Like every year, 2024 has given moviegoers a lot to watch and talk about, but this time it feels particularly special compared to others. For instance, one of the top movie highlights of last year was the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, when both “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” were released on the same day. It caused a worldwide reaction through memes, day-long binges from fans, and massive profit to theaters and the studios behind the two movies.
2022 is a bit harder to sum up with one or two movies, but overall it felt like a sort of revival. Specifically, a revival in blockbuster movies like “Top Gun Maverick” and “Nope,” which were made for fans to enjoy the thrill and emotion within them. A personal highlight from that year would be “Aftersun,” it is not a blockbuster, but it is a subtly heartbreaking movie that will leave you thinking for a while.
Again though, 2024 feels different. So far, it is more of a mixture of the last two years rather than being its own thing. There are big blockbuster type movies that have gained a lot of talk from viewers, some stunning and emotionally intense movies that will for sure stick with you for the year, and all of it in between.
Arguably one of the biggest highlights this year, if not the biggest, was “Dune 2.” Directed by Denis Villeneuve and continuing off of the already extraordinary first addition to the series, “Dune 2” takes what the first movie had with its world-building, scale, and plot, and not only adds to those established positives, but creates something that is even more intricate, higher in intensity, and of course, much, much larger in scale. In fact, this movie feels so much more satisfying to watch with the added context of the first “Dune.”
The characters, while still convoluted in their motives and progression, feel so much easier to understand, now that the story itself is reaching the climax. The story also feels much easier to understand knowing that the first movie has established all of the important aspects of the story. With these in mind, “Dune 2” is a culmination of everything built up from the first movie, a grand opus that only gets better as you watch. The already grand scenery, large soundtrack, fantastic acting, and climactic plot all culminate into a stellar highlight of the year.
Another movie that has gained a lot of love this year would easily have to be “Deadpool and Wolverine,” a new addition to the MCU franchise that also brings in characters owned FOX to add more characters into the ongoing franchise. Like every other movie in the “Deadpool” series, this is another addition with the signature humor from the series we all know and love, but not mixed into the actual ongoing story of the main franchise. Along with Deadpool being in the movie, there’s also obviously Wolverine, played by a returning Hugh Jackman. Surprisingly though, his role feels a lot more emotional, and reminiscent of his past involvements within the franchise in an almost darker light.
The story itself does feel rather basic in a sense that it takes from a lot of earlier installments to the MCU franchise, but it does make up for this with, again, its humor. It can be very funny at times, especially when it references the real-life controversy about the MCU gaining the rights for these FOX characters. Like a lot of Marvel movies, the action here is still pretty enjoyable.
While it still has a basic Marvel movie “formula” to it, I would still recommend checking out “Deadpool and Wolverine,” especially any FOX Marvel fans who loved the “X-Men” or “Deadpool” series.
Dialing it back to earlier in the summer, specifically around May, “I Saw The TV Glow” is a particularly interesting movie on this list. While a lot slower and more melancholic than the others on this list, it’s easily one of this year’s most creative movies with a distinct aesthetic and story that will stick with the viewer. It blends horror and coming-of-age very well, which makes following the protagonists of the story much more emotional and, like “Dune 2,” much easier to get invested for them.
It is not the simplest movie of this year and may not be easy to watch for everybody, but going into this movie with an open mind and a little bit of context behind its meaning and creation will help make it beautifully eye-opening experience.
Another horror movie that came out this year that gained a lot of talk was “Longlegs,” directed by Oz Perkins. To say that the build-up in excitement for this was large would be an understatement. Through social media such as Tik Tok, the studio who had produced the movie, NEON, released short and cryptic teasers for the movie that left an unsettling taste in everyone’s mouths who had watched them; and once the trailers had finally come out, the hype started building even more.
Even before it came out, early watchers and critics gave it overwhelmingly positive reviews, and when it did debut, the positive talk kept going. And while “Longlegs” is not perfect, it still is a fantastic horror film, taking inspiration from crime thrillers such as “Silence of the Lambs,” but keeping a winter-y midwestern backdrop as its setting and use for scares. Everything is so impressively planned out and sequenced, making the viewer slowly feel more paranoid and unnerved as they watch, rather than overwhelming them with loud jump scares every few minutes.
Nicolas Cage gives one of his strangest performances as Longlegs, but also weirdly one of his most fun to watch. In addition, Maika Monroe serves as a great protagonist, Lee Harker.
While “Longlegs” can come off as uneventful, and some revelations can feel over explained, that does not detract too much from the positives. If you are looking for a slow but unnerving horror movie to watch, this would be a perfect pick for that criteria.
The last movie on this list is “The Fall Guy,” a comedy from earlier this year with Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt that’s all about stunt actors, and some of their struggles in their careers. This movie sort of went under the radar this year compared to others, and while it is not one of the funniest movies out there, its goofy and action-packed portrayal of stunt actors is still very fun to watch. The two main actors’ chemistry together is definitely the highlight of all the comedic bits. While the action can feel a bit basic and dry at times, especially as it takes up a lot of the movie, it can also still be pretty fun as well.
Again, it is not the best movie of the year compared to the other movies on this list, it still is a pretty decent time if given a chance.
This year has been packed with movies like these that have not even been mentioned, and the year is a little over halfway over. Hopefully as it comes to a close, there will be even more movies to talk about by the end of the year. So far though, this is shaping up to be one of the better years for movies of the decade so far.