BEST MOVIES OF 2024: BEST NEW MOVIES TO WATCH NOW

Welcome to our guide of the Best Movies of 2024, featuring every Certified Fresh movie as they come in week by week!
In April: Civil War, Monkey Man, The Beast, and The First Omen.
In March: Love Lies Bleeding and Problemista, both from A24. One Life, starring Anthony Hopkins. Ordinary Angels, starring Hilary Swank. In horror, we got You’ll Never Find Me and Late Night with the Devil, the latter which also tops our best horror of 2024 list. Dialogue-free animation Robot Dreams and Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World jockeying for the top spot here.
And what about February? Dune pretty good, thanks for asking. Part Two went Certified Fresh within an hour after the reviews embargo lifted on February 21st. With it outclassing the first Dune, we took a look at 20 sequels that got better Tomatometer scores than their originals. Otherwise, things got freaky with horror film Stopmotion and the comic zaniness of Hundreds of Beavers taking the crown for the best-reviewed of the year.
We didn’t have a blockbuster January like we did in 2023‘s, when genre surprises M3GAN and Plane went Certified Fresh. But Daisy Ridley got her post-Skywalker win with Sometimes I Think About Dying. Mads Mikkelsen re-teamed with his A Royal Affair director Nikolaj Arcel to find The Promised Land. With The Crime Is Mine, Francois Ozon is getting career-best reviews, and his 10th Certified Fresh film over the past decade-and-change. And Netflix scored with The Kitchen, Orion and the Dark, and Good Grief.

#1

ROBOT DREAMS
 98%

Critics Consensus: As heartbreaking as it is heartwarming, Robot Dreams is the stuff good animation is made of.
Synopsis: DOG lives in Manhattan and he's tired of being alone. One day he decides to build himself a robot, a... [More]
Starring:
Directed By: Pablo Berger

#2

DO NOT EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM THE END OF THE WORLD
 98%

Critics Consensus: As unique and breathlessly expansive as its title, Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World adds to the evidence supporting Radu Jude's status as a uniquely gifted and provocative filmmaker.
Synopsis: From Golden Bear winner Radu Jude, DO NOT EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM THE END OF THE WORLD takes a fierce... [More]
Starring: Ilinca Manolache, Ovidiu Pîrsan, Nina Hoss, Dorina Lazăr
Directed By: Radu Jude

#3

THE CRIME IS MINE
 98%

Critics Consensus: With alluring razzmatazz, The Crime is Mine and its superlative stars will seduce farce lovers and Francophiles.
Synopsis: In 1930s Paris, Madeleine, a pretty, young, penniless and talentless actress, is accused of murdering a famous producer. Helped by... [More]
Starring: Nadia Tereszkiewicz, Rebecca Marder, Isabelle Huppert, Dany Boon
Directed By: François Ozon

#4

INSIDE THE YELLOW COCOON SHELL
 98%

Critics Consensus: Following its own alluringly inscrutable path between past, present, reality, and dreams, Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell rewards patient viewers with an absorbing spiritual odyssey.
Synopsis: Winner of the prestigious Camera d’Or for best first film at this year's Cannes Film Festival, the enthralling Inside the... [More]
Starring: Le Phong Vu, Nguyen Thi Truc Quynh, Nguyen Thinh, Vu Ngoc Manh
Directed By: Pham Thien An

#5

MOLLI AND MAX IN THE FUTURE
 98%

Critics Consensus: More than making up in style and sheer creativity whatever it might lack in terms of budget, Molli and Max in the Future blends sci-fi and rom-com to wildly entertaining effect.
Synopsis: 'Molli and Max in the Future' is a sci-fi romantic comedy about a man and woman whose orbits repeatedly collide... [More]
Starring: Zosia Mamet, Aristotle Athari, Arturo Castro, Okieriete Onaodowan
Directed By: Michael Lukk Litwak

#6

LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL
 97%

Critics Consensus: Delightfully dark, Late Night with the Devil proves possession horror isn't played out -- and serves as an outstanding showcase for David Dastmalchian.
Synopsis: Johnny Carson rival Jack Delroy hosts a syndicated talk show 'Night Owls' that has long been a trusted companion to... [More]
Starring: David Dastmalchian, Laura Gordon, Fayssal Bazzi, Ian Bliss
Directed By: Colin Cairnes, Cameron Cairnes

#7

IO CAPITANO
 97%

Critics Consensus: A journey toward hope, Io Capitano perambulates through the ravishing Saharan landscape encountering the most sublime and debased corners of humanity.
Synopsis: In this acclaimed film which won top directing and acting prizes at the Venice Film Festival, writer-director Garrone presents a... [More]
Starring: Seydou Sarr, Moustapha Fall, Issaka Sawagodo, Hichem Yacoubi
Directed By: Matteo Garrone

#8

TÓTEM
 97%

Critics Consensus: A heartfelt film that tells a poignant story without straying into sentimentality, Tótem is a life-affirming triumph for writer-director Lila Avilés.
Synopsis: In a bustling Mexican household, seven-year-old Sol is swept up in a whirlwind of preparations for the birthday party for... [More]
Starring: Naíma Sentíes, Montserrat Marañón, Marisol Gasé, Saori Gurza
Directed By: Lila Avilés

#9

THE PROMISED LAND
 96%

Critics Consensus: Mads Mikkelson leads us through the savage terrain of The Promised Land with a glimmer of hope in this epic Nordic tale with Western bones.
Synopsis: In 18th century Denmark, Captain Ludvig Kahlen (Mads Mikkelsen) -- a proud, ambitious, but impoverished war hero -- sets out... [More]
Starring: Mads Mikkelsen, Amanda Collin, Gustav Lindh, Melina Hagberg
Directed By: Nikolaj Arcel

#10

HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS
 95%

Critics Consensus: Sustaining a zany premise with stylistic bravura and inspired gags, Hundreds of Beavers is a comedic gem that gives a dam.
Synopsis: A slapstick epic about a frostbitten battle between JEAN KAYAK and DIABOLICAL BEAVERS--hundreds of them--who stand between him and survival.... [More]
Starring: Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, Olivia Graves, Wes Tank, Doug Mancheski
Directed By: Mike Cheslik

#11

FITTING IN
 95%

Critics Consensus: Led by a Maddie Ziegler performance that's as funny as it is fearless, Fitting In takes a boldly provocative look at the assumptions and expectations surrounding modern femininity.
Synopsis: A coming-of-age "traumedy" that follows 16-year-old Lindy (Maddie Ziegler) who is unexpectedly diagnosed with a reproductive condition, MRKH syndrome. The... [More]
Starring: Maddie Ziegler, Emily Hampshire, Djouliet Amara, D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai
Directed By: Molly McGlynn

#12

LOVE LIES BLEEDING
 94%

Critics Consensus: Lust and violence collide to powerfully pulpy effect in Love Lies Bleeding, a well-acted addition to writer-director Rose Glass' growing body of exceptional work.
Synopsis: From Director Rose Glass comes an electric new love story; reclusive gym manager Lou falls hard for Jackie, an ambitious... [More]
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Katy M. O'Brian, Ed Harris, Jena Malone
Directed By: Rose Glass

#13

LIMBO
 94%

Critics Consensus: Limbo probes Aboriginal injustices with a patient eye, using the scars of history as the backdrop and basis for a powerfully minimalist mystery.
Synopsis: Travis Hurley (Simon Baker), a detective, arrives in the remote outback town of Limbo to investigate the cold case murder... [More]
Starring: Simon Baker, Rob Collins, Natasha Wanganeen, Nicholas Hope
Directed By: Ivan Sen

#14

DRIVING MADELEINE
 94%

Critics Consensus: Fueled by the sparkling chemistry between Line Renaud and Dany Boon, Driving Madeleine proves a sweetly sentimental drama that deftly tugs the heartstrings.
Synopsis: Madeleine, 92 years old, calls a taxi to take her to the retirement home where she will be living. Charles,... [More]
Starring: Line Renaud, Dany Boon, Alice Isaaz, Jérémie Laheurte
Directed By: Christian Carion

#15

DUNE: PART TWO
 93%

Critics Consensus: Visually thrilling and narratively epic, Dune: Part Two continues Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of the beloved sci-fi series in spectacular form.
Synopsis: "Dune: Part Two" will explore the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while... [More]
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem
Directed By: Denis Villeneuve

#16

FEMME
 94%

Critics Consensus: Sexually charged and riddled with tension, Femme redresses the noir genre and may leave audiences biting their nails to the nub.
Synopsis: With his performances as Aphrodite Banks, Jules (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Candyman) has a place among London's celebrated drag artists. One night... [More]
Starring: George MacKay, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Aaron Heffernan, John McCrea
Directed By: Sam H. Freeman, Ng Choon Ping

#17

THE SETTLERS
 93%

Critics Consensus: As harrowing as it is humane, The Settlers serves as a sharp-edged excavation of long-marginalized history.
Synopsis: Chile, 1901. Three horsemen embark on an expedition, tasked with securing a wealthy landowner's vast property. Accompanying a reckless British... [More]
Starring: Sam Spruell, Alfredo Castro, Mariano Llinás, Marcelo Alonso
Directed By: Felipe Gálvez Haberle

#18

ABOUT DRY GRASSES
 93%

Critics Consensus: About Dry Grasses keeps us warm with dark humor through its unhurried and verbose wintry meditation on the human condition.
Synopsis: Nestled away in wintry East Anatolia, public-school art teacher Samet (Deniz Celiloğlu) yearns to leave the sleepy village for cosmopolitan... [More]
Starring: Deniz Celiloglu, Merve Dizdar, Musab Ekici
Directed By: Nuri Bilge Ceylan

#19

LA CHIMERA
 92%

Critics Consensus: If La Chimera is a wild, improbable pursuit, this marvelous and magical tale by Alice Rochrwacher is the pie in the sky to behold.
Synopsis: Everyone has their own Chimera, something they try to achieve but never manage to find. For the band of tombaroli,... [More]
Starring: Josh O'Connor, Isabella Rossellini, Alba Rohrwacher, Luca Chikovani
Directed By: Alice Rohrwacher

#20

CABRINI
 91%

Critics Consensus: Aided by Cristiana Dell'Anna's performance in the title role, Cabrini is an uplifting biopic with a timeless message.
Synopsis: From Alejandro Monteverde, award-winning director of "Sound of Freedom", comes the powerful epic of Francesca Cabrini, an Italian immigrant who... [More]
Starring: Cristiana Dell'Anna, Romana Maggiora Vergano, David Morse, Giancarlo Giannini
Directed By: Alejandro Monteverde

#21

ORION AND THE DARK
 91%

Critics Consensus: An uncommonly ambitious animated film, Orion and the Dark benefits from a Charlie Kaufman screenplay that isn't afraid to tangle with existential ideas.
Synopsis: The thing Orion fears the most is the dark. When the embodiment of his worst fear pays a visit, Dark... [More]
Starring: Jacob Tremblay, Paul Walter Hauser, Werner Herzog, Angela Bassett
Directed By: Sean Charmatz

#22

ONE LIFE
 90%

Critics Consensus: Held aloft by outstanding work from a tremendous cast, One Life pays heartwarming tribute to a remarkable humanitarian effort.
Synopsis: Based on the book If It's Not Impossible...: The Life of Sir Nicholas Winton by Barbara Winton, ONE LIFE tells... [More]
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Johnny Flynn, Lena Olin, Romola Garai
Directed By: James Hawes

#23

STOPMOTION
 90%

Critics Consensus: Stopmotion takes the conflict between art and artist to chilling, visually thrilling extremes, distinguished by director Robert Morgan's excellent effects work.
Synopsis: A talented stop-motion animator becomes consumed by the grotesque world of her horrifying creations -- with deadly results.... [More]
Starring: Aisling Franciosi, Stella Gonet, Tom York, Caoilinn Springall
Directed By: Robert Morgan

#24

THE KITCHEN
 89%

Critics Consensus: Smart sci-fi that's solidly grounded in social commentary, The Kitchen suggests a bright future for the directing duo of Daniel Kaluuya and Kibwe Tavares.
Synopsis: London, 2040 -- rising house prices, computerized labor and eradication of the Welfare State has turned the city into a... [More]
Starring: Kano, Jedaiah Bannerman, Henry Lawfull, Rhys Yates
Directed By: Daniel Kaluuya, Kibwe Tavares

#25

MONKEY MAN
 88%

Critics Consensus: An audacious effort from debuting director Dev Patel, Monkey Man dispenses action and sociopolitical commentary with equal aplomb.
Synopsis: Inspired by the legend of Hanuman, an icon embodying strength and courage, Monkey Man stars Dev Patel as Kid, an... [More]
Starring: Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley, Pitobash, Vipin Sharma
Directed By: Dev Patel

#26

PROBLEMISTA
 88%

Critics Consensus: With Problemista, Julio Torres' utterly unique sensibilities prove a perfectly cracked lens through which to find the surreal humor in bleak aspects of the human experience.
Synopsis: Alejandro (Julio Torres) is an aspiring toy designer from El Salvador, struggling to bring his unusual ideas to life in... [More]
Starring: Julio Torres, Tilda Swinton, RZA, Isabella Rossellini
Directed By: Julio Torres

#27

DISCO BOY
 88%

Critics Consensus: Visually stylish and alluring in a dreamlike way, Disco Boy finds writer-director Giacomo Abbruzzese building on his obvious influences to tell a story that's distinctive in its own right.
Synopsis: After a painful journey through Europe, Alex, the Belarusian, joins the Foreign Legion in France and clings to a confused... [More]
Starring: Franz Rogowski, Laetitia Ky, Leon Lucev, Matteo Olivetti
Directed By: Giacomo Abbruzzese

#28

THE BEAST
 85%

Critics Consensus: Unwieldy but rewarding, The Beast uses its sci-fi conceit to explore intriguing themes in largely satisfying fashion.
Synopsis: The year is 2044: artificial intelligence controls all facets of a stoic society as humans routinely "erase" their feelings. Hoping... [More]
Starring: Léa Seydoux, George MacKay, Guslagie Malanda, Dasha
Directed By: Bertrand Bonello

#29

MONOLITH
 85%

Critics Consensus: Carried by Lily Sullivan's outstanding lead performance and enriched by an expertly administered sense of creeping claustrophobia, Monolith is an eerie thriller that burns slow and lingers.
Synopsis: While trying to salvage her career, a disgraced journalist begins investigating a strange conspiracy theory. But as the trail leads... [More]
Starring: Lily Sullivan, Ling Cooper Tang, Ansuya Nathan, Erik Thomson
Directed By: Matt Vesely

#30

ORDINARY ANGELS
 84%

Critics Consensus: With a dash of grace and circumstance, this sweet display of humanity is stabilized by Hilary Swank in a role that plays to the heartstrings of all Ordinary Angels.
Synopsis: Based on a remarkable true story, ORDINARY ANGELS centers on Sharon Steves (Hilary Swank), a fierce but struggling hairdresser in... [More]
Starring: Hilary Swank, Alan Ritchson, Nancy Travis, Amy Acker
Directed By: Jon Gunn

#31

CIVIL WAR
 82%

Critics Consensus: Tough and unsettling by design, Civil War is a gripping close-up look at the violent uncertainty of life in a nation in crisis.
Synopsis: From filmmaker Alex Garland comes a journey across a dystopian future America, following a team of military-embedded journalists as they... [More]
Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen Henderson
Directed By: Alex Garland

#32

RIDDLE OF FIRE
 82%

Critics Consensus: With its charmingly childlike perspective, Riddle of Fire channels the spirit of youthful adventure with enough exuberance to overcome an occasionally shaggy structure.
Synopsis: This neo-fairytale set in Wyoming, USA follows three mischievous children as they embark on an odyssey when their mother asks... [More]
Starring: Lio Tipton, Charles Halford, Danielle Hoetmer, Weston Razooli
Directed By: Weston Razooli

#33

THE FIRST OMEN
 81%

Critics Consensus: Frequently frightening even as it plays within the confines of a nearly 50-year-old film series, this prequel is The First Omen of a bright future for the franchise in quite some time.
Synopsis: When a young American woman is sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church, she encounters... [More]
Starring: Nell Tiger Free, Ralph Ineson, Sonia Braga, Tawfeek Barhom
Directed By: Arkasha Stevenson

#34

SOMETIMES I THINK ABOUT DYING
 80%

Critics Consensus: Departing from corporate comedy,Sometimes I Think About Dying modestly explores critical human connection through a superbly melancholic Daisy Ridley.
Synopsis: Lost on the dreary Oregon coast, Fran finds solace in her cubicle, listening to the constant hum of officemates and... [More]
Starring: Daisy Ridley, Dave Merheje, Parvesh Cheena, Marcia DeBonis
Directed By: Rachel Lambert

#35

YOU'LL NEVER FIND ME
 79%

Critics Consensus: Visually and sonically distinctive, You'll Never Find Me heightens its spooky atmosphere and claustrophobic setting with a story that'll keep viewers guessing.
Synopsis: An isolated man living at the back of a desolate caravan park is visited by a desperate young woman seeking... [More]
Starring: Brendan Rock, Jordan Cowan, Elena Carapetis, Angela Korng
Directed By: Josiah Allen, Indianna Bell

#36

SUNCOAST
 76%

Critics Consensus: A well-acted depiction of grief and self-discovery, Suncoast often overcomes its reliance on broad coming-of-age tropes with a light touch and a charming ensemble cast.
Synopsis: Inspired by Chinn's life experience from the early 2000s, follows a teenager (Nico Parker) living with her strong-willed mother (Laura... [More]
Starring: Laura Linney, Nico Parker, Woody Harrelson, Ella Anderson
Directed By: Laura Chinn

#37

GOOD GRIEF
 76%

Critics Consensus: A solid first feature for writer-director Dan Levy, Good Grief offers a generally affecting look at love after death whose refreshing sincerity only occasionally veers into sentimentality.
Synopsis: Marc (Daniel Levy) was content living in the shadow of his larger-than-life husband, Oliver (Luke Evans). But when Oliver unexpectedly... [More]
Starring: Dan Levy, Ruth Negga, Luke Evans, Himesh Patel
Directed By: Dan Levy

#38

SELF RELIANCE
 72%

Critics Consensus: Debuting director Jake Johnson acquits himself admirably with Self Reliance, a unique comedy-thriller hybrid that does a generally effective job of balancing silly and sincere.
Synopsis: When a middle-aged man (Jake Johnson) is invited into a limo by famous actor Andy Samberg, his dull life takes... [More]
Starring: Jake Johnson, Anna Kendrick, Andy Samberg, Natalie Morales
Directed By: Jake Johnson