As 2024 winds down and prepares to come to a close, it is fun to reflect upon the phenomenal silver screen knockouts that kept moviegoers entertained all year round. From heartwarming animated flicks to epic superhero extravaganzas, gripping dramas to toe-tapping musicals, the cinema was home to a slew of critically acclaimed films that also proved to be box office successes all across the globe.
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The celebrated DreamWorks animated sensation Inside Out 2 dazzled and delighted audiences of all ages with its heartfelt message and relatable storyline, emerging as a certified knockout and becoming the highest-grossing animated film of all time. Likewise, eager fans were finally given what they had long been hoping for with Deadpool & Wolverine, which epically brought Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman together and helped make some serious movie magic. Let's explore the highest-rated movies of 2024 according to IMDb, one of the internet's go-to online databases for all things media-related.
10 'Inside Out 2' 7.6
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3.5/5 Inside Out 2 PGAdventureComedyAnimationDramaFamily
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*Availability in US Release Date June 14, 2024 Cast Amy Poehler , Maya Hawke , Kensington Tallman , Liza Lapira , Tony Hale , Lewis Black , Phyllis Smith , Ayo Edebiri , Lilimar , Grace Lu , Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green , Adèle Exarchopoulos , Diane Lane , Kyle MacLachlan , Paul Walter Hauser , Yvette Nicole Brown , Ron Funches , James Austin Johnson , Yong Yea , Steve Purcell , Dave Goelz , Kirk R. Thatcher , Frank Oz , Paula Pell , June Squibb , Pete Docter , Paula Poundstone , John Ratzenberger , Sarayu Blue , Flea , Bobby Moynihan , Kendall Coyne Schofield Runtime 96 Minutes Expand ✕ Remove Ads
After a long 9 years of fans anxiously waiting to reunite with Riley and her lovable emotions, Pixar finally gave audiences what they wanted with the animated coming-of-age film Inside Out 2, a highly-anticipated follow-up to the 2015 hit that follows the 13-year-old girl as she experiences the growing pains that come with becoming a teenager and going through puberty. As Riley finds herself maturing, her old emotions desperately try to hold on as new ones are introduced like Anxiety and Embarrassment.
A Record-Shattering Animated Sequel
Original film stars Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, and Lewis Black return to voice the respective emotions Joy, Anger, and Sadness and are joined on the screen by newcomers like Maya Hawke, Liza Lapira, and Tony Hale, all of whom helped bring the profoundly poignant movie to life and tugged at the heartstrings of viewers of all ages. Inside Out 2 grossed $1.699 billion worldwide and became the highest-grossing animated film of all time and received both a stellar 90% Rotten Tomatoes score and A CinemaScore from audiences.
9 'Deadpool & Wolverine' 7.7
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3.5/5 Deadpool & Wolverine RAction Sci-FiComedySuperhero
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*Availability in US Release Date July 26, 2024 Cast Ryan Reynolds , Hugh Jackman , Emma Corrin , Morena Baccarin , Rob Delaney , Leslie Uggams , Karan Soni , Matthew Macfadyen , Brianna Hildebrand , Shioli Kutsuna , Stefan Kapicic , Lewis Tan , Randal Reeder , Jennifer Garner , Aaron Stanford , Billy Clements , Ollie Palmer , Chris Hemsworth , Rob McElhenney Runtime 127 Minutes Expand ✕ Remove Ads
Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman made the dreams of superhero fans all across the world come true when they finally collaborated on the big screen with the electrifying blockbuster hit Deadpool & Wolverine, which focuses on the wisecracking mutated mercenary as he discovers that the Time Valiance Authority intends to completely obliterate his universe, prompting the Merc with a Mouth to venture into the multiverse and hunt down a variant Wolverine to save his reality.
Hollywood's Superhero Extravaganza
The electrifying chemistry between Reynolds and Jackman is just one of the many reasons that Deadpool & Wolverine proved to be a critical and commercial knockout with moviegoers, as fans flocked to witness the two reluctant heroes argue and banter on the screen as they carry out their epic quest. Celebrated for its delightfully raunchy humor, compelling character growth, and endearing performances, the MCU flick raked in $1.338 billion at the box office and became the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time.
✕ Remove Ads 8 'Hundreds of Beavers' 7.7
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4.5/5 Hundreds of Beavers ActionAdventureComedy
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*Availability in US Release Date February 9, 2024 Cast Ryland Brickson Cole Tews , Olivia Graves , Wes Tank , Doug Mancheski , Luis Rico Runtime 108 Minutes
Heavily inspired by the slapstick comedy style and humor of '20s and '30s cinema, the wildly entertaining Hundreds of Beavers takes place in the 19th century where the booze-loving applejack salesman Jean Kayak (Ryland Brickson Cole Tews) is forced to make a career switch after his beloved orchard is destroyed by a beaver. Kayak sets out to get his revenge and become the finest fur trapper in all the land by capturing hundreds of beavers, in a major mission to turn his luck around and prove he's not a loser.
✕ Remove Ads A Homage to the Comedy of Cinema's Past
Made on a modest budget of $150,000, the black-and-white picture was a joint effort between longtime friends Mike Cheslik and Tews, with the duo writing the screenplay together and Cheslik assuming editing and directorial duties. The creative collaborators were inspired by the performances of silver screen greats like Charlie Chaplin, The Three Stooges, and Abbott and Costello, and Hundreds of Beavers made its premiere at the Fantastic Fest where it dazzled with its zany storyline and winning ingenuity.
7 'Article 370' 7.8 Close
The Indian Hindi-language political thriller Article 370 chronicles the direct aftermath of the 2016 Kashmir unrest and centers on ambitious field agent Zooni Haksar (Yami Gautam Dhar) as she is chosen to participate in a top-secret mission by the Prime Minister's office to fight against terrorism and the overwhelming corruption running rampant. Haksar is given the colossal task of finding a way to neutralize the infamous Article 370, doing so without putting innocent lives at risk in the process.
✕ Remove Ads An Engrossing Exploration of Indian History
IMDb users were completely engrossed by the taut, high-stakes premise and the masterful direction of Aditya Suhas Jambhale, with the adrenaline-pumping film shining a light on the current political climate in India and the surrounding region and depicting the polarizing provision. Article 370 currently holds an impressive 83% Rotten Tomatoes Score and 92% Popcornmeter, with many declaring the film a hard-hitting political thriller that touts a brilliant performance by lead actress Yami Gautam Dhar.
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6 'The Greatest Night in Pop' 7.9 Close
Showcasing the immense effort and creative forces that went into producing the groundbreaking 1985 charity single "We Are the World," Bao Nguyen's riveting documentary The Greatest Night in Pop focuses on the many legendary musical artists who provided their distinct vocals for the revered pop song, with the film featuring interviews with the talented performers involved in its creation including Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, and Cyndi Lauper.
✕ Remove Ads The Music World's Most Powerful Performers Unite
The Greatest Night in Pop provides an intimate and revealing look at the star power behind the unforgettable single, which dominated music charts and became the fastest-selling U.S. pop single in history and won four Grammy Awards. The dazzling documentary debuted at the Sundance Film Festival to universal acclaim by viewers and critics, with the fascinating film receiving three Primetime Emmy nominations and winning Best Historical Documentary at the Critics' Choice Documentary Awards.
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5 'The Brutalist' 8.1
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5/5 The Brutalist Drama
Release Date December 20, 2024 Cast Adrien Brody , Guy Pearce , Felicity Jones , Joe Alwyn , Raffey Cassidy , Stacy Martin , Emma Laird , Isaach De Bankole , Alessandro Nivola , Michael Epp , Jonathan Hyde , Peter Polycarpou , Salvatore Sansone , Ariane Labed , Jeremy Wheeler , Jaymes Butler , Matt Devere , Natalie Shinnick , Stephen Saracco , Peter Linka , Robert Jackson Expand ✕ Remove Ads
Touting a stacked ensemble cast led by Adrien Brody, Guy Ritchie, and Felicity Jones, the epic historical drama The Brutalist chronicles the life of prominent Hungarian-Jewish architect László Tóth, who, after surviving the unfathomable devastation and horrors of the Holocaust emigrates to America in hopes of pursuing the American dream and making it big in the land of endless opportunities. After arriving in Pennsylvania, Tóth meets the influential industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren, who forever changes his life and legacy.
Brody Delivers Another Knockout Performance
The Brutalist debuted at the Venice International Film Festival where director Brady Corbet took home the prestigious Silver Lion and also competed for the Golden Lion, with Brody's powerfully moving and vulnerable performance attracting rave reviews from attendees. Slant Magazine commended both the director and actor, glowingly writing: "Brady Corbet builds on celluloid what Adrien Brody's László Toth does with concrete: an unvarnished monument to the authentic American character."
4 'Wicked' 8.1
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3.5/5 Wicked PGAdventureFantasyMusical
Release Date November 22, 2024 Cast Cynthia Erivo , Ariana Grande , Michelle Yeoh , Jeff Goldblum , Jonathan Bailey , Ethan Slater , Marissa Bode , Bowen Yang , Bronwyn James , Keala Settle , Peter Dinklage , Aaron Teoh , Grecia De la Paz , Colin Michael Carmichael , Adam James , Andy Nyman , Courtney Mae-Briggs , Sharon D. Clarke , Jenna Boyd Runtime 160 Minutes Expand ✕ Remove Ads
Based on the beloved Broadway play of the same name and Gregory Maguire novel, the dazzling fantasy musical Wicked features sensational performances by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande and brilliantly brings the classic tale to life, with the adaptation depicting the friendship between Elphaba Thropp and Galinda Upland as they attend Shiz University in the Land of Oz. Elphaba and Galinda would famously go on to transform into the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good when Dorothy Gales arrives in The Wizard of Oz.
Broadway's Hit Is Brilliantly Brought to Life
Featuring unforgettable tunes like "Defying Gravity" and "Popular", Wicked became a blockbuster sensation when it soared into theaters on November 22, 2024, and has already earned over $372 million at the box office, with both Erivo and Grande's tour de force performances being hailed by the masses. Wicked won Best Film at the National Board of Review and has already become the highest-grossing state musical-to-screen adaptation of all time, with fans anxiously awaiting 2025's Wicked Part Two.
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Posts 3 'Anora' 8.2
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5/5 Anora ComedyDramaRomance
Release Date October 18, 2024 Cast Mikey Madison , Mark Eydelshteyn , Karren Karagulian , Yuriy Borisov , Vache Tovmasyan , Ivy Wolk , Luna Sofía Miranda , Ross Brodar , Lindsey Normington , Darya Ekamasova , Emily Weider , Alena Gurevich , Masha Zhak , Paul Weissman , Charlton Lamar , Aleksey Serebryakov , Ella Rubin , Vincent Radwinsky , Michael Sergio , Brittney Rodriguez , Sophia Carnabuci , Anton Bitter , Zoë Vnak Runtime 139 Minutes Expand
In the captivating romantic dramedy Anora, the whirlwind relationship and subsequent marriage between New York City exotic dancer Anora "Ani" Mikheeva (Mikey Madison) and Vanya Zakharov, the immature and self-indulgent son of an affluent Russian oligarch. When news of their controversial union reaches Russia and Vanya's billionaire parents, Nikolai and Galina, the outraged parents send their henchmen to Brooklyn in order to force the newlyweds to annul their marriage, leading to an epic pursuit throughout the city.
✕ Remove Ads A Palme d-Or-Winning Romantic Drama
Director Sean Baker chose Mikey Madison to be the romantic film's leading lady after seeing her performances in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Scream, hiring her on the spot and without an audition. Madison's marvelous portrayal as the bold titular character was deemed the finest of her career thus far, helping Anora nab the highly-coveted Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and winning the actress the award for Breakthrough Performance by the National Board of Review.
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2 'The Wild Robot' 8.3
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4.5/5 The Wild Robot PGAnimationDrama Sci-Fi
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*Availability in US Release Date September 27, 2024 Cast Lupita Nyong'o , Pedro Pascal , Catherine O'Hara , Bill Nighy , Kit Connor , Stephanie Hsu , Mark Hamill , Matt Berry , Ving Rhames Runtime 101 Minutes ✕ Remove Ads
From the genius mind of celebrated filmmaker Chris Sanders (Lilo & Stitch, How to Train Your Dragon) comes the heartwarming sci-fi animated adventure The Wild Robot, an adaptation of the Peter Brown novel that tells the spellbinding tale of a service robot who after being stranded on an uninhabited island finds herself becoming the surrogate mother to an orphaned goose. Roz (Lupita Nyong'o) develops a transcending and life-changing connection with the endearing runt Brightbill (Kit Connor) after he develops short-term memory loss.
A Heartwarming Animated Masterpiece
With the additional talents of Hollywood greats like Pedro Pascal, Catherine O'Hara, and Bill Nighy, The Wild Robot left audiences both old and young emotionally moved due to its sentimental storyline and tender performances by its decorated ensemble cast. The DreamWorks Animation masterpiece proved to be a critical and commercial triumph, dominating the box office and raking in $321.8 million while earning an A CinemaScore and an enviable 97% Rotten Tomatoes score.
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Posts ✕ Remove Ads 1 'Dune: Part Two' 8.5
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4.5/5 Dune: Part Two Science FictionAdventure
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*Availability in US Release Date February 27, 2024 Cast Timothée Chalamet , Zendaya , Rebecca Ferguson , Javier Bardem , Josh Brolin , Austin Butler , Florence Pugh , Dave Bautista , Christopher Walken , Lea Seydoux , Stellan Skarsgård , Charlotte Rampling , Souheila Yacoub , Roger Yuan , Babs Olusanmokun , Giusi Merli , Kait Tenison , Tara Breathnach , Akiko Hitomi , Imola Gáspár , Elbooz Omar Ahmed Fathie , Abdelkarim Hussein Seli Mohamed Hassanin , Joseph Beddelem , Xavier Alba Royo , Rachid Abbad Runtime 167 minutes Expand
Denis Villeneuve's massively buzzed-about sequel to the 2021 blockbuster hit, the epic sci-fi spectacle Dune: Part Two once again stars Timothée Chalamet as the resilient and determined Paul Atreides, who is reunited with the fiercely loyal Chani (Zendaya) and combines powers with the Fremen in order to exact vengeance against the House of Harkonnen after they destroyed his beloved family. Atreides goes on a warpath to target the conspirators responsible, as he fights for not only his people but the universe itself.
✕ Remove Ads Villeneuve's Stunning Sci-Fi Sequel
As with its predecessor, Dune: Part Two magically brought Frank Herbert's timeless tale to life and has been hailed as one of the greatest sci-fi pictures of all time, being lauded for its technical achievements, stunning cinematography, and compelling performances. The thrilling sequel received a whopping 554,000 user reviews on IMDb and was given an exceptional 8.5 rating on the platform, and was also named one of the Top Ten Films of the year by the American Film Institute while garnering countless accolades.