The 50 Best Movies of 2024, According to IndieWire’s Critics Poll

In the grand scheme of things, 2024 might end up being remembered as a transitional year that bridged the drama-filled 2023 (which brought both the box office extravaganza of “Barbenheimer” and the SAG and WGA strikes that shut down Hollywood) and the fruitful 2025 (which boasts a slate so packed that many in the industry have spent the year mumbling “survive ‘till 25”). But even if 2024 offered moviegoers a slate that was affected by the previous year’s production shutdowns, there’s still plenty to celebrate as we wind down the year and gear up for the awards race. 

To parse the year’s best cinema, IndieWire assembled an elite group of critics around the world who spent the year watching everything that premiered. IndieWire’s annual critics survey featured 177 voters who cover film and television for publications including The New Yorker, Variety, the LA Times, BBC Culture, Sight & Sound, Cineaste, Der Spiegel, the Irish Times, the Associated Press, the Film Stage, and Reverse Shot.

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The results of the survey reflected the diversity of the year’s best films. Sean Baker’s Palme d’Or-winning “Anora” took the top slot, while Oscar contenders such as Brady Corbet’s “The Brutalist,” RaMell Ross’ “Nickel Boys” (IndieWire’s own pick for the year’s best film), and Luca Guadagnino’s “Challengers” were not far behind. Studio blockbusters such as “Dune: Part Two” and “Wicked” appeared alongside indie endeavors like “I Saw the TV Glow” and “Hundreds of Beavers.” Fans of global cinema also had plenty to celebrate, with films such as Payal Kapadia’s “All We Imagine as Light,” Mike Leigh’s “Hard Truths,” Mati Diop’s “Dahomey,” and Leos Carax’s “It’s Not Me” reminding everyone that filmmaking is a truly global art form. Animated films were also well-represented, with titles like “Flow,” “The Wild Robot,” and “Inside Out 2” making the list. 

Participants were asked to only select films that were released theatrically or on streaming platforms in 2024. The survey also gave individual accolades in categories such as acting, writing, directing, and cinematography, which can be found here. Keep reading for a complete list of the 50 best films of 2024, as determined by IndieWire’s critics survey. 

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