2024 Movie Ranking: From Blockbusters to Hidden Gems, Which Films Stood Out?
- scarejonathan98
- Jan 1, 2025
- 20 min read
Since 2024 has officially ended, I wanted to share my thoughts and ranking of all the 2024 movies that I saw. I managed to see 80 new movies this year which I think is pretty good considering this was the year most affected by the writers and actors strikes. I saw 60 movies in the theater and 20 on streaming. With that being said, here are my thoughts and ranking of the 80 2024 movies that I saw.
The American Society of Magical Negros
This was easily the worst movie I saw this year. It wasted its potential with magic and was just not funny at all. The movie literally ends with the main character yelling at another character about the message of the film. This is just a poor comedy and poor writing.
Score: 3/10 Grade: D
I.S.S
This is another movie with wasted potential. The plot itself is forgettable and boring. The whole thriller aspect was very poorly done and all of the characters were dull. The basic premise is also extremely stupid with the US and Russia somehow thinking that the ISS will serve some sort of military advantage. It is just bad.
Score: 4/10 Grade: D+
Madam Web
Unlike the previous films, this was a movie I knew was going to be bad when I went into it. The movie is more interested in setting these three Spiderwoman characters than it is in telling a story about Madam Web. The villain is also extremely poorly written with a near incoherent evil plot. This is another dud in the Spiderman-less Spider-Man universe.
Score: 4/10 Grade: D+
Kraven the Hunter
This movie is pretty much in the same boat as Madam Web. The writing was terrible. The dialogue was atrocious and the delivery was even worse. The movie has two Oscar nominated actors and even they couldn't save this movie. It baffles me how Sony continuously puts out these bad villain movies.
Score: 4/10 Grade: D+
Megalopolis
Megalopolis is probably the biggest flop of the year. Watching this movie, I had no idea what was going on for 90% of the runtime. The movie tries to tackle so many different topics and doesn't effectively do any of them justice. Even after having 4 months to process this movie, I still have no idea what it was about.
Score: 4.5/10 Grade: C-
Unfrosted
This is the directorial debut of Jerry Seinfeld and shows that while he can write jokes, he can't make movies. The movie is just so scatterbrained with so many different jokes it is trying to set up. The acting performances are also just not good. Jerry Seinfeld is good in Seinfeld but that is about it.
Score: 4.5/10 Grade: C-
Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver
Rebel Moon - Part Two is even more of a dud than Part One. While stylistically it looks cool, the plot and writing are just not there. The characters are all one-dimensional with not much use for any of them. The plot is also paper thin and nonexistent as all the movie does is prep and deliver on a lackluster battle.
Score: 4.5/10 Grade: C-
Founders Day
This is a pretty generic slasher film. All of the plot beats are extremely predictable and the script is just atrocious with characters saying that no normal human being would ever say. It is probably at the same level of quality as some of the low-end Halloween and Friday the 13th films.
Score: 5/10 Grade: C
A Family Affair
This is a pretty forgettable Netflix Rom-Com. It stars Joey King, Nichole Kidman, and Zac Efron. The movie has a pretty nonsense plot with unlikable characters. Joey King and Zac Efron have solid chemistry together but that is about the only thing going for this movie.
Score: 5/10 Grade: C
Borderlands
This is yet another bland blockbuster. It takes the interesting world of the Borderlands games and turns it into a generic heist treasure-hunting blockbuster. None of the jokes in the movie are funny and even the likable actors cast in the film can't save it. Somehow the movie even neutered Kevin Hart.
Score: 5/10 Grade: C
The Watchers
The Watchers is the directorial debut of M. Night Shamylan's daughter. The premise itself is pretty interesting with a good deal of intrigue in the beginning. However, the payoff and reveal of the movie are not satisfying at all.
Score: 5.5/10 Grade: C
The Strangers: Chapter 1
The Strangers: Chapter 1 is a reboot of the early 2000s horror film of the same name. There is a bit of fear that is effectively built up in this movie. However, the characters in this movie were so unbelievably stupid that it took me out of the movie. If a stranger knocked on my door multiple times asking for someone who doesn't live there, I would peace out, not make love in the kitchen like these characters do.
Score: 5.5/10 Grade: C
Despicable Me 4
Despicable Me 4 was a bit of a disappointing one as I enjoyed all of the other films. It still has a lot of funny moments. However, the movie itself feels like a bunch of random jokes strung together instead of being a coherent story. The main plot of the movie just bookends the film with a bunch of random shorts filling the middle of the film.
Score: 5.5/10 Grade: C
Drive-Away Dolls
Drive-Away Dolls is the new film from one of the Coen brothers. The movie had some funny moments but it was a lot more romance-oriented than I was expecting. I was expecting more of a road trip crime comedy but got more of a romance with a bunch of crude humor instead.
Score: 5.5/10 Grade: C
Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire
This one is slightly better than part two but not by much. I was hoping for an original Sci-Fi movie but instead got part one of The Magnificent Seven in a Star Wars skin. The entire movie is about gathering all these characters and then ends with a battle where they don't all get utilized. Considering the potential, this was very disappointing.
Score: 6/10 Grade: C+
Mean Girls
This version of Mean Girls is the movie adaptation of the musical adaption of the original Mean Girls. The songs are fine but not great. The actors are decent enough but this movie has nothing to add here. If I am going to watch Mean Girls, I'll just watch the original.
Score: 6/10 Grade: C+
The Garfield Movie
The Garfield Movie is another film that missed its potential. Instead of being a movie with a bunch of Garfieldisms, it is a heist movie about Garfield's daddy issues. It misses the essence of what makes Garfield great and instead goes for a generic kids' movie with a Garfield skin on it.
Score: 6/10 Grade: C+
Wolfs
Wolfs is a crime thriller comedy starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt which had no business being as dull as it was. Both actors are basically sleepwalking through the movie and lack any of their normal chemistry. The story itself is so forgettable that I couldn't remember what happened 5 minutes after I watched it.
Score: 6/10 Grade: C+
The Instigators
The Instigators is another movie that had no reason to be as boring as it was. It stars Matt Dameon and Casey Affleck but much like Wolfs, it does nothing with these two actors. It is just another forgettable action comedy with no actors putting any effort into their performances.
Score: 6/10 Grade: C+
Woman of the Hour
Woman of the Hour is the directorial debut of Anna Kendrick. The movie does a great job of building tension when the main killer is present but the jumping around of different stories hurts the momentum of the film. It was also odd that Anna Kendrick is supposed to be the lead of the film but is actually only the focus for less than half.
Score: 6/10 Grade: C+
Self Reliance
This was an interesting enough comedy thriller. The movie runs much like The Game starring Michael Douglass except with Jake Johnson. The main premise was interesting but I felt that the plot itself was a bit clunky feeling more like a bunch of segments than a singular story.
Score: 6/10 Grade: C+
Lift
Lift was a decent enough heist comedy. There were quite a few funny moments and the whole heist aspect was fun. However, all of the characters were pretty bland with Kevin Hart still not able to do his Kevin Hart thing. This is just another example of the bland Netflix blockbuster.
Score: 6/10 Grade: C+
The Killers Game
The Killers Game is another film in the same boat as many of these others. It is an okay enough action movie. The premise reminded me a lot of John Wick 2. The action sequences were entertaining enough. However, the movie has no unique action style to it and pretty much wastes the Terry Crew character.
Score: 6/10 Grade: C+
Argylle
Argylle probably had one of the biggest swings this year. I thought the premise was very interesting and thought the first half of the film was a lot of fun. However, after the big reveal, the whole film goes in a completely different direction that I thought was just way too out there and goofy. I can appreciate that it took a big swing but it was a big miss.
Score: 6/10 Grade: C+
Mufasa: The Lion King
This was the prequel to the “live action” Lion King that I thought was an unnecessary story. Of course, the visuals are very well done. It is cool to see these animals that look so real. I also thought that the origin of Mufasa’s leadership ability was well done. I don’t Scar’s origin or the music in the movie were very good and I don’t think the movie was good enough to warrant it’s existence.
Score: 6/10 Grade: C+
Road House
Roadhouse gets us into films that are very fun but not very good. It is fun to see Jake Gyllenhaal beat up on all these guys. However, the plot itself is flimsy at best. However, you aren't going to Roadhouse for a good plot. You go to be entertained and to see Jake Gyllenhaal beat people up and this movie delivers that.
Score: 6/10 Grade: C+
Venom: The Last Dance
Venom: The Last Dance is another film that is fun and unashamedly goofy but also just not good. This movie delivers on the Venom and Eddie chemistry but gets bogged down on all the military and scientist nonsense. When the movie is a Venom road trip movie, it is a lot of fun and that is what I went to see.
Score: 6/10 Grade: C+
Fly Me to the Moon
Fly Me to the Moon is a fun enough rom-com from Apple. The whole premise being centered around the moon launch was a lot of fun. I did think it was an odd choice to have the whole climax conflict of the movie be about NASA making a fake moon landing instead of just letting it be a minor joke subplot.
Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-
Lisa Frankenstein
This was a very unique romantic comedy horror film. The premise is bizarre but still intriguing. I thought the movie when a little too much off the rails in the third act with where they take the Lisa character. It was entertaining enough but very weird.
Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-
Kung Fu Panda 4
This is the newest addition to the Kung Fu Panda movies. It is fun enough. Po always makes me laugh and the martial arts aspect is always fun. However, I didn't care for the direction they took the plot. I found this movie to have the weakest story and villain out of the four films.
Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-
Red One
Red One is a very safe yet entertaining Christmas movie. It is just another generic blockbuster with random movie stars thrown together to hopefully make a ton of money. It's not a great movie but is entirely watchable and will be a fun family film. I foresee this film getting some more traction now that it is on Prime Video.
Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-
Trap
Trap is the newest M Night Shyamalan film and is a fairly effective straightforward thriller. Josh Hartnett is great as this "normal guy" hiding the fact that he is a serial killer. It has solid tension from beginning to end. The trailers gave a bit too much away and the movie has a bit too many lapses in logic but it is still a highly entertaining film.
Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-
Kinds of Kindness
Kinds of Kindness is Yorgos Lanthimos's newest film. It consists of three separate stories starring the same cast of actors. I appreciate the craft here and acknowledge the great performances. The individual stories were good; I was just a bit annoyed that they didn't even bother to link them all together.
Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-
Joker: Folie a Deux
This was one of the biggest disappointments of the year. Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga are both great and the musical aspect was a bold choice. However, this film actively spits in the face of the people who liked the first film. There isn't much Joker stuff or anything that made the first movie great.
Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-
Here
Here is Robert Zemeckis's newest film. It has a unique storytelling style, with everything told through the same viewing window. The Tom Hank story is the best part of the movie. However, the film does require some suspension of disbelief, as literally every important life event has to happen in this living room for the movie to work.
Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-
The Beekeeper
This movie was one of the first I saw this year and held up surprisingly well against many films of the year. The movie is completely nonsense but it is very fun. The whole reason you watch the movie is to watch Jason Statham beat up scammers and that is what you get. Dumb but fun.
Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-
IF
IF is a new family film from John Krasinski. This movie has a lot of heart with an emotional ending. The imaginary friend aspect is a lot of fun. However, the plot itself is a bit clunky and often feels rushed. I think it should have been a little longer to really let the ideas breathe.
Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
This was the sequel to the 2019 film, Ghostbusters: Afterlife. It was fun to get a Ghostbusters adventure set in NYC with the Ghostbusters already together. The movie plays a bit like an episode of the Ghostbusters TV show. The big issue here is that there were just too many characters and too many subplots going on with the main villain not getting as much weight in the story as it should have.
Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-
Challengers
Challengers is another film where I appreciated the craft more than I liked the story. The style and acting were both very good and a lot of people seem to really like this film. This is just not a movie for me. I didn't like the whole love triangle aspect of the film and thought the characters were all just very unlikable. However, it is still a very well-made movie and I can see why people like it.
Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-
The Bikeriders
Just like Challengers, this is a film that I appreciated the craft more than I liked it. I liked the individual characters and the whole transformation of the biker club. However, I felt the movie ran a bit slow and I thought that the trailer misrepresented the film a bit. It has some great elements but was just not for me.
Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-
Moana 2
Moana 2 was the Disney animated movie of this year. It was fun to travel back to the world of Moana and see all of these characters again. But, I felt that the story just didn't translate well to a movie. It was originally supposed to be a TV show and the story flow still feels like that. You could also tell that there were character moments cut from the movie so that it could fit in a 100-minute runtime instead of a 3-hour TV show.
Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-
Blink Twice
Blink Twice was a surprisingly interesting and intense thriller. This movie delivers suspense and intrigue from beginning to end and delivers a final reveal that makes sense and makes you view the movie differently. This was a solid directorial debut for Zoe Kravitz.
Score: 7/10 Grade: B
The Idea of You
The Idea of You was a decent enough rom-com starring Anne Hathaway. The two main characters have great chemistry together. I also thought the age difference aspect was handled well and didn't feel too weird. The movie could have probably been a little shorter and of course, I always find the premises of rom-coms to be a bit absurd but Sarah assures me that this is just how rom-coms are.
Score: 7/10 Grade: B
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
This was one of my most anticipated movies of the year and it managed to deliver enough of what I wanted to make me happy. Michael Keaton is great as Beetlejuice and the style and effects of the movie hold true to Burton's original style. There is just a bit too much going on in the movie with too many subplots and not enough screen time.
Score: 7/10 Grade: B
Y2K
Y2K was a fun little indie slasher comedy. This movie was full of 90s nostalgia and had a lot of funny moments as well as a ton of gnarly kills. They made the whole idea of the Y2K bug into this fun premise for an apocalypse horror film.
Score: 7/10 Grade: B
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
This was the long-awaited sequel to the Beverly Hills Cop trilogy and turned out to be a solid Netflix action film. Eddie Murphy is great as Axel and it is just fun to see the original character back together again. It isn't as good as the first two films but it doesn't make the mistakes of the 3rd film. It is just a safe fun action sequel.
Score: 7/10 Grade: B
Arthur the King
This was a surprisingly heartfelt little dog movie. I thought the whole Adventure Race thing was fun. The dog delivered some cute moments. The movie almost made Sarah cry. It checks all the right boxes for a sweet dog movie. Dog movies aren't my thing but it was fine enough for what it was going for.
Score: 7/10 Grade: B
Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire
This was the newest addition in the Monsterverse and is just as dumb and fun as ever. This movie had the least distracting of the human subplots and some of the best action. It isn't high-level cinema but I paid to see two giant monkeys riding lizards and fighting each other and that is what I got.
Score: 7/10 Grade: B
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
This was the newest film from Guy Ritchie. The action is fun and there is quite a bit of humorous dialogue. I also thought it was interesting that this was based on a true story. I wish it would have had more action sequences but the movie still kept me entertained which was the goal.
Score: 7/10 Grade: B
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
This was the newest addition to the Lord of the Rings franchise and the first animated movie. I appreciate that they went for something different. The action is solid and the movie delivers a good hero's journey type of story. However, the movie works better as a standalone anime film than it does a Lord of the Rings story.
Score: 7/10 Grade: B
Jackpot
Jackpot is the newest film from Paul Feig and was a surprisingly fun buddy action movie. John Cena and Ackwafina are pretty funny together and the whole idea of winning the lottery allows people to try and kill you was very interesting.
Score: 7.5/10 Grade: B
Monkey Man
This was the directorial debut of Def Patel. It runs similar to John Wick but without the unique action style. I thought the action was good and thought it was a solid first film. It does show some aspects and mistakes of being a beginner film but those were minor compared to the overall quality.
Score: 7.5/10 Grade: B
Conclave
This was one of the big Oscar-bait movies of the year. It manages to turn the succession of the pope into a bit of a thriller. The film delivers several solid acting performances as well as many twists and turns. I didn't think a film about choosing the pope would be as interesting as this was.
Score: 7.5/10 Grade: B
Abigail
This was a fun isolated horror monster movie. The characters, while one-dimensional, each had their own gimmick and were fun to watch. The whole idea of a ballerina vampire was super entertaining and just made for an entertaining time from beginning to end.
Score: 7.5/10 Grade: B
Transformers One
This was a solid Transformers prequel that tells a good story about the origin of these characters. I like we get to see the world of Cybertron built out and the origin of our favorite characters. I thought that the fall of Megatron was very well done. The first act did start off a little kiddie but it won its way in the second half.
Score: 7.5/10 Grade: B
Blitz
Blitz is a new WWII drama from Apple TV. While most WWII films show the war itself, this movie shows the effect of war on civilians. I thought this was a sweet story about a mother and son trying to reunite after being separated during the air raids. It has a bit of an Oliver Twist vibe to it that works with the story it is trying to tell.
Score: 7.5/10 Grade: B
A Complete Unknown
A Complete Unknown was a solid enough biopic about the life of Bob Dylan. Timothee Chalamet was great as the lead role with an Oscar worthy performance. I also like that the movie brings a time capsule vibe of the 1960s. I just with it would have explored the character more instead of leaving him as a mystery.
Score: 7.5/10 Grade: B
Heretic
Heretic was a solid religious thriller. Hugh Grant was great as this creepy older man. I liked the whole cat-and-mouse game that the characters go through as their faith is put to the test. It builds intrigue throughout the film and doesn't let up on suspense until the end.
Score: 8/10 Grade: B+
Speak No Evil
This was another solid small horror thriller. James MacAvoy steals the show as this charismatic psycho. The whole movie you feel on edge as you can tell something isn't quite right with this family but you are not sure what. The movie manages to deliver all the thrills and intrigue of a Shining-esque film.
Score: 8/10 Grade: B+
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1
This was just a good old-fashioned cowboy movie that takes you back to the time of the classic western. It was just refreshing to see a classic Western that felt like the older style of Hollywood. I like the expansive world that is established here and am very interested to see where the story goes next.
Score: 8/10 Grade: B+
Anora
Anora was another big Oscar-bait movie for this season. At first, I was a bit unsure about the premise of the movie, but it totally won me over in the second half that totally takes things in a new direction. It may not be the most uplifting movie of the year but it is definitely one of the best-made ones.
Score: 8/10 Grade: B+
Music By John Williams
This was one of the few documentaries I saw this year. It was fun to see the story of my favorite composer as the film takes us through all of his major film scores. Hearing the story and music of my favorite film scores just put a big smile on my face.
Score: 8/10 Grade: B+
Jim Henson Idea Man
This was a solid documentary about the life of Jim Henson. The movie does a great job of taking us through all of the major aspects of Jim Henson's life as well as many of his struggles. The movie does a great job of getting invested and delivers a very emotional finale when talking about Jim's death and legacy.
Score: 8/10 Grade: B+
Bad Boys: Ride or Die
This is the newest film in the Bad Boys series and I think one of the better films. I like the whole aspect of Mike and Marcus having to deal with getting older. The movie also has a lot of fun action and banter between the two characters. This is probably one of my favorite pure action movies of the year.
Score: 8/10 Grade: B+
A Quiet Place: Day One
This was a solid prequel to A Quiet Place. I liked the idea of taking these sound-seeking aliens and putting them in a big city. I also like seeing these characters having to learn how to survive these aliens as well as seeing the main actress having to relearn how to live and enjoy life. This movie delivers all of the tension from the previous films.
Score: 8/10 Grade: B+
Deadpool & Wolverine
This was the sole MCU movie to release this year. This movie took all the Deadpool antics of the previous films and cranks them up to 11 with all of the multiverse shenanigans. Ryan Reynolds is great as always as Deadpool and it was so cool to see Hugh Jackman return as Wolverine. The plot may be paper thin but with all the fun in this movie, it doesn't really matter.
Score: 8/10 Grade: B+
Alien: Romulus
This was the first truly good Alien movie since Aliens. I like how this movie goes back to the horror roots of the original film. It takes what worked in the original film and uses it again. The movie is a bit derivative of the original film but after 50 years, it still works as an effective horror story.
Score: 8/10 Grade: B+
Gladiator II
This was the long-awaited sequel to the original Gladiator. This movie brings back all the action and spectacle of the first film with great modern-day polish. The first half is a bit derivative but the second half really splits off from the original and makes its own memorable finale.
Score: 8/10 Grade: B+
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
This was the newest film in the Sonic franchise and was just a lot of fun. It had a lot of energy, action and emotion, more so than the other Sonic films. I thought Shadow was a great villain and his story was very emotional. This movie is a great example of a franchise that actually learns from its mistakes.
Score: 8.5/10 Grade: A-
Inside Out 2
This was the newest Pixar film and had all the heart and depth we come to expect from Pixar. This movie did a great job of tackling the difficult topic of emotion and anxiety and put it in a way that kids could understand and adults could still resonate with. I think this will resonate more with young adults than it will with kids.
Score: 8.5/10 Grade: A-
The Fall Guy
This was one of my most anticipated movies of the year and was a fun time at the movies. This movie is essentially a love letter to the stunt industry with lots of action, stunts, and comedy. I like how the movie has a bit of self-aware humor to it and just displays a general love of movie-making.
Score: 8.5/10 Grade: A-
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
This was the newest film of the Planet of the Apes series and the first film of the new era without Caesar. I think this film is very good even without the main characters we loved from the previous trilogy. It still does a great job of building out this world and carries on the legacy that Caesar set up.
Score: 8.5/10 Grade: A-
Saturday Night
This was a film that was not on my radar and was one of the biggest surprises of the year. The movie does a great job of portraying the chaos that ensued prior to the first episode of SNL. I thought the cast was perfectly cast with the actors playing Chevy Chase and John Belushi being standouts. This was just a fun love letter to SNL.
Score: 8.5/10 Grade: A-
Strange Darling
This was another film that was not on my radar and was a big surprise. This was a thrilling horror slasher film. It builds intrigue from beginning to end and structures its reveals and storytelling in such a way this so effective and builds on the understanding of the story. This is the horror/thriller movie to watch this year.
Score: 8.5/10 Grade: A-
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
This was one of the big epic sagas of the year. I liked how the movie took us through the evolution of Furiosa's character and expanded on the Mad Max World. Chris Hemsworth was also fun as the big villain and it was entertaining to see him as someone other than Thor.
Score: 8.5/10 Grade: A-
Twisters
Twisters was the biggest surprise of the year. I expected it to be a dumb fun movie much like the original film. But this movie turned out to still be fun but also has a lot of heart and solid characters. I thought the story was a lot more compelling this go around. The movie also did a great job of embracing the nonsense while making it still work and not feel stupid.
Score: 8.5/10 Grade: A-
Hit Man
This was the second Glen Powell film this year and much like Twisters this was a lot of fun. This movie showcases Glen Powell's skills as an action. It also has just a very fun story that balances comedy, suspense, and romance while not feeling like a specific genre movie.
Score: 9/10 Grade: A
Wicked
Wicked is probably tied for the biggest surprise with Twisters. I was not expecting to like it as much as I did. The movie looks so good with all the practical set work and colorful images. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are both great in their roles. This was just a great well-rounded musical that makes me excited for part 2.
Score: 9/10 Grade: A
Civil War
Civil War was a very well-made movie that had great action and solid characters. I liked the whole idea of a modern-day Civil War and liked seeing the whole viewpoint from the reporters. The movie is nonstop action and suspense from beginning to end as we follow these reporters trying to get into DC. You have to suspend a little bit of disbelief here but I think the quality of the movie is well deserving of that.
Score: 9/10 Grade: A
Dune: Part Two
Dune: Part Two was one of the first big movies of the year and is my favorite movie of the year. The style and filmmaking just look so good as it builds out this expansive world of Dune. There are a ton of characters but all of them get adequate screen time while not taking away from Paul as the main character. This is the best-looking, best-made, and most entertaining movie of the year.
Score: 9.5/10 Grade: A
Are the movies on this list ranked based off each other or in and of themselves? In other words, are the bad ones bad because the good ones are good? Or are the movies just good or bad regardless of each other?