of House Atreides to Kwisatz Haderach and prophet of the Freman.

In the film, audiences are transported from the arid world of  Arrakis to the colorless void of Giedi Prime while every culture and all its people are properly explored. It is a remarkable achievement in filmmaking and one that has left a mark on 2024 as a whole.

What does Letterboxd say: “Literally shaking and crying. The man has Dune it again.” - Corey

Director: Sean Baker

Written, directed, and edited by Sean Baker, Anora was the darling of the Cannes Film Festival, and is set to make a superstar out of leading lady Mikey Madison, who was previously best known for taking a can of dog food directly to the face from Cliff Booth after breaking into Rick Dalton's mansion.

The story of a stripper's whirlwind romance with a Russian trustfund manchild plays out as a rom-com fantasy at first, as Anora "Ani" Mikheeva meets the man of her dreams in Vanya, the spoiled son of a Russian oligarch. The two lovebirds live in a world of their own, but reality sets in as obstacles come at the couple fast and furious.

A riveting tale with beautiful performances from everyone involved, Anora is a cautionary tale for anyone who still believes in love at first sight.

What does Letterboxd say: “Sean Baker does for sex workers what Martin Scorsese did for gangsters.” - Sam

Read the Screenopolis review: Hilarious, Heartbreaking Anora Achieves Dramatic Magic

Director: Luca Guadagnino

Did you know that you needed a sexy, bisexual tennis movie in your life? Apparently filmmaker Luca Guadagnino did when he made Challengers. Starring "It" girl Zendaya with Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist as her on-court/off-court romantic rivals, the story of a former tennis prodigy and the men in her life scored among critics and fans.

Filmgoers found the sultry tale about seductive athletes mesmerizing to watch. After all, what is not to enjoy about three physically fit, perfect specimens of humanity at the peak of their game playing games in all the right ways? The film left a dent in 2024 by causing moviegoers to break into a cold sweat.

What does Letterboxd say: “Everything is sex, except sex, which is tennis.” - Bryan Espitia

Read the Screenopolis review: The Joyful Smash Shot of Challengers

Director: Oz Perkins

The marketing campaign for Oz Perkins's Longlegs was a strategic promotion that should be studied and taught to all future PR folks and social media hounds for years to come. The slow and steady rollout of the Neon horror film utilized guerilla marketing tactics similar to The Blair Witch Project. These tactics including teasing audiences withslow-build scares and playing coy about star Nicolas Cage, whose final look as the titular maniac was concealed from prying eyes.

As a slew of clips were released on YouTube along with a phone number that when called, gifted folks with recorded messages from Longlegs himself, piqued audience interest to an all-time high. Despite what audiences might have thought of the end product, there is no doubt that the anticipation for the film was sky high, thanks to the geniuses over at Neon.

What does Letterboxd say: “Really captures the horror of not knowing what you’re supposed to do while someone sings happy birthday to you.” - demi adejuyigbe

Read the Screenopolis review: Demented, Diabolical Longlegs Is Haunting

Read the Screenopolis interview: Director Osgood Perkins Talks Longlegs

Director: Kelsey Mann

Almost a decade after the release from the original outing, Pixar's Inside Out 2 continues the emotional journey of Riley Andersen as she enters the most terrifying phase of her life: puberty.

An influx of new emotions including Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, and Ennui have poor Riley acting out against her best buddies as she struggles with the idea of entering a new school without her support system and her need to be accepted by older kids at her hockey camp. As Anxiety takes over and exiles Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust to the darkest parts of Riley’s brain, the audience follows the poor teen as she becomes consumed by dread.

More than a kid's movie, Inside Out 2 was a poignant piece of media that affected anyone who has ever been dominated by the stressors in their life. There is a reason Inside Out 2 topped the box office for 2024 (and one of the biggest animated moneymakers of all time). It is because it resonated with almost any moviegoer - big kids, little kids, and the young at heart.

What does Letterboxd say: “Can’t wait for Inside Out 3 to give us Addiction, Depression, Wrath, and Horny.” - Root Beer Lord

Read the Screenopolis review: How Dare Inside Out 2 Have My Number?

Director: Alex Garland

2024 was not an easy year for most folks as opposing political beliefs divided families, friend groups, and workplaces, causing friction across the land. Playing off those rising tensions was Alex Garland's Civil War, which created a "what if" scenario in which an armed conflict breaks out in the U.S. after an authoritarian government takes over and states succeed in rebellion.

The dystopian thriller pits American vs. American as P.O.W. camps, mass graves, and political prisoners become part of daily life in the New World order. It was a dark movie for a dark time that caused a lot of people to talk about its controversial take on the future of the United States. Though it didn't set the box office on fire, it did paint a disturbing look of a bleak future.

What does Letterboxd say: “I feel like all of Alex Garland's films could be called Annihilation.” - davidehrlich

Read the Screenopolis review: Civil War Is Masterful and Devastating

Director: Jane Schoenbrun

Jane Schoenbrun's love letter to 1990s horror television was visual eye candy that managed to stretch its micro budget to oblivion to tell its psychological horror tale. Starring Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine, I Saw the TV Glow focuses on teens Owen and Maddy as they become obsessed with a Buffy-esque show titled The Pink Opaque. Convinced that the series is more than just a mere monster-of-the-week serial, the two feed each other's delusion until Maddy disappears and Owen is left to wander his existence without her.

Years later, her return triggers emotions in Owen that make him realize that the show is more than just streaming fodder. A story about gender identity, fitting in, and emotional growth, I Saw the TV Glow is a strange journey in the subconscious that is not for everyone. But it was for Martin Scorsese, who hailed the film as "emotionally and psychologically powerful." It is singular in its vision and unique in its storytelling and thereby, a film that helped define 2024.

What does Letterboxd say: “Donnie Darko for they/thems.” - bb

Read the Screenopolis review: I Saw the TV Glow's Bewildering Subconscious Excavation