Our Favorite Films & TV of 2024!
25 Films & 25 TV Series We Enjoyed This Year!
The end of the year is here! And that means it’s time for our annual Year-in-Review of our favorite books, music, films and TV of 2024!
Today we’re going to dive into Our 25 Favorite Films & 25 Favorite TV Series of 2024 (plus a glimpse of 10 upcoming films we’re excited about!).
On Monday we’ll be highlighting Our 25 Favorite Books of 2024 (plus our favorite new cookbooks!), and on New Year’s Day we’ll be publishing an epic list of Our 100 Favorite New Albums of 2024! Stay tuned!
And tell us in the comments about your favorites!
Our 25 Favorite Films of 2024!
First, a caveat: With the exception of big-budget Hollywood blockbusters (which usually release on the same day around the world), determining the release date of most independent, foreign and “arthouse” films can be a bit complicated. So that means our list includes films that were technically released at the end of 2023 but were otherwise unavailable to most of the world until 2024. The good news is that means almost all of the films below are currently available on streaming!
To find out where you can legally stream, rent or purchase the following films in your region, we highly recommend searching on JustWatch, which will provide a list of all the available streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV, etc.) for each of the films and TV series below.
On to our personal list of favorites! (in alphabetical order) . . .
All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt — directed by Raven Jackson
“A lyrical, decades-spanning exploration across a woman’s life in Mississippi, the feature debut from award-winning poet, photographer and filmmaker Raven Jackson is a haunting and richly layered portrait, a beautiful ode to the generations of people and places that shape us.” [Source: Apple TV]
La Chimera — directed by Alice Rohrwacher
“Everyone has their own Chimera, something they try to achieve but can never find. For Arthur, the Chimera looks like the woman he lost, Beniamina. To find her, Arthur searches for the door to the afterlife of which myths speak.” [Source: Hulu]
Close to You — directed by Dominic Savage
“A trans man returns home for the first time in years, confronting a distant relationship with his family and rekindling a connection with a former love.” [Source: Netflix]
Crossing — directed by Levan Akin
“Lia, a retired teacher from Georgia, learns from her young neighbor, Achi, that her long-lost transgender niece, Tekla, has crossed the border into Turkey. In search of Tekla, Lia travels to Istanbul with the unpredictable Achi, where they explore the hidden depths of the city.” [Source: MUBI]
Dahomey — directed by Mati Diop
“In 2021, 26 objects from the Kingdom of Dahomey leave Paris and are returned to present-day Benin. How should these art treasures, stolen from ancestors, be received in a country which has reinvented itself in their absence?” [Source: MUBI]
Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes — directed by Nanette Burstein
“Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes allows Elizabeth Taylor’s own voice to narrate her story, inviting audiences to rediscover not just a megastar of Hollywood’s Golden Age but a complex woman who navigated lifelong fame, personal identity, and public scrutiny on a global stage from an early childhood.” [Source: HBO Max]
Exhibiting Forgiveness — directed by Titus Kaphar
“In this raw and deeply moving directorial debut from renowned artist Titus Kaphar, Tarrell (André Holland) is an admired American painter whose path to success is derailed by an unexpected visit from his estranged father, La’Ron (John Earl Jelks), a conscience-stricken man trying to reconcile. … Together, father and son learn that forgetting the past is as challenging as forgiving.” [Source: Apple TV]
Fireworks [Stranizza d'amuri] — directed by Giuseppe Fiorello
“In the heat of a Sicilian summer in 1982, two teenage boys secretly fall in love. But as rumors spread, they're forced to confront local prejudice.” [Source: Tubi]
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga — directed by George Miller
“While two tyrants war for dominance in the Wasteland, young Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home to the Green Place of Many Mothers.” [Source: HBO Max]
The Great Lillian Hall — directed by Michael Cristofer
“As beloved Broadway star Lillian Hall (Jessica Lange) pours her heart, soul, and time into preparing for her next role, she finds herself blindsided by confusion and forgetfulness. Battling against all odds to make it to opening night while holding on to her fading memories and identity, she must navigate a tumultuous emotional journey: balancing her desire for the spotlight and the stark demands of the real world.” [Source: HBO Max]
Hidden Master: The Legacy of George Platt Lynes — directed by Sam Shahid
“An intimate look at pioneering artist George Platt Lynes, who took radically explicit photographs of the male nude. The documentary reveals Lynes’ gifted eye for the male form, his long-term friendships with Gertrude Stein and Alfred Kinsey, and his lasting influence as one of the first openly gay American artists.” [Source: Apple TV]
Janet Planet — directed by Annie Baker
“In rural Western Massachusetts, 11-year-old Lacy spends the summer of 1991 at home, enthralled by her own imagination and the attention of her mother, Janet. As the months pass, three visitors enter their orbit, all captivated by Janet.” [Source: HBO Max]
Jim Henson Idea Man — directed by Ron Howard
“Jim Henson Idea Man takes us into the mind of this singular creative visionary, from his early years puppeteering on local television to the worldwide success of Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and beyond. Featuring unprecedented access to Jim’s personal archives, filmmaker Ron Howard brings us a fascinating and insightful look at a complex man whose boundless imagination inspired the world.” [Source: Disney+]
Last Summer — directed by Catherine Breillat
“A remarkably inscrutable Léa Drucker plays Anne—an attorney advocating for abused minors—who enjoys an enviable lifestyle with her husband, Pierre (Olivier Rabourdin), a milquetoast businessman and ineffectual father to Théo (newcomer Samuel Kircher), his troubled teenage son from a previous marriage. Compelled by her stepson’s Apollonian beauty, Anne embarks on an affair that threatens the stability of her household, along with her professional integrity, as she faces a choice between accountability and deception.” [Source: The Criterion Channel]
Lee — directed by Ellen Kuras
“The story of American photographer Lee Miller, a fashion model who became an acclaimed war correspondent for Vogue magazine during World War II.” [Source: Hulu]
Mami Wata — directed by C.J. “Fiery” Obasi
“In the oceanside village of Iyi, locals worship the Mermaid-deity Mami Wata and look to guidance from their healer Mama Efe. But when children begin to die and disappear, and doubt is sowed amongst the people, Mama Efe’s protégé and daughter must save their village and restore Mami Wata’s glory.” [Source: MUBI]
Merchant Ivory — directed by Stephan Soucy
“[T]he first definitive feature documentary to lend new and compelling perspectives on the partnership, both professional and personal, of director James Ivory, producer Ismail Merchant and their primary associates, writer Ruth Prawer Jhabvala and composer Richard Robbins. … Merchant Ivory intimately details the transformational cinematic creativity, and personal and professional drama of the company that left an indelible impact on film culture.” [Source: Apple TV]
The Old Oak — directed by Ken Loach
“From Ken Loach, the award-winning director of The Wind That Shakes The Barley and I, Daniel Blake comes a film which Time-Out is calling ‘A film as fired up and human as any you'll see this year!’ Local tensions arise in a small town following the arrival of Arab refugees in this gritty UK drama in which anti-immigrant discrimination and scenes of threatening behaviour are balanced by criticism and challenge.” [Source: Apple TV]
Origin — directed by Ava DuVernay
“While investigating the global phenomenon of caste and its dark influence on society, a journalist faces unfathomable personal loss and uncovers the beauty of human resilience.” [Source: Hulu]
The Piano Lesson — directed by Malcolm Washington
“A brewing battle over the fate of an heirloom piano threatens to tear a family apart in this drama based on August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play.” [Source: Netflix]
Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus — directed by Neo Sora
“A celebration of an artist’s life in the purest sense, Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus is the swan song of one of the world’s greatest musicians. As a parting gift, in late 2022, Ryuichi Sakamoto mustered all of his energy to leave us with one final performance: a concert film featuring just him and his piano. … Sakamoto bares his soul through his exquisitely haunting melodies, knowing this was the last time he would be able to present his art.” [Source: The Criterion Channel]
Scala!!! Or, the Incredibly Strange Rise and Fall of the World's Wildest Cinema and How It Influenced a Mixed-up Generation of Weirdos and Misfits — directed by Ali Catterall & Jane Giles
“Amid post-punk Britain, Scala cinema stood out for its diverse film offerings, spanning high art, cult classics, sexploitation, horror, Kung-Fu, and LGBTQIA+. An inspiration for creatives, this documentary tells the riotous inside story and features unseen archive footage, interviews and film clips.” [Source: MUBI]
Sing Sing — directed by Greg Kwedar
“Divine G (Colman Domingo), imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn’t commit, finds purpose by acting in a theatre group with other incarcerated men. When a wary outsider joins the group, the men decide to stage their first original comedy, in this stirring true story of resilience, humanity, and the transformative power of art, starring an unforgettable ensemble cast of formerly incarcerated actors.” [Source: Apple TV]
The Taste of Things [La Passion de Dodin Bouffant] — directed by Trần Anh Hùng
“France, 1889: simmering passions between a master chef and his longtime partner bubble over in this sumptuous award-winning period love story.” [Source: Hulu]
Will & Harper — directed by Josh Greenbaum
“When Will Ferrell’s good friend Harper comes out as a trans woman, they take a road trip to bond and reintroduce Harper to the country as her true self.” [Source: Netflix]
10 Upcoming Films We're Anticipating!
None of the following films are currently available in theaters (or streaming) here yet, but they can possibly be seen on a big screen near you (in the U.S. and elsewhere). We anticipate many of these might make our list next year:
All We Imagine as Light — directed by Payal Kapadia
The Belle from Gaza — directed by Yolande Zauberman
The Brutalist — directed by Brady Corbet
A Complete Unknown — directed by James Mangold
Hard Truths — directed by Mike Leigh
Nickel Boys — directed by RaMell Ross
Queer — directed by Luca Guadagnino
The Room Next Door — directed by Pedro Almodóvar
Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat — directed by Johan Grimonprez
A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things — directed by Mark Cousins
Our 25 Favorite TV Series of 2024!
Meanwhile, because we watch so many U.K. series (hurray for VPNs!), when it comes to TV we’re often ahead of the curve. So a few of the series listed below aren’t yet available in the U.S., but will presumably be coming soon (usually to PBS, BritBox or Acorn TV). Again, regardless of where you live, we highly recommend searching for titles via JustWatch to find the best streaming services for your region.
On to our personal list of favorites! (in alphabetical order) . . .
The Bear (Season 3)
“FX’s critically acclaimed series The Bear is about food, family and the insanity of the grind. It’s a losing battle every day in the restaurant business, and as Carmy pushes himself harder than ever and demands excellence from his crew, they do their best to match his intensity. Their quest for culinary excellence propels them to new levels and stresses the bonds that hold the restaurant together.” [Source: Hulu]
Changing Ends (Season 2)
“An autobiographical comedy series based on Alan Carr’s life in Northampton in the 1980s while growing up as the son of a Fourth Division football manager in Thatcher’s Britain.” [Source: Apple TV]
Chef’s Table (Chef’s Table: Noodles & Chef’s Table: Volume 7)
“In this Emmy-nominated series, meet culinary stars around the world who are redefining gourmet food with innovative dishes and tantalizing desserts.” [Source: Netflix]
Criminal Record
“In the heart of London, an anonymous phone call draws two brilliant detectives—a young woman in the early stages of her career and a well-connected man determined to protect his legacy—into a fight to correct an old miscarriage of justice.” [Source: Apple TV+]
Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (Season 10)
“For more than a decade, renowned Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. has helped to expand America’s sense of itself, stimulating a national conversation about identity with humor, wisdom, and compassion. Professor Gates has explored the ancestry of dozens of influential people from diverse backgrounds, taking millions of viewers deep into the past to reveal the connections that bind us all.” [Source: PBS.org]
Hacks (Season 3)
“To salvage her waning career, legendary Las Vegas comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) is forced to team up with an entitled, outcast television writer in this hilariously dark comedy series.” [Source: HBO Max]
Hollywood Black
“Chronicling the history of cinema from a radically Black perspective, this docuseries unearths personal stories from actors, writers, directors and producers who fought for their place on the page, behind the camera and on the screen.” [Source: MGM+]
How to Die Alone
“How to Die Alone follows Mel, a broke, fat, Black JFK airport employee who’s never been in love and forgotten how to dream, until an accidental brush with death catapults her on a journey to finally take flight and start living by any means necessary.” [Source: Hulu]
Inspector Ellis [aka Ellis in the U.K.]
“DCI Ellis is the last hope for failing investigations; she takes over tough cases across northern England, often with resistance from local police; her formidable demeanor disguises deep empathy fuelled by her complicated past.” [Source: Acorn TV]
Interview with the Vampire (Season 2)
“Based on Anne Rice’s iconic novel, Interview with The Vampire follows Louis’ epic story of love, blood and the perils of immortality, as told to the journalist Daniel Molloy. Chafing at the limitations of life as a black man in 1900’s New Orleans, Louis finds it impossible to resist Lestat’s offer of the ultimate escape: joining him as his vampire companion. But Louis’s intoxicating new powers come with a violent price, and the introduction of Lestat’s newest fledgling, the child vampire Claudia, soon sets them on a decades-long path of revenge and atonement.” [Source: AMC+]
Kaos
“As discord reigns on Mount Olympus and almighty Zeus spirals into paranoia, three mortals are destined to reshape the future of humankind.” [Source: Netflix]
Mammals with David Attenborough
“Sir David Attenborough reveals how Mammals have conquered the Earth, uncovering the secrets to their success with their winning design, incredible adaptability, unrivaled intelligence, and unique sociability on every corner of the planet.” [Source: Apple TV]
Mr Bates vs The Post Office
“Award-winning actor Toby Jones (Empire of Light, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Sherlock) stars in this shockingly true David vs Goliath story following one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in British legal history. … This is the story of decent, ordinary, and real-life people who were relentlessly pursued, coerced, and controlled by a powerful corporation, and their seemingly unsurmountable battle to right so many horrific wrongs.” [Source: PBS.org]
Mr Loverman
“Dapper, charming Barry is hiding a secret – but it’s not what his wife suspects. Bernardine Evaristo’s life-affirming story about being true to yourself, starring Lennie James.” [Source: BBC iPlayer - coming soon to PBS!]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks (Series 32 — Sky Season 4)
Host Greg Davies said it best: “If you vaguely like music in the broadest possible sense, and you like your quizzing to be entirely inconsequential, then boy is this the show for you!” The utterly irreverent music quiz show has returned to Sky TV and Now TV with the snarky, scathing witticisms of comedian Greg Davies as host. Nothing can be more pleasing to our cynical Gen X sensibilities than watching Davies, Noel Fielding, Jamali Maddix and Daisy May Cooper throwing shade and reading pop stars for filth. See for yourself as they go after Oasis duo Liam & Noel Gallagher in this hilarious clip:
One Hundred Years of Solitude
“In the mythical town Macondo, seven generations of the Buendía family navigate love, oblivion and the inescapability of their past — and their fate.” [Source: Netflix]
Pachinko (Season 2)
“Based on the New York Times bestseller, this sweeping saga chronicles the hopes and dreams of a Korean immigrant family across four generations as they leave their homeland in an indomitable quest to survive and thrive.” [Source: Apple TV+]
RuPaul's Drag Race UK (Season 6)
Hey squirrel-friends! Some people watch sports every week. We watch Drag Race. And we’ve enjoyed the Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent of countless queens from the moment that first episode aired so many years ago (anyone remember that Season One filter?). Now, the Drag Race Franchise is literally taking over the planet, with spin-offs airing this year in France, Mexico, Spain, Thailand, the Philippines and more. Our favorite Drag Race season of 2024, though, had to be Season 6 of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK! So many talented queens! And the best roast in herstory! [Watch via WOWPresents Plus]
Slow Horses (Season 4)
“This quick-witted spy drama follows a dysfunctional team of MI5 agents—and their obnoxious boss, the notorious Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman)—as they navigate the espionage world’s smoke and mirrors to defend England from sinister forces.” [Source: Apple TV+]
Solar System with Brian Cox
“All across the solar system, volcanoes are erupting, storms are raging, and ice is acting in strange ways. … Now, using the latest scientific imagery and stunningly realistic animations, planetary scientists take us on a journey across the solar system to uncover new revelations about our celestial neighborhood – and illuminate how Earth may be the oddest world of all.” [Source: PBS.org]
Somebody Somewhere (Season 3)
“The Peabody Award-winning and critically acclaimed series follows Sam (Bridget Everett), a true Kansan on the surface who, beneath it all, struggles to fit the hometown mold. As she grapples with loss and acceptance, singing becomes Sam’s saving grace. It leads her on a journey to discover herself and a community of outsiders who don’t fit in but don’t give up, proving that finding your people and your voice is possible. In Season 3, we see growth against all odds.” [Source: HBO Max]
Star Trek: Discovery (Season 5)
“The fifth and final season will find Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery uncovering a mystery that will send them on an epic adventure across the galaxy to find an ancient power whose very existence has been deliberately hidden for centuries. But there are others on the hunt as well… dangerous foes who are desperate to claim the prize for themselves and will stop at nothing to get it.” [Source: Paramount+]
We Are Lady Parts (Season 2)
“Season 2 of We Are Lady Parts sees the band return with a renewed artistic mission after the high of their first UK tour, only to find a rival band threatens their delicate status quo. As the reality of chasing success sets in, Lady Parts embark on recording their first album, juggling personal ambitions and deciding whether ‘making it big’ is really what they wanted.” [Source: Peacock]
We're Here (Season 4)
“We’re Here follows renowned drag queens Sasha Velour, Priyanka, Jaida Essence Hall, and Latrice Royale as they continue the series’ mission of spreading love and connection through the art of drag across small-town America. … Wired called it ‘an essential reminder that queer people are fighting for justice and visibility across the US.’ Decider lauded it for managing ‘to find the light even in the darkest of circumstances’ and the ‘most relevant reality show on television.’” [Source: HBO Max]
Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light
“Wolf Hall, the 2016 Peabody Award and Golden Globe winner, and its eagerly awaited TV sequel coming in 2025, Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, tell the spellbinding story of royal ‘fixer’ Thomas Cromwell (Mark Rylance) during the brutally capricious reign of Henry VIII (Damian Lewis). … The new TV sequel picks up after [Anne] Boleyn’s beheading and follows the last four years of Cromwell’s life, completing his journey from self-made man to the most feared and influential figure of his time.” [Source: PBS.org]
And there you have it! Our Favorite Films & TV Series of 2024!
What were you watching in 2024? Tell us your picks in the comments!