2024 has been a weird year for cinema due to the impact of the SAG-AFTRA actors’ strike and financial struggle within the business, but there have been quite a few great films this year. Disclaimer: In 2024, I watched many new thriller and horror films, with some sci-fi and romance mixed in. This means I did not see many of the big drama films. As a college student, I have to limit the money I spend at the cinema to only the films I have a burning desire to see. A few of these films made my list.
I still haven’t seen these recent releases: Nosferatu, A Complete Unknown, Babygirl, Y2K, Queer, Anora, Wicked, We Live in Time, The Brutalist, and Saturday Night.
Honorable Mentions from this year: Love Lies Bleeding, MaXXXine, Trap, La Chimera, A Quiet Place: Day One, and Civil War.
My 10 favorite films of the year:
#1 Dune: Part II
This was my favorite movie of the year. I am a huge Dune nerd, I read the book twice and Dune Messiah once. If this film didn’t live up to my expectations as a book fan, I would have a very different rating for the film. Alas, this was Denis Villeneuve with Greig Frasier behind the camera, this film was destined for glory. In 2021 with Dune, and now again with Dune: Part 2, Denis Villeneuve proves critics wrong, it is possible to adapt Dune on the big screen with the right creatives and a large studio budget. The sheer scale of sets, landscapes, mechanisms, explosions, and more are jaw-dropping. For the sandworms and explosions, the visual effects in Dune: Part 2 are far better than most modern action films with similar or larger budgets. 5/5 ★
#2 The Substance
As I wrote in my review of The Substance, this was the grossest film I saw all year. Despite this, it was my favorite horror film of the year. The Substance gave me a newfound appreciation for body horror and a new understanding of how satire can be used in a film. The Substance follows Elisabeth Sparkle, an aging actress and aerobics show host played by Demi Moore. Elisabeth is offered a black-market drug, called “the Substance” that promises to create an enhanced, younger version of herself. After Elisabeth takes the substance, she must share her consciousness with another self. Her other self is Sue, played by Margaret Qalley. As Sue becomes more successful, the more she pushes the limits of the substance and the more she pushes Elisabeth. Sue values her fame and desirability above all else, much like Elisabeth did. The two are a mirror of each other, whether they like it or not. The writing and cinematography of The Substance are masterful. Coralie Fargeat’s creative vision is precise and uncompromising. 5/5 ★
#3 Challengers
My favorite drama of the year was Luca Guadagnino’s tennis romance Challengers. There’s something hypnotozing about the way this film is presented, the tennis matches in Challengers feel like the most high-stakes events you’ve ever witnessed. You are immersed in the player’s world when you’re watching them play. The camera movement and shot composition throughout the film, but especially in the tennis scenes, are unique and impressive; each shot displays the character’s emotions and immerses the viewer in their feelings. 4.5/5 ★
#4 I Saw The TV Glow
I Saw The TV Glow engulfs the viewer in its fantasy, it evokes a deeply personal connection. Owen, played by Justice Smith, is a shy teenager who makes friends with a girl a few grades above him thanks to a shared interest in a TV Show, “The Pink Opaque”. Maddy, played by Brigette Lundy-Paine, invites Owen to watch the TV show with her and a friend; and slowly, the two become close friends and bond over their connection to this fantasy TV show. They don’t talk about why they are so enamored with the show, this is revealed in the subtext instead. Visually, the fantasy elements of this film are horrifying; the monsters within the show “The Pink Opaque” are straight out of my childhood nightmares. I Saw The TV Glow is written and directed by Jane Shoenbrun, whose creative vision is clear and singular in this film. 4.5/5 ★
#5 Longlegs
In Longlegs, a psychic FBI detective named Lee Harker, played by Maika Monroe, is assigned to the case of an elusive serial killer, Longlegs. Played by Nicholas Cage, Longlegs is by far the scariest horror villain from this year. Written and directed by Osgood Perkins, this film is partly a crime thriller, and the other half is disturbing horror. The experience of watching Longlegs is uncomfortable. The entire film occurs within a dark gloomy atmosphere that is the dead of winter in a small town in Oregon. This atmosphere, curated by wide shots and naturalistic lighting creates an eery landscape for the story to unravel. The film has an immersive sound design, which induces dread as you wait to hear what happens next. 4.5/5 ★
#6 Alien: Romulus
The newest installment to the Alien franchise, Alien: Romulus takes the suspense and anxiety of the original film and presents this to a modern audience with a faster pace. The film follows a group of young space colonists scavenging in a derelict spacecraft for cryostasis fuel to escape from their nearby home planet, a corrupt work planet. The abandoned space station, the Renaissance space station, is divided into Romulus and Remus, it is in Romulus that they discover alien creatures. The crew accidentally triggers the release of the alien face-huggers, and the chaos ensues from there. The cast of Alien: Romulus is fully Generation Z, with Cailee Spaeney and David Jonsson leading as siblings Rain and Andy. Andy is an android, a callback to the famous android of the original film, Ash; although Ash makes a comeback in this film in a much more obvious way. Bringing back Ash for this film was unnecessary and the use of AI was offputting. Nonetheless, this is the scariest and best Alien film since Aliens (1986). 4.5/5 ★
#7 Heretic
Heretic is a psychological horror film about one particularly bad day for two young Mormon missionaries. The missionaries visit a skeptical man’s house to try to convert him to the church. Hugh Grant plays the skeptical man, named Mr. Reed. Mr Reed appears to be a friendly, harmless British man who is curious about the Church of Latter-Day Saints. Later, when the girls attempt to leave Mr. Reed’s house, he blocks them from doing so, revealing his true intentions for their visit. Mr. Reed is obsessed with theology and the power of control, and he employs his obsessions by rambling to the girls about his theories whilst holding them captive. Heretic is thought-provoking and its ambiguous ending will leave you thinking for long after the credits roll. 4/5 ★
#8 Cuckoo
The experience of watching Cuckoo was enthralling and also infuriating. The editing in certain scenes drove me nuts (if you’ve seen Cuckoo, you know what I’m talking about). To show a character’s warped perception and haze due to a villain, certain scenes are shown multiple times. It got on my nerves for a while, but then the dread and expectation this sort of editing caused me started to creep in. The more times a shot is played over and over, the more dread you feel; anticipating what is to come once this montage is over. The concept and namesake of the film, Cuckoo, named after the Cuckoo Bird, is only explained far into the film. Regardless, the reveal is shocking and wild beyond your expectations. I want to see Hunter Schafer in more horror movies, she was incredibly convincing as Gretchen, the unprepared protagonist and hero. 4/5 ★
#9 Smile 2
The follow-up to the 2022 indie horror film Smile, Smile 2 begins exactly where the last film left off. This film follows the demon’s next victims; Lewis, a drug dealer played by Lucas Gages, and American pop singer Skye Riley, played by Naomi Scott. Smile 2 digs deeper and amps up the horror from the first film. Now the stakes are much higher, Skye Riley is preparing for her first world tour since a horrible car accident that happened a year prior. The smile demon latches onto her trauma and creates a visceral terrifying experience for the viewer. This film is full of jumpscares, but they feel justified and most are creative and surprising. Smile 2 is much more fun than the first film, and the increased budget for the sequel is clear in the quality of this horror film. Visually, the film is polished and sterile, much like the Hollywood life Skye Riley lives. The demon dirties up this perfect lifestyle, and we see the true capabilities of the damage this demon can do to society. 4/5★
#10 Gladiator II
Without the greatness of the original Gladiator (2000), there couldn’t have been a Gladiator II. Gladiator II lives in Gladiator’s shadow; it is an inferior sequel, but still an excellent film visually. Gladiator II follows the character Lucius, played by Paul Mescal who delivers an enthralling performance as this film’s protagonist. This character is the young boy in the original film, Lucius, son of Lucilla. Lucius is now in his late 20s and fought in the Roman Colosseum as a gladiator. Paul Mescal invites the audience into an introspective gladiator’s mind. Lucius is a gladiator, owned by Macrinus, played by Denzel Washington. Played by Washington, Macrinus is the star of this film; despite not being the protagonist. When he is on the screen, he demands your entire attention. On a negative note, the writing of this film, particularly in its dialogue, is lacking the same quality of the first film. However, Gladiator II’s production design and the sheer scale of sets are massive and set the tone for every scene. This film recreates the golden age of Rome in a truly spectacular way. 3.5/5★
Pace Chronicle Editors Picks:
Dylan Brown, Editor-In-Chief
#1 – Smile 2
This is the psychological horror movie of the year. The invisible enemy that is this virus slowly eats at the main character and you have to have confidence in what you’re seeing. Skye Riley’s stream of consciousness clashes with reality, her hallucinations of what people do to her eventually become your own only for the rug to become pulled.
Tied #2 – Venom: The Last Dance; Inside Out 2
James Steigerwald, Managing Editor
#1 A Different Man
This movie paints a really interesting perspective of disability that we don’t see very often. The script is extremely clever, and it unravels in such a brilliant way. It’s a great portrayal of insecurity and is effortlessly funny. Easily my favorite new movie I’ve seen this year.
#2 The Wild Robot
The most beautifully animated movie I’ve seen. This completely had my heart at every turn. So much love was put into this one. Great themes of motherhood and growing up. I’m excited to revisit this when I get the chance.
#3 Challengers
This movie was so insane in the best way possible. The love triangle was so captivating and cleverly played out. The ending literally had me about to jump out of my seat in a crowded theater. Need to revisit this one!
Evan Mahanna, Feature Editor
#1 Civil War
A realistic imagining of modern-day America that encapsulates all the division and hatred in the country. You follow journalists veering into uncharted territory trying to interview the President yet you’re able to spend time with them and understand their motivations in the quiet scenes. The big war scenes are thrilling and shocking and you’re fed some pretty shocking yet profound messages throughout the journey.
#2 Dune: Part Two
An immersive, thrilling ride that elevates its predecessor by “spicing” things up a notch. It’s bigger, better, and sandier. Denis Villeneuve is “dune” a good job with this franchise.
#3 Challengers
A fun, engaging rom-com/tennis allegory with three engaging performances. Every character and relationship gets its time and you find good reason to support or hate Art and Patrick.
Lilah McCormack, Website Manager
#1 Dune: Part Two
I’m obsessed with the books and a huge sci-fi fan so you know Dune: Part Two had to be my top movie of 2025. It was the perfect hero-to-villain (messiah) arc I needed.
#2 Challengers
As soon as the credits rolled, my racquet was in my hand and I was out the door heading for the tennis court. I played like my love depended on it.
#3 Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
I was so nostalgic watching this because I grew up watching the original film on a regular basis. Until one day, my mom “accidentally” shipped away my DVD copy back to Netflix. (back when you could watch movies by mail)
Giuliana Crisafulli, Social Media Manager
#1 Deadpool and Wolverine
Deadpool and Wolverine was my top movie of the year because Deadpool is one of my favorite superheroes and I got to go out and see it with my boyfriend.
#2 We Live in Time
#3 Challengers