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- A24's Everything Everywhere All at Once was the big winner in this year's Academy Awards ceremony, gathering an impressive amount of seven awards total; The Whale also got some nods thanks to Brendan Fraser's remarkable performance and the film's astounding makeup and hairstyling. Naturally, there is hardly any doubt that the independent entertainment company is growing in popularity, always providing audiences with promising projects to look forward to, such as Ari Aster's Beau is Afraid (premiering on April 21) and Celine Song's upcoming debut feature Past Lives (June 2). While some moviegoers may be familiar with the most popular A24 features, they'd be glad to learn that there are lots of hidden gems worth checking out.
Counting 128 movie releases in the completed production status, A24, the outstanding American independent entertainment company behind astonishing cinematic masterpieces such as Hereditary, Lady Bird, and Moonlight, has made quite a name for itself throughout the years, fascinating its audience with a wide range of impressive films.
There are plenty of top-rated A24 movies that are strongly and deservedly appreciated. However, there are just as many films that deserved some more recognition from the very moment they premiered.
Updated on April 16, 2023, by Daniela Gama:
A24's Everything Everywhere All at Once was the big winner in this year's Academy Awards ceremony, gathering an impressive amount of seven awards total; The Whale also got some nods thanks to Brendan Fraser's remarkable performance and the film's astounding makeup and hairstyling. Naturally, there is hardly any doubt that the independent entertainment company is growing in popularity, always providing audiences with promising projects to look forward to, such as Ari Aster's Beau is Afraid (premiering on April 21) and Celine Song's upcoming debut feature Past Lives (June 2). While some moviegoers may be familiar with the most popular A24 features, they'd be glad to learn that there are lots of hidden gems worth checking out.
13 'Waves' (2019)
While Waves begins with a seemingly suburban and ideal family portrait, it all starts to crumble when a controlling father (Sterling K. Brown) attempts to ensure that his children succeed in high school after his son (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) experiences a career-ending sports injury which ultimately impacts everyone around him, including his girlfriend Alexis (Alexa Demie).
Like the ripple effect that occurs when an initial disturbance propagates to disturb an increasingly larger portion of the system, Waves depicts the never-ending consequences of bad decisions. Through great acting, Drew Daniels’ stunning cinematography, and Frank Ocean’s discography, Trey Edward Shults delivered a beautiful and moving piece of cinema.
12 'The Killing of a Sacred Deer' (2017)
Martin (Barry Keoghan) is a fatherless teen who gradually, and sinisterly, insinuates himself into the life of Dr. Steven Murphy (masterfully played by Colin Farrell), a renowned cardiovascular surgeon who presides over a spotless household with his wife (Nicole Kidman) and two children.
It is a fact that Yorgos Lanthimos’ films are not for everyone, and The Killing of a Sacred Deer is no exception; it is an expressionless feature where no line is drawn between the normal and the supernatural – while it is humane and natural, it is also horrifying and eerie, perfectly capturing what folklore tales would look like in a more modern setting.
11 'First Cow' (2019)
First Cow follows the story of a quiet loner and skilled cook (John Magaro) who has traveled west and joined a group of fur trappers in Oregon Territory. He bonds with a Chinese immigrant (Orion Lee) who is also seeking fortune, and the two cooperate on a tenuous plan to make their riches on the frontier, which relies on the secret use of a landowner's prized dairy cow.
Beautifully shot through simplicity, this film by the talented Kelly Reichardt serves as a close, intimate portrait of friendship and a broader snapshot of America. Overall, this is an unstoppably exquisite movie that explores the tenderness of human and animal connection simultaneously, making it a solid A24 must-watch.
10 'American Honey' (2016)
Star (Sasha Lane) is a teenage girl with nothing to lose who encounters a group of teenagers and is quickly drawn to one of them: Jake (Shia LaBeouf), a flirtatious young man who leads a traveling magazine sales crew. To escape her unhappy life, Star accepts Jake’s offer to become a part of the crew and gets caught up with a band of misfits, wrapped in a lifestyle of hard partying and law-bending.
Although technically not a romance movie (at least not as much as a coming-of-age A24 film), there is a strong and undeniable pull between Jake and Star towards one another that’s been developing from the very moment they crossed paths, and the audience gets to experience the characters’ dynamic up-close and personal as if it was their own. It is a film that goes beyond young love and everything that comes with it, exploring a personal and real narrative of self-discovery and emancipation. After all, A24 is well-known for its visually absorbing movies, and Andrea Arnold's brilliant direction of American Honey exemplifies that strength.
9 'C’mon C’mon' (2021)
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C’mon C’mon follows the story of Johnny (Joaquin Phoenix) and his young nephew (Woody Norman) forging a tenuous but transformational relationship as they embark on a cross-country trip away from Los Angeles.
This incredibly tender black and white Mike Mills film feels like a warm hug and a pat on the back. It emphasizes the importance of questioning, genuinely listening to what others have to say, and thoroughly caring for a child’s upbringing, making sure it is properly nurtured and nurturing one’s inner child in the meantime. Both actors are great in this, and their characters do a fantastic job of trying to be nice to each other and not being very good at it all the same. C'mon C'mon is truly a compassionate film that should be watched at least once.
8 'First Reformed' (2017)
A pastor (Ethan Hawke) of a small church in upstate New York starts to lose control after a soul-shaking encounter with an unstable environmental activist (Philip Ettinger) and his pregnant wife (Amanda Seyfried).
Paul Schrader’s First Reformed is a beautifully made, powerful drama that might not appeal to everyone straight away. However, the film ultimately delivers an incredible narrative reflecting on the church, hypocrisy, and climate change. Throughout its runtime, the characters attempt to find answers to questions surrounding a very real topic that speaks to our current age.
7 '20th Century Women' (2016)
Set in 1979 in Santa Barbara, during a moment of cultural change and rebellion, this beautiful coming-of-age A24 film tells the story of Dorothea Fields (Annette Bening), a single mother in her mid-50s who is raising Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann), her teenage son. Fearing that she can’t guide him on his path to adulthood, Dorothea asks for the help of two young women to assist Jamie's upbringing – Abbie (Greta Gerwig), a free-spirited artist living as a boarder in the Fields' home, and Julie (Elle Fanning), a challenging and provocative teenage neighbor whom the boy has a crush on.
Yet another Mike Mills film (loosely based on the director’s own experience being raised by his mother and sister) that is as endearing as it is intimate, 20th Century Women explores what it looks like to raise a male feminist. While it has a teenage boy at its heart, Jamie’s personal growth is not the movie’s sole focus; the female characters in it take the spotlight as well. Frankly, it is incredibly touching how well Mills writes these three completely different women and how accurately he distinguishes their very distinct anxieties and concerns.
6 'The Last Black Man in San Francisco' (2019)
The Last Black Man in San Francisco covers the journey of Jimmie Fails (who plays himself), who dreams of reclaiming the Victorian home his grandfather built in the heart of San Francisco. His friend Mont (Jonathan Majors) joins him on his quest for belonging in a city that seems to have left them behind.
Joe Talbot’s sensible piece of filmmaking highlights the fear of being erased in such a surprising way that makes it hard for the audience to believe that The Last Black Man in San Francisco is, in fact, a debut feature. Talbot’s style feels like a breath of fresh air, making the 2019 feature a very different, impactful, and significant film with a powerful signature to it.
5 'Minari' (2020)
Directed and written by Lee Isaac Chung, Minari centers on a Korean-American family that moves to a rural town to try and have a fresh start with their agricultural business. They soon have to juggle the struggling venture, pressures from the community, and an unexpected visitor who changes everything.
The tender and somber portrait of how messy families can be gives audiences a slice-of-life masterpiece – it's also a movie that reflects on new beginnings. Its slow pace and compelling narrative will take viewers by surprise, especially once they reach its frustrating yet powerful ending.
4 'The Farewell' (2019)
The Farewell revolves around a Chinese-American family who, upon learning of their matriarch's terminal illness, decides against telling her that she only has a few weeks left to live. This deeply bothers the younger member of the clan, Billi (Awkwafina), who doesn't understand why they would keep something so serious and concerning from her beloved grandmother.
Directed by Lulu Wang, the comedy-drama film is a poignant and thoughtful exploration of mortality and the different ways people deal with it, often depending on their cultural backgrounds. Funny, tear-jerking, and hopeful all at once, The Farewell is a must-see hidden gem that will tug at viewers' heartstrings.
3 'Zola' (2020)
With a solid 88% score on Tomatometer, this high-energy, R-rated 2020 comedy thriller by critically acclaimed writer and director Janicza Bravo is based on a true story and accompanies a self-assured Detroit waitress named Zola (Taylour Paige) as she is persuaded by a customer, Stefani (Riley Keough) to embark on a wild trip to Florida.
As many critics put it, Zola is equal parts entertaining and thrilling, offering audiences a well-crafted dark comedy regarding the digital age (primarily, Twitter) and fascinating viewers with its unfolding of events that keep anyone on the edge of their seat. No doubt, Bravo's fun feature is a unique one, and anyone who has yet to see it is likely missing out.
2 'Green Room' (2015)
Jeremy Saulnier's Green Room is an intriguing crime drama revolving around a terrifying act of violence at a neo-Nazi skinhead bar that a punk rock band has witnessed. Given that they are the only witnesses, they quickly become targets and are consequently forced to fight for survival.
Although its narrative is somewhat familiar, what makes this often overlooked A24 movie so special is its highly satisfying ending. In addition to this, the film makes for a steady, gripping, and in-your-face thriller that will have viewers' eyes glued to their screens throughout its entirety.
1 'The End of the Tour' (2015)
Featuring top-notch performances (especially from Jason Segel) and solid writing, The End of the Tour is an intellectual delight that depicts the real-life story of the five-day interview between Rolling Stone magazine reporter David Lipsky, played by Jesse Eisenberg, and acclaimed novelist David Foster Wallace (Segel).
Powerfully reflecting on human connection and Wallace's death and legacy while celebrating his genius, this gem of a compelling character-driven drama showcases, through its spectacular dialogue, a touching study of friendship that comes across as honest and heartfelt.