When I think of indie production companies, there is no doubt one studio comes to mind first, and that’s A24. Since A24 was founded in 2012, a decade ago now, they have gone off to redefine modern independent filmmaking. As both a production company and a distributor, the movies A24 has brought to the surface have revolutionized cinema, with many of its films going on to be instant classics. Their first film, Roman Coppola’s A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III, was released in 2013, and since then they have produced over 115 films internationally, garnering a dozen Oscar nominations, including a Best Picture win for Moonlight. So, whether you like good chilling horror or suspenseful noir, A24 is bound to have it. That being said, with many options, where do you begin? Well, I’ve put together a list of my top 10 favorite A24 films below:
Alex Garland, who was making his directorial debut, had already carved a path into the sci-fi genre by penning Sunshine and Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later . Ex Machina centers on a programmer (Domhnall Gleeson) who accepts an invitation from his CEO (Oscar Issac) to test an artificially intelligent humanoid robot (Alicia Vikander). It features supporting performances from Sonoya Mizuno, Gana Bayarasikhan, and Corey Johnson.
This beguiling sci-fi takes familiar concepts we already know and puts them in a deep and imaginative way that not only made it one of the best films of its time when it was released in 2015 but one of the best sci-fi films ever made. Alex Garland directed a smart yet stylish film that asks all the right questions and does it with unbelievable confidence.
In 2017, right in my backyard in Kissimmee, Florida, director Sean Baker created a captivating story following a young girl and her single mom, on the verge of being homeless, living in a motel room next to the magical Walt Disney World. At the time of its debut, Brooklynn and Bria Vinaite, who were both new and upcoming actors at the time of its debut, played six-year-old Moonee and her mom, as well as Willem Dafoe, starred as the protective hotel manager. This film was a look at America’s harsh poverty with all of its wealth surrounding it. If you somehow missed this, it’s a must-see!
Directed by the Safdie brothers, Good Time stars Robert Pattinson as a bank robber who, when a heist went wrong lands his brother in prison, now goes on a twisted journey through the underworld of New York City to get his brother out of jail.
A24’s newest film is from this year, and it’s a must-see directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert This sci-fi multiversal therapy adventure is one hell of a ride featuring a career-best Michelle Yeoh, returning child star Ke Huy Quan, and a breakthrough performance from Stephanie Hsu. It’s hard to put his film into words other than to say it’s an absurd and jaw-dropping piece of work that’s all incredibly moving at the same time and that puts you in a universe full of “what ifs”. It was simply mesmerizing. You do not want to miss it.
Ari Aster’s debut film, Hereditary, was a mind-blowing, heart-stopping arthouse horror. Unlike some horror films that show you in shock, screaming, and sometimes laughing, Hereditary isn’t that movie. Yes, you may scream, but there is no time for laughing. This film drags you further and further into its cold, terrifying, and gripping story, until the credits roll, and leaves you mind-f**cked. Toni Collette and Gabriel Byrne go on to give outstanding performances in this scary-fest of a film, I don’t want to say too much about it, because the less you know about it, the better, in case you haven’t seen it yet. Do yourself a favor and go watch it.
David Lowery’s lavish and spellbinding reimagining of the Arthurian classic, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight , tells a charming, beautiful narrative about fate, fortune, temptation, and bravery. This bizarre, ghastly fantastic story, in which Dev Patel plays King Arthur’s nephew and the sole Knight of the Round Table without any notable deeds to recount, this film infuses old lore and myth and throws it so effortlessly into something new and modern.
In his feature film debut, The Witch, Robert Eggers demonstrates that it’s possible to be subtle yet powerful. He gives the characters the freedom to paint the scene and tell the story in such a captivating way. It is a thing of beauty and dread, but the movie shines because of how straightforward it is—it only involves a tiny wooden home and some forests. Ana Taylor-Joy’s debut as Tomasin, the oldest daughter of a family who was driven from their 17th-century New England colony due to their mother and father’s rigid religious convictions, instantly made her a star.
Ari Aster’s A24 horror flick Midsommer is another success under his direction. The movie’s leading lady, Florence Pugh, portrays a young woman who goes to a midsummer festival in central Sweden by mistake with her snobby boyfriend, who plans to break up with her quietly. However, while there, they find themselves at the heart of a violent cult that is seeking its sacrifices. Midsommer was a horrifying, visually stunning treat that every horror fan should watch.
Greta Gerwig makes her solo directing debut with Lady Bird, a coming-of-age drama that involves well-known clichés like prom night and a disastrous first sexual experience; it’s a lovely story of immense tonal color, triumph, and honesty that captivates your hearts. Gerwig spent ten years in the independent film scene as an actress. In my opinion, no other movie does what it does better. Greta showcases her talent as a filmmaker.
With an Academy Award for Best Picture, Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight became A24’s biggest success to date (while also landing a Best Supporting Actor for Mahershala Ali and Best Adapted Screenplay). Three chapters—one for each period of the main character’s life—make up the structure of the movie. With stunningly gorgeous visuals and lyrical storytelling at its greatest, Moonlight explores themes of abuse, identity, and sexuality. Not only is this one of the greatest movies ever made, but it also serves as a reminder that everyone can be who they really are regardless of their origin, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.
It all started when I was a kid watching Saturday morning cartoons like the Spider-Man: Animated Series and Batman. Since then I’ve been hooked to the world of pop culture. Huge movie lover from French New Wave, to the latest blockbusters, I love them all. Huge Star Wars and Marvel geek. When I’m free from typing away at my computer, you can usually catch me watching a good flick or reading the next best comic. Come geek out with me on Twitter @somedudecody.
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