Film fanatics across the globe are not only familiar with A24, but they’re also consistently looking to the studio to see what new and inventive ways they’ll use the medium. Starting as a distribution studio in 2012, focusing on acquiring the rights to visually striking independent films centered around more strange stories, A24 quickly grew to be on many cinema lovers’ radars. Today, A24 has moved more into the role of a traditional production company, experimenting with genre and indulging in more mainstream narratives.
The company still maintains a commitment to showcasing untold stories from unheard voices and is seen as refreshing by many film critics and general audiences. As major studios like Disney and Universal push out more sequels and remakes, A24 consistently advocates for originality, uniqueness, and creative freedom. While not every film from the studio is a hit, many films have been frequently talked about in film communities and conflated with film culture. For those looking to get into A24, a few films are a must-see as they are essential to the A24 style.
10 Past Lives Exemplifies A24's Handling of Drama and Romance
Celine Song's Directorial Debut Instantly Won Over Audiences
A stand-out release in 2023, even with major box office successes like Barbie and Oppenheimer, Past Lives explores love, time and connection with sincerity and raw emotion. The story centers around childhood best friends Nora and Hae Sung, who reconnect as adults as Nora moves from South Korea to America with her family. As they spend time together, they reflect on what their lives would’ve been like if Nora hadn’t moved.
The film tackles the quintessentially human question of «What could’ve been?» It’s strikingly relatable and deeply poignant, culminating in visceral moments that are strengthened by fantastic performances and writing. The film’s cinematography was done by Shabier Kirchner, who used soft focus and solid color backgrounds to accentuate the characters, illustrating their closeness and connection to each other in a world so vast.
9 X Couples A24's Weirdness With Traditional Horror Conventions
This is One of the Only A24 Properties to Become a Franchise
A horror trilogy that’s likely to accumulate even more adoration as time passes, X elucidates A24’s ability to pay homage to horror tropes while reinventing the wheel. Following a group of actors who set out to make an adult film in a rural area, the film traverses through wild twists and turns that perfectly lead into adjacent films, Pearl and MaXXXine.
Produced and directed by horror filmmaker Ti West, the film shows A24 honoring its principle of giving filmmakers unprecedented creative control. With outstanding performances from Mia Goth, Jenna Ortega, Brittany Snow and Kid Cudi, as well as a distinct setting that makes for all kinds of heart-racing moments, X is a testament to A24’s horror skills, which proves to be one of the company’s most successful genres.
8 Ex Machina Proves That Sci-Fi in the Hands of A24 Can Be Extraordinary
This Film Is Starkly Different From More Mainstream Sci-Fi Films
From acclaimed director and writer Alex Garland, known for Annihilation and 28 Days Later, Ex Machina shows that sci-fi can be just as effective on a smaller scale. Mainly focusing on three central characters: Caleb, a young programmer, Nathan, a visionary CEO and Ava, an experimental artificial intelligence robot, Ex Machina navigates its cast and setting with swift ease, allowing viewers to get lost in the experience.
Much of the film focuses on the developing relationship between Caleb and Ava and raises thought-provoking questions about AI and its place in modern society. With AI becoming more prevalent in entertainment, the film is a spectacular watch, and it also works against the larger-than-life, traditionally flashy nature of current sci-fi films. The film was made on a $15 million budget, whereas every Star Wars film of the last decade had budgets all over $100 million, proving that fascinating futuristic stories can be accomplished without extensive financial investment.
7 The Lighthouse is Unafraid to Dive Into A24's Weirdness
Robert Eggers Cultivates a Claustrophobic, Nightmarish Environment
When moving through the A24 lineup, there are a number of films that make utterly bizarre choices, guaranteed to capture audiences’ attention. The film was shot on 35 mm using Panavision Panaflex Millennium XL2 cameras. The vivid contrast of black and white submerges viewers in the isolated landscape occupied by two lighthouse keepers who find their reality slowly unraveling. Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson excel in their roles, while Robert Eggers’ unshakable presence as a director shines through in every scene.
The film is often mentioned for its outlandish sequences, odd and graphic material, and the various interpretations of its themes and overall meaning. Like the characters, viewers can almost feel a dark, stormy cloud emerge over them while watching the film, as its immersive scope leaves a lasting impression. While The Lighthouse might be too intense for some viewers, it’s a necessary watch when exploring the multiple avenues A24 films can take.
6 Minari Shows an A24 Approach to a Family Film
A Personal Story About Growing Up as an Immigrant
Written and directed by South Korean-American filmmaker Lee Isaac Chung, Minari chronicles the adjustment of an immigrant family after moving to Arkansas. The film follows each family member’s struggles as they face the pressure of assimilating into American society. As they move through various situations, both uplifting and devastating, audiences foster a deep connection with the Yi family.
The film’s ability to be undeniably charming and simultaneously heartbreaking is owed to Chung’s uncompromised vision. It’s likely that Minari would’ve faced studio interference if it wasn’t in the hands of A24, which is why the studio’s dedication to authenticity and real, moving stories is so pertinent in today’s changing world. The film’s resonating presence earned Youn Yuh-jung, who played Soon-ja, the feisty grandmother, an Oscar, making her the first Korean actress to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
5 Lady Bird Is a Certified Classic A24 Coming-of-Age Film
Saoirse Ronan Brings This Spirited Character To Life
Opinionated, curious and a bit pretentious, Christine «Lady Bird» McPherson is the spiritual embodiment of what it means to be an underestimated teenager. Living in a small house in Sacramento in 2002, Lady Bird encounters ordinary teenage issues such as with friends and boys and deciding where she wants to go to college. At the film’s heart is her relationship with her hard-working but oftentimes antagonistic mother, who she often butts heads with.
Written and directed by Greta Gerwig, Lady Bird focuses on what characters say and don’t say, exhibiting a stellar understanding of subtext and how it can be used to explore the complexities of adolescence. Aside from Saoirse Ronan’s powerful performance, the film features Laurie Metcalf, Beanie Feldstein, Lucas Hedges and Timothée Chalamet, who all play pivotal roles in Lady Bird’s development and solidification of her identity. Gerwig’s storytelling uses A24 conventions to its advantage by experimenting with utilizing a distinct language of juxtaposition in each scene that formulates a story many can see themselves in.
4 Midsommar Injects Intense Emotion Into a Slow-Burn Horror
This Film Contains Some of A24's Most Memorable Imagery
Florence Pugh, adorned in colorful flowers, is an image forever associated with A24. The final shot of the thrilling folk horror film Midsommar conflates mystery with beauty, culminating in an unsettling feeling that perfectly sums up the vibe of the film. After Dani experiences upsetting news, she, her boyfriend Christian, and their friends travel to a rural town in Sweden for a midsummer festival that slowly devolves into an inescapable nightmare. The film’s color palette, use of lighting, and beautiful cinematography used to elucidate some utterly horrifying sequences make Midsommar one of the best A24 horror films critically.
The film continuously pushes the envelope, utilizing psychological scares just as much as physical ones, creating an emotional connection with the characters as they are subjugated to increasingly more disturbing events. One of the film’s most notable techniques seen in Ari Aster’s other films, as well as other A24 titles, is its slow descent into revelation. While horror films that present their central themes and premise early on can be just as effective, Midsommar‘s slow creep toward what’s actually going on allows for its metaphors to take more time to develop. By the time the ending is reached, viewers are left to ruminate on the film’s core meaning and dissect little details that stand out during a rewatch.
3 Uncut Gems is a Flashy Yet Dark Exposure of Risking It All
An Artistically Bold Endeavor Crafted by the Safdie Brothers
Crime thrillers are some of cinema’s most beloved classics. From The Godfather to Goodfellas, there are multiple ways to dive into the dangers of involvement in organized crime. The genre can become repetitive and even parodied, resulting in films that focus more on the action and comedic elements rather than acting as a thorough psychoanalysis of a main character.
Part of what makes Uncut Gems so enthralling is its recognition of crime drama tropes and its ultimate subversion of them. Adam Sandler continuously introduces new layers to Howard Ratner as he navigates the consequences of making a high-stakes bet that threatens his and his family’s livelihood. The film is concentrated on its craft with meticulous editing choices and enveloping cinematography that transplants viewers right into Howard’s world. Any doubts about A24’s capabilities to deliver a compelling crime thriller were squashed with this rush of a film.
2 Moonlight Applies A24 Techniques to Illustrate Chrion's Journey
Every Choice the Film Makes Elevates Its Impact
Moonlight is a film that has contributed significantly to the A24 aesthetic as its structure, visuals, and thematics all combine to cultivate a transcending experience. Intersectionality can be difficult to examine in film as multifaceted issues can appear intimidating to translate on screen, but director Barry Jenkins delivers an eloquent piece that dissects race, class and sexuality. These components all work together to inform the identity of a young Queer Black man named Chiron who undergoes changes in his life due to his upbringing and surroundings.
The consistent beach imagery and implementation of fluorescent colors symbolize beauty and growth even in the cruel and stifling environment Chrion grew up in. Each relationship between Chrion and another character, most notably his mother, Kevin and Juan is given ample time to develop and shows viewers the effects it has on the protagonist. As the first A24 film to win Best Picture at the 89th Academy Awards in 2017, Moonlight stands out as one of the studio’s most emotionally riveting films.
1 Hereditary Is Regarded as a Masterclass in Contemporary Horror
When A24 is Mentioned, this film Undoubtedly Comes to Mind
Any horror fanatic has likely seen or at least heard of Hereditary. Known for being psychologically tormenting and graphically chilling, the film seamlessly executes a convoluted plot that ultimately boils down to the foundation of whether people truly have free will. Like Midsommar, the film is much of a slow burn as the first half appears to center entirely around Annie’s grief with a few creepy moments and then catapults itself into a cesspool of uncertainty and madness.
Many longtime A24 fans name Hereditary as one of, if not the studio’s best, citing its strength in producing a type of horror that lingers in audiences’ minds while still featuring jumpscares and more conventional horror attributes. Hereditary best exemplifies what’s to be expected of a hard-hitting A24 film: a tightly written script and odd elements that add to the immersion rather than distracting and entrancing visuals, all combining to create a true horror masterpiece.
