2024 was an interesting year as far as movie genres are concerned, at least from a quality perspective. Biopics/documentaries and animated films had a very strong showing this year. Heck, one title found a way to check both boxes! While this year’s list is missing a few worthy titles that are certainly top ten worthy, I decided to somewhat diversity my list. That being said, half of films below fall snugly into the aforementioned genre slots. I’ll also take a moment here to mention several of my personal “guilty pleasure” favorites that helped remind me why movies are such a fun pastime. In alphabetical order, these movies are Argylle, The Beekeeper, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, Greedy People and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.
The ten tiles that make this list fall into the following genres multiple times: Action, Adventure, Animation, Biography, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Musical and Sci-Fi. While I’m sad to not see a title like Heretic crack my top ten to represent Horror (my favorite genre), the balance of the best films is quite satisfying, in retrospect. With that all out of the way, let’s check out the list of The Reel Godfather’s Top Films of 2024, in no particular order.
Emilia Pérez
A Mexican lawyer is offered an unusual job to help a notorious cartel boss retire and transition into living as a woman, fulfilling a long-held desire.
The Wild Robot
Shipwrecked on a deserted island, a robot named Roz must learn to adapt to its new surroundings. Building relationships with the native animals, Roz soon develops a parental bond with an orphaned gosling.
Transformers One
Once upon a time, Optimus Prime and Megatron were friends bonded like brothers who managed to change the fate of the Cybertron planet forever. This is their untold original story, before they end up being bitter opponents.
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
Christopher Reeve achieves fame as Superman, but a horse-riding accident leaves him paralyzed. He dedicates his life to finding a cure for spinal cord injuries.
Piece By Piece
An animated biographical documentary that tells the life story of musician Pharrell Williams, using LEGO animation to depict his journey from childhood to his success in the music industry.
Wicked
Two young women, Elphaba and Glinda, form an unlikely friendship that’s tested by their differing ambitions and a fateful encounter with the Wizard of Oz.
Deadpool & Wolverine
To save the multiverse from a looming threat, Deadpool teams up with Wolverine after being recruited by the Time Variance Authority.
Saturday Night
Tensions run high as producer Lorne Michaels and a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers prepare for the first broadcast of “Saturday Night Live” on Oct. 11, 1975.
A Complete Unknown
Bob Dylan, a 19-year-old with a guitar and revolutionary talent, arrives in New York in the early 1960s, shaking up the folk movement and changing the course of American music.
The Fire Inside
The story of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields, a boxer from Flint, Mich., who trained to become the first woman in her country’s history to win an Olympic gold medal in the sport.
Great List. Some of your guilty pleasures were some of my favorites this year as well especially The Beekeeper! I would add The Fall Guy to my top of 2024. I’m seeing a complete unknown Sunday!