The movie year 2024 got a jolt of life this past month with the arrivals of rousing franchise fare from “ Inside Out 2 ” to “A Quiet Place: Day One.” But there’s also much to celebrate on the front of original releases, from the Neon-record-breaking “ Longlegs ” over the July 12 weekend to, earlier in the year, more originals like “Civil War” banking for A24 . And while none of these movies are on our list of the best films of 2024 so far — which we’ve pooled below from our highest-praising reviews from the past six months — but they all point toward a movie-going culture that’s healthier than some pictures paint.
The below list of 20 films will absolutely evolve as the year moves forward, and as the 2024 fall festivals are around the bend, bringing a fresh crop of brand-new movies. Some of our favorites this year came from last year’s fall festivals, finally making their way to theaters in recent months, from “The Beast” to “Janet Planet.” Others, like “Challengers,” were waylaid by the strikes of which the industry continues to feel the effects.
Below, IndieWire picks the 20 best films of 2024 (so far)..